Another Countdown.

The birthday has come and gone. The party has come and gone. So now we are on yet another countdown to a big event in our lives: the musical! Marc is still putting many hours in to be the musical director and it will only get worse. He says that the music is coming together fairly nicely and without too much complication, which is a relief after last year's difficulty. But it has come at a price: namely 9 extra weeks of rehearsals for him. I have been determined to have a good attitude about our "split lives" and to support him as well as I can, though, so no complaining! I will, however, be *very* grateful when he will not be gone the majority of nights for musical 'stuff'. My attitude has greatly been helped by Marc's efforts to come home every night for dinner - he is only able to get away for about an hour but it is much appreciated and Des *loves* seeing his daddy. Every night when the door slams Des starts to squeal and looses his balance, its so cute and so neat to watch. =)

We have continued to go to playgroup. Des's nap usually goes till after playgroup starts but we go for whatever time we can to get out of the house and to give Des a chance to socialize. He runs around smiling at all the big boys waiting for his big break but, unfortunately, he is a little too young to actually "play" with the big boys but also too old to play with the "babies." There is a couple of other oneish year olds but they all have only realized that each other exist and don't actually play *together.* Its more of a fascination with each other's presence than anything else. They'll get there though and hopefully have fun together. Des is independent in his walking but is still easily toppled so I get a little nervous having him run around with so many chaotic bodies flying about but so far no injuries. He will travel whatever distance on his own that he previously scoped out with mom. So if we go straight to the benches and sit he will only go in a 5 foot radius. But if we walk around the gym for a little while and then sit - off he goes! To the far reaches of the gym. Kind of bittersweet to see your little one walking away without really looking back....My mother would probably say that was a taste of my own medicine. When the other kids get in trouble, though (which invariably happens with 8 toddler boys running around), he gets upset and needs a hug. He doesn't like people yelling (big or little).

One of the gals from church has offered to watch Des every Sunday night so that Marc and I can go to choir practice together. So every Sunday night we drop him off at her house (about 2 minutes from the church) with her 1 and 6 year old and he plays "with" her little boy while Marc and I go to practice for an hour or so and then I come get him, we go home and Des goes straight to bed. Its not really a big deal but even leaving him that little bit on a regular basis pulls at my heart strings.... I don't think that I will ever be able to put him in daycare..... Lord willing I won't have to. =) Being a stay at home mommy is something I always wanted to do but never ever could have imagined what it actually was like (in good and challenging ways). On the other hand I do miss my job. Such a conundrum this 21st century... 100 years ago it wouldn't have even been an option.

We played for church this last Sunday as we continue to be a part of the worship team at church. Although that is a little trickier to navigate Des-wise. He is so mobile now that we can't corral him for any length of time really and he is also old enough now to not nap well in places that are not his room. But we manage to get rehearsal in and enjoy being a part of the music. Also, practicing at home is difficult because if you play piano, he wants to play and you can't play when he is sleeping so....? Like I said its, difficult. =)

We made a short road trip last week to see G. Marge, A. Corrina and Eunice (a close family friend). We had lunch and Des charmed all the ladies. He has been battling a cold so was not in the best of moods but always breaks out a smile to keep the rep up! =) He is still battling a bit of the cold but I think he is on the mend.

What else? I don't think anything. Marc has been so busy that we just don't do much and I have been keeping to the home fires in the evenings.

Our attempt at fall pictures - if you ignore the drool its a good pic.

Playing the drums that Dad brought home to work on.

Looking at the fish when at lunch in Powell.

The big ball that he likes to push around at playgroup.