The End of an Era

I really can't believe it, but Stockton is growing up.  He may not be getting any bigger, but he is changing. And the more I realize it the sadder and sadder I get.  He is talking up a storm, picking up new words everyday and learning how to form 3-4 word sentences.  The most significant of these new words is "Tay" (Okay).  It first started when I would ask if he was OK and he would say "Tay", which has since turned into "I tay" (I'm Okay).  Then he started to use it to acknowledge something I say like, "Stockton, I am going to take a shower, I will be in the bathroom if you need me, OK?"  To which he would respond, "Tay".  And now for the development that makes me sad: he says "Tay" when he means "Yes".  For anyone who knows Stockton very well, knows about his "Yes" chuckle.  He has never actually spoken the word "yes".  Instead he would always just...I dont even know how to describe it other than a chuckle.  The replacement of this chuckle with the word "Tay" is for some reason very hard for me to accept.  Its almost like it means I am saying goodbye to Stockton the baby and hello to Stockton the little boy.  Or maybe I have already done that, his chuckle was just the last thing I was holding on to.  Either way, it makes this Mommy very sad.

His other most noteworthy new phrase is "No Way".  Everything the last couple days has been, "No Way."

  Stockton, let's get dressed.  No Way.

Stockton, are you ready for your nap?  No Way.

Stockton, let's bless the food.  No Way.

Stockton, do you want to take a bath?  No Way.

I am sure I will get tired of this one, but for now it's just cute.  And speaking of cute, his trademark phrase for the last month or so still makes my heart smile everytime I hear it, "Dee-Doo, Mommy."  (Thank you, Mommy)  EVERYTHING I do for him is followed up with a "Dee-Doo, Mommy".  Even when I put him in his bed, I get the sweetest "Dee-Doo, Mommy" you will ever hear.  I like to tell myself that is his way of saying, I Love You.  Even if its not, that's the message I get.  

The Woes of Motherhood

Everyday I am sure I think to myself, "If I didn't have kids, I could actually _________."  Normally the thought is finished with things like:

-"blow dry my hair and do my makeup without a baby trying to crawl up my legs and a toddler putting on blush and lips gloss"
-"enjoy not getting crumbs stuck to the bottom of my feet while walking through the kitchen"
-"start a task and finish it without getting interrupted 50 times"
-"sit down and eat a meal while it is still hot"
-"run errands without having to load and unload in the car 100 times, chase and entertain kids, and change poopy diapers in nasty bathrooms"

Lately, with the anticipation of the new X-Men movie and the final chapter of the Harry Potter saga reaching an all time high, all this thought is finished with is, "sit down and do nothing all day but have a movie marathon".  I can't even imagine being able to sit down and watch 7 Harry Potters back to back with no interruptions.  The mere thought of it is unfathomable to me.  Maybe if I start now I could squeeze in 4 X-Men movies before June 3 and another 7 Harry Potter's before mid-July.  It would take some hard work and dedication, but maybe, just maybe I could do it.  And if I am really lucky, I could maybe even find someone with enough passion as my friend, Bekah, to go to the midnight showings with me.  I can dream, can't I?

A good one

My sister just posted this on her blog and it really made me think about things. I thought it was worth sharing. Enjoy. :)

Vanderlinden Clan: present to past

Our first camping trip of the season

It wasn't the best weekend to have our first camping trip, it was cold and rainy the entire weekend until, of course, we started packing up to go home.  And did I mention that the only morning Troy DIDN'T go hunting was the morning he could have had a shot at a turkey?  Oh well, the weekend had its good moments.  Our niece and her boyfriend got engaged, YAY!  Congrats to Kevin & Marissa!  :)

Here are some pics from the weekend.

We did see a baby bear cub.  He wondered into our camp.  If you look very closely at this picture, you can see him.

The happy couple taking their engagement pictures.