Well, March came and went. I'm not sure if it came in or out like a lamb (we've had quite the variety of weather in these parts!), but there was plenty of lion to go around!
For starters, Atticus is still not walking. While I have been assured many, many times that he'll be just fine, my heart cannot seem to grasp what my mind thinks it knows. No, we haven't started any therapy. I'm fairly confident we won't need to. But it's become a gnawing worry at the back of my mind. I have to be careful, or I can let it steal the joy of the moment away. He really is such an adorable, healthy, sweet boy.
I know that he'll be okay. But when I say this out loud, my mind always finishes the sentence with "Unless..." or "But what if...?"
Another lion that crossed our path was sickness, darn it. I guess I could look at it this way: he hit another milestone by getting his first ear infection. But let's get real. That was a milestone we were hoping to bypass.
Unfortunately, the little lad also had to take his first set of antibiotics, hence the "diarrhea" in the title. But I really shouldn't complain. We are so blessed to have modern medicine, which helped turn our poor, goopy-eyed boy back into a bright-eyed bandit over night!
You heard me right! While not walking, this little bandit is getting to be pretty resourceful. He's making stools and step ladders out of anything and everything (stuffed animals, books, pillows, dishwasher doors, legs...)
He provides countless valuable services, from grabbing our scrubbing brush to run it over dishes, tickling our feet, ears, and tummies, shaking his dad's shaker bottle, to brushing
my teeth...
It really is amazing how observant these little ones are. Amazing and worrisome! We love the new sounds he's making for cars and animals (We thought he was trying to poop. Nope! That's his car sound...)
Here he is, helping us wash our hands and putting his sock in the dishwasher. He also enjoys hanging laundry on our drying rack. We're not opposed to free labor!
Oh, just for the record, the tooth brushing may have something to do with our last
fun with foods class at Stephanie Andelin's home, where the kids made play dough teeth and practiced brushing them (adorable!)
Another "lion" in our path was that we've been busy! (He's a friendly lion...)
Since we celebrated both St. Patrick's Day and Easter this month, we've had our share of parties and get-togethers.
For St. Patrick's Day we got together with some neighbors at the church. It was simple, but I think the kiddos enjoyed it. There was a treasure hunt, a photo backdrop, green foods and we made pipe cleaner shamrocks. I know Atticus loved seeing the kids and watching them run around to find the clues (especially when they saw green Easter eggs!)
He's holding a red mustache (he had been chewing on it a second before!)
Before we knew it, we were celebrating Easter! We were able to celebrate in a few different ways.
First, we made cards for all of his grandparents. It's not easy to tell, but they're little carrot footprints. Not beautiful, but we both had a blast making them.
We also went to the mall and met the Easter Bunny, who gave Atticus a handsome set of rabbit ears.
Then we were able to attend an Easter celebration put on by our friend and realtor, Joe Willis (http://www.willisgrouprealestate.com/). Atticus was spellbound by all that was going on. Balloons, a baby animal petting zoo, the Easter Bunny, a huge Easter egg hunt, and a bouncy house?! This event was the whole package and we all loved it.
And then there was a neighborhood Easter egg hunt (many thanks to Mary Croxford for putting it together!) This time Atticus got in and did some hunting of his own... Although most of the eggs he found turned out to be rocks...
Finally we got to celebrate the true meaning of Easter with Grammy (his Grandma Toni), who made lamb and shared a wonderful message with us.
It was such a great reminder of how, no matter how stormy life gets, no matter how many "lions" get tossed our way, the Lamb of God always, always reaches out to us. When He doesn't immediately rescue us, as He so often does, He helps strengthen us so that we can bear whatever trial life has dealt us, big or small,
How grateful we are for the atoning sacrifice of our brother and Savior, Jesus Christ. The joy and peace that His incomparable gift brings leave me without words. Instead, I will simply echo the one so often connected with our Redeemer at this time of year:
Hallelujah!
