Comparing cowboys

Our newest little cowpoke.

Gabriel at 8 months

Gabriel now.

Little ecosystems

I'm a true believer in the power of ecosystems. If you don't meddle very much with nature, things happen as they are supposed to.

I can't believe people buy the Ortho, Round Up or Scotts this and that, and thereby believe in the theory that if you kill absolutely every living thing in your yard then you will be happier and it will be a better place. I'm actually surprised that these products are still allowed to be sold because of what ends up getting in the groundwater.

We never put pesticides or weed killers in our yard, and have used only organic fertilizer since we moved into this house. We stopped getting rid of wasp nests with bug spray. As a result, we have a thriving population of "good" creatures that keep the "bad" creatures under control. We have geckos the size of small gators. I have seen possibly three cockroaches around our house since we moved in 5-1/2 years ago. We have the geckos to thank for that.

Twice now, I have caught little lizards drinking from our shallow water dishes. That's why I think it's alright to meddle a little bit with nature, and help them out with some water during the dry times. I also see bees, wasps, and other bugs taking drinks, and we all know how important these little guys can be in the big pollination picture now.

And of course, we have a thriving bird population. I think waking up to the short little "chirps" of our cardinal couples is the nicest alarm clock you could have. I always get panicky when we have long, hot, dry spells like the one we're in. I worry about things I have no control over, like the ducks in our shrinking duck pond I mentioned in an earlier post. Then I realize that all I can do it make sure our little ecosystem around our house is well taken care of. And it appears to be thriving.

Funny

Nope, not sleepy at all. Rarin' to go!

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

My eyes weren't closed. Really, I'm not tired!

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Swim class

Gabriel just completed nine swim lessons in 11 days. I was not too jazzed about this intensive method. I originally thought it might be better to take a class in which he went once a week through the whole summer. Considering we don't have anywhere to swim regularly, I was afraid he wouldn't retain anything and the whole thing would be a waste of money. But Jav's sister had told us about Mr. Bryan, and how everyone who had taken from him had nothing but really wonderful things to say about him. So we decided to give him a shot.

Well, he is more than wonderful, he's a miracle worker. After two lessons I began to realize that this man really had a knack for getting kids to have fun, and therefore lose all fear of the water. There's only two kids per class, and Gabriel's swimming buddy was Nathaniel (pictured above), who turned 3 in May and was a little wisp of a kid. By the end of the two weeks, Gabriel was swimming underwater for short distances, could jump in on his own (with alot of trepidation, but still), could touch the bottom and swim up by himself at 5 feet deep, and could float on his back really well. Nathaniel was doing even more, probably because he had already been swimming in his neighbor's pool all summer. But the best part about it was the look of pure joy on my son's face the entire time he was in the water. I don't think I've ever seen him so continually happy. So I am now a believer in Mr. Bryan. He holds the kids, makes corny jokes that they love over and over again, builds their confidence and knows how to motivate with patience and understanding. I now think the other method leaves an entire week for them to doubt their abilities, so they start every class a little nervous. We're going to have Gabriel in two back-to-back sessions next summer with Mr. Bryan (an entire month of lessons), and that boy will know how to swim afterwards. I don't have a single doubt now.

Too fast

We had Joel baptized last night - finally! We had put it off this long so that his godparents from Mexico could be here. But because of all the flooding in Monterrey and around the border, they couldn't come after all and we had to ask my brother and Jav's sister to stand in as proxies for them. And considering our priest, Father Paul, believes in total immersion (which we went along with after much deliberating), Joel did really well. He was so shocked that it took him all three dips in the water before he worked out his scream. But he calmed down relatively quickly. It was a great service, and we had everyone to the house afterwards for barbeque and it was SO much fun.

I had spent all week trying to clean house which is relatively impossible with a baby and a preschooler. Somehow it all got done, and Jav and I worked like trojans all day yesterday to try to get everything ready before we had to get ready for Mass. I was determined, however, to relax and have a good time once everyone got here, and that's just what I did. My Mom suggested I channel my maternal grandmother (Mamaw), who used to throw parties quite a bit. She would never panic about anything, and would just have some wine and thoroughly enjoy herself. I did pretty good and I think everyone else had a good time, too.

Joel is losing that baby thing waaaaaaayyyyyyyyy too fast. Of course size-wise he never really had that baby thing. And my gosh is he getting bigger. I can't wait to find out what he weighs and how long he is at the nine month check-up. Actually yes I can wait. As I said, it's all going too fast. But the biggest change is in personality, and how all of sudden he has a distinct one. He protests if you take a toy away from him. He's finally started babbling again and if he's awake, he's talking. He's trying to clap his pudgy hands together and gets so proud of himself when he gets even a little close. He is so laid back compared to the way Gabriel was. Gabriel had swim class for almost two weeks and Joel would just hang out with me, sitting on a beach towel playing with a water bottle or whatever I gave him. Sometimes he fussed a little if I didn't have time to feed him before we left the house, but all I had to do is hug him a little and he would stop. He's just the BEST baby. When he does get mad about something, he invariably says, "mama" really clearly.

Last week I had to get a little upset with him when he kept biting me on the shoulder (he has a really hard time when he's teething). After the first couple of quiet tries didn't work, I had to raise my voice quite a bit. He burst into tears. It was then that I had confirmation of how opposite his personality is from his brother, who was never too concerned if I got mad at him. Sensitive!!! Joel is starting to get into watching Baby Einstein more, and does some crazy half-running, half jumping moves all through a showing. I've got to catch it on video. Along with the clapping attempts and the sweet way he looks at his daddy when he comes home from work every day.

Gabriel is mostly happy with these changes. He just doesn't like it when Joel grabs one of his toys and starts chewing on it. Joel still can't quite get his crawler to work, and keeps scooting backwards and getting frustrated. If I'm not in the room, Gabriel will bring him a toy (or two or three or four) to console him. Mealtimes are getting more and more fun with Gabriel trying to get a laugh out of Joel. It doesn't take much! You'd think I wouldn't still be marveling over the fact that I am lucky enough to have had two of these wonders.