Cousins

"Cousins are friends that will love you forever."

I knew my entire family, including my internationally residing brother, would be getting together in August in Utah. I also knew that we wouldn't be there. I hemmed and hawed over the decision to go for awhile but in the end decided since we were out of Sky Miles and our millionaire status hadn't exactly kicked in yet (or ever probably) that we would be staying in Tennessee all summer long.

I never expected my brother to email a few weeks ago asking if he and his little boy could stop by for a visit on their way to SLC. It may sound sappy but the thought that he even considered detouring to see us meant a lot to me. After I told James they were coming, every time we got in the car he asked if we were going to pick up Michael. I finally made him a countdown chain so he could get a better grasp on when they'd be here.

It turned out it couldn't have been better timing since Brian was gone unexpectedly that entire week. It wasn't a long visit but we were so grateful to have them and loved every minute with them. James and Michael had a blast together and at one point James put his arm around him and said "Michael, you're my best friend." Cute.

Here are some shots of the less than 48 hours they were here. We also went to this random safari ranch where you drive around and zebras, deer, emus, llamas and other random animals stick their heads in your car windows and follow you trying to get food. It was hilarious (and kinda scary) but we forgot to take a camera to that, so here are other randoms shots:

This is what our world is coming to--sitting next to each other playing iPads. They were both excited to show each other what they were doing on their own iPads.

 Uncle Rob (I just realized I never got a picture with him)!

I told James if he could go an entire week without having an accident during bed/naptime that he could have this Mater bubble blower. He and Michael took turns running it up and down the yard while the other one chased behind. They loved it and I'm pretty sure it wore them out (and Mater out since he hasn't worked since) since they both fell asleep really fast that night.

 Rob being a good uncle and holding Livy even as she spit up all over his watch.

 This was the day they left and we were all kinda sad they were gone. To add some excitement to our day we decided it was time Miss Liv tried the doorway jumper. She loved it.

So did Jamers. He was hoping they also came in his size.

Sadly, it'll probably be another year before we see Michael again. I vow to make it to Israel to see them at least once while they're there though.

Fireman James

James doesn't leave home without one of his precious fire hats. Yesterday he insisted I call him "Fireman James" all day long and walked around in this "fireman" getup. I don't know how he comes up with these things. He also had to wear one of each boot instead of a matching pair.

The other day I was buckling him in his carseat and was getting impatient with him and he looked at me and firmly said "Mom, do NOT yell at the fireman!"

He's been potty trained for over four months now. I was determined to have him potty trained by age two because I knew he could do it and I'm convinced that if I had been more consistent with it, he would have been. He was most of the way there for months and months and then when Livy came along he totally backtracked just like everyone said he would. So we started over in April fully committed to this method and haven't looked back since. He has an occasional accident during naps but we've learned as long as we don't give him much to drink in the couple hours before bed time, he usually wakes up totally dry in the mornings and runs to the potty first thing, which means earlier wake up times, but overall it's awesome.

Since moving into a big bed a couple months ago he still wakes up about an hour before he used to, but naps are finally getting better at least.

He's finally getting to be a better eater. If I persuade him hard enough (i.e. threaten to not give him his beloved chocolate milk or iPad), he'll usually at least try a couple bites of what I've made for dinner and he's starting to request healthier and more normal snacks. Hallelujah!

Just about every day he asks if either Grandpa or cousin Michael is coming to play with him that day or if Pawnka (what he calls Brian's dad--not even sure how to spell it) is bringing his boat to take him skiing. It's always sad when I have to tell him they live too far away. Hopefully not forever though.

When Brian came back from Idaho last week he brought a huge suit case full of his nephew's old clothes for James to wear. One item was a pair of zip up Air Jordans just his size. James thinks he's pretty hot stuff in them.

We go out in the backyard once or twice a day to throw a football/hit baseballs. He's getting quite good at catching and hitting the ball really far. I'm already curious to see what sport(s) he'll really take to when he gets older.

He goes a little overboard with his past-tense verbs. Two out of three times he'll try to add an "-ed" onto an already past tense verb. I always correct him but I get the feeling that he thinks I am the one who is wrong.

"I eated all my dinner."
"He chaseded me."
"I felled down."
"I gaved her a kiss" or "I kisseded her on the cheek."

He's started to get embarrassed. The first time I noticed it we were at Livy's four-month doctor's appointment and he accidentally fell off his chair. The look on his face when everyone asked if he was okay, as he tried to nonchalantly brush it off, was priceless. The doctor probably thought I was rude for laughing so hard about it.
 
He still loves Donald Duck and Chip and Dale. And the iPad.  

Hard

As I write this, I am currently the only member of the Richman family not in attendance at my brother-in-law's funeral.

It hurts to be thousands of miles away from somewhere you want to be, so far from people you want to love and support. What they are going through is beyond comprehension. And though I know nothing I do or say can take the pain away, I at least wish I could be there to put my arm around them.

Because I don't know what to do or where to direct my emotions right now, I'll just post the lyrics to the song my sweet husband is probably currently choking out at the pulpit and hope that my loved ones can feel love and peace amidst the tragedy of it all:

little boy in a base ball hat
stands in the field
with his ball and bat

player of them all
puts his bat on his shoulder
and tosses up his ball

and the ball goes up and the ball comes down
swings his bat all the way around
the world so still you can hear the sound
the baseball falls to the ground

now the little boy doesn't say a word
picks up his ball he is undeterred
says i am the greatest there has ever been
and he grits his teeth
and he tries it again

and the ball goes up and the ball comes down
swings his bat all the way around
the world so still you can hear the sound
and the baseball falls to the ground

he makes no excuses
he shows no fear
he just closes his eyes and listens to the cheers

little boy he adjusts his hat
picks up his ball
stares at his bat

says i am the greatest the game is on the line
and he gives his all one last time

and the ball goes up the moon so bright
swings his bat with all his might
the world's is still still it can be
and the baseball falls
and that's strike three

now it's supper time and his mama calls
little boy starts home
with his bat and ball

says i am the greatest that is a fact
but even i didn't know
i could pitch like that

says i am the greatest that is understood
but even i didn't know
i could pitch that good





We miss you already, Tyler.

A Quarter Year

Our little lady had her four month check-up earlier this week. At her two month appointment she was in the 50th percentile for weight. Just as I suspected, our little chubster has now jumped up to the 75th. As both our doctors have said, "Chubby babies are happy babies"--totally true with both my kids.


I already think she's going to be shy. Sometimes when I look at her and smile she'll smile really big and then turn away like she's embarrassed. It's cute.

The same thing rarely makes her laugh twice, so we're always looking for something new to get the giggles out of her.




She is still my little buddy. She just loves me and I adore it. I always thought any little girl we had would be a daddy's girl. Maybe it'll still happen some day but for now, she's a mom's girl, but probably only because Brian's not home enough to see her these days. Sad.

She's a sympathy crier. If she hears someone else crying , she'll usually start up, too.

She likes to suck on her fingers, which is kinda weird to me since Jamers never did it.




We can already tell she's probably going to be a drama queen. She'll be smiling and laughing one minute and throwing a fit the next. Heaven help us.

She is a talker and I love watching her cute little lips take shape when she makes certain sounds.

She is a gorgeous baby. Her eyes are still blue. Please oh please let them stay this way. Her hair is not quite as dark as it was when she was born.



About every other night or so is a good one. There, so far, seems to be no rhyme or reason to what makes for her long stretches. Since I know she's capable of at least nine, it makes me so frustrated when she only does four or five.

She and James take turns torturing me in the sleep department. If she sleeps like an angel one night, James will be awake instead. If James has a rare morning where he sleeps past 7:30 (this used to be a regular occurrence until he got a new bed) then she is up at the crack of dawn. One morning she slept until 8 and James woke us up at 5:45. I think they are conspiring against me to make sure I get as little sleep as possible so I won't ever want any more kids.

James still loves her to pieces but is getting used to her enough that he also is already starting to get annoyed with her sometimes. Like if she is sitting next to him and accidentally kicks him (cuz, you know, babies kick) he'll say "Stop it, Liv! Mom she's kicking me!"

I love this girl. And that's all I have to say.

Book Review

I've reviewed a couple books for Bethany House Publishers. Here's the latest review (I probably won't be recommending this one for any book clubs) that I also posted on Amazon . . . 

Relentless Pursuit by Ken Gire

I wanted to like this book. The title/subject was intriguing to me. Yet I've been sitting in front of my computer for the last 20 minutes struggling to find something positive to say about it. And I suppose that's just what this book was for me, a struggle: a struggle to get through, a struggle in nearly every page to keep to the point, a struggle in the very art of writing, etc.

This was the first book I've read by the author, Ken Gire. Unfortunately, after this book it will probably be my last. Overall, it wasn't well-written. If I hadn't known Gire had authored nearly two dozen other books, it would have been obvious it was written by someone who had never written before but wanted to give it a go anyway. It seemed disjointed, didn't hold my interest, and at times seemed to go off on a tangent about other subjects entirely.

It wasn't until the fifth chapter that Gire even discussed "who is the outsider?" Then in chapter eight he seems to say if you are the slightest bit wealthy or successful (or anything other than destitute), than you are an "insider" and lose touch with the "outsider." The truth is that anyone, anyone at all, can feel like/be an outsider. Socioeconomic class alone cannot dictate it and in that sense Gire's premise falls apart.

Ironically, the book finally began to shine in chapter 9, the book's concluding chapter. Gire's description and thoughts on the movie "Never Let Me Go" (although perhaps unrelated to the "outsiders" theme) and subsequent conversations with his sister and friend finally gave me a real glimpse into his thoughts, was somewhat well constructed and thought out, and gave me substance I could relate to.

I'll end with where I began: I wanted to like this book but despite the author's good intentions, the struggle to get through it was too much to overcome.

This book was provided as a review copy by Bethany House Publishers.

Half a Decade

We made it to five years! Go us!

Dang, we looked good young back then. It's amazing what five years, not enough sleep, and a lot more stress does to you. Oh and kids. But that's another story. 

Happy anniversary to my husband of five years. I can't wait to see where the next five years takes us (seriously, I really want to know where we'll be living, so lets figure it out asap).

Livy Livster

Here's a cute little video of Livy talking to us at dinner last week. I sure adore this girl. Last night she slept nine hours straight and oh how I loved her for it. She has been sleeping dreadfully horrible lately and I was on the very edge of having a breakdown because of it. Thank you, Livy, for finally having a good night.

She is sure growing fast. She's huge. HUGE. She's talking up a storm these days and smiling and laughing a ton. She's my little buddy, too. She gets upset if I set her down and walk away or if she can't see me. She definitely still resembles her big brother, but she's also becoming her own little person.

She's to the point where I wish she'd just stay small longer but I'm getting glimpses of her personality and I also can't wait to see who she becomes.  It's crazy to think that when we leave Tennessee in two years she'll be about the age James is now. I'm already predicting toddler girl drama.