Olympic Overload

We've really enjoyed watching the Summer Games from Beijing....though I must say I'm glad they're over. All these incredible gold medal performances have meant really late nights for me. When the olympics don't end until after 12....or later...the news can't go on until after the olympics. So tack on another half hour and a twenty minute drive home and you've got a long night...short overnight. A couple of time, I've gotten home around 2, only to have Sawyer wake up at 5. UGH! I'm left craving sleep...and a little cranky.

Anyway, the Olympics have offered a few cute blog notes. Connor was watching gymnastics the other afternoon. He commented that he loved the girls nice tight red suits...and they looked nice on her butt! Another time he was watching and told me the gymnast had "really nice moves." So cute.

Jackson is talking up a storm. He's totally coming out of his shell. He'll tell you what he wants to do...and if you don't listen...he'll grab your hand and pull you along. He's been really sweet with Sawyer...calming him if he cries, tickling under his chin.

We had another visit with the therapist Friday. She thinks he's going great with his interaction. So, she's heading in to day care to observe there. Katy tells us that Jackson doesn't really talk there...and keeps to himself. So, we'll see if there's anything we can work on.

During Friday's session, Connor and Jackson were going back and forth playing. Jackson said, "its Connor's turn." At which point, Connor said, Mom...how does he know my name? HA!

Sawyer is continuing to grow and thrive. He's pulling himself up on the furniture and even started climbing up the stairs last week. We've got to keep an eye on him, he's so quick! He was 8 teeth (4top, 4 bottom) he's really starting to eat table food...he loves raisins, bananas, graham crackers, ham and chicken nuggets. He'll be turning one before we know it!

Craig is coaching volleyball at Conestoga Valley this season. He got lots of media coverage this week since he coach Olympic medalist Kim Glass when she was at CV. WGAL had him on and he was in the Lancaster Intelligencer too. He said he'll soon need an agent! They start the season this week. I'm praying for patience...and lots of sleep.

August Already?

Connor and spent a Saturday morning turning him into Clifford the Big Red Dog. The craft project was part of a DVD Grandma Esbenshade rented. Connor couldn't wait to have his own Clifford ears and nose...we even made a tail!

Here are my guys! Enjoying a special evening watching Tom and Jerry on the portable DVD player in Connor's room. Aren't they cute?

Yep, it's August already. Where did the summer go? Time just sweeps past us. Life has been good for the Esbenshade clan. I've been feeling a little under the weather, but I'm trying to get more sleep, eat better, and take vitamins. Hopefully, I'll be feeling better in no time.

We had our first visit with a therapist for Jackson yesterday. She was really nice...Carol is her name. She asked a lot of questions, then helped show us some ways to encourage Jackson to interact with us. We'll work on it...and she'll be back in two weeks.

Sawyer is growing like a weed. It seem like he's getting a new tooth every time we turn around. He's got 8 choppers now. He gets a little fussy, but it usually his pleasant self. He's also crawling at full throttle! Boy, can this kid move. Things have gotten a whole lot busier with him on the move.

Connor is doing great. He's really into spider man right now. He loves the Saturday morning cartoon and could watch it over and over, if we let him. He's cute to watch...he tries to remember the theme song, then sings it back to us. He got into a little trouble pretending to be spider man though. He was using a bungie cord with hooks of the end to "swing" from the top of the swing set. Well, he tried to pull Jackson up to the top of the swing set with the hook (also known as his web)...the hook broke free and snapped up hitting Connor's eye. Fortuantely, I was outside mowing...I didn't see it happen, but I did see Connor in tears, sliding down the sliding board. He has a nice gash on the top of this eye lid...and the eye lid got pretty swollen, but after a good bit of Mommy TLC...and a Hershey kiss, he was doing pretty well. I think he'll have a scar, but it would have been a lot worse!