Climb every mountain....

....my baby's theme song, I think! This morning, he woke us up, and Karl went in to get him. He was standing up in his crib, waiting for us. Does this usually happen at 7 months??? I didn't think so, but it's been 14 years since I had one this little, and I don't remember. We just lowered his mattress a couple of months ago, but I guess it's time to put it on the bottom notch already. The rail was at his chest, and I can just see him flipping right over it. He has absolutely no concept of danger.....oh to be still so naive! He crawls right to the edge of the bed and tries to head for the floor. It's all about getting somewhere. I can't tell you how many times he's gone for the power cords in the living room. He crawls over and grabs, poor guy, and Mama says "no" and moves him all the way back to square one; then he's off again. No offense to any of you guys out there - we love you and God made us different for a good reason - but it's that one-track, focused-on-the-goal male mind. I love it! It fascinates me how God makes us all so different yet all so the same! I love looking at him and seeing his dad, my dad and his big brother in him but still just seeing him as a completely unique and beautiful creation. He is SO driven, SO determined. He will never be satisfied with the world as it is; he's the person who will be out to change it. I pray that God will use this strength to do incredible things through him. So when I feel like I cannot possibly keep up with him another minute, when all he wants to do is keep walking, and my back is killing me, I try to remember that this character trait will serve him well in life.

I'll take a quick break from Garin to brag on my Matthew - speaking of character! He joined the cross country team this year. Most of you know that he has not been an athlete. We tried soccer (too hot, too much running), basketball (too hard), t-ball and baseball (lasted three years, but I think that was just for social reasons) over the years, but nothing stuck. I was more than a little surprised when he decided last spring that he wanted to run. He did a little running over the summer, but not nearly enough; he had no idea what x-country would require. I was fully prepared for him to make 2-3 practices and change his mind. Nope! He was the slowest on the team when practice started and couldn't run the full distance, but he kept going! He set a goal not to be the slowest at the end of the season. Great goal, I thought. He has a great runner's body- tall, thin, long legs - but he needs practice. Then he pulled something in his leg, and it kept stiffening when he ran. He kept going to practice and ran until it got too bad....1 mile, 2 miles, whatever he could. Monday, he was able to make 4.5 miles, and he decided to run in the meet yesterday. He did th 5K in 26.52 minutes. No, he isn't breaking any school records yet, but he did it, and it's a respectable time. I can't run an 8-point-something mile! For years, I have been telling him that he won't be a champion at the first game. It takes work, practice and passion to be a champion. I thought he wasn't hearing me. Sometimes they have to figure it out on their own. Some lessons just take a little time. He has the potential to be a star runner, just like the rest, if he keeps working. Even if he doesn't ever win a race, though, he's finally learned perseverance, and he's doing something that will help him be healthy, and (hokey as it sounds) he is a champion in my book. Sidenote: the team wins or loses based on the placing of all the team members combined. His team took first.

Sometimes I am surprised by how much Matt has matured in the last year. Besides being a foot taller and developing a bass voice, he is learning to take school more seriously. He skipped Algebra I and is working hard in Algebra II, basically learning both at once to get ahead. He started the year in regular English and found it boring, so he requested a move up to Honors English, which was granted. Who knew he would ever choose to work so hard?! He has a very bright future ahead of him. I just pray every day, every moment that he will make smart choices socially and spiritually during these precarious teen years.

Back to Garin...boy this one is long....sorry. He has a tooth that's SO CLOSE to coming through. His gums are bulging with the outline of it. It's a matter of hours, I'm sure. He was in the exersaucer while I showered this morning, pressing the animal-sounds buttons and mimicking them. He has the horse down!!! Over and over and over again. He then moved on to the kitty. Over and over and over again. Wonder if it will be the dog or the cow next? My money's on the dog. He likes 'em high and shrill; the cow is low and almost soothing by comparison.

Karl and Garin both seem to be feeling better today, except for the runny noses. Yay! Karl has a meeting with the Wing Commander this morning to plan for next week. I learned last night that the General over all of Air Mobility Command who is speaking at the Air Force Ball is touring the base next week, and Karl will be involved with briefing him on the AFSO21 stuff he's working on. How cool that he'll have such an opportunity! Of course, he downplays it like everything else. Or maybe I'm too easily impressed. But I think it's exciting.

We practiced our ballroom dancing in the living room last night. Silly as it sounds, we enjoy it so much. Even in our bare feet on the living room rug, with no makeup and droplets of spaghetti sauce on my tank top and with his runny nose and jogging pants, it is still like stepping back into those early days of romance and fun before we shared a bathroom, dirty dishes and dirty diapers. It's just the two of us together, laughing when we bump knees or miss steps....or when I completely misread his lead, and we invent a whole new sequence. We're looking pretty hot on the tango! I hope the band will play a few on Saturday!

Going to the USO storage today to get stuff out for our OSC social tonight, and I'm supposed to pick up the finished sweatshirts for the craft show volunteers this afternoon. I hear Garin, so that's my cue. Have a great day!