Long Legged

Yesterday was a library/park day for Harbor and I. We still don't get out to too many places alone together yet, but those are two spots we visit frequently. Before we left, Harbor went outside to check on his bugs and to make sure they were still in the bug homes we had drawn with chalk.

I also set up the tripod and took around 50 pictures of us together inside. I feel silly doing it, but without family here, I am left to my own devices. Harbor is becoming much more photogenic as a result, I think, and he smiles at the flashing lights on demand, which is pretty cute.

We had lots of funny outtakes, but our session was cut short when Harbor decided to play with our dog, Bichon, instead.

This is not a "pose" worthy picture, but is where my blog title drew inspiration... isn't he long legged these days? For a two year old, I'd say so!  : )

Life Lately

This is almost a "Day in the Life" post for today, Saturday. I know someday I will look back on this season of my life- when we moved to Detroit and Harbor was two years old- and wonder what my days were really like.

We started the morning with breakfast and trains. It is how we start every morning it seems. Harbor really loves trains. We live in a city jammed packed with trains. They come rumbling through our area at all hours of the day and night. We hear them as we drift off to sleep and now.. we sleep right through their long, lonely whistles.

Harbor can build his own tracks and make bridges and tunnels {out of toilet paper rolls I save for him.} He has excellent fine motor skills and really enjoys designing shapes for the train track. He even has red and white striped poles {made from straws I saved for him} and stops and starts his train as he opens and closes the poles. We are stopped by trains almost daily as we go to the library and grocery store. They are everywhere.

I have a basket system for Harbor's favorite toys. Lincoln Logs, trains, blocks, cars and trucks, and animals all have their own baskets in the living room on a buffet table I use for storage. Harbor also keeps a few toys in his room and we are lucky to have a big open playroom in the basement where we house everything and anything he isn't currently playing with. On most trips to the play room, he will ask to bring something upstairs. When that happens, we usually rotate toys out. 

For the most part, it works really well. Harbor can pull them down himself and make selections without asking for help. But, let's face it. After a few hours inside, the area behind our sofa table looks like this despite my best laid plans. Such is life with a busy toddler. I just love my little boy. Boys are wonderful {and busy!}

Harbor loves to climb and play. A few days ago, he pulled out his dresser drawers in his bedroom and tried to climb up them while I was not even three feet away on the landing. His dresser {solid wood} fell over on top of him, crashing to the floor and left him with a bruised back and a cut arm.

If I turn my back, he is on top of the table. He is a good little boy, sweet and obedient, but full of curiosity {as he should be, of course.} He keeps me on my toes and I look forward to interacting with him every day at home.

In order to keep my sanity, I find that tackling little projects, like organizing the junk drawer with simple Tupperware bins, fills me with peace and a sense of calm {so that I can carry on.  : )

After lunch today, we went outside to play with sidewalk chalk. Harbor requests sidewalk chalk almost daily and we entertain ourselves with making railroad tracks, ABC's, and hopscotch. Today, we took his plastic bug collection and drew habitats for each of them {an ant hill for the ant, a leaf for the caterpillar, etc..} While playing, Harbor was stung by a wasp. Poor boy. I watched him closely all afternoon for an allergic reaction, but was so thankful there was little to no swelling.

While Harbor rested, I did several loads of laundry and worked on the guest room in preparation for my parents visit next week. I also tried to organize a  few things in my craft room while Harbor played with a sticker book in the floor.

Before dinner, David and Harbor spent a few hours washing the Jeep by hand. Harbor was quite the little helper and the activity outside with Daddy seemed to erase the sting on his little hand.

While they worked, I made dinner. Harbor is {knock on wood!} potty trained for the most part. He will have the occasional accident, but he wears big boy pants all day and out in public and will let me know if he needs to go to the potty. He stopped working with Daddy tonight for two potty breaks. He is such a little boy these days, though he still likes to be called "my baby" and will correct me if I say he is "big." I know someday soon he will no longer request to be called my baby.

My picture taking was cut short as Harbor climbed all the way in the bucket.

The boys came inside for dinner {I made baked chicken and red potatoes in a roasting bag with salad and sliced garden tomatoes from a fruit stand.} After dinner, Harbor and I went for walk and Harbor collected sticks he found in peoples' yards and brought them home.

David gave Harbor a bath while I started on the kitchen. I think the excitement of the day caught up with me, however, as I ended up lying on the couch and just resting. After Harbor's shower, I brushed and flossed his teeth and read for 30 minutes with him while David offered to clean the kitchen. While I was still reading, David ran to Blockbuster for a movie and came back with a diet coke for me from McDonalds {we love the $1.00 deals there on drinks right now!} And as I blog, David is watching a movie.

Everyday is different, but today was a typical day. Maybe I need to do these type of posts more often. Someday soon, it will all be a memory.  : )

I feel so blessed to be a wife, to be a mother. I am so unworthy of this life as I am a sinner, saved only by grace. It is only by the grace of God that I have such blessings and I am forever thankful that Christ so loved me that He died and rose again. Because of Him, I live and love and have meaning in my life. Be grateful in your life, regardless of the season. Jesus loves you!  : )

Jessica and Judith Take Detroit {Lake Erie and the Island Cruise}

I'm finally wrapping up Judith's visit to Detroit! It already feels like a year ago, but it was only in July. Time is passing so quickly!

We live within 15 miles of many islands, one being Grosse Ile. We took the Jeep and I gave her a tour of some of the pretty homes there. 

The next day, we drove to the entrance of the Lake Erie Metropark, which is only 10 minutes or so from where we live. It was a beautiful morning and we enjoyed getting to talk and walk and talk some more. Harbor enjoyed being pushed in the stroller and was such a good little boy.

We saw many freighter ships and yachts out on the water.

This pier is actually in our town and very close to our house. We enjoy the water and boat watching it provides.

We went out to eat that night and walked the downtown in our city.

The next day, we headed to an art festival in our downtown. We ate roasted pecans, ate lunch ate a trendy little Mediterranean cafe, and window shopped.

That night, David took care of Harbor and we headed back to Lake Erie to meet up at the marina for an island cruise and a coastal cruise of Canada.

The tour was roughly two hours long and took us up the coast of Michigan toward Detroit and then into Canadian waters to see their mainland in Windsor, as well.

And, of course, we saw many more large freighter ships hauling loads to Chicago and Toledo. We also passed by the Detroit Lighthouse, the light house in the water at the opening of Lake Erie from the Detroit River {but were still too far away for my camera to zoom in enough to get a good picture}

There was also a sailboat race in progress, which was lots of fun to watch.

This is Bobo Island, a Canadian Island close to Detroit. There were some beautiful homes here.

A large ferry docked to allow residents of Bobo Island to drive their cars on in order to go into town. Island living would be interesting, wouldn't it?  : )

That night, Judith and I went to a late night movie and opted to eat dinner at the theater, which ended up being nachos and popcorn.  : )  She left the next afternoon by taxi. I felt really sad that I couldn't drive her, but I am just not brave enough here in this big city to get her there and find my way home safely.

We had a great visit!

Rachel mailed a sweet package a few days ago, as did my parents. We always appreciate new books and goodies! Thanks, family!

I don't think I have shown you the shower curtain I sewed for the upstairs bathroom. I finished it a few weeks ago and I went with red damask and black and white harlequin.

You can also see the great tile work David did when he redid the bathroom floor. It was originally a tan laminate, but David gutted the bathroom and installed new lights, toilet, sink, and floors before Harbor and I moved up here to join him. We went with the subway tile to keep the time period true to the house.

Happy Wednesday to you!