The 18 month visit

Here are the most recent stats:

Weight: 24 lbs 8 oz (35th percentile)
Length: 31 in (20th percentile)
Head circumference: 48.5 in (75th percentile)

They had to poke his toe for a hemoglobin test (I think). First toe they poked didn't give enough blood, so they poked a second toe, and the bleeding wouldn't stop! The girl kept saying things like, "I'm so confused! I don't know why it's bleeding so much! I have never had anyone bleed like that before for this kind of test!" That didn't make me feel so great, but eventually his toe stopped bleeding and he's fine now. Anyway, overall his health is great and is continuing to catch up from being so scrawny his first year of life.

ASL signs Sam uses

1. more
2. please
3. thank you
4. milk
5. drink
6. all gone/done
7. food
8. hot
   

Words Sam can say at 18 months

1. I wan my nana (I want my banana)
2. I wan up--bphew (I want up--with some spitting after)
3. I wan dat (I want that)
4. dada
5. mama
6. no
7. peek-a-boo
8. doggan (doggy)
9. diaper
10. bible
11. scriptures
12. amen
13. two
14. all gone
15. ooh, ohh, ah, ah (monkey sounds)
16. pig sounds
17. hi
18. hello
19. bye
20. on
21. up
22. pleeh (please)
23. cheese
24. Anna
25. Peter
26. Hyruh (Hyrum)
27. head
28. juice
29. hot
30. all duh (all done)
31. shoes
32. hat
33. brr
34. uh-oh
35. baby
36. fish
    

Update on Everett

Here is an update on our potential purchase of the Everett, Washington Great Harvest. For weeks, we went back and forth deciding first of all if we wanted to take this deal. It has been such an emotional roller coaster trying to figure if we could make this thing work. Some days we had accepted that it probably wouldn't be possible and tried to move on planning Chris' Spring semester. And then within the same day, something would change, and we would be back to trying to do everything to allow this to happen. Basically it's been stressful and exhausting.

The most current update is that we have decided that we do want to buy the bakery. From the very beginning, we've felt like this is what our family needs. We decided to drop Chris' classes at the U with the faith that this is the direction we're supposed to go in. It's a great deal, we'll probably never see a deal this good again, and this is something Chris is really excited about--and for those of you who know how hard it's been for Chris to find something he's really passionate about to choose as a career, this is really a big thing. Anyway, so we think we've got the financial stuff all squared away, we had a phone interview with the franchise yesterday, and we are planning a mandatory trip up to Dillon, Montana for the final interviews at the franchise within the next week or two. After that, the franchise will let us know if we can go ahead with the transfer and buy the bakery.

So that's where we're at for now. I hope it all works out. I just want Chris to enjoy his work. We'll keep you all posted.

Leaving my kids

I was absent from school for the first time yesterday for a training class at the district offices (it was about incorporating writing in all content areas--very interesting and useful stuff!). My goal is to not miss too many days of teaching; for one, I get a big bonus at the end of the year if I don't use too many sick days, and two, it's a pain to prepare lesson plans that substitutes who don't necessarily know anything about French can follow. So anyway, I left my kids for the first time in the hands of a substitute teacher, and it felt similar to the first time we left Sam with a babysitter. I was nervous they wouldn't be good for the sub and cause trouble. Today upon my return, I read from the sub that my students had behaved well, and my students said they were happy I was back. When I told them I would have to miss another day in two weeks (for the second and last day of training on the same topic), one of my girls said, "Ah, Madame Taylor, we're going to miss you!" I sure like my job! What fun kids!