The love dare, and my silly monkey

I haven't blogged in a while. Life seems to be speeding up by the second, and I haven't really found the time to collect many thoughts. This week has just flown by. The weather has been such a relief lately. I don't particularly mind the rain, but days seem to drag as Zach can't get outside. Bill and I took him to Disneyland on Sunday. Throughout the last year we have had many Disneyland trips, but just the last few has Zach really enjoyed it. I wonder what goes through his little mind when he see's the characters we read about and see in the Disney movies. He hasn't seen much of Winnie the Pooh, but has taken a liking to him. I don't think he really gets that Pooh's name doesn't have anything to do with poo-poo. He says poo-poo throughout the ride and even scrunches up his nose when he says it. It's so funny. I remember being so deathly afraid of the Haunted Mansion, and Pirates ( Ok, I was a huuuuge baby) but it doesn't seem to bother him. Maybe next year it will hit him. Zach loves Pirates and "rawrrs" at them throughout the ride. It is so fun to see how our babes react to things, which ones they like, and which ones they most definitely don't. I really can't believe how fast he is growing. It seems the last month he has become a "big boy." I'm not really used to it. I find myself helping him with things I know he can do, only to be reminded "Stop, me." ( Stop, I can do it.) Then, I sit and watch in amazement. Not that he can do it, but that he doesn't want me to help. I see a healthy balance, and I am glad for that. He has the independence, but still needs me to kiss his "owie's." He helps me cook, and loves to "stir-it-up", he knows to put his blocks away before bed, and enjoys doing it. I see a sense of accomplishment in his face when he is done. He brings me diapers and wipes when he needs a change, oh and one for shrek too. Shrek needs his poo-poo changed also. He says "eeeeiiiiwwww" to shreks poop, as if it is worse than his! We're going through a clingy stage right now, which in the moments of this static-cling I could run and lock myself in the bathroom, but in hind sight I wouldn't have it any other way. I know that he will be a more confident and self assured person because of it. And I know I will look back and cherish these times. At bedtime after he sneakily has convinced me to read 3 books instead of one, he knows after lights out and prayers mama's out of there. So, while we are lying down doing prayers, his hand is on my head the whole time. If I try to raise it, it's "NO, TOP." Then we say prayers again, and it's bed time. I think of these times now that I am writing them down and I noticed I have had a smile on my face the whole time. That's what this boy does to me.

On another note; I am doing the "Love Dare." This http://thelovedarebook.com/ book is featured in the movie "Fireproof." It's about a couples marriage that is seemingly over. This was their last attempt at saving their relationship. A friend of mine bought me the book and I am going to give this one last shot. It is similar to a journal, and on each page there is a "love dare." I know, it sounds really cheesy but hey, if cheese can help save my marriage, I'm ok with it. Really though, when you get into the book it's not cheesy. The first day's dare was to be patient. Demonstrate patience and don't say one negative word of negativity to your spouse all day. If you feel the need to, don't say anything. So, we'll see. I encourage anyone who is hanging to their marriage by a thread like I am, to try it. Or, if you simply want to strengthen your marriage. It basically is teaching you unconditional love. So, I will check back in. Maybe I will do my entries on here. We'll see.

Zach-a-boo, I love you.