Eight Months

Levi turned eight months old on Monday! He weighs 15 pounds, 15 ounces and measures 28 inches long. He sat unsupported for the first time on July 4th, but he doesn't really care for sitting up much. He's more interested in army crawling and scooting on his belly. He's been rocking on his hands and kness for a couple of weeks now, and I think that we're just days away from crawling. Here's a rare sitting moment:

And a peek at his teeth:

He loves to play with us when we go get him in the morning or from naps. As soon as he hears our footsteps or voice, he flips over on his stomach and hides his face. We'll ask him, "Where's Levi?" and he just grins. Every once in a while he picks up his head and smiles, before burying his face again. He's so much fun!

He's always been fairly vocal, but it's gone into overdrive over the last few days. He 'talks' continuously - to us, to himself, to his toys. He's eating a lot, sometimes requiring us to make a small second batch after he finishes his first helping.

Here's his eight-month picture with Tex:

We went hiking up Twin Sisters a week ago. Levi's been going on short walks in the hiking backpack, but this was his first lengthy hike. He feel asleep after about 30 minutes and had his standared 40-minute nap. We can't get him a trail patch since we had to return before reaching the summit, but it won't be long before he gets one.

When I lay Levi down to sleep, he turns on his belly and puts his bottom in the air. I passed by his crib to check on him yesterday, and took a picuture of his odd sleeping posture:

Rob caught Levi and I both before we blinked - an amazing feat:

This last picture is so sweet and it wasn't posed; Rob was playing with Levi and the ranch photographer caught the moment. This one will be framed on our wall soon.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Lynda

Now I Can Say I Have

In their spare time, the summer staff plays a game called "I've Never". Here's how it goes: the group sits in chairs arranged in a wide circle around one person standing in the center. The person in the center completes the sentence, "I've never ______" (example: "I've never been to Europe.") and everyone who has done that has to stand up from their chair, and find a new chair to sit in before someone else gets there. The person left standing without a chair is now "it" and is responsible for the next statement.

We've got some adventurous types on our staff, but since I've not done a lot of things, I spend a lot of time sitting. I've never been to Europe, skydived, been surfing, or gone hunting like many in the group. I've also never gotten my nose pierced, had a sister, climbed Longs Peak, or been to Africa. It's fun watching everyone play, but it would be more fun if I had more shared experiences. This week, I had a couple of new experiences that may increase my participation. If anyone says, "I've never been thrown from a horse." or, "I've never dislocated a finger.", I can happily join the mad scramble for a new chair.

[Full disclosure: there is an image of the aforementioned dislocated finger below. I am stalling so that you can decide whether you want to see it, and skip it if you don't. It's pretty gross looking, and if you're at all squeamish, you should either skip it, or have a trash can handy.]

So I was having a riding lesson earlier this week, and my wrangler friend and I left the horse pen to practice trotting on some roads in the lower meadow. My wrangler friend is a great teacher, and she'd just given me some instructions when her hat blew off. I remember her hat blowing toward me and my horse, seeing my legs in the air, and picking myself up off the ground. It seems that the flying hat spooked my horse, and in my inexperience, I was unable to ride out the horse's buck and hop. I stood up pretty quickly, told Laura that I was fine, and then I spied my finger. Though it didn't hurt, it didn't look right. I looked at my friend and told her that my finger was either broken or dislocated, and that we needed to get back to the barn.

I'm aware now of the Lord's provision, big and small. I am grateful that He set me in the grass next to the road, far from the horse. I'm relieved that my finger was only dislocated and not broken. I am appreciative that I ran into Levi's babysitter on the way back to the barn so that Rob and I could get to the medical center faster. He really took care of me in the whole situation.

Rob and I were at the medical center within thirty minutes and the finger was reduced (I prefer relocated) in a short time. By the way, having my finger put back in place was not as bad as I thought it would be. Even if it took four attempts. The description that the physician's assistant gave me beforehand was worse than the actual procedure. They sent me home with a lovely finger splint and I'll return next week to have it checked.

Here's one last chance to skip the picture, if you're inclined to do so. Without further delay, I present my gnarly dislocated finger:
When you return from throwing up, do you think you might like to play "I've Never"?

Lynda

He's a Yankee Doodle Dandy

Clint Cox was born in the wee hours of the Fourth of July. He weighed 9 pounds, 8.4 ounces and measured 21 inches. Stephanie, Craig and Clint are all well. I can't wait to meet little Clint. Thanks for you prayers!

Lynda

Stephanie and Clint

My best friend Stephanie checked into the hospital today to deliver Levi's best friend, Clint. If you're reading this today or in the next few days, please pray health and safety for Stephanie and Clint. Please pray for Craig, too, who is about to meet his son!

Lynda