Crawling and more highlights...

We went to the Jacks' lake house for our annual Sunday School party - Jonathan's first time. Jackson and Jamie rode the sea doo and mambo.

Jonathan was dedicated to the Lord July 23rd. My parents, Jamie's parents, Jamie's godparents, Emily, Ryan, Eric, Emma, and Granny all came. It was a neat celebration.

Last weekend we went to Greenville to hang out with the Voelkerts - Ryan, Em, Eric, and Emma. We went to the pool on Saturday and it was drizzling so no one was really there. Jackson loves Bible stories right now. He and Jamie will re-enact some of them - his favorite is David and Goliath. Jackson will be David, select his stones, hurl them at Jamie (Goliath) with his imaginary slingshot, etc. Jackson began using his action figures to play out Jesus being nailed to the cross and we had to explain that we don't do that... kind of hard to explain you can act out David and Goliath but Jesus dying on the cross for our sin is serious... I say all that to tell you about the pool. We were in the pool and I hear Jackson say, "Daddy, I want to walk on the water like Jesus." Jamie lifts Jack up, pool vest and all, and carries Jackson mid-air, making it look like Jackson is gliding across the water as Jackson yells, "Hey, everyone! I'm Jesus walking on the water!" He gets out, runs up to his aunt and uncle and says, "Aunt Emmy, Uncle Ryan! Did you see me? I walked on the water like Jesus!" Then to Jamie, "Daddy, I want to do it again!" Let's just say that is probably Jack's one and only time to do Jesus walking on the water.

Jim came and picked Jamie up to go back to Birmingham on Sunday. I went to see my friend, Bronwen, from college. Her girls, Rachel and Elizabeth, played with Jackson while Bronwen and I visited. After that, I headed to Columbia and spent a week with my family.

My mom and sister gave me a break by helping me tremendously with the boys. Jack and I went to a nearby park with my friend, Lori, and her son, Noah. Betsy, Jack, and I went to Fayetteville, NC, to see my brother before he went to Iraq on his second tour. We swam in the neighbor's pool. We jumped on my parents' trampoline. I watched some movies and had a few naps. One or both of the boys got up each night so I had a few naps while I was there. My dad was gone during the week and came back so we got to see him, too. It was a great visit for all of us.

Jonathan has been congested since May. His doctor says that is common and he is too little to be able to cough up what is in his chest and it will go away. This last week at Mom and Dad's at night, his breathing got barky, like a seal. I would listen to the monitor and pace over his crib, making sure each breath wasn't his last. After what we have been through with him, I am probably more nervous than I should be. He seemed to get better as the week progressed.

Jim and Betty babysat for us on the evening of our anniversary a few weeks ago and noticed his congestion and how it became more croupy. I had heard it before. I thought he was looking at me and coughing on purpose to get my attention. As it turns out, he was. He now looks at me, does this repeated croupy cough as he bobs his head up and down with a smile on his face. I respond in kind and he does it back. It is our little joke.

On Wednesday of last week, my mom watched Jonathan while I was out. She thought Jonathan crawled. I thought he had been doing it but thought perhaps I was being overly positive. He was! He is doing it himself! We are so excited! He is eating three meals a day, napping regularly twice a day, rolling all over the place, crawling, sitting up, sleeping through the night, and continues to wow us!

We got home last night after a smooth trip and a stop to see my college roommate, Rozalinde and her husband, Chris. Chris watched Jack so Roz and I could catch up. It was good to see them.

Thanks for keeping up with our story - I will post pictures later!

Julie:)
juliewarren@mindspring.com