Now that John is saying "yes," he has embraced his new word with vigor. Even though he acquires sometimes four or five words a day, he knows this word is special. He has invented a new game in which he takes a puzzle piece, holds it over the wrong spot, says "no," then holds it over the right spot and says, "yes!" I've taken video twice when I've heard the telltale "no . . . yes! . . . no . . . yes!" coming from the den.
A Spider Is Holding Me Hostage
Chris is on a business trip and it is trash day, so this morning I geared up to take it out myself. The endeavor was rather heroic of me because I had to strap John into the Ergo over my six-month pregnant belly and put a hat on him because we're in the middle of rain, which I didn't imagine would abate before the trash man comes, so I had to go out in it. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
I went around to the side of the house and dragged the can into the garage so I could empty our small can into the big can before I proceeded. I opened the big can, noticed a huge spider web across the top, and then saw a spider the size of a silver dollar dart out of the can and onto the handle. I screamed and leapt backward.
I examined the situation and got a broom to try to kill the spider, but by then he had disappeared. I looked for a rope to tie to the can so I could drag it to the curb with a safe distance between me and the spider, but I couldn't find a rope or any other suitable device.
Finally I decided that the can would have to stay where it is until Chris comes home and next week we will request a bulk pick-up since we will exceed our one-can limit.
The can is now inside the garage sitting right behind my van so I think I'm trapped and can't go anywhere until Chris comes home in two days because there is no way I'm touching that can again. I just hope the spider doesn't take refuge inside my nice warm van the way a cockroach did a few weeks ago. (I was leaving an LLL meeting, opened my van door, and a giant cockroach scurried all around the inside where I would have to sit down, which required I be so brave as to kill it on the spot or I would have been trapped across town because there was no way I was getting into a vehicle with a live cockroach.)
I swear, the bugs are bigger here in North Carolina than in Georgia (where they were already decidedly bigger than in California). The other day Chris swears he saw a moth the size of his palm.
I feel like things are crawling all over me now.
No kidding, the only driving car accident i've been in is because Dave was driving, I was freaking out about a bug on the windshield that had been flying around the car, and he tried to kill it for me, accidentally turned the wheel into a car in the lane beside us as he leaned over. I can't imagine what would happen if a bug crawled on me while I was driving. I'd probably try to pull over and kill it. I actually AM more scared of an accident than a bug. LOL.
ReplyDeleteI recall living in Florida, and dad saying, "someone just handed me my razor" as he opened the closet where it was kept. The roaches were so large that I had to sleep in the front part of the house! I later learned the bug man had not sprayed the back as a sptic tank yielded the largest roaches; he too was afraid!
ReplyDeleteJohn's puzzle vidios are wonderful! What a beautiful record you have made of his life and development! Katherine, I have truly enjoyed the blog; moreover having you for a daughter in law. We are truly blessed with all the women, who love our sons. Love you, mom Lauer
Those videos are great!!
ReplyDeleteSorry about the spider :P
I am right there with you Katherine!
ReplyDeleteWhere did you get that puzzle? Brand name? It looks awesome and I dont' have any with those chunky easy to manipulate pieces.
Shelly: It is a Melissa & Doug puzzle. Hunt around online and you'll see they carry quite a few puzzles that are chunky and basic enough for kids as young as John and Charlie. I like their brand a lot.
ReplyDeleteSarah: You remind me peripherally of a story from high school. An acquaintance was given a BRAND NEW car for her sixteenth birthday. She totalled it within a few weeks when driving with friends because she swerved to avoid hitting a squirrel. I guess she hadn't learned the lesson about being more scared of an accident than killing a rodent. (I'd have more sympathy if there were a squirrel inside the car who jumped on her face or something. ;)
ReplyDeleteYour spider hostage situation reminds me of a similar occurrence with a mouse several years ago! I was in our garage to fill up my dogs' bowls with food, and when I reached into the bag, a little mouse jumped on my hand! I screamed, jumped backed, then assessed the situation!
ReplyDeleteNow, as you know, I once worked at the Sac Zoo. I handled snakes, rats, bats, raptors, bobcats, etc, so you'd think I wouldn't be squeamish about a little mouse...but it really startled me.
I pushed the bag over, hoping the mouse would spill out, but it didn't!! So I sort of banged on the outside of the bag with the intent to scare it out...and it did. Needless to say, we keep our pet food locked up in mouse-proof bins now.
That video of John is oh so cute!!! I love it! Isn't this just such a fun, cute age?