As I type...

I am watching Gabe crawl back and forth between two toys, pulling himself up to his knees to reach what he wants. He is once again making huge strides and figuring out how to achieve what he wants. He has officially pulled himself up to standing without any help. I had put him to bed just a little while ago and as I was setting out my running shoes (optimistic for a morning run - we'll see) Gabe started fussing. He has gotten into the habit of throwing his pacifier out of the bed, then either wanting it back to go to sleep, or to chuck it again. I walked in to find him pulled up to his knees and peering over the side at his pacifier on the floor. It was a funny sight since the older boys never pulled up on the side of their cribs at this age and only did so rarely as they got older. They NEVER tried to climb over the rails - which usually surprises and baffles most parents when I tell them. When I walked in, Gabe started smiling at me, indicating he was not necessarily close to sleeping yet. As I stood there, unable to supress my own grin even knowing I was no longer going to bed as planned, he grabbed the rail and pulled all the way up to standing. To my knowledge this is the first time he has done this, and Josh (who walked in behind me) and I got to witness it. I don't know about Josh, but I felt a multitude of emotions at this one action. I'm not going to gush or get emotional, but it was truly wonderful to see. He's getting busier by the day - and life is getting more and more intresting...

A little earlier in the evening I was summoned into Justin and Kendrick's room. Despite already being tucked into bed with their lullabye CD softly playing, they wanted to talk about VBS. I tried all afternoon to get them to tell me about it, but they were too busy with their own summertime afternoon activities to stop and talk. Now they were ready and not about to be put off. I could have sternly reminded them we went on a late bike ride and they needed to get to sleep for VBS the next day and during the school year I probably would have. Josh had Gabe, so I opted to sit on the bed and let them tell me about their adventures. I enjoyed hearing the excitement in their voices - especially when their initial reaction to VBS was a little dubious. It was obvious they really listened and got involved in the activities. As I was getting up to leave the room, Justin hugged me and said he was glad they signed up for Bible school because he was really having fun.

So as I sit and type, also watching Gabe play and ponder, I also notice the handful of toys that haven't been put away. There are items on the dining room table I meant to put away and a bag by the door full of stuff I meant to sort through and put away. Oh well. It'll be there tomorrow. Tonight I got to sit and listen to my busy boys happily tell me about their day - won't there possibly come a day when I find out everything from their friends, if I'm lucky? I also got to watch Gabe achieve another milestone. He's sitting just a few feet away with a the tv remote he pulled down from the little table next to the rocker - and rolling his eyes at me. Oh yes, that is a new trick. He loves to roll his eyes up and then looks back at us and grins. So the stuff I meant to do can wait.