Here is a post for those out West that wanted more of an update on us than just cute baby photos. The Moody grandparents brought us (more specifically Mari) a serger and sewing machine. The serger is rather modern compared to this sewing machine that belonged to my Dad's Mother. Anyway Mom and Dad had the sewing machine cleaned up and the repair guy found it to be in great working order. It's solid, antique, and one of those 'metal' ones. For those who have any clue as to what I am referring too! Well Mari got to work using it this week. Her first project is to sew together a baby carrying device. Which is pretty popular with the
Anasazi baby mommas. She has used the serger as well for quickly putting together some cloth butt wipes!
On a different self-sustainabiltiy topic: we have been dehydrating apples this weekend. Friday night included us purchasing a fandangled apple peeler, corer, and slicer machine. It looks complicated but easily puts an apple through its paces. We can fit an apple and a half on each rack on the dehydrator and in about a day or so they are ready for eating. Well after fasting for a day the first batch is pretty much wiped out. (Mom and Dad these ones are loads better than our original attempt). We love Asheville because of the amount of energy and focus which goes into local produce and supporting local farmers. The area is ripe for harvesting all summer and into the fall now with apples and grapes.
I continue to remain fairly afloat in my school assignments. The grading never gets done and the children are much better than high schoolers in lots of ways. My faculty staff are supportive and caring. By the end of the month we will be a quarter way through the year and half way through the semester. Tomorrow I find out if I passed the Praxis exam which I need in order to be a certified teacher in the state. So, big party over here tomorrow if that is the case. We may celebrate by opening up a bottle of Scuppernong cider.
Lastly, Mari and I went to a live concert last month. We are fairly late in posting anything about this musician and in doing so are a great injustice to his work and energy. He is from Australia and plays the Didgeridoo. He lyrically has the potency of Jack Johnson and Bob Marley. He plays all his own instruments and will typically only have a drummer with him on stage. During the concert his keyboardist accompanied one song. He surfs, he dances, he loves the Abo's down there and is a huge supporter of the land and land rights.
Here is a Youtube video of a song: Mother.
Here is Xavier Rudd preforming another favorite of ours!
Yes, Grandmama Moody, his feet do touch the support- but what if he doesn't want them there and prefers to sit entirely on the upper seat? I can't exactly call it cross-legged since his legs are too short, but that he tends to sit on the high chair exactly like he sits on the floor.
Benjamin loved part of his costume, the part where he tried to eat the green leaves (silly Mom, of course something near his face should be sewed down!). He didn't like the hot stuffing around him and the difficulty moving around. Guess you can't win them all...
In other news, Ben has some new accomplishments: he has learned how to give "kisses," although he will only do it rarely. I told John he had learned how to give kisses, and he was jealous until he got one, then a little taken aback by the slobbery cheek that is the inevitable aftermath. He has also begun making a "potty" sign. We began working consistently on potty-ing when he was about 4 months old, and started using a sign when talking about the potty or taking him to the potty when he was about 4 1/2 months. On Thursday he made the sign, on Friday he made the sign while on the potty, and over the weekend he made the sign several times followed by using the potty. I'm not sure if he really gets it, or if he is just making the sign because he has learned how to make that motion and then pees when he is placed on the potty. Either way, it is fun to watch and we are doing a better job helping him stay dry. I'm going to try to capture it on video next!
Fall is here, we are enjoying the colors and cool weather. Benjamin seems to be enjoying books quite a bit now- here he is looking at one of his favorites:
Of course, looking inevitably degenerates into (what else)...
chewing! If chewing were an Olympic sport this boy would be getting a gold medal. He has had a tooth or two poking out on top and then disappearing. Hopefully they will be in soon and he will stop soaking things with drool and leaving teeth marks in everything from Grand-daddy's thumb to wooden blocks.
Here is a post for those out West that wanted more of an update on us than just cute baby photos. The Moody grandparents brought us (more specifically Mari) a serger and sewing machine. The serger is rather modern compared to this sewing machine that belonged to my Dad's Mother. Anyway Mom and Dad had the sewing machine cleaned up and the repair guy found it to be in great working order. It's solid, antique, and one of those 'metal' ones. For those who have any clue as to what I am referring too! Well Mari got to work using it this week. Her first project is to sew together a baby carrying device. Which is pretty popular with the Anasazi baby mommas. She has used the serger as well for quickly putting together some cloth butt wipes!
This last one is a shot of Benjamin trying to figure out how to stop sitting up and get down on the floor. He can now manage that most of the time, although then he gets bored with being on the floor and wants to sit up again, and has no clue how to go about that yet.
"I'm Batman!"- quote by John, illustration by Ben.
Cuddling with Grandma- Ben has recently gotten cuddly at times. Or maybe it is just that I notice the few times that he is not looking around and wiggling out of my arms...
He is, of course, as photogenic as ever:
