Dutch's Happiness

I love being able to read my friend's and family's blogs.  For instance, my friend Ashley and I haven't seen each other in years and I've never met her 1 1/2 year old daughter Ava, but through their blog I get to keep in touch and feel like I know Ava.  Ashley just posted a blog on how her daughter shows true happiness and listed some examples.  Here is how Dutch shows true happiness, and in turn teaches me to be happier.

• He has the most infectious laugh of anyone I've ever seen.  Last night we were at my in-laws discussing some sort of serious, life-altering things and Dutch just started laughing.  So Chris tickled him to make him laugh harder and soon we were all just laughing at Dutch's laughter.  It is truly one of the most beautiful sounds in this world.  My mom-in-law has suggested multiple times that we make it a ringtone for our cell phones.
• The other day it was hailing and raining and snowing, all in a given period of a few hours.  I was annoyed that spring had yet to spring, but Dutch went to our sliding glass door, plastered his nose and hands against it and gasped.  "Oh!"  Then he would look for a little longer before saying, "Oh!" again.  It changed my perspective on the weather.
• As I've said in several different blogs, Dutch is imitating everyone around him.  I didn't see this so clearly until I saw him playing with his orange guy.  For every drink of his sippy cup he took he gave one to his guy.  Then he patted him on the cheek and gave him a hug.  It made me happy that I've been a good example when I share my food and drinks, whatever they are, with him.
• When Dutch was first born I relished the fact that he made me see the world in a new way.  Over time I've sort of forgotten that.  Then today we were at Wal-Mart picking up a few things and the Express Lane that we were in was anything but express, I was annoyed.  Dutch (who decided to wear his bright orange sun-hat, but that's another story) turned to the man behind us and said "Hiya!" and waved his little monkey fingers at him.  This started a conversation between me and the man and I learned that he was having a very hard time in his life.  His wife was sick so he was buying her an Easter lily.  I paid for my things and went to the car, but it helped me remember that no matter what I have to complain about, it isn't enough.  I am blessed so much more than I am "punished" by life.

So thanks to Ashley for inspiring me to write this blog, and thanks to Dutch for doing these and so many other things that make his world, and mind, a happier place.

The Laptop Incident, or, If I Didn't Kill Him For This, I Never Will

The other day I went in to take a shower, leaving Dutch in the front room. I was pretty certain I'd done a good job of ridding the room from anything Dutch could destroy.  Oh how wrong I was.  Ten minutes I was gone.  TEN MINUTES!  And I came out to find this:

For those of you wondering what exactly you're looking at: this is my laptop.  The white spaces are where Dutch pulled the keys off.  Yes, that's right.  He took his little monkey fingers and pried off over two dozen of my keys.  And here they are in a rubbermaid container:

It's sort of funny now.  Sort of.  At the time the only thing I could think to do was put Dutch safely in his crib, shut his door and move to the other side of the apartment so I didn't inflict any bodily harm.  The question I keep coming back to is: Why?  Why did he do this?  But, even more importantly, how can a kid who can barely hold a fork have the dexterity to snap off keys from a very flat keyboard?

Some things we may never know.

Happy Birthday Loser!

Today my sister Heather Lou (also known as Heifer Moo) is turning 31.  What an old lady!

I love you, I miss you, and I wish you were here.  I don't have a picture of the two of us because Dutch did something to my laptop (but more on that tomorrow).  I wish you were here so we could go to D.I. and buy $2 outfits for your birthday.  Come home soon.

A Seat For His Bum

Dutch is a lot like his Mama in the fact that he loves little nooks and crannies and things that are just his size.  Lately he's been getting inside of all the furniture we're putting together and making them his forts (see above).  And in the top picture you can see that he's sitting on my little file box and reading a book.  Finally, after realizing he just wanted a place of his own, I bought him a little chair that's (almost) just his size.  He pretty much loves it.

Boys With Toys

Okay, so these aren't the best pictures ever taken, but they do show you what Dutch has been doing the last few days: copying Daddy's every move.  He has been "helping" Chris put together our furniture.  His play tools have definitely come in handy with all this "helping."  I think it's the first time he realized what his yellow hammer is for!

P.S. Notice Dutch's orange stuffed animal.  That's his "guy" (he has no name).  He prefers to take him everywhere.  It's the only thing he's shown any attachment to, which is funny because I bought it so spur of the moment and it was only $5.  Incidentally, if you think of a good name for him, let me know (it is a "he").

A Soapbox Rant

Please note: If comments get too heated or political I will delete them.

Lately I've been listening to a lot of my friends complaining about the healthcare reform.  Now, I'm not going to get into what I think about it, and I hope you won't either.  The thing that's upsetting me about it is the language they're using.  People saying things like, "I don't work hard to pay for someone else's healthcare" or "People are just too lazy to help themselves" or "Why should I take care of them when they won't take care of themselves?"

Not to be overly dramatic, but these are sort of heartbreaking responses to anything.  Everyone needs help sometime (and I'm not just talking about healthcare).  Chris and I, despite our best efforts to be self-sufficient, despite our best-laid plans, have had to ask for money at times.  We are not irresponsible people frittering our money away on booze and cigarettes.  We're just a struggling family who needs help getting from point A to point B.

There are people all over the world who work hard and have very little to show for it.  There are folks who will never be able to have more than what they have now.  They were born into a poor family and they'll die in a poor family.  No matter what they do through their lives they'll end up just as poor as when they started.

I've been thinking a lot about service and charity and all those kinds of things.  I've decided it's not my place to judge whether or not the bum I give $5 to is going to buy food or drugs.  The fact that I had the best intentions is enough for me.  Maybe that's too rose-colored for some of you, but it's how I feel.  I can't judge what that person needs, but I can help the best I can to see they get it.

Let's try, just for one week, to put aside our selfishness and judgments and help the people around us who are in need.  They are closer than you think, and it's not always money (or healthcare) that they need.  Look with fresh eyes and see the struggling around you, and try to fix it.  The entire world might not change, but one person's world will.  And if history has taught me anything, it's that when you give a bike to the poor kid down the street he could grow up to be Lance Armstrong.

A List for Tuesday

Five People Dutch Prefers to Me (in order of preference):

1. Grandpa Greg
2. Aunt Dawn (Chris's brother's fiancée)
3. Daddy
4. Grandma Honey
5. Anyone else who happens to be nearby

That's right, Dutch only picks me when I'm the absolute last option.  Talk about a self-esteem booster.