Monkey See Monkey Do

I wasn't real sure what to title this post because I am playing catch up here.  It's liable to be a little bit of everything.

Brina and I got sick Sunday.  We managed to go for the morning service.  The national missionary that Grace supports in Tanzania was here visiting, and he preached.  It was good to see him and his family again and to hear how the work is going there.

We both stayed home Sunday evening because we were both feeling worse by that time.  We just had a bad cold or maybe the flu, but we both felt pretty miserable.  Brina is probably teething on top of it, so for the last three days, I've been holding, rocking, bouncing, nursing, and comforting my baby trying to console her and make her feel better.  BJ tried, but when she doesn't feel good, she just wants me.  Misery loves company!

Yesterday, the only thing that seemed to make her happy was her diaper bag.  A comfort thing?

Today, though we are both feeling somewhat better.

Now you're probably wondering about that title, "Monkey See, Monkey Do".  No, it's not because I got sick and Brina followed suit!  I learned something this last week that I thought I'd mention.

As a busy mommy, I rarely have time to read books it seems.  But I love to read.  This past week or two, I have been reading more, especially these last few days when I didn't feel like doing anything else.  I usually feel guilty with my nose in a book though.  I feel like I am focused on myself instead of on those around me.  (And who can concentrate anyway with a boy who loves to talk and a 5-month old baby?)  However, it has been nice to read more.  There is so much you can learn just by picking up a book.

When school ended for the year, I noticed Seth reading less and less.  It bothered me, and when I asked him about it, he told me he'd rather be doing other things than reading.  I guess that is okay, but it still bothered me.

His daddy is an avid reader.  BJ is always reading about 10 books at the same time.  I don't see how he keeps them all straight, but he does eventually finish them.  Then he picks up more.  Right now, he is reading books about the history of Kenya so he can better understand the culture and the people here.

So lately, with my nose in a book, and Daddy reading too, guess what I've been seeing a lot more of lately?  Yep, every time I turn around Seth is reading a different book.  The bottom shelf of the living room bookcase is full of his books as is the bookshelf in his bedroom.  And all of a sudden, I'm finding piles of books everywhere else.  I'm loving it!

I want to show you his box.  He found this box in the garage and asked if he could sleep in it all night.  He wanted to sleep in it downstairs by the back door.  We compromised.  We carried the box upstairs to his room, and he slept in it there.

Well, for part of the night at least.  The next morning, BJ asked him if his box was comfortable to sleep in.  Seth wrinkled his nose and admitted that he'd moved to his bed for the second half of the night.  Last night though, he slept in his box the whole night through.

The box has also become his "book nook".  He loves reading in there!

So all of that to say, if you want your kids to read, then READ and don't feel one bit guilty about it!  

And now for one last picture of Brina.

Her newest thing is this sucking/smacking that she does.  She sucks on her tongue then smacks it with a loud pop!  She does it over and over and over and keeps herself entertained that way for quite a while.  I love watching those adorable little lips pucker up like that!  Makes me want to kiss her to pieces every time she does it!

* Philly Steak Sandwiches today.  I love 'em!