There’s nothing like a little water to keep a toddler occupied.

I decided our teak porch swing needed a good cleaning the other day, so Lovey got to play with the hose. I adjusted the nozzle to a fine spray and she kept busy on the porch all afternoon, allowing me to work. A few sprinkles of borax, a lot of scrubbing, then a generous drenching with bleach to finish off the mildew and the swing was ready for a new coat of linseed oil. That should take care of it for another year or two…

My productivity hasn’t been very high since we brought Lovey home, so this was a particularly satisfying job. It was delightful to watch her enjoy the water, enjoy being outdoors, and enjoy being alive. She does that so well…

 

A light sanding with a fine sanding block, some linseed oil to preserve the honey color, and the swing looks and feels better than new.

A few days after finishing the job and feeling quite pleased with myself, I read that oil is NOT recommended for teak wood because it actually PROMOTES mildew growth, as it is an organic material.

Why is life always like that???

It’s not like I didn’t scan 30 or 40 sites on the internet to find out how to do the job in the first place. Why didn’t I see that minor detail BEFORE I slathered oil all over the blasted thing swing?

 
In any case, here’s the little ‘sitting pretty’ showcasing the newly-cleaned-and-beautiful-but-mildew-feeding-swing on our front porch.

 

Maybe I’ll get it right next year…
 

 
Please comment and give your opinion regarding the medium-size pictures. I decided to try something different because the large size seems so,

well,

LARGE.

And, if you’re one for details, you can always click on the pictures and see them in size GI-NOR-MOUS!

I’m eager to hear what you think…

Baby Love got her first injection of growth hormone (GH) tonight.

The pharmaceutical company sent a nurse out to train us. Toward the end of the training and, after a few practice injections into the trainer pad, Daddy had the honor of giving the first shot!

She didn’t like it — not one little bit — but she recovered quickly!

[the mommy AND the baby]

Sanguine Dr. Amrhein predicts in a couple of weeks she’ll come willingly when we say, “Lily, it’s time for your shot.”

Hmmmmm…

Does Dr. Amrhein remember Lovey is an adopted child? And that we’re trying to build a trust relationship here?

I never forget it!

A few details to comfort & encourage:

• the needle is so tiny it’s called a Nano
• according to the website, most children say the injections are painless
• the box of needles says they’re designed to give “the ultimate injection experience…”

Yeah, right!

Nothing but the best for our little girl, eh?

I snapped this over the weekend while Lovey was napping.

…Takes my breath away.

It still seems so surreal that she’s here — that she’s ours. Have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” ~ 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

A mother’s prayer:
Please, oh Lord, if it be your will, help our Baby Love to grow in wisdom AND in stature. And help me to be a servant like Paul and Apollos and to remember that it is You who makes things grow. Amen.