Walking, Vomit and other fun stories

So J.J. started walking in the last couple of weeks. Not just a few steps and then PLOP! No, we're talking full-fledged, "I'm consciously making the decision to get up and walk instead of crawl" walking! He's so cute! What is it about little babies that when they start walking makes them look like miniature adults? Little people just roaming around your living room. Hmmm.

Last week was a big milestone for the boy: we went to the zoo and he actually saw the animals! He's been 3 times and every other time he was asleep for the entire trip. This time he got to see the seals and the gorillas and the jaguar! And we went pretty late in the day, so there was hardly anyone there, which was nice. There's a new exhibit opening up soon called the Oklahoma Trails that features, well obviously, animals native to Oklahoma. We went to the preview last August and it looked like it would be really neat. One problem though. All the zoo workers are scared the bears will escape! Not a real big selling point...come one, come all to see the fabulous black bears. Feast your eyes on them as they feast on you! Apparently, the architect has never worked w/ animals before and built a big concrete tree that overhangs the fence, thus allowing for the bears to climb out of their so-called cage! Ummmm....I think I'll wait a few months to check that one out.

It's finally official: I am the early childhood director for our church. I'd been the interim since October (it's March now, people!) and there were no other candidates, but as I've become quite aware, things don't move very quickly in our little congregation. But I'm not complaining! I'm just glad it's finally decided! And I found an assistant to help me bear the load: the former director's former assistant! I took her place when she stepped down and now she's ready to jump back in...which means no training for me to do because she already knows the job! It's perfect! I ask for you all to pray for me in this position, that I would keep a God-focused mindset and always be sensitive to people's needs.

And finally, I officially became a mother on Saturday. One might think, "But Heather, J.J. was born last January!" To that person I would say "HA! You think a measly c-section constitutes motherhood?!?!?" Nay...you do not officially reach that status until you've been thrown up on by your child. Mm-hmm. Good times. Now I am a puke-hater like none other. I see it, smell it or hear it and I'm right there with the up-chucker. But I guess it really is true that God doesn't put you through anything He knows you're not capable of handling. I was down there stripping the nastied clothes off, throwing the kid in the empty tub to play while I cleaned up the mess. Then I was laying on the couch, commiserating with him when he launched a full attack again, this time all over me instead of the floor. Finally, I was there when he was in my lap and let loose all over the carpet and me (again), giving Daddy the scare of a lifetime! You see, Johnny had been either gone or in another room every other time it happened. So that last time, he actually got to see our little Exorcist baby blow! But at least I got to use my under-utilized steam cleaner that night, and now the whole living room carpet is clean! Wheeeeeeeeee!

So that's what has been going on here in the Hughes household. Here's to a cleaner and less barf-filled rest of March (in our house, it's safe to say it came in like a lion!).