I didn't take Baby to music class on the evening of February 9th. He had his home evaluation on Wednesday, February 10th. The coordinator, a teacher and a speech therapist came to our house to evaluate Baby and to discuss whether he would be a good candidate for at-home instruction. As I had suspected, in all areas he was doing well with the exception of speech, therefore, I was told that he would qualify for home services.


On Friday, February 12th we were expecting Jeff's parents to visit and to bring Pip back home. They had taken Pip with them last October and he was coming home again. Jeff and his parents said that we should consider finding another home for Pip, and although I can no longer care for them and give them the attention I used to give them before I can't bring myself to hand them over to a complete stranger. Since having Baby, having our dogs at home has been a nightmare. I could not have imagined how much stress I would be subjected to because of the situation. If we knew a family who could lovingly care for them as we had done before our son was born I would consider sending them to their new family. I wish that my mom could be in the position to be able to care for them but she can't-- no one in my family can. We have asked Jeff's parents if they would be willing to give Pip a home and they have said no.


And so Jeff's parents, Bob and Pip arrived on Friday. Pip, of course, knew us but we were concerned about the way he would behave during his re-adjustment. Baby was wary of Pip because he no longer remembered him but it didn't take long before he felt at ease again with four-legged companion.


I didn't buy a gift for Jeff, but I decided to try to help Baby "make" a gift for him instead. On Friday, before Jeff was home from work, I helped Baby dip his bare feet in red paint and then we "stamped" his feet onto sheets of paper in the shape of a heart. I tried to form the shape with Baby's hands and with his feet. We made three attempts and I wrote "I love you, Daddy, with all my heart" on the sheet and helped Baby sign it. It was my sister who gave me the idea when she informed me that her son had come home from pre-school with red-stained feet.


Baby also had a card and a set of balloons for his Daddy and we had that ready for him when he arrived on Friday after work.


On Saturday, February 13th we dressed Baby in his Valentine's Day "casual" and took him to the park where I took some photos again. Jeff's parents made Baby laugh at the park and Karen helped him climb up the slides. Unfortunately, we left his red wooden train at the park!


In the early evening, Jeff and I went to the movies while Jeff's parents cared for Baby. We hadn't been to the movies in about three years and would you believe Jeff whined about the cost of our snacks?! I told him that it was absurd to be fixated on having spent $30 on snacks because we only go to movies every three years, and if you break it down, that's $10/year. Enjoy it, Jeff!


Valentine's Day was on Sunday this year. I didn't wake when my alarm went off, so I wasn't able to get in the shower before Jeff. Then his parents were awake and also got in the shower. We only have one shower in the house so I was not able to go with them to church. Baby stayed with me at home, too. Baby was taking a bath when Jeff and his parents returned. They had enjoyed the "talks" at church and were eager to tell me about them. Karen and Brian then started getting ready to leave and were gone shortly afterwards. They are going to return next month, in late March with the family from Eastern Europe for which they will be tour-guiding.


Baby went to park.