Photo Dump

I seem to have collected some pictures on my camera over the past couple of  months that deserve attention.

First, there are the pictures from Easter... 

Easter pic with Nana and Papa

Then there are some general everyday pictures that are worth remembering...

Playing with brother's "puter"

Note: This outfit was NOT my doing...

Brayden eating at the kid table like a big boy

Finally, we took the boys to the zoo (Brayden's first "official" zoo trip). Technically he has been to the zoo before, but it was as a newborn... he slept the whole time.

Landen being a "raffe"

Camel ride with Daddy

Brayden and the pigeon

Landen got to feed the "migos"

Brayden is fearless!

Pretty bird

me and my boys (tired)

Landen saying, "CHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESE!!!!"

The “Other” Call You Never Want To Receive…

Landen has entered a phase of “I hate wearing clothes of any kind.” To some degree it’s cute, because he’s still 2 and can get away with it. To some degree it’s practical, as we are potty training and taking off clothes to get to the potty in-the-nick-of-time can be challenging (so there is more of a likelihood of success in timing if the clothes are no longer an obstacle). To some degree it’s just not great, as having a completely nude child running around can get kind of awkward, playing has an increased potential to be hazardous, and finally any potty accidents that would normally be caught by clothes/underwear/diapers could quickly result in disastrous situations. This is where the phone call you never want to receive enters the picture.

Preface, there have been two instances of urinating on the floor previous to today’s event, but they were when we first began potty training and we pretty much chalked it up to drafty air. Today, however, is well into the potty training regimen, where I feel confident in referring to Landen as being potty trained (at home).

The phone call: I’m sitting at my desk at work carrying on with my usual tasks when the phone rings. I look to see who is calling and notice it is Keith. Keith has been able to stay home for the past two weeks with the boys and really work with Landen on potty training, (He’s a wonderful husband and daddy!) so I was expecting the usual call from him once Landen woke up for Landen to say “good morning” and to tell me about the days plans. Today was different. Keith didn't sound like his usual laid back self. Landen was crying in the background. I ask Keith how things were going, and he responded with, “Well… Do you want to hear a story? It’s kind of… um… gross.” I braced myself, but made the unfortunate mistake of giving him the “go ahead.”  Keith explained that today was one of those Landen refuses clothes days, and that all of the sudden he hears Landen calling out, “I pooping, Daddy!” Normally, when Landen calls out such an announcement, it is as he is running to or sitting on the potty. Apparently, this was NOT the case today. By the time Keith made his way to Landen (I have NO IDEA what part of the house they each were in that caused the delay), Brayden had already discovered the pile. OH THE NIGHTMARE! Brayden had it on his hands. I cringed. As Keith continued with the explanation of the degree of this disaster, all I could think about (and say) was PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE TELL ME BRAYDEN DIDN'T EAT IT! Keith stopped what he was saying (I think), and very un-confidently assured me that he didn't THINK Brayden ate it because Brayden didn't have it on his face, but he wasn't certain. Oh my word! I have no clue how the remainder of the conversation ended. I have no idea what part of our house now needs to be quarantined. All I know is that Keith said he took care of it and that Brayden PROBABLY didn't eat Landen’s poop.

Yuck.

Sometimes you just gotta go... even if it's in your own driveway...

I DO thoroughly enjoy all the stages my kiddos go through as they grow, BUT sometimes the stages overlap (i.e. potty training of the oldest and utter curiosity of the youngest) and that part, well, is rather unpleasant.

Eggs Benedict & a Peach Smoothie

Warning: if squeamish avoid reading the last bit of the blog... just look at the pretty pictures :) Don't say you weren't warned

Landen is making some awesome progress with potty training. FINALLY! He gets SO excited about wearing big boy underwear! We are so proud of him! He does, however, not have much success using the potty at school. I think it’s a pressure thing… At home, he knows mommy and daddy are trying to help him with a goal that HE wants. At school, it’s more of a forced issue. He is really cute getting excited about his underwear. He keeps running up to me/Keith/anyone saying, “I wearin unnnderwear! Wanna see?!” then proceeds to show off is undies with the biggest smile on his face.

Landen (not wearing his glasses bc he was cuddling with me)

Brayden is such a precious little guy. He just LOVES his big brother (who absolutely ADORES him, too!)! They are learning how to really play together now, and it is such an awesome thing to watch.  We initially thought Brayden had a virus last week, but the more investigating we do, the more it seems he is having some milk sensitivity. Previously, we had been giving him formula (or breast milk) and that seemed to be fine. Then we started mixing a little milk in with the formula (still okay). Once we started mixing more milk and less formula, his diapers started going rotten.  Last week, we really began the 3/4-7/8 Milk to formula ratio. Things went bad, quick. Terrible diarrhea, vomiting, gas, fussiness, etc. all entered our lives. Over the weekend, we were at my mother-in-law’s house and we gave Brayden just straight milk with no formula and he starts projectile-vomiting, all over Keith’s mom. (SORRY!!!)  Keith’s mom and brother are both lactose intolerant, so it wouldn't be entirely out of the question for one of our children to be. We've decided to try soy milk for a while and see how that goes. Last night, Brayden had soy milk and kept it down fine. Time will tell.

This just makes me laugh...

Brayden playing on brother's tricycle

Keith just finished his first clinical rotation. He did SO well and I am so incredibly proud of him! He has the next two weeks off, so he’ll be keeping the boys home with him. This couldn't be better timing, with Brayden’s digestion issues and Landen’s potty training.

And finally….

We’re having another baby!

 Being pregnant, for me can be a bit frightening. I've had some crazy complicated pregnancies so far and that can be unnerving for anyone involved, but I know that whether I have preeclampsia again, a full term normal pregnancy, or something completely different, I know it’s in God’s hands. With that, I find immense peace! It’s been a bit of a bumpy ride so far. Aside from having morning (all day EXCEPT morning) sickness and my typical bizarre cravings, I have had some a lot of bleeding/cramping. It started on Friday, 4/26 and lasted through Sunday, 4/28. Then I had a terrible (like the worst one ever on planet earth) 24 hour stomach bug. I had a little spotting after that, but not bad. Then, on Saturday, 5/4 I woke up bleeding, it was a little more than spotting but not significant; by Saturday evening, it was EXTREME. As of last night, the bleeding had stopped completely. So far, after exams and ultrasounds, there is no known cause for the bleeding/cramping and baby looks just fine! BUT because of the bleeding, I am not allowed to lift anything = not my kids, not groceries, not car seats, nothing bigger than a 5 lb bag of sugar. On the upside, I have gotten to see the little peanut several times, and I have to go back this afternoon for another peek.

Please keep this sweet baby and my body in your prayers, as he/she is trying to have a safe little home in the body that doesn't seem to want to cooperate.

Cravings so far:

•         Beef stew
•         Eggs Benedict & a Peach Smoothie
•         NOT banana sandwiches (it may be a while before I eat one of those again)
•         NOT rice & beans (again with the time-to-recover)
•         Green grapes
•         Lumpless yogurt… I can’t explain it other than the fruit chunks aren’t going over well
• Filet Mignon

Sharing vs. Not Sharing

~Warning... this post is completely random and follows no logical path... if you are OCD you MAY not want to read it!~

I am pretty much an open book; I think to some degree you have to be if you blog (or have small children, for that matter). I tend to tell on myself… a lot! I imagine my superiors appreciate that, but then again it has been known to get me in trouble. I also have a knack for sticking my foot in my mouth. There are some things that I don’t like to talk about and there are some things that people have told me in confidence, and those are things that I won’t share, but beyond that it’s pretty much fair game.

Today, I am reminded of the verse in the Bible that says, “Don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” Matthew 6:3b. This is a verse that is often taken out of context, and this afternoon, my actual hands are guilty of such and have in fact tried to take this verse literally. I was using the cutting board… there was blood… I think my right middle finger was on a suicide mission and my left hand, oh if it had just known, maybe it could have rescued or at least talked that finger out of the attempt… BUT, no dice.  Luckily, the suicidal finger failed and, while it was forced to spend some time in therapy with a double tourniquet of rubber bands around the band-aid to stifle the bleeding, it remains attached with a sizable cut (though not stitch worthy… I don’t think). Lesson learned? Your hands DO need to know what they each are doing when a sharp object is involved.

My children at this age have no shame, and as a good mother I have no shame in sharing their potentially embarrassing toddler experiences.

Brayden likes to share his food and our food. If we are eating, he WILL find a way to take the food of our plates so he can eat it. If we aren’t eating, but he is, he will LITERALLY jam his food into your mouth. He LOVES it! He gets SO excited when he feeds someone else… as long as no one EVER feeds his food to him – that’s HIS job! (The kid is super independent!)

Peek-A-Boo

Cheetos – I don’t know that Landen has ever eaten Cheetos before. The other night, he came in the kitchen asking for “Teetos”, of which A) we have no Cheetos B) where did he learn about this messy, crunchy  unhealthy, delicious junk and C) he was repeatedly asking for demanding (and progressively getting louder). Keith and I looked at each other confused, a frighteningly common occurrence in our house, then repeated to Landen what we understood him to be saying, “Cheetos? You want Cheetos?” Landen agreed that was what he wanted. We were completely perplexed. Keith and I both explained to him that we do not have (nor have we ever, that I can remember) Cheetos at our house, but since it was approaching dinner time we would be filling his tummy with real food… burritos to be exact. Landen, clearly disappointed traumatized stomped off to the living room pouting and squeaking (not quite crying). Meanwhile, Keith assembled a burrito for Landen and called for Landen to come to his seat to eat. As soon as Landen saw his burrito, he started bouncing up and down saying “Teetos, Teetos, TEEEEEETOS!” We were so excited. We finally knew what he was saying! So we said, “Oh! You were saying burrito!?!” The bouncing stopped. The excitement, though still there, significantly fell. Landen, straight faced, “No. Not rito!” oh. Back to square one. Landen started pointing to the counter saying, “Teetos!” What the heck is “Teetos?” Keith, in his brilliance asked Landen to SHOW us the “Teetos”. Why didn’t we do that in the first place? Landen hopped up and went straight into the kitchen and pointed to a stack of tortillas and said, “TEETOS! DADDYMOMMY!” THAT’S IT! The kid was asking for tortillas. I have NO idea how he got the word Teetos from tortillas, but he did. And if he ever asked you for “Teetos” just give him a tortilla and let it go… he is NOT interested in changing the name.

Mommydaddy/Daddymommy – Landen often calls us by one of these names. Even if only ONE of us is actually present. It’s usually associated with excitement, but then it’s kind of confusing. I guess, in the moment, maybe we are interchangeable?

Yes ma’am/Yes sir & No ma’am/No sir – We’re trying to teach our kids manners, and being from the south and living in the south this includes ma’am and sir. I don’t think Landen fully understands which to say to who so his typical response is to just say both. Occasionally, he’ll pick one and say it no matter who he is speaking to… (i.e. No sir, mommy. Yes ma’am, daddy. Etc) but more often than not BOTH sir & ma’am are included in the answer.

Woffers – These are the treats that Landen gets when/if he successfully goes potty. He gets 1 Whopper candy for going #1 and, you get the idea.

Noises – Our house is full of noises… between kids, toys, life, etc… if Landen EVER hears something that could (in ANY way) be construed as being associated with a bathroom/diaper noise, he will start asking each person whether or not they went potty in their pants. It is one of those things that can get pretty embarrassing (if we are in public or other people are around), but I’m afraid we can’t really correct him for it because we do the same thing to him if we think/know he is going potty.

By the way… the older I get, the more I realized there is some degree of potty humor that is just funny. Apparently getting older is not exactly making me more mature, but it definitely is expanding my realm of laugh-worthy experiences.

Buddies – On the way home yesterday, when I picked the boys up from daycare, Landen told me that he couldn’t reach brother’s tummy. (note: In my car, the car seats are on opposite sides. In Keith’s car, the car seats are right.next.to.each.other.) I looked back and I saw Brayden’s little hand reaching out from his pumpkin seat and Landen reaching out of his car seat to hold hands. And they were. We were driving down the road and my precious little boys were holding hands! They’re so cute!

I hold you – Any time Landen wants to be carried or held he says, “I hold you, mommy (or daddy). I hold you.” 

We're all learning something....

Brayden

Brayden is now 13 months old. He is 27 in tall and 18 lbs, and is finally wearing size 9 month clothes (along with some 6 month clothes). His favorite foods are NillaWafers, waffles, and whatever you’re having!. He took his 1^st step on March 7^th and now he is walking like a, well, like a zombie. We have known he was a climber, but recently his climbing has reached a new level. He now knows that he can dump toy bins/boxes out, turn them over, push them to the desired location, and proceed to use them in aiding his climb to new heights. At daycare, aside from climbing on the shelves when no one is looking, he’ll dump, flip, and push a toy bin over to the window so he can see outside. ALSO, he has a new fascination with climbing on the kid table at home…

Brayden has totally become a bottle baby. We try giving him sippy cups, and occasionally he’ll comply, but basically he only wants a sippy cup if it means using taking brother’s cup. Brayden is so much fun and SUCH a little stinker! For example: He’s a food thief! He doesn't want to eat his own food… and he DEFINITELY doesn't want anyone to feed him ANYTHING. He knows how to open boxes/bags/etc to steal food. He is a paper muncher! If he spots a piece of paper, you can count on him eating it! He’s bitten a chunk out of my Bible, a book Keith borrowed, Landen’s Bible, coupons, daily sheets, tissue paper, etc. He’s a trash cruiser! He LOVES rummaging through trash (NOT that we let him… he just finds ways to do it!). If there is a trash can, with or without a lid, he WILL get to it, remove its contents, and explore! If you were to look this kid up in the dictionary, you would see the word INDEPENDENT next to his name!

Lately, Brayden has gotten even more playful and more verbal. He can say Ball /bAWW/, Bottle /BahBah/, Mommy /mahh-MEE/ or /mahh-MAHH/, Dadda /DĂ-da/, Cup /uhP/, That /dat/, waffle /wahpF/, Book /Booh/, Brother /B-uh/, and some others I can’t remember right now. He adores Landen and always enjoys playing with him. He knows how to throw balls, and with pick a ball up, walk with it, then throw it… it’s precious! Brayden is at the stage where he LOVES peek-a-boo, and he’ll play it even when he’s alone. Although he loves being played with, he is perfectly content being left alone to play (as long as someone is in the room with him). He’ll pull out books, sit down, and flip through the pages – pointing to and feeling (and tasting) everything on the page.

Landen

Landen is every bit of 2 ½ years old! He wants, so badly, to be able to do everything! He understands SO much! Yet there are still so many things he doesn't get. He absolutely ADORES Brayden and wants to know where brother is at all times. He always usually plays so well with Brayden (aside from the times he takes toys from Brayden or knocks him over or tries to wrestle with him). If anyone is hurt or upset, Landen will tell them “It Otay!” and give them a kiss/hug. He DOES have the occasional meltdown, but I think that is inevitable for his age. He loves watching Cars, mostly because he loves Lightning McQueen and Mater. We are STILL working on potty training! He MAY still be in diapers pull-ups when he starts college. Along with the continued saga of potty training, Landen has developed a strange interest in wanting to EXAMINE that which goes in the potty… or Brayden’s diaper… or Landen’s pull-up… As much as I have enjoyed every stage, I'd be okay if this particular part of this stage left. 

Communication

Communication with a toddler can be challenging. There are some words that no matter how hard he tries to say them correctly, it just doesn’t work. Below is a list of the English words and the Landen pronunciation:

• Elephant - /Eff-a-lent/
• I don’t know - /I nuh-no/
• Bench & Bridge – well, it sounds like a certain B word that rhymes with switch
• This can be embarrassing when said in public… yikes!
• Something - /sum-PIN/
• Fork - /bORk/
• This particular one took about 25 minutes of Landen repeating himself, louder and louder, then FINALLY showing us what he was saying... sorry kiddo, we DO try!
• Knife - /ife/
• Spoon - /pOO-N/
• Nothing - /nuffin/
• Brother & Butter - /bud-der/
• This one gets confusing
• “I traced a rainbow” - /I TASEda Way-mbow/ 
• This one is also confusing as he says it at the most random times and it sounds remarkably like “Taste the Rainbow”

There are also words WE say that he doesn't quite understand… 

• Keith said that I was being facetious… Landen thought daddy was calling mommy Jesus. 
• And anytime we say a number in virtually ANY situation, Landen responds with, “I TWO! I TWO!”

Education

We are learning A LOT from our kids! For instance:

• Digestion: Keith asked Landen what happens to Landen’s food when he eats… Landen responded, “It goes in my tummy… “ Keith, “that’s right!” Landen, “…then out my penis!” Keith, “uhh… what? Not quite.”
• Technicalities: Diapers and Pull-Ups are NOT the same thing! Only babies wear diapers…
• Days of the week: Landen thinks every day is Tuesday. Tuesday his FAVORITE day… I have NO IDEA why.
• Church is on: Tuesday, Saturday AND Sunday… apparently
• Concept & Sequence of Numbers AND Bartering: Keith, “Landen, you’re going to get 2 spankings.” Landen, “NO! 3! 3 spankings!”
• When it’s dark outside: it’s because mommy or daddy needs to turn the lights on
• Crayola has a list of directions for getting crayon (and any other crayola product) out/off of just about anything! – AND it worked! Keith no longer has green crayon marks (complements of Landen, our washer and dryer) on his work pants!
• Songs have changed:
• The Day’s of the Week Song ACTUALLY goes like this, “Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Saturday HOORAY, Saturday HOORAY!”
• The Are You Sleeping song ACTUALLY goes like this, “Hmm Hm Hmm Ding Ding Ding Dong, Ding Ding Ding Dong”

Family/Parenting

As far as Keith and me, we are doing well. 

Keith is well into his clinicals now and is doing great! I am SO proud of him! It HAS been a big adjustment as the kids are having to stay LONG days at daycare, and Keith has realized that working requires more energy than school <-- I guess he had to learn that himself.

I am actively trying to follow the direction God has placed on my heart! There isn't very much to say about it at this point, and because of the nature of this ministry, I don’t know that I will ever be able to say or blog anything about it. I can, however, say that when God laid this our hearts and we decided I would follow him with it, HE just put it RIGHT.IN.MY.LAP! :)

Is it too late to say Happy New Year?

It has been quite a while since my last post, though not for lack of material. Living with two kids (now ages 1 yr and 2 ½ yrs) leave little to no room for boredom, event-less days, etc.

With that being said… I haven’t been able to post because a few things have been going on in my life lately…

• Landen got glasses à His cute quirkiness in running around all clumsy-like was ultimately because he couldn't see... talk about feeling like a crummy parent!
• Brayden turned ONE à He may be a little bitty thing, but the kid can climb like a monkey, crawl like he’s fleeing for his life, eat like he’s been starved for his entire existence, bite like the Jaws of Life, and SO MUCH MORE…
• Keith started clinicals à Our schedule is now flipped upside-down and sideways…
• Cali has accepted our home as her own à Somewhat of a transition from life as an outdoor cat to the life of an indoor cat in a home of toddlers
• Brayden likes cat litter à It is UNREAL how quickly he can B-line to the litter box… EVEN when we have multiple baricades
• Landen is potty training à the NEVER.ENDING.PROCESS. I am beginning to wonder if he will EVER get out of diapers
• Baby proofing is a joke à outlet plugs aren't nearly as effective when the baby figures out how to remove them from the outlet… to CHEW on the plug while prodding the outlet! It’s scary!
• We don’t have phones, internet, or television at home à we’re basically the Flintstones
• We fly through cars à probably not a good quality, but in my defense it’s not always our fault… the car repair place totaled it during a test drive
• I got a sewing machine à I’m becoming domesticated I suppose…
• Then there was Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Haleigh’s Birthday, LIFE group, work, etc. on top of busted lips, falls down the stairs (primarily me and Keith), splinters, goose eggs, falling off the bed (all 4 of us at some point), wiping out on the sidewalk/driveway/playground/kitchen, more scrapes and bruises than I can count, slips, pinched fingers, blow outs that require immediate baths of both child AND adult involved, and the list goes on and on, yet I wouldn't trade it for the world!!!

This past weekend, Brayden turned ONE! I’ve never really been one for themed parties, but with the evolution of Pinterest, I thought I’d give it a go.

We had a Very Hungry Caterpillar themed birthday party for Brayden. I think it turned out really well!

Here are some pictures from the party…

The Gift Table

The 1st year in pictures

Birth - 6 mos

7 mos - 12 mos (*minus 9 mos.... i forgot to take that one)

Birthday Boy with his Hat and Tie Onsie

Bean Bag Toss... the bean bags are to "feed" the Hungry Caterpillar

The Cake (from Publix)

The Smash Cake (from Publix)

Grape Caterpillars and Colorful Candies

Pinwheel Sandwiches and Pigs in a Blanket

Drinks

Lemonade with Colored Frozen Lemons

Close up of the Colored Frozen Lemons

Balloon Caterpillar

Refreshment Table

Family Picture

Birthday Boy loving some cake!

Bean Bag Toss

I had so much fun making the decorations for this party, and even just as much fun AT the party!

Happy Birthday to my sweet baby Brayden! Mommy Loves you SO MUCH!