Mushy Monday for Christina ;)

So obviously I'm really good at taking time to write blog posts each week.  My cool tatted bff Christina reminded me it had been a while so this is a post written for her.

Speaking of Christina she made sweet Ella a precious tutu! I am seriously soooo excited about having a girl!  Christina made me hair bows, a hair bow board, and now a tutu! I'm thrilled!

Okay so a couple of precious things I want to make sure I document - Silas took his first steps on June 1, 2013 and now as of June 24, 2013 I would say he is officially walking!  He walks more than he crawls.  It has been so fun to see him learn how to walk so quickly, it's a total new experience for us.  With Tommy he took his first steps February 14, 2012 but wasn't really walking until about a week after Silas was born which would have been the end of May 2012.  That's quite a lengthy journey.  And Kyle also got to see Silas' first steps so that was even more fun.  Since Silas is our 2nd kid we also knew some ways to encourage him to walk more, but tried to let him go at his own pace too.  June 1st he took several steps because I tricked him by slipping my fingers out of his hands and then I guess he felt a little betrayed and scared and wouldn't take any more steps for a couple of days.  Silas is a walking champ though!  He can turn completely around standing up, carry heavy toys across the room, and drink from his sippy cup and walk at the same time!  He's got skills!  Silas recently (about a month or so ago) went through a very, very fussy stage - like a 2 week pretty much inconsolable phase.  I was exhausted and sad.  But since then he has returned to himself (it was after his MMRV vaccine and he was teething sheeewweee it was tough) and I am LOVING it/him!  I always, always love him, but I seriously LOVE to enjoy and like being with him!  He has become my little shadow, which most of the time is sweet, and he has turned into quite the snuggler!  Silas is a mama (and nana is also approved) boy, he has specific times when he only wants me, Kyle will not suffice.  Silas makes me laugh, gives precious peck kisses (where he literally is like a bird and will just peck really fast with his mouth closed but lips are not puckered), he walks with his arms out groaning/talking and looks like Frankenstein, he's starting to dance, he just flat melts my heart!  To any moms reading this and not feeling this way about your kid and feeling guilty, please don't think I always feel this way - during those two weeks I was not loving him being a mama's boy, while I knew it wasn't his fault he was acting that way I could not console him in anyway and a person can only listen to so much crying/whining before it starts to wear them down.  But praise God for phases and that these times do not last!  That's what I kept thinking and praying and hoping for - the end of the phase!  I knew it wouldn't be like that forever but in those days it felt like it.  And I sincerely love enjoying my kids!  That and enjoying your husband - nothing better!

On to Tommy boy! My boy is growing up!  Quite literally - he is growing like a weed!  Clothes are getting shorter and shorter on him.  Tom is also my snuggler!  He is starting to make more noises with his mouth and trying to mimic us more and we love to hear him try to talk.  Tommy has become increasingly more interested in playing with Silas but especially now that Silas is walking - Tom totally notices a difference in him.  Silas is apparently much cooler now, who knew?!  One of Tommy's new favorite things to do is to take Kyle's house slippers and put them on his own feet and walk around.  It is adorable (not to mention really good exercise for him b/c his feet are tiny and Kyle's shoes are huge, they're hard for me to walk in).  Anyway it just makes me think of the analogy of how Tommy will want to grow into a man like his daddy, and want to fill his shoes some day.  What a precious site to see two of the skinniest little legs and feet coming from some big old brown house slippers scooting around the kitchen floor.  And to be like his daddy he does have some big shoes to grow into.  Tommy also likes to repeat EVERYTHING Kyle does - if Kyle coughs, Tommy pretends to cough, if Kyle spits out his toothpaste, Tommy pretends to spit out toothpaste,  it Kyle burps, Tommy pretends to burp, if Kyle stretches, Tommy stretches.  It's so stinking funny!  I love it!  We have noticed recently that Tommy is reverting back to some younger behaviors b/c he sees Silas doing it - he's whining more, has taught himself how to fake cry like with tears, and refuses to feed himself when he sees me feeding Silas.  Oy vey!  Oh well we know it's only temporary and while it has/does frustrate me at times it's not worth it, Kyle said once Silas is feeding himself and Tom sees us praising him, he'll start too just b/c he wants our attention.  On a funny note I have noticed there is already a competitive nature in the boys, when it comes to toys but especially our attention.  I want to encourage them not to feel competitive towards each other but I also at times try to use it to my advantage.  Tommy has just recently started hating get his fingernails clipped, he used to be a rock start at it, anyhow I was trying to cut his nails and Silas came up whining at my lap wanting me to hold him.  And I said, "Oh no Silas it's Tommy's turn to get his nails clipped, you can be next."  Tommy completely relaxed and let me cut his nails! Haha!  Oh goodness - these boys are too smart for their own good!  Tommy is such a sweet helper too - he likes to "help" me get up off the floor or couch by pulling me up, he throws things away for me when I ask, and he helps me clean up the toys.  He is a great example for his younger brother and soon to be sister!

Kyle is doing great, we are enjoying him not having any classes since it's summer time.  He only has one class left in the fall and then he is finished - he is getting his Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling.  It has been so nice this pregnancy to feel his support and to not have to explain everything to him all the time.  He's a pro now.  Compared to my pregnancy with Tommy when I would tell him I felt sick or smells bothered me, blah blah blah he'd always question if it was just in my head or if it was really the pregnancy.  Understandably so - I also wondered the same thing a lot of times.  But now he gets it and is so patient.  There are days when I feel way too hormonal and emotional and I hate it.  I cry at the drop of a hat and I just feel unhappy for like a whole day.  And all I have to do is tell him - I feel like my hormones are really out of whack today and I hate it, I know I'm being emotional, I'm sorry, I'm getting on my own nerves.  And he just listens and understands and is patient with me.  I think it helps him too, to know that I don't feel like myself and especially that I don't like the way I'm feeling and sometimes as a result acting.  He's a good man.  He's been building lots of forts with the boys and they love it.  It's funny b/c sometimes I'll come out into the family room and think, "Aw man I just folded that blanket and placed it nicely on the back of the couch." But then I just smile and am so thankful my boys have such a thoughtful and fun dad!  I am happy to fold that blanket ten times a day for them to have that time together. (I don't do that but I would).  I'm looking forward to adding Ella up into this mix!  I need my girl, I am so looking forward to seeing her sweet face and getting to know her individual personality - I love knowing her gender, it has made this pregnancy so different and made me feel so much closer to her.  I love to call her by name and hear the boys say her name.  She'll be here before we know it!  By the way girlfriend has some muscles and stretching skills!  My belly is constantly moving from her kicks and punches and various karate moves. 

For my own memory record - 7 months pregnant is when I really start showing my belly off to the world, when my hips start to get uncomfortable, and when I feel TONS of movement.  The end.

My calling into a life of entertainment

I never expected to be an entertainer for a living, you know singing and dancing to make others happy.  But then God blessed with me with two beautiful boys who demanded it from me! The other day I was singing to Silas to get him to eat his baby food and I realized I might do more singing through out my day than an act in Vegas! Haha! Vegas has got nothing on me ;)

We have our daily dance parties and sing alongside, Silas is even starting to try and imitate the motions which is beyond adorable! These boys keep my days entertaining and silly to say the least. Thank The Lord for curtains so no one else witnesses my insane mommy behavior.  Overall I love it! I love the singing and dancing.  Sometimes it gets old and sometimes I get tired, or Ella gets tired, or both, especially with dance parties. I have two handsome dance partners who love to take turns being held while dancing cheek to cheek or spinning and running around the room.  Oh please tell me there won't be a day when my sons don't want to dance crazy with their mama! That's unheard of.

Some other sweet things from this week, Silas now folds his hands when we pray! Doll baby!  He is also going to cause me to start having gray hair.  He is all boy! Climbing and falling off of things, and I have to let him fall sometimes so he can learn to stop doing what he's doing.  That is so against my nature and gives me a put in my stomach when I watch, he's always fine and that's part of the problem.  He LOVES to climb in and out of Tom's car bed, he can climb in great because he lands on a mattress.  The climbing out is a different story, he basically teeter totters over the edge with his body planked straight like a board and falls on his face.  He doesn't cry, he doesn't care, but mommy hates it! I have tried teaching him better ways but really he just isn't tall enough yet, so I supervise his falls/face plants.  Silas is also starting to respond to discipline, discipline to our family can be anything from talking sternly to a spanking.  And let me tell you this boy it testing the waters! He can now climb up into Tommy and his chair, the adorable ones from Pottery Barn.  Well he likes to stand in it, at first we just let him stand in it but then it was apparent he's not quite old enough to be aware of his surroundings, and that falling backwards over the arm rest isn't gonna work out well.  So he works real hard, climbs up in it, and E.V.E.R.Y. Single time he will turn to look at you to see if you're watching to see if he can stand up.  He has such a mischievous look I his eye too. I think he's going to give us a run for our money!

My sweet husband picked me flowers from outside this week! They are beautiful and smell so good! It was very thoughtful and sacrificial, he was wounded multiple times in the process because they all had thorns.  He did an awesome job arranging them too.  He's cute. I like him a lot.

My Tommy boy is just growing like a weed! He is such a big boy and I cherish all the hugs and kisses and snuggles I get from him every day! He has started to give really good hugs and completely on his own he will gently go up and wrap his arms around Silas to hug him. Melt my heart! He also wants to hold Silas now, Silas doesn't enjoy it and it's hilarious because they're so close in size Silas looks like he's squishing Tommy. Oh Ella girl you are in for a treat!

I love my boys and I can't wait to meet my girl! Correction I can wait, I'm just looking forward to it!

To be or not to be surprised?!

Well with both Tommy and Silas we did not find out their gender before they entered into the world. This time around we wanted to change things up and find out if we were having a boy or girl and see what it was like.  Well as most of you know we are blessed with a sweet baby girl, Ella Christine!  I am absolutely thrilled!  I was hoping for a girl, Kyle was hoping for a boy so he could have the trifecta! He said his first thought when he heard it was a girl was "boyfriends". Which is hilarious b/c neither of us even remotely thought that would be what would run through his mind.  Kyle will most definitely be protective of his little girl but it isn't something he has really put much thought into.  We both got a good kick out of that.

So basically the reason we decided to find out this time was b/c we had never found out before and to see if it helped us feel a closer bond to the baby before she was born.  As of right now Kyle and I both prefer finding out while pregnant!  I am somewhat shocked at this.  The actual moment of finding out was fun but also short lived.  So that part made question initially if I liked it better.  Overall I love being able to call her by name, and teaching the boys her name.  I love being able to have clothes ready.  I love knowing her a little better than I would have if we were surprised at her birth.  I do think the anticipation of finding out when you have them is fun, so I'll update at some point after she is born how I felt afterwards.

Ella girl is doing great so far.  I am currently 22 weeks along and she weighs about one pound.  She is a wiggle worm and has some beautiful big ears!  I told Kyle if they're real big when she comes out we might have to change her name from Ella - b/c it's close to the word elephant.  But I'm not worried, they look ADORABLE!  She does have or possibly has what they call an echogenic focus in her heart.  It is of no consequence to her hearts function - it's basically a bright spot in her heart that is a mineral deposit.  It used to be a sign of possible chromosomal issues in the past, but is no longer seen as a connection.  Anyhow b/c of that we did go ahead with the new and wonderful testing they have for DS - our doc called it the Harmony test.  It is non-intrusive and is very accurate.  All they did was take a little blood from my arm and within ten days we had the results, which came back great!  A lot of people ask us how we feel about testing for DS after having Tommy, whom we had no testing done with.  Our views on testing have definitely changed.  Accurate, non-intrusive testing seems like a wonderful option to us.  That is with the disclaimer you are not having the test done to decide if you want an abortion.  If it is simply to get prepared, prepare yourselves, your family, and most importantly doctors for the birth - then we think it's good.   I'm not really sure why anyone would have an amniocentesis any more - if it is a possible harm for your child - no way jose!  Anyway back to Ella and her heart bright spot - we had a special ultrasound with a high risk doctor - he said he isn't worried about it and doesn't even know if he would fully classify it as an echogenic focus.  They don't think she has any health issues from what they can see. 

What's funny is Silas had what is called choroid plexus cysts on his brain when he was in the womb - again of no consequence to the brains function or development but an old sign of DS.  It basically increased his chances of having DS from 1% to 2%.  They often go away towards the end of the pregnancy, and his did.  The new Harmony test was not available back then, as far as we know, and the doctors did not think he had DS.  Anyway the funny part is both Silas and Ella have had some sort of little red flag that might point to DS and Tommy had none!  I think that's so interesting!  The doctors have said that as technology gets more high tech they are able to see so much more, so sometimes they see things that are nothing, but they check it out just to be sure - and for that we are grateful.  And we love to see our babies as they grow in the womb!

In other news - I have a three year old?! Say what?! Yep and he's as cute as ever! He is getting so big - he just moved up to some 2T clothes! Woo woo - I know other mom's are like, huh - my kid wore those when he was one year old.  Well a perk to a kid with DS - they wear the same size clothes and shoes for a loooong time and it saves us money honey!  Silas is literally starting to wear some of the PJ's that Tommy just outgrew.  He isn't a giant but apparently he's growing faster than Tom did.  Silas boy is almost one year old! Give him 11 days and he's there.  Oh my.  My love for this sweet child just grows immensely as I get to know him better and see his personality more.  Silas is a goofball and just wants to mimic his brother all the time.  He is so smart from watching Tommy and watching us with Tommy.  He's teaching himself sign language. 

Okay I'm off to enjoy the rest of the boys' nap time.

Mushy Monday - Circles of Life

I'm not quite sure where to begin this post. Trying to think where to start has already made me cry. Oh pregnancy hormones. I'll start with what sparked me wanting to write this. The boys and I were dancing in the family room, yet again. And the song, "I want to hold your hand" came on. So we're dancing. I had Silas in my arms and Tommy dancing close by my feet - spinning in circles. And I remembered singing a line of that to my Papaw Daimon many many times. I honestly don't remember when I started singing it to him but I know I sang it a lot after he was in the nursing home. I would like to sit by him and hold his hand and I would sing, "I want to hold your haaaand, I want to hold your hand." And he would usually sing it/say it back to me. That is a precious and dear memory to my heart. So I told the boys as we danced - mommy used to sing this with your Papaw Daimon. These baby boys are already spoiled rotten, I can only imagine how crazy Papaw would have been about them. Granny Jane will say stuff like that a lot - I wish Papaw could see them, he would be so proud, and then she always says but I know he can from heaven. I thought it was pretty great to think about how the song had come full circle and we were making some new sweet memories dancing to it and I liked that it gave me an opportunity to tell them about Papaw Daimon - even if they won't remember it right now.

I love how things like that can take us back to memories and cherished time with our family.

I also want to remember a few things from this past week or so. March 19th, Silas pulled up to standing! He isn't doing it a lot, but he wants to so bad. He's trying to pull up on everything but doesn't quite have the balance. He also has started shaking his head no - he doesn't do it to really say no but it's really funny. He knows the sign "more" and we think he knows "eat" and "all done" - which is kind of crazy b/c we haven't really been trying to teach him. March 21st was World Down Syndrome day and was a sweet and fun day just to be thankful and celebrate people who have a third copy of the 21st chromosome - hence the date 3/21. Silas also turned 10 months old on 3/21, and I FELT THE BABY MOVE! HIP HIP HOORAY! I love it! It was bittersweet thinking this might be the last time I feel my baby's first movement. I am feeling, thinking, and praying about us making this baby the last we have by birth, hopefully to adopt some time in the future. Clearly the Lord may have other plans so I guess we'll go with His! Haha! It's just harder being pregnant with more kids, I want time of not being pregnant or always having a new, sweet baby while they're little, I feel like three and some day four is the amount of attention my mind could focus on and that seem to be the max. I don't want to be spread so thin I can't enjoy and invest in them the way the Lord commands us to and the way I want to.

Tommy and Silas have been playing so much together. They are so sweet. It is however a constant battle trying to teach Tommy not to take E V E R Y toy from Silas. It's driving me a little bonkers, not gonna lie. It's one of those things that it's impossible to police all the time - I can't wash dishes or go down the hall way without hearing Silas cry and coming back to find Tommy standing over him with the toy that was in Silas' hands when I left the room. Sheesh la weesh. Hopefully with time it will get better. If not Tommy's moving out. Haha! NEVER! My boys will always want to live with their mom. Wait, no I don't want creepy mom loving adult men. I want responsible, Godly, wanting to live in the same neighborhood, who cherish and appreciate and love their mom men. :)

By the way may I encourage you to write your spouse a love note this week?! Thank you b/c I'm going to anyway. Make it short, make it long, write it however you want. Just take the time to give them something tangible to see that you appreciate and love them. Encourage them with your words and be sincere don't just try to be romantic. Something that I would write to Kyle may not seem romantic to others but could have deep significance in our relationship - like Kyle bringing me home a bite size candy bar or snack size bag of skittles. That's romance to me baby - one of my favorite forms! I just think love notes are nice, for me it's easier to write out mushy things then to say them and I know I have Kyle's focused attention, as opposed to when I'm talking and there's other things going on or he's not in a serious mood and starts joking around (which I've totally done too.) It also makes you, the writer, slow down and really think about the things that person does that you love, admire, and appreciate. It's nice. It's encouraging. Pray for them too before you write it.

I hate autocorrect!

I apologize for not rereading my posts before I post them! Sheesh! I am thankful for help with misspelled words but using the word Illinois over million - really?! I'm tempted to go back and change them. But I don't really have time for that. Sorry I'll try to do better. It drives me crazy. The end.

Mushy Monday - Milestones

Somebody has been overachieving this month. And his name is Silas! He can now sit himself up, crawl on his hands and knees, pull up to his knees and trying to pull to stand, plays peek-a-boo, and has added bye bye to the sounds he can make. Way to go buddy! I was riled when he figured out how to sit himself up! He had been getting so mad every time he'd fall from the sitting position to his belly. Then on my sisters' birthday, March 6th, he got up on all fours and accidentally sat back on his bottom! Then the next day he didn't do it all until the evening, and then he had it figured out.  It was this that led to him figuring out ow to really crawl too! He just accidentally did it a few times and it was a slower progression the the sitting. It took a couple of days to get into the full swing of it but now he's got it down. However his belly crawl is at super speed so he does still do that when he's in a hurry!

The other night I put the boys to bed and I could tell Tommy had gotten out of bed. I heard from their bedroom, "bye, bye,bye, bye" it sounded just like Tom. Much to my surprise it was Silas! I love that they sound just alike! So stinking cute!

Also the boys have been starting to make noises back and forth to each other in the car. Sometimes it's bye bye, sometimes it's just eh, eh, eh. I wish I could video these things, but then it wouldn't be safe to drive with me on the roads!

I think Tommy has noticed the difference in Silas' physical capabilities. He's been playing with him a lot more. The other night they were both in the kitchen playing and I was laying on the family room floor watching from a distance. I was loving just observing them together. They were playing and making each other laugh a little bit. Well then Tommy starts a new game. He ran down the hall and hid next to the bathroom, and Silas was at the other end of the hall and he couldn't see Tom when he'd go by the bathroom. Them Tommy would run out laughing and Silas would start cackling! Again I wish I could have video it, but I knew if I moved I would ruin the game. And some things are sweet to have in our memories and not always on video or in pictures. But I would hate to forget these sweet moments. I would especially like to replay them during those difficult days or weeks, and to think on the good times.

I haven't talked about Kyle in a while - I still like him, I still love him, I still think he's super handsome. Haha! All true! I am very grateful for him. I did the 31 days of praying for your husband cards that are from a book about that (I'm pretty sure that's the title of the book so to write it again would be redundant. And I just got to use the word redundant) I really loved how intentional and specific the cards were as to what to pray for him on that certain day. I plan to do them again next month and focus more on praying through the scriptures for him that are on each card. Kyle is always a great support to me, he listens when I talk to him about serious things, he answers my Biblical questions without making me feel stupid or beneath him - even when some of them are stupid, he is always quick to fix anything I bring to his attention that is bothering me, he has taught me how to be a much better communicator than I ever knew possible, he makes me laugh - a lot, and he just flat out brightens my day. I miss him when he's gone and always look forward to him coming home. The Lord has blessed me with an incredible husband and the boys with a wonderful father.

Pregnancy wise I'm feeling like a crazy woman. I'm still getting lots of headaches, starting to get nauseous again but no throwing up, my belly aches for the muscles being stretched already, I'm hormonal, and food is still somewhat of a struggle. Sheesh. I feel like the typical pregnant woman that you see portrayed on TV. I'm not such a fan of the fact that I feel this way. I don't like to be emotional, I don't like to be picky, and I like to feel normal. But babies are worth it and it won't last forever. But sometimes it feels like it will last forever. Haha!

Okay the end! I'll be sure to update after my doctors appointment, which is today! I should have the date for our ultrasound, where we find out if we are having Ella or Abra! Just kidding, still no boy names picked out.

Newly learned mommy tips coming at ya!

1.) Before brushing your baby/toddler's teeth rub the toothpaste into the toothbrush. That way the clump of toothpaste doesn't just fall off in their mouth and they swallow it, you'll actually get some foaming action.

2.) Buy fresh fruit, cut it up, label a freezer bag so you can reuse it for that fruit, and freeze some goodies for your teething baby. Use those little mesh eating bags and your baby will be entertained and get a healthy, gum soothing treat. I just learned this from two good friends, Critter and Emily! Love mommy friends and their wisdom!  By the way bananas are suuuuuper easy to do this with.

3.) If your toddler can stand very well independently teach them early to enjoy showers. This was very helpful a couple of months ago when Tommy had the stomach bug. It makes cleaning off diarrhea about a Illinois times easier. And it's quick.

4.) Nursing is not birth control! Haha just kidding I know you know that I just had to throw it in there to make myself laugh. It worked.

5.) Make cleaning up toys a fun game! Praise your kids when they do it and start by asking excitedly - do you want to help pick up some toys! Tommy loves it! And honestly it's more fun for metro pick them up with him.

6.) When your toddler is taking a bath - clean them real quick at the beginning of the bath, then pull the shower curtain almost shut, but still where you can supervise, and let them splash like crazy! This was a good tip from my friend Patty!

7.) Pray and sing with your kids before bed. We've found teaching Tommy to fold his hands when we pray and doing songs with motions make it really fun and interactive. He loves being able to participate and he knows which songs we sing. He will start doing the signs for the next song right after we finish the last one b/c he's so excited. We used to sing a couple of songs that didn't require motions, I actually did this until just recently, but Tommy likes being able to "sing" along. Also it is a great routine to get them in the habit of knowing after this, it's hugs and kisses and I go to bed. We sing the songs, "The B I B L E", "Our God is so Great", & "Jesus Loves Me". They are short, sweet, and true! Our Pastor Adam Embry has always done a great job of expressing the importance of singing easy worship songs with your kids as a part of family worship.

8.) Try to ask your toddler for help with things you usually do on your own. I'm really bad at this for a coup,e of reasons, I just don't think of it, and it makes doing easy things harder. But seriously seeing how proud Tommy is to help me is totally worth it! And clearly it teaches him to do things. The other day I had Tom help me make sweet tea for his daddy. We have a tea maker so it's pretty easy. Tommy loved it! And Kyle made sure to thank him and make a big deal over him making his tea for him.

9.) Give your babies lots of big hugs and kisses! There are days I forget to do this! Kids need affection. And some day they won't be so easily accessible and they won't want you to be so affectionate. Be intentional to love on them for their sake and yours!

10.) Try not to over think things. We're trying to figure out if it's time to start disciplining Silas in some manner but figuring out which way is effective is going to be a little bit of a task. I'm sure it was with Tommy too, and I know The Lord was kind to give us guidance and to clearly show us what Tom responded to best. So I pray and know He will do the same with Silas. It's funny b/c they always seemed like light bulb moments with Tommy and I'd think why didn't I think of that before?!