Trying to Figure it out!!!

So, as the kids get older, it turns out parenting does not get easier. It's nice that they can feed themselves and sleep through the night....But we've been trying to figure out issues.

Here's one: James decided he wants to get up and out of bed at 4:30 or 5:00 AM!!! For about 2 months. Sometimes he just occupies himself downstairs by reading, coloring, etc. However, he has meltdowns mid morning but won't take a nap. So, what to do?? We moved him to a twin sized bed thinking maybe he wasn't comfortable in a smaller bed. Didn't work that well. Then we tried spanking. That didn't work so well either so then, Alex would go back to bed with James and make him lay down. That happened for about a week and it didn't really work. So, besides tying your kids to the bed, what do you do?? I don't know what happened, but he just started sleeping in till 7 again. Just like that.....I don't attribute that to good parenting but God's grace.

And No, James did not have a boo-boo on his head. He just likes to pretend there's one and put band-aid's on.

Ryan

I wrote this long blog on Ryan and then my computer conveniently erased it all. So, I took that to mean, Keep it Short!!

So, here's my revised version. Did you know that Ryan means Little King? That's not why we named him that, but it's a strong name. Turns out, James means supplanter and for those of us who had to look that word up, that is someone who wrongfully or illegally seizes the place of another. That's not a very nice definition for such a strong name. But interesting. Anyways, Ry-Ry is keeping his red hair. He has fine straight hair but a few brillo like curls at the back. These do not brush out and gel does nothing to help.

As you've been reading, we have visited the Dr's alot. From rashes to constipation to fevers.....

James caught a high fever a few weeks ago. It went away the next day but then Ryan caught it and was miserable!! Crying all day, inconsolable, not going to bed till 11 or 12. So, after 2 Dr visits.....we were still waiting it out. Then Ryan got stung by a caterpillar. Yes, they do sting. Look up puss moth caterpillar. So, poor little Ryan's hand was red hot to the touch all up to his elbow. So, a trip to the emergency room and about 2 hours later, he was doped up on Benadryl and finally asleep!! So, it wasn't a crazy emergency, but enough to get the emotions going....That was a horrible week but it did end. And Ryan is healthy!!

James

Well, let's see. James is in preschool 2 days a week and some weeks I wish for 3. He could go for 3, but I have to remember he is still 2. But he loves going and I enjoy the break.

James is doing well with speech therapy. I have heard from a few friends that they are understanding him better. So, one day I will have a toddler speaking to me in sentences. I may regret that though.

James is into chocolate milk. He also loves to do everything himself. Although if he doesn't get it the first time, he will ask for help.

He is into drawing, trucks, trains, planes and helicopters. He is actually quite a serious drawer. I think he gets that from his grandmother and aunt. They're both artists.

I bought him a Superman outfit for halloween, so we'll see if he wears it. He's still not sure about costumes. Definately no masks!! Anyways, clothes-wise, he's beginning to wear some 3T but can still fit into some 2T. There needs to be a 2 1/2 T.

Where have I been?

Well, nowhere. It's true. I haven't gone anywhere. I just don't have many fun stories to talk about. We have had a roller coaster of a time here, but nothing terribly exciting. So, it's October and the beginning of birthday, anniversary and holiday season. I am very much looking forward to being home for Christmas this year. We will be traveling to Texas for Thanksgiving and we are looking forward to being in Texas, but not necessarily the plane ride. We fly through Atlanta this time which can be rough, but we've done it before and we're fairly familiar with the airport.

We do get to go to a friend's wedding in December. Apparently, it is in the middle of nowhere. There's a lot of places like that in South Carolina. But a fun excuse to get dressed up.

Back to Christmas. I'm looking forward to being in our new house, having a decorated Christmas tree, stockings, candles in the windows, lots of cookies and food! I'm excited to cook also. I bake a lot of pumpkin bread during this season and I know my husband will be very happy about that. Although, he's not so happy about the weight gain :) But if I'm gaining weight, it's okay if he does too.

I'm looking through a lot of holiday decorating and cooking magazines to get some ideas to spruce up the house. Hopefully I'll be in a new house to spruce up!

New Words for James

James has had 2 speech therapy sessions and he does really well. Shelly, the speech therapist, is very enthusiastic and keeps his attention. He like Mr. Potato Head and the trains that she brings. She asks him questions like "Point to the boy who's running" and he can do that. He tries to say what she says, and it's pretty cute. But every now and then James will just come out and say a word that sounds really close to the real word. Here are some examples,

"May-Man" = Mailman (not sure why he chose to say this word)
"Beesh" = Beach

So, we're just waiting and encouraging!!

Self Serve Pudding

I think every child goes through this stage with some sort of pudding, jello, etc. They manage to get some in their mouths but most on their face. But they're happy and quiet and sometimes, it's just worth it! Ryan got his opportunity the other day and BOY!! was he thrilled!! James wasn't so sure about sharing his pudding. Actually, James does like to share his food, but only when he gets to serve it :) So, we think his spiritual gift will be serving.

Tadpoles

So, it was dinnertime. And that means that both little boys are either yelling or crying. Ryan usually wants to held and James wants more snacks. We invited a friend over for dinner, so I was preparing an extra-special dinner (shrimp) and we were ALL in the kitchen waiting for Alex to get home. I usually do as much preparing for dinner as I can and when Alex gets home I pass the kids over. But tonight, he got home a little later than was expected. So, amidst my dirty kitchen because Ryan and James had taken out all the pots, pans, tupperware, etc, Alex walks in. I notice right away he's carrying a cooler. Sort of an odd picture because he doesn't ever bring a cooler into the kitchen.

He sets it down right in the center of the kitchen and I now begin to wonder what's in it????? Whatever it is, it does not fit into my kitchen where dinner is now cooked.

He says "James, look what I got!". He then reveals a cooler full of tadpoles!! Must have been 30 or 40 in yucky pond water.

My thoughts "Great! Now what? Frogs jumping into my shrimp and then all over my kitchen?"

Alex then asks "Where's your trifle bowl?" I give him a look that suggests I don't approve of what he's thinking, I ask "Why?"

"So, I can put the tadpoles in it"

So, I'm going to have a trifle bowl with yucky pond water and a bunch of tadpoles swimming around in my kitchen. All for the sake of "science".

Anyways, I did buy a little tank and they now reside in my kitchen, but in a covered tank. They're growing little legs and we're excited to see what kind of frogs they will be. Then we'll let them go.

Oh, Alex found them in a little puddle outside our new house. So, free tadpoles!!