silly boys

These little guys can always bring a smile to my face.

hand-me-down love

My cousin Brenda sent us a box of hand-me-downs this week. She does this every couple of months and the boys always get very excited when the big box is delivered. This time it was full of all kinds of goodies including a jacket, books, shirts and pants. The boys' favorites were a race car driver costume and a dragon costume. They had the best time running around playing in their costumes. Thanks so much Brenda!

the day I've been dreaming of

We woke up yesterday morning to a wonderful cold front. The boys immediately wanted to go outside, so we threw on their sweatpants with their pajamas and out they went. They were still cold, so they came inside for jackets. They had the best time running around in the yard playing together. We were all so happy to finally have some fall weather. I have been dreaming of this day for quite some time.

Since the weather was so nice, we decided to take advantage of it and head in my parent's direction to play. We started off the day at a small park and had a nice picnic lunch.

We caught Austin sneaking up on some birds in a catlike prowl.

Don't tell Eric I let a 31/2 year old hold my Nikon, but Ethan took this picture of my mom and me.

After our picnic, we headed over to the coolest park I've ever seen. The boys had so much fun and we can't wait to go back with Daddy.

After hours of playing, it was nap time so we went back to my parent's house. This picture is why preschool was worth every penny... For the first time in our lives as parents, we no longer have to drag two pack-n-plays around. Our kiddos can finally successfully fall asleep on a pallet! This may sound silly to some, but to us, it's monumental. Oh, and don't remind me that we can only enjoy our pack-n-play-free time for the next 6 months before the baby comes please.

In case you were wondering, there is no pacifier in my sweet Austin's mouth under the blankie. He only asked for it a couple times yesterday and didn't cry when he took his nap or at bedtime. Woo hoo!!!

goodbye paci

Yesterday was a hard day in my poor Austin's life. We decided at almost two and a half, it was time to say goodbye to his pacifier.

Our strategy was to give Austin one pacifier with the tip barely snipped off. (Apparently it doesn't suck quite the same that way) We hid all the other ones and I put some in his special box.

Austin's first nap without the pacifier was hard. He cried for 30 minutes and finally fell asleep. If we gave him the snipped paci, he would say "I want my other paci!" in the most pathetic, sad voice you have ever heard. I almost gave in, but tough mommy prevailed.

Nighttime was hard too. He sobbed for 30 minutes until I almost ran in and gave him all 10 pacifiers just to make him happy. My pregnant hormones just could not handle it. Instead, Eric layed down with him and helped him go to sleep. Too bad Eric won't be here today during nap time!

Austin was a paci boy from the start. His paci love grew more and more each day. I have to admit, we loved the paci too. It could silence my vocal son in an instant. He has been a great sleeper and his paci was a huge part of it. He would fall asleep sucking on it like it had the last bit of water in it on earth. He would have one in his mouth and one clutched tightly in his hand.

Pacifiers have always been a big hit around this house. Hopefully they will be extinct around here until the end of February when we will immediately stick one in baby #3's mouth upon birth.

It really does break my heart to take my sweetie's favorite accessory away. I had a really hard time making the decision to do it because I know it brings him so much comfort and happiness. I know it's time though and I don't want his teeth to look like Bugs Bunny from having a pacifier until he's 5. So now is the time. I'm praying each day gets easier on my little sweetie. and me too.

cell phone love

"Can you hear me Dad? Wow, it sounds just like a real phone!"

It was my freshman year of college and I was in Radio Shack testing out these new cellular phones. My dad had a cell phone when I was in high school, but it was so big it resembled a brick with a massive antennae sticking out of it. My best friend Rebecca had one our junior year, but it was stored in a bag, had to be kept in the car, and it was only to be used for emergencies. It never got much use.

The new cell phone in Radio Shack was a beauty and the sales man let me test it out for free. Small (for 13 years ago), great reception, and it could fit in my purse. I bought it then and there with my Daddy's permission and have been addicted to the cell phone ever since.

I just realized a couple things... I have had a cell phone attached to my ear for 13 years, been out of college for almost 10, and it's time for a new phone since mine has been more dropping calls recently than my 1995 original ever did!

Grandma and Grandpa to the rescue

I'm sick. It started on Thursday morning with alternating between being cold, then hot, then clammy. I had absolutely no energy. I couldn't muster the energy to get up for anything. So what does a sick momma do?

Calls in the reinforcements.

My parents came over and helped with the four toddlers while I rested all day. It sounds really nice to think of me sound asleep in my room snuggling under the covers while they dealt with the kids. The reality is my body hurt from laying down too much and I didn't enjoy any of it.

I was actually worse today, so my sweet mom came back over today to watch the boys. They had fun with grandma while I tried to get some more sweaty, uncomfortable, pregnant, sick sleep.

Thanks Mom and Dad for saving me these past two days!

snapshots

parenting boys

Today was Austin's third day of preschool. He started crying in the car on the way to school and said "I wanna go home, not go school". Eric and I dropped him off in his classroom anyway and he had to be peeled off Eric by his sweet teacher. It broke my heart to leave my sobbing baby there. It's kind of like a lot of things in parenting; even though you know you are doing what is best for your child, it still breaks your heart. School is good for him and I know it. He has proven before at church and our gym that he will get over it. It may just take some time for him to feel comfortable and ready to willingly want to go. It still breaks my heart and makes my time away not as sweet.

I have quite an unread collection of books on raising boys. Since the boys are getting older, I really want to read these books soon. Eric and I want to raise happy, sweet boys who have respect and love for people, God and themselves too. Hopefully these books will give me some insight on how boys' brains work. I am already outnumbered here and we will know in a month if I will be REALLY outnumbered!

September market days

This weekend we met Eric's parents in Wimberley to visit Market Days. Jan and I had a great time pulling the boys around in the wagon while they munched on kettle corn. Eric helped his uncle Larry work the kettle corn booth. We always have such a good time in Wimberley hanging out with family, browsing the hundreds of booths and letting the kids play with their cousins.

The boys' second cousin Kori Beth set up her own booth and sold rocks that she polished herself. Would you believe she made over $100 on Saturday?

Mindy, Erica and the girls came over to get in on some of the shopping fun. I didn't do too much damage this time. I did get two Christmas presents out of the way, so that's always nice!

just can't get enough

hello, goodbye energy

Today I was going to post about how I now finally have more energy. I actually did three loads of laundry, washed dishes, vacuumed and swept the floors today. This is more than I have done in weeks. I feel like the second trimester has arrived and brought with it more energy.

The reason I'm not posting about how I have more energy, is because I now feel zapped of one ounce of energy. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I did so much house work this morning. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I had to load two extra car seats in my car, load up two girls at my house, unload two girls at the preschool, pick up two boys from preschool, load four toddlers back into my car and then unload four toddlers at my house. Oh, and don't' forget the two lunch bags, two backpacks, two nap mats and papers I had to carry. Do you think that has something to do with it?

first day of school

Tuesday was Ethan and Austin's first day of school. Ethan went last year, but this was Austin's very first day of school ever. The boys were both very excited about going. They excitedly carried their backpacks, nap mats and school supplies to the car and jumped in. On the way, they sang their ABCs and Ethan said he was "so happy" to go to school.

We dropped Austin off in his classroom first and he ran right in. This was shocking because he has a really hard time every time we go to church or the gym. Ethan went into his classroom without too much hesitation. My pregnant, mommy brain forgot their lunch bags, so we ran home to get them and bring them to the boys. As I dropped Austin's lunch off 15 minutes later, I heard the sobbing. At first I didn't even recognize it as Austin. Then I did, and it broke my heart. I kept waiting for my phone call, but it never came. I enjoyed my 5 hours of kid free time and was anxious to go pick them up.

We picked Austin up first. He ran straight to me and gave me a huge hug. He said he had fun and wanted to come back. It was so cute to hear him tell us that he "blew bubbles and played on playground". His teacher said he cried for about an hour and then had a great time participating in story and singing time. She said he passed right out on his nap mat and was sleeping so hard he snored. I am so relieved that my little sweetie is going to enjoy school.

Ethan had a great day at school too. He did great using the potty and had fun with his new friends. I'm so happy the boys have such wonderful teachers and they had so much fun. Mommy had fun too!