It has been sooo long since I've posted and I've missed it. There are many many reasons that I haven't had a chance to write, but I'm not going it to it today. Today is about Caleb and celebrating his three years of life!
We started last night by telling him about the night before he was born. He loves to hear our stories and kept asking questions (mostly "why"). Then this morning I told him the next section of the story about going to the hospital and knowing that we were giong to hold our first baby boy soon. When Ashley got home, it was around 11:45 and we told him about him being born and how we were amazed at the miracle that God had just given us. Then tonight when we were putting him to sleep, we told him about our first night in the hospital with him when it was just Daddy, Mommy, and Caleb. We are so thankful for the three years that we've had with him and for the amazing little boy that he's become. This is what we love about him the most:
He has the sweetest little voice in the world.
He sings all the time and knows so many songs. So many times they come out of nowhere. It could be a song that we haven't sung in months and he'll still remember all the words.
He prays for his friends and family. Sometimes he's in a hurry, but usually he seems to know just who to pray for.
He loves the mud, running, playing ball, and all things boy.
He crawls in our laps to read and will sit there for so long. Going to the library is one of his favorite things to do.
He gets excited about playing with his friends. They can play together in relative peace and have the most fun games that they make up. I found he and Dayla sitting in the recliner together a few weeks ago. They were "reading" a book to each other.
He really does love Karis even though he doesn't really like for her to take his toys. I've found them playing together so sweetly recently. I love it:)
He's witty and has a great sense of humor. He always knows just how to make us laugh.
He has an amazing joy for life that makes his eyes sparkle when he's excited about something.
He always wants to do his best.
He loves playing with play doh, washing anything in the sink, and helping us do things. His new thing to say is, "I'm a great helper."
He loves to work in the garden, planting things, digging holes, watering the plants, etc.
He loves cooking, sprouting seeds, making bread, juicing vegetables, etc.
He is absolutely the sweetest kiddo in the world. We love you Caleb and are so thankful that God has given us three years with you.
(I'll post pictures of the party after this weekend)
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
SUCCESS!!!
After a two day "sleep through the night" stint in Mamie and Poppy's pack-n-play, I was standing over her crib at 2:00 am Sunday night getting her back to sleep and thinking about setting up her pack-n-play right next to her crib. I couldn't believe that she was awake...what in the world. The only good news was that I didn't have to pick her up to get her back to sleep. I only had to scratch the back of her neck...you've never seen someone try to walk out of a room as quietly as I did once she fell asleep:) So last night, I decided to try one last idea before I actually set up the pack-n-play. At my mom and dad's I always plug in a space heater beside her bed. So, I turned on her noise maker (which is actually just an alarm clock radio tuned to static). IT WORKED! IT TOTALLY WORKED!!! Why would it make a difference in the middle of the night...I don't know, but I do know that if it makes her sleep all night long then we will have white noise in her room!
Hal-lelujah, Hal-lelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hal-le-lujah! Now we will just keep our fingers crossed tonight!
Hal-lelujah, Hal-lelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hal-le-lujah! Now we will just keep our fingers crossed tonight!
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Worthy of a Post
I'm moving in with my mom and dad! Karis slept through the night last night for the second time in 3 1/2 months...the first time being over Thanksgiving at my mom and dad's house.
I don't know where I've gone wrong. At five weeks, Karis magically slept through the night without ever crying at all. At first I thought it was a fluke, but it continued until she was 5 1/2 months old. I was so confident in her ability to stay asleep that it never occured to me that it would end...but end it did. It started with her getting out of her swaddling blanket, then came the growth spurt and starving in the middle of the night. Next she learned to roll over and apparently it is quite disturbing to wake up on your hands and knees in the middle of the night and not know how to get back down. This was followed by some new teeth, habitually pooping at three in the morning, and now a snotty nose (apparently you can't suck your paci and breathe when your nose is stopped up with snot). Really all they are is excuses to not sleep through the night and get your mom out of bed. I've really tried all I know to do...earlier naps, more naps, later naps, earlier bed time, later bedtime, nursing in the middle of the night, paci and rocking in the middle of the night, crying it out in the middle of the night (from 3:30 til 5:10...lots of fun). I think it boils down to the fact that God is teaching me humility. How many times have people said that their kids weren't sleeping through the night and I have confidently (maybe even pridefully - see the post "Time for Transparency") replied, "Well, you just need to let them cry it out." After all, isn't that what the books say...and books are always right. Now I am eating my words because I have a sweet little girl who wants to wake up at night except in her Mamie and Popper's pack-n-play. So maybe I'm not moving back in with my parents, but I might be setting up a pack-n-play right next to the crib in Karis' room. If it works, I might just write a book:)
I don't know where I've gone wrong. At five weeks, Karis magically slept through the night without ever crying at all. At first I thought it was a fluke, but it continued until she was 5 1/2 months old. I was so confident in her ability to stay asleep that it never occured to me that it would end...but end it did. It started with her getting out of her swaddling blanket, then came the growth spurt and starving in the middle of the night. Next she learned to roll over and apparently it is quite disturbing to wake up on your hands and knees in the middle of the night and not know how to get back down. This was followed by some new teeth, habitually pooping at three in the morning, and now a snotty nose (apparently you can't suck your paci and breathe when your nose is stopped up with snot). Really all they are is excuses to not sleep through the night and get your mom out of bed. I've really tried all I know to do...earlier naps, more naps, later naps, earlier bed time, later bedtime, nursing in the middle of the night, paci and rocking in the middle of the night, crying it out in the middle of the night (from 3:30 til 5:10...lots of fun). I think it boils down to the fact that God is teaching me humility. How many times have people said that their kids weren't sleeping through the night and I have confidently (maybe even pridefully - see the post "Time for Transparency") replied, "Well, you just need to let them cry it out." After all, isn't that what the books say...and books are always right. Now I am eating my words because I have a sweet little girl who wants to wake up at night except in her Mamie and Popper's pack-n-play. So maybe I'm not moving back in with my parents, but I might be setting up a pack-n-play right next to the crib in Karis' room. If it works, I might just write a book:)
Friday, December 4, 2009
Little Feet
There is something about a baby's feet that melts my heart. They are so tiny and precious...so innocent. Now, I'm only 2 1/2 years into this parenting journey, but there is something about my kids' feet that I love. It seems like I'm always playing with Karis', tickling them, tapping them together, wiggling them around and it makes her laugh so hard! They are so innocent - tiny and perfect.
They are just learning how to support her weight, but yet they hold the promise of so many things...wobbly first steps, wiggling in warm sand at the beach, pulse racing first dances. They will take her so many places as she walks out the plans that God has for her life.
Then there's Caleb with his little boy feet. They are getting so big and they do so many fun things now. They run across the yard to chase squirrels,
jump off as many steps as he's brave enough to try (four is his top number), splash in rain puddles,
and tromp through "lakes" left by tropical storms (that was at his GiGi and Grandpa's house).
Soon enough these little boy feet will grow so much bigger.
They will learn to climb trees, learn how to play sports, start to stink, and be slung over our furniture when they're attached to lanky teenage legs. They will be what takes him through mistakes and good decisions.
Right now, these two sets of feet are so small yet they represent a promise of something to come...lives that will grow into a young man and a young woman. When I stand over their beds at night and pray for them, I pray that they will clearly know the plans that God has for their lives at an early age and that they will walk in those plans with a joyful heart that only wants to serve our Savior. I pray that they won't walk down the road of the world, but that they will choose to walk with God so that they can experience all that God has in store for them.
They are just learning how to support her weight, but yet they hold the promise of so many things...wobbly first steps, wiggling in warm sand at the beach, pulse racing first dances. They will take her so many places as she walks out the plans that God has for her life.
Then there's Caleb with his little boy feet. They are getting so big and they do so many fun things now. They run across the yard to chase squirrels,
jump off as many steps as he's brave enough to try (four is his top number), splash in rain puddles,
and tromp through "lakes" left by tropical storms (that was at his GiGi and Grandpa's house).
Soon enough these little boy feet will grow so much bigger.
They will learn to climb trees, learn how to play sports, start to stink, and be slung over our furniture when they're attached to lanky teenage legs. They will be what takes him through mistakes and good decisions.
Right now, these two sets of feet are so small yet they represent a promise of something to come...lives that will grow into a young man and a young woman. When I stand over their beds at night and pray for them, I pray that they will clearly know the plans that God has for their lives at an early age and that they will walk in those plans with a joyful heart that only wants to serve our Savior. I pray that they won't walk down the road of the world, but that they will choose to walk with God so that they can experience all that God has in store for them.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Cloth Diapers
I am officially addicted...to cloth diapers. It started out as a "maybe I should try this" "if my mom could do it so can I" thing, and it has become something that I love. So this post is dedicated to cloth diapering. I think it's going to be a numbered list...maybe a "top ten reasons I like cloth diapers"...yes, I like that, so here goes!
10. They are bulky but sooo cute!
9. There are 4 different styles (that I know of) - fitteds, all in ones, all in twos, and pocket diapers. I love variety and having a differt type of diaper for different times. It keeps it interesting.
8. There are TONS of different brands. I like finding the ones I like the best. Once again there is good variety.
7. I have been introduced to a whole new group of people - the cloth diapering moms.
6. Poop in a cloth diaper isn't as bad as I expected it to be.
OK, I need to stop here for a minute. As a mom, you really learn to accept that poop is a part of your life. In just 2 1/2 years of parenting, I've had more poop touch my hands (arm, clothes, bottom of my foot, etc) than I ever really thought I would. I never really even considered that I would have to manage poop on such a regular basis, and that was with disposable diapers (with the first child). So here's the deal with poop in a cloth diaper.
A. When it's just breast milk poop (the yellow stuff) you don't do anything. Just put it in the diaper pail and wash as normal.
B. When it's poop that is solid, dump it in the potty. Put the diaper in the pail. No big deal.
C. When it's really soft poop that has squished everywhere, it gets a little more tricky. You have to get it off. They make this really cool gaget now called a diaper sprayer. Basically it is a miniature removalable shower head for your toilet. You hold the diaper over the toilet and spray the poop into the potty. Diaper in the pail...pretty easy. I, however, do not have a diaper sprayer. Therefore, I lay the diaper in the toilet, poop side down. I let it soak for a few minutes, then I hold on to the end of the diaper and flush. This pulls some of the poop off (this step may need to be repeated). Once I'm satisfied with the poop removal, I swish the diaper around in the toilet and squeeze it out. Yes, I am familiar with my child's poop. This calls for serious hand washing. It makes me feel a little better that my grandma told me that this was the way she cleaned off diapers too. I am not the first to have my hand in poop in the toilet. By the way, I used to be squemish about just touching clean toilet bowl water...those days are long gone:)
5. I like to see the cloth diapers hanging on the clothes line.
4. I feel pretty "green!" I like knowing that I'm not filling landfills.
3. I have gotten used to changing diapers a little more frequently and it makes me feel good that my baby's not sitting in pee for as long. (When I'm using a disposable, I make it last for as long as possible!)
2. I love the softness!!!
1. I DON'T HAVE TO SPEND $20 OF GROCERY MONEY EVERY OTHER WEEK ON A BOX OF DIAPERS!!!!!!!
So that's it. There's my top ten! If you're interested, let me know. I'll be glad to teach you what I've learned!
10. They are bulky but sooo cute!
9. There are 4 different styles (that I know of) - fitteds, all in ones, all in twos, and pocket diapers. I love variety and having a differt type of diaper for different times. It keeps it interesting.
8. There are TONS of different brands. I like finding the ones I like the best. Once again there is good variety.
7. I have been introduced to a whole new group of people - the cloth diapering moms.
6. Poop in a cloth diaper isn't as bad as I expected it to be.
OK, I need to stop here for a minute. As a mom, you really learn to accept that poop is a part of your life. In just 2 1/2 years of parenting, I've had more poop touch my hands (arm, clothes, bottom of my foot, etc) than I ever really thought I would. I never really even considered that I would have to manage poop on such a regular basis, and that was with disposable diapers (with the first child). So here's the deal with poop in a cloth diaper.
A. When it's just breast milk poop (the yellow stuff) you don't do anything. Just put it in the diaper pail and wash as normal.
B. When it's poop that is solid, dump it in the potty. Put the diaper in the pail. No big deal.
C. When it's really soft poop that has squished everywhere, it gets a little more tricky. You have to get it off. They make this really cool gaget now called a diaper sprayer. Basically it is a miniature removalable shower head for your toilet. You hold the diaper over the toilet and spray the poop into the potty. Diaper in the pail...pretty easy. I, however, do not have a diaper sprayer. Therefore, I lay the diaper in the toilet, poop side down. I let it soak for a few minutes, then I hold on to the end of the diaper and flush. This pulls some of the poop off (this step may need to be repeated). Once I'm satisfied with the poop removal, I swish the diaper around in the toilet and squeeze it out. Yes, I am familiar with my child's poop. This calls for serious hand washing. It makes me feel a little better that my grandma told me that this was the way she cleaned off diapers too. I am not the first to have my hand in poop in the toilet. By the way, I used to be squemish about just touching clean toilet bowl water...those days are long gone:)
5. I like to see the cloth diapers hanging on the clothes line.
4. I feel pretty "green!" I like knowing that I'm not filling landfills.
3. I have gotten used to changing diapers a little more frequently and it makes me feel good that my baby's not sitting in pee for as long. (When I'm using a disposable, I make it last for as long as possible!)
2. I love the softness!!!
1. I DON'T HAVE TO SPEND $20 OF GROCERY MONEY EVERY OTHER WEEK ON A BOX OF DIAPERS!!!!!!!
So that's it. There's my top ten! If you're interested, let me know. I'll be glad to teach you what I've learned!
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