Terrible Two Tantrums

Most of the time I love nothing more than to brag about all the wonderfully cute things my little boy does but today. well, today is different kind of day. We have officially entered the stage of Terrible Twos I'm afraid. And while he is still really sweet and cute most of the time, those little moments when he isn't can ruin my whole day.

I've tried time outs (for us both)...

Deep breathing.

snacks.

naps.

getting breaks throughout the week by finding him a sitter.

rewards and praise when he is behaving.

Nothing seems to make my life any better when he is having one of those tantrums. Even though I know it will likely be over in 20 minutes time. I can't help but feel completely out of control for that short time. I know it's most likely a stage and we will get through it but GOLLY there are some days I just wanna go in my room and hide.

Reporting for Dr. Charlie Grahammy

this is what he refers to himself as sometimes. Other times when u ask (or tell) him if he is comfy, sweet, handsome, cute, smart etc He tells u "I Graham- Just Graham"...

He sings the clean up songs "Clean up clean up ERYBODY" "blankets away, blankets away, blankets away please"

He tells mommy "I do'd it" or "Graham do'd it" when he is asserting his independence and says "mom (or dad) do'd it hokay" when he wants to get out of doing something or is feeling lazy.

He makes towers out of everything and sees them everywhere... I was folding laundry today and he thought the "TOWEL TOWER!!!!" I made was pretty awesome.

today his grapes were "precious"

He leaves the room and tells everyone "Love u, see u soon"

He asks to go to bye bye in the "car in garage" and loves to go "SHOPPING" he yells "SHOPPING" everytime he sees the IGA!

He is curious. He asks "what do-nin mom?" "shhh listen, What's that noise/sound"...

He thinks he is clever (and he is) he insists u "frow it to me hokay" LOL! He will stand at the top of the stairs and "frow it to u mom"...

He has picked up a cute habit from his dad... If his dad whistles at me he tries "WHOO WHOOO" and he tells me I look "pretty" or "beautiful" in certain things.

He is my big boy and my SUNSHINE.

I love him.

He's Two...

He's really two...

Perhaps it's the pregnancy hormones, but his Mommy is not dealing well with this.



He now speaks in full sentences, 4, 5, 6 words long. And asks for exactly what he wants when he wants it.

He tells us when he is going to the bathroom (a step in the right direction for potty training).

He repeats things like "Oh goodness", "Ok?" & "Right?" after he asks for something, "sure Mom", and sounds so grown up.

He now gets himself out of his own bed and comes downstairs when he is awake.

He is becoming a good helper and learning how to share more.

Somedays he likes to pick out his own clothes. That is when he wants to get dressed...

He loves bubble baths and going shopping! :) My kind of boy.

He sings songs sometimes only after hearing it once. My new personal favorite is "tinkle tinkle little star"

He really strives to get words out right. His latest "cute saying" was 'Charlie Bucket' and none of us could figure out if it was an imaginary friend or what. Turns out he was only trying to say his own name. Which he now says is "Charlie Grahammy Rabbit (Rebbec)" LOL! Sometimes I wish he would still say "hocks and hoos" and call himself Charlie Bucket instead...

He is learning to be empathetic and aware of other's feelings and emotions. He asks "You OK?" after someone sneezes or coughs. He frequently checks on other kids/babies crying and makes others aware that they are upset. He tells us when he is really "happy" and really "mad".

He has good manners (for the most part) saying please and thank you and your welcome. This is important to me as a Mom. I really work on having an appreciative kiddo.

Most of all this little boy is my SUNSHINE everyday. He makes me so very happy and proud to be his Mommy. He is such a sweet sweet boy and it's such a pleasure watching him grow up.

Weather Permitting...

Weather Permitting the next week or so will go as follows:

Pa-Paw and Uncle Will get here tomorrow. Uncle Joe is driving up to get them, I'm riding along.

Christmas #1 on Saturday at Aunt Debbie's. It's typically A Christmas Eve ordeal when we all gather together for chili and oyster stew (EWWW) and the famous gift exchange. This year we have made changes to the date (only the date) so that I can follow Dr's orders after my minor surgery on Tuesday morning.

Sunday- WE GET TO SEE MARY BETH!!! FINALLY!!!! (she actually gets home late Saturday night) I don't know who has missed her more me or G. All I know is I probably won't be so supportive of her next time she wants to teach overseas for "a few months"... LOL!

We scheduled my cerclage (u can google it) for Tuesday morning at 7 am. It's an outpatient surgery and I will be placed on bedrest for a week while we see how my body (and the baby) responds to the surgery. I need some prayers. My nerves are getting to me...

Thursday is the 9 yr anniversary (that sounds like such a happy word and it's not a happy day) of when my grandpa passed away. I will never ever forget that day.

Friday evening we will spend with the Rebbec's. Everyone will be HOME (Mike, Alyssa and Mary Beth)!!! It should be a really good time.

Saturday- we are hoping for the first year in as long as I can remember to spend at home, enjoying our family and playing with all of Graham's new toys.

Sunday- We celebrate Christmas at my mom's house.

Whew!!! I'm tired just thinking of it but I can't wait for it either!

Prayers for all the travelers- going out to you all and asking to recieve on our end too.

May you have lots of PEACE, LOVE and JOY this CHRISTmas!

Big Boy Bed, Bronchitis and Blizzards

My little boy is 23 months old! Where did the time go? In less than a month he will be a 2 yr old. ***Major sad face*** Why can't we just freeze them in time and keep them sweet and innocent and "lap size"??? My nephew Wylie would tell you I ask this only because I don't want to get old. Which reminds me that next month I will also be having a birthday. 27. UGGHH!



So we went back and forth for months on what to do about a "big boy bed" and finally decided to keep Graham's his own and buy new for the baby. So we took the side off the crib and now it's a toddler bed and wouldn't you know this little guy just loves it. The transition could not have been easier. I'm such a proud mommy that he is such a good boy. At first he wouldn't even get out when he was awake- he would still call for us. He does get down now when he is up but it has always been an appropriate time.



We have had colds in this house for a month now and last week Graham's started into some coughing so we took him into the doctor to find out he has Bronchitis. So fun fun antibiotics. He HATES medicine. I blame it on all that he had to take the first two years because of ear infections. But we finished it and he seems to be on the road to recovery.



Last weekend we got dumped on by a snow storm. This week all week we had warnings for a weekend blizzard. They weren't kidding. We didn't get as much snow as last weekend but we did get a lot of blowing snow! Schools even cancelled today. Did I mention the wind chill is -10 to -20 all day!!! YIKES! The Florida guys are gonna love it when they arrive Thursday. Although we are supposed to have a heat wave by then with highs of 30 degrees on Thursday. LOL!


Baby Update:
There really isn't much of one until tomorrow. We have an appt for a sonogram as well as to schedule my surgery. I can't wait to get a peek at the little thing again. I am starting to lean towards "its a girl". I have had way more "yucky" feelings than I ever did with Graham. I have almost daily headaches and crazy dizziness. I don't sleep well at all which is super frustrating because I'm always exhausted. I sitll have a few food aversions too. I am deinfitely "showing" now too.

Blog Update: So I really fail at putting pictures on here right. Maybe someday someone who is good at this can show me how to do it right. In the meantime- enjoy all the pictures at the top and u can imagine they are with their "captions" and turned the right way. HAHA!

Our Christmas Card

Since we went the cheapo route this year and only ordered 60 cards to mail, I am taking advantage of the world wide web and posting it here for all to see! :)

We have had such a blessed year. I can only pray that 2011 is as good.


MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Ear Muffs

Growing up, we didn't have the best manners, we were all cussers, and were around of a lot of negativity. I have quickly learned that when you have your own children, you begin to try to fix the things in yourself that you don't want to instill them. One of my biggest challenges has been my language. I'm not going to lie. The second is negative and prejudicial thoughts. And I don't mean racial. I am talking judging the book by it's cover type of thing. It has come out of my mouth more than once "Wow look at that WT (White Trash). And that's wrong of me, I don't know their story and I have NO BUSINESS judging them.
So I wonder if anyone else struggles like I do. I find myself praying in my head at night and then being like "ooops I hope HE didn't hear that thought"... Sometimes I actually wish I could tell God "EAR MUFFS" meaning cover your ears because believe me you don't want to hear this. How horrible is that of me?? So last night, as I am laying in bed praying and praying I decided my new prayer for myself is to ask HIM to please help me to be the kind of person HE doesn't need Ear Muffs for.
Will you all pray that prayer for me too? And if you have any prayer requests for yourself or someone else SHOOT! Cause I'm gonna get better at this, I just know it!