5 on Friday

I don't know how to link up to someone else's blog, but I've seen this "5 on Friday" before. It's just 5 things on your mind today. 

1. Mississippi Pecan Factory

I've never been to the pecan festival before, but I've always been curious. And by "always" I mean, since I found out about it last year. Tomorrow I plan on taking the boys down to Richton to have a fun day. My in-laws will be in town so we should all have fun together. Hopefully, pictures to come from the day.

2. Kagan

I'm going to be helping teach our professional development day on Monday! It's pretty exciting and really nerve-wrecking. I've done two days of a Kagan seminar and it's AWESOME. I'm glad that others will learn some of the structures.

3. Peyton

My sweet, precious baby will be ONE next month! Tonight I picked him up to rock him and he put his little head on my shoulder. I really want to cherish those moments because I know that all too soon he'll be too big and won't want me to rock him anymore.

4. TV Premiers

Okay, we don't have cable, but we have Hulu so I still get to watch some of my shows (not "Big Bang" or TLC shows). This week is premier week. I'm sure this will make me sound like a tv-aholic, but I'm excited about "Grey's Anatomy," "Vampire Diaries," "Glee," "Parenthood," "Modern Family," "New Girl," and "Once Upon a Time" starting back.

5. The Book Thief

I've started reading The Book Thief because it got good recommendations. So far it's really good. I wish I wasn't so tired every night so I could read more than one chapter at a time. Eventually I'll have more time, right?

11 Month Update

How incredibly darling is this child?!

Age: 11 months
Weight: 21.6 lbs
Length: 29 inches
Sleep: Kid loves him some sleep. He takes a little nap when he gets home from preschool and goes to bed about 8:00 so there are some days when I only get to see him for an hour a day.     :(
Likes: His brother is still his favorite, but he also has become attached to me more. He's saying "mama" a lot now and kind of whimpers a little when I have to drop him off. It's sweet and pitiful at the same time. He really likes food and crawling around eating anything he finds on the floor...yeah, gross!
Dislikes: He has a rash on his little boy parts right now, so that's no good. He also cut a couple more teeth this month (up to 4) and it seems like he's cutting at least one more on the top. Still a very content child though.
News: My sweet, darling boy is standing up by himself. No steps yet, but I'm not in any hurry for them. I still like him dependent on me. He's eating baby food three times a day and has a bunch of Puffs or applesauce or other snacks. He's also started nibbling on fruit loops and other finger foods. At church Sunday they said he ate TWO donuts! My little heifer. Can't believe the next post will be his one year update!!

Fall To Do

I know that most people have long lists of things to do in the Fall since it IS the best season. However, I barely make time to cook supper so my list is mighty short. At least I know I will most likely do everything on it.

1. Go to Mitchell Farms -  There are a lot of fun memories to make at Mitchell Farms. They have a corn maze, pumpkin patch, hay ride, and playground. We didn't get to go last year because I was "great with child."

2. Make apple butter - I have never made apple butter before and don't really even know if I'd like it, but I know I'll love how it smells. I'll probably end up giving it to friends as Fall gifts. Thank you Pinterest!

3. Go to a USM game - Sure, they may not be on a winning streak, but they're still my team. At the end of October there is a night game and in November there is an afternoon game. Need to figure out which one to go to.

4. Make a new soup - I can make a pretty good potato soup and taco soup, but I'd like to try some kind of chowder. The plan is a corn chowder with cornbread and some friends. Hopefully some hot chocolate by a fire will also go along with that night.

5. Go to the fair - I didn't get to go last year due to the same child, but I freaking LOVE the fair. I can spend $40 on food alone. The grilled corn, turkey legs, ice cream, chocolate covered strawberries on a stick (yes, you read the correctly), cotton candy, root beer, etc. make me so happy.

6. Have Peyton's party - My little baby turns ONE on October 11! Hard to believe. We're going to have a nursery rhyme theme and it's going to be really low key and really cute.

7. Read a parenting book - I've never read a parenting book before. I know, terrible. But this fall I plan to read one. Suggestions welcome and appreciated.

So that's what's going on during my Fall. I may add some things later on, but it seems like a good place to start.

10 Month Update

Age: 10 months!
Weight: 21.6 lbs
Length: 29 inches
Sleep: We're back to daycare this month so he's on a nap schedule there. Most days he finishes up his nap when he gets home then goes to bed between 7:30 and 8:00.
Likes: He ADORES his brother, but he also loves to be around any people. He can't sleep without his paci, but he doesn't have a particular blanket he must have. He just needs to snuggle. He also likes when people act silly, throw him up in the air, pretend to drop him, and blow raspberries on his belly. He likes watching "Color Crew" and eating. He really likes eating....especially Puffs. He didn't like them last month, but he eats them by the handful now.
Dislikes: If he's crying, it's almost always because he's hungry. He still doesn't like the stage 3 food because of the "chewing" he has to do with his gums.
News: Peyton is now pulling up on everything. I put his snacks all around the ottoman so that he has to travel to get them. He'll take some steps holding our hands but so far none on his own. He's in 12 month clothes still and wears a size 3 diaper during the day and a size 4 at night. He is absolutely precious and incredibly sweet-natured.

9 Month Update

Peyton with his best friend!

Age: 9 months! Now he's been out as long as he was in!
Weight: 21.4 lbs
Length: 27 inches
Sleep: He takes a short morning nap (30-45 minutes) and a longer afternoon nap (2-3 hours). Some days he goes without an evening nap, but some day he just can't help it. He sleeps about 11 hours at night. So if we put him to bed at 8 he wakes up around 7. Some days we get lucky and he sleeps until 8.
Likes: He ADORES being around people! His favorite is his brother, of course, but he also loves to be around his family. He can't sleep without his paci, but he doesn't have a particular blanket he must have. He just needs to snuggle. He also likes when people act silly, throw him up in the air, and blow raspberries on his belly. He likes watching "Color Crew" and eating. He really likes eating.
Dislikes: If he's crying, it's almost always because he's hungry. He doesn't like Puffs or the stage 3 food because of the "chewing" he has to do with his gums.
News: He had another busy month. He started crawling at the end of June, learned how to wave and give high fives, started giving us kisses, and is saying "dada." Actually, he reserves "mama" for when he's hurt or angry. Otherwise, I never get him to say it. He's all about dada now. :) He started pulling up in the last few days, so look out for next month's news update!

Dear Moms of Little Girls

Dear Moms of Little Girls,

     As a mom of little boys, I promise to do the following for your daughters. I will teach my sons to hold open doors, put their dishes in the dishwasher, wipe the seat, put up their own clothes, love God, read His Word, respect women, put others before themselves, and look for the best in people. In return I ask that you prepare your daughters, also. Please teach them to honor and respect others, serve, be patient and loving, put God first, be full of grace and loveliness, and dress appropriately. It will be hard enough for my sons to stay focused on Him without teenage girls showing off their bodies. It is hard for me to concentrate in church with the women in currently stylish dresses; how much harder would it be for men? God created men and women to be holy in His image. I will do everything in my power to help ensure my sons will lead and be Christ-like examples for your daughters. One day my sons will marry your daughters, and I desire them to be pure and holy for each one another.

Sincerely,

A Mom of Little Boys

8 Month Comparison

Kaleb at 8 months

Peyton at 8 months

8 Month Update

Here's my sweet little guy at Adalay's birthday party.  He wasn't quite 8 months, but he looks the same.

Age: 8 months
Weight:  21 lbs
Length: 29 inches - I didn't get to measure him this month, but it' probably about the same.
Sleep: He's sleeping very well lately. He'll go to bed between 8 and 9 and stay asleep until 7ish. Once summer school is over and he's not going to daycare, we'll try to adjust that schedule so we can all sleep a little later.
Likes: He likes being in the same place as Kaleb and/or me and/or Daddy. He's a social little guy. His paci is still the thing he can't live without, but he's also starting to get really attached to the yellow blanket Angie made him. He really likes when Kaleb acts silly. You can't help but laugh when he's laughing.
Dislikes: Being hungry and falling over, which is happening more and more now that he's trying to crawl. He's fallen off the couch, bumped his head on our hardwood floors, and gotten a carpet burn on his face. I swear I watch him!
News: He had a busy month. He said his first word "mama" (yay!), but he only says it when he's unhappy. Not really sure how to take that. He also cut his first AND second tooth - hallelujah! They are teeny little things on the bottom. The first one caused him a few nights of grief, but I was so glad when it finally got came through. I didn't even realize he had the second one until I was trying to see the first one! He is trying so hard to crawl. He gets on his hands and knees and rocks back and forth like he's just hoping he'll apparate to where he wants to go. (Sorry for the HP reference.) He's taken a few little "steps" but I don't really qualify it as straight up crawling. He has mastered rolling over and going from laying down to sitting up.

7 Month Comparison

The most noticeable difference betwen Kaleb at Peyton at this point in the amount of hair Peyton has that Kaleb didn't have. Also, as you can tell, I was still helping Kaleb sit up some.

Kaleb at 7 months

Peyton at 7 months

7 Month Update

Age: 7 months
Weight:  19.1 lbs
Length: 29 inches
Sleep: Yep, he's basically sleeping through the night....most nights. Sometimes we have to get up and put his paci back in, but for the most part he's down for the night. Still napping pretty well during the day but not really on a schedule.
Likes: LOVES his brother more and more. He's also really liking getting a lot of attention, blowing raspberries on his tummy after diaper changes, eating, and his paci, of course.
Dislikes: Ear infections, being sleepy, and those little teeth trying to come in.
News: He is still in size 3 diapers, but is definitely in the 9 month clothes and sometimes in the 12 months. He can now sit up by himself, roll all over the place, and babble. He hasn't said his first actual word yet, but he babbles with a lot of b sounds. His first word may be buh-buh for brother. He is also starting to learn to wave (to himself of course). Along with that he has been teething like a crazy dude for the last, oh, say, 3 months! That tooth is bound to come in this month. If not, we may need to build a mini ark in preparation for the flood of drool we'll be surrounded in. You're welcome for that mental image.

An Impromptu Beach Trip

Yesterday was a good day. It felt great outstide, the kids were in good moods, we didn't really have any plans for the day, and Eric and I felt up for anything. We decided to go on a day trip to the beach since it's only about 2 hours from our house. In order to make the trip bearable we thought it would be a good idea to drive during naptime. On our way out of Laurel we stopped to get lunch for us and Kaleb. McDonald's took so long that by the time we actually got the Happy Meal Kaleb was asleep. We asked him if he wanted to eat or continue with his nap and he indicated he wanted to eat. You know what's incredibly cute? A sleeping little boy trying to eat a chicken nugget. He would take a bite (eyes shut), chew it a little bit, and fall asleep. When we tried to take his chicken nugget away, he would lift it back to his mouth and take another sleepy bite. Needless to say, he didn't even make it through one chicken nugget before he was out for the count. We just saved his food for when he woke up. After we got through Hattiesburg, and close to Paul B., he woke up and ate his Happy Meal then he wanted to sing songs the rest of the way down there. You know the cliche of "Are we there yet?" Yeah, it's from a three and a half year old on his way to the beach for the first time in his memory. He's definitely been to the beach before...several times. He just doesn't quite remember it. Here's a little montage of his beach experiences:

This was Labor Day 2 years ago in Destin

He was about 10 months old in St. John

This was about 4 months old in Orange Beach

So there ya have it. He's been there and done that. But, like I said, he doesn't remember it. This was, however, Peyton's first trip to the beach. Once we got there we got the boys sunlotioned. (I'm not sure that's even a word)

The view and the water was very typical of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We didn't spend too much time in the water for obvious reasons.

Glove in the water

This wasn't the prettiest view, but since Kaleb's obsessed with excavators we picked it anyway.

The dirt that polluted the water. No blue waters here.

Kaleb had fun digging in the dirt, being buried, and making castles with Eric and me.

Playing with Daddy

Burying his legs

Playing with Mommy

He also enjoyed running around on the water's edge, filling up a tupperware container with water, and pouring that water all over the sand. To dry off he rolled around in the sand. Yep, we had to change him. Tip: Wear beach clothes and always bring a change. Maybe two.

Peyton had a good time, too for the most part. He loves watching his brother and since he's not crawling or walking he pretty much sat up or laid down and did that the whole time.

 

 

There was one point where he was sitting up and then reached for something and fell face first in the sand! It covered his whole head from his hairline to his chin. I would have taken a picture if I didn't think he was going to scratch his eyes with the sand. It took a lot of wiping but I finally got most of it off. It was harder to get it off his eyelids and eyelashes (poor baby!) butI fed him a bottle and while he was taking it I worked on his eyes. Tip: Keep some dry material with you. We used an extra pair of shorts this time.

While Peyton was taking his bottle, Kaleb decided he needed to go to the bathroom. Since there weren't any around us Eric had to drive him to a gas station or somewhere to go. While they were gone, Peyton and I just laid around and made silly faces. Soon after the two bigger boys got back, Peyton was ready for a nap so Eric and I took turns holding him by the water until he fell asleep. After that, he was out!

He has the silliest little grin when he sucks that bottom lip in.

Wearing brother's sunglasses for a bit

Ain't he sweet?

 

 

Like I said, it was a good day. I'm blessed to have my boys.



6 Month Comparison

Kaleb at 6 months

Peyton at 6 months

Newborn Peyton. My how things can change in a short 6 months!

Six Month Update

Age: 6 months old - WHAT?! How did we get here?
Weight:  18.4 lbs
Length:  29 inches
Sleep: Did you hear that shout of joy in March? That was Eric and me when Peyton FINALLY started sleeping through the night consistently. Whew! I thought it was never going to happen. We still have to feed him a bottle around 10 or 11 at night, but I'm so glad we aren't getting up anymore. He takes a couple of naps during the day, but nothing too long. He's working his way to a schedule.
Likes: Along with being thrown in the air, watching his brother act silly, eating, and being held and talked to, he is liking toys and tummy time a lot more now.
Dislikes: He's still a pretty content kid. Being hungry and losing his paci are still really the only things that make him cry. Oh, and if he's not getting enough attention.
News: He's made it into 9 month clothes and size 3 diapers. He's growing into a little chunk-a-munk. He's doing well with his baby food and isn't allergic to anything so far. He has his next set of shots this month, but Eric is taking him.

A New Next Generation

I was talking to another adult/parent today about the expectations of kids today. We use the term "entitled" to describe them because many of them EXPECT you to entertain them and EXPECT people to drop everything for them. They EXPECT you to clean up after them and they EXPECT you to bend over backwards to make them happy. Failure is not an option because it's not allowed to be. Now, saying all this, I have a feeling this is exactly what my grandparents' (and even parents') generation thought of my generation. And to a point they would be right. We didn't have to get jobs as kids to help pay for things. We didn't do so many chores we were exhausted at the end of the day. However, we did: play outside, entertain ourselves, earn our allowance by doing chores, obey our parents, take the responsibility for our mistakes, and fail a test if we didn't study. Hopefully, my generation feels the way I do about younger generations and will raise their children to balk at the word "entitled." Hopefully there will be a new next generation instead of a continuation of the one we have now. Things swing back and forth in America and I'm hoping that this next swing will be towards modesty, hard work, honesty, and good old fashioned play. Because these guys

will NOT be entitled if I have anything to say about it.

5 Month Update

Age: 5 months old
Weight: 16 lbs
Length: 26 inches
Sleep: I think we have finally made it! March may be our lucky month. He's slept until waking up time (at least in the school sense) for the past two mornings. Of course, that's still 5:30 in the morning. But hey, it's a start.
Likes: being thrown in the air, watching his brother act silly, eating, and being held and talked to
Dislikes: Being hungry and losing his paci...those are really the only things that make him cry.
News: We're really squeezing into those 3-6 month clothes. He's moving into the 6 and 6-9 month onesies. He has also mastered rolling over from his front to his back and is rolling over the other way some, too. He likes eating carrots, squash, green beans, and sweet potatoes. He has also had a little bit of apple juice with some of his meals.

5 Month Comparison

Kaleb at 5 months

Peyton at 5 months

Poems for my Boys

I'm really putting myself out there with this post. I wrote a couple of poems. One for each boy. Here they are. (Disclaimer: Not sure why Peyton's Poem is double spaced, but I can't fix it. Kinda drives me crazy but oh well)

Kaleb's Poem:

“My Favorite Place”

 

The clutter fades (though three feet deep)
When I turn out the lights
And gently rock my son to sleep
And wish him sweet "Goodnights."

He tells me all about his day
in his sweet toddler prose
And though I understand most words
Some Heaven only knows.

But when his sleepy eyes droop down
And his head falls to my chest
I realize this rocking chair
Is the place I love the best.

 Peyton's Poem:

 

“Baby of Mine”

Sweet chubby cheeks

Eyes that shine

Dimpled arms

Have that baby of mine

 

Soft little coos

Giggles I pine

Oohs and ahhs

Have that baby of mine

 

Skin like velvet

Hair so fine

Pudgy little legs

Have that baby of mine

 

A mother in love

A daddy so kind

A brother for fun

Have that baby of mine.

Peyton's Sleepy Mix

Kaleb had a CD for sleeping when he was an infant so I wanted to make one for Peyton, too. I wanted to have different songs on Peyton's, but a few of them are just so good that they're on both. Check them out and enjoy!

1. "Moon River" - Frank Sinatra
2. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" - Iz
3. "Arms of the Angel" - Sarah McLaughlin
4. "Hallelujah" - Rufus Wainwright *
5. "Landslide" - Fleetwood Mac
6. "Blackbird" - The Beatles
7. "Make You Feel My Love" - Bob Dylan
8. "Dream a Little Dream of Me" - Mamas and the Papas *
9. "Mexico" - Jump Little Children *
10. "Baby Mine" - Alison Kraus
11. "Don't Know Why" - Norah Jones
12. "Scarborough Fair" - Simon & Garfunkel
13. "Down to the River to Pray" - Alison Kraus
14. "Don't You Remember" - Adele

* songs that are on both CDs