Can it be?

Matt and I were doing our Christmas shopping last night (online) and I was reminded of something I've noticed about Joshua. He does not associate Christmas with getting presents! Don't get me wrong--he is still waaay into toys. He just asks if he can have new toys for his next birthday, seemingly oblivious to the face that he will get Christmas presents. I think it's great! Last year we tried as best we could to emphasize that Christmas is Jesus' birthday. We still gave them presents, but just three (to represent the 3 gifts Jesus got from the wise men) and a few little things in their stockings. Of course grandparents added to that total a bit, but somehow Joshua doesn't remember that part. Somehow the things we did to celebrate Jesus are what's sticking out in his mind. How long will this perspective last? Maybe not past this year. But I'm hoping that if we continue to keep the gift giving simple and minimal (ahem...Grandparents, you can help!!) and keep doing lots of fun stuff as a family that points us to the real reason for Christmas, then Jesus- not presents- will be what our boys think about when they look forward to this holiday.

Pumpkin Carving!

diapers.com

I had heard about this site awhile back but didn't think it would be the cheapest way to go for buying diapers so I never really looked at it. Then I got a $10 off coupon and decided to check it out. They have lots more stuff besides diapers, like nursing supplies, bath stuff, laundry detergent, toys, etc. You had to order $49 or more to get the $10 off and free shipping, so I looked at several different things. First of all, I wanted to get a couple of packages of disposable diapers and had been watching the grocery store for good deals. I compared what I found there to the website and diapers.com actually had some brand name ones that were even cheaper than Food Lion's store brand...and that's without even taking the $10 off. And they even had a little box to check to use an automatic $1 off coupon from their site! So I got a few packages of those and a cloth diaper and a couple of other things and placed my order. I didn't pay a thing for shipping and it came the very next day! So anyway, I was very impressed with the site.

If you want to order $49 and get the $10 off deal, I got a card that says if you put in my referral code, I'll get a $1 credit and you'll get $10 off. (HXLL325941)

A boy's mind

Well it's definitely in full force now--the fascination with potty stuff. I guess for boys it starts at about 3 or 4 and ends...well, does it ever end?

Last night we read about Adam and Eve. The boys knew this story well, but for some reason, Joshua saw it in a different light. Matt had barely gotten through the first few sentences when he came to the part about them being naked. For the rest of the story and until I finally told him goodnight, Joshua asked probably 15 or 20 questions about how Adam and Even went potty. Matt would answer and try to get on with the story and Joshua would keep interrupting with such questions as, "How did they go poop?" and "Now that they left the garden, could they use real potties?" He even got into how they would wipe with leaves and how many leaves they would need! Not exactly what we have in mind for discussion when we read the Jesus Storybook, but I guess that's just boys for you.

Dr appt

Another checkup today. Nice and short. Everything's good. I've been surprised that my blood pressure has been really low (like 100/60) still, whereas with the other 2, it steadily rose at the end, to the point where the doctors were beginning to be concerned. We spent the rest of the morning shopping. Still looking for a freezer. Had to exchange some things at Old Navy and got some great deals. One shirt I got for $2 and it was nice too! If anyone needs stuff from there, you can take in a winter coat to donate to the poor and they'll give you 10% off your order.

2 months to go

We're nearing the end of October, so just about 2 months til this baby comes. I'm feeling ready--as in prepared, not antsy.

I got a bunch of meat on sale today and cooked a good bit of it. In the next week or 2 I should have plenty of meals (and hopefully a freezer to put them in).

The baby's room is ready and I have some white and yellow clothes in the closet.

I have all the cloth diapers I need, plus some disposables for when I'm too tired to wash all that stuff.

I've filled out the info that I can in the baby's record book and I have a scrapbook put together so I'll just have to stick in the pictures and write captions when the time comes.

I've made plenty of bibs and blankets and wipes.

I've put all the baby feeding stuff in a cabinet in the kitchen.

And the best part is that I'm still feeling good. Now all we need is the baby!

Oh yeah, and a name.

Beach!

We made it here to Ocean Isle and since all my camera batteries are already dead, thought I'd go ahead and post the pictures I got while I have the chance. Joshua LOVED being on the beach and playing in the freezing water. Most of the kids liked it, actually, except Gray, who threw a nice fit on the beach because he wanted water in his bucket but didn't want to get near the waves. Running down the beach sobbing is becoming a trademark for him:)

"New Rooms"

(baby's room)

We're chugging right along with the baby preparations. Last weekend Mama and I rearranged the rooms upstairs, making the baby's room pretty much ready when the baby's ready! Joshua isn't taking naps anymore, so his "nap room" became the official baby room and we moved that single bed into his room. The toddler bed Joshua had been sleeping on at night is now Gray's bed and Gray's crib got moved to the baby room.

(Joshua's room)

So far, so good. Gray hasn't slept as well during naptime...or at least I hear him bumping around more, but I think he actually stays in his little part of the room instead of getting into the closets, Joshua's stuff, etc. And I just knew when we moved Gray out of the crib, there would be trouble upstairs at bedtime, as the boys were already kind of rowdy some nights. It's been pretty quiet up there, though, I'm guessing due to Gray's love of sleep and Joshua's lack of a nap.

(Gray's room)

One funny thing about Gray...the first naptime in his new bed, I heard him running to the door a couple of times. He can't open doors yet for some strange reason, so I opened it and asked what he was doing. He said, "I'm just checking to see if it's 7 or 8." There's a clock in the playroom that Joshua looks at to see what time he can get up, so I guess Gray figured since he was in a "big boy bed" now, he could check the time just like his big brother.

17 Again

I think that's the name of the movie. Amanda recommended it to me since I was looking for a non-trashy comedy. I have not been in the mood for anything serious lately so when Matt suggested I pick a movie on Sunday, I went with this one. We both really liked it! I think it was PG-13 (maybe so little kids that watch High School Musical wouldn't watch it since it has that same guy...it's definitely not completely wholesome), but it was pretty clean, especially considering what some movies with the same rating get away with. Anyway, for Matt and I both, there were lots of laughs, so I'd definitely recommend if you want to see something light.

Family Picture

Forgot to put this on the blog. We hadn't done a picture of the 4 of us in 6 months or so prior to Saturday...

Birthday Party

We had a great time with everyone yesterday at Joshua's birthday party. It was a little cold for outside games, but we did do a quick scavenger hunt. Other than that, the kids had fun playing and the adults had fun eating and talking. Thanks everyone for Joshua's gifts. He's having a great time with them!

Joshua's 4th Birthday!

Hi everyone. We had a great day yesterday for Joshua's birthday. Matt wanted to take him out to a special breakfast and Joshua was going back and forth about it (though during these conversations, Gray was in the background excitedly going, "I do!!"--he didn't get that Joshua was the only one invited!) but eventually decided to stay home and have oatmeal. At breakfast, we gave him 2 gifts, a train that goes with the Thomas stuff and a Veggietales Devotion book. He was thrilled with both and announced to anyone that called that those were his gifts. He did notice that the train (Molly) had a scratch because she was part of the ones I got off Craig's list, but just said, "I guess that's just how she was made!"...so again I'm really glad I bought all those trains last year! How nice it is to go shopping in my closet when I need a present for the boys!

Anyway, at breakfast we read a lot of the Veggietales book. This is the one that has 2 great stories we've been able to use as lessons...Madam Blueberry and king George. One tells how Madam B thinks she can be happy by getting more and more stuff and learns that things will never satisfy her. I actually remind myself about her story- not just the boys- because who doesn't every struggle with that!? The King George one is about selfishness and I've often been able to tell the boys, "Remember King George?" and they immediately link it to selfish behavior, which is easy to recognize in the character in the story, but not as easy to see in themselves. Great book! We also read his birthday letter together (I like to write the boys a letter on their birthday highlighting the past year and my prayers for the next year) and his scrapbook page for this year (I do one front and back page every year with just the major things that have happened). The verse I picked to especially pray for Joshua this year is "Whatever you wish to be done to you, do so to others." The Golden Rule, obviously, but something I'd love to see more a part of him in his interactions with his friends and family.

After breakfast, I got some chores done as we waited on our playgroup friends to arrive. At 45 minutes past when these 3 families were supposed to come, I had given up on them showing, but everyone finally made it and we had a great time. We just talked and played and had cupcakes. Joshua really enjoyed this time, so I was so thankful everyone ended up coming. Then we had nap time and this was Joshua's first day or his new no-nap schedule. He got to play in the office while I took a little nap and then I gave him another present--A Dr Suess game--that we played together.

There's very little that Joshua likes in the way of supper foods, but I talked to him about it and came up with a sort of agreeable menu. We had chicken nuggets, macaroni, and green beans...and cupcakes for those who cleaned their plates. Would you believe that Gray ate all his macaroni and green beans and wouldn't touch his chicken nuggets? After supper, we gave Joshua his last gift--the Disney movie Cars. He'd never seen it, though he's been into the characters for years, so he was super excited. We ended our day watching that as a family. I think Joshua had a great day and thank you to everyone for all the phone calls and emails! Here are some pictures and a link to a birthday interview with Joshua:

http://community.webshots.com/album/575112956ChnhNp?vhost=community

Doctor appt

Meant to update on my OB checkup Monday. Not much to report. I spent about 5 minutes with the doctor because I'm such an easy case right now--just measure and hear the heartbeat and we're done--and then we played outside the office for 45minutes until it was time to get my blood taken for the glucose test. Haven't heard anything from that, so it's probably fine. The boys did well and were pretty fascinated with the blood draw. My weight is still a little under what it was with the first two, but not by much. I feel like it should be lower, but I just realized the other day that aside from stopping the "I'm pregnant pig outs", I think I just *feel* like I'm doing a good job watching my weight because I'm weighing myself several times a day! All those trips to the scale aren't actually keeping my weight down...duh. Oh well, I feel pretty healthy anyway.

The classic eating struggle

Well most of you know our family tries to eat pretty healthy (or is it healthily?). This isn't the easiest for me because now that they notice, I have to eat stuff I don't like so I'm not a hypocrite! But at least I can honestly tell them that I understand they don't like it, but I'm eating stuff I don't like too. It's been a real struggle to get the boys to eat dinner, especially now that they are older and would prefer to goof off instead of eat something they don't like. They just feed off each other..pun intended!

Several nights a week, Matt's in the gym giving a class during the end of dinner and as we decided that the boys MUST eat all their dinner (otherwise their diet would consist of mostly cereal, sandwiches, fruit), it was falling to me to sit there with them and say over and over and over again, "Eat your food. Chew and swallow your food." And you know Gray has issues with swallowing, so we often sat at dinner for an hour or 2! I was getting really frustrated with this situation and finally decided to fully employ the "dinner for breakfast" idea that we'd half-heartedly started awhile back.

So now we sit down to eat and I mainly focus on the boys having good table manners instead of trying to make them eat. When I finish my food, we put the timer on for 10 minutes and whatever they don't eat, we give them for breakfast. Same thing if they don't eat it for breakfast (which Gray has done once or twice). I'm sure the boys aren't loving the new plan, but I sure am a lot less frustrated! Now they are still getting their healthy meal in but they are having to take responsibility for eating it or else face the consequences. What a relief for me!

Record Time

When I got Gray up from his nap, I noticed he was chewing something. I asked him what it was and he said, "Woast Beef!" yep, still chewing his lunch from 2 hours before. And he continued to chew that same bite for the next hour while we went to Home Depot. Has to be some kind of record for longest time chewing sandwich meat!

Freezer Meals

Some of you know I've been planning to have an extra freezer for a year now. We actually bought one a year ago in WA off Craig's list, but it was one of the few things left in the middle of nowhere in the aftermath of the trailer disaster on Matt's return home. Now that it's getting to closer to time for the new baby, I'm getting antsy to get one so I can start making meals. We cleaned out the laundry room a few nights ago and there's plenty of space--just have to decide what size and go and get it and then let the cooking begin!

So if you have meals that you make that you think would do well in the freezer, please let me know! You don't even have to send a recipe--just ideas would be great. I'm hoping to make enough for the first month or 2, just to eliminate that stress when the baby comes.

Singing time

Most days the boys and I have "singing time" together in the mornings, where I teach them all sorts of songs. Most recently, we've ventured into the world of patriotic songs. How is that going? Well here's a little sample:

(Joshua): Oh beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of brain.

Ha ha. I don't know what color brain waves are, but there is that movie A Beautiful Mind...maybe that's what Joshua was thinking;)

2 year old perspective

I came to get Gray up from his nap yesterday and before I rounded the corner to see him, I heard him say, "Dis bwoke." (Which is "this broke" and could mean all sorts of problems!) I cringed and went in his room to find him trying to put on his sock. The sock was not broken, but he had it inside out. It was a Thomas the Train sock and on the inside just looked like a mass of different colored threads. Funny that to a toddler, it made sense that Thomas had exploded (a.k.a. bwoke)...it didn't even occur to him that it could just be turned the wrong way. I just love to hear what goes on in those little minds!

New Gym Members!

Just a little update on the gym. Matt started some new member classes this week and we have 4 new people now! That brings the total to 12, plus a guy who's just here for a week or two longer and one of our first members who stopped coming due to some family needs, stopped by the other day and wants to come back. I'm hardly ever out there when everyone else is, but Matt said it's actually getting a little crowded now. Who would have thought?

Finally!

I'm sure this is more info than most of you want to know, but I'm thrilled that Gray is finally pooping on the potty!! He's been going pee for about 6 months now but has always fussed about the other. I've tried to work on it at various times, but never had much success, then just over the last few days he suddenly quit fussing about it. He still goes sometimes in his diaper during sleep times like he's always done, but it's getting better and I think soon we'll be done with that. Just in time to clean the next child's dirty diapers:) Anyway, trying not to count my chickens too soon, but that was one thing on my list to do before the baby comes and I will be so happy to check that one off! Next up for Gray: sleeping in a toddler bed and the end of the thumb-sucking! Yikes!

Fall Festival

Yesterday we went to a local fall festival, which was put on my a private school by our church. The boys seemed to really enjoy it, though we thought they'd go in the bounce house things and bought too many tickets, so ended up having to give some away. They really liked playing the carnival-type games and getting to pick prizes. Here are some pictures:

Look at that arm! Joshua loved the ball throwing games.

Gray wanted to jump right in there with the goats and got to feed them. He went right up to them with his carrots and said, "Here you go!"

Train ride in the parking lot

Thanks, Mimi and GrandGene for the cool Halloween shirts and socks!

Allergy Mystery

Joshua has started showing signs of allergies in the last year or so. There was one time last winter that he got hives and we didn't know why and it never happened again. Then several times he had gotten swollen itchy eyes and he sometimes has a dry cough for half a day and then it goes away. I hadn't figured out the cause, though I noticed the swollen eyes mostly happened when he was at Cindy and Barnette's house (but not every time). Then last night we went to Stacy's house for the first time and Joshua started coughing and sneezing and got swollen itchy eyes. We decided that he must be allergic to her dogs since he was getting in their faces and playing with all their toys. I can remember one other time that we weren't at the Crabtrees' and he got the swollen eyes and I'm thinking it was at a playgroup and there was a dog there.

So maybe mystery solved, but I got to thinking that this might not be it. Just 2 weeks ago, we went to a friend's house who had an indoor dog and Joshua didn't get any symptoms. He also spent plenty of time at friends' houses in WA who had indoor dogs and didn't have a reaction. And he doesn't seem to have a reaction when we visit the Leightons or when the Moores have brought Stuckey to Fort Mill. And though Pogo isn't inside, Joshua touches him and plays with him and doesn't seem to have problems.

So can you be allergic just to a certain type of dog? And maybe it's common to develop allergies after a few years and not be born with them and that's why he hasn't had symptoms up until the last year?? I don't know. If it is a dog allergy, it would seem that our family is destined to never have indoor pets, because as some of you know, Matt is allergic to cats!

My Great Cleaning Schedule

I know I told some of you about this when I first started, but now that I'm in the 6th month, thought I'd update. So back in May, I read a home organizational book that got me thinking and changing the way I do cleaning around here. I took an idea the author had and made it fit me. I wrote down all of the chores I need to do, from laundry to cleaning picture frames to bills, etc. I categorized them according to how often I need to do them (daily, monthly, etc). Excluding the daily chores, I divided all the others up for three months and wrote them down on my calendar. Now in October, I'm still loving this system! Every day, I do the daily stuff (wipe counters, sweep, pick up toys, etc) and then I look on the calendar to see what my other "chores" are. Some days it's just grocery shopping and other days it's more complicated like wiping all the walls and baseboards. Here's why this works for me:

-If you know me, you know cleaning doesn't come naturally to me, but I do like lists a lot. This system keeps me up to date on cleaning and lets me check things off my list each day.

-Before the system, I would stress about things I'd see around the house that needed cleaning, like dirty windows. Now, I know that each cleaning job is on my calendar so I don't have to stress about what I should be doing. All I have to worry about is one or two jobs I have down for today!

-Before the system, I waited til things got pretty dirty, then cleaned them. It took a long time and if I missed some things, I might seriously be another year before I do it again. Now I know that it's easier to maintain what's already clean and do a quick job more often. Most of my jobs only take a few minutes and if I miss something, I know I'll be getting it again soon.

-Before the system, if we were having company, I would get busy and clean up all the stuff I should have already kept clean. Now, since I'm maintaining everything well, I usually don't have to do anything more than straighten up the living room and if we have overnight guests, make up the spare bed. Much less stressful!

Here's my disclaimer, though: Now in the 6th month I have done really well keeping up with the weekly, bimonthly, monthly, etc jobs, but I do get slack about the daily stuff. At the beginning, I was so enthusiastic that I would be sure all the toys were picked up and pillows straightened and clothes off the closet floor, but can't say I do that every day now. Overall, though, I know I'm taking so much better of our house and I definitely have taken out a lot of stress from my daily life.

Also, the book I read really encouraged getting the kids involved in helping out, so I'm trying to make that a habit, even when it's just easier to do things myself. I know that when they are older, if they have never known a time when they weren't responsible for keeping the house clean, there will be less complaining than if I suddenly decide that my teenagers need to pitch in around here.

So maybe you're the type that just naturally has to have everything clean. You mop the floors every week, you clean your windows every month, you dust your ceiling fans every two months. You don't have to make a list of things to clean because you wouldn't think of NOT keeping the house spotless. You obviously don't need this system (Ahem...Amanda). But for the rest of us that don't enjoy housekeeping too much or struggle to find the time and/or motivation to keep up with it, I definitely recommend giving it a try! Happy cleaning!