Sunday, March 30, 2008

Jacob

I know I post alot about Joshua, but Jacob's really been on my mind alot lately. It seems like he's changing so very much all of a sudden. For a while it was like I had a little boy and I'd see glimpses of a teenager. Now it's opposite. He's more like a teenager and I see little glimpses of the little boy he used to be. Where's my little boy going? I have been having so much fun with the teenager Jacob, though. He's so grown. Pretty soon I'll start seeing only teenager and glimpses of the man he'll be. That's a scary thought. But it seems like when Jake was Josh's age, being a teenager seemed so far away and not really anything to think about. It's scary how quickly they grow up. I don't wanna miss anything with either of them.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

My niece

has got to be just about the cutest little girl in the world!

She stayed last night and is staying tonight with us. Today, she and I planted some tomato and flower seeds. Each came in a little kit with the soil and seeds - they're starters - you plant them in the little pots and then move them when they're bigger.

Anyway, we finished them and she stood outside over the pots and asked Jesus to please make her plants grow. It was so very precious!

I love that little girl so very much.

grrr...

It's frustrating that Joshua's sleeping and I can't. I don't know if it's the fact that I forgot to get the trash out, or do the dishes, but I'm wide awake, so I think I'll just do both.

All the kids are back from Spring Break and we have Karleigh for a couple of nights. Dad has his arm operated on this morning and they didn't want to have to juggle her. I'm so glad she likes coming here and that we can be here for her. She's such a sweet baby.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Easter Sunday

And we're staying home. I know, I know, we should go to church, but I'm not. David's at work, Jacob's with his grandparents and Cody and Emily are in San Antonio. I know I should get over it and go, but also, I don't have anything to wear. On top of all that, I would just be sitting in the nursery with nothing to do, but hang out with Josh and the nursery workers. I can hang with Josh at home. Also, I really don't have the money for anything for me and the baby for lunch. I'm so tired after last night's no-sleeping.

Now that I'm looking at all my lame excuses, I'm gonna go look in my closet and see what I have to wear. If I go, it'll be to my Mom's church.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

a much better day

Ok, I think we're officially over the yucky sickness that has been here most of the week! It's so gorgeous out today. I think Josh and I are going to get out for a bit. He just woke up from his huge 2 1/2 hour nap. That's amazing considering he wouldn't sleep at all just a few weeks ago! Night-times are still challenging, but waaaaay better. I'm not complaining.

Oh, Josh has found a new show - Thomas the Train! It's still not "move over, Blue" time, but he likes it anyway.

Friday, March 21, 2008

3 years

Our anniversary was yesterday. I was sick. Like really unhappy sick. I tried so hard not to act ugly, but all I wanted to do was crawl in bed. It was some kind of stomach bug. Thank God in Heaven it's over I think. Joshua started it. He was sick on Tuesday and decided to puke all over his bed that night. I didn't feel great, but thought it would pass. He had a few really gross diapers and then seemed better. I felt fine, just a little yucky all day Wednesday. Wednesday night, Lisa and David came over for dinner. It was nice. Yesterday was absolutely not ok. I felt like total crap.

What a way to spend your anniversary, huh? It was ok, though, because David was home all day and we just hung out. Julie brought over the cd he needed to fix the computer, so it's going again. That's really nice.

I haven't been to the gym since Monday! I really miss it, but won't be able to go tomorrow either because I won't have anybody for Josh. I'll be there Monday, though.

Sunday, March 16, 2008

uh-oh

Our computer took a dive. I don't know what is wrong with it, but it's beyond David. I'm at Mom's for a minute taking care of their dogs for them.

Both the big boys are gone for the week. Jacob's with Mom and Dad in Missouri and Cody's with his Mom in San Antonio. It's kinda' nice to just have Josh for the week. It's also our anniversary this week, so that'll be fun.

Joshua has decided he's done with breastfeeding. That's fine. I kinda' think I won't miss it like I thought I would. I did love it, though. He was only eating first thing in the morning and decided not to this morning. I won't offer it again unless he asks for it, which I doubt he'll do. We'll just go straight to the high chair in the morning and skip it altogether.

Anyway, better get home.

Monday, March 10, 2008

God does really care if I sleep!

I was truly starting to believe that it might not mean so much to God if I sleep - like maybe that was a piddly request when so much other stuff is going on in the world - why should my night's rest matter?

One of the last things I prayed last night was for Josh to sleep in until at least 8 this morning. He's still asleep and it's 8:23! I also prayed for me to sleep and I did!

I think maybe God let this go so far, so I would be so excited about Him working this way. I don't take it for granted that Josh is sleeping and I know it's not because of anything I did or Josh did.

I am very thankful.

Sunday, March 09, 2008

Ok, so...

Now that Joshua's sleeping better, I can't. I think it's because for almost 2 years, I haven't slept really much longer than 4-5 hours a night. If I sleep 5 hours straight, I wake up with that feeling of missing my alarm clock or something. It's strange. I think I've just been trained that way. Now that I'm getting a little more sleep, I get sleepy every time I sit still. I'm in now way really complaining, just noticing that it's not as easy to sleep as I had assumed it would be.

Saturday, March 08, 2008

I wanted to post this before I forgot it...

It goes along with Joshua's pretending.

I went grocery shopping the other day. When we go to Walmart, everything that makes it into the basket has to pass inspection by Josh. If it's too heavy for him to hold, I just sit it next to him for a bit, then move it to the cart. If he can pick it up, I just let him toss it over. I used to be very organized in my cart while shopping - no more. Everything is pretty-much tossed in now.

Anyway, I set a bottle of gel for the boys hair next to him, the kind with a pump on top. He sat there for quite a while acting like he was pumping it and then rubbing it all over his hands and arms. The only thing I can think of that he sees that's a pump is his baby wash. It was adorable. After he tired of the gel, he tossed it over and I put a tub of butter next to him. It was kinda big and he couldn't pick it up. He tried and then leaned over it acting like he was going to lick it. He popped back up, shook his head no and then acted like he was using his hand to scoop some out and lick it off. He is so cute with this new way to play.

His new favorite phrase is "oooh, wow!" He likes to look out the back door and say that over and over. It started with the snow day and him copying me saying it. He's way too cute!

Friday, March 07, 2008

Wow!


We had another REALLY good night last night and are working on another one tonight! Last night, he didn't go down until late, but not because we didn't try. I did his routine on time and got him his bottle, but after he was done with it, he had no sleepy bone in his body, so he got back up. I am not going to fight him too hard and make it miserable for both of us. He went down at almost 10 and slept until 5-ish. I went in at that time and just laid down beside the crib and talked to him. He fussed at me some, but after about 45 minutes, just went back to sleep! He slept until after 7.


Today for nap, I rocked him to sleep and then put him down. I tried to lay him down awake and see if he would go down on his own. He started to, but would touch his gums/mouth and cry. I can feel about 5 teeth about to pop through, so we got up and got some ibuprofin and the rocking chair. He went out and stayed out for 2 1/2 hours. He's becoming such a great sleeper! I never, ever thought I would say that about Joshua!


Tonight, we did our normal routine and he went right down. He's still down and I haven't heard a peep out of him. Yay! I am so thankful to God for this. It's so wonderful to be able to relax about sleeping. I know we'll have bumps in the road, but that's ok - I can handle bumps when I've had my own rest. It's when we're both running on E that I can't handle it.


I've posted alot lately about Josh, but not too much about the other kids. Jacob is with his dad for the night camping. I couldn't believe how excited he was. I guess, really, I can. He was busting at the seams. Cody and I went to the gym and out to eat. I always enjoy either one of the boys better when we're alone. Maybe because it's a novelty, I dunno. He was sweet and chit-chatty.


Oh, and it snowed some more! Lots more! It started yesterday around noon and didn't quit or even let up for hours and hours. It was still snowing close to bedtime last night, though not as hard as it was for most of the day. It was so pretty. I love the snow and we hardly ever get any.


Thursday, March 06, 2008

Wow!

Ok, it's almost 7 and MY KID IS STILL SLEEPING! He did not wake up ALL NIGHT! I am so excited! It's all God. There is no other explanation. He was in bed by 8 last night. I am so very proud of him. This is awesome.

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

I love Joshua's doctor!

I have been doing some reading on sleep training. Ok, I've done alot of reading on sleep training. I now understand alot of how sleep-cycles work. I understand that Joshua's problem is not going to sleep, it's staying asleep in his bed and then he needs me to go back to sleep. Therefore, he would wake, cry and wait for me to put him back to sleep. I had gone to the bookstore and spent 2 hours looking at sleep training books and picked one out. It was a form of cry-it-out, but seemed the most humane. I had talked myself into believing that Joshua was really just gonna have to cry. Ok. I decided to make him a doctor's appointment to just run my plan by the doc and see if he had anything to add/subtract from it. I also wanted him to just check my baby over and make sure there was nothing going on with him right now that would prohibit him from sleeping (ear infection, teething, something I hadn't thought of yet, etc.). Anyway, I carefully outlined my sleep plan and he basically said to throw that book and my plan out the window! I was shocked - every doctor I've ever talked to told me to basically let him cry. Josh's doctor said that he shouldn't cry longer than 45 minutes to an hour. And then only if it's not a hysterical shriek, only if it's crying and whimpering/moaning - then it's ok. He said to put him down like normal, except don't associate the breast with sleep anymore. He said a bottle's fine - even at 14 months for a while. I'm sure my jaw was hitting the floor! After he's down, when he wakes up, don't pick him up, just sit beside the crib and talk to him. I can touch him if I want, or not, doesn't matter. It's important that he not feel abandoned. We tried it last night and it was so much better! He's not there yet, of course, but he put himself to sleep twice! That's awesome. I'm gonna call the doctor's office and ask where to send fan-mail. Just kidding. I know it has so much more to do with prayer than the doctor - God just used him as an instrument to tell me what to do. I'm so thankful we have a God who cares about babies and mommies sleeping!

Monday, March 03, 2008