Tuesday, July 30, 2013

{Luke: First Dentist Appointment}

The boys' pediatrician has been recommending going to the dentist since Luke was 18 months or so.  She definitely recommended at the age of 2 and luckily she didn't ask at his 3 year check-up.  Because I would have been in trouble!  I went with my gut and I chose not to bring Luke before now because I knew it would not go well.  We would have made it through, but I always considered at what cost.  Getting this boy a haircut up until about 6 months ago was horrific, why would I think this would be successful?  I wanted his first dentist appointment to be a good experience...not one where I am pinning him down, him screaming, fighting me the whole time. 

So I waited.  And waited.  And waited a little bit more. 

Then June rolled around and I just got the feeling he could do it.  So I called and made an appointment and we went this morning.


I am so proud of Luke.  He did amazingly well and proved to me how much he has grown up over the last year.  He was able to answer the dentist and hygienist questions and respond to and understand what they were doing.  They got him to be interactive with the visit and he just soared through with flying colors.  He sat still through his cleaning and flossing, had no cavities and helped the dentist count to 20 -- the number of his teeth!  My heart was bursting by the end of it.

We go back in six months and that visit will require x-rays when he is four years old.  They told me to expect a challenge and tears because most kids his age still find that a struggle.  So we will cross that bridge when we get there, but today, I am happy and proud of my big boy.

But hold me....they convinced me to bring Ben back in September at the age of 20 months!

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

{Surfside, Graduate School, Pulmonologist and Other Updates}

1.  We took another quick trip with three other families down to the beach in Surfside, TX.  With 8 adults and 8 children staying under one roof, you never know how it is going to go, but surprisingly it went very well!  All of the kids behaved on the better side and we had a nice time.  I can't say it was relaxing -- I think I even called it "chaotic" at one point -- but it was fun and memorable!  Especially when you have matching pj's....so cute!


2.  A new chapter is starting soon for our family.  Chat got accepted in the University of Houston Executive MBA program for this fall.  It is a 20 month program that starts on August 26th and will be attending school at night on Monday's and Thursday's every week (even Halloween night -- argh!).  He actually has orientation next weekend which is so crazy that it is already here!  Although I am thrilled about this new endeavor for him and hopeful about the doors it will open, I am anxious, nervous and scared about the changes it will bring for both of us.  Chat is excited but I also think very, very nervous.  He is one of the youngest to be admitted and he is questioning how he is going to manage next to some of the big wigs in his class and also worried about how to juggle parenthood, working and going to school all at the same time.  I know we will manage and I hope excel during this challenging time, but I have said more prayers in the past few weeks than I can count.  I am so ready for him to start so maybe the anxiety will subside a bit for both of us. 

3.  The boys just got home from school and they go two more days next week -- then it is nothing for five weeks.  I like having some time away from school, but five weeks is a long time of togetherness.  I am looking forward to the fall when we get some of our routine back and the temperatures fall a bit so we can spend more time outside -- where we belong.  The boys get a little bored at times :).


4.  Luke and Ben started in new classrooms this summer and luckily each had one teacher move up with them.  They transitioned very well and are already feeling at home.  Luke has one new teacher though and I have to say, she is a tough cookie.  I think we have made the transition of Mother's Day Out to preschool.  She expects so much more from the kids and, even though sometimes it is a bit hard to swallow, I appreciate it.  For example, I picked up Luke from school one day and she got his lunch box and blanket from his cubby and handed it to him.  He immediately handed it to me and tried to take off running to play with a friend outside the classroom.  She took it from me, looked him square in the face and asked, "Luke, whose lunch box is this?' and he replied, "Mine".  She then gave it back to him and said, "Then it is your responsibility to carry it."  He of course looked at me with huge eyes and looked like he was going to cry.  This is so small and not really a big deal, but then when you really think of it, it is a big deal.  I am really excited about what this new year will bring for Luke and what he will learn. 

5.  I am already thinking about Halloween.  I have always dreamed about making my children's costumes and so I wanted to get my wheels turning before October is here and it is too late.  So earlier this week, I asked Luke what he wanted to be for Halloween.  This was his response:

Me:  What do you want to be for Halloween?
Luke: A lion!
Me:  What about Ben?
Luke:  A tiger!
Me:  What about Daddy?
Luke:  A cat!
Me:  What about Mommy?
Luke:  A superhero!!!

I can't lie -- I loved the last one.  While Daddy can be a cat, this Mommy is a superhero!  Ha!  I don't think these are the costumes we will go with, but I do want to decide in the next few weeks if I want to attempt to make them.  With all that is going on in the fall, I will probably just end up buying them!

6.  Recently I was sitting on the couch with Luke and I was rubbing his head with my hand as we watched TV.  He looked up at me and said, "Mom, don't rub my head.  You are messing up my hair."  Hmmmm...

7.  Ben's cousin Molly is in his class at school this summer.  It has been fun watching them together!  They usually play independently but the teachers did tell us when they walk to the playground they have to hold hands with another classmate.  Apparently Ben will ONLY hold Molly's hand and has a fit if someone else tries to.  There is another little boy named Braden in the class who typically goes for Molly too and sometimes they have to help the little guys work it out!  I love that Ben is already watching out for his cousin!

8.  We went to a follow-up appointment with Ben's pulmonologist.  Everything went well and we didn't have much to report.  Ben has been healthy this summer and we haven't had any spells recently.  So the fall and flu season are going to be the real test to see if he is growing out of any of the wheezing issues.  I am just keeping my fingers crossed! 

 

9.  Ben has recently started like playing with baby dolls.  But it isn't the playing with the dolls that I love, it is HOW he plays with them.  As you can see here, he is very sweet and loving to them.  DARLING!

 

10.  I am so happy to say that Chat and I have finally found a church for our family.  We had put off finding one that fit us for a long time.  It is so hard to try on churches and put the boys in new nurseries where they didn't know anyone and the tears would flow, etc.  But we finally did it and have been going to a church for a few months now.  We both feel that it is the right fit for us and are really enjoying going every Sunday.  The boys are slowly feeling more at home in their classrooms in the nursery.  Good thing...because we need to do all the praying we can with all that is going on in our world!

Monday, July 22, 2013

{Travels to Lost Pines}

Things I learned on our recent travels to Lost Pines (in Bastrop, TX):
 
1.  My children have taken to hotel life a little too much.
 
2.  All of my boys do better when they have a fruity drink in their hand.
 
3.  A year totally can make a difference. 
This boy would have NEVER requested to be up on a longhorn last year let alone wear a hat. (He LOVED it!)
 
4.  Playing tether ball with your sons really means that your husband shows off his skills leaving the kids crying because they want to touch the ball.  (Only picture I have of one of the boys playing with it!)
 
5.  Don't do something once that you are not willing to do 100 times.
 
6.  Telling your kids to yell "candy!" actually gets some smiles for the camera. 

 7.  NEVER let your 3 year old have goggles unless you are ready to hear hours of whining and meltdowns because they are too tight (but yet they won't take them off).
 
8.  One day the child that has been connected to your hip for 19 months will find another one to attach to (and slightly break your heart).

9.  Love traveling with my little family, but nothing is like coming home!

Saturday, July 13, 2013

{Ordinary Days}

The summer is still chugging along and we are surviving despite the crazy temperatures!  Here are some of our ordinary days this past week or two...
 
Getting to listen to Trudy's heartbeat at the vet's office....
 
Luke's turn! 
I think he actually heard it by the smile on his face.  It was sooooooo cool!

This little squirt fan is such a hit.  My mom got it for me to help with those hot summer days outside with the boys, but the boys always steal from me!  They have played with this for HOURS.  A Walgreens special!
 
We visited the boys great-grandmother last week.  They are little tornados in her apartment, so it always makes me worry a bit.  But luckily they did well and Ben even hopped up for a little reading time!
 
Luke gave up naps about 3 or 4 months ago (Do you hear me sobbing?!?!?).  He actually still needs a nap, but not till about 4:00 in the afternoon which would mean for a VERY late bedtime.  So we push through and try to get him till bedtime.  But sometimes...I find him like this. 

Someone's trash is someone else's treasure.  A hand-me-down tricycle we got for FREE!
Clearly we need two of everything now since the boys fight over sharing anything, so when I saw this up for grabs, I knew we needed it!
 
Grumpy face...
 
This is a blurry picture from Whole Foods...Where a grandmother type woman started to laugh "with" me at how crazy and loud my boys were being.  She actually was very nice and it was clear she was a mother of silly boys herself back in the day :). 
 
One day waiting for daddy to get home from work...
 
Luke decided to strip naked at Chat's stepdad's house (since his cousin Macey did) and then added a hat to complete his outfit...
 
 
Playing before bedtime!  The boys officially wrestle together...HELP! 
This is the time of day that boys get along the best.  They have a high old time together after bath :).
 
This boy loves him some cake!
 
Happy boys!
 
Date night!
We had 14 hours without children.  It was heaven!  And it was so fun picking them up the next day.  We missed them :).

Off to Bastrop to Hyatt Lost Pines for the next three nights!  All four of us in one room...say some prayers.

Saturday, July 6, 2013

{Fourth of July!}

Wow, what a fun July 4th!!!  We were down in Galveston again and had a wonderful time.  The boys absolutely love it down there.  We are playing catch up, so here is our holiday in pictures!

Cousins!!!
 
 
 
First sparklers!
 
 
Throwing ice in the ocean -- the most fun thing to do apparently by how much ice I had to get these boys!
 
Horsin' around on the deck...
 
 
Bubbles!
 
Beach time!
Both Luke and Ben were in love with the beach...
 
 


Being SILLY! 
This guy showed a whole different (crazy) side to himself this weekend...
 

He also showed his love for his uncle!  The boy would not leave his side....
 

Luke...who was a sweet kiddo when he wasn't pushing around his younger brother and cousin.  ARGH! 
 
 
Granddad's buddy in the morning...
 
Splashin' in the pool with daddy!

Whew! We had a great time but also happy to be home.  Holidays are becoming more and more special as we grow our family and also the meaning behind them.  We are so fortunate to live here and have the life we do and the liberties we have.  As a mother, it sure hits home even more. 

The boys have camp this week so I will have two days hopefully to catch up before we head out of town again this coming weekend!