From Crib to Toddler Bed

I know that I am not the first or the last mom to enjoy having a  2 year old.  But, I just have to say I get more chuckles out of Ethan as he grows!  With Ethan I find myself enjoying the 2 year old stage so much.  There are so many things that make me laugh.  I could probably list a dozen (as I am sure most mom's can!)  But, I'll just stick with telling about my son's transition from crib to toddler bed.

 Ethan transitioned to a toddler bed in one day.  (His crib literally fell apart!)  Now we took that as a sign that we should just purchase a cheap toddler bed from Wal-Mart.  And that very day Jon purchased it and put it together.  Ready or not at 26 months that boy was just gonna HAVE to learn to sleep in a bed.  Well, he did so well even though we had no time to prepare him for it.  I wish everyone could have seen the proud glow on his face when Jon got the whole bed put together and Ethan figured out what he was getting!  He immediately laid down on it and just kept beaming up at us :)  He was supremely happy.

I could just see the wheels in Ethan's head turning.  He was thinking of how he now had a bed just like mommy and daddy's.  And to think of how concerned Jon and I were that Ethan would NEVER stay in bed at night!  Well, it was the start of an amazing friendship between a 2 year old boy and his very own big boy bed.  I mean he even kissed that bed!  Not in a million years would Jon and I have guessed that he would so willingly give up his cherished crib.  Obviously we were SO wrong!  Now Ethan did fall through the broken spindles a couple times and get stuck half way through the crib.  Maybe that aided in his excitement to have a real bed.--I don't know, but I am so thankful to the Lord for the easy transition!

Immediately when nap time came along I put Ethan in his new bed.  He quickly laid down with a big grin on his face.  Still as proud as ever.  I was astonished at how easy this change to the new bed was going.  However it only took one nap time for that "little stinker" to figure out that he had the "reign of the room"!  Although I'm not too concerned about him sleeping as much as him having a "quiet time."  After all this pregnant momma needs some rest :)  So after what I considered a good nap time I went to get my big boy up. 

As I opened the door to his room I could see a little boy sitting on the ground with ALL his books surrounding him.  Quick as a flash that boy flies across the floor (a little like superman)  and dives into his toddler bed!  It was very comical.  What makes me giggle is that I don't really care what he does in his room as long as he is quiet!  But, I am not going to be the one to tell him that.  We just continue to play our little game of me looking surprised and him doing his run/dive into bed!  What can I say?  It is just FUN!  We don't have trouble with him doing this at night time cause his room is dark, and we make sure that he is "tuckered out."  This fun time during the day is a moment that Ethan and I enjoy.  I know that time is short and this stage won't last forever.  As a mom I want to cherish the moment for soon there will come a time...

Pregnancy Update and Pics. of the Munchkins!

Ethan already trying to fill Daddy's shoes!

I wanted to update those of you who have been praying, and I haven't yet emailed or told.  I went to a vascular specialist for my legs, and they did find some "leakage" in them which is why I am having problems with blood pooling in the veins.  They didn't want to risk any kind of surgery until after the baby is born.  Note:  Baby Emily is fine and this doesn't affect her!  So between that and this baby sitting uncomfortably low that is why all the swelling and pain.  Nothing serious or life-threatening.  After pregnancy I'll get surgery to stop the blood from leaking back into the legs which will help take care of the vein problem.  Just being done with pregnancy will keep from seriously aggravating this problem.  Until then I am to keep my feet up above the heart as much as possible.  And believe me when I don't obey and do that I REALLY regret it because it becomes hard to get around the house!

These 2 have so much fun together!  Don't know what I would do if they didn't keep each other occupied!

I am also wearing 85 dollar compression hose right now!--I didn't even realize how expensive they were until I was talking to my vascular specialists nurse the other day.  They gave me the first 2 pairs for free just to try out 2 different kinds.  I wanted to order some more until I found out the cost.  YIKES!  I decided that I was more than happy with what I had been given :)

Doesn't Madison just look proud of her big brother?

Less than 70 days of pregnancy left now!  I will be so excited to get back to church on a regular basis, and do the grocery shopping, etc.  And of course it will be absolutely wonderful to carry this baby in my arms which will be SO much easier on the body, and better for the whole family!  Jon and I praise the Lord that none of the complications are worse.  My doctor basically said that Emily is blissfully unaware of my body's problems.  That is such a blessing!

Ethan is VERY protective over his sissy.  He is always helping her.  She really loves him for that!

 God is so good!  Although humanly I have discouraging days, the trials are SO much easier to bear with Him to look to.  God is so faithful to strengthen and encourage me just when I need it!  As Christians you and I never have to go through anything alone.  I believe that satan uses that discouraging thought to try and gain a "foothold" in the Christians life.  "Casting all your care upon Him for He careth for you."  What a great promise from the Lord!  He cares!  Just remember to cast your care, and don't keep it!  Learning to "cast" can give us so much JOY with what God has placed right in front of us.  For me that is my family!

The "love of my life" and my little sweetheart!

Outside with Daddy

Crawling in the driveway

Looking for the ball

Already driving his lil' sis. around!

Helping Dad clear the fence

All tuckered out!

Crib Time Fun

One of the things I love most about being a mom is watching my children have fun with each other!  We don't have to go many places or do many things.  There is fun in every day life and just being together.  Children are such a blessing from the Lord!

"Rocket" Fun Video Clip

Crafts and Projects for February

Making practical curtains cute!

 I bought some "black-out" curtains that will help keep Madison's room from becoming so hot/cold and keep her room darker for nap time.  I bought these plain, brown-paneled curtains inexpensively and on sale at Target.  I knew that practical, heavy-duty curtains like this just didn't do much for the "looking good factor"  of her room.  So I got out my ribbon and got creative!  I added ribbon tabs to the top to give it a little more length and personality, stripes of ribbon to dress it up, and ribbon bows to give it kind of a girlie, boutique look.  Now it just needs a good, last ironing!

In Need of the Iron!

NO, I haven't done the final ironing yet!--Sorry, Mom :)

The Love Coupon Holder

I was trying to make my husbands Valentine's Day special without going out and buying something.  Believe me this was a HUGE hit!  I found some free coupon's that I could print off, and I filled in the blank with things like: back scratch, one hour of uninterrupted time (this is a big deal with little kids around!), a morning of fishing, one thing of your choice, etc.  I saved the best coupon for last, "a round of golf", and I put it in his Valentine's card which I gave to him later.  He can use his "love" coupons whenever he wants. 

I wanted to make some kind of a holder that I could hang in a place that would remind my "hard-working man" of  my love :)  I got out some left-over scrap booking material, and made this little pocket holder.  Then I kissed my black ink pad and smooched all over the red heart!  Ha ha!!!  This is just the right size to put above the light switch in our bedroom where Jon can see my "heart-pocket" and know that if he needs some "time to relax" he's got opportunity!  Ideally I would love to just get a baby sitter, and go golfing or whatever with him, but since we can't do that the next best thing is being willing to watch the kids while he gets a fun break!

Newborn beanie with button-bow

I made this as a gift for a friend who just recently had her 8th baby.  I wanted to do something a little different to add pizazz so I added a button-bow to the crocheted hat.  The bow can be taken off and used as a hair bow. 

Help from a 2 year Old

Here is a short list of some of the ways Ethan helps me.  He is getting to be such a good helper.  There are many times when I see him taking care of his sissy, and helping me out with out being asked.  That blesses my heart!  Some of these things require my assistance or watchfulness, but for the most part Ethan has caught on to what he can do with mommy and what he is not allowed to do without me.

1. Lotioning mommy's feet.--This is the newest thing which I am thrilled over.  He just started  this yesterday, and I have to say we both enjoyed the experience!  The more I "oohed and ahed" the more he laughed and rubbed.  He did a really great job!  It felt wonderful!

2. Cleaning the kitchen floor.  Ethan has learned to wipe up the kitchen floor.  He helps me throw away all of sissy's big crumbs.  This is something that I definitely want to work on more with him!

 3. Cleaning up drips.  When one of the "supposedly" spill proof cups drips on the carpet Ethan is my "go to" guy. He runs and gets the kitchen towel and puts it down on the carpet and then steps on it to soak it up.--He learned this one on his own.  I guess he's seen me do it enough times!

4. Putting dishes away and unloading the dishwasher.  Believe it or not Ethan does help put away dishes.  There is a cupboard that has all the pans in it, and he puts away all my cutting boards and pans.  There is only one way they fit in there so that helps him.  And yes, I let him unload the dishwasher by putting the dishes on the counter for me.  (Note: He knows he is not allowed to handle glass cups and breakable plates.)

5. Unloading the dryer.  Ethan has done this for a long time.  He takes arm fulls of clean laundry and brings them out to the living room and dumps them on the couch for me.  He tries to help fold, but that just doesn't end up the way I like it :)

6. Throwing trash away.  This is something Ethan has always LOVED to do.  I love being able to count on him to throw away dirty diapers, crumbs, leftovers on dirty dishes, and so-on.  He is pretty observant so he doesn't usually do a sloppy job.

 7. Wiping his face and hands.  Many times this still needs my assistance.  He started this a couple months ago.  He got up from the table, and grabbed the hand towel off of the stove and started wiping his face.  Now a hand towel is not what I use to clean him up, but he improvised and I decided that if he is going to clean himself up than I don't mind doing a little extra laundry with the towels.    

Ethan has always been extremely independent, and that willfulness has been something we have really had to discipline and curve.  Now that he has started to understand that fact I really want to use that independent spirit for good.  Having him help and learn how to do things himself is one of the ways I try to do that.  After all, the sooner he learns how to help with all of the chores the bigger a help he is at home!   It is fun to make a big deal out of his help, and the teacher inside of me enjoys teaching him how he can be a help!  Not everything has to be a chore :)