Happy 200th

This is my 200th post. So I thought it was fitting to share some really precious pictures Randy took today while I was at work.

Wyatt really loves his brother. And so does Ryder. It melts my heart to watch them interact. Ryder is so accommodating to his brother, too. He smiles and laughs so easily and encourages Wyatt to make him laugh more.

We talk a lot about making Ryder laugh instead of making him cry. "Ryder cry. No no!" Wyatt says. Wyatt also likes to do tummy time with Ryder on his play gym. We just have to remind him that we put Ryder on his tummy, not Wyatt. Believe me, he has tried. Speaking of trying, Ryder is trying to turn himself over! He started last week and keeps working hard at it.

I hear Wyatt was full of kisses today. Thank you, fever, for finally going away, so the kisses don't spread you!

A couple weeks ago, I picked up a bag of big, funky buttons at a junk shop. Now my button jars have turned into great (and educational) fun for Wyatt. We sit at the table and sort them, looking for matches and learning our colors. Ryder sits (carefully supervised) in his bumbo while Wyatt sorts buttons (also very very carefully supervised). Ryder learns to sit up straight and Wyatt teaches him, "Look, Ryder! Fower!" (Flower). "Look, Ryder! Boo button!" (Blue). Love, love, love it! Please pardon the laundry basket.

And last but not least, this extremely contagious grin is often gracing Ryder's chubby chubby cheeks.

Isn't that the best?!?

A New Beginning

Tomorrow is Monday, March 28th. A new week and almost a new month. We need new around here.

Two weeks ago on the 14th, Wyatt got pink eye and a cough. Trip #1 to the doctor on the 15th. The rest of the week the cough got worse and by Friday afternoon surrounded by a bit of chaos caused by 2 babies, 2 toddlers and three mommies who hadn't seen each other in a long while, Wyatt melted down and I could tell the fever had started. Monday was Trip #2 to the doctor - double ear infection and more fever. Both Randy and I also started colds that day. Wednesday Randy got pink eye, and I had a hacking cough. Trip #3 to the doctor. "Dr. poked" both of us. Still Wyatt had a fever. Finally, last night we clocked 24 hours without a fever, barely.

We're all ready for warm weather (as I watch it snow) and a new week! A new week we get...and 70 degrees by the end of it.

This has all been happening during my 30 day effort to be more grateful. I strongly suggest Nancy Leigh Demoss' book Choosing Gratitude. It's amazing how foundational gratitude for my spiritual life. I wish I could say I did better over the last two weeks. I think I woke up on Thursday and realized how ungrateful I had been. The last few days I've worked a lot harder on it. I'm thankful that my boys are generally extremely healthy. I'm thankful that the Lord gives me challenges to reveal my excessive selfishness (isn't that just supposed to disappear when you become a mommy?). I'm thankful for His faithful, ever-present grace and mercy. I'm thankful for my husband and that God saw fit to give him pink eye and make him stay home on the day when I felt the worst this week. I'm SO very thankful that Ryder has remained healthy throughout all of this nastiness! I'm thankful that Wyatt's cold has given me the opportunity to train him on how not to whine. I heard "Booooooooogers!" (in a very pathetic, whiny cry) many times a day. He has learned to choose a different tone and go get a kleenex for mommy. I'm thankful for the Holy Spirit helping breathe and learn patience through the 250,000 times I had to wipe his nose.

And I'm very thankful to have my happy, funny, helpful boy back!

He Talks

We Exist

Yep! We're here! We exist and all is well. But naps are not long enough nor do I have enough energy in the evening to blog. I can't get my laundry and paying work done let alone time to post pics. I thought I had a few minutes, but I hear Wyatt saying, "Hi Mommy! Hi Daddy! Daddy Mommy, out!" No, Daddy is not home. It's just part of his "get me out of my room" chant.

I have all these blog posts that run through my head...they just never make it out of my thoughts.

This week Ryder turns 3 months, so I wanted to get these out. It's a special day.

Last Tuesday at 12 weeks. Monday, the 7th was his 3 month birthday.

Ryder is a very happy boy who loves to smile and talk to his family. He sleeps 8 1/2 - 9 hours which makes his mommy happy. He's a better nurser than his brother. That makes mommy happy too. His brother has only drawn blood once...a scratch on his cheek. In Walmart. Fun. While he is a happy kid, he still is very good at letting us know when he's not happy.

He started playing with toys last week. The lion on his carseat is fun. He's also doing a good job of holding his head up during tummy time. But he definitely does not like tummy time. His brother likes to make him do tummy time though. He has almost gotten rolled off the ottoman a couple times. Can you say heart attack for Mom and Dad?

Dressed up in his Sunday best. Just look at those sweet, lovable cheeks. LOVE them! He's almost the spitting image of his daddy at 3 months. His cheeks are just a bit chubbier.

With big brother.

As for Wyatt, he's in his toddler bed. And he is getting better at not getting out of bed. There has been some serious training though!! I'm very thankful for the baby gate we keep on his door during naptimes. And nighttimes. He'd be at our bed at 3:30 am if he could sometimes.

Okay, he's still saying "OUT!" So until next month....