Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Griffin Questions...

"When a bee stings you, does the stinger go all the way inside of you? Like all the way where God lives. You know, in your heart?"

"What happens if we spray bug spray right on a bug?"

"What does (enter multiple letters) spell?"

Thursday, June 23, 2011

New Beds

Tried just using the crib mattress on the floor...

Griffin's Top Bunk

Night #3...asleep, but half on the floor. (switched to a real mattress)

Griffin Sleeping...Night #3

Night #4

Nap #4

We have our ups and downs...Grayson goes to bed pretty easily durnig Nap Time in his new bed. I wish I could say the same about bed time.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Right Here, Right Now

Summer is here. AND. I. LOVE. IT!

Despise the icky weather, we are enjoying the here and now. And here is a post so I don't forget the Right Here, Right Now! Don't mind the random statements/lists. I just want to get stuff written down.

Griffin is loving Play Net and Preschool. On Monday, he wanted to know if he could make a journal for home like he has at school. I wish I could bottle up his enthusiasm for school. HE LOVES IT, and I am loving it too :) He gets so excited to learn something new, and I just pray that he stays this way forever. I want him to be challenged in school, but more importantly, I want him to want to be challenged.

We talked today about going to see the movie Mr. Popper's Penguins. Since he likes to read, I am going to pick up the book first to read aloud. I hope to then take him on a "date" to see the movie.

Believe it or not, Griffin has also started asking for nap time. I think perhaps he is going through a growth spurt---either that or he really likes his new bed! Regardless, he has taken a nap the last three days, and it hasn't messed with his bedtime.

I am also discovering more and more that Griffin's Love Language is Words of Affirmation. He just beams when I tell him how proud I am of him. Oh, and let's not forget his devotion to church and learning about God. Just yesterday, he told me, "Mom, did you know that God knows how many hairs are on my head?" And tonight, when I commented that perhaps God forgot it was June (because of the crummy weather), he replied, "Mom, God knows EVERYTHING (insert eye roll). He did not forget it was June."

Grayson started gymnastics at Jam Hops this week, and man that kid has energy. He doesn't even finish one event before he is racing off to another station. Thankfully, Grayson is the second person in the class, so the two little kids have free reign of the place. He makes me nervous because of his lack of fear, but he is super fun to watch!

Grayson has also started to take a liking to The Letter Factory. He is constantly asking to watch it, and he has now learned to identify a few letters as a result. Lately, Grayson loves giving hugs and kisses to EVERYTHING. He even kisses his sippy cups goodbye. Not joking. But hey, I'm not complaining. I have been on the receiving end of a lot of those hugs and kisses.

Because Griffin is signed up for activities Monday through Thursday, Grayson and I are getting a lot of one on one time. And man, I love making that kid smile! He is a ticklish little man, and you better believe there have been lots of hugs, tickles, cuddles, and kisses. And verbally, he is growing leaps and bounds. There isn't an ounce of fear about him lagging behind anymore.

So here's to me remembering the here and now!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Mommy Guilt







Why is it that mothers are constantly plagued with guilt or feelings of being not good enough? Sometimes it's absurd when I think about it, but I am no exception to this guilt. I am constantly comparing myself to other moms and think, "Oh, why didn't I think of that?" or "Oops. I probably should do that with my boys." When it comes to spending time with my kiddos, this is an area where I constantly feel like I let my kiddos down. When I spend time with stay-at-home moms or moms who only work part-time, it takes me a bit to stop feeling guilty about the fact that I work. Full-time at that.

But right now. That guilt is far far away. My first week of summer has been heavenly. I get to watch my boys be silly in the morning. I get to go insane trying to find foods Grayson will eat for ALL THREE MEALS. I helped Griffin memorize three more sight words during little g's nap time. I took the kids to pick out a new pool toy. We have had TWO play dates. I am soaking it all in because I know not all working moms get this luxury. Yes, I have a class this summer, and I am attending a few trainings, but for the most part, I am spending quality time with my kiddos. For that, I am forever thankful.

I know I am doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing. I love teaching middle school students, and I hope to one day work at the college level with pre-service teachers. But I also love my kids to the moon and back, and I am thankful to have this time with them.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Garage Sale

This weekend, we are having our very first Garage Sale. For the most part, the only things we are selling are my clothes and the kids' clothes, toys, and things that they have outgrown, but that still amounts to a TON of stuff. I am definitely guilty of buying WAY TOO MANY outfits for my kiddos.

Now, writing about a garage sale might not seem blog worthy. But IT IS DEFINITELY BLOG WORTHY!!!

We are getting rid of everything baby. Bottles. High Chairs. Onesies. Baby Swings. Sleepers. Car Seat Covers. Strollers. Yep...we are OFFICIALLY out of the baby stage, and we won't be going back.

Part of me is excited. It is so fun and rewarding to watch my boys grow up and develop unique personalities. I love watching Grayson learn about his surroundings, and Griffin amazes me with his intuitive statements and questions. But the other part of me is just plain sad. I know that I have written about this in the past, but putting things away is different than getting rid of and/or selling. There will be no more evidence of "babyhood" in our garage or storage space. It will be gone. (Well almost. There are a few outfits and things that I can't part with, so I have one box of things that will be mine forever. Yep. I will be that mother who will one day open the box and cry as I remember these first few years of life as a mother. Yep. No doubt about it). Gone forever. This finality is liberating. It is. But it's also so very sad and emotional.

It's true. I've said it before, and I will say it again. Kids grow up way too fast. And unfortunately, parents (including myself) sometimes wish periods away. We can't wait until they sleep through the night. We can't wait until they can feed themselves. We can't wait until they can walk. Sadly, though, we should wait. Babyhood is a gift. With all its struggles, it is ONE HUGE gift. If only we could remember that in the moment and not in hindsight.