Please sleep Eli!

We decided about 3 weeks ago to put Eli in a toddler bed. He was sick when we did it and slept through the night for several days. When he felt better - he figured out he could get out of bed and come find us in the middle of the night. The past 2 weeks has been like having a newborn in our house again. We are getting up every hour with him and putting him back in his bed. He's not a cuddling child nor does he stay still when trying to put him to sleep - total opposite of Kevin.

This has resulted in 2 very tired parents and a cute little boy who doesn't seem affected by this at all. Not sure if we're going to put him back in his crib or keep with the sleepiness nights with hopes that he catches on to this big boy bed concept.

Saying good-bye to 2012 – and looking forward to 2013

Although my posts don’t reflect anything happened in 2012, the lack of posts reflect a very busy year for us!

In June, after much prayer, we made the decision to start looking for a new church.  I’ve never researched so much on the internet in my entire life.  I emailed churches, checked out websites and made numerous phone calls daily – all arrows pointed to one church – Harvest Church.  We had a few we wanted to visit but we knew Harvest was our first choice.  I went alone with the boys the first Sunday in June, cried during the worship time and part of the preaching – I just felt so alone and confused and lost and just a flood of emotions came over me!  We had been preparing for this day for a few months and it was here – and there I was – in an auditorium of about 1000 people and I knew not a single person.  Ben went with me Sunday night where we attended the Growth Track series that introduced us to Harvest…..we fell in love with the church that night!  2 hours later we were walking out and just felt this total peace about everything – this was the church we needed to be in.  Ben took off on Sundays the entire month of June and we visited as a family.  We never visited another church….we didn’t have to!  Hard to believe it’s been almost 8 months that we’ve been at Harvest.  The children’s ministry is amazing and Kevin is learning so much in his classes.  I am involved in helping in nursery twice a month and I am loving getting to know families and loving on the sweet babies in my room.

We started having some issues with Kevin’s behavior in August.  We made an appointment to see a Behavioral Doctor the end of August and at that point there were no indication that Kevin had ADHD or any form of autism (Asperger’s was a concern at one point).  He started him on a low dose medication at night to help him sleep and we changed some ways we handled him at home.  Kevin started Kindergarten mid-September at Kids’ Place and the first few weeks went well on the new medicine.  After a few weeks we started seeing issues come up again and we went back to the doctor.  After evaluating him again, he diagnosed him with ADHD and started him on a new medication to take each morning.  Kevin is a like a different child now.  He’s so calm and mostly quiet – he’s still a 5 year old boy and still our funny and outgoing Kevin – he just has control now and it’s wonderful!  Kevin is reading at a 1^st grade level and loves to read any and everything he can!  He has such a sweet heart for his family and friends.

Now to our crazy blonde headed Eli!  He’s a mess – that’s about all I can say about him…a true mess!  His smile lights up a room!  He talks up a storm now and never slows down.  He decided a few weeks to start using the potty.  We are taking a slow approach in potty training him since he tends to get bored with small tasks and I don’t want to burn him out too early in the process.  He’s doing fabulous though and we hope to have him in underwear very soon.  Can’t believe he’ll be 2 in just a week…time went by too fast with him.

Ben and I are doing wonderful….we celebrated our 11^th anniversary in August and had our annual dinner at Texas de Brazil.  I’m reminded each year what a wonderful husband God gave me and I’m so thankful for him.

Think that catches me up for the last 6 months of 2012.  My goal for 2013 is to blog better and post more pictures…we’ll see how that turns out!

Christmas 2012



Christmas City 2012 @ Harvest Church





KidU "big church" performance





Pictures with Santa





A very cold Kevin at ICE!





Daddy and Kevin @ Kids' Place Christmas Program





Eli did lots of bike riding during a warm December!





Me and my boys!





Nana, PawPaw and the Boys!




Franny with Eli and Kevin



 



White Christmas was beautiful!





Kevin's "Ranger" Blanket





Best gift this year came from my bestie who announced after a long time of trying - she is having a baby!!!!!!!!!  This is how she told me  : )  God is so good!



Yes I know I must start blogging more often but finding time is a struggle with two very busy boys. Kevin started t-ball the end of march. His team is the Dodgers and his coaches names are Rick and Mario - two incredibly patient and talented men! Kevin loves coach Rick to pieces and can't get enough practice or games each week. His last game is next Saturday and we wait patiently for fall season to start. Eli is a mess! He's walking and practically running everywhere these days. He's saying a few words here and there. He can say ball, mama, dada, more, cup, please and go. He's getting more teeth it seems like daily. He has 12 total now and just cut his 4 molars and 2 bottom teeth in the past month. Work is going great for both of us. Our office moved into the Dodson speciality clinic building the end of march and it's been wonderful having so much space!!! I currently have my own office but the office continues to grow and I could be kicked out of my office soon to make room for more staff. Whatever it takes to get the job done and makes the doctors happy - I'm all for it! My grandmother (Franny) turned 80 last week. That's so hard to believe. I was telling the girls at work that she has outlived 2 husbands, has not had to burry one child or grandchild and overall is in good health. She has seen all of us grandchildren grow up and is about to see her 5th great grand baby in less than 2 weeks. She's been blessed beyond words and has lived a life that is pleasing to God and is an example to her family. I'm so thankful that she was able to see my kids and I pray God gives her many more years to enjoy her family....and for us to enjoy her!

Eli is still surviving toddlers. He is feeling much better it seems and adjusting quite well to his new routine. He rarely fusses or cries for me when I drop him off - mainly because he's super excited about eating breakfast each morning with his friends. He is walking better although not fully walking on his own yet. He can take steps and practically walk across the room but why do that if crawling is so much faster?!?!? He loves to stand up and clap for himself and take a few steps and clap some more. He never gets tired of being proud of himself!

Kevin is doing great in school - loving him some pre-k these days! He's learning so much and can write his name and practically anything else you tell him to write. He knows his letters and what words start with what letters. Funny story: We were driving home one day this week and my Bible was in the back seat (I read my daily Bible readings from my ipad so don't judge!) and Kevin picked it up. I can hear him asking "mommy is this your Bible?" Not being able to see if it was mine I said "look at the bottom, does it say C-A-N-D-I?". He quickly replied "nope! it says H-O-L-Y and the next word is Bible, I don't think that's your name!" Oh how I laughed. He of course could not figure out what was so funny. This kid constantly keeps me laughing and guessing his every move.

He is all signed up to play blastball next month and he is now equiped with a helmet (thanks to daddy!), a bat, ball, glove, pants and shoes. He's determinded to be the next Josh Hamilton or Ian Kinsler - his two favoriate players!

Ben's new work schedule has his home 6 days a week now instead of 2 so we are really enjoying him! He gets to see the boys so much more and attitudes are much better at night, probably since mommy isn't yelling like a crazy woman trying to get 2 kids to eat, bathe and sleep! I of course love him being home too. We work so great together and can knock out dinner and a bath in no time at all. He's a great daddy and husband!

First week of toddlers

Well Eli survived his first week of toddlers! He did amazing. Never cried for me, didn't hesitate to get down and play and of course ate like a pro! His teacher said something on Thursday about how much he eats! Yep that's our Eli. Friday night/Saturday morning he started running a fever and had a yucky cough. Long story short he has roseola!! Besides the rash yesterday and cough he's doing pretty good.

We are getting ready to leave for the stockshow this morning. Hard to believe last year when we took Kevin - Eli was only 3 weeks old. I am looking forward to both of them seeing the animals and taking pictures on the horse!

Eli is walking better. Not fully walking yet but definitely trying more and taking more steps. He's such a busy little boy these days too. He's figuring out books and how to stack blocks. His sign language is coming along great too.

Kevin is feeling better after having strep. Ben hung up Kevin's autographed Josh Hamilton picture last week. We know Kevin doesn't have a clue but years from now it'll be special.

Check up and strep again

Eli had his 1 year check up yesterday. He weighed 23lbs 2.5oz (53%) and was 32" (96%). He's a healthy growing boy and one day he should walk! One day very soon I hope! He moves up to toddlers on Monday and I'm sure he'll walk soon after that.

I was right back at the doctors today with Kevin who has strep and scarlet fever! Lovely. Now you wouldn't know he was sick by his actions and energy level but that's my Kevin! Slight scare last night with a body full of bumps. I just knew he had chickenpox. So glad it wasn't. Strep I can handle.

So after a long day of being home with Kevin we are looking forward to a fun weekend. Birthday party tomorrow morning, dinner with friends at night and church on Sunday. Oh and some crazy weather too. It's supposed to be almost 80 today then 55 tomorrow and back in 70s Sunday. Love Texas weather!!!

Happy Birthday Eli

I cannot begin to say how fast this year has gone! Eli turned 1 today and it really does seem like he was just born. It's been a fun year with 2 kiddos...very challenging at times but so much fun. I've learned how to juggle my time with the boys, work, cooking, cleaning and "free time" (whatever that is!). My free time has become a thing of the past but I cannot complain.

Eli is not walking yet! He is completely off the bottle though. Kevin was still taking a night night bottle until he was 14 months old so I'm excited that I entered 2012 not washing anymore bottles. My hands are thanking me already! Eli is close to walking and I anticipate he will be on the move in the next few weeks.

He moves up to toddlers on 1/23 and I am very excited. He's ready for a change and I think he'll enjoy a new change of pace in a new room with new friends.

We had my parents, Ben's mom and sister and Franny over today for Eli's party. He was a champ at eating his cake and got fun presents and new shoes and clothes. I cannot even imagine this time next year with him being 2 and Kevin turning 5! My babies are growing up too fast. Hoping my next post is to announce that Eli has conquered walking!

Happy Birthday my little monkey. You continue to surprise us daily and I love watching you grow up. You eat like a big boy and sleep 12-13 hours a night. You are signing so much lately and have figured out "eat, more and all done". All signs pertaining to eating...no shock there! For your birthday dinner you had pork chops, green beans, mac n cheese and fruit. You finished it off with a few cookies then ate mama's cookie cake before bed. You will definitely outgrow your brother!! This time last year I was snuggling you in a hospital bed at Baylor, still in shock that you were here (and that you had blonde hair!). A year later you are drinking from a cup and trying to walk and the more your hair grows the more blonde it gets! We love hearing from everyone how different you and your brother look because of your blonde hair/blue eyes. That just goes to show that you are your own person and you have plans of your own!

We love you Eli and look forwad to the fun and exciting year ahead of us!