Gobble Gobble

This year went spent Thanksgiving with some dear friends.  We told lots of funny stories, ate lots of delicious food.  Enjoyed great company, met new friends, and had pie outside by the fire.

I couldn't help but get teary eyed as we all stood around the table holding hands to say grace.  Ten people, six families,  all different phases of life.  That was a moment I'll never forget.

Camden said he was grateful for "ketchup faces on food", Jace said "cewal"(cereal), Dan said me, and I said family.

Today I woke up wishing we were in the house I grew up in.  With my mom and Nanny in the kitchen, Papa asleep on the couch, my Dad upstairs, my brothers fighting, and my sisters lying in the "digestion room".  It's hard to grow up!

I am grateful for my so-called grown up life.  I'm grateful for the relationships I have with each of my family members.  And this year I've learned to better appreciate my own family of four.  We have had to rely on each other I little bit more, and a little stronger.  I have definitely grumbled and complained a lot more this year than in years past.  But I'm hopeful I can look at those grumbles later on down the road and appreciate them.  Today I am grateful for my imperfect family, they are perfect for me.

It's no secret

Camden's into the tattle tale phase...

Yesterday when I wouldn't allow him a third gumball to cram in his mouth he quickly responded with, "I'm gonna tell Daddy on you".

And I can't even count how many times he and Jace are having a little spat and I hear, "I'm telling" as he is running in to find me.

Last night when he should have been falling asleep he was yelling out.  And when Dan refused to give in to his antics of needing his happy T-Rex(cause the first dinosaur wasn't a T-Rex and the second was a scary T-Rex)he yelled out, "I'm gonna tell Mom".

Jace could care less by this threat.  I think it's a phase and try reminding him that nobody likes a tattle tale.  But I can see Dan gets annoyed.

So this morning while getting ready I heard him tell Dan he was gonna tell mom on him.  I quickly explained that tattling on your parents doesn't work because we are the boss.

So I should have seen it coming today when I told him if he wasn't quiet during church I would take his toy away, and he responded with "I'm gonna tell Jesus, cause you're not being nice".

It's Your Day

Happy Birthday to the man with so many candles on his cake you can barely count them!

Today's Jumbled Thoughts...

Before having kids I remember feeling like every moment would be a teaching moment.  Every ouchie could be healed with a kiss, every word would be a nice one, and every day a joy.  Luckily I was proven wrong right from the beginning.

Every day I become more aware that there is no perfect way to parent.  There hasn't been a book written with all the right answers.  And my way is not always the best way.  So carefully I watch and try to remember who I don't want to be as a mother, and how I want to act instead of react.

And it is hard.

Camden is just like me.  And some days I'm not very easy to get along with.
So I'm trying to remember what it feels like to be 3. 

How hard it is to share, and have to take naps.

Why having treats sounds better than eating dinner.
And that yelling and hitting is easier than walking away or talking things out.

I recognize that the joy of motherhood comes in moments, and today I'm(trying to be)grateful for these moments.

Dear Nanny,

In honor of your 29th birthday today, Camden decided to bite into one of the glow sticks you gave him.  He cried and told me his mouth "was hot".  I'm hopeful he will chose a better way to celebrate you next year.

We love you even though you send us toys not recommended for children under the age of 5.  Happy Birthday!

Love,
Glow stick tongue boy and his irresponsible mother

18 months

It's probably about time for an update on the Jace Man.  And seeing how we made it to the doctor for his well visit today, the timing is perfect.

26.2lbs  - 50%

34.25 inches tall  - 90%

head circumference 48.5cm  -  75%

 Jace has really been changing these past couple months.  3 months ago he didn't say a word(oh wait...he has said "Ya Ya"(his adopted Auntie) for as long as I can remember.  As you can imagine this was frustrating on both my part as well as his.  Not because I worried he never would, but because he would grunt or cry until you figured out what he wanted.  I decided to start with some basic signs.  The first sign he learned was "more", than of course "treat", and my favorite, "please" and "thank you".  Shortly after learning those signs he starting picking up on words.  He now says: Ya Ya, Mama(at first this term was used interchangeably for Mom and Dad), Dada(this one took awhile), brother, dog, ball, hat, shoe, please, help, Nanny, Papa, Jesus, banana, cereal, and most recently dan taught him how to say "pooper scooper".  He can point at nearly every body part, and hates having his teeth brushed, but loves doing the brushing.

He is always putting everyone elses shoes and hats on.  If you've got something, he wants it.  Some kids do things they know they aren't supposed to when they think nobody is looking.  Jace is the opposite.  He will do naughty things right in front of us for a reaction, and take off running.  He still likes to hit people, wrestle with his brother, box with Spencer, and ask for treats.  He is a total Mama's boy and cries whenever I leave.  He still likes to snuggle(just ask his dad who is a sucker for rocking him at night), and sleep with a stuffed animal and his blanket.  He hates getting his diaper changed, and loves to run around naked.  He has mastered smearing food in his hair as well as every orifice on his body.  He likes to growl, throw temper tantrums, and cause mischief.  Even when he is dog tired and wants nothing more than his bed, he always folds his arms for a prayer.  He is really turning into his own little man and it's been fun(and exhausting) to witness such drastic changes.