Category Archives: Out of the Mouths of Babes

Fantastic Friday

Like the end of anything, Fridays are anticipated because they are the end of the work week for most people, and the beginning of the weekend. Can we say 5 o'clock anyone? I feel like my son has reached the end of his "little kid" life as he's now in kindergarten, and is growing up way to fast for me. Just this evening we were stalling for bed time finishing our cookies for dessert and we clicked through the folders of pictures on our PS3. Caleb was enthralled that I started with pictures of him as a baby. Adelynn kept asking when we were going to see pictures of her, so I obliged and we ended up burning through 20 minutes real quick! As I bathed them and get them in bed, I thought of something a friend told me today as she was so kindly complimenting me on some of the things I've written here about the kids. She told me I should make sure to write a lot more down and then print them out for the kids' baby books, etc. She and her twin sister had been going through their mom's photo albums and wished she had written more down about them as kids. Of course she was happy that she had pictures, but the memories begin to fade without details. In any case, here is a simple 20 things about my kids that I wanted to write down before they are older and I've forgotten. It also made me smile to write these precious moments down, because I am still in the thick of tantrums, bad attitudes, potty training, wet beds, rejected dinners, etc. So seeing all the sweet things about my kids written down brings peace in the midst of parenting trials. I thank God for my kids every day even as I struggle to view and treat them as blessings instead of burdens.

The Things I’ll forget if I don’t write them down.

  1. Adelynn is only two and can speak in full sentences and have a completely coherent phone conversation.
  2. Caleb is just hitting that awkward stage, and I think it’s simply adorable.
  3. My children will entertain each other outside for an entire hour with only minimal disagreements…Which usually fizzles into laughter.
  4. If I give Caleb a Popsicle stick (or five) he will create something with it.
  5. If I give Adelynn a Popsicle stick, she will put it in her pocket to save for later.
  6. Adelynn loves all things mammal…Especially dogs, cats and horses.
  7. Caleb has no interest in animals other than our own cat and Grammies chickens.
  8. My daughter is a lover of water.
  9. Caleb acts like he’s going to die if the only thing he can drink is water.
  10. Adelynn would much rather sit on my lap and listen to me talk to other grown ups than play with kids her own age.
  11. Caleb will enter a new home as comfortably as if it were his own, and play with any child around him who will join him. Be it a one year old or a ten year old.
  12. Caleb will find words all around him and try to read them. (I’m hoping he can’t see billboards well enough yet…)
  13. Adelynn MUST get into the car herself, put her straps on, click every part and tighten it herself. And if you do any part of it without her help, you must undo it so that she can re-do it.
  14. Adelynn has the scream of a banshee…
  15. Caleb will yell with laughter for no reason. And then tell me he was “Dreaming about something funny”
  16. When you tell the kids to say goodnight to each other, Caleb will run up to Adelynn pick her up, hug and kiss her and then drop her. –She laughs.
  17. Caleb has the MOST hilarious run…When he runs, his head and shoulders DO NOT MOVE…He’s like a little wind up toy where you see only the running parts on the ground move. Watch him sometime; you’ll see what I mean.
  18. Adelynn doesn’t prefer to run, unless it’s in a parking lot. Seriously.
  19. Both my kids love to be tickled, wrestled, and otherwise rough housed. And they love kisses and hugs, but Caleb only at appropriate times.
  20. My kids love it that I make homemade crackers, yogurt, bread and smoothies. I think they would live on those four things alone if I let them. Caleb would add broccoli to that list, and Adelynn would add meat.

Thankful Thursday; Remembering the “Terrible Twos” in 20 Ways

I-have-a-two-year-old

So A-girl is three months into the terrible twos although they started a long time ago. In an effort to remain sane while traveling through this season of life with her, I feel compelled to write down all the things she does and says that will make me miss her at this age, despite the tantrums, manipulating, and dramatics that accompany my two year old daughter. 

 

20 ways you will make me smile (forever)

1. Your beautiful blue eyes.

2. How everyone says you have your mama's curls. (I don't trust them to last, so I'm enjoying them now!)

3. The way your eyes get HUGE when we are really close and talking about something "So Cool"

4. How you potty trained yourself because you wanted to be a big girl. I really hope you grow out of wanting to be a big girl…You'll grow up way to fast like mama did.

5. It makes my laugh and smile to see you traipsing around the house in nothing but your pink panties and high heeled princess shoes.

6. It makes me smile to remember how well you can speak at this age, but how you never say the "s" at the beginning of a word. Spaceship becomes "Paceship" and spaghetti is "Paghetti" 

7. The way you light up whenever daddy comes home.

8. How eager you are to help me in the kitchen dumping measuring spoons and watching my ever-constant mixer go 'round and 'round.

9. Your chubby little buns…Oh, I could just squeeze all day!

10. It makes me smile that you both have similar white lovey blankets; The name of your white blanket is "Neenee". Brother's white favorite blanket was "Boo" (And I have no idea where either name came from.)

11. It makes me smile to listen to how sweet you are to your brother even when he isn't nice to you.

12. You know how to use your manners. It does a mama's heart good to hear that.

13. Whenever you are sad, you want to sit on my lap and snuggle for as long as I can sit. (Which isn't long these days)

14. That you love to go shopping with me, even when it's to Walmart and I haven't promised you a toy. (Because I don't need to, and most times I don't even need  a snack for you either)

15. It makes me smile to hear you call yourself a princess. Even though it brings frantic thoughts of drama and pinkness beyond my comprehension.

16. That when you fall asleep in my arms you still do your little baby whimper-smile with your sweet little lips. 

17. It makes me smile that you are always willing to sit and read. You love books.

18. I think it's pretty cool that you love to count, sing songs pretty well and are well on your way to knowing the whole alphabet.

19. It makes me smile when you do something that your brother asks you to do without questioning him, because you trust him completely. (May be dangerous some day…)

20. It makes me smile knowing that God gave you to me for this sweet time and I get the privilege of watching you grow and teaching you all the wonders of Christ so that you too may one day know and love Him as much as I do.

I love my babies!

 

Amazing Things that a 15 month old can do

So unfortunately I did not get a photo of my daughter this morning, but it was simply amazing. A-girl walked up to me with her empty plate from breakfast. She signed to me she was all done. (well, sort of, her hands were full) I then told her to put her plate in the kitchen. Usually, her big brother knows to put his plate straight into the sink, so she’s seen him do this before. So I watch in amazement as she walks right over to the sink and stretches as high as she can and tips her plate right up and over into the sink. Uh—Maze–Ing! I don’t know, maybe that’s not such a big feat in yuour house, but I continue to be mystified at the things a little sister can learn from watching all the big people around her.

She talked earlier than her brother…(I still don’t think he could say anything more than “ball” and Dada/Mama at 15 months)

She knows how to put her pants on. Seriously!

A-Girl can sit in her booster seat (convertible high chair) at the table and eat her food with a fork in hand. She’s been doing this for at least a month!

Her Vocabulary includes the following words:

Mama/Dada, Up, Down, Hot Dog, All Done, No, Yes, Food, Milk, Eat, Bye Bye, Hi, Bubba, Baby, Bible, Juice, and quite a few other things that are slipping my mind right now.

She can make at least 5 different animal sounds without prior example from an adult.

Maybe because she has a big brother, she’s learning quicker than he did, but I still find it amazing and love watching how differently my kids are developing.


IMG_0471