Yet another reminder of the importance of patience.

Just a couple months ago Russ and I were almost at our wits end with AJ and his sleep. We were spending close to 45 minutes with the nighttime routine (books, laying in bed, sitting in a chair,etc). Some people say sometimes they have to cry it out, even as a toddler. Some people can handle that, but AJ just appeared devastated if we left him too soon and we couldn't do it.  I was trying to wean him, Russ was ready to give up on any plan altogether. 

   And then AJ grew up. In the last week we have witnessed AJ go to sleep by HIMSELF, without US whatsoever, all week. Yesterday at the table during lunch he announced he was tired and said he was going to sleep. We told him to head on up.  And that is exactly what the kid did. He climbed up the steps, decided he wanted to sleep in our bed, and then just fell asleep. Today during nap, he decided that it was time to sleep in his bed boy top bunk bed. Ever since I got the thing I've been trying to get him up there, but just recently he has proven to himself that he can master going down the ladder. So naturally, he is finally ready to sleep up there!

  I tried potty training last weekend, because I witnessed some dear friends potty train their child who is 9 months younger. They seriously put the kid in underpants and dealt with a bad day but otherwise their kid just got it. I thought-why not! It went pretty 

Bad) AJ would not potty in the big toilet, kept wetting his pants,etc. 

All these latest sleep accomplishments really reminded me that AJ will do things in his own time. He always has and probably always will. In my eyes, we are so lucky to be taught to have such great patience and he is lucky to have parents that are willing to move at his pace. We both got lucky:)

Love you AJ-pando.

Momma

AJ-ism

Context: I woke up at 5am to go to the bathroom. AJ had made his way into our bed.  AJ showed no signs of being awake, but as I walked to the bathroom he made this comment.

AJ: "Mom, do you have a penis?"

Me: "No, AJ I have a vagina."

AJ:  Back to sleep.

-Momma

Welcome to my sanity.

This gate will allow me to enjoy my backyard again. This gate will make it okay for neighbors to come play. This gate will save me this summer in so many ways. And most of all it will keep my kids and other kids safe. Thank goodness my hubby is handy. He put this gate together in less than 6 hours. Keeper much. Yup.

So one project down 500 to go. My personal goal is to use the next 3 weekends to finish projects and then try to enjoy ourselves this summer. We shall see have we prioritize these 500 projects.

Love,

Momma

Kung Foo

At midwife today she was feeling around for baby and this little one gave the biggest KICK ever to her. We laughed because I haven't even really felt much other than a few flutters prior to this appointment.  And then when she began to feel again another huge kick!

She could not believe that this baby was only 13 1/2 weeks and kicking so strong!

That's right.

That's my boy;) or girl:)

Momma

Hiking for 3, please.

The Daddy is out of town this weekend, which is a bummer. Our weekends are cherished family time, and you can feel it when someone is missing.

My goal for the weekend was to wear these boys out. I need sleep these days at approximately the noon hour and 830pm. So if I wore them out before those times, my necessity to sleep would be fulfilled! So far, I'm Winning!

Today I decided we were hiking. We found this fun little place outside Lyons called Halls Ranch. I wore Ryk in the backpack and really pumped AJ up to the fact that I needed him to hike beside me, because Dad was not here to carry him. The kid did good!!! He said "hi" to all the hikers that traveled by, pointed out his "favorite mountain of the day", and enjoyed picking up dirt,rocks and peaking at the cactus. We hiked for an hour and I probably carried him ten minutes total.

It was great and just gets me more and more excited about hiking with my family here in Colorado.

Before our hike I had to explain to AJ why we were not going to stay home and watch cartoons all day, "AJ, we live in Colorado. There is so much beautiful stuff to see and play in outside. And we must not waste our day inside all day." It clicked. He said,"grab my tie-ing (hiking) boots"!

Love
Momma

It's like this Ryke.

(This was supposed to post 2 weeks ago, but apparently didn't)

AJ and Ryker have their fair share of disagreements. Usually it involves AJ sitting on Ryk's face/body and not letting him get up. Recently though, I have actually seen some team play and that has been awesome! The other night AJ hid underneath a chair while Ryke ran round and round and AJ would scare him when he got close. They laughed and laughed!!! And then last night AJ grabbed Russell's foot to be slid around and immediately Ryker did too! Hah! It was so cute!

-Momma