30 Days of Thanks - Day 24

I'm thankful for passed down family traditions and also getting to start new ones with Caleb and Owen. How cool is it that Clayton and I get to take all the things that were awesome about the holidays from when we were kids, and share them with our children? Plus we get to add in new fun things in to make them all our own.

We spent last night listening to Christmas music and putting up the Christmas tree together - one of my absolute favorite things about the holidays. Today, we're having Jaime and Aaron over for Thanksgiving dinner and then celebrating Thanksgiving with the Smith family on Sunday. It doesn't get much better than this.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends!

30 Days of Thanks - Day 23

I am thankful for being CAUGHT UP on my photo sessions so that I can enjoy the rest of the week with my boys.

This means I won't have to feel guilty knowing that work or clients are waiting on me while I'm eating turkey and decorating the Christmas tree! OR flying around the giant floating fish that my dad got the boys! (Get ready to live, Jaime & Aaron).

30 Days of Thanks - Day 22

We're going to mix up the format today and throw in a little high quality art. You ready? Better be.

Ok, let's face it, when your parents split up and eventually start dating other people, there is potential that things could not go smoothly during the transition. I hadn't given a lot of thought to this when my dad started dating, but I would be lying if I said it didn't cross my mind. "What if she's horrible?! What if she hates bunnies and flowers?! What if she doesn't like us?! What if she hates Christmas?! What IF she's a Justin Bieber fan!?!?! Oh the horror!" Ok, so it wasn't quite that dramatic but still the "what if's" did go through my mind at one point.

In all seriousness....

Well he's kind of a big deal to Jaime and I. We love him so very much and he rates right up there at the very top of our list of awesome. And of course, because we love him so very much, we want him to be all kinds of mega happy.

And so now we get to 30 Days of Thanks, Day 22. I am so very thankful for:

She is wonderful for so many reasons, but let me tell you a few of the things that make the top of my list:

1. She makes my dad happy. Like I said before, we want him to be all kinds of mega happy. Mission accomplished. Boo ya!
2. Let's just say that in recently divorced or separated families, there is "stuff" that comes with it. Patty handles difficult or what could be awkward situations with class and grace. Hence her angelic presence above. :D
3. She takes an interest in things and people (read: US!) that are important to my dad. :)
4. Being at a place in my life where I'm having babies of my own and still trying to get the hang of this whole motherhood thing, Patty has been fantastic. She's been great at offering support and advice. And when Owen was born, she came out with my dad and spent an entire week taking care of all of us. As I had just given birth, was running on very little sleep, and also had bronchitis that week - her help was AMAZING!
5. She is kind and caring and considerate. Don't just brush over this one. As an adult I've realized that these traits aren't always a "given" and when you have people in your life that possess them, you hang on to them and try to give just as much back in return.

So just to recap:

30 Days of Thanks - Day 21

I'm thankful for a cup of hot coffee on a cold, gloomy and rainy afternoon.

 

 

30 Days of Thanks - Day 20

It's a little more challenging to write these posts on a day like today when I'm not feeling as thankful as I should, but mostly feeling angry and bitter about things beyond my control.

But then, in comes my sweet, amazing, and wonderful little boy with a picture that Daddy helped him draw just to cheer me up.

While we're always going to suffer losses and hurt, and there is nothing that can take that away, I am so thankful for the people in my life that are such wonderful blessings. Those that are constants, that I can count on, and that always make me smile when I need it most.

30 Days of Thanks - Day 19

I'm thankful for all the struggles and crap in life, that led me to where I am right now.

Darius Rucker sums it up really nicely. :)

Weekly Wrap Up

Saturday:


-We had "Family Movie Night" tonight and watched Rio. It was a cute movie and Caleb really enjoyed it. The only problem with movie night is that Caleb doesn't quite grasp the concept of "renting" and we have sadness and big alligator tears when it comes time to return it.


Monday:


-Caleb was having bad dreams last night and I kept waking up with him standing next to me staring at me (which kept scaring the crap out of me). This morning he told me that he was dreaming that an Ostrich got into our house and was standing by his clock. He also told me that he couldn't sleep because the dreams were in his eyes. I thought that was an interesting way to describe a dream. And I don't know where the scary ostrich came from. Maybe we're watching too much discovery channel? lol
-I did day 1 of P90X this morning. I was going to work up to it with my other workouts but Clayton thought I should just give it a try now and I decided it was worth a shot. Today was chest & back - which means I'm probably not going to be able to move tomorrow. I also did the 15 minute ab video and it was so challenging that I couldn't even do ONE of some of the moves. These people in the video must be like mutant muscle machines... or they definitely haven't had a baby in the past year. It's ok though. I will do better next time. :)

Tuesday:

-Today I had my HSG test for the Essure procedure I had done 3 months ago. The HSG test is basically a dye test with x-ray equipment to make sure the procedure worked and the tubes are blocked. Unfortunately for me, my test failed. :( My left tube is completely blocked, but my right tube leaked the dye. This means I have to go back in another 3 months for an additional test. This is a major bummer because: 1. It will be after the 1st of the year, so we'll have to pay %100 of the cost. Ouch! 2. The test was incredibly uncomfortable and somewhat painful. 3. If it fails a second time, the whole procedure was a waste and we'll have to look into other long term options. Boo! The doctor said that she's only seen the first test fail a couple of times (lucky me), and in the entire Tri-state area, the second test has never failed. But... it has happened in other areas, so it is a possibility. :/

-For p90x, we did the Plyometrics dvd today. This is rumored to be one of the toughest dvd's to get through. It's like cardio routine on steroids. Lots and LOTS of jumping. It's an hour long and neither Clayton or I made it all the way through. However, I would like it to go on record that I lasted a whole EIGHT minutes longer than Clayton did. The bragging rights alone were worth all 30 minutes of torture. :D

Wednesday:

-Caleb got his first Pez dispenser tonight. He picked it out himself - it's a semi-truck. And he was SO excited about it. It really is the little things in life.

-Owen woke up before I could finish my workout today. I still had the 16 minute ab dvd to go. He sat on the mat next to me and laughed at me and tried to bend himself in half the whole time. I think he was working on his abs too. :)

-Today I hit 4 weeks of eating healthy and 2 weeks of working out. I'm down about 7 lbs so far and feeling great. Clayton and I also started the nutrition plan that goes along with p90x this week. It actually requires me to eat quite a bit more calories than I have been these past 4 weeks, and a LOT of protein. It's definitely a huge commitment to stick with it, but I'm determined to do it. Looking at my progress photos from the past 4 weeks is all the motivation I need! ha! (No, I won't be positing them!). At any rate, it's nice to have Clayton as a partner for all this. We're keeping each other encouraged (and even competing a bit! lol). 

Thursday:

-I was dressed in a trendy new outfit getting ready for a photo shoot this evening. With my new outfit on, I was feeling pretty hip and cool, but apparently I needed brought back down to earth. The tank I had on underneath my shirt hung down lower in the back and Caleb tugged on the part hanging down and said enthusiastically, "This is so you can FLY, Mom!" Aaaaaanndddd.... maybe I can't pull off trendy after all. lol

-Both boys seem to be coming down with colds again. *sigh* We just barely got over colds a couple of weeks ago. I'm really not ready for this all over again.

Friday:

Funny Find on Friday: 

Never lose focus! haha

30 Days of Thanks - Day 18

I'm thankful I got to experience a lot of different places and people growing up. I really think it gave me a unique perspective from a young age and taught me to be happy and content with where ever you are in life. No matter where you live or who you're with, if you have a good attitude, it really makes all the difference in the world.

As my dad always said, the motto of the Marine Corps should be Semper Gumby: Always Flexible! :)

30 Days of Thanks - Day 17

I'm thankful for GPS. Since I travel all over the tri-state area to client's homes and random photo shoot locations, I cannot tell you how much easier GPS has made my life. I don't have to worry about getting lost, taking a detour, or even finding a place to stop for a coffee on the way. Plus, I feel so much safer not trying to look down and read directions as I drive.

I don't consider many purchases to be life changing... but seriously, I could never go back.

30 Days of Thanks - Day 16

I'm thankful for Clayton's job AND that it means I get to see Carrie Underwood in concert at the Christmas party. :D

But seriously, I'm thankful he has a great job that is able to support our family.

30 Days of Thanks - Day 15

I'm thankful for modern medicine. I'm so thankful for the amazing technology, vast knowledge, and wide-range of medicine available to us today. Despite it costing us a small fortune at the moment with our sub-par insurance, I'm incredibly grateful to have the options and care available to us.

30 Days of Thanks - Day 14

I'm thankful for Pinterest. It sounds silly but this website is amazing. I've found so many great ideas for the kids, crafts, decor, home organization, photo inspiration, quotes to keep things in perspective, and lately the biggest thing has been health and fitness. I have been so determined and had more will power and discipline though this past month than ever before. I really attribute a lot of it to Pinterest and using it to constantly learn new things, be inspired, and "keep my eye on the prize."

I can also see that the change in me has made a great impression on Caleb. He's been asking for water to drink way more often than juice and also been asking for healthier snacks. Yesterday he had a major meltdown because he wanted black beans for lunch. :) He also gets excited about exercising and getting his body moving. That is one of my biggest motivations. I think of it like this (that of course I found on Pinterest):

While I would obviously love to look like this image above, the most important (and realistic) thing is that I teach my children healthy habits that they will take with them into adulthood. It's not about fad diets, it's about eating healthy foods to give your body fuel, and about getting off the couch, logging off the computer, and making your body strong. And what better way to teach than to lead by example?

Hands down, best website on the internet. You can see my health & fitness board here.

30 Days of Thanks - Day 13

I'm thankful for our church family. I'm so thankful that we've found a place we both love and a place where we want to raise our children.

With all the sickness in October, we missed a couple of weeks in a row. I guess Caleb really missed going because yesterday morning we were getting ready and he said "Mom, I want to go to my church today and play with my friends." :)

On a side note, Caleb made a bird feeder in Sunday School yesterday and was so excited to hang it up when we got home. But I guess he expected birds to flock to it instantly and he's rather disappointed that it's been up for nearly 24 hours and it doesn't appear to have been touched. Yesterday he was sitting on the couch watching it out the window and saying "Heeeerrrrrreeeee birds!" over and over. It was adorable. :)

30 Days of Thanks - Day 12

I'm thankful for family movie/game/activity night. Regardless of what we do, there is nothing like making a point to spend time together and enjoy our little family. <3

Weekly Wrap Up

Sunday:


-Owen started officially waving today! He waved at Mommy, Daddy, Aunt Ria, Mawmaw, & Pawpaw.


Monday:

-I asked Caleb if he was ready to exercise with me this morning and he jumped up and said "YES! We're going to be strong and healthy!" haha I think my fitness craze is rubbing off on him! :)
-I had a mom's group meeting tonight and while I was gone, Clayton swears he taught Owen to give kisses. I haven't seen it yet so I'm not calling it official yet. ;)

Tuesday:


-It was absolutely gorgeous out today! I've been so busy with photo editing that I finally got caught up enough to not feel too guilty taking an afternoon break and played outside with the boys. I raked all the leaves in the front yard in a big pile for Caleb and then let him go crazy. It was so funny to watch him (and raking is a pretty good upper body workout too! lol).

Wednesday:

-They say it takes 21 days to make a habit, and today is day 21 of eating healthy. I feel fantastic!! Wednesday is also my "official" weekly weigh-in day and for the week I'm down 1.2 lbs, and down 4.2 lbs over the last 3 weeks. Next week I will be taking all my measurements again - 1 month later. I'm really interested to see the progress! 

Thursday:

-Bathroom updates from Caleb (as he's peeing): "It's not white pee. It's just pee. It's golden pee." bahaha

Friday:

-Random conversation I just had with Caleb:

C: "Mom! I just cleaned the whole house! Daddy will be happy!" (sometimes we do extra cleaning to "suprise Daddy" when he gets home)

Me: "Wow! Really? Thanks so much! What a huge help!"

C: "I picked up ALL the toys and put them where they belong."

Me: "That's awesome! You are so great! What am I going to do with you?"

C: "Ummm... you're going to give me a kiss!"

SMOOCH! 

I was hoping to clean the house today because it desperately needs it but also because I have a client coming over for a shoot tomorrow - but I hadn't mentioned it to Caleb at all. He came up with that all on his own. He's so funny. :) 

30 Days of Thanks - Day 11

I'm thankful for the country that we live in and those who serve to protect it - and most of all, my dad, who served in the Marine Corps for 20 years. His dedication, discipline, hard work, and "semper gumby" attitude are just a few of the many things that make him awesome. ILYBL Dad! Happy Veteran's Day!

30 Days of Thanks - Day 10

I'm thankful to have Jaime close by again! I can't tell you how amazing it's been to have her close! Aside from being my BFF, she's been such a huge help already! In the last few months since she's been here:

•  I called her at the last minute because I was getting interviewed by the news for SDP and I was SUPER nervous. She spent the day shopping with me to find a new outfit and then came over the day of the taping to be here for moral support. 
• I'd had a stressful week and needed to get out of the house for a while and she dropped what she was doing and met me for sushi and venting.
• When we needed help with babysitting for Maria's wedding, Jaime and Aaron came over for an all day/night marathon babysitting extravaganza. They even put up with all my crazy notes AND brought the boys up the church for pictures.
• I'm so proud of losing 5 lbs and actually have a little money saved for shopping, I made plans with Jaime and we get to spend the evening shopping together tonight. 

There is nothing better than having a sister! I'm so thankful to have such an awesome one and for all she does for me!

30 Days of Thanks - Day 9

I am thankful fall. For beautiful weather, colorful leaves, bonfires, Thanksgiving, pumpkin patches, and building Christmas anticipation.

30 Days of Thanks - Day 8

I'm thankful for beautiful places, things, and words. For all the things that inspire me and make me feel alive.

30 Days of Thanks - Day 7

I'm thankful for time to play with my boys and hear them laugh. There really is no other sound greater in the world than hearing your children laugh.

30 Days of Thanks - Day 6

I'm thankful for our supportive, loving, and completely awesome family and friends.

30 Days of Thanks - Day 5

I'm thankful for the amazing opportunity to be able to pursue my dreams. Clayton has been so supportive and encouraging. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to be able to earn a living doing what I love AND with something that allows me to be at home with our boys.

Catching up.... again.

I really despise these long catch up posts but I need to document all the cute/happy/funny/embarrassing things that have happened in the last 3-1/2 months. Here we go:

November 3:

-I have been working out again and yesterday I tried a "Mixed Martial Arts" dvd. Caleb really liked it and watching him kick and punch with me was hilarious. But my absolute favorite part was when he was doing the "downward facing dog" yoga poses with me during our warm up.

November 2: 

-Clayton got a MUCH needed raise today (just for being awesome). We took a big risk when I quit my job to stay at home with the boys and go full time with SDP. My business has been doing really well but with the major medical bills we've had this year, things have been extra tight. Praise the Lord for answering our prayers and providing for us!

-Overheard from our living room: Caleb screaming "STOP LAUGHING AT ME, BABY OWEN!!!" bahahaha

October 28:

-Aunt Ria and J.P. got married today. Maria looked absolutely stunning and everything was perfect! 

October 31: 

-Caleb had a wonderful time trick or treating this year. Jaime and Aaron came over and went with us. Owen slept 90% of the time but he was pretty cute sleeping as a chubby monster. After each house we went to, Caleb would shake his pumpkin bucket and say "Hear that?!" Then he would tell us he wanted to fill his bucket to the top! He also told me that he wanted to get enough candy for a Halloween party. haha He was pretty funny!

October 25:

-Owen turned 9 months old today. He did great at his check up. He was in the 95^th percentile for head circumference, weight, and height. The doctor said he looks perfect!

October 19:

-I started a new healthy eating plan today. I want to get fit and finally lose the rest of this baby weight. I took before pictures… they are pretty frightening. I’ll probably be posting a lot about my progress in future posts. I’ve been a little bit obsessed with health and fitness lately. But I’m feeling GREAT so that’s major motivation!

October 16:

- Since I was out last night, Clayton said to Caleb "Did you tell Mommy you missed her?" And Caleb said "Mom, Daddy said I'm a mister." Haha Kids are so funny!

October 14:

- Caleb had a nightmare about spiders last night. He wouldn't even get back in his bed because he was so scared. However, he was also telling me that there was a tiny girl and a boy pretending to be a dog in his dream. And then he replayed their whole conversation. Something about dreams from a 3-1/2 year old totally fascinates me.

October 13:

- I was holding Owen's feet up while changing his diaper and looked up and he was sucking on his big toe. lol Yuck!

October 11:

- I started going to a mom’s group at our church today. I have always wanted to join something like this but was never home during the day to be able to do so. I love that owning my own business allows me to do things like this now. I’m really hoping to make some new friends and learn from other women who share my values and beliefs.

October 10:

- I love that when I show Owen his little toy mirror and ask him where the baby is, he looks around behind the mirror on both sides! How DOES that baby get inside there!?! :D

October 7:

- Last week Owen started giving hugs. Today he started dancing. He’s so funny.

October 3:

- Caleb was flirting with the sales girl at men's warehouse and introduced himself as Caleb Smith. Then he introduced us as Daddy Smith and Mommy Smith.... Lol He's such a ham!

September 27:

- I'm trying to edit photos but it's really hard to concentrate because my 8 month old baby is GROWLING at me. lol And he thinks he's funny, because when I look at him, he cracks up like he won the game or something. I ♥ him.

September 22:

- Just heard from Caleb in the kitchen by himself: "EVERYONE! I JUST HURT MY BOTTOM! BUT IT'S OK!"

- I feel as though I've lost the upper hand when Caleb thinks the ant he found is cute and tickles and I squirm like a girl when he tries to put it on me. And of course Caleb thinks this is hilarious. Yes, it's just an ant, but I still don't want it crawling on me.

September 20:

- I love when Caleb comes and tells me things like "Mom, Baby Owen said he wants his socks off because he's hot." Hmmm... did he really?

September 15:

-I love that when someone says "excuse me", Caleb says "you're welcome." Lol

September 5:

- Clayton was in the living room playing with the baby and Caleb was sleeping. Caleb just walked out, pointed at Clayton with a really angry face and said "STOP MAKING THAT NOISE!" Then he turned around, slammed his door, and got back in bed. Lol I think he might be an angry sleeper just like his mama. :)

August 31:

-I was editing some wedding photos and Caleb pointed at the screen and said "Wow! Look at the prince and the princess!" I would love to see everything through his eyes for a day! :)

August 30:

- I can't stress enough how awesome it is only have ONE child in diapers. Being the mother of a potty trained kid is totally as awesome as I imagined. :-)

August 29:
- Me: Do you see your shadow? Caleb (with a sad sigh): my shadow doesn't smile.

August 28:
-Our poor baby Owen had his first fever tonight and boy was it a big one. We spent the night in the ER with him before being transferred to Cincinnati Children’s. They couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him. He started breathing weird (like gasping or grunting with every breath), then a high fever, really high heart rate, and abdominal pain (he screamed when you touched his belly). He went through a ton of tests today and everything came back normal. He was a little constipated so they put him on a laxative for that and are hoping that is all the belly pain was, but have no idea the reason for everything else. When the motrin is working, the fever isn't too bad and the breathing is better, but as soon as it starts to wear off, the fever goes crazy and he breathes all weird again. It's strange because he doesn't have a cold, cough, vomiting, etc. Note: Things cleared up in a day or two and everything turned out just fine. It sure was scary though.

August 25:
- We walked into a toy store today as they were moving some displays around and Caleb yells "OH MY GOODNESS! WHAT A MESS!" And, yes all four sales associates were standing right there and heard. He's Clayton's son.

August 22: 
-Caleb has went a day and a half without a diaper and no accidents!!! Maybe he'll be potty trained before college after all!

August 21:
- Owen's second tooth broke through today! :)

August 19:
- Owen likes to move his one little leg back and forth so much that I've decided he's part cricket, and Clayton has decided he has Restless Leg Syndrome.

August 18:
- I love family movie nights. We watched Mars Needs Moms. It was cute but I thought the idea of losing your mom was a little frightening for kids. Caleb suddenly wanted to cuddle with me. Imagine that.

August 15:
- Caleb is sitting next to Owen on the floor and reading him books. It's so sweet. ♥

August 12:
- My little baby had his first tooth break through the gums today!

August 5:
- ‎6 years ago today, Clayton and I went on our first official date. And tonight, he's taking me on a date to celebrate. ♥

August 4:
- I put Owen to bed while he was still awake 25 minutes ago and he didn't make ONE sound. He is starting to get the hang of it!!!! :D

August 3:
- My wonderful husband forgot and left a big cup of red paint and paintbrush in Caleb's playroom.... And now we have red paint splattered all over the floor and on the recently painted bright blue wall.... I don't know if I'm more annoyed with Caleb or Clayton. >:(

August 2:
- Caleb said he wanted to pee on the potty. He was in the bathroom for a minute or two with the door shut, so I went in to check on him and he was still fully clothed sitting on the toilet. Weird.
- Woes of a work at home mom: I'm on the phone with a client trying to set up a session and Caleb is yelling from the bathroom "LINDS (don't know why he was calling me that), I PEED ON THE POTTY!! I PEED! LINDS, I PEED!" Fantastic.

August 1:
- Night #2 of the Ferber Method sleep training for Owen. On the first night he cried for 20 min. Tonight, it was less than 5. YAY! We're taking back control of bedtime in the Smith house! :D

July 29:
- Caleb: Can we go outside, pleeeaaaaassssse?
Me: Not right now. We're going to go outside later today. After lunch.
Caleb: I'm hungry, can we eat lunch?
Me: It's 9:30 am! No!

July 25:
- Owen is 6 months old! His stats: 28" L (90th percentile), 23 lbs 8 oz (off the charts), and 95th percentile for head circumference. He's a monster!!

30 Days of Thanks - Day 4

I'm thankful for a roof over our heads and warm beds to sleep in. Having air conditioning, heat, electricity and all the many other things that make us comfortable (and a spoiled). :)

30 Days of Thanks - Day 3

I'm thankful for God always taking care of us during times of struggle. There is nothing like the peace of knowing we're in His hands.

30 Days of Thanks - Day 2

I'm thankful for my loving and supportive husband. He works hard to provide for our family, is an amazing father, and believes in me more than I believe in myself. I hope our boys grow up to be just like him.

30 Days of Thanks - Day 1

I'm thankful for my two beautiful, healthy boys. 

Caleb the Neigborhood Watch

Caleb just yelled in a panic "MOM! OUR CAR IS GONE!" I went in the living room to tell him it was ok (Jaime and Aaron borrowed a car to go house hunting and Daddy is at work with the other car), and he was sitting on the couch with his binoculars looking outside. <3 I just love him to pieces!

Ugh.

Why am I so terrible at keeping my blog updated? I don't know. It must be my one character flaw. ;) I think my "catch up" posts are becoming more frequent than my regular posts.

So here is what you might have missed:

Today.
 -Oh the awkward moment when your child catches you sneaking a few bites of cake during breakfast time.... and then you have to give him a bite too, even though you would normally never let him have cake before lunch. Lead by example, Lindsey. Lead by example.
 -Owen started crying while I was changing him and Caleb ran in and said "I'm SUPER Caleb! What's the problem?!" :)
 -Caleb is waiting "Ice Age" and the saber tooth tiger is named Diego - so Caleb is calling him as well as the whole movie "San Diego". 

Yesterday.
 -Maybe it's my awful singing, but Owen finds lullabies much more hilarious than soothing. I am talking belly laughing hilarious.

July 12.
 -I walked in the living room a few minutes ago and Caleb was sitting in Owen's walker watching tv. I don't know how he climbed in there himself or even fit, but it was a pretty funny sight. Wish I would have taken a picture!
 -Owen is practically "officially" rolling over. He gets completely turned over onto his belly, but he is still laying on his one arm. It looks so uncomfortable.

July 11.
 -I got Owen's walker out tonight. He really likes it, but even more, CALEB really likes it. He keeps saying "Mom, put baby Owen in there!" To get him off my back at one point (since Owen wasn't in the mood to sit in the walker), I had Caleb put his favorite stuffed animal in there (a T-Rex named Rex, or Rexy and Caleb sometimes calls him). He pushed Rex around in the walker half the night. Then we even brushed Rex's teeth before bedtime and Caleb tucked him into bed. He's so sweet. :)
 -I gave Caleb a piece of paper to start a craft and he said "I'm writing Daddy an email!" Oh children of the digital age...
-I told Caleb "We need to get you dressed" and he replied "No. We need to give me a bath." Annnd he was right, he did need a bath. So I gave him one and he sang Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" while he played.

July 1.
 -Caleb just kissed Owen goodnight and said "Night, night. Sweet dreams, baby." ♥

June 25.
 -Gma & Gpa Sallee came for a visit from Illinois. Caleb was in heaven. Gpa Sallee played in the sandbox with him and pushed him on the swings. When they left, Caleb told me that they great gma and gpa went bye bye, so I asked him if he remembered where they live. He answered "the north pole." Lol

June 23.
 -I'm letting Caleb play with our old point and shoot camera and he's taking pictures of me over and over and over (mostly with my head cut off though). Maybe he's giving me a taste of my own medicine and showing me what it feels like to live with the paparazzi. The flashes are making me feel a little blind... :p

June 17.
 -Gave Owen baby food (other than cereal) for the first time tonight. Up first on the menu: carrots. Verdict: success. He ate the whole thing!

Potty Training...

Maybe Daddy taught him how to stand like that... HA!

But seriously... whatever works. :)

Family Dedication

We participated in the family dedication service at our church this weekend. We dedicated both boys to the Lord and then enjoyed a cookout at our home with family afterwards. We really do love our church and the more I go, the more sure I am that this is the place we should be raising our children - teaching them to love Jesus and to love like Jesus. <3

We were also very thankful to have our family there to support us and celebrate with us. Caleb had a blast playing in his sandbox with his cousins (and required a serious bath afterwards). :) Thank you to everyone who helped make the day special!

I think the photo of Clayton & Owen might be one of my all time favorites. <3

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Reason #583,579,236,912 Why I Love Caleb

He was in on the couch this morning watching cartoons and I was in the other room feeding Owen and Caleb yelled, "Are you doing ok, Mom?"

He was checking on me. He's so sweet. <3

Speaking of Thank You

Stemming off the last post, it made me remember a conversation I had several months ago that has stuck with me. When Caleb was still in daycare, I was telling the teachers that he would be leaving soon because I was going to stay at home with him and the new baby. This one particular teacher had only been there a few weeks and told me that she hoped I like staying home, but that she recently went back to work after staying at home with her kids. One of the main reasons she said she didn't like it was because it was a thankless job. She said felt like her "job" was very unappreciated and that "no one says thank you for doing a good job at cleaning the house or feeding your kids lunch."

At the time, I didn't think much about it (other than... funny that she came to work in a daycare if she felt that way...) but I was in a hurry to finish dropping Caleb off and get to work on time. But now thinking back and after staying at home with my kids for several months, I can't help but think that it is just so sad that she felt that way.

A.) There are so many rewards that come with taking care of your children apart from spoken words of appreciation. I could go on and on about this, but it is extremely rewarding. Seeing them grow, learn, change, master new skills, etc.. I can't even begin to describe the delight I get from seeing and being part of it.

B.) The teacher mentioned her husband at one point and I can't help but think how sad it is that he (according to her) didn't ever tell her thank you - or if he did, she still didn't feel appreciated. Maybe I'm just incredibly lucky and this isn't the norm, but Clayton tells me thank you all the time. Whether I bust my tail cleaning the house, giving the kids baths, or teaching Caleb his ABC's, Clayton always shows his appreciation for my doing so - just as I try to always express my appreciation for him working so hard so that I am able to be at home with our kids. I feel like he appreciates me very much - and it would certainly make staying home and taking care of our children much more difficult if I didn't feel like he valued and appreciated it.

C.) Children should say thank you - and the teacher should have been teaching them to do so. How sad that this very reason caused her to give up when she could have easily done something about it. Caleb thanks me for changing his diaper and getting him dressed in the morning. He thanks me for giving him a bath. He thanks me for making his lunch. He thanks me for playing a game with him. If you want your kids to be thankful, teach them! She may not have been able to change her husband's behavior, but she certainly could have changed her children's.

My point is certainly not that woman shouldn't work outside the home, nor that staying home and raising children is easy. My point is simply that whatever your contribution to your family is, be it working outside the home or not, there is value to it. Each person's talents and gifts are different and we really have to be conscience of what we're contributing and be thankful of what others are contributing.

In Clayton's family, I feel as though we all contribute something different and I love seeing how it all works together. Until Clayton and I met, I had never lived near a lot of family to see this in action. His family is like a big puzzle - and everyone fits together to fill the gaps.

Clayton's sister - while in college and now working night shift as a nurse - has had the ability to contribute a whole lot by helping everyone out with babysitting. When I was working and if we were in a pinch with Caleb being sick and unable to attend daycare, Maria or Clayton's dad (who also works night shift), were almost always able to help us out. When you only get X number of vacation days and your kid is sick every other week as a result of daycare, I can't even begin to express the blessing this was to us.

Our sister-in-law, Dana, has also helped us out a great deal with babysitting. She quit her job and watched Caleb every day for over a year so I didn't have to put him in daycare until he was almost 2. I can't even begin to tell you what a relief it was to know that family was caring for our six month old baby.

Clayton's dad and his brothers all help each other when it comes to manual labor and stuff being done around the house - putting up fences, cleaning up flooded basements, building decks, cutting down trees, moving - even though everyone is really busy with families of their own, they still try their best to help each other whenever it's needed.

Clayton's mom always helps with everything she can - be it babysitting, taking sick kids to the doctor, picking up milk at the store, or hosting and feeding all 20 of us nearly every single weekend. I don't know how she has the energy to do half of what she does. She has taught me so much about what family is about - and what being a mother is about - especially when your kids are grown.

I know I've just barely scratched the surface of what everyone does for each other, but my point is that I really love that I have gotten the chance to see first hand how a big family all works together. It's amazing to know that there are so many people out there that we can count on. <3

No Thank You

We've tried very hard to teach Caleb manners - especially to say "Please" and "Thank You." We teach him to say it at home to us - whenever we do something for him or he wants something. This may seem excessive, but if he's in the habit of doing it at home, it is more likely that he will remember to say it when he leaves our house and goes to school, church, a friends house, etc...

He does pretty well with it most of the time, but now I'm afraid he thinks it holds too much power.

We have conversations like this a lot:

Me: Caleb, can I have a hug?
Caleb: No thank you.

Seriously... like 3 or 4 times a day. Sometimes, it's not even a question. Like this:

Me: Come over here and pick up all these Lincoln Logs.
Caleb: Umm... No thank you.

Polite disobedience. I guess it's a little better than rude disobedience.

On a somewhat related note, last night we were sitting on the front porch eating ice cream and someone 3 or 4 houses down sneezed (we couldn't even see the person - just heard them), and Caleb yelled as loud as he could "BLESS YOUUUUUU!" :)

Lastly, my Patty (yes - that's part of her official title - "MY Patty"), shared this with me recently in a very sweet email and I thought it was just lovely. Being a parent is really about being a teacher - and more often than not, teaching by example.

CHILDREN LEARN WHAT THEY LIVE
Dorothy Law Nolte

If a child lives with criticism,
he learns to condemn.

If a child lives with hostility,
he learns to fight.

If a child lives with fear,
he learns to be apprehensive.

If a child lives with pity,
he learns to feel sorry for himself.

If a child lives with ridicule,
he learns to be shy.

If a child lives with jealousy,
he learns what envy is.

If a child lives with shame,
he learns to feel guilty.

If a child lives with encouragement,
he learns to be confident.

If a child lives with tolerance,
he learns to be patient.

If a child lives with praise,
he learns to be appreciative.

If a child lives with acceptance,
he learns to love.

If a child lives with approval,
he learns to like himself.

If a child lives with recognition,
he learns that it is good to have a goal.

If a child lives with sharing,
he learns about generosity.

If a child lives with honesty and fairness,
he learns what truth and justice are.

If a child lives with security,
he learns to have faith in himself and in those about him.

If a child lives with friendliness,
he learns that the world is a nice place in which to live.

If you live with serenity,
your child will live with peace of mind.

With what is your child living?

A Young Lady

I don't wear dresses very often, but today was really hot so I opted for summer dress to keep cool. Caleb looked at me and said "You're a young lady, Mom."

Then a few minutes later, he said to Clayton "Mommy is your young lady"

I don't know where he's heard the phrase "young lady" but he can call me that any time he wants. :)

Photo Editing & Caleb

My job as a photographer is just a little bit beyond Caleb's grasp at this point. He is used to seeing me with a camera and editing photos on the computer. He gets that I take pictures, but that part that really confuses him are the photos of people he doesn't recognize.

When I'm editing, he will stand behind me and ask about the people. I've tried to explain that when people want their picture taken, they call me. And when it comes to family and friends, he gets it, but the people he doesn't recognize totally confuse him.

When I'm editing, he'll point at the picture up on the computer and ask "Where's mommy?" or "Who is that?" or "Is that Caleb?" The other day I was editing pictures of a baby girl and he said "Is that my sister? I love her!"

Right now I'm working on family photos of a big group and he keeps trying to find people he knows in the pictures.

"Where's Opa?"
"Is that Austin?"
"Are you holding baby Owen right there?"
"Is that you?"
"Where's Mawmaw?"
"Who is that?"
"There's daddy!"
"Who are those people?"
"Is that baby Owen?"

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Are you ready for a break yet? I sure am.

The Art of Randomness...

Caleb is a master at randomness. Here is today's example:

Me: What do you want for lunch?
Caleb: Coconuts.

I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried. How he even knows what a coconut is, is beyond me.

Another Sleeping Pic...

I couldn't resist. Asleep on the couch again. Popcorn in hand. :)

Caleb's New Haircut

Mawmaw gave our big boy a haircut yesterday. Isn't he looking so handsome!? This mini-photoshoot was a spur of the moment thing. If always figures that the unplanned mini-sessions are when I get the best pictures of my kids. I guess there is less pressure that way. :)

Also, isn't the lighting on my porch scrumptious!? It makes for nice lighting even in the midday sun. <3