A sad, sad milestone

I put Gabriel down for a nap this morning, so it was just me and the J man hanging out for a while. At one point I asked him for a kiss and he puckered up to kiss me. I gave him a kiss and the next thing I see broke my heart...He wiped it off. I thought I would have a few more years before he did that.

Sneek Peaks

Last Tuesday Royal and I got the boys cleaned and dressed and headed to Collins Park. We had our first family photos as a family of four. My friend Kelley took the AWESOME pictures. Here are a few sneak peeks and a look at the rest of her blog.

KD Loftis

Five Years

Well today is out fifth anniversary. At this time five years ago we were fast asleep at the Hotel Sofitel(SP). The next day we were headed to Vegas.

We have gone though a lot in the last five years.
*Moved in together
*Bought our first house
*Bought my car
*Had a baby
*bought Royal a car
*put a pool in
*found out we were expecting #2
*Bought Royal a more family friendly car
*had #2
*Ike

Goodness we have been busy over the last 5 years. It's no wonder we are both tired. Royal you have been with me through the highs and lows and no one loves you more than I do. Happy Anniversary.

Pool Time!

Now that the weather is warm we have been enjoying the pool. This is not the first time this season that we have been in, but it is the first time I have taken pictures. Joshua loves "swimming," which mostly involves him playing on the tanning ledge and never getting his face wet.













And just for good measure Lucy Goose. She is 10 year old.

Looking for Opinions

We are taking family photos on Tuesday with Kelley from KD Loftis Photography. I needed opinions as to what we should wear.

I plan on wearing a black cotton dress. I am not sure what to do with all these boys.

Option #1 - all boys wear black polos
Option #2 - Royal in a black Polo, J&G in a different color polo (maybe blue)

Any other suggestions are welcome too.

Not me Monday

Inspired by Jess I thought I would give this a try.

Today I did not:

• I did not give my two year old candy every time he used the potty. And I don't do this everyday.

• I did not spend half the day taking said child to the potty.
  

• I did not take a shower at 7:15 in the evening and then sit in my towel all night because I was too lazy to go put on my jammies.

• I did not walk out of the room while Gabriel had a wall eyed fit because I needed a break.

• I did not waste a ton of time playing bejeweled

• I did not have a good evening playing with my kids and husband in the pool.

• I did not ask my husband if there are miniature cows knowing very well that he was going to laugh his ass off.
  

Oh the milestone they will meet

We have been all about growing up in our house. With two little ones you just can't stop it.
Joshua first
-he is still working on potty training. This weekend he started telling me when he needed to go. He still has accidents but there is a lot of improvement.

-He has a best friend. There is a little boy in his MDO class and they play together all the time. It is really cute when Joshua gets to school this little boy is always so excited to see him.

-He will talk on the phone. He told Nana (my mom) Happy mother's day.

-He has become very affectionate. He doles out hugs and kisses with such delight. There is nothing sweeter than having your little boy come up to you and say, "momma, hold you." Melts my heart every time.

Gabriel is growing just as much
-He has started army crawling. It will be interesting to see if he moved beyond this because Joshua didn't.

-With this new found movement he "chases' after his brother. This boy is constantly on the move.

-He has learned to drink out of a straw.

-He has learned to feed himself. He is eating puffs.

Just Cuteness

Joshua was eating a banana nut muffin.

One step forward and two steps back

Friday was supposed to be Joshua's first day in big boy underwear at school. That all went to the crapper as soon as I left. Now he tends to have his accidents in the mornings, so this was not a total surprise to me. Joshua had an accident as soon as I left. No biggie I brought lots of cloths to change into.

The next part is all my fault. I just assumed that he would use the school potty. The problem...this potty is a real toilet only miniaturized, but still too big for my little guy. His feet didn't touch the floor and the hole was too big for his bottom. So he spent all day in a diaper. After I spent three days introducing him to the potty chair it was undone in a day. The good news is that I have learned from my mistake and his teacher said I could bring his potty chair to school.


This is the potty chair we have. The center come out so you can dump the contents into the potty. That little hump is to block the "teetee" from spraying everywhere. This is all fine and good unless you have a boy and his "boy" isn't pointing directly down for whatever reason. Then you just get it everywhere.

Potty training day 1

So far so good. Only two accidents and he stopped himself half way through and ran to the potty to finish. It's kind of funny to watch him get the urge because he freaks out and is not totally sure where to go. Should I stand here or do I go to the potty? He also doesn't seem to want to empty completely. He'll let a little bit go and then stop and pour it out flush and come back for more.

Two tips so far. If you have another child (younger) have someone else watch them. It's hard to nurse and take someone to the potty at the same time.

Put your bumbo away. It looks too much like a potty and well it might get used as one.

At the end of the day.

Joshua didn't have any accidents in the afternoon. He wasn't telling me when he needed to go but he would take himself to the potty. I am so proud at how well he is doing.

We have only had one small problem and that is when he sits and goes well it doesn't always all stay in the potty. I have had to clean up more than a little wayward potty. Maybe tomorrow he will start telling me when he needs to go.

The last ten pounds

I have always struggled with my weight. I was at my heaviest weight when I found out I was pregnant with Joshua. My goal after he was born was to get down to an ideal weight. I wasn't sure how I was going to do this but it was my goal.

When Joshua was a month old my dad told me about Stroller Fit. I started going every day. After a while I saw results but then my weight loss stalled. I joined Weight Watchers online and with a lot of hard work I got down to my goal weight.

A few months later I found out I was pregnant again. All that hard work about to be rewarded with a new baby. This time around I was in much better shape. I worked out everyday until I was 37 weeks. I quit because it was so hot. I went back to working out as soon as I was released by my doctor. It felt so good to get out of the house and move again. The weight came off easily...except for the last ten pounds. So hear I sit 10 lbs to go. It is taunting me.

Puffs

Recently I gave Gabriel his first bite of Puffs (kiddie food that dissolves when the baby puts it in their mouth). This is what Gabriel thought. In the background is Joshua.

Sandbox

Joshua's Mimi and Granddaddy (Royal's parents) gave him a sand box for Christmas. Well last Thursday the boys and I went and bought sand. I had my brother come over to help me set it up. The bags of sand were 50lbs each; I bought 8. Joshua loves it.

Six Months

Gabriel will be six months old on March 11. I am writing this now because I know I will forget if I wait to do it on the 11th.

Gabriel 9/11/08


One Month old




Three Months old



4 months old



5 months




Almost 6 months




I can't believe how fast the second time around has gone. My little guy is rolling all over the place and has even found that he can get places by continuously rolling. He loves his big brother. There is nothing sweeter than watching Gabriel and Joshua interacting with each other.

Both boys together. Joshua didn't what Gabriel to touch him, so I had to move him over.




Oh yeah if anyone is actually reading this drop me a line and say "HI"

First Hair Cut

I wanted to get Joshua's hair cut when he was 15 months old but Royal was the hold out. Eventually Joshua's hair grew out and he looked like a surfer. Long and blond. I had been trimming the front and back to keep it from being really long.

Last Tuesday I was going to give him a trim. Royal offered to him if I would hold him. Well Royal did more than a trim. He whacked the front super short. So I ended up taking Joshua for his first hair cut at Cool Cuts 4 Kids. He did a great job. The put him in a car chair and let him watch Elmo. The only part he didn't like was the clippers.

Please excuse the funny layout.

Everyone else did one, so I will too

2008 Year in Review

January 7th - I found out I was pregnant. This was a shock to Royal and me. We were not planning on getting pregnant any time soon.

March - Royal got a new "family friendly" car

April - We found out we were having another boy. The great name debate started and lasted for almost two months. We finally picked Gabriel Joseph.

August Joshua starts MDO and loves it.

September 11- My doctor induces me because of an approaching hurricane. We met Gabriel at 4:05 pm. He was such a tiny little guy.




September 13- Ike hits and we are without power for a week. I am trying to figure out how we are going to make it with a toddler and a two day old baby. I don't recommend this if you can avoid it.

October 31 Both boys were skeletons.



November 10 I turn 28
November 21 Royal turns 28
November 29 Joshua turns 2 (not a baby any more)



December 14 Gabriel is baptized.


December 24-25 Christmas Fun.

The things that come out of their mouths.

Joshua turned two not quite a month ago and his vocabulary has exploded. He has also become quite to mimic.


Joshua picked up this gem from his daddy on the way over to my parents' house.

First day of school

Joshua had his first day of school on Friday. He is attending the MDO program at our church. He goes from 9-2:30.

Thursday Royal asked me what time school started because he wanted to take him to his first day of school. Friday started like a normal day. I got up and fed Joshua. Then Royal's alarm goes off and he just lays in bed. Around 8:30 I remind him what today is and he flies out of bed.

We left about 20 minutes later and headed to school. When we get the school Royal carries Joshua in and I got all of his stuff: Nap mat, lunch, backpack, lovey. How much stuff does one little guy need for 5 hours? We walk to his classroom and I fully expected him to scream his head off. Nothing. Royal put him down and he ran to the other kids and toys. I talked to his teacher for a minute and we left.

For the next 5 hours I cleaned the house to pass the time and maybe induce labor. Royal came home a little after 2 to go pick the boy up. We got the report from his teacher: Great day, no crying, ate a good lunch, took a good nap.

Day one was a success, let's pray day 2 goes just as well.

39 weeks

As of today I have seven days to go. I had a doctor's appointment on Tuesday and I was 1cm dilated and 80% effaced. My doc informed me that he didn't think I would make it to my next appointment. This give baby boy two days to get here or else he will be proving the doctor wrong.

I am so ready to meet our little boy. I want to know who he looks like and everything. Royal just keeps telling me to be patient he will get here when the time is right. I know he is right but the waiting is just so hard.

In the Hospital

Yesterday Royal told me that his parents were at the hospital. My first thought was that his dad had another infection around his heart. He has had several since having since having heart surgery almost 5 years ago.

This time however it was his grandfather who was in the emergency room. He is in his 70's but not doing well. He was the main caregiver to Royal's grandmother and great-great aunt for a long time. The great aunt passed away a few months back but then his wife (Royal's grandmother) was dianosed with cancer. In all honesty these three people should not have be living alone. The grandpa refused to go into a home because he didn't want to lose his dogs. Well right before the great aunt passed she fell and the grandpa picked her up and they think he broke his back doing it. Since then he has been on heavy medication which has in turn messed up his stomach. They did an x-ray and his stomach is 10x bigger than normal.

I hope when I get to this age I am not so proud that I don't ask for help when I need it.