More Transitions!!

Last night we had another major tranisiton in our family - Nathan moved into a BIG BOY BED!!! Although he only climbs out of his crib playing during the day, he absolutely loves Brady's bed and started asking for his own. SO, we made the switch last night! His new "Nemo" bed came in just in time too. Friday morning was the first morning I've ever gone in when I heard him up and he was out of his crib just roaming around his room! Keep in mind that they have room blackout curtains and pretty much sleep in cave conditions with no light, even in the middle of the day!! :) Needless to say, both Brady and Nathan have always taken wonderful naps!! :) We were expecting his bed to come in on Monday but saw that the tracking said it was out for delivery yesterday. So, on a rainy day we spent all afternoon waiting for it. When the doorbell rang, Nathan ran as fast as he could to see if it was "Nemo". IT WAS!!! Nathan was so excited and very impatient as it wasn't instantly ready to sleep in and we had to put it together! He made the transition great last night and loved being in "MY" bed!! He did choose at around 12:30 to get out and come to his door to let us know that his pull-up was "wet" though and needed to be changed!! So interesting since he's never done that before in his crib. Oh well. Our rule is that noone is allowed out of their bed until Mommy or Daddy come to get them and there is light on in the room. Brady has abided by that without fail, so we'll see with Nathan - I'm sure he'll be great! After a long lecture at midnight last night, Nathan actually stayed in his bed this morning until we came in! And we let him talk for a good 5 minutes just to see. YEAH!!! Until we're sure he's gonna stick to the rules, a baby gate will strategically remain at their door during the night! :) I think he was a little shocked last night to wake up, open the door and find out he couldn't go anywhere, especially since he hasn't seen a baby gate anywhere in our house in probably a year! :) So, last night was really exciting around our house for two little boys and also a little sad a for Brandon and I. It's so hard to believe that we have too big boys now sleeping in big boy beds. It was even more real today when we took apart the crib and stored it in the attic for round 3!! So, I'm sure you all have the same question and the answer is - still waiting for God's direction and provision... ;)

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!

Ok, so I'm just gonna start off mushy... I am absolutely so head over heels IN LOVE with my husband!! When I wake, throughout the day, when I go to sleep - I'm so glad HE's the one I get to share my life with - the joys, the sorrows, the laughter. The Lord has blessed me infinitly with Brandon - in my opinion - the greatest guy in the world!!

So, we wen't to my parents house this weekend and decided to leave the boys with them through today - they LOVE staying at Grammy & Granddaddy's!! This was decided upon mainly because mommy just needed a break to catch up on everything from Christmas, ski trip, birthday's and then illnesses - just some catch up cleaning time! Whew - it's been great!! It coincided so perfectly with Valentines too!! I was able to spend much needed time to focus just on Brandon and to create some special surprises for him last night - we had an AWESOME night!!!

THEN, today - well, let's just say again - my husband is the greatest!!! I was awoken with a big hug and kiss goodbye from him as I thought he was headed to work. I woke up, walked down stairs and hmmm, there he was just sitting on the couch waiting for me to come down. A beautiful rose was sitting on the table with a newspaper. Do I like to read the paper? no, not really so this was a little odd, I thought. So, I went over to sit beside him and in the paper was the cutest homeade card I have ever seen - with lots of pictures of our boys, us together, etc...SO CUTE!! At the end of the card it said - I love classifieds! So I started reading and my eyes glazed across a caption called LOVE LINES and underneath was the sweetest poem (If you get the paper today - look for it!!) ANyway, the gist of what it said was that he had taken the day off and that he had scheduled for me to redeem the gift certificate I got from his mom for Christmas for a full 1hr massage!! (He had taken the day off to watch the boys...but now he has a break too!) :) So, in just about 45 min, I get to leave and get my first ever 1hr full body massage - I"M SO PUMPED!!! He also had my favorite drink ready for me and a dozen double chocolate covered strawberries in the fridge for me.....oh, it made the greatest breakfast ever!! (well, I just ate one but it was yummmmmmy!) So, that's my day so far - ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!

This afternoon we're off to pick up the boys and celebrate Valentines with them tonight. Love is the most beautiful thing I have ever experienced in life - from my husband, my children, my family, my friends, my Lord & Savior! I am truly blessed!! and can I just say it one more time - I JUST LOOOOVVEEEE being married!!!! Brandon, I LOVE YOU!! Thank you for such a special day!

A Good Day!?

I realized just recently that for the past year or more, I have evaluated each day by the actions of others. Mainly by the actions of two little boys! I used to go to bed at night saying that my day was good/bad based on whether or not Brady & Nathan had had cheerful and obedient hearts throughout the day, based on how much time I had to spend disciplining them and whether or not my day was spent repeating their names and the same phrases over and over again, and whether or not “they” were just having a bad day. Through spending time in prayer recently, praying for myself and Brady and Nathan, I realized that I was evaluating my day on something I couldn’t even control. I can’t control their actions, but I can curve them. I can’t control their feelings, but I can help mold their hearts. I can’t make them stop throwing fits, but I can be calm, grounded and speak the truth in love and with kindness. They are toddlers – a breed all their own!  My day shouldn’t be “good” or “bad” based on "them". I quickly turned to myself in prayer and began evaluating my actions, my heart and my fits – the things I can control. Now when I go to bed, I can say I had a “great” day when “I” showed my children grace through the strength of Christ, when “I” disciplined with love and kindness in my tone, facial expressions and words, when “I” lovingly responded to their tantrums, when “I” didn’t cave into my own selfishness, when “I” truly took all the situations before me with Brady and Nathan and purposely spent the time leading them closer to a deeper understanding of their loving Heavenly Father. Of course, I fail and still have bad days…but recognizing that "I", not the boys, have control over the tone in our household during the day has helped make a world of difference in being a Mommy! Parenting is so fabulous and I’m so thankful that through it I am being made more like Christ daily!...(actually, by every minute!)

Proverbs 3:1-6
My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight