Sunday, September 13, 2009

Night Night

Since Cody has been out of town we have established a new bedtime routine. We used to put the boys down separately because if one of them was not asleep before the other came in they would laugh and play for a long time. With Cody gone it's hard to tell one or the other to wait in the other room while you put brother in bed. Anyways, we get all ready for bed and I tell them to each pick out a book for me to read. They go get the book and lie down in their spots in bed. I read each book, we laugh and have a good time. Then I put the books away, give Jace his paci (yep i do) and give them both kisses and hugs. I tell them that it is time to go to sleep and that they should close their eyes, be still, and quiet. I laughed when closing the door the first night because I thought it would never work with a 3 year old and a (soon to be) 2 year old. They never made a peep! Haven't yet and we've been doing this for 5 nights now!

I'm just really feeling blessed these days. I know it has to do with the Bible Study I am in right now, One in a Million by Priscilla Shirer. But really. My kids are the best. Now I know every mom on the planet (well not that any of them are going to read this) is thinking that I'm wrong and that's perfect! All moms deserve to feel this way about their own!

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Memory Verse

Jace is officially saying the three year old AWANAS memory verse now, even the scripture reference. Just reaffirms the affinity children have for learning. I don't think many people realize just how much they are able to learn and do. Jace must be at one of those stages right now where you can tell they are really developing, both physically and mentally. He amazes me every day by something he says or does.

Physically I noticed something pretty funny today. A few months back, probably around 18 months or so, Jace started asking to go pee pee on the potty. I knew that this was because he had an older sibling that was potty training and going to the potty. I would occasionally let him "try" but is was not productive. He wanted to stand just like Jack, and he would strain so I could tell he was trying but he didn't get it yet.

One day as the boys were getting out of the bath Jace asked daddy if he could go pee pee. Cody scooped him up and stood him up on the stool in front of the potty. Out it came!! He was around 21 or 22 months I guess. Since that time I have been occasionally taking him to the potty. He always tries and most of the time he goes. When he doesn't need to he stands there and "strains" but then quickly says, "I can't".

Anyways, that was a long story to get to the fact that today I decided to put some big boy underwear on him and take him to the potty more often to see how that went. He's been asking lately to put on "under pants", I really don't know where that term came from but it is funny anyhow. So, I told him he could go get a pair out of the drawer and he could wear them today. I was in the kitchen doing something and when I turned around he had a pair and they were on! He had them on the right way and he had pulled them up but couldn't quite get them over his booty! That's when I noticed he grabbed one of Jack's size 4T underwear. I recently bought the bigger size because the 3T's are getting snug on him but the 4T's are still a little saggy. But, Jace filled out those 4T's like no other! He's got his momma's curse! I had a funny thought about having to buy him 5T underwear to potty train him! Oh my!

Friday, September 11, 2009

Sweet Sayings

My youngest, Jace, will be two this month. He is the sweetest little thing a mom could ask for. One night this past week I was putting him to bed, usually daddy does this, and he said, "Mommy lay by me". Cody normally tucks them in, says prayers, gives kisses, and he's outta there!! But, this was such a sweet request and I will never have these times back that I quickly agreed. He snuggled up really close. He told me, "Mommy I love you" then he said some other words that I couldn't understand with the paci in his mouth. Usually I tell him to take out the paci (which he only gets at bedtime now) when he talks so that he will correctly learn how to speak but this time I had to ask him to take it out so that I could understand him! Anyways, he repeated what he had said, "Mommy I love you, you are my best friend". My heart melted! It reminded me that I am the one they spend most of their time with and the person that has the most influence over them. It re-inspired me to "train them in the way they should go so that when they are old they will not depart from it" as paraphrased by me, I'm sure it's not an exact quote.

Jack started AWANA's this year and when he came home with his first memory verse I was doubtful that I would do as the program intended and spend time on it each day and engrain it in him. I want to be that mom who spends that entire week with lesson plans revolving around that verse. I'm not. But, I did have an idea that has ended up being wonderful for us! I wrote his verse on a neon green index card and taped it to the dash of my car. We spend a good amount of time driving here and there during the week so I thought that if we said it each time we were in the car he would have no problem with it. Well, he memorized it the first day and every day since has said it to people that we come in contact with. He even memorized the scripture reference, which isn't required until they are four!

The verse is "God loved us and sent His son" 1 John 4:10. An added benefit is Jace is saying memory verses too! Jace hears us say it so much that he 'memorizes' it and now he is going around saying, "God loves Jace, God loves mommy, God loves daddy, God loves Jacky" you get the picture. And, yes, Jace calls Jack by 'Jacky'. He's always put the y (or ey) ending on everything. I think it's pretty cute.