Reese has been grabbing his diaper the past few day saying "Itchy!" and when I check him, usually his diaper is wet. You see, I went through a long, long, long potty training period with Abram. So I decided to be a lot more laid back with Reese. Tonight, just for funsies I got out
just to get him used to the idea. He got really excited about it. It was before bath time and I just had him sit on it and we talked about how you pee and poop in the potty-and he peed a tiny bit. I thought it was a fluke and he wanted to keep sitting, so I let him.
Eventually he got in the bath, mid bath Abram needed to get out to go potty. Reese followed and sat on the frog potty-and went. He stood up and Kris, Abram, and I all started cheering, to which Reese replied, "Tank you! Tank you!" He did it two more times before bed. This is probably just a fluke, right? Right?......Right?
My family and I went with my Mom to see Ricky Skaggs in concert this past Saturday. Unfortunately I was really rushed, because all day we thought it was going to be cancelled because of the severe weather we had. Therefore, there are no pictures. About an hour before the concert, the sun came out and we decided to go. Because of the rain, the temperature cooled down and there was a nice breeze. It. Was. Perfect.
For those of you who don't know who Ricky Skaggs is-he is a Bluegrass singer (he also sings Gospel). My Grandpa used to listen to him all the time, and took us to a concert when I was about Abram's age. I can remember sitting with my grandparents, and the stage seemed far away, but I remember feeling so happy. I also remember my mom being able to go backstage and meet him, and the next couple of years we got Christmas cards from his family.
It's funny how music/a certain song can take you back, almost to exact moments in your life. I remember being at my Grandparents one Summer and playing a Ricky Skaggs tape in the gray "boom box" in the kitchen and rewinding over and over until I had the songs memorized. I remember my Grandpa often coming in and catching me singing at the top of my lungs-but he never told me to turn it off.
I think about him often, and especially at Father's day. I have a hard time even typing about him. But there are certain things you have to just suck up and do-especially because you don't ever want to forget them, and because you need your kids to know. If I close my eyes, I can still remember the way he smelled, and I can hear his laugh. I can see the mischevious grin on his face. My Grandpa was a quiet man, but when he spoke-everyone listened. I remember him being very kind and respectable to others. He was a hard worker. He had a huge garden in the backyard, and sometimes we would walk around it and he would pick a turnip out of the ground and peel it with his pocket knife and we'd share it. I remember a lot of evenings just walking around that garden. I think about him everytime I smell fresh tomatoes, or corn. I think of my Grandma stringing green beans with a huge bright green tupperware bowl.
We'd go to family reunions every year. They were really important to my Grandparents. The ones in Kentucky were my favorite-some of the men would play bluegrass, the ladies would make the best food, and we would play all weekend. We would load up the camper and drive to the holler (no, seriously-boon docks) and we would drive up this mountain where my sister and I would get nervous because one slight move of the steering wheel would take you down the mountain. Grandpa would purposely drive on the edge to make my Grandma mad. I can still hear her yelling at him and he would just have this grin on his face. I remember holding my breath as we crossed this OLD bridge where you could hear each plank as you drove across. That bridge has been replace by concerte now. The first time I crossed it after it had been redone, although I felt a lot more safe-it was sad.
My Grandpa was my father figure growing up. He was very patient, kind, and loving. I was constantly in his lap, and when I got too big, I just sat right beside him. There is something to be said about that ya know? Just sitting in the same room with a person and just by sitting with them it makes everything okay-safe and loved. When he was alive our whole family would get together every Christmas Eve-there was the traditional Bengals vs Browns arguements and someone always got him a tin of popcorn. I remember with all of the chaos/fun of those nights, his eyes would just shine. He had "his chair" that he would sit/sleep in and every Sunday we would watch old westerns together. If I fell asleep on the couch, he would take the cordless phone and extend the antenna and stick it in my ear-by the time I jumped up he had hidden it and was watching the TV. I caught on by the thrid time. He was so patient and loving to a redheaded kid who was going through a lot, and sometimes wasn't very loveable. I could go on and on, but I have snotted through a half a role of toilet paper just typing this much. Maybe I will do it it spurts, I can't take all of this emotion at once. And I know this post is a downer-I am sure that something really akward and embarrassing will happen to me soon.....I will leave you with this:
We are on day 4, I have waited to announce this on the blog for fear of jinxing it. Last Thursday was crazy for some reason for this little guy...
was in a FOUL mood. Especially when it came to naptime. This was a bizarre occurance considering he loves naptime which usually goes like so: Here's your blankie, here's your paci, sweet dreams-and he is out. Well he wasn't having any of it. So I thought he was just over tired and he needed to cry a bit and then he'd fall asleep. After a few minutes I went to check on the hysterical little monster to find this (re-inacted for blogging purposes)...
I went to give it back to him to which he replied in a very LOUD volume, "NOOOO PACIIII!!!!!" "Okay" I retorted and walked downstairs. A few minutes later it was silent. This frightened me a bit, so I snuck up the stairs and found him asleep (and Abram asleep with the covers over his head-I guess to muffle Reese's hysterics). I immediately called Kris. You see, I have been DREADING taking his paci away. He would only use it for sleeping, but oh-how easy it was. The oldest was a bit traumatized as you may recall. Kris was really funny, he said, "Maybe it was the book!" When we were talking about taking Abram's paci away, his Aunt Terri sent us this book...
Unfortunately we got it after we had taken it away-but, the funny thing is-Reese has never read this book, and we read it to him the night before it happened.
I thought it was a fluke, but now we are on day 4 and he hasn't mentioned it AT ALL. I was thinking about it, I used to rock Reese every night with his bottle before I would put him to sleep. One night, I can't even remember how old he was, I rocked him for a couple of minutes and he started wiggling until he wiggled off my lap (maybe 9 months old?) and I put him to bed, and he went to sleep. And I never rocked him for longer than a couple minutes again. He was done. It's like he gets something in his mind, and that is the way it is. I see this a lot in his behaviors. So now if I can figure out how to channel that trait for good only maybe the teenage years won't be so bad, right?
Somebody was a busy girl on Saturday and met some friends at what seemed like the crack of dawn to go to the strawberry (and broccoli?) patch for some pickin. When life gives you strawberries (life, or your own effort hunched over for 2 hours picking 15 lbs of red goodness) you make..
Strawberry Jam, and then freeze some, and then you eat so many that the acid burns you throat a bit. I must tell you it was my first time doing this, and it turned out delish. The only downside is the patch closes in a week and it is NOT going to be fun going back to Smuckers after tasting this homemade goodness.
Not only is today my Mom's birthday, but National Doughnut Day! My awesome Sister In Law always updates what special day it is on her facebook. Normally they just crack me up-however-this day I was much obliged to celebrate. ESPECIALLY when Krispy Kreme is giving out free doughnuts!!
We headed on down to our local establishment...
The youngins both picked out doughuts with sprinkles....
Stuffed their faces (and Abram decided to trade me because he wasn't loving the sprinkles. I am not a sprinkle fan myself, however I said okay.)
Reese's smile looks funny in this one, but his expression is so cute and excited.
There is the little manipulation master himself and my doughnut. I don't know why he looks like he is 8 years old in this picture, it kinda freaks me out.
There is a window where you can watch them making the doughnuts...big enough for kids, not big enough for parents to climb up and hold their kids unfortunately.
And just as a fun fact-just over the past couple of years have I been able to eat Krispy Kreme glazed doughnuts. I did a fundraiser in high school for church camp and spent ALL DAY delivering close to a million and seven boxes, all the while stuffing my face. I was burnt out for a while, but no longer.
Reese was a little late for the 2 year check up (like 6 weeks or so) because of the the incidentI wasn't too thrilled to show my face there anytime soon. Just wanted to report his stats, and just so you know-I am thinking he is taller than stated. Reese was crying and twisting as he laid down to get height measured.
Weight: 31.3 lbs
Height: 35 inches
He also had to get a shot. I had a big talk with Abram beforehand, how we had to be super sweet to Reese and share, etc because he was gonna have a rough time. It was really sweet, Abram kept making him laugh in between crying fits and right before the shot Abram said, "I don't want them to hurt my brother!"
Poor Reese was so traumatized when I was sitting down holding him (he was facing me head on my chest my arms around him) that when I would lift my hand off his back-talking to the doc using my hands-he would grab my arm and put it back on his back, poor little fella.
I can't believe it's Summer already and it is SO HOT! It's been in the 90's all week. Memorial Day was so fun, I regret that I don't have any pictures-I have been a little more selfish lately and actually getingt in on the action rather than staying back and taking pictures. Fortunately it's fun, unfortunately no pictures to look back on how fun it was. We met at the park and played ultimate frisbee and had a cook out. Abram met a little girl he instantly clicked with who loves dinosaurs and getting dirty. They were covered and having the best time. I mean seriously, it looked like war paint all over his face. We also tested out the neighborhood pool. It was awesome, both boys LOVE it and we plan to make use of it this summer.
Just a funny moment last night. We got a water table yesterday and were playing outside. Abram took a cup and filled it with water and threw the water in the air straight up (so it came straight down on him). He and Reese thought this was hilarious. We wouldn't you know, he got a little too close to be and threw the water up (he was behind me) and the water went on me. A. lot. of. water. Abram's eyes were huge and mouth dropped open when I turned around. "I'm SO sorry Mama." and in slow motion I took his cup....filled it with water....and told him he better run. We had a water fight until all the water was out of the table. It was so much fun, until he thinks we'll do that everytime we play with it. We'll have to talk about that one.
We have also had some super fun playdates. That may have to be a post in itself. It's fun having friends with kids that are the same age as my boys. They get along so well. Reese is also starting to talk up a storm, half of which is understandable. It happened like this with Abram, 2 months after his 2nd birthday...and he hasn't stopped talking since. There is so much fun to be had this Summer even if it is blazing hot, and we can't wait.
