Chores On Their Own!

I've written before on chores and listed the chores my son did at the time.

A lot of that went out the window when the new baby was born. (Honestly, a lot of housework did!)

The boys surprised me the other day!


I heard Franklin (3yo) messing around in the dishwasher and I asked what he was doing. His response was "I just cleaning." I came around the corner to find him unloading the dishwasher! I helped him with the high/sharp things but that was it.

The next day he did it again. This time he enlisted the help of his younger brother. He handed Jonathan plastic things to put in the cabinet and showed him how to put the silverware in the drawer. I was BLOWN AWAY.

But he wasn't done!

I'd told him earlier in the day that we needed to clean up the living room if he wanted his dog to come inside to play.

After unloading the dishes he walked into the living room and started putting big things (toys, blankets, etc) on the couch. He called to me, "Help me clean a little bit, Mommy!" So I brought a small trashcan in to help him pick up trash and then I vacuumed. Of course the dog got to come inside to play!


Ack. When did my baby get so big?? Sigh.


And now for cute pictures!

3 years old

16 months

I'm linking up with the MOB Society

I wish someone had told me...

So, I love my kids to death. I really really do! They're hilarious most of the time.

There are a few things I wish someone had told me about being a mom. I opened this thought up to Facebook and now I can't find it!! If you answered on the page please add your thoughts to the comments below!

I wish someone had told me...


- that I'd have bruises on the tops of my feet from my children stepping on me...it's just weird.


- that I'd willingly reach out and catch puke in my hands. 


- that I'd get pooped on and shrug it off...or LAUGH.


- that I'd get peed on weekly.


- that I'd become "that mom" that brings her own kid's snacks to parties. (Hey, food dye and HFCS makes him go NUTS)


- that it would be MY kid screaming "SHUT UP" repeatedly at the top of his lungs at the grocery store.


- that makeup would be a luxury.


- that I would consider a few bites of hotdog a "meal." (For kids or adults)


- that I'd love someone as much as I love my family. (Aww...you have to have the sappy entry!)


Comment below!! What things did you not expect as a parent?

Phone Fun!

I REALLY enjoy this link-up!

I got a concert! :-)

He always asks "Ready Mommy?" and then jams out.

I pushed out my mile in UNDER 11 MINUTES!

He wanted to play in Franklin's sensory bin...so I made him his own

He's gotten really good at crawling...

Crazy face!

Making the baby laugh

Eating breakfast! He's so big!!!!

Rest assured, that's lip gloss on his eye. 

Yeah, he's 8mo and pulling up to his knees. *sigh* I'm betting he walks before he's a year old.

That was my week! I forgot to pull out my phone more often...

Monday Phone Fun!

My sweet Jonathan (who is CRAWLING at 7mo!!!!)

My loving Franklin enjoying dinner!

This made my feet look fat

I like the color

He wanted to cuddle mama

My fathre-in-law said an amateur did them....well, I did !

A gross deal at my grocery store. Who needs THAT MUCH SUGAR in the morning?

Drinking his bottle without a top!!

He's riding his motorcycle. Notice the helmet

He unzipped the couch cover and crawled inside.

Franklin wanted to hold the baby...but the baby is too big. This was the compromise.

HUG

SO SWEET (he probably smacked him 10mins later)

My mile time. Yep. I'm awesome. 

Click this button to see what everyone else did this week!

In My Neck Of The Woods...

I've been a bit frustrated...

When am I not, right?

We tried church on Sunday but it was a HUGE bust. Franklin didn't want to go to nursery (like, freaked out about it), he wouldn't sit in service (praise and worship was his limit), and then he started having meltdowns in the cry room (yeah, we had to leave THE CRY ROOM). We figured out that he was probably hungry (he's not a morning eater...this can pose a problem) and tired (his schedule was off)...in any case, I got frustrated.

We've been doing this Occupational Therapy for his SPD for several months now and it feels like he's getting WORSE not BETTER. His meltdowns are getting more intense and more frequent. As his mother I feel horribly lost. If you're a parent you understand how painful it is to see your child suffer and not be able to help him.

He's also destructive. That's due to age/being a boy/SPD/etc...I have SO MUCH working against me some days. I want nice things but I know I can't have them yet. Sometimes I think "I'll get shelves for nice things" and then a toy goes flying through the air and I think "Uh, never mind..."

Jonathan is scooting (!!!!!!!!!!!) He's also getting his first tooth. The child is 7 months old! Franklin didn't scoot until 8-9mo and didn't get teeth until almost a year old. *sigh* Why is my baby growing up so much faster?

I am glad that the boys are able to play together...at least for short bursts. Jonathan can't get up and go the way that Franklin likes; so, Franklin will sit and play as long as he can and then he has to run around. Jonathan will probably walk early just so he can keep up with his brother!


That's a little bit about my neck of the woods. I'm linking up! Post what's going on in YOUR life and link up with me!

Toddler and Baby Updates!

Lovin' on his Monkey

All of the previous updates are in italics and the new stuff is in bold.
Words he says:
- uh oh
- aww man!
- pe-ew (like something stinks)
- duh (dog)
- book
- booger
- mama
- dada
- good bye (when he thinks no one is listening)
- block (bah)
- milk (muh)
- HI!!!
- monkey (muh nuh)
- ball
- blue (boo)
- Yellow (yeyo)
- Juice (a high pitched: joo)
He signs:
- more
- eat/want
- milk
- music
- bath
- shoes
- socks
- water
- go (like go out)
- love
- bed (bedtime) We're still working on this one...
- all done
- apple
- brush teeth
- bread
- baby
- potty
He can identify (when asked):
- yellow
- head
- ears
- belly
- penis (he kept pointing so we told him what it was called)
- fingers/hand
- toes
- nose (sometimes)
- booty (Daddy taught him this one) 
- blue
- red
- he can blow a kiss, give a real kiss, and a hug
- he also waves and says "bye bye" and waves hello
- I didn't realize it, but screwing lids on and off is apparently an advanced skill...he's been doing this for months now.
- He can stack 11 blocks high. He can probably stack more but he can't reach and the carpet won't allow for stacking. 



- If you ask him what a bird says he'll tell you "tee tee tee" (tweet tweet tweet)

He also understands "no" and can follow instructions like, "Give your bottle to Daddy" if he asks for milk and Daddy is in the kitchen.
The other day I told him "I'm going to open the stove and it's going to be hot. Can you stand back?" and he walked over to the safe spot I taught him (behind and out of the way) and stood and waited for my okay.
-He loves to help out with the baby. He will give nice touches when the baby is crying, help me pat him to burp, and throw away dirty diapers for me.
-He's started sleeping in his own bed at night. Granted, he isn't always alone (Daddy sleeps down there when Franklin gets upset) but he does spend a good part of the night in it all by himself.
- He loves fruit and veggies and has been eating 30 Days RAW with Daddy (well, 80% of his diet has been raw...he eats cooked food with me on occasion)

Jonathan Update?
-He gained a pound in the past week and a half (which meant we didn't have to clip his tongue tie!) -He's awake and alert for longer each day and still sleeping well at night (Praise God for that one!)


And now some photos!

Eating some of Daddy's salad

Sleeping through dinner (he ate beforehand)

Good smiles