Things I Should Put in the Baby Book

As a mom of a 2 year old, there just never seems to be enough time to drag out the baby book and write down the funny, cute, amazing, smart things Patton does every day.  Believe it or not, I'm actually busy doing more important things, like, I don't know, chasing a 2 year old around all day when I'm not at work ;)  Anyway, since I don't have time to actually write it down in the baby book, it might be easier if I start typing it here...I type much faster than I can write, plus I would completely smear everything due to being left-handed.  So here we go, here are some things that need to be remembered (so that I can totally embarass Patton in 14 years when he brings a girl over to the house):

Olympics 2012 - First Impressions: Patton LOVED the Olympics!  We watched the qualifying round for individual women's gymnastics first.  Patton was mesmerized by the girls doing the vault.  He noticed the pattern: they would run, flip, and then hug their friends.  He had to do the EXACT same thing!  He said, "I fwip too, Mama!"  He would run around the living room, get on his hands and knees and flip, and then he would come hug me.  Then he would repeat.  He did enough "Patton-version" vaults to make me dizzy!  Later that night, he saw the U.S. men's swimming team preparing for a relay race.  They all took their shirts off by grabbing the collar and pulling it over their heads.  In our house, we pull by the bottom hem, so this was a new technique for him.  He had to be just like them.  "I in the Owympics too, Mama!" he said, as he did his best to pull his shirt collar over his head.  His arms got stuck in the shirt behind his back, but we helped him so he could be in the "Owympics" too.  That night, Josh was getting him dressed for bed.  He protested putting a t-shirt on.  "I in the Owympics.  I swim."  We finally convinced him that he could swim in the Olympics tomorrow, but he needed to be a Patton in his bed tonight.

Olympics 2012 - Gabby:  Patton loved cheering for the U.S. women's gymnastics team.  He would cheer with me, "Go U.S.A.!" and "Go Gabby!"  He really liked Gabby (who won the women's individual all-around gold medal).  Last night (more than 2 weeks after the Olympics), he saw a commercial about Olympic highlights, and as soon as she was on the screen, he said, "Go Gabby!"  It's so cute!

Olympics 2012 - Swimming and Diving:  Patton loved watching the swimming and diving competitions.  He wanted to be just like the Olympians.  He would "dive" off the couch, and even told me during a torrential thunderstorm that he wanted to be dive at our neighbor's pool, so he could be in the "Owympics."  Later in the week, we did go swimming at the neighbor's pool, and he would jump ("dive") into the pool and say, "I in the Owympics!!" 

Olympics 2012 - Lasting Impression: On Sunday, August 19th, Patton swam!  He had floaties on, so I guess it doesn't "technically" count, but for a 2-year-old to be able to swim across a pool without any help from adults is just awesome to me!  He has always been one to need to hold on to me when we swim or one who doesn't really kick.  That day he did it by himself, and the Olympics were his motivation.  He would jump ("dive") in and then swim back to the steps to get out and do it again.  "I swimming like the Owympics!  I in the Owympics!" he would shout.  It was precious, and such a milestone.  I guess we can hang another medal around Michael Phelps neck for that one :)

Baby Lewis - Finding Out:  Patton is going to be a big brother!  On July 10th, 2012, we found out we are expecting another baby (due March 2013).  Josh and I didn't really know how to tell Patton, but we couldn't keep it from him.  We told him there is a baby in mommy's tummy.  He said it was a boy.  For the rest of the day, he told me it was Baby Luke (his newborn cousin), Baby Mickey (as in Mickey Mouse), and baby boy.  We came up with "Baby Lewis" as a name for now. 

Baby Lewis - Ultrasound: We took Patton with us to our first ultrasound on August 1st.  We couldn't see much, since I was only about 7 weeks pregnant, but that didn't bother Patton.  The ultrasound tech was so sweet, and she made sure to explain what she was doing to Patton.  "I'm going to put this lotion on mommy's tummy so I can tickle her belly and see your baby brother or baby sister."  He loved it!  When we were done, the tech handed me the pictures, and I handed them to Patton.  He took them and showed them to the tech.  He said, "That picture of my baby brudder."  He had to hold the pictures all the way to the car, and he showed them to the nice lady in the elevator as we left.  He had to show them to Sheila in the church office.  "That my baby brudder," he'd say.  Gosh, I love that boy!

Baby Lewis - Exhaustion:  The first trimester of a pregnancy is always the worst of the 3.  You feel yucky, ugly, hormonal, tired, and so much more but you don't look pregnant...so people just think you are one crazy, lazy, psycho lady...until they find out you are indeed pregnant.  Anyway, I have felt yucky and tired, and trying to explain that to a 2 year old is, well, difficult.  I don't want him to blame Baby Lewis for making me feel bad, so I just tell him, "Mommy doesn't feel good."  His reply is always, "I not feel good eider."  And then he runs off to play.  Man, I wish I could feel that good when I "not feel good eider."

Music - The Harmonica: Patton was given a harmonica when we visited my grandparents in mid-July 2012.  He loves that harmonica.  He can't play a song, but he can keep a beat.  He loves to play it in the car as we drive to school, but he's a little shy when asked to play it for anyone besides Josh and me. 

Music - The Church Piano:  Last Thursday, August 23rd, Patton got to play on the church piano as I finished some work around the church (which I didn't think of until after I had signed him out at daycare).  He played for a bit before we left, and our music director came out of his office as we were leaving.  He asked if Patton had been playing the piano.  I thought it had bothered him, so I tried to apologize.  But he was actually really impressed.  He said, "He was playing single notes.  He was playing a melody.  Wait, how old is he?"  I told him that Patton is 2 and a half and that he loves music, he's always playing something.  He said, "That's really advanced for his age.  Patton, maybe you should take piano lessons with me."  I don't know if Patton is ready for that, but if he is a music genius some day, we can say our music director discovered him when he was only 2 :)


Well, let's wrap it up for today.  Tropical Storm Isaac is expected to impact us in the next 2 days, so I'm sure I'll have some memorable events to add later.

Blessings and Hopes

I used to keep a journal in which I wrote down my "thanks" for today and my "hopes" for tomorrow. It was a way of constantly reminding myself that no matter how bad a day felt, there was always something (actually, many things) to thank God for. Since I have been in a blogging rut and feel a need to focus more on God and the ways He has truly blessed my family, I am going to start using this blog as a "Blessings and Hopes" journal. I hope it will be something I can stick to, as well as something that might inspire others to remember the way God has abundantly blessed them as well. There is no possible way I can write down all of the blessings God has sent my way, but I will mention a few for each day. If you aren't mentioned or something seems to be missing, it might be because I have already thanked God for it today (or because my mind can only remember so much, even though my heart can hold so much more).

Blessings:
-Relief from back pain
-Rest
-Time with Josh
-Hugs and kisses from Patton
-Lunch with one of my church kids
-Wendy's Frosty (one of my comfort foods and reminder of my childhood...shared with Josh)
-Family

Hopes for Tomorrow:
-More pain relief
-Time with Josh working on home projects
-More rest to help my back
-That Patton will enjoy his visit with the Lewis family
-Safe travels as Patton comes home after visiting family
-Family dinner time
-Snuggling with my little cuddle bug, and my big cuddle bug too!

Dear God, You have truly blessed us more than we could ever deserve. I thank You for the amazing family You have given me. I know that it was by Your Hand that Josh and I met, and that it was by Your Guidance that our relationship blossomed, and it was by Your Grace that we were given such a remarkable gift known as Patton. I thank You for the ways You have blessed us this week: for a successful procedure on my back, for pain relief, for family time, for rest, for time with friends, for time with our church family, for the safe travels, for our jobs, for our income and the material possessions and food that it affords, for the love You shower upon us every second of everyday, for our supportive and loving extended family, and for the countless blessings we are unaware of. You have given us so much, and we are forever grateful for Your Care and Mercy. Most importantly, God, we thank You for Your Son, who is our Salvation, our Way, our Truth, and our Life. By His wounds we are healed and made whole in You. Amen.

The Sunroom

I think everyone in our home would agree that our favorite room is the sunroom. Patton loves to play in there, Charlie practically lives in there, Josh and I love to sit in there. I particularly like the sunroom when it's actually not sunny at all. This week, I've enjoyed 3 lunches curled up on that old green sofa in the sunroom watching the rain drops slide down the window panes and the wind blow the leaves around. I love watching it rain, especially when I can curl up with a peanut butter and banana sandwich, a good book ("The Help"...amazing!), and Charlie all safe and cozy in the sunroom.

The sunroom has become a playroom lately. It's filled with toys, and at times they seem to just drown the room in bright colors and pieces that hurt your foot when you step on them. But, it isn't just a play room...it's become our family room. It's where we play blocks and assemble puzzles together as a family. It's where Patton, Charlie, and I all climb onto the couch and wave at Josh when he comes home, or when he leaves for work, or when he is mowing the grass, etc. It's where we put our Christmas tree. It's where Josh and I spent so many evenings that first Christmas season, staring at the tree and wondering about the days to come after Patton would be born a couple months later. That's one of my favorite things to do in there too...stare at a Christmas tree while wearing flannel pajamas and wrapped in a quilt my Nana made. Maybe add a cup of hot chocolate for good measure.

It's a wonderful place to be, it's the homiest place in the house, even when it isn't necessarily sunny.

Patton, our Entertainer

Well, 2 months ago I posted...I'm really bad at blogging regularly, but I have a lot of wonderful distractions in my life so I can't complain.

Life has been great! I love our little family of 3...I guess 4, since our dog Charlie plays a big part too. We went to the beach last month with my dad and family, and it was Patton's first beach trip. He loved it, and I really don't think I have ever enjoyed the beach more than I did on that trip. Patton was the main attraction that whole week, but then again, he's the main attraction everyday here.

I hate to be one of those mothers that can't stop bragging about her kid, but I really can't stop myself sometimes from just going on and on about the new words he has learned this week or how cute he was when he did "..." the other day. He really is quite something, if I do say so myself. He loves to read books, and he loves to learn new things. We talk about animals quite a bit, so we are constantly learning animal sounds and names. It seems like he learns a new word or sound everyday. He loves to dance. If he hears a slight beat, even background music during a movie, he stops whatever he is doing to dance. He spins, he shimmies, he bobs his head, and he bounces. He is a dancing fool for sure! He also loves to be outside. He helps me water flowers and he tries to help daddy rake the yard. He also loves his dog Charlie. She stayed with my mom while we were at the beach and then stayed an extra week with them until we could work out a return trip time. Patton missed her. He kept putting his pacifier and his toys in her empty kennel. When she finally did come home, he tried to give her hugs and he even tried reading to her. It was precious! Tonight, he tried giving her kisses as she watched him in the bathtub. He then proceeded to scare her as he splashed violently and cackled at how funny he thinks he is.

Josh and I feel so blessed to have him in our lives. Each day we seem to come to the realization that we are so lucky. God is so good!

Storms

I guess you can say that I am a total "chicken" when it comes to bad weather. I've been that way as long as I can remember, but then again, I was always a scaredy-cat of a child. Growing up, we always had at least one bad tornado scare each semester of school. I remember huddling in the halls, hearing the whispers of my scared friends, and listening to the teachers talk on walkie-talkies as the principal gave them the latest weather update. We would hear the name of a community, and all of us would start our own little panicked conversations: "I have a friend that lives in Kimberly" or "Our house is in Brookside." Most of these tornado drills (which, I guess weren't really "drills") seemed to also include tears, frantic drives home in the rain, and lifted prayers as we were all kneeling in the hallway outside our classrooms. It's amazing how certain events seem to stick with you as you grow up. I remember one time when I was in fourth grade, kneeling in the hallway by a window-surrounded doorway (which was supposed to be "safer" than our classrooms, uh no). I huddled there by my best friends, and we quietly shared our fears as we tried our best to hear what was being said by the teachers as they passed along information. I remember tears, I remember being scared, and I remember that they weren't letting children leave the school even though it was right at 3pm. They changed their minds, and let the parents come inside to check their children out of school. My mom was one of those parents. I remember hearing my name and my sister's name over the walkie-talkies. I remember walking down the hall with a teacher while all the other students stayed huddled into balls against the walls, and I remember seeing my mom at the front office. And that's it. I don't remember anything after that...probably because from that moment on, I was safe. I was with my mom and my sister, and I was safe and secure. I remember another time or two in high school. I remember Mrs. Dorothy Taylor (the scariest, yet most amazing teacher in the whole school) sitting in a chair by the double doors that led out to the parking lot. The wind outside was actually pulling the doors open, and she would close them and use her humor or a threat to "take someone out to the parking lot" to calm our nerves. Another time, I remember opening double doors as well, but it was on the other side of the school. Ashley and I were trying our best to conceal our cell phones as we frantically tried to call our mom since we had overheard someone mention our neighborhood on the walkie talkies. I remember the ride home that time. We had to take detours around fallen trees and downed power lines. I actually remember the sights on that trip home...I guess I didn't feel safe until we actually got home. I guess this post just goes to show that I am as long-winded as they come. I started this post to make a simple point, but I think I have beat it into the ground. I'm a chicken when it comes to storms, but I believe I have a right to be so. Growing up, we dealt with floods, severe weather, tons of tornado "drills" at school, and even damage to our home in one way or another. Even now, being 26 years old, married, and a mother...I am scared of storms. The mere mention of tornado warnings just fills me with anxiety. I close the sunroom doors so I can't see the lightning and the trees blowing. I turn the TV to the local weather station and make sure to check on Josh (since he is usually on a 24 hour shift when the bad weather hits...what luck!). Storms just make me uneasy, but eventually they pass, and I get to curl out of my huddled up ball and be thankful that this isn't a night that will forever be engrained in my mind because I am safe at home.

Our Normal

I love how the warmer weather and Patton's growth have changed our daily routine. Instead of coming home and struggling to take Charlie outside with Patton bundled up on my hip before hurrying back inside to play in the warm house; now, we all walk outside and play out there as long as we can. Patton wanders around the yard, pulling bark off the pine tree, trying to pull his big wagon around, chasing Charlie, and pulling my pansy blossoms into pieces. He is just so happy to be outside, and I love that we can play in the yard. That's exactly what Josh and I imagined when we bought this house. We saw ourselves out in the yard playing with our future children, and now we can't wait to all get home (especially now that it doesn't get dark so early) and go swing or run around the yard. I love our family time, and it gets better and better every day!

Spent & Lent

The weather was wonderful for a couple weeks, and then our household was invaded with sickness, which was then followed by rainy, cold days. Oh well, it is March, and that "in like a lion" thing is supposed to explain it all away.

Josh and I went to the Mardi Gras Party in Gardendale with our pals (Fab 4 plus guys), and it was great to reminisce about that same party 3 years ago when we first met. And of course, it was great to catch up with our Gardendale gang of friends. While we were there, Patton spent the night with my mom (his first night spent away from me), and we all did great. No tears shed on my part, although I did keep my cell phone at hand all night. He had a double ear infection, so most of his night was spent awake, and he apparently swept my mom's floors at 1am, but she promised that it was all enjoyable for her.

Saturday, as we headed back home, Josh was plagued with the stomach bug, so I drove us home through the torrential down pours, and we finally made it home around 6pm. I sent Josh straight to bed, and he slept until after Patton and I left for church the next morning. Oh that reminds me, I woke up Saturday morning with no voice. Must have been allergic to something, but my voice was still not better for my children's sermon on Sunday morning. It was sorta fitting anyway since my children's sermon was about how some things are hard to understand (like my voice that morning) and some things about God and Jesus are hard to understand, like Jesus' transfiguration, which we were studying that morning. So I guess it worked out.

Now we are all healing. Josh is back at work and feeling much better. Patton is going to school and spending his nights in bed instead of sweeping, and my voice is creeping back into my throat a little bit each day.

Now it is Fat Tuesday, and my one action of celebration for this day was eating a Wendy's frosty. I would try to convince myself that I ate it in hopes that it would help heal my lack of voice, but in all honesty, that's a lie. The truth of the matter is this is the last time I plan to enjoy a Frosty or anything else that includes chocolate until Easter. No Sunday breaks, no "accidental" lapses in judgment. No chocolate for Lent. No, it's not a publicity stunt. This is my way of celebrating Lent (wait, is "celebrate" the right word?). This is how I will mark the period of time known as Lent. Instead of eating chocolate or focusing on how much I love chocolate or how great it makes me feel...I will spend this season of Lent focusing on how I should crave God, how much I love God, how much He loves me, and how amazing it feels to know that His grace is sufficient for all of life's twists and turns. All those moments that I usually turn to chocolate, well, I need to learn to turn to God. His comfort is more amazing than a Reese's cup or scoop of Bluebell's Milk Chocolate ice cream. This season of Lent, I am going to crave God!