My “spirited child”

I started my day yesterday struggling to get Grey dressed (this is pretty common). But yesterday, the issue was that he didn’t want a long-sleeved shirt on. He kept pulling the arms up and pulling the neck away from him (all while crying). Finally we found something he (and I) were both OK with. Craig got to go in a little later to work yesterday so we decided to go to Panera for bagels (or “agles” as Grey calls them) and coffee. Grey was the one who was running around in circles and through our legs like it was a tunnel while waiting in line. When we sat down, he sat for about 2 minutes and then started jumping on his seat in our booth. All while singing his own little song very loudly. We quickly finished and removed him from the situation by leaving the restaurant (so others could enjoy their morning coffee in peace).

I had a couple errands to run, so Craig went off to work and Grey and I headed to Kohls first. I cleverly put him in his stroller knowing that keeping him contained would make my trip in the store quicker and much easier. About 2 minutes into our time there, he was pitching a fit and managed to squirm himself out of the stroller. Ugggg. For a while he was content pushing the stroller, but then he just wanted to roam. Ok….that trip had to be cut short. When we got in the car, I still had my sanity and was even optimistic about still making my last stop: the scrapbook store (I don’t scrapbook, but I needed some paper for a project I’m working on). Again, I put him in the stroller when we got there. Again, he squirmed his way out right away. He started running all around the store, knocking things down on purpose, and grabbing pieces of paper (and when a 2 year old “grabs” paper, it’s pretty much ruined). I ended up carrying him around (while pushing the empty stroller, carrying the things I needed to buy, AND being pregnant). Being carried is NOT what he wanted though. He screamed and tried to get out of my arms. While checking out (buying about 3 extra sheets of paper than I had planned….thanks to Grey), the lady was rushing to get me the heck out of there and others just turned their heads. I’m not easily embarrassed, but man, it was kind of humiliating. I wanted to shout: I AM a good mom! He IS a great little boy! When we got outside the store, I set him down, and we talked about how naughty he had been in the store (while raising my voice a little louder than I’m proud of). I put him in his carseat (with resistance, of course), and was seriously mad the whole way home. I looked back at one point and saw his sweet little face looking silently out the window. For as “naughty” as he had been, I couldn’t stay mad! I will say though…. when we got home, I needed a nap much more than he did!!!

Yes, he needs consistent discipline, yes he needs boundaries and structure. We know all this and we are trying so hard to give him these things. But, he’s also a boy. He also has A LOT of energy. A friend of mine posted this article yesterday and I resonated with it so much! It makes me feel a little better and reassures me that I’m not alone. I’m happy to have a “spirited child”…..I’m just hoping this next one will be a tad more mellow?!

http://www.ivillage.com/raising-your-spirited-child/6-a-128312?p=1

Wedding Video

It’s not our anniversary, but it IS a significant day…..it’s the day that we finally put our wedding video into a form that is “share-able”.  So, if you have 13 extra minutes, this is a glimpse into our day just over 4 years ago (August 11, 2006).  I put the video in last week to see if Grey would be interested…..he LOVED it.  Unlike Sesame Street and Dora, the stars of this show are his mommy and daddy!  :)

Craig’s 30th….

Though it’s been almost 3 months, I’m so excited to finally write about Craig’s 30th birthday (it was on July 2)….it was definitely the highlight of our summer!

Craig had said for a long time that he wanted to spend the week of his birthday in Nashville (his hometown).  So, he took that whole week off and we headed down to Craig’s parent’s house on July 1.  That night at midnight, I gave him his first of 30 “clues/notes” as to what we would be doing on his birthday.  He got the second when we woke up in the morning (including instructions to get dressed and meet me in the car at 9:00).  At 9:00 he met me in the car…what he didn’t know was that the back of the car was filled with all the supplies we would need for the day.  After tricking him into thinking we were going to the airport (I’m sure he was slightly disappointed when we didn’t get off at that exit) , we went to “Fido” (our favorite Nashville coffee shop) for coffee and a breakfast bagel.  We had to eat on the road though…..we had places to be and people to see!!!

We then took off and started driving east down I-24.  2 hours and several clues later, we arrived in downtown Chattanooga.  Though we weren’t as hungry as I had hoped, the next clue said we were going to one of our favorite places for lunch:  “Lupi’s”…..we couldn’t ignore the clue (or the surprise waiting inside)….so I convinced him that I at least wanted to go in to use the restroom.    We walked in and our best friends from college, Nick and Bethany, were waiting inside for us!  They drove up from Jacksonville, FL to help make Craig’s day perfect!  Craig was as surprised and happy as I had hoped!  Nick and Craig were roommates all 4 years at Lee.  When Craig started to date me, and Nick started dating Bethany shortly after, the four of us became joined at the hip.  Bethany and I ended up living together our last two years at Lee….she is now one of my dearest friends:  we stood beside each other at our weddings, we’ve traveled together, and now….we are pregnant together!  She is due 2 1/2 weeks before me!    Anyway, we stayed and split the best calzones you’ll ever have in your life with our friends.

After lunch, we headed to Coolidge Park (still downtown Chattanooga) to play Craig’s new favorite game: KanJam.  He was excited to introduce it to Nick and B!  They loved the game as much as we hoped, and even proved to be tough competition for Craig and I!

With the clues still coming, we headed to 75 North from there and made the short 20 min. drive toward Cleveland, TN.  It was on this drive that we told Craig the rest of the plan for his birthday:  we were going camping in his favorite spot by the Ocoee River.  I had a cooler in the back of the car with most of the supplies to cook dinner at the campsite, but we had to stop at Walmart for a few last minutes things on the way up.  We made a quick stop in Cleveland at our old stompin’ grounds for old times sake…..and since the years spent at Lee were 4 1/2 of Craig’s best years!

Where our friendships began

On the road to the Ocoee, we made sure to stop at the “Shake Shack” for a perfect afternoon treat…

We got to “Go Forth Creek” (right next to the Ocoee River) and set up camp.  This place has a lot of significance to Craig and I especially.  It was on a hike up “Go Forth Creek” 4 1/2 years ago that Craig asked me to marry him.  So spending his 30th there was very cool!

a view of our campsite

the boys tired after putting up the tent....so much for the birthday boy not doing any work!

It was then time for dinner!!!  I couldn’t imagine Craig not having his favorite meal on his birthday so we grilled flank steaks (that we had marinated and brought in our cooler), potatoes, and green beans.  YUM!

Craig's birthday candle....in his steak!

I love that I've gotten to be a part of these past 30 years!!!

the two pregnant girls chowing down!

After dinner I gave Craig one of his last of 30 notes.  This one lead to us showing a video that some of the people closest to him contributed to.  This isn’t the complete video….we’re missing a few people in this version, but this will give you a good idea of what he watched that night to end his 30th Birthday….click HERE to watch.

Craig, you are loved by SO many.  You have made such an impact on the lives of countless people and you’re only 30!!  Ahhh!  I can’t wait to see how our God continues to use you!  I’m one lucky woman to journey through this life alongside you!

the crib has been replaced….

with a toddler bed!  :)  We picked up the bed from my amazing Aunt Suzie and family in August and had it set up in Grey’s room along with the crib.  He didn’t want anything to do with the bed.  Ahhhh!  Somehow I thought he would be so excited to try out the “big boy bed”.  Nope….he was content in his cozy, familiar crib.  Whenever we would give him the choice to sleep in the bed or the crib, he chose the crib.  Always.  Soooo, we knew that the transition wouldn’t be successful (or even possible) until we took the crib out of the room.

We chose this past Friday (Sept. 17) as “big boy bed” day.  Don’t worry, I am fully aware that this is way cheesy and very “mom-ish”.  But, I’ve embraced the fact that I am, in fact, a mom….and I’ll do what it takes to motivate my 2 yr. old (however dorky it may be).  :)

Over pancakes that morning, we began talking to Grey about how lucky he was that he got to sleep in his big boy bed that night.

After playing at the park and an afternoon nap, Grey helped Craig take down his crib.  We thought it would be beneficial for Grey to help with the process.  He got his own tools and followed his Daddy’s lead.  After about 5 minutes, he got bored with the “manly work”.  But hey, at least he felt like he helped, right?!  :)

checking out the new room set up

After his bath, we told him that we had a special gift for him to celebrate his new “big boy bed”.  We gave it to him once he sat in his bed.  It was a card and a new stuffed owl….for those that don’t know, he’s oddly obsessed with owls.  It’s weird!  All that to say, he was happy with the gift.

Grey and his new owl

We told him that his new owl got to sleep in his new bed with him that night.  He started to get fussy when we told him it was time to read books.  He didn’t want to go to bed.  I was so afraid at this point.  I thought he was going to beg for his crib.  Finally we found a book that he was into (“Cars and Trucks and Things That Go” by Richard Scarry….but instead of looking for “Goldbug” on each page, he looks for owls…)  After the book, we talked to Grey about the bed.  We told him how proud of him we were and that he was so lucky to get to sleep in his new bed.  He got really excited when we told him that his cousins slept in that same bed when they were his age.  We told him that he needed to stay in his bed when we left and when he woke up in the morning, he needed to stay in bed until we came in to get him (but that he could call to us).  It was so weird because the whole time we were talking to him, he was really listening.  It was the first time we were talking to him that Craig and I really felt like he was “getting it”.  After prayers, we tucked him into bed.  We didn’t hear a peep out of him until 11 hrs. later when he woke up just before 8.  YAY!  Success!!!

Oh, and we snuck in his room before we went to bed and covered his floor with balloons.  We wanted him to wake up to a fun surprise (and have that be his reward for staying in his bed all night).  He was confused and excited to wake up to them!  So fun!

confused/excited/looking VERY sleepy

So now, 5 days into the transition, he’s doing great!  The second night was tough, but since then he’s gone to bed SO easy (easier than the crib).  My biggest worry was that he would stop napping….so far, so good on that too.  He’s napped in his bed every day so far.  He usually reads or plays for awhile and then climbs into bed and falls asleep.  By the way:  I’ve never been so thankful for my video monitor!

Oh, and one more thing:  we were careful to put pillows on the wood floor next to his bed in case he fell off the first few nights (even though there’s a rail too).  Well, last night we apparently forgot because I woke up to a loud bang.  Yup, he fell off the bed.  He was so sweet though….he said “owie Mommy” and climbed right back into bed.  I went in to check on him, gave him a hug and he went right back to sleep.  Funny!