Thankful

We have had a CRAZY past few weeks in this household.  Our schedules have been thrown to the wind and everything has been up in the air.  I am a creature of habit and routine and when that is taken away from me - I panic.  Full on panic mode.  I have tried to stick to the schedule, take back control from my toddler, and create some peace back to our lives and I am reminded to take things one day at a time.

The Lord answers my prayers, but it might not be today.  It might be tomorrow.  I have to be patient and just deal with today.

After the past month I have realized I am thankful for so many things - here are a few:

-My child sleeping all night

-My child falling asleep and taking a nap...even if its only 45 minutes!  I cherish every second to lay down and rest myself!

- My child staying in his crib and not climbing out!

-Safe travels for my family.  My husband travels 30 minutes to and from work every day and every night I am so thankful he make it home safely.

-Health.  Hawkins got a minor runny nose this week, but even that made him cranky and he had to stay home from school.  When you get used to having peace and quiet all morning it makes for a loooooong day to entertain your toddler (by yourself) for 13 straight hours.

-Did I mention peace and quiet?  I love it.  I don't mind music, but I even hate to have the TV on.  I just want to listen to the silence b/c it is few and far between!  I was lucky enough to go to Albany on Tuesday to get my hair done and have the whole afternoon to myself.  It was glorious.  I walked the aisles of Target and Toys R Us and then got my hair done and loved every minute of being by myself.  I need that every now and then.

-Electricity!  Our power went out with a bad storm the other day from 5pm until 2am and it was awful. If it hadn't been so dang hot it might not have been so bad, but is was so hot.

-My sweet baby boy #2 who is currently kicking up a storm!

23 weeks

Baby Raybon needs to have a post of his own!  Our lives have been so crazy that I haven't really written too much about him or the pregnancy.

I am feeling really good at this stage and just get tired during the day, which is normal with a toddler!  The nausea and headaches are gone - hallelujah!  Hawkins goes to school almost every weekday morning, so I have been walking on the treadmill 4 or 5 days a week.  It is just too hot to walk outside! 

I don't have too many food cravings, but Wendy's frostys and cereal are on the top of the list.  I eat a mix of Product 19 and Honey Chex for breakfast and sometimes dinner too!

I remember my Mom telling me my easiest pregnancy would be my first b/c all the others I would be chasing after other children.  Oh, how right she was.  It is HARD to be pregnant with a 2 year old...especially when it is literally 95 degrees outside.  I don't mean to complain b/c I have it pretty good with my parents around to help and him going to school in the mornings, but he still wears me out!  We are also going through a little rough stage right now (which will hopefully pass soon), but he is Mr. Temper Tantrum, refuses to get in his carseat 95% of the time, wants to be outside 100% of the time (did I mention how hot it is?) and has recently started not sleeping through the night OR taking naps and climbing out of his crib - sounds fun, huh?  

Baby Raybon #2 is being a little angel though.  I get a great report every time I go to the doctor - strong heartbeat and good movement.  I am in the out of there fast b/c there is not much to talk about!  I am SO thankful for a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby.  I can't believe we will meet him in a little over 3 months!!  wow!

My bump is definitely bigger this pregnancy.  I think it looks 2 or 3 weeks ahead.  This is the first "belly" picture I have taken and it was at 22.5 weeks.
 

Comparison:  I was 25 weeks pregnant with Hawkins in this picture:

Discipline

The time has come to start some major discipline in our house.  

Hawkins turns 2 in a few weeks, and he is very strong willed.  He knows what he wants and he wants it now!  Of course he is spoiled - he is the first child and the first grandchild, so he has always gotten pretty much everything he wanted, but never really acted out until recently.  

Now it is a battle to get dressed, change his diaper, sit down to eat - just about anything.  He wants to be outside 24/7.  I am glad that he is a little boy that wants to do boy things, but we just can't be outside all the time!  He pitches a fit whenever it's time to come inside or if he can't go outside when he wants.  

He hates getting into his carseat or going on long car rides.  Recently he has major fits and I almost can not control him while trying to strap him in the carseat.  He is strong and it is HOT in south georgia.  I start sweating and fighting him and it is awful.

We started spanking early on, but it just doesn't work.  Hawkins laughs and doesn't care.  And he started hitting us back, which is not good.

So....we have started time-out.  And it's working pretty well so far.  Now he understands what it means and that he has to stay in the chair for time out until Mommy tells him he can get out (2 minutes).  If he does get out he gets a spanking with our new friend the wooden spoon.  (I haven't had to actually use the spoon yet, but I have threatened with it and he is scared of it.)  I actually took the spoon in my purse on an outing b/c he would not get in his carseat and it worked too!  

This parenting thing is a rough ride and I don't always know the right answer.  I pray God will give me patience to deal with this strong willed toddler and to also give Hawkins patience and a calm spirit.  

I just hope I can implement some good discipline before baby #2 arrives or I won't be able to handle them both!