Our trip to the mountians

This weekend we were lucky to get away with our friends the Stewarts. We rented a cabin down in Tennessee and stayed for a couple nights. It was a lot of fun, and I hope that we can do it again as all you boys get older. Here are some pics from our trip...

The crew

This is a hike we went on to Laurel Falls. You were amazing and wanted to 

walk most of it...and it was a long hike for someone your size - 2.6 miles!

This picture doesn't do the falls justice at all. It was beautiful and 

much bigger than the trickle that's showing in this picture.

All you boys

The weather could not have been more perfect- 

being outside was so much fun, we're ready for spring!

The camera adds 10 pounds

When you have a kid... you'll understand. And you will also be justified  in doing things like this...

I prayed a lot today

Yesterday you discovered the word "no" and today you perfected it. Not only that, but you have been delivering it in a way that makes me cringe becasue you scream it, in a very rude way.

Let's have some dinner, Noah. "NO!"

Ok, let's pick up our toys. "NAH!"

Do you think you could have a good attitude at church tonight so that Mommy and Daddy can sit through the service for once in 2 months? "NO NO NO!"

So, I guess we're there. At the place where most people would say the "terrible two's" (although you are quite a few months from actually being two). I hate that phrase and I will never say that about you, because I don't think that there is anything terrible about you. But I will say that we're at a challenging stage where your dad and I have just started scratching our heads thinking "ok, what now?".

You have been an incredible baby, and I am so grateful that God gave me you to ease me into Mommyhood. And now we're entering a different stage where there are some new challenges, and that's ok. I'm glad that you're learning boundaries, and I'm glad that we're going through some of this now before your new brother or sister shows up. I'm also glad that you have a strong personality because I know that will protect you one day.

But today was rough. I prayed a lot. It's hard being screamed at all day over silly things and listening to you just walk around and practice saying "NO!" in different inflections and then hear you use them later when you're being defiant.

We'll make it through, and I hold tight to believing that you're an amazing little guy who is going to do big things and love Jesus. Your dad and I love you so much, and I know that we have many battles and challenges ahead of us, but we never want to set you up for failure by giving into these tantrums. So just know that on the days that your bottom is a little sore, or your hand is kind of red... it's because we love you and we want to train you to be a good boy who respects people and is kind in his responses.

Oh, and also know, your dad and I will ALWAYS win.

I love...

 

- that you know how to pray (fold your hands) and will remind us when we forget at a meal.

- that when you're laid down for a nap, but not tired, you will run laps in your crib and giggle.

- that you're hopelessly addicted to graham crackers and that you hide them whenever you get them so you can pull them out when you need a fix. I still haven't discovered your hiding spot... but I'm a little nervous to.

- that you love being around other kids and think it's so awesome to be a part of whatever they're doing.

- that you can have food ALL over your face, in your hair, and on your clothes, but the second your hands get dirty you flip out a little.

- that there is a splash zone in the bathroom when you're in the bathtub because splashing is your most favorite thing ever.

- that whenever we're out you smile and wave at anyone who looks at you.

Learning to use a spoon...

is an art. At least the way you do it. You managed you paint your whole face with it, plus the front of your jammies in about 5 min. Just enough time for me to put your yogurt in front of you and walk away to check my email. I came back to you looking like this:

*sigh* I just love you. You're just the cutest messiest little guy I know.

Spaghetti night!

You are so into being a big boy... which means the glory days of your dad and I feeding you to avoid huge messes are over. But you know what? I'm totally ok with that, becasue I get pictures like this:

I don't want to forget...

- You know how to say please and thank you and do it without being asked. I love that you're polite.

- You are almost always kind to people in stores or restaurants when they smile at you or talk to you. You will even give a courtesy laugh sometimes.

- You love books and when you want someone to read to you: you will grab a book, turn your back to them, start backing up towards them and then do a booty drop and hand them the book.

- Whenever you are looking at books by yourself you ALWAYS have them upside down. When we try to correct it you just turn it back to the way you had it.

- You love Vegitales and every time you hear the theme song to it you'll stop what you're going and go dance in front of the TV.

- You pop up like a prairie dog and smile in your crib whenever someone walks into your room after a nap or nights sleep.

- "Snuggling" to you means either sitting and allowing us to hold you for a few seconds, or smiling and putting your head on something.

- You're all about sharing right now (at least it seems) and you will go and find random things that seem important to you and bring them to people (trashcans, laundry baskets, full water cups left on the floor, underwear, books...)

- You know when something is out of  place and you will call me out on it to fix it or just do it yourself. Like closing the basement door so you don't fall down the stairs, or shutting the baby gate to the stairs.