Oh Ketchup!

Well the boys are bonding. It started last night when we saw them go in to the kitchen together. We didn't think anything of it until Jeff and I started to hear them both laugh and get quiet and then laugh and laugh and laugh. I made the comment that I wonder what was making them laugh so much. Jeff went in to the kitchen and then I heard "Jenn you need to come in here". Payton and Braxton were both covered with ketchup. Payton had gotten it out of the refridgerator and then squirted it on the table. They were both finger painting my table and eating it. They had also decided to play with the matchbox cars in it. So I took Braxton and cleaned him up and Jeff cleaned Payton up. Jeff and I both looked at each other and said this is only the beginning. WE love having boys...

Catch UP!

Well I know it has been a while since we wrote anything but here is a catch up. Payton is now signing more and has learned go and shoes. He is picking up some words also. He loves to look at the moon and point it out and say moon a hundred times. We are very proud of him.

Braxton is not walking but he is getting into more trouble. He loves to throw things and he likes to touch the tv. Anything he can open or close and he loves to terrorize Lily (dog). He is a destroyer.

Payton and Braxton are playing more together and it is good to see. We still have to remind Payton that he can tackle him like he does his dad. Payton's birthday is a month and he will be 3. We can't believe it.

We had a cold but fun Easter. Jeff went to visit family in Wisconsin and the boys and I had some alone time together. We had activities everyday. We look forward to Spring so we can get outside.

There we are all caught up!

looking at picture

Have you ever looked at a picture and couldn't believe that was you in it. You look so terrible and look a lot older than you want too. Well that happen to me. I saw this picture of me that was taken very recent and I couldn't believe that tired looking girl was me. I am definetly over weight and I just look horrible. I came to realize that if I looked like that in the picture then I definetly look like that every day. What happen to the 'lets go' attitude. As a mother do we just get in the same routine day in and day out and don't take time to look at ourselves? I could tell you my schedule right now and it hasn't changed in a long time. I won't bore you with the details...But why not change that. I do miss Florida because Payton and I would go outside everyday and I think that helped. I forgot what it was like to have a winter and be stuck in the house. It is not fun but that is life. What do you do to break up the infamous schedule and add some spice into your life. I hate how I look and have decided that I can change that and that is something that I will do after the boys go to sleep. Oh yes I started tonight I was able to go 20 minutes on the eliptical machine. To bad before I got pregnant with Payton I would do it for an hour three times a week.
So you can work on yourself and change what you put in your mouth. Yes I have done this whole thing before but I really think that working out is an outlet. I have been so stressed on whether Payton could start school and get the help he needs that I really was so fixed on that I forgot about everything else. That is working out and then I start to think about other things. Yes I am a worrier. Always have been and always will be I don't know if you can change that. They boys are getting older and I am so happy with my wonderful boys. They are truly a blessing and I think of how I can become a better mother and a more understanding one. What is the right way to mother a child? I know there is not a right way but what way is best for Payton and Braxton? Am I good wife? Am I the wife that Jeff thought I would be? Am I to demanding? The list could go on of the questions I ask everyday. Then I wonder how I can be a better person and how I can treat my body better. Putting ice cream or candy bars is not the right way but am I so in the habit or the routine of doing this that I will never be able to change this? Life is so complicated sometimes and I know that everyone asks themselves questions and strive to be the best at whatever they can be but do you ever wonder if you will find the answer or will there only be questions?

Its Sunday!

Well it is Sunday and we are just relaxing and getting ready for a short week. I get good Friday off so that will be exciting to have three days with the boys. We have had a good weekend. Payton had a play date with Kolten last night. They both really get along well.

Braxton is having some issues with biting because he just bite his brother on the arm. I didn't see it happen until Payton came to me and was holding his arm. I then noticed that his shirt was wet. I lifted it up and he had a bite mark on his arm. He said"it hurt". He will definetly have a bruise.

Its official!!!

Payton will be starting school on April 21st. Yes my baby will be riding the bus to and from school. We met with the school today and we have to hurry to get everything in order but they feel the same way we feel that he needs to start right away and not wait until September. When we left we got to see all the little kids arrive at school and they were happy. It was refreshing to see because I wasn't to sure about sending my 3 year old to school. The school is for ages 3 to 5 and he will be going everyday for 2 1/2 hours. He will get speech therapy while at school. We feel it will be great for him to interact with other children his age. I know I will cry when we put him on the bus for the first time. The bus will come right to our drive way and will drop him off the same place. I am crying just thinking about it. It is the best for him and his development.

We found out that he has fluid on the middle ear and we don't know why. It is not an ear infection but it shouldnt' be there either. It was there when we had his hearing tested in November and it was there and they wanted to do a repeat test and it was there still. We are waiting to hear what the ENT doctor thinks. We don't know if it has anything to do with his speech delay yet. Now it is just waiting and see. That is all the news from us for now. Have a great Friday.

Happy Tuesday!

Well it is Tuesday and we are doing well. Nothing really going on. Braxton is now only taking one nap instead of two. The boys are trying to get use to the daylight saving times. It is wierd how losing an hour can bother you but it does. Braxton is walking more and more behind things but he just won't let go. I don't know why we think about it because Payton was 14 months old when he really started walking and then he went from walking to running. Daddy is going to be in trouble when this happens. We are enjoying the warmer weather that we are having. Suppose to be 60 degrees tomorrow. That means it will probably snow this weekend. We can't wait for spring. In Florida we would go outside everyday but now it stinks that we are stuck inside. Well hope everyone have a great Tuesday.

Here is a picture of Payton that they took at his playgroup. He was just getting over a cold.

WAY TO GO PAYTON!!!

We have to brag about Payton just a little. He has started to sign when he wants more and help with things. It has changed him a lot. We use to have a lot of frustrating moments and screaming when he couldnt' tell us what he wanted. But now that he has started to sign we have had NO screaming fits. It is amazing. He is the smartest little boy I know. We are now working on the sign for Thank you now.

He also went to his first Illinois game yesterday and yes we got to see the Chief.

WAY TO GO PAYTON!

Payton!

For those that don't know Payton has been diagnosed as speech delay. His speech level is that of a 15 month old. He has been seeing a speech therapist every week and will be starting half day of school in April so he can continue to get the help he needs. If you have never had a child that can not tell you what he wants let me explain that it is the worse feeling as a parent. A typical time usually starts with Payton trying to tell us or show us what he wants, needs or desires but we can not understand so then he gets very frustrated and throws a fit and then in turn we as parents get very frustrated also. I know that both Jeff and I feel lost sometimes and feel like a failure as a parent because we are unable to understand what our child needs. I know there are other parents out that feel that way and there are also the parents out there that have no idea what it feels like and judge us because of how we do things. When you have a child with a delay or a special need you have to think different and you have to discipline different. Please do not judge us if you don't know what we are going through. Just be supportive. Be there if we need to cry or just listen if we need to talk out our frustrations. Please do not try to tell us how to do things because believe me we have tried. We have asked a million questions and I know we will have another million to ask. Payton is a sweet child and loves to have people pay attention to him. We know you can't understand what he says but if he decides to talk please listen and give him a chance to be him.

It has been so long...and for this I am sorry.

Well a lot has happened. First things first. Braxton turned one. Yes my baby turned one. Can you believe. He turn 1 on February 1st. Just look at the pictures. In a year life has changed so much.

Only a couple days old in this picture.


Enjoying his cake on his first birthday!

I still cry when I think back to the time when they told us that you were so very critically ill. We came and saw you in the NICU and kissed you for the first time. We said a prayer and then went on to the chapel to pray more. We didn't know if we would have 10 more minutes or a lifetime with you. We are so glad that our prayers were answered and we are able to see your smiling face every day. We all love and realize what a miracle you are.