Enjoy the ride

I am sitting here at 7:19 listening to the sound of the dishwasher hum. It is the most peaceful sound. My children, yes all three, were in bed tonight at 6:35. I shall explain. A few weeks back, Connor became extremely skilled at getting out of his crib. Now, "ninja" and Connor don't usually go hand in hand. However, if you could witness the maneuver out of the crib you might think otherwise. There was no sound, no awkward shuffles, etc. Just a click of the door handle as he opened the door after you put him in his crib. We decided - only as a matter of safety - to go ahead and move him to a bed. Can you say nightmare? Oh, my grannies, this child is going to make me gray in a matter of months. The terrible twos are rearing their head, and now add this. I really wish I could have a before and after picture of the room. When he was in the crib, it also functioned as the playroom. It was set up to be functional and cute. Now, there is a full-size mattress and box spring on the floor and a dresser. Yep, that's all. I have HAD to remove everything else. I walked in the other day to check on him because I couldn't see him on the video camera, and he had flipped up the blinds (so up they went), pulled back the rug halfway across the room (fixed that), and he had a golden play coin that I didn't know was in there in his mouth (retrieved that). I went back in a few minutes to check the monitor and noticed that the camera angle was bouncing across the dresser. I found him sitting in the floor dragging the cord out from behind the dresser. Mercy...After all this I needed a drink, but at one thirty in the afternoon, somehow that seemed wrong. He hasn't napped in three days, and the only way he will stay in his room is by locking him in. I unlock the door when I know he is asleep and have the gate to block the door, but if we start with just the gate he rips it down.

Today, I just embraced the no nap time and let them play outside while Tucker napped. It was pretty fun until about 4:30 when Connor sort of unraveled :) He asked me to hold him at one point which made me smile because I KNEW at that point he was tired. Poor Jake still usually takes a small nap, so he was worn out, too. I have cleaned up the kitchen, done some laundry, edited some pics, and am sitting in front of my computer at 7:30. Maybe this isn't such a bad plan...

Now, excuse me while I blow up the post with pictures from the last month. First off, the boys had their Easter egg hunt at school.

Connor comes out of the gate like a boss.

Mommy's Jake's loot



C. James with an action shot

Then, the Easter bunny delivered to our house.

New beach shovel

Beach truck

Peter Pan (notice the nice shiner obtained by falling off his vanity to turn on the nightlight - which we had asked him not to do 100 times already)

And Finding Nemo

 

Trying out their bubble guns

 



The look of delight as you shoot your brother in the head



There it is again - should I be concerned?

And with the first of May, this happened:


The sweetest, happiest little man turned 4 months old! Where does the time go???? I could eat him up! And I am pleased to say he has been sleeping all night in his crib for the past two weeks. Woot, woot!
This one we will call "Show Me ____"

Happy, Sad, Mean, Surprised

These few are pictures from today. We filled up our $10 WalMart pool, had some watermelon (Connor had 3 pieces), and played some hide and seek.

That smile...

THIS is Connor summed up in one look ;)



I wish the camera had better captured the drips of watermelon all over him

Earlier in April, we had some family pictures made at Tybee. Here are a few:

This week has left me frazzled, drained, tired, and exasperated. As I sit here and look at these pictures with a smile on my face, I realize it has left me thankful. I love these little people, trying times and all. As I snuggled with each of the boys before bedtime tonight, I reminded myself how it seemed like yesterday when they were Tucker's size. I am sure there will be a time not too far from now when the last thing they will want to do is snuggle with their Mama. Even though I can't always see the light at the end of the tunnel when there is a barreling train in the way, once I have been run over by said train, I can pick myself up and enjoy the ride.