Friday Randoms

How is it possible that today is the last day of August?  Summer is officially over.  While I love fall, it makes me sad to see summer go.  That means our days of playing outside are numbered.  Winter is hard in this household, because these boys, especially the big one, THRIVE on being outdoors.  He has so much energy, and is a much happier guy if he can burn some of it off outside (not to mention Momma is happier, LOL)!  So, we WILL be spending as much time as possible playing outside these next few months until we just can't take the cold!

Last night we had a cookout with some friends.  SUCH fun times!  When we got into the car to leave, Joshua said, "That was so fun!"  I concur!

 Two-year-olds are a species all their own.  Joshua can be the absolute sweetest, most lovable little boy most of the time.  But then, there are days when this unrecognizable, inconsolable, angry-at-the-world, don't-come-near-me-I-will-rip-you-to-shreds beast takes over my darling little man's body.  No matter what I do, I can't get him to snap out of it.  It's like he's not the same child.  Once it's out of his system, he's back to normal, like nothing ever happened.  But those days when the beast emerges?  Don't come knocking.  You don't want to see that!

I am learning that potty training is a process...it does not happen overnight, at least not for us.  We had a few rough days this week, after I thought we had this thing licked.  And now he is back to doing great!  Phew.

 These two little boys playing together just melts my heart.  When we first brought Luke home, I was sort of worried about JJ's reaction.  He wasn't jealous or angry, more like apathetic, which worried me.  He just didn't really seem to notice that Luke was around.  He would give him kisses if we prompted, but otherwise he didn't really want anything to do with him.  This was good in a way, because I didn't have to worry constantly about him trying to smother the baby or pick him up or anything like that.  But I so badly wanted him to at least LIKE his brother.  In the last couple months, it's like a switch has flipped!  He ADORES Luke now.  This morning he asked me to please bring Lukey into his room so they could play tractors and trains together.  Sweetest thing ever.  ♥

 Luke sat up from a laying-down position for the first time today!  Now he keeps doing it...I am pretty sure when I go to get him from his nap, I'll find him sitting up in the crib!  Such a big boy!

Luke finally got his first tooth on the right side, so now he has FOUR...3 on the left, 1 on the right!  And two more top ones are trying to break through.

I am listening to Joshua upstairs, acting out scenes from Toy Story with his Buzz Lightyear and Woody action figures and it just cracks me up.  He knows the scenes WORD-FOR-WORD.  Such a smarty-pants.  Did you notice his band-aid?  No boo-boos...this is a cheap potty-training prize, haha!  There have been times when he has had up to 3 on each arm, LOL.  They have Toy Story characters on them and he loves them!

 This past week was the 2-year anniversary of our move to Fairview!  It has been two FAST years, and yet, it seems like this has been our home forever.  We are so very blessed.  ♥

 Mike took this pic of the boys last week, and even though Luke's eyes are closed, I just love it!

 Well, I told you this post was going to be random!  That's a little bit how I'm feeling today...scattered, haha.  Thank goodness it's the weekend!  Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Love and blessings,

M, K, JJ & LB

Wordless Wednesday: Loungin'

9 Month Stats

 Last week, I took Luke to his 9-month well baby check up.

 Our little chunker weighed in at 23 lbs. and is 30.5 inches tall!

 Yep, that's SSSOOO BIG!  :-)

 Sweet boy.  Hope you had a wonderful Monday!

An Update

 Yesterday, Mike had his follow-up visit with the retinal specialist.  He had noticed that his eyes seemed to be improving, but didn't want to get his hopes up too much.  When the doctor checked his eyes yesterday, he found that the scarring on his macula remains, but Mike now has 20/20 vision in his left eye and his right eye is also much improved.  The specialist was flabbergasted; he said there is no medical explanation for such a rapid improvement!  He even cleared Mike to drive again, without restrictions!  Praise Jesus!  The only explanation is that God has answered our prayers in a BIG way!  Thank you all so much for all the prayers, love and support!  Our God is a God of MIRACLES!

We go back in February for further evaluation.  We would covet your prayers for continued improvement in the weeks and months to come!

Love and blessings,

Mike, Krys, Joshua & Luke

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'  Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong."  ~2 Corinthians 12:9-10~

Joshua at 2 years 8 months

Here are a few photos of the big boy that I snapped the other day when I was taking Luke's 9 month shots...

 

Potty Training

 

A couple weeks ago, we decided to try potty training.  We were going to have our first entire week at home all summer, and it was now or never!

 Despite his adorable grin in this photo, the first day was horrible awful ugly tough!  He cried, I cried, he cried some more, I cried some more...  He would sit on the potty for quite a while and nothing.  Then, as soon as I would put his underwear or diaper back on, he would go!  Finally, at the end of the day, we had our first success!  Momma had been just about ready to throw in the towel, but we praised and rewarded him like it was his birthday or something, haha.

The next day, we decided to start with a clean slate.  We tried the "naked for a day" method.  He got to keep his shirt on because it's chilly in the house with the air on, but he was naked from waist down.  And he only had ONE accident the entire day!  Yay, Joshy!

 Enjoying one of many prizes from the prize basket.  He eats his M&M's just like me, hehe...by color!

 Since Day 2 of potty training, we have only had TWO accidents in two weeks!  What a big boy!

We went to Michigan this past weekend, and he stayed dry all the way there and all the way back (with intermittent potty stops, of course!).  So proud of our big boy!

 Watching Blue's Clues (one of the prizes he picked from the prize basket).  Look at that cute little bum!

 He looks so LONG to me in this photo!

For now, he still wears a diaper at nap time and bed time.  He wakes up dry most of the time, but I just don't quite trust him yet, LOL.  He has come so far in just two weeks, though!

 

SUCH a big boy!

9 Months

 9 months!  How is my baby already 9 months old?!

 Lukey, you are growing up so much!  You are starting to look more like a little boy and less and less like a baby every day.

 You got two more teeth this month - both on the left!  So you have 3 teeth on the left, and NONE on the right!  What a stud muffin you are!

 You are crawling, but only backward so far.  This can be a bit problematic sometimes, as you are really good at backing yourself into corners - ha!  You can't quite figure out how to propel yourself forward yet, but I don't think it will be long.  You get all over the house by crawling backward and rolling - nothing is safe anymore, you are officially on the move!

 You still get 3 meals a day, and nurse/take a bottle 5-6 times a day.  We have tried a couple finger foods to encourage you to feed yourself, but you just play with the food and then throw it on the floor.  Stinker!

 We weighed you on the scale at Grandma's a couple weeks ago and it read 23 lbs.!  We have your 9-month check-up Tuesday, so we'll see what you weigh at the doctor's office!

 Just like your brother, you never stop moving!  Even when you are sitting, your legs are constantly kicking and your arms are always flailing!

 Those baby blues just get me every time!

 You just figured out that if you raise your arms up when you want to be held, someone will pick you up!  It is so sweet when I walk into the room and you reach your arms up for me!

 You are starting to copy some of our actions.  Daddy taught you to give high fives, and we recently discovered if we growl at you, you growl back!  You copy lots of other sounds, too.  Haven't quite gotten you to say, "Momma" yet, though!  ;-)  Your brother is great at getting you to laugh.  The other day in the car, you were both giggling so hard, you had Daddy and me cracking up!

 You LOVE books and being read to.  I think one of your favorite parts of the day is when we all climb into Momma and Daddy's bed to read books before bedtime. 

You hair is starting to get a little long, but I just can't bear to cut it yet!  That soft baby hair never grows back the same once you cut it...

 

 

 Sweet baby, you are just the perfect addition to our family!  Watching you and your brother grow to love each other these past nine months has been so special; you both bring such joy to our lives!  Thank you, Lord, for our two precious boys!