Happy Halloween

This was the first year that J was actually excited about trick-or-treating, because he had a little more understanding and confidence before ever even going to the first house. You know, it's amazing what we take for granted until God puts it into perspective for us. For Jackson, we had to start a couple of weeks before Halloween practicing a few things. With the help of his teacher and therapists, he learned to motor plan the steps involved in trick-or-treating...ring doorbell, say "trick-or-treat", take candy, put candy in bucket, say "thank you". I really couldn't believe it when Miss Lori taught him to say "tick-oh-teet" and "fank ooh" in one session. You should have seen his smile when he practiced with Dave, me and MeMe. The little guy was PROUD of himself and that made us so happy! When Monday night finally came, he got dressed up along with Luke, and we put that hard work into action....

So proud of you, Jackson....I mean Woody!!!




"Tick-oh-teet, Mr. Ty!!!"

"Fank ooh"

"Fank ooh, Mr.Billy"













Sweet Pumpkin, Luke

Love Him!!!!

I am so thankful to experience this kind of love once again...through our sweet boy #2!

Almost Five Months Old

In just three days our little Luke will be five months old!! It seems like this guy is changing everyday, and the time is flying by! He is always doing something new for us! He rolled over in his swaddler from back to front a week ago and rolled over from tummy to back last night! He tries to stand in our lap and isn't too far from sitting up. When he is using the boppy on his tummy, he tries to crawl over it. HILARIOUS!! Take a look at him...

He really is ok. I will probably recive a call from the grandmothers!:)

Pumpkin Patch

J's class went to the pumpkin patch on Thursday. Right before we left for school, I mentioned to J how great it was going to be to tell his teacher that he had learned to say "trick or treat" that morning with Miss Lori...well, hearing his teacher's name sparked his memory, and he reminded me that he was riding the bus to the pumpkin patch that day. He was so excited to be able to ride in a BUS! Once we got there, we went on a hayride, had a duck race using water pumps, and then he got to pick out a pumpkin to take home. It was a lot of fun! J got to ride the bus back to school. I asked him how it was and he said "FUN!".

Time to Pick a Pumpkin

This year, we decided to just take the boys to pick out a pumpkin instead of actually going to a pumpkin patch. We knew J was going with his class later on this month and finding a large block of time to go seemed impossible. So, this worked out nicely! Both boys picked out their own pumpkin, and J helped us get a big one.

A Boys Playdate

This morning some sweet friends of ours came for a playdate and to meet our little L! My friend, Angela, made a road trip with her little guys to see us this morning...such a treat! She and I taught together before I had J four years ago, and we have continued to be very good friends. Our visits are always sorta bittersweet, because they feel too short and the reality that they just can't happen often is always there. Thankfully, we still get to have our guys together and enjoy some girl time...even if the conversation topics have changed slightly from 4 years ago! :)



Four precious little guys in my house (L was napping)

God's Love and Grace

L and I went shopping together last week. I know it won't last, so I am soaking it up now. He was such a good boy for me! As I was walking through the mall, I looked down and saw this beautiful boy, my beautiful boy, looking at me...smiling, of course. For that minute, I thanked God for His awesome grace. Not only has He granted me salvation but has even blessed me, a sinner, with an amazing gift unlike any other, my two little boys. How do I even deserve something that miraculous? It doesn't mean that my children are perfect or being a mommy isn't a lot of work. But, the gift of a child is something that IS perfect as it serves as a true reminder of God's love for His children!

Authentic Love

We have been blessed with some pretty special people at our church. By that, I mean we have some people that truly love our children and that is a tremendous gift to any parent. For us, with Jackson, this means they look beyond his apraxia and just love him for HIM. We laugh sometimes at how he seems to pick out certain people and wholeheartedly falls in love with them. It is usually someone who doesn't make him work hard but will just play. We love and are oh so thankful for his teachers, therapists, etc., who make learning fun for him, but he knows that they are going to push him in the areas where he needs it. It's a break to him to have other people in his life who he can just be silly with. The other week at church, I spyed on him in his class while calming baby L down. It was circle time and Mr. Dee, one of J's pals, told the class that he was going to go around and have each person tell their favorite animal. Well, my heart sank...this could go two ways, either no response from J or an unintelligible one. The first little boy stood up and told Mr. Dee his favorite animal. Then, J stood up and Mr. Dee asked him the question. I couldn't read J's lips, but Mr. Dee's response was, "Boys and Girls, Jackson is going to tell me in my ear his favorite animal!" J did just that and Mr. Dee informed everyone of J's favorite animal. The kids didn't know any different and my boy sat down feeling confident that he had fulfilled the task! Now, I will probably never forget what that man did for J that Sunday, because he made my child feel just like every other kid. What a blessing!

Another guy that J loves is Mr. Bryan, our minister of music. He is totally open to J trying out the instruments and watching the praise band practice each week. Here they are:




I think I also posted earlier about Mr. Dave who J LOVES and can be found any given Sunday swinging, hugging, chasing our guy! All of J's former MMO teachers, MOPS teachers, and SS teachers have all proven to be a gift, a true gift from above. They are always asking about him, and he is ready to give them a big hug! Finally, I have to mention one last person...Miss Connie. Miss Connie had J this summer in MMO, and she always had nice things to say about him. One day, she did a cool craft with J, and it has been a love-love relationship for them since. She requested to have him in MOPS, so he still gets to see his Miss Connie. I never want to forget these people. Our hope for J is that he always has a love for others and that we can keep his confidence up in a world that can try so hard to rob him of it.

My Feet are AWESOME!

Yes, look who found his feet! He found them in the bathtub last night and really wants to eat them! Yum!




He is liking tummy time a little more these days. I have been setting aside a block of time each day after I get J to school to spend with L on tummy time. After I took out my checklist to be sure L was meeting his milestones (and he is, quite nicely), I realized that he might need to work on strengthening his core...sounds funny, but it could creep up later as a problem if I don't address it now, so...a few days of focus and look at him...no more tears for this guy-

Winter Baby

Look who is ready for winter....

Tummy Time

This is how tummy time goes for L-


BRIEFLY, look around



Suck on hands...he finds them anywhere



Cry. Cry loud. Cry louder. SCREAM!!! This happens every.single.time. Oh, and some spitup episodes are occurring, also.

Asleep

I found J asleep like this the other day. If J saw this pic, he would say, "Jeck, sleep". Seemed blogworthy to me. :)

Pals

The brothers are noticing each other more and more! L really watches J run and play. We have even caught him smiling at J. Sometimes, we let the boys roll the ball to each other. The initial time we did this, J thought it was so funny and seemed to realize for the first time that this kid could be fun!

J "talking" to L

The Missing Underwear

The other day I couldn't find the pair of underwear I got out for J to wear to school. I didn't think too much about it and got another pair. When you're busy, you don't have time to spend looking for things that can easily be replaced. Well, I put L in his crib later that afternoon while I put J down for a nap. I don't remember anything being in the crib, but I came back to find this...

Bring on the Food, Please

I decided to go ahead and start L on rice cereal about a week before he turned four months. I would have never done this with J without the doctor's permission! Oh well, funny how things change the second go around! Actually, this guy started waking up in the early morning hours...starving. So, we tried it, and....

Before the rice cereal...

Notice the bib is off...he kept trying to EAT it!









He loved this stuff and did great eating from a spoon! I am sure he was ready!! I think he might have difficulty stepping away from the table!