September Zooooms By

Where did September go? Boy did this last month fly by. Here's a "GINORMOUS" recap of September's happenings.

Spencer Got Glasses:

Hes been wearing these now for over a month and is doing really well. He rarely ever argues with me to wear them. Through the weeks he has built the confidence in them and knows that they help him see better. He is very near sided and also has a lazy eye, along with a pretty bad astigmatism. So glasses will be in this little dudes future for a long while.

I know you're probably wondering How I knew he needed glasses. Allow this picture below to explain. For about 2 years I have noticed Spencer sitting extra close to the TV. I kept reminding him to sit back but he could never really communicate why he sat so close, so I continued finding him a thumb away from the screen. As he got older I have begun to notice him falling more and hitting his front teeth. He has hit his front teeth so many times that they are permanently dead and will eventually need to be pulled. Once again without him speaking very well I just assumed we had a clumsy child, no biggy. Now that he is 3 years old and talking up a storm he is finally able to communicate his frustration with his eyes or shall I say his one "eye". His latest habit has been squinting. I would ask him time after time why he squints. He proceeded to inform me that his one eye is broken and no longer works. He wishes he could go to the doctors and get a new eye. Not a second later did you find me on the phone to the local pediatric eye doctor. He was seen right away and thats how we came across these charming pair of glasses. Isnt he such a charmer. I could just eat him up he so gosh darn cute. Hes so happy his eyes are working again, and I am too. Poor guy.

Before we move on from Spencer I have to just post one more thing about this cute kid. Pre-school has been a hard adjustment for him. I had to fight him tooth and nail each week to go. It was hard leaving him in tears and walking out, but I knew this adjustment would make him stronger in the end. Days went by and tears kept falling, until I finally got that mommy light bulb. I asked Spencer what he was so afraid of at school. His response was to me was the "Big Scary Truck". Ummm okay, I figured the Big Scary Truck must just be his little target right now for some anxious and lonely emotions. Whatever it may be I simply asked the teacher if it would be okay to take Truck home with us for a play date, to help ease some of the anxiety. That whole day they played and got to know each other.

Since then he hasnt looked back. In fact each morning he gets up for school he has so much excitement and energy. I think all along the only thing Spencer was in search for was a good friend. Since then he has replaced his friendship with "Big Scary Truck" for his classmates. He has gotten to know some of the kids really well, to the point where they all run up to each other and give hugs as I drop him off. Im so glad we got that figured out early in the school year, now this next month my job will be to arrange some play dates with these new friends to keep the excitement for school up front and in focus.












So what's Tyler been up too? Doesnt this picture say it all.
I just LOVE this gangly, toothless stage 1st graders go through. Each time Tyler flashes this adorable smile at me I just melt. I want to freeze time through milestones like these. Let me assure you that there's no parent manual for pulling teeth. Its one of those duties as a Mother that leaves me in a sweat with each pull. We managed to yank them both out without pulling his brains out as well. So thats success. And best of all his new smile just lights up my day. As Tyler gets his "Big Missionary Teeth" (so we call them), He's also getting smarter and smarted by the minute too. He loves reading, Math and Music. I am so pleased to see his enthusiasm for school and for learning. My friends and I rotate our volunteer days so we can all help babysit one anothers kids while we go and help out.

I am third in this rotation, allowing me to volunteer at least once a month if not more. I love it. Its the days I spend in Tyler's classroom that validate the reasons why I love being a Stay at Home Mommy. I love watching Tyler out on the playground and with his classmates. He is the little ringleader. Im glad to see him being a leader with his piers, our challenge as parents is to keep his leadership skills moving forward on the right path. We want him to lead in righteousness and be a follower of Christ in all that he does. Hes got great potential as a leader as long as he channels it in the right direction and stays humble. This picture was taken during snack time in class.He had all the boys gathered around him as he explained the plan for chasing the girls at their next recess. Oh yes, you know how it goes! Dont you remember being in 1st grade and the only thing the boys did was run around chasing the girls and us girls ran around screaming. Occasionally one of the girls would get captured and the boys squeeze the girls while they scream EWWWWWWWW BOYS!!!!!!GET-AWAY...and then strange enough the boys let go of the girls and they all start laughing and do it all over again. So hilarious. Some things never change. Anywho on with our typical day. School, homework and football. We leave at 7:45am and return home at 3:30pm. 3:30pm-4:00pm is snack and homework time. We both look forward to this time as we get to sit together and talk about school and the things he is learning about. I always make an effort to play Mozart in the background as he studies. I would like to think it allows his brain to soak up all the new info like a sponge. 4:00pm-4:30pm is play time with neighborhood friends, while Mommy throws together a home cooked meal. 4:30pm is dinnertime and 5:15pm we rush off to football till 7:30pmI usually stay home with the little ones and Perry goes with Tyler and helps coach. We gather around the table in our jammies at around 8:00pm for some warm soothing milk and cookies and some much needed family time. This is the time we have set aside to have each child and parent talk about the goods and bads of that day. We laugh together and talk together, We help one another with our struggles and give advice where needed. Its the best part of the day for all of us. Trevor calls it "Family Comfort Time" How sweet is that?

Now onto Trevor, can I first say that he is such a snuggle bug. His heart is made of gold. He loves to help take care of his little Baby Ryan. We have been spending our Wednesday mornings at the local library for the children's Story Time. Its so cute to see Trevor and Spencer so protective over their baby brother. They crowd around him on the floor and keep him safe.


He has also started Speech therapy two times a week at a local Early Childhood Development School. For short we call it "Play School". Spencer joins him as well and thy are both working on better speech skills. So each Tuesday and Thursday we take Spencer to Pre-school from 9:00am - 11:30am and then off to "Play School" from 11:30am-1:00pm. Those days are pretty hectic considering we have Tyler's homework and football those nights too. Let me just say Freezer Meals are a must and something Im trying to force myself to get used to. I'm sure their speech impairment is a result of their years and years of chronic ear infections and Im sure it doesnt help that I refused to put tubes in their ears too. I guess this is the price we pay.

I have NEVER been a fan of tubes, but I AM fan of this recent therapy. I have seen huge changes in both boys as we have been attending Play School this past month. They can both say their K sound and Trevor is learning how to put together Tr and Sh. They are both working on saying (I am)riding my bike rather then "look Mom (I) ride my bike". I have to catch them a lot during the day while their playing together and help enforce those new skills, but I have complete faith in this program and am so glad we are a part of it.

Can't forget little baby Ryan. Can you believe he turned 9 months the end of September. Hes getting so big and so active. Hes rolling all over the floor and racing up and down the halls in his saucer. He squeals with delight when any of one his brothers play with him.

Its fair to say that he is not a fan of football. He gets all off schedule when we go and support Tyler at his games. Its a good sacrifice though and he always seems to bounce back just fine when we get off track.

He is all about food these days. Avocados, cottage cheese, applesauce, rice, pancakes, oatmeal, eggs, toast, spaghetti, puff cheetos, mac-n-cheese, broccoli, green beans, cornbread, pudding, yogurt, pears, peaches, raspberries, kiwi, cream cheese, spinach, and pork and beans. Im sure im forgetting a few more items but the point is this kid LOVES to eat and strange thing is he has yet to cut any teeth yet.So he munches as this with his gums.

Bath time ( which he also loves) is a ritual each night after our long messy days of eating.

I am proud to say that I am still nursing. I still can't believe Ive made it this far. As he begins to play and discover to world around him he is becoming less interested in nursing and doesnt need it as frequently. As I see the end drawing near my heart aches and my eyes fill with tears as my warm snuggly baby grows to be this independent active little boy. Ive really enjoyed the closeness and comfort nursing has given both of us through this challenging first year. I will miss it terribly.

Family Fun
And if you didnt think we could squeeze one more thing into our month we did. We took the boys on our Annual Family Mile Hike @ Mt. Rose. This time MiMi and Grandpa came too. This was Ryan and Bradleys first hike and they both did very well. Its was one of those unforgettable moments as a family. We love this little hike. Its perfect for our little kids. They are becoming more familiar with this hike and can now remember years past. They have even come up with little titles for each pit stop we traditionally stop and play at through out the hike.
















Oh one last thing, have you ever heard of the singer "Elizabeth Mitchell"? I.LOVE. HER.MUSIC. I listen to it all the time with the kids and it just makes me walk a little lighter. I put one of our favorite songs on our Family James "Little Bird,Little Bird" We love to hold hands in a circle and dance around the room singing. We also love tapping sticks and spoons on kitchen pans while we sing this song. Its such beautiful music.