Our little Prince has arrived. And he is oh so precious. So worth the wait! I am eager to tell you all about his birth day.... when things settle down a bit around here. We are all getting used to our new roles with this little guy. Drake is such a good baby. He eats, sleeps and poops- all over me. :) When he is awake, he has plenty of faces to look at and get to know. We love watching his facial expressions and giggling at his grunts as he stretches. We are all smitten. God has been so faithful with our transition into a family of five. Our hearts are overflowing!
I didn't think my life could get any sweeter. But it definitely has.
We saw a bird sitting on its eggs and Lili shouted, "CONGRATULATIONS, Bird!!!!! Happy pregnant day!" Then she decided to sing the bird a lullaby in "chirps" and started asking it questions.
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Sweet, loving little Cadee Grace is so much like her father, it kills me. She is the most logical, argumentative, rationalizing, persistent child on the face of the planet. Of this, I am convinced. Not saying that this doesn't come in handy at times. Like when a fight is happening between her and her sister, she is very easy to talk to and explain why it is not ok to do that or to say that. (Unlike Lili, who would rather get physical or just pout and cry. There is NO reasoning with that girl!) Cadee just *gets* things. HOWEVER, if she gets an idea in her head, you will not change or mold that idea. You must give her the top 28 reasons why your idea is better than hers, and then she will consider the options. (JUST LIKE HER FATHER.) I do appreciate this about her. I think it will help her very much in years to come (I know my Hubby turned out very well). However, disobedience is "not doing as you are told". And she hardly ever does as she is told until the 4th or 5th time of being asked. And even then, 80% of the time, it is met with an argument. So, her daddy and I came up with a solution.
Cadee loves playing outside with all of the neighbor kids! When it is nice out, I barely see her in the afternoons. Unless it's for the 2 minutes it takes her to potty-dance down the hallway to the bathroom. And that is totally fine! I love that she has friends and is having fun outside! However, I do believe that these "older kids" (2nd and 5th graders) do influence her attitude. The grumbling when asked to do something, the not listening, the attitude when it isn't what she had in mind. So, for everytime she argues with me to do something, to get something or to go somewhere, she loses 5 minutes of outside play. Meaning, when she steps off the bus, or this summer, when she asks to go outside, she will be going to my bed or hers for 5 minutes. Now, this can certainly add up! Depending on how far she wants to push it...
Yesterday morning, I explained to her what her punishment would be. I made sure she understood it through and through. And then I spent the rest of the day pointing out things that would warrant said punishment. "Cadee, will you please put your shoes away?" "Ughhhhhh... M-ahhh-m. Do I have to right now?" "There. That's an example of grumbling instead of obeying." *lightbulb*
Today, this is in full effect. And she has not grumbled once when asked to do something. She has not argued with me (YET) when asked to get ready for school. IN FACT! She woke up and got dressed, brushed her hair and was all ready for school- all on her own- with an hour to spare to watch cartoons. It was AMAZING!!! And I hope it continues!
We are not amazing parents, by any means! But, we feel that this was worth sharing. We had to find a punishment suitable for the "crime". And I think this works in our favor 2 ways- it takes something that she loves and shows her that she can lose it by the way she acts. And, I think she learns some of this attitude and grumbling from the neighbor kids, so this gets her away from them and makes her think about it more when she's with them (hopefully). I don't like doting on myself, but my mom told me I should post this on my blog. And- You don't argue with Mom!
I know my posts have been few and far between lately... I've sorta been scrambling to get things done around here. I know there are still 3 weeks until my due date, but on Tuesday, my doctor told me some shocking and exciting news! Baby Boy really could come any day, since I am dialated to a 2! (To put this into perspective, I was never past a 3 with the girls when my water broke.) I was so excited to hear any number. But, soon realized that I still have quite a bit I need to get and get done. But, keep checking back here. Who knows, maybe the next post will be an introduction.
Here's some Random Rachel to tide you over. I know you miss it.
~ I can't sleep in anymore. Not because I'm uncomfortable or not tired anymore. Because I'm HUNGRY. Go figure.
~ We got some new curtains for our room. Really sweet black-out ones. Hubby looooves them so much that he didn't even care what the cost was! Hopefully he can get some much needed sleep this weekend. (He went to the doc yesterday and got meds for a sinus infection! His first ever. YUCK.)
~ Baby Boy bounces up and down alot. Almost like he's trying to shove open "the door" and get out. I encourage this and cheer him on.
~ On my living room floor right now.... A bin full of dress up clothes (That Lili has tried to get away with wearing everytime we leave the house recently.) And a basket full of clean clothes waiting to be folded. (I think my folding fairy got held hostage somewhere.)
~ My parents are down this weekend. And my daddy did my dishes. WHAT A SAINT!!!
~ My nieces and nephew are involved in a few sports and they are so much fun to watch. I love the big grins on their faces when someone cheers for them, or when they spot you at their game. So precious. I'm glad we live close enough to be a part of their day to day stuff like that.
~ School is out for the girls on Friday!! I'm excited for them to have some down time and not have to worry about routines for awhile (although, I'm sure I'll be begging for a routine soon enough!). But, I think, most of all, I will miss Cadee's teacher. She is THEE sweetest woman in the world. For reals. I hope both of their teachers next year make me say that again!
~ You know how they have books like "Keyboarding for Dummies" or "Hacky Sack for Dummies" (like the most random skills in the world "for Dummies")?? Anyways, I think I should start a series of books about "The Real Deal for Pregnant Women". And write all about what REALLY goes on after you pee on that stick! ;)
We are only 3 1/2 weeks away from this little boy's due date! Why is that significant, you ask? Because we found out we were pregnant when I was only 3 1/2 weeks along. So we have known about, prayed about, and been excited for this little one for a REALLY long time!!! I am content with knowing that he is coming soon. I am loving having this big belly! However, I am starting to feel so worn out. I'm not used to not being able to do anything and everything. Even just walking through the store can be painful as this little boy moves down. Or as my belly practices contracting. It's been a long journey, getting to this point. I'm excited to see his precious little face! And watch him woo his sisters (as if they could fall in love with him anymore), or wrap his Grandpas, Grandmas, Aunts and Uncles around his little fingers (again, as if they needed any encouragement there), or make his mom and dad melt (yet again, we are already complete goo when we talk to him). Ready when you are, Baby Boy.
"Ok, if you exist (insist)!" :)
I'm starting to slooowww dooowwnn.... I'm not able to keep up with my girls as much, my laundry, my dishes... All I want to do is relax, watch A Baby Story and get my feet rubbed. I am feeling quite huge. My shirts are getting shorter somehow. And my bedtime keeps creeping up on me every night. I am loving every minute of down time in these last few weeks of this pregnancy.
I'm glad my family is on board with that plan! :)
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