A Minor (no matter how small) Victory

Next weekend, Tripp will turn 3. I've said all along that when he turns 3, the pacifiers will become no more. I have been extremely nervous that I will not be able to stick to my guns. The pacis really are like his crack cocaine! I've decided that this week, I am going to start easing him into it. We've already been talking it up a TON and I think he realizes that something is about to happen. Normally, at night, he has to have about 5 pacis to be able to sleep. One in his mouth, one in each hand, and a couple spares just in case. He rubs the nipples of the pacis like most kids rub the edge of a blanket and it soothes him to sleep. Anyway, last night I decided that he could just have one. I didn't know how it would go, but we tried it. It actually worked! I couldn't believe it. He went right to sleep with just one paci. Now, he woke up at 5:45 this morning screaming because he couldn't find that one (hence the reason he's ALWAYS had more than one, I've been rescuing pacis for him since he was a newborn), but at least he slept until then. Another reason I've been nervous is because Tripp actually still sucks on the paci. It's not like he just holds it in his mouth. When he's asleep you can listen to him and it sounds like he is going to suck a hole straight through it. So, I guess in a way, he still has that need to suck on something. Most people would tell me this is ridiculous, but you are talking to a mommy that sucked her thumb until she was 8, so I can sympathize with him! We'll see how the rest of the week goes. Come Sunday, March 8th, it's bye-bye paci!!!!

One of Many

There are a countless number of reasons why I love having a little girl....just like there are countless numbers of reasons why I love having a little boy. However, one of the reasons I love having a girl is because of the CLOTHES!!!! After having a boy first, and being EXTREMELY limited in what I can buy for him that I think are cute, girl clothes are so much fun! Here are just a few of the outfits that I am dying to get Makinley in this summer!

LeT iT SnOw!!!!!!

My pink snug bug!Watching their daddy make snow balls!

Loving every minute! I thought he would never come inside!
Just taking it all in

Our "Spring Wonderland" house!

SNOW!

Okay, this is a very short post just to say that I CAN'T WAIT for my kids to get up from naptime so we can go play in the snow!!!! Pictures to come!

Baby Layla

This post is to solicit prayers! I have a friend in Henry County who has a little girl named Layla. Layla turned 1 a couple of weeks ago and is PRECIOUS. Anyway, last week, Layla got really sick and started throwing up where she couldn't stop. They took her to the hospital and they admitted her and she ended up staying for a couple of days. She was really dehydrated, and they couldn't get her to stop throwing up. She finally went home on Saturday. Yesterday morning, she started throwing up again and I just found out that she is back in the hospital. I know Holly and Josh have to be scared to death. The Dr's said it was the Rotovirus at first. However, Tripp has had the Rotovirus several times and it never resulted in anything like this. I can't understand why they can't get her to stop. And she is so little! Please pray for this sweet family and their precious little girl!

The Impossible

Any one that knows me, knows that a full night's sleep in my house is rare. Tripp didn't start sleeping through the night until he was 17 months old, but then (for about a year) he became a champion sleeper. I hoped, prayed, and begged that God would allow Mak to be my awesome sleeper. Unfortunately, sometimes God answers "NO"! In fact, I'm beginning to think she is going to do the impossible and be worse than Tripp. We have passed the 17 month mark and we are still getting up during the night. Don't get me wrong, she has her good nights. She even sometimes has her good weeks. However, we are far from consistent nights of sleep. Can I just say that 3 years of inconsistent sleep really begins to take it's toll on a mommy?
Last night as I was rocking her at 12:45, and really praying that she would go back to sleep, God clearly brought it to my mind that as exhausted as I am, and as much as I want her to start sleeping through the night EVERY night, it is my honor and privilege to be the one that gets to hold her and rock her back to sleep. It really is. There are so many women in this world, and several of them are great friends of mine, that would give their right arms to be awake with their babies at 2:30 in the morning. Makinley continues to bring so much joy to our family. Honestly, about the only times she does cry is during the middle of the night. Other than that, she is happy and content and INCREDIBLY loving. With all the issues that some parents face on a daily basis, should I really complain that my child doesn't sleep? I think not.
With that being said, please don't rub it in to me that your child is a great sleeper! Thanks!

Discipline vs. Punishment

We had an awesome service at church today. The topic right now in service is "Better Homes and Families". Today was all about "making the grass greener on your side of the fence". Our pastor talked a lot about dating even after you're married and he gave 10 really good points. However, I didn't have a pen to write them down so I'm hoping he posts them on the church website soon. When he does, I'll share because I think we could all benefit.

We tried a Small Group today for the first time. They are doing a series on parenting. Unfortunately, they are already on Lesson 6 and I would have loved to have heard the first five. Today was all about discipline. This is a BIG issue in our house right now with Tripp. He seems to be getting harder and harder and throwing more and more tantrums. Not to mention his favorite word right now is "No". It is exhausting to start off almost every morning dealing with a tantrum and then going to work. It is exhausting. Joey and I are really struggling with how to break him of this. We use time-out, we spank, we take away "privileges". Right now, none of it is working. It's beginning to take it's toll on us. Small group today was really insightful. The author of the study, Chip Ingram, had a lot of really good points. First, we need to start disciplining Tripp instead of punishing him. There is definitely a difference and right now we punish. In disciplining him, we will teach him instead of just acting out of anger. The teacher told us to remember that Jesus already took the punishment for all of Tripp's sins just like he took the punishment for mine. My job is not to "punish" him, it's to teach him to obey us just like we are supposed to obey God. He is also an advocate of spanking. However, he said that the hands that heal, protect, and love should not be the same hands that spank. He suggests using a little wooden spoon or something like that for the spanking. Also, we need to follow any discipline with love, explanation, and prayer time. This all seems extremely hard to do considering Tripp is only 3, but we have to start trying something different. I also feel like it's super important because I'm already seeing how much Makinley idolizes her big brother and wants to do exactly what he does. Right now, he is not showing her the best habits. Anyway, we'll see how the change goes!