Letting go......

I just wanted to let you all know that Nathan went without his pacifer all day yesterday and all night again last night! Yesterday he did at one time come into the living room with one in his mouth that he found in his room and I laughed at him and then he laughed. I then took it from him and gave him a sippy cup. He has searched the drawer that we used to keep them in. We just tell him that they are gone and he goes about his happy little way and plays. At one time yesterday though he got a medicine dropper and sucked on it. That was pretty funny. He hid under the table to do it. I think he knew it was time to give it up.

So I guess the pacifer is now really gone. This has been much easier that I thought it would be. THANK GOD!!!!!

So I now officially have a big boy instead of a baby. :0(

Bitter sweet, yes, bitter sweet.

Milestones..........

Good Thursday morning all!

Well, last night my little Nathan went to sleep without his pacifier. I have to give his dad the credit. There wasn't one clean and we decided to try getting him to sleep without one. I tried and he wouldn't get still. So I went to clean the kitchen while dad tried and BAM! Asleep he was. And he slept all night without it. He did wake up a few times and whine a little but it went very well. I washed the 3 that we have left, just in case I lose my mind today and need one. (Not in case I need one, in case he needs one! LOL) I think we may be finished with the pacifiers for the last time. No more babies in my future.

It is tough when they grow up. I spend a lot of time thinking that it will be easier when Nate gets older. But then times like this I get a little sad that he is probably never gonna take a pacifier again. It reminds me to savor all of those tough times of toddler hood and enjoy him while I can.

Now I get to focus on potty-training. yay do you hear the enthusiasm in my voice? I do NOT like that part of mothering. But I will embrace it and enjoy it because in a few months he will no longer need diapers and I will once again be sad. Happy too because of the money I will be saving, but really sad that I will no longer have a baby around. It truly is bitter sweet for me.

So my words of wisdom for today are:
Soak in every moment with your children. You can never get this day back!

Hello..............

Here I am! WOW what a weekend! I feel like I have been the road runner! Have you had times like that? I am enjoying my quiet Monday filled with housework and schoolwork. (never thought I would say I enjoyed housework!)

I have missed my bloggy friends! This week will be a week of catching up and taking time for reflection on some things that God has done. I have a lot of home projects that I need to begin this week and Jacob will also begin soccer games this week. He is so excited and ready.

This is the time of year that our family is very busy in the evenings and I need to get all of my school/home stuff in during the day time. And to add to all of it my husband mows a few yards in the spring/summer/fall and that has officially begun. It is good because it is extra income but it takes away from our family time. It seems as the kids get older we are having to schedule family time. If it isn't scheduled, it will not happen. The last few weeks have been really busy for us so this coming up weekend is going to be family weekend. Friday George is going to attempt to take Jacob fishing and then we will try to find something fun for all of us to do on Saturday. Then of course Sunday is church. The next few weeks will be busy again so we are taking our chance while we have it!

I think it is so important to just go to a park for the day with the kids, or go out in the woods on a hike or go to the lake and enjoy nature. I love the outdoors and the quiet time with my husband and kids. I need that un-rushed fun time. We will hopefully one day have a place at the river to escape to 1 or 2 times a month.

I know that this hasn't been very spiritual or informative, I am just feeling very mellow and chilled out and sharing my thoughts randomly. ;0)

So my words of wisdom for today are:
Spend some quiet, quality time with your family. Surprise them with a fun nature day. It is therapy for us all!

Taking a break!

Hey everyone! I just posted on my weight loss blog that I am taking a break this week from blogging and just in case some of you don't read that one I wanted to update here also. My church is having our very first women's conference this weekend so I am scattered and busy getting ready for this.
I am sure I will have something inspiring to share after this weekend! LOL

So I will see you all next week!

Have a great weekend!!!!

To all my "normal" friends, you know who you are!!

Kids, DON"T TRY ANY OF THIS AT HOME!!!!!!! (wait until you go to a friends house!)

1. If you are choking on an ice cube simply pour a cup of boiling water down your throat. Presto! The blockage will instantly be removed.

2. Avoid cutting yourself slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold them while you chop.

3. For high blood pressure sufferers, simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure in your veins.
Remember to use a timer.

4. A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.

5. If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives. You will then be afraid to cough.

6. You only need two tools in life - WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn’t move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn’t move and does, use the duct tape!

7. Remember! Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

Working children?

Yes, I make my children work around the house! I think it is really important to let them do chores in the house and in the yard. Yesterday we mowed our yard for the first time this year and today I will be raking up all the cut grass, and yes I am gonna have the kids help me. Of course I will make it fun and they will think we are playing, but they will be learning how to do yard work. And we will be making memories all the while!
If we don't teach them this stuff then we will be the ones helping them after they leave home and need to be doing it on their own. And I don't know about you but I do NOT want to be doing their laundry when they are 25 living on their own!!!
So if you have your child doing the dishes or folding the laundry and they tell you that you are mistreating them, tell them that Mrs. Michelle said that it was good for them and that they will thank you when they are older! ;o)
So my words of wisdom for today are:
Sit back, relax & make your kids do all the housework!!! LOL

Blogging Etiquette?

Hey everyone!
I have been blogging for a while and there are still some things I am not sure how they work when it comes to blogging. I never want to offend anyone or do anything wrong. So I was wondering if some of you would like to post comments on here and share some rules of blogging maybe?
One main question I have is ~When I have someone post a comment and ask me a question, do I answer their question as a comment on my blog or do I go to their blog and answer them?

Any other rules or tips would be GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks!

changes.......

Hey everyone!
I just wanted to say to JoAnna, YES, I have changed my picture again!
I had gone to Terri's blog and she had nature pictures on her page and it inspired me to find some for mine. I LOVE nature and seeing God's creation. Go and visit her blog and see the stuff she has on there, it is really beautiful!
So I just wanted you all to know that I am copying Terri and posting nature pictures. Thanks for the inspiration Terri!