Corbin's Sweet Side.

Well I think this deserves to be remembered since I was having a few rough weeks and this last week has been really well with Corbin. He's like a completely different kid (I guess when he's not sick and in a good routine things go well (; )

It's the small things he has been doing lately that have been so sweet or just hilarious! I'll admit I think my child has quite the funny personality...and he enjoys being laughed at. Lately when going to the bathroom he comes up to me and says "mom I gotta pee...I stop and go right away"-he learned by watching Daniel the tiger (a cartoon on PBS that's a play off of Mr. Rogers neighborhood) the little song they learn says "if you have to go potty than stop and go right away! Flush and wash and be on your way!" We definitely sing this song a lot but I think it really helped him learn to be potty trained. He needs my help taking off his pants but likes to take off his undies and do everything else by himself. He runs to the bathroom and the light has to be on...so he was in the past yelling at me "mom turn on the light!" And he would kinda freak out. I tried to teach him to ask nicely and I would love to help him...it wasn't really sticking and of course being a mom it's not fun being demanded all day long for everything. Well I'm glad I continued to tell him because now he'll run to the bathroom if the light isn't on he'll come back to me in a nice soft voice "mom will you please turn the light on?" Why yes I would love to sweet boy! I usually say something like "that makes mommy so happy when you ask me nicely!" I feel like he's a pleaser so he likes to make us happy and I try to make sure when he does things that are good to let him know everytime. And it seems to be working! :) yay! He also feels the need to show me his poop. He'll come out of the bathroom and say "mom...it was a big one! Come see it!" And seriously, tmi I know, but that kid can poop! So he seems to be telling me-or warning me-"it's a big one!" quite often.

But he's a big eater! Sometimes I still am in shock with how much he eats! Thankfully he still eats pretty much anything I make! For example, I can throw oats, banana, egg, flax, and spinach in the blender and make pancakes out of them! He loves to have me make monster, ghost, or Mickey ones. We put raspberries mixed with chia on top and I'm happy about a good breakfast...much better than cold cereal even though him and his father could eat that every meal...so lately I just don't buy any! Ha! He loves to help make anything in the kitchen with me and lately has been really good with reminding me to share-"mom, share! My turn!" And he'll remember that he needs to ask nicely then get his soft sweet voice and tilt his head and say "can I please do it" I guess it's all the sweet talk with pleases that make a huge difference! ;)

He's also been really into cuddling lately in his bed like I mentioned before. Which he loves for me to sing and tickle him. He loves to sing songs together and it is so sweet to hear him sing and get better with the words! I recently taught him what butterfly kisses and Eskimo kisses are! And he's sure to make sure he gets to give them to me everytime I put him down! And a regular kiss but he "wants to do it" so sometimes he doesn't let me kiss him back thinking then I'm doing it! Yes he's all about doing things himself lately for sure!

He accidentally stepped on my toes the other day and it hurt pretty bad...he felt bad right away and said "mommy I'm sorry...I wanna give you a hug!" He did and he said "you all better?" And made sure I was ok before he walked away.

He also loves to be tickled and asks me to! He loves to hide on my bed in the sheets and tell me to come find him and tickle him. It's hard to get the things I need to get done around the house when he sweetly says "mom wanna come play with me!" Or just "play with me mama!"

It's all the small things that I can really remember all right now to right down that he's been doing lately that I appreciate and love! We are in a good place right now! Sure hope it stays! :)

Rough start

So I must say January has been a bit rough for me. I was going to write..or I should say vent..a post a few days ago because I was just so down and negative and done with everything. I wanted to vent about all the hard things going on because I knew that I need to remember the bad to look back and know that it got better and know it can get worse...but it's probably a good thing I wasn't motivated enough to because I probably would have been way too negative! Things are looking up and I'm trying really hard to be more positive. It is one of my goals for the year. I think, that I think I'm positive but I complain and point out the negative more than I notice so I really am going to try to be better. My mom gave me the advice to have my time to vent or whatever I need (so I don't just bottle it in because I'm one that needs to talk through things) but then besides that time try to talk positive about everything else. I'm really trying hard with Corbin these last few days. Sick kids makes everything harder I think...or most mom could agree and say they know it makes things harder. (And when your our water filter goes out-which will be a few hundred and my computer randomly starts not working which is another couple hundred..ugh) This past week Gavin got really sick for the first time. He got a fever one night and didn't sleep well at all and he finally had a tooth pop through and it seems like my kids get runny noses and a slight fever right before a tooth pops through so that mixed with a cold they both caught the poor guy hasn't been feeling well. Thankfully he's not awful when he's sick but he's definitely been a little more needy and wants to be held more. Corbin on the other hand had the cold as well but he requires a lot when he's sick...he got an ear ache from the drainage I'm assuming and let's just say we had some rough days. Why do I let a toddler determine my mood/attitude/confidence? Well because when he's the only person I'm around all day it's hard not to. But he also has been the sweetest little boy and thankfully I had something switch half way through this week that helped remind me that he just wants love and attention (a lot of attention) but instead of being so upset-when he's not going to sleep each night-I decided to try to enjoy that time when he kept saying "mommy I want to cuddle" which really meant he just wanted me to lay down with him (at first in my bed but I had to stop that one quick) but now he likes me to lay down with him to help him fall asleep and he really likes when I tickle him and sing him songs-mostly primary songs but our list usually consist of cuppy cake, I am a Child of God, I Love to See the Temple, I Know That My Savior Loves Me (because I'm teaching the primary that right now), As I Have Loved You, and whatever other ones I can think of but his favorite are definitely the first 3. He's constantly asking for hugs and to help with everything I'm making. He wants to do everything by himself and reminds me to "take turns" or "share". It's all these things that I need to remember he'll only be this little once and he won't always want to do these things with me and he's learning how to be more independent. I am learning to enjoy these moments instead of get frustrated and annoyed. But I definitely can say this right now but still have my moments (and have to continue to remind myself) but I'm hoping for a better happier week..or second half of Janurary! ;) These "mommy funks" I am learning definitely seem like will be an on going battle! 

                                     

Whats been going on around here lately.

I am going to try to be better about updating about little things as well but somehow I get busy with things and feel like I don't have enough time for all the stuff I need to get done….well basically I don't have enough alone time! ;) Corbin and Gavin require quite a bit of my time and attention-I know one day they will play together right!? ha! I am also trying to keep up on cleaning and having my house a little less cluttery! I notice I can be in a better mood if its clean so I'm trying to focus on that more…and making healthy meals. Both those are time consuming…and I feel like I am cleaning and cooking between Corbin and Gavin wanting me to play with them.

Right before the holidays I had my friend, Celeste, help me redo my family room! It has helped me enjoy being in my home now and want to keep it clean and nice! What a difference it can make when you can make a room nice! She has quite the talent! I do not have an eye for interior design stuff-I can tell you what I like and don't like but I don't know how to put things together and make it look nice! Thankfully her husband was kind enough to help build the entertainment center in the random cut out in our wall! I really wanted to lighten up the room and I feel like everything we did made it look so much better!

The lighting is not very good-our family room actually doesn't get that much natural light in it-the houses around us block a lot of the light-which is nice in the summer because it doesn't heat up as fast I think.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I had to buy a rug(which goodness those rugs can be pricey! especially for how big I needed. Thankfully I found one someone was selling for a good price!), the wood to build the entertainment center, and paint for walls, baskets, and pillows/throws.

I already had the wall shelf, and little black hutch and most the other random decorations.

And since I am showing some transformations I really wanted a bench at the end of my bed but those benches can be pricey too and I didn't want to spend a lot of money on one right now. I found this old beat up bench and thought I would try to sand and paint and put new fabric on it-I figured I could try it out since I wasn't investing too much into it- I am happy with how it turned out! I wish it was a little bigger since it looks a bit small by our bed-but its doing the job for now and we use it quite a bit so I am happy I did it! I'll eventually get to finishing decorating my room (I need some color)…I would really like some pictures and make it more personalized and homey feeling eventually!

Anyways the year started off with Corbin a little sick. We rang in the new year with Corbin and I laying in my bed together…and Jesse was at work till kinda late that night. I was really worried Corbin was going to have the awful flu that was going to last a while but thankfully he only threw up once and then had a fever the next day and then after that he was fine. Fine meaning he wasn't too sick but still acting like he didn't feel good. Plus it take a week or so to come back from vacation and start acting normal I feel like. 

I was getting worried there that Corbin was turning into a grumpy, tantrum throwing, disrespectful 2 year old! But thankfully my sweet (but strong personality) Corbin is back! He really is a good kid and is loving but he just struggles with being independent and wanting things his way-but thats a 2-3 year old right!? His 2 new things lately are when we get upset and he knows he is in trouble he always asks for a hug. It started because when I put him in time out I told him he had to calm down and give me a hug…and I guess it stuck. It has been a good thing because it helps calm us both down…but sometimes when he asks over and over again and is still throwing a fit it doesn't help. But it reminds me he just wants to be loved and sometimes he doesn't even know what he wants! The other thing that he just started saying now is "Be nice!" "Mom, be nice to me!"…ouch. ha! I didn't know where he got it from at first until I realized I say it quite often-especially to Corbin towards Gavin! I can't say Corbin loves having Gavin near him lately. He gets annoyed when Gavin tries to grab everything and doesn't like when he touches him…I am hoping that will change and they will be buds as Gavin gets older! So "Be nice" is frequently said in our home right now-its a good reminder for all of us! I am definitely learning Corbin can sense my frustrated easier/faster than I thought. Other times I have to remind him that he is being rude to me by whining/yelling/crying. Things have gotten a lot better though these last couple weeks!..but he sure knows how to test my limits!! (why does he fight sleep so much!! ah!) Why is it that being a mom is the best and I love it-but at the same time so hard and frustrating? I guess we have to have a balance?! ha!

Corbin loves his daddy though! Since Christmas time he was saying "No, Daddy do it!" for just about everything. At first I didn't mind "making" dad do everything for him but then it got bad. Thankfully that has gotten better now that Dad is at work-but he still chooses/prefers Dad for most things. Can blame him when he doesn't get a lot of time with him. We do enjoy his days off still-we try to do something fun together! This last week we went to Town Square-they have a park there and a little train ride that Corbin and Jesse went on! And Jesse and I really enjoy eating out so thats something we like to do on his day off but we probably shouldn't as much now-because it adds up quickly and with trying to eat healthier! We went to the circus the other night…it started a little late for us 7:30 so we didn't stay for the whole thing. It wasn't quite as entertaining as I thought it was going to be. Maybe in a few years we will enjoy it more? We have been enjoying the nice weather as well…I must say it is so weird to have it in the upper 60's in January! I don't feel like it is winter at all! But I don't miss the freezing cold!

And a bunch of pictures of my entertaining child--I feel like I should still do updates on Corbin regularly since he changes/new things just as much as Gavin sometimes. I'm going to try to be better with that too! ;)

7 months old

Gavin is now 7 months old and it just seems weird that its already over the 6 month and just not a "new" baby anymore! He sits up all on his own and has since like 5 1/2 months but now can sit there without falling over most the time…when he gets excited then he can tip over backwards. He loves to grab anything that he can see-and he will reach for it and a lot of the time falls head first! He hates laying down on his back or belly...and that could be a reason why I still have not seen him roll over-he doesn't spend much time on his back or belly because he just whines! But this last week or so he has gotten better about laying on his belly when he does go to grab something and kinda tips over onto his belly. I think he will start crawling before he rolls…hopefully that is not too important of a milestone for development! ;)

Gavin super ticklish sometimes I'm not even meaning to and he just starts laughing away! I love how smiley he is-it doesn't take a whole lot to get him to smile-unless he knows you are trying to get a good picture! Ha! half joking. His cheeks are just so kissable and he doesn't mind the constant smothering kisses! He loves to be around people and hates to be left in a room alone. He can sit pleasantly for quite some time if people are around him. He lights up when you interact with him..or just make eye contact! He loves to be held and would be happy all day if he was!

He loves to eat and can suck one of those food pouches down in less than a minute for sure! I don't like starting solids so I'm not consisted in feeding them to him! I did let him suck a straw that was in a cup with pineapple juice-not thinking he could get much and sadly he got enough to cause a diaper rash! His poor bum got pretty red and sore and I swear it was less than a tablespoon for sure of pineapple juice that he sucked up-learned my lesson though...but I did put him in new cheap diapers so that might of not helped with it.
The doctor kindly and cautiously told me that I can stick to the veggies or low calorie food for him right now!…yeah I can't really change what kind of breastmilk I make! ha! ;) I think he will definitely thin down now that he is starting to move a little more now.

 It was kinda funny how his doctor came in and said something like "Now I am not too worried because I see this michelin babies and then they come in later on stick skinny as a toddler so I know he will probably thin out so not to have you worry, but you can stick to feeding him the veggies and low calorie food for now". We sure love how chunky he is though! :) From the stats he has consistency and steadily gotten shorter and fatter. Now over 80% for weight and 10% for height. So I would say he is right up there for being the shortest fattest 6 monther…(and cutest! ;) )

I still wrap his to go to sleep even though he almost always wiggles is arms out it just helps when putting him down.  I love when he randomly and peacefully falls asleep when being held! But I also feel bad that I didn't try putting him down earlier. But that is not happening very often anymore...

He has been fighting naps again-mostly in the afternoon. ugh I hate when kids fight sleep! And is 20 minutes naps are not helping the frustration…
I talk to the doctor about what he thinks babies around this age should be sleeping at night (which he said breastfed babies still usually wake once a night but closer to the morning hours-but every baby is different) Gavin was having nights where he was up twice-one between 12-3 and then again around 5-6..I was not enjoying that. So when he woke up the first time I just waited to see if he would fall back asleep and eventually he did! Thankfully he is not a big crier or screamer he still kinda just whines for me a bit so I didn't have to do the whole "cry it out" it was just "whine it out" haha but it worked and since then he has slept a lot better! I usually put him down around 7-7:30 and he wakes around 6-7am now! 

I am wondering if he is possibly teething-still not sure!? He loves to stick anything in his mouth and seems to be constantly drooling. He hasn't stopped spitting up yet so between that and drooling he's a wet mess most the day. His been gnawing on his finger a lot lately mostly if there is nothing around him to stick in his mouth. He loves making blowing noises especially with his tongue out like he is spitting. His hair seems to be growing at a faster rate now and most people mention it looks darker-but I think it's just filling in more.

He sure is a sweet baby and makes my days happier! :)

7 months old.