We had such a great weekend. We got Mexican take-out Friday night. We slept in Saturday morning and enjoyed the cooler temps. We went shopping for me a few maternity clothes Saturday afternoon. We celebrated Terrell's birthday with his family Saturday night. And we enjoyed another Sunday in Sunday School Sunday morning. It was pretty wonderful. Austin didn't sleep the best because of being congested during the night, but other than that we had a pretty awesome weekend.
Then came Monday.
Bright and early.
4:03 AM to be exact.
My sweet baby boy woke up crying. Bless his heart. He just couldn't breathe good and couldn't fall back to sleep on his own. So daddy went in and worked his magic and rocked him and rubbed his back and he went back to sleep shortly.
Until 4:42 AM.
Since I had been lying awake since 4:03 (for some CRAZY reason, it usually takes me a while to go back to sleep after being woke up in the middle of the night... UGH), and Terrell was happily sleeping away, I went in... cause technically it was my turn. He was happy to see me. =) I didn't mind cuddling with him and helping him back to sleep and was actually back in bed about 12 minutes later.
Then I finally went to sleep. Then the alarm went off. Then the craziness of Monday began.
Several of my students weren't exactly happy to discover they had to come back to school today. We had 2 cry off and on the whole day. Oh, how that makes for a long school day. Plus, I'm not feeling well. I'm not sure if I have what Austin has or if it's something different, but whatever it is it is not welcome and can go ahead and leave now.
Then I get home and realize I forgot to get something at the grocery store that I need for tonight's meal. A meal Terrell picked out for his "birthday meal" since tomorrow on his actual birthday we have a date night. At least the main dish won't be effected. Sigh.
Then I need to unpack lunch boxes, start the dishwasher, straighten and clean my house a little, and take a little nap. That was a bright spot. That and my husband spilling the beans about this plans for my 30th birthday coming up in October. I love him. =)
Sooo, on this late Monday afternoon I still need to cook and clean and take care of my kiddos. Then, I think I'll go to bed early and look forward to welcoming Tuesday, another day, a chance for a better day, and my wonderful hubby's birthday. So thankful for new days after not so great ones.
Monday, August 19, 2013
Thursday, August 15, 2013
1st Week Highs and Lows
*High: The boys are loving school! Garrison is enjoying Pre-K, making new friends, and having lots of fun. Austin has yet to cry and is loving his new teacher this year. It's a miracle! (The part about Austin not crying.)
*Low: On both Monday and Wednesday (the days Austin and I have school too) afternoons, the second we walk in the door, Austin has had a huge meltdown. Poor baby is just SO tired and in desperate need of a nap. It isn't easy wrestling with him getting him ready for his nap either. I'm praying tomorrow is a little easier when we walk in from school. (Garrison hasn't had any meltdowns he's just been tired and emotional during the late afternoons before supper. Bless his heart... and ours.)
*High: Waking them up yesterday was easier than waking them up Monday. And Tuesdays and Thursdays are nice because even though Garrison has school, they can both sleep late since we don't have to be there early...
*Low: Unfortunately, this morning (a day they COULD HAVE slept late), they both woke up early. Garrison woke up before 7:00 crying because his nose was stuffy and he couldn't breathe. He tried to go back to sleep but never could. Austin woke up right at 7:00 because of a huge poopy diaper. Sigh.
*High: On Wednesday after school I had the boys come to my room and stay in my room until we were ready to leave. That way I could keep my eye on them and they weren't running wild and getting into everything and being rough with 2 other little staff kids like they did Monday after school. I was so proud of them! They both played together quietly and cleaned up before it was time to leave. Yay!!
*Low: The boys are both sneezing a lot. Noooooooo! Garrison always starts a cold with lots of sneezing. I'm hoping this is just allergies or adjusting to weather changes. Sometimes their colds are fast and can't keep them down. Other times not so much. I almost let Garrison stay home from school today. But I'm glad I changed my mind. He had a great day.
*High: I am determined not to send the boys the same exact lunch to school day after day... especially Garrison who has to take a lunch every single day this year. And so far, so good! I've gotten a little more creative and am trying to make sure they have more variety and choices. They're both loving lunches this first week. Hopefully it will last.
*Low: My class this year is going to be way more of a challenge than my class last year. We have some students this year who have never been away from their parents... even in a church nursery once a week. And boy can you tell. We also have some potty training issues this year... that technically aren't supposed to be issues in a 3 year old class... but they are... so it should be an interesting year.
*High: Even though my school days have been crazy, my school nights have not! Yaaaay! I am sooooo thankful I'm not bringing home tons and tons to do. Pretty soon I'll have to do a few things at home so I can stay ahead but I am so appreciating the fact that I am NOT overwhelmed this year during the first week of school.
Even though we've had some highs and lows and are all adjusting to the new school year, overall we've had a great first week. One day to go before we wrap it up and can enjoy the weekend. So glad tomorrow is Friday!
*Low: On both Monday and Wednesday (the days Austin and I have school too) afternoons, the second we walk in the door, Austin has had a huge meltdown. Poor baby is just SO tired and in desperate need of a nap. It isn't easy wrestling with him getting him ready for his nap either. I'm praying tomorrow is a little easier when we walk in from school. (Garrison hasn't had any meltdowns he's just been tired and emotional during the late afternoons before supper. Bless his heart... and ours.)
*High: Waking them up yesterday was easier than waking them up Monday. And Tuesdays and Thursdays are nice because even though Garrison has school, they can both sleep late since we don't have to be there early...
*Low: Unfortunately, this morning (a day they COULD HAVE slept late), they both woke up early. Garrison woke up before 7:00 crying because his nose was stuffy and he couldn't breathe. He tried to go back to sleep but never could. Austin woke up right at 7:00 because of a huge poopy diaper. Sigh.
*High: On Wednesday after school I had the boys come to my room and stay in my room until we were ready to leave. That way I could keep my eye on them and they weren't running wild and getting into everything and being rough with 2 other little staff kids like they did Monday after school. I was so proud of them! They both played together quietly and cleaned up before it was time to leave. Yay!!
*Low: The boys are both sneezing a lot. Noooooooo! Garrison always starts a cold with lots of sneezing. I'm hoping this is just allergies or adjusting to weather changes. Sometimes their colds are fast and can't keep them down. Other times not so much. I almost let Garrison stay home from school today. But I'm glad I changed my mind. He had a great day.
*High: I am determined not to send the boys the same exact lunch to school day after day... especially Garrison who has to take a lunch every single day this year. And so far, so good! I've gotten a little more creative and am trying to make sure they have more variety and choices. They're both loving lunches this first week. Hopefully it will last.
*Low: My class this year is going to be way more of a challenge than my class last year. We have some students this year who have never been away from their parents... even in a church nursery once a week. And boy can you tell. We also have some potty training issues this year... that technically aren't supposed to be issues in a 3 year old class... but they are... so it should be an interesting year.
*High: Even though my school days have been crazy, my school nights have not! Yaaaay! I am sooooo thankful I'm not bringing home tons and tons to do. Pretty soon I'll have to do a few things at home so I can stay ahead but I am so appreciating the fact that I am NOT overwhelmed this year during the first week of school.
Even though we've had some highs and lows and are all adjusting to the new school year, overall we've had a great first week. One day to go before we wrap it up and can enjoy the weekend. So glad tomorrow is Friday!
Monday, August 12, 2013
1st Day of School
Today was our first day of school! Garrison started Pre-K and Austin started another year in the 1 year old class. And this time my baby boy is the oldest instead of the youngest! He even went to the potty twice. Yay!
They both did GREAT. I was very proud. We had some drama this morning getting ready for school... waking up early is hard to do. Then we had a little drama after school... having your kids at work with you is hard to do. But, they had a GREAT school day and I am so, so grateful. To celebrate we went and picked up a small ice cream cake to enjoy tonight after supper. =)
They have both grown so much since the first day of school last year. They were total pros today. Mama has grown too... not just because of baby Selph, but as a teacher. Last year I didn't have a single student cry. Today almost half of our class cried. It was a stressful start to the day but I never panicked and never got flustered. Praise the Lord! We made the most of our day even though separation anxiety ran rampant through our room. =)
I also had way more energy than I expected. Last year the first day TOTALLY wiped me out. This year, despite my pregnancy exhaustion, I was up for the challenge. God supplied me with every bit of what I needed to get through the school day with energy to spare. I am definitely tired and will most certainly be going to bed early, but I am praising Him for His faithfulness. We survived the first day!!
They have both grown so much since the first day of school last year. They were total pros today. Mama has grown too... not just because of baby Selph, but as a teacher. Last year I didn't have a single student cry. Today almost half of our class cried. It was a stressful start to the day but I never panicked and never got flustered. Praise the Lord! We made the most of our day even though separation anxiety ran rampant through our room. =)
I also had way more energy than I expected. Last year the first day TOTALLY wiped me out. This year, despite my pregnancy exhaustion, I was up for the challenge. God supplied me with every bit of what I needed to get through the school day with energy to spare. I am definitely tired and will most certainly be going to bed early, but I am praising Him for His faithfulness. We survived the first day!!
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Weekend News
*My baby boy wore big boy underwear all weekend long!! He did great! We had a few accidents but overall were super proud and impressed with how well he did. We think he's almost there. We even made it on a few outings totally dry. Yay!!
*My hubby and I made our homemade laundry detergent this weekend. It's always a little bit of a chore to have to do it (or maybe I'm just lazy... that's how I feel all the time lately) but once we finished we were VERY glad we now how about 9 gallons of detergent and tons and tons of loads of laundry taken care of. Yay for saving money!
*On Friday night we took the boys to one of their favorite places ever to eat... Stevi B's. They love the pizza there and we love that we can eat out for about $14. A cheap, but yummy pizza buffet- it's a win-win. When we told Garrison he was so excited and named us the best parents ever. Just kidding. But he did make us feel like the best parents ever.
*On Saturday we did a little last minute back to school shopping. Mainly for lunch box items since our supplies had to be turned in at Open House on Thursday. Tomorrow is the big day. My big boy is starting Pre-K. He's been really excited mixed with some nervous emotions too. Tonight he told me he was glad I was going to be there. (I'll be right across the hall... next year is going to be tough when he moves on to big school) We think we're ready for tomorrow. I said a special prayer with both boys for their teachers and their friends and their day tomorrow. I also read The Kissing Hand to Garrison. It was sweet. Now I'm ready to pray for myself and my new group of babies and that we are all protected from sickness this school year. Last year was ROUGH.
*Terrell and I went back to Sunday School for the 3rd Sunday in a row. We still don't know everybody and we still aren't totally comfortable but we're making progress and feel confident this is where God wants us. Today everybody shared a little about their families... names and ages of kids mainly. We enjoyed finding out who had kids the same ages as ours and who had girls and who had boys... and we especially enjoyed hearing that multiple couples in our class have 3 kiddos. Yay for feeling normal. =)
*My husband, who doesn't like to read AT ALL, read 9 chapters of The Duck Commander Family last night. I am sooooooo proud of him!! He actually really enjoyed it! I knew he would... which is why I got it for him for Father's Day... and then I read it myself so I could encourage him to read it. It is really, really good. If you love Duck Dynasty, you should read it. I highly recommend it.
That's all our weekend news. Pray for us tomorrow as we begin our journey of a brand new school year!
*My hubby and I made our homemade laundry detergent this weekend. It's always a little bit of a chore to have to do it (or maybe I'm just lazy... that's how I feel all the time lately) but once we finished we were VERY glad we now how about 9 gallons of detergent and tons and tons of loads of laundry taken care of. Yay for saving money!
*On Friday night we took the boys to one of their favorite places ever to eat... Stevi B's. They love the pizza there and we love that we can eat out for about $14. A cheap, but yummy pizza buffet- it's a win-win. When we told Garrison he was so excited and named us the best parents ever. Just kidding. But he did make us feel like the best parents ever.
*On Saturday we did a little last minute back to school shopping. Mainly for lunch box items since our supplies had to be turned in at Open House on Thursday. Tomorrow is the big day. My big boy is starting Pre-K. He's been really excited mixed with some nervous emotions too. Tonight he told me he was glad I was going to be there. (I'll be right across the hall... next year is going to be tough when he moves on to big school) We think we're ready for tomorrow. I said a special prayer with both boys for their teachers and their friends and their day tomorrow. I also read The Kissing Hand to Garrison. It was sweet. Now I'm ready to pray for myself and my new group of babies and that we are all protected from sickness this school year. Last year was ROUGH.
*Terrell and I went back to Sunday School for the 3rd Sunday in a row. We still don't know everybody and we still aren't totally comfortable but we're making progress and feel confident this is where God wants us. Today everybody shared a little about their families... names and ages of kids mainly. We enjoyed finding out who had kids the same ages as ours and who had girls and who had boys... and we especially enjoyed hearing that multiple couples in our class have 3 kiddos. Yay for feeling normal. =)
*My husband, who doesn't like to read AT ALL, read 9 chapters of The Duck Commander Family last night. I am sooooooo proud of him!! He actually really enjoyed it! I knew he would... which is why I got it for him for Father's Day... and then I read it myself so I could encourage him to read it. It is really, really good. If you love Duck Dynasty, you should read it. I highly recommend it.
That's all our weekend news. Pray for us tomorrow as we begin our journey of a brand new school year!
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
12 Weeks!
Yesterday marked 12 weeks of pregnancy for us... and the baby bump is out!
And growing. =)Between pregnancy and going back to school (I think the week of pre-planning is the toughest week of the school year for me) I am spent. Big time. I'm hoping to keep feeling better and better as I adjust to going back to school and as I enter the 2nd trimester. That's what I'm praying for at least! I don't have to go back to the doctor until the end of this month, but in the meantime, here's an update on baby and mama.
Pregnancy Highlights
How far along:12 weeks
Size of baby: 2 and 1/2 inches long and
weighs about 1/2 of an ounce. He or she is about the size of a large plum!
Total Weight Gain/Loss: When I went to the doctor about a week and a half ago I had only gained a pound. By now I'm thinking I've gained 1 or 2 more... but I won't find out for sure until I go back to the doctor in 3 weeks.
Maternity Clothes: I broke down and put on a pair of maternity shorts last week. It was so nice. Everything is getting tighter so I'm having to wear my longer, slightly bigger clothes... but no maternity clothes yet... except for those shorts. =)
Gender: We don't know yet but Terrell and I both have a stronger boy feeling. I think the main reason for this is because boys is all we know so it's sort of hard to picture us with a girl. I had a really strong feeling Garrison was a boy. I've just always felt strongly that our firstborn would be a boy. Then I had a sort of strong feeling Austin was a girl. So I've been both right and wrong. Terrell thought they were both girls so he's 0-2 so far. Haha.
Movement: I've felt a flutter or two but can't be sure if it's the baby. I'm thinking it will be a few more weeks before I can really feel him or her.
Food Cravings: I'm really loving yogurt. It's my go-to cold snack. I'm also loving lots of crackers. Any kind of crackers is my go-to I'm feeling nauesous or queasy snack.
What I Miss: Good sleep and not feeling queasy and sickish every single morning.
Sleep: The sleep isn't going so well right now. It was going great but now not so much. I usually am SO tired when I go to bed but end up tossing and turning or waking up hot or having CRAZY dreams that keep me from a deep sleep. And if one of those things wakes me up after I've already fallen asleep it takes me FOREVER to go back to sleep. Ugh. It's pretty frustrating but hopefully it won't last.
Symptons: I feel sick at some point every single morning. If I can eat a few crackers it usually passes pretty quickly... but without fail it's gonna hit me sometime every morning. Thankfully I haven't thrown up or anything. I'm having crazy, crazy dreams... strange and weird and random dreams. I have no energy and pretty much feel like I'm walking around in a state of exhaustion all the time. Oh, and I have to potty all day long... can't forget that one.
Best Moment This Week: Sharing our news with everyone and not keeping it a secret any longer. We told our parents and sisters last month but we made them wait to tell anyone for a few weeks after that. Now our grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, people at work, people at church... everyone knows and can share in our joy. =)
What I'm Looking Forward To: The 2nd trimester, getting my energy back, adjusting to our new school schedule, and hearing the the baby's heartbeat... something we haven't been able to do yet. I can't wait!
Monday, August 5, 2013
4 and 1/2
My sweet boy is 4 and 1/2 today. How can it be? We're on our way to Pre-K and age 5 and big school and leaving for college. I'm not ready!! Ha! The days are looong but the years are short... I don't know if there's any statement more true to describe this stage of life. Somehow, some way even on the super long days I've got to keep soaking them up because they go so fast.
Age four has been a bit of a challenge. It's been an emotional year for my big boy and a year of some power struggles. We've had to learn self-control and the respectful way to respond to grown-ups... something we're still working on. That part's been tough. But's it's also been a year of the best big brother ever. A year of more responsibility. A year full of learning and growing. A year I am so thankful that Garrison Cade is mine... a priceless gift from God.
Fun Facts at Age 4 and 1/2
*You are a HUGE Braves fan.
*You have a really, really big heart and are sensitive about the things that happen around you.
*You set the table almost every night... napkins and silverware that is.
*You are very interested in learning to read and absolutely love books.
*You love to color, draw, paint, play with stickers, or do anything crafty.
*Your favorite show right now is Pioneer Woman. You started watching this show with me at first and were only interested in the ranch. Now you request to watch it even when I'm not watching and love the cooking, the kids, the cowboys, everything.
*You know how to buckle yourself into your carseat all by yourself and you can almost completely dress yourself without any help.
*You're starting to try more and more new foods. Yay!
*You love spaghetti, fruit, tacos, cheese, chili, baked potatoes, and almost any kind of snack food. Plus almost any kind of breakfast food.
*Celebrating family members' birthdays are one of your favorite things ever. (Today you celebrated Allison's birthday at her party and it's Frankie's birthday today... Happy Birthday Uncle Frankie!!)
*You love your little brother and have the best time playing with him. (Most of the time.)
*Your favorite people are your family... mama, daddy, Austin, and your grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
We are SO thankful for you and are loving watching you grow. You are one of the biggest blessings ever and we are beyond grateful God gave us you. Happy half-way to 5 birthday Garrison!!
Friday, August 2, 2013
Summer in Review
Summertime for the Selph household is coming to a close. I go back to work on Monday for pre-planning and start teaching my new group of 3 year olds on the 12th. And I'm not even super sad about it! That in itself is a testimony to how much I enjoy my job and how much I love the Fall... which is lingering right around the corner. =)
Our last day of school was May 15th and since then we have enjoyed our summer to the fullest. It hasn't always been easy, carefree, and relaxing (come to think of it, it's never been relaxing) but it has been full of fun, memories, new experiences, and a few challenges for all of us.
*We kicked off summer by playing in the sprinkler, going to the pool, and just enjoying some water days.
*We got into a routine right away of the boys playing together in the mornings while I took care of some things after breakfast and then we enjoyed an outing or took care of errands.
*We had a fun Memorial Day weekend and Austin started potty training.
*My sister got engaged!!!
*Terrell and I had a wonderful weekend away in Savannah to celebrate our 8th anniversary.
*Garrison took swim lessons for the first time and did really well. We haven't made a final decision about next summer just yet but we're definitely proud of his progress... even if we did have a little setback.
*We found out we were expecting baby #3... and kept it a secret for as long as we could. Haha.
*We visited the library many times and read lots of books...
...lots and lots of books
*We took Austin to his first ever Braves game! We all had a really fun time and decided a visit to Braves country is a new summer tradition.
*We had our first and only stay-at-home day when mama had lots to do around the house... so the boys watched a short Mickey Mouse movie... Austin's first movie ever. He did pretty good considering he usually doesn't make it through an entire episode of "Mouse".
*We also built a fort under the dining room table that day.
*That night we went out for ice cream! Something we did pretty regularly this summer. This picture is just precious to me. Such a sweet big brother.
*We enjoyed a pool day with AnAn and even a few with daddy!
*We went to the beach!! This year's vacation had some ups and downs thanks to the hurricane like weather that interrupted the middle of our trip, but the boys had a blast and it was one of our more laid back vacations so far!
*We said goodbye to the paci. Poor Austin. Naptimes are going WAY better. Unfortunately we are still struggling with bedtime. Sometimes I wonder if bedtime will be a challenge until he moves in with Garrison. We just can't seem to figure out how to break him of this phase. We're making progress... we just still have a long way to go.
*The afternoons (after naptime) were long. And super challenging some days. We discovered our witching hour and the boys sort of went wild.... oh my.
*I enjoyed a couple of lunch dates with these handsome boys. Taking advantage of $1 taco Tuesdays was always fun.
*We attempted a few crafts! The favorite BY FAR was paper plate animals. I think we have at least 10 floating around the house. An elephant, giraffe, and alligator are just a few. The giraffe is displayed below. By the end of summer Austin could sit and color for several minutes without ever sampling a crayon. Yay!
*We made a few trips to Chuck E. Cheese. And to Chick-Fil-A... I just don't have any pictures of our trips to CFA. We even visited the McDonald's playground once.
*We went to Legoland. So fun!
*And just this week Garrison went to the dentist for the first time. This was strictly an introduction and he did well. He is always super apprehensive about anything new, even fun stuff, so he was pretty nervous. He let her look in his mouth, count and check his teeth, and then practiced with Mr. Straw and Mr. Thirsty. His "appointment" lasted about 2 minutes and he didn't have any cavities! Yay!
Despite our sometimes long and crazy days, this summer was an adventure I'm thankful for. I may have been exhausted and barely going for half of it but we had fun together. Spending my days with these 2 is always a blessing. Yes we had fighting, time-out, and tears, but we also had fun and laughter and 2 brothers playing with each other lots and lots. One of the biggest blessings of all was seeing their friendship grow and the fun they had with each other.
Our last day of school was May 15th and since then we have enjoyed our summer to the fullest. It hasn't always been easy, carefree, and relaxing (come to think of it, it's never been relaxing) but it has been full of fun, memories, new experiences, and a few challenges for all of us.
*We kicked off summer by playing in the sprinkler, going to the pool, and just enjoying some water days.
*We got into a routine right away of the boys playing together in the mornings while I took care of some things after breakfast and then we enjoyed an outing or took care of errands.
*We had a fun Memorial Day weekend and Austin started potty training.
*My sister got engaged!!!
*Terrell and I had a wonderful weekend away in Savannah to celebrate our 8th anniversary.
*We found out we were expecting baby #3... and kept it a secret for as long as we could. Haha.
*We visited the library many times and read lots of books...
...lots and lots of books
*We had our first and only stay-at-home day when mama had lots to do around the house... so the boys watched a short Mickey Mouse movie... Austin's first movie ever. He did pretty good considering he usually doesn't make it through an entire episode of "Mouse".
*We also built a fort under the dining room table that day.
*That night we went out for ice cream! Something we did pretty regularly this summer. This picture is just precious to me. Such a sweet big brother.
*We enjoyed a pool day with AnAn and even a few with daddy!
*We went to the beach!! This year's vacation had some ups and downs thanks to the hurricane like weather that interrupted the middle of our trip, but the boys had a blast and it was one of our more laid back vacations so far!
*We said goodbye to the paci. Poor Austin. Naptimes are going WAY better. Unfortunately we are still struggling with bedtime. Sometimes I wonder if bedtime will be a challenge until he moves in with Garrison. We just can't seem to figure out how to break him of this phase. We're making progress... we just still have a long way to go.
*The afternoons (after naptime) were long. And super challenging some days. We discovered our witching hour and the boys sort of went wild.... oh my.
*I enjoyed a couple of lunch dates with these handsome boys. Taking advantage of $1 taco Tuesdays was always fun.
*We made a few trips to Chuck E. Cheese. And to Chick-Fil-A... I just don't have any pictures of our trips to CFA. We even visited the McDonald's playground once.
*We went to Legoland. So fun!
*And just this week Garrison went to the dentist for the first time. This was strictly an introduction and he did well. He is always super apprehensive about anything new, even fun stuff, so he was pretty nervous. He let her look in his mouth, count and check his teeth, and then practiced with Mr. Straw and Mr. Thirsty. His "appointment" lasted about 2 minutes and he didn't have any cavities! Yay!
Despite our sometimes long and crazy days, this summer was an adventure I'm thankful for. I may have been exhausted and barely going for half of it but we had fun together. Spending my days with these 2 is always a blessing. Yes we had fighting, time-out, and tears, but we also had fun and laughter and 2 brothers playing with each other lots and lots. One of the biggest blessings of all was seeing their friendship grow and the fun they had with each other.
Now it's time for a brand new adventure to begin. My big boy will be in Pre-K and go to school evey day while my littlest man and I will have the exact same schedule and some extra quality time while his brother is at school. We are ready to welcome Fall!! (Even though technically that'll be a while. =))
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