party on!

to keep the celebration going...Lawton had a little class party on his birthday

I was working, so I hated to not be there, but it was pretty special that daddy came in and got to spend this time with Lawton

 every year for the boys, I get the class the number cookies - this year, panthers themed of course!

 he didn't take his new (u g l y) hat off all day his teacher told me. it is a hilarious hat that when you squeeze the ball, the nunchucks swing out - he loves it and that makes me happy!

love

 im guessing he is not happy about daddy taking pics

 even uncle mark stopped by to wish him a happy birthday - such a loved little boy

 his wonderful teachers, ms. diane and ms. Melissa. so thankful to have had them this year and love knowing that as wyatt moves up, he will have the most wonderful teachers that Lawton has had

5!!

Lawton is 5!

my big boy turned 5 Tuesday...

5!!!

we had a Panthers Themed Birthday Party for him at my gym sunday and he had a blast

 all his buddies were there to celebrate and watching the smiles on his face throughout this hour and a half were just what a mama needs.

 Lawton and van have been buddies since they were born and love being together

 little brother had the best time too - he stayed in the ball pit 3/4 of the time ;)

 at the end, they brought Lawton out and he got to give a high five to everyone around the circle...

 and a miracle happened....when he got to wyatt, wyatt tried to get on and.....

Lawton let him!! it's a miracle!!

 sweet boy

 

Lawton,

as you made your wish, I wished that we could stop time for a second.

so I could soak you up in this moment - with all the chaos of 18 kids and the singing. I wanted to put a pause on time, run over to you, whisper in your ear that you make me so proud and that I love you desperately and then un-pause and let you carry on.

you made me a mother. I was never a sitter and really didn't care of children. I had no idea what kind of mother I would be and I was prepared for that. the moment you were born, they placed you on me and after the initial shock of this beautiful baby boy that I had brought into this world wore off, a calmness came over me and I knew that I was placed on this earth to be a mother.

your mother.

you make me so happy. I cherish our dates.

I love scratching your back and head every night. I love that you will kiss me on the lips still....I know it won't last long.

I love that you are kind and considerate. you aren't that way with your brother at all, but that is to be expected, but you are with me.

you are a teachers blessing. every teacher that has had you LOVES you.

I love that I don't ever have to worry about you. you follow the rules and you listen.

you say the funniest things and love country songs.....ESP Florida Georgia line. you know all the words even before I have ever heard the song!

you love henry danger on tv and are so still into ninja turtles it is crazy! you have just started to get into wii and love playing football with your daddy.

you love sports - football and basketball and love wearing any jersey your cousin will has.

you eat cereal most mornings and will eat most anything I put in front of you....or at least "taste" a bite of something new.

you love your family so much.

I love you so much my love!!!

 

from Lawton, age 5:

best friend- henry bailey

favorite food - chips

favorite team - tennesse

what do you want to be when you grow up - police officer

favorite toy - ninja turtles

favorite song - florida Georgia line

favorite sport to play - basketball



ohhhhh dear.

today wyatt had speech. he only goes once a month now, so I couldn't wait for ms. lee to see him and see how much he has improved since even christmas! he is speaking in full paragraphs now and everyday blows our minds with what he says and how he says it. 

 

she was so impressed and I have to brag, she said she always has to keep reminding herself that he is only 2.5 years old and that can't believe he had cleft lip and bi-lateral palate.

that makes this mama VERY happy.

I have been working with him since he was 18 months old everyday.....we have had some very tough/trying times with the screaming and him not being able to express what he needs/wants.

being at this stage in his speech is wonderful and i am in awe of him. I love listening to what he will say and like I said before, we work on things everyday with his pronunciation.

so, ms lee said he doesn't have to come back for 6 months!!!

6 months!!!!!!!!!!!!! woo hoo!!

 

on the way home he said something that made me stop and pull over.....

parent FAIL.

1st Hornets Game

along with the not sleeping, Lawton has been a bit sassy lately....

talking back, not doing things when I ask, a typical 5 year old. he and wyatt fight all the time and 98% of the time, Lawton is instigating it.

my friend giordana offered us tickets to the hornets game on Monday and since he didn't have school because of the holiday, it was the perfect date for us!

 we had the BEST time together and it was so needed. one on one time is key and we both really enjoyed each other. I miss having him alone sometimes - both my boys are angels when they are alone!

 he knew everything that was going on and got really into the game - he HAD to have a jersey like his cousin Will and everytime "his guy" came out, he was so excited

 the seats were amazing (thank you so much ci!!) and it was the perfect afternoon. I haven't been to a hornets game since the original hornets were around, so it was fun for both of us - I shocked myself at how into it I got!

my goal is to take more time to have "dates" with this guy - I can't believe he will be going to kindergarten in august!! I need to soak up this time while I can ;)

HEEEEEELLLLPPPP!!!

this is how my 4 - almost 5 year old is sleeping...everynight.

on a dog bed by the door, with a blanket.

WTH.

we are having major sleep issues with Lawton.

major.

I told him i wasn't laying with him anymore until he fell asleep because he would wake up like the exorcist screaming for me.

we even moved his beds all across the room, so that one is up against the wall and "safe" and comfy.

that didn't work.

he wants us to "check on him" at least 3 times or he freaks out.

so, here is how the night goes:

we read to him and he is in his bed.

we say goodnight and leave.

he moves to the floor and plays until jack checks on him about 30 minutes later.

then, we tell him to go to sleep and he freaks about us checking on him another time.

jack does and most of the time he is asleep, sometimes, up still playing at 10 to wait for the check up.

this is getting old. REAL OLD.

tonight jack is out of town for 2 nights and this mama isn't checking on him but once.

he hasn't tried to sleep with us, which is good and progress and he hasn't freaked out in the middle of the night in the past week, which again, is progress. BUT. i am having to give him "prizes" everyday for sleeping through the night.

help??????????!!!!!!!!!!!!

I read a book that said let them cry it out - it will take 2 weeks at this age but it will work. NOT FOR US and it was making us so crazy at 2am with him acting like a child that is not ours....a crazy crazy kid. it was actually pretty scary at times.

I am at the end of my rope. I don't know what to do.

I know he won't sleep on the dog bed forever, but I don't know how to help him....

his aunt sent him 2 great books about sleeping in his own bed, but he isn't fazed. he isn't fazed by us taking toys or privileges away, he just doesn't care.

I am at a loss for what to do and I am TIRED.

Greensboro

this Saturday we drove up to Greensboro to visit with mimi and b and took the boys to the national science center - it is so cool!

we went to my inlaws house to pick them up and I turned on my car to warm it up and Lawton locked the door and shut it. JUST as we were getting ready to leave.

car running, locked, no one in it.

sweet. BOYS!!

so, Emily stayed home for AAA and we loaded up in the van to go to the museum.

 the boys LOVED the sharks, penguins, the sting ray petting pool and the huge anaconda.

 it was also so nice to have some time with B and he loved it ;)

 then, outside there are all sorts of animals!! monkeys, tigers, wolves, alligators and a goat and sheep petting area.

this is wyatt spitting at the sheep. I kid you not.

 "eat the ham, tina!!"

 then, onto what it felt like to be in a real tornado!!

 these little guys were so cute!! I forget what they are called but they we just running up to wyatt and checking him out

we had such a great time in greenboro Saturday with mimi and b - the perfect way to spend a beautiful Saturday!

big boy bed!! 1.9.15

well, well, well.

 

I have been DREADING this.

 

wyatt moving to a big boy bed.

 

NOT because i am sad.....because I was worried for my own sleep!

 

that is the truth. there! you have it.

 

I screwed myself with Lawton. he moved into a bog boy bed when i was very pregnant and tired. so, I slept with him. I laid with him and sometimes slept with him....well, a lot. there was more room for my big belly in his bed than with jack (we then had a queen).

 

well, now, he is a terrible sleeper. wakes up screaming and is basically like the exorcist at night. I am currently trying to "break" him. meaning, no laying with him until he falls asleep and not answering when he is screaming bloody murder at 2am for us. books say it will take 2 weeks....we are one week down. I have threatened the cops (don't judge me), sleeping outside, taken toys away, you name it. he is cray cray. wants us in there. and, bad thing is, I know I did it to myself.

 

anyway, i was worried i was going to have 2 psychos, so I hadn't DARED move wyatt into his big boys bed yet.

 

then: yesterday Lawton broke the crib. I heard a crash and walked into Wyatt's room and the bottom half of the crib was split.

oh shit is all I could think to myself

 

there was no way to fix this. tonight was going to be the night wyatt grew up. no more cribs in the hall house...ever again.

 

we went to dinner with some friends, had a few beers and got geared up! came home, moved some furniture around and voila. bedtime.

 

and the boy slept ALL NIGHT. happy as a clam. is currently NAPPING LIKE A CHAMP.

this is one HAPPY HAPPY MAMA!!!

he kept saying "wow!!!!" "wow!!!" that he has room in his bed to move around and gets to sleep with so many stuffed animals - he is so cute!!

 i am so glad he is staying my "good sleeper" - I honestly feel like a weight has been lifted.

now, potty training and then i am golden!!

 

excuse the blotchy face - he literally just woke up ;)