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 ;)



Christmas was a success!

we had a great Christmas this year!

Christmas eve we had our annual brunch with my aunt, uncle and cousins and then we just relaxed at home until we went over to my parents for dinner.

Joanna left Christmas eve morning, so we missed her, but know we will get to celebrate with her from now on!

 best uncle ever....loves these boys so much and is so good with them. he is going to be a great daddy one day!

 my handsome husband

 after dinner and drinks, we headed home to wait for santa! the boys threw some carrots in the yard for the reindeer and set out some cookies for the big guy!

Lawton started spouting out things that he couldn't wait for santa to bring him....things I have never heard him say before....ummm...santa was already over in Australia and couldn't go back to the north pole for those items....

 

we woke up at 7:15 and Lawton was ready to go! I came downstairs to see what santa brought, start the fire, turn on the lights and get the casseroles out while daddy woke up wyatt and held the boys back from charging down the stairs!

we have video of them first seeing their goodies ;)

hopefully we will have a kitchen table soon -- it takes a while to get a house up and running! for now, this was the perfect place to set out the goal

 ninja turtles are ALL the rage and all over my house...uggghhh

 new planes, ninja turtles, batmans, car carriers, boys toys galore

 Lawton got a new taller scooter, pjs, a ninja turtle wii game, a putter and ball, etc

 wyatt loved opening up presents - this was such a fun age with him!

they also both got new soccer goals and daddy got the family a hammock for the back yard.

 

my parents and brother came over around 8 and we ate and leisurely open presents which I love...

one at a time, slowly. doesn't work for a lot of people, but it does for us!

 new basketball from uncle trent and Joanna!

 dad finally got a new camera! he has been using an olympus from seriously maybe 1990. he has to roll the film and get it developed!! ;) he loved it and we know change is hard, but he will like the 2000 era ;)

we then packed up and got in the car to head to Fayetteville to celebrate with jack's family

Lawton and wyatt couldn't wait to see their cousins!

 we got will a hornets jersey - happy boy! this kid is a sports fanatic and only wears jerseys ;) sooo...naturally, now Lawton only will wear his 3 jerseys everywhere....sweet.

 mandy, dale and the kids got new dogs and I am so in love!! this is sweet ellie ;)

 all the hall cousins

 me and sweet emmie - love her so much!

 and...wonderful billy. so lucky to have him as my father in law! the most selfless and heroic man I know.

 lots of football practice

 mandy and uncle hugh and the cutest dogs on the planet!

 the hall/brown families

again, a wonderful Christmas - no one was too sick - I didn't have a voice for a few days, which may be good for me sometimes ;) my nickname for when I was little was motor mouth ;) and billy had a bad chest cold, but otherwise, we were all healthy which is a miracle in itself. so thankful for the family time we had over the holidays - we are blessed!

Meet Joanna Party

 

last night, we had a little family party to "meet Joanna" at Leroy fox - perfect place for a small party.

I felt bad for her - we have a pretty big family, so I knew it would be a little overwhelming for her!

the big thing to celebrate was that they decided on a place to get married, so the date is set!

September 2015, can't wait!

 the cute couple

 my dad and his brother tommy - these two were 2.5 years apart like my boys and have SO many stories about torturing each other - one has a butcher knife involved!

they are the best of friends now ;)

 my cousin tommy and his wife, jen and their boys tommy and aeden. aeden and Lawton will be one year apart in school at costwald - so excited for them to be together!

my cousins Rachel and riley, aka the best babysitters around ;)

 my dad and tommy and their sister jennie

 me and my girls

 tommy, uncle tommy, david, aunt pam and cousin leslie

 Joanna and trent asked Lawton to be their ring bearer at the wedding last night - I will cry seeing him in a tux! he is so excited to be a part of this special day.....wyatt on the other hand...well, that kid is too reckless to have a part in it!

wow....so social right??

kids these days....

so excited about having Joanna join our family - she makes trent so happy and they are perfect for each other ;)

let the wedding celebrations begin!!