it's been a while.

Anyone still out there?

I have many reasons for not blogging, and they are all pretty darn good, but I am going to take another stab at this thing. Jones is growing up right before my eyes (20 months on the 17th!!) and I don't want to miss a thing.

I am working full-time now. Very thankful for a great job, but I miss staying home with my not-so-baby-baby so much. Obviously this was not in "our plan" that Trey and I worked out before Jones was born, but life rarely follows our rules. Sometimes you just have to do what you gotta do and when life throws major curve balls in your face, you just gotta do your best.

So that's what I am doing. My best. I don't beat myself up for working outside the home(well, ok, some days I cry), don't beat myself up for not have a clean house, dinner cooked every night, or for not working out everyday. I am still trying to figure out this working mom gig. Thankfully I have a wonderfully supportive husband who has done more than his fair share with cleaning and grocery shopping and bath times.

Changes are hard, and this one is no exception, but thankful for God's daily graces.

Moving on.

Jones is hilariously wild. WILD. I know boys are wild. Mine may win. And, according to his teachers at "school", he does win. Yesterday he got his first bad report card. I had to talk to his teacher this morning. Parent/teacher conference at 3 days shy of 20 months. Pray for me.

Anyway, they proceeded to tell me that he tackles every child and then lays on them while the poor, innocent victim cries for help.

I believe this. He can bring me to the ground. PS - he weighs 30 lbs. I am pretty sure there is a girl in his class that weighs no more than 15. Bless her.

They informed me that after Christmas break he will be moving to another classroom. That's right. He is getting kicked out of his class. He is moving to an older classroom "where the kids are more his size". Am I raising a bully? This is hilarious.

I have tried to talk to him at home about being sweet and gentle and hugging all of his friends. Which he does - right before he brings them to their knees.

Right before he takes his next victim. You can see the fear in that poor child's eyes.

I have tried several "discipline" techniques including time-out (sitting still for 1.5 seconds....maybe) and even popping his little hand, to which he looks at me with his big blue eyes and long eyelashes, tilts his head and says "mama" ever so sweetly while leaning in for a kiss.

This kid is good. And I have my work cut out for me.

His loves right now: trains ("cha-chas"), his big cousin Henry, his little cousin, Noelle Adams ("awww"), balls (duh.), trucks and books. Oh, and tackling.

On his non-love list: Santa.

His vocabulary is still a little slacking. Trey is a bit worried. I think he just is satisfied with tackling and sees no use for words. At any rate, he has his very own language. When he sees a train he says " Cha-cha, mama!" Say that in a very British accent. That is how he talks. He can also say daddy ("da"), "book", drink ("thisss"), "ball", Thank you, ("tanktu"), "boot", and "dog".

Other than that, it's his own language. Most everything is "adda!". Who knows. We thought for a while "What's that?" but now I am not so sure. He is very funny and has full conversations with me in his own language, changing his tone, expressions and even shaking his little finger during the really important parts. I usually respond with "ok!" and he seems satisfied with that answer. I sure hope I am not promising a pony for Christmas.

He had tubes put in his sweet ears on Monday. Bless his heart, the Dr. said they were just awful. They are still draining a good bit. We go back next Monday for a check-up. Hoping for a clear bill of health! And we are also hoping being able to hear will help with his speech.

We are getting settled in a precious home in our new town. We will be renting this home for about a year and a half. I love it and could not be more grateful. Our home in Hattiesburg that we rented out for years while we were living in Gulfport is back on the market. PLEASE, for the sake of all things good in this world, someone buy it soon. If not, you may find me and sweet hubs in the nut house soon after the new year.

His favorite movie watching spot at our house -- inside the ottoman.

Maybe it won't be months before we talk again.
LOVE MY WILD MAN