Keeping it Real Friday

This is more of a foreshadowing post of what I am sure will be a hot mess of a Sunday morning.

Let's back up a minute and recount last Sunday's activities. 

Trey goes in to church on Sundays around 7:30, usually before Jones wakes up. I am still getting used to this new normal.  So on Sunday, I woke up early with Trey to shower and do my hair and make-up before Jones rises to ensure plenty of time and less frustrations.

Didn't work.

Jones woke up around 8:30 in rare form.

Outfit #1 on Jones - button popped due to him fighting me so hard. 
Outfit #2 on Jones - wet from him sneaking into the bathroom while I was putting on my shoes and turning on the water. "I take baff, mama!".

Let's just say I was sweating and wrinkled when we arrived at the late service around 10:45. 

Finally dressed and on our way last Sunday morning.

We both needed Jesus that morning.

Now let's forshadow this coming Sunday, shall we?

We are officially joining the church on Sunday. Since Trey is a minister, our new lead pastor has requested that we join at both services to make it visible to the whole congregation.

And she has requested Jones be present.  THE WHOLE SERVICE.

Trey warned them in staff meeting that wiser choices could be made in this situation and that there was a good chance that something in the sancuary will, in fact, break in Jones' presence.  But they insisted. 

He did bring them down to Jones being present in the early service only - the more contemporary, relaxed atmosphere. 

That service starts at 8:30.  Then Jones is off to Sunday School nursery and then parts of the later service with us.

This has disaster written all over it. 

I am trying to plan my outfit accordingly.  What do I wear? I need to look cute, obviously.  But last week I wore a pink dress that Jones pulled up ON STAGE in front of the entire symphony that our church was hosting. 

Dear goodness.  

I wonder if this is what the church had in mind when they hired my sweet husband. A minister's wife that flashes the congregation while chasing a wild toddler. 

Seminary might just kick us out.

Keeping it real, folks.

We had a date.

Wednesday nights are now a working night for Trey which means Jones and I are on our own for dinner.

I decided Jones and I needed a date.

Lately I feel like I spend my time correcting him or telling him no. We haven't just hung out in a while. And with #2 on his or her way, I want to cherish my one on one time with him.

So where do you go when you want a fancy date?

Chick fil a.
Duh.

Jones loved it. He was so sweet. Held on to his little chick fil a balloon through the entire meal.

Then I traded his kids meal toy for an ice cream cone.

He thought he was in heaven.

After dinner we went next door to TJ Maxx so he could pick out a surprise.

Two seconds on the toy aisle and he had his toy: a farm.

$6 and a plastic cow and farm later he headed home both happy from our date.

My sweet wild man. Love that boy.

Good day, people. It was a good day.

Double the fun.

Baby Skaggs #2 set to arrive February 3rd.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His faithful loves endures forever. "
1 Chronicles 16:34

8 days

I remain in constant fear of jinxing this, but this must be told:

We are a mere 8 days away from being one mortgage richer.

I can't begin to tell you how free I am almost feeling.

Three years. We lived there three years ago. For three months. We lived there for three months three years ago.

I think I have mentioned that once (or 15 times) before.

But we are practically a week away from sweet Hattiesburg home freedom.

Dear goodness. I haven't been this excited since Local Culture had both banana and peanut butter yogurt on the same day.

This is the farthest we have gotten on any offer on this house.

Here's hoping we close without a hick up.

Nothing against south Mississippi, but I can guarantee this girl will not be purchasing real estate in your 'hood again.

Keeping it real Friday.

This blog post brought to you by the IPhone.

As most posts here lately are.

Also, not unlike the photos I blog.

I can't find my camera charger. I think this is a sign that I should just break down and buy a real mommy camera.

It's all I want, really. Ever. All I wanted. Ever.

Yes, I am that dramatic.

So, I blog from my iPhone using iPhone pictures. I will just drool over other bloggers beautiful pictures.

There you have it: kirf fact #1- I am a camera brat.

Another real fact: this has been the longest day in the history of days. Ever.

Can't we just all agree Friday afternoons in the summer are just not meant to be spent inside your office?

Final real fact: sometimes I lie to my child. I just can't help myself. I don't do it often, but it is just sometimes necessary. I wonder how many times I was lied to by adults as a child? (ahem...Santa)

Just yesterday Jones asked for an ice cream cone while he sat in the stroller and I killed myself pushing 45 lbs up and down the streets in the hilliest neighborhood this side of the mason Dixon.

I told him yes.

Then I opened the freezer.

Apparently big mama had eaten all the ice cream.

So I put frozen cool whip in an ice cream cone, told him it was a special vanilla flavor and to enjoy.

I don't think he noticed.

Happy weekend, y'all.

Let's back up a bit.

My life hasn't left much time for blogging lately.  Or maybe I haven't left much time to blog? Either way, it just hasn't happened.

Thanks for the encouraging words about raising a strong-willed child. (minus you two, Amanda and Nan.  When Jones turns three, I am shipping him off to your place. LYLAS)

We have had some wonderful days since then.  Good days, bad moments.  We all have them.

A few things have happened around these parts:

1. Trey and I celebrated our anniversary.  6 Years.  Been through a lot in 6 short years - deaths, births, 9 houses, 4 cities, job changes, job loss, and the list goes on and on.  But I am proud to say that I love Trey more now than I did even on our wedding day and our marriage has only strengthened through some of the rough patches. 
   
   What did we do on our anniversary, you ask?
   
   We like to keep it classy. 
   
   We ordered pizza.  Ate on paper plates. And played with Jones.  It was perfect.
2. My cousin, Jake, and his fiance, Mary Kate, had a super fun party last weekend to get ready for their wedding in Dallas this August.  It was a tailgate themed party and the food was perfect.  Kinda had me ready for some SEC football. The house was on the water and the atmosphere was so relaxing and just perfect.  And they got lots of fabulous goodies.  Fun times.
   
   But maybe not so fun for Jones' sitter?
   
   It was the first time we have ever left him with a non-family member sitter at bedtime.  Every time we have had a sitter, we have left him once he was fast asleep. He was confused why we weren't there, to say the least.
   
   Live and learn, people. 
3. We celebrated Father's Day.  How blessed we are to have the fathers in our lives that we do.  My dad is an amazing man and an incredible daddy and grandaddy.  Trey and I are both lucky to call him ours. 
   
   And sweet Trey.  Not sure there is a better daddy out there.  He loves his baby boy and that child loves his daddy and I love watching them love.  I have a feeling those two might be trouble in the years to come.  
4. The real time-sucking event is that we moved last weekend.  We are in our new house in the new town and loving it.  I am beyond obsessed with the neighborhood.  Seriously, I don't want to leave. We are still up to our eyeballs in boxes and trying to get settled, but that takes time when you can really only work after Jones is asleep for the night. 
   
   Jones started his new school on Monday.  I was nervous.  Mamas take their kids to school, right? Not this mama. Not anymore.  He goes to school with Trey now.  I am happy they get that bonding time, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't a bit sad and jealous. 
   
   He is loving it.  The school is fantastic, his teacher is very sweet and the facilites are so nice and new.  And I love that Trey is so close. 
   
   Jones does miss his girlfriend, Emme, from his other school.  He still asks where Emme is.  I feel like I broke up his first true love.
   
   Monday also started my first day of commuting.  It's not so bad.  Just going to take some getting used to.  Changes, my friends.  Just more changes. 
   
   To make up for me getting home a little later and not spending time with Jones in the mornings, we have started pushing back his bedtime a little.  The kid likes to sleep.  He goes to bed at 7 every night without a fight.  And sleeps all night until we wake him up.  But now that he can sleep a little later than 7 am, we have started keeping him up until 7:30 or 7:45.  That extra half an hour is wonderful for me. 
   
   Sweet summertime.  Yesterday was the official start of the season.  It's hot here. 

Three cheers for getting close to the weekend!

Strong-willed?

I can't decide if my sweet, precious, innocent child is destined to be strong-willed, going through a terrible 2 stage, or just slowly trying to kill me.  Maybe a combination of all 3?

Bless his heart.  He is so stinkin' cute I can't stand it. 

BUT he knows what he wants when he wants how he wants where he wants and he won't back down until that happens.

Wears me out.

He wakes up sweet enough.  Talks about his animals. Gives me morning breath kisses and hugs.  Demands his milk.

Sometimes he is satisfied with the outfit I picked out, the berries for breakfast, the cup his milk his in. 

Then there are the other times.  Like this morning.

It was just me and Jones this morning getting ready for work and school.  Trey was fishing. (what the what?! At 6:30? Count me out.)

Little man didn't want his hair brushed.  Or his teeth brushed.  He didn't want to take off his giraffe PJs - "No. My 'raff. My 'raff." He didn't want to get in the car.  He didn't want to leave his loved plastic animals at home.  He just didn't want to. 

I can relate.  There are mornings I just want to be in my PJs with my toys at home too.  But this adds stress to an already stressful morning routine. 

He has started to hit me.  The kid is strong and has a good arm, so aside from being totally disrespectful, it hurts. 

I don't know what to do about this.  I spanked him for hitting which he responded "mama hit me".  Of course this made me feel extreme guilt and I cried. 

I can't  'hit' for hitting.

Time out doesn't phase him.  Taking away toys doesn't phase him.  

I don't know what to do.  I was so tired, frustrated and defeated when I got to work this morning - and it wasn't even 8 am. 

I know it's hard on him.  He goes to school all day everyday.  He is two.  I know that is not natural.  He is tired, I understand. 

But it is our reality right now and I have to stop beating myself up over it.  I just hate spending what little time I do get to spend with him during the week correcting him.

By nature, he is a very sweet boy.  He loves big.  He plays big.  But he also throws tantrums big.  I like passion in a person, so this will hopefully serve him well in the future. 

However, right now at almost 26 months, this passion can turn on me in an instant. 

Any words of advice from veteran mothers out there? I know I am not the first mother of a wild, strong-willed, precious 2 year old boy.

Truth

These pretty much sum up my life these past few weeks.

Please, tell me I am not alone.

Funny little thing.

My child is wild. Hilarious and wild.

There are days I rush to get him in bed because of pure exhaustion and other days I beg for him to stay up a little longer so I can soak him in a little more.

Trey and I were talking about how we just want to bottle this age up. He wears us out. But he is learning something new every single day and I love watching him grow and explore.

Here are a few funnies lately that I just don't want to forget.

• Friday night we met my parents and sisters family at the country club for a late afternoon swim and dinner. We were all eating outside by the pool and jones was of course going to town on dinner.
  
  We looked over at one point and he was standing on the chair, still wearing his swim trunks and puddle-jumper, and  yelling "yeah yeah chicken woo hoo chicken!" while waving chicken tenders in both hands above his head.
  
  I have no idea what that means, but it reminded me of a scene from a fraternity party and  immediately scary images came to my mind.

• His love for animals is getting out of control. He now sleeps with a cow, horse, zebra, giraffe and monkey. All plastic. And every morning he asks " where'd my heeee-arse go mama?" then once he finds the horse in his bed he says "oh! Right he-are!!". 
  
  Our new rule is he has to pick only two animals to go with us when we leave to house. Otherwise we have a whole zoo with us at church. We now have to say bye bye to all the ones left behind.

Breakfast with his friends.

Farm animal floor puzzle.

• He is constantly saying "watch this mama" then proceeds to either jump off the couch, kick poor Sophie in the stomach, or dump out the entire contents of a bag or box onto the floor.
  
  I am confident his goal is to both give me a heart attack and destroy my house. Simultaneously.

• He calls Noelle Adams "baby guurl" and without fail says it two octaves higher than normal. And anywhere we go...Kroger, to the park, taking a bath...he always announces "Henry not here, mama?" as both a question and statement. When I tell him no, Henry's not here,he follows up with "where'd Henry go, mama?".
  
  The kid loves his cousins.

Sweet Baby Guurl at a T-ball game

•  The other day at the pool I took jones with me to the restroom. When we walked out to a patio full of grown men who just finished golfing, Jones loudly announced "mama tee-teed -  Yay mama!"
  I am sure they were very impressed.

• Saturday afternoon I sent jones to his room fully clothed to get his sandals so we could go grocery shopping. He ran to his room then came back a few minutes later naked and in cowboy boots.

Naked Cowboy

Sweet lucy

I have been following sweet Lucy's journey for over a year now. I have cried so many years over this precious girl and her family. They need our prayers now more than ever. Amazing how connected I feel to complete strangers. My heart breaks for all of them.

Thought if you are the praying type you could pray for darling Lucy and her mama katie, daddy eric, big sister ella, and little brother jack.

http://erikandkatekrull.blogspot.com

Keeping it real Friday

A couple of random but very real thoughts this glorious day:

Let's all pretend this is my current location.

1.  I had a million of boring errands to run during lunch today. Some were rather timely:  pick up my skirt from the cleaners that I need for a business trip on Monday morning, turning off our electricity and gas at our current home for our pending move and maybe pick up something to actually eat during said lunch break.
   Yet somehow I ended up at the nail place and not doing any of the above.
   I figured getting a pedicure was both better than lunch and cheaper than therapy.
   
   Which I may need because...
   
   
2.  The sell of our house in H'burg fell through.
   That bleepity-bleep house. I swear it's trying to kill me.
   Three years, people.
   We lived there THREE years ago. For a total of three months, for crying out loud.
   
   
3. A vacation would be just lovely.
   
   
4. The closer I get to my 9th move in 6 years (a fact I bring up a great deal against my sweet husband's liking. It's a fact that is both impressive and depressing to me.) the more excited I get. Future stability, you smell so sweet to me.
   
   
5. Jones' deep adoration of farm animals is at an all-time high. He has slept with farm puzzle pieces for the past three nights. He especially loves the moo-cow and horse. I will cry when he changes his current pronunciation of "heeeeee-orssse" to simply horse. It's so precious to my ears.
   
   Speaking of pronunciation ...
   
   
6.  Did anyone else watch the national spelling bee on ESPN? Because this girl did.
   At supper club last night our whole crew ended up cheering for Lena and Snigdha like it was the SEC championship. That's right.  We got wild at supper club.
   Those sweet word-loving kids. Bless them and the entertainment they provided.

My favorite contestant. Lena.

TGIF, readers, TGIF.