Thank Goodness It's Saturday!!
Because that means tomorrow is Sunday! And Mr. Creighton Eli has been begging every day to go to church and see his friends. Who are his friends? Well, when I first asked him I was surprised at his response. His friends are, "Sparks, Gibby, Perkins, Sparks." (That is: Sister Sparks, Sister Gibby and Sister Perkins. I think he adds in Sister Sparks a second time because she is his favorite!)
He usually asks if we are going to church when I do his hair. In fact, he got a haircut on Thursday and when the stylist asked if she should put gel in it he said, "Am I going to church?" Then the stylist asked him about church and he preceded to tell her about his friends (or teachers).
I am grateful that he loves going to church so much and that he looks forward to it. Hopefully that will always be the case. I am grateful for his teacher friends that help to reinforce what he is learning at home. Often he says something that we aren't sure we have taught him so we decide he must have learned it in nursery class.
For the most part, Creighton really loves to learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ. He loves to talk about prophets. Cason printed out a picture of all 16 latter-day prophets last week for Family Home Evening. I heard Creighton the other day playing with it. He said, "Is that one Joseph Smith? No. Is that one Joseph Smith? No." And of course he loves the story of the prophet Noah because we spend a lot of time talking about all of the animals.
Creighton likes to sing songs from church, but only on his terms. When he is not in the mood for singing- watch out. And he won't sing a song that he doesn't want to. But he knows the words to a lot of songs and can really belt it out when he wants to. However, he never sings "Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam" because he is much too busy dancing. If you know that song, than you know that the "beam" part of the song is exciting. Creighton takes the opportunity during the "beam" part to roll around on the floor, flail his legs, attempt somersaults and a myriad of other 3 year old boy crazyness...
But he does not like to read scriptures and say prayers at night. In fact, it usually becomes a war zone with tears on his part or mommy's and daddy usually turning into the bad guy. I think perhaps it is because to him it symbolizes the dreaded BED TIME. In fact sometimes I skip it because I don't want to ruin the peace and happiness we are feeling at that time. But I know that being consistent in the most important thing. So I am trying to make sure it gets done every single night.
Miss Macey Jo also loves church. She takes the opportunity to sleep during the first half and then is usually pretty calm during the rest of it. For the most part she is such a calm and content baby. But she is like her mom- if she is hungry or tired you better watch out! She has a set of lungs and will use them! Even when you make the bottle and bring it to her, she won't take it for a while and will continue to scream until it turns into a whimper as though to say, "You took so long... what's the matter? Didn't you hear me? I was starving... I am not very happy with you right now..." And when she is tired there is a certain way she likes to be put to sleep and to be honest, mommy does it best!!
But once she is asleep it can be difficult to keep her asleep. Part of it has to do with a very loud 3 year old boy who shall remain un-named. Another reason is because she likes to be VERY comfortable. She sleeps best in mommy and daddy's bed propped with lots of pillows and blankets. I blame daddy for discovering this. In fact, to make both of them happy, daddy will make her a large pallet on the floor next to the computer with several blankets and pillows while he does his homework. That way she sleeps comfortably while he works on school work. Another reason she doesn't nap well during the day is because she is such an AWESOME sleeper at night! She sleeps for about 8 hours straight, wakes up to eat, then is down for about another 4 hours. So I can see why she doesn't want to sleep for several hours at a time during the day. When I told that to one woman she said, "Are you breastfeeding?" I said, "No." She said, "Well, that's why she sleeps through the night!" (This woman is very pro-breastfeeding.) Well, if a non-breastfeeding baby sleeps that well at night I think I'll keep doing what I'm doing. If she was trying to convince me otherwise it did not work!
"I want my daddy!" When Cason is at work I hear this several times throughout the day. Whenever Creighton gets in trouble for spitting, pooping in his underwear, spilling his drink (for the 4th time that day) or whatever he screams this phrase. (His dad says he yells, "I want my mommy!" When I'm the one gone and at work.) I tell Creighton, "I want you to have your daddy too." I only wish Cason could be there to help! Right now with Cason's schedule it's feast or famine! Sometimes he works 4 12 hour shifts in a row and other times he has 4 days off straight. Those 4 days off really spoil us and it is hard for dad to go back to work. Cason has been back to graveyards for the last month and those really stink at 12 hour shifts. We are also glad it is Saturday because Daddy has the next 3 days off!
Creighton and Macey Jo are also in love with their Grandpa Dennis. Miss Macey Jo just loves to spend time over there. And grandpa can make her giggle like no one else. Her giggle is so cute. Grandma says it is a deep belly laugh. I call it a ventriloquist laugh because she makes such a loud sound without hardly any facial expression at all. One reason the kids like grandma and grandpa's is because they have all kinds of fun toys. Creighton really likes the lawn mower toy (and watching Disney now that we don't have cable) and sister is finally big enough for the walker chair!
She loves this chair so so so much! I decided we needed one for our house and searched for one on amazon. But decided that I wouldn't get one and it could just be a special treat for when we go to grandma and grandpa's!
Sister has a lot of things on her "favorites" list. Which is great! Topping the list is the bathtub. I am sure she could be content to live in the tub. I am grateful I invested in a "whale bathtub" for this cutie. I didn't have it for Creighton. She is a fish like her brother and splishes and splashes and just can't get enough. She just loves water in general. When we go swimming at Grandma Chambers' house she floats in the semi-hot tub and is just as content as can be. And no one looks cuter in a swim suit than this sweetie!
A true girl, she also loves to talk! I don't remember Creighton babbling so much so young! I imagine words will come soon enough. Too soon probably! This beauty will be 4 months tomorrow. Cason thinks the time has just flown by. I actually don't agree though. I really do feel like it has been 4 months. I think the reason it could possibly feel like the time has gone faster than with Creighton is I think she is doing things quicker and is bigger than Creighton was at this age.
Another one of Macey Jo's favorite people is her big brother. She just loves to stare at him and watch what he is doing, And I'll admit- he is very entertaining! She can certainly learn a lot from him. In fact she loves to watch cartoons with him. Truth be known, of course it's just because she loves to snuggle next to her big brother. It's really the only time he sits still long enough to hold onto her.
He is still such a great helper. He hasn't gotten jealous of her. Sometimes when we are getting out of the car at the grocery store he asks me to hold him and I tell him I can't because I am holding sister. He seems to understand and doesn't get too upset. He also likes to help her remember not to suck her thumb. When Creighton was at his 3 year old check up Dr. J told Creighton he needed to stop sucking his thumb. Mommy later told Creighton that was because it would hurt his teeth. I am glad Dr. J said something because it has been easier to get Creighton to stop now when we say, "Remember what the doctor said?" So whenever Creighton sees sissy with her hands near her mouth he says, "Sister! Doctor says no sucking your thumb!" Luckily, sister is still enjoying her pacifier and not her fingers though.
I just have to brag about my puzzle master!! He got some Doc McStuffins puzzles and turned into a pro. Then from the Easter Bunny he got Toy Story and Cars puzzles. They are 24 pieces and he can usually do it in 2-3 minutes. And he just loves them. He does them all on his own just sitting in his room and if I ask him what he wants to do he says, "Do puzzles!" But he is starting to get a little bored with them I think... I need to find some larger puzzles. I think about 36-48 pieces but with pieces the same size. No down-grading on the piece size for now. He also loves to read and is taking advantage of his new "reading-nook" since we re-arranged his room.
I wish Creighton was as interested in using the big boy potty as he was in doing puzzles, reading, going to grandpa's house, watching cartoons, eating cinnamon rolls, playing with the dog, etc. Pretty much it is at the very, very bottom of his list of favorite things to do. (In fact, he would probably rather says prayers and read scriptures at night than use the big boy potty). Yes, we are still struggling with potty training. For a while I thought he had totally gotten the hang of it... silly me. Yesterday he had 2 1/2 accidents and I had to throw 1 pair of underwear away. He has had so many BAD accidents I have had to get out the carpet cleaner. So many extra loads of laundry. And not just pants and underwear... Someone told me "there is life after potty training". Well, I don't know if I'll even get to the "after potty training." So many people have tried to tell me "how-to potty train your child in 3 days!" Yeah right. They are welcome to take my child home for 3 days and try it on him. I swear I have tried it all and then some. I hope this is the hardest thing he puts me through and the teenage years are a breeze. I do have high hopes for Miss Jo. She HATES to have a wet diaper. Perhaps this means good things for the future...
All this just to say... Thank goodness it's Saturday!
