I hate not seeing these images absolutely HUGE, but as I explained before - blogger makes it ridiculously time-consuming to do so, so these will just have to do. Took these pics a couple days ago and am still working on the rest. I love those two so much... what would I do without them? And to think we're going to have another one to love in only a matter of months... wow.
So I was talking on the phone to Monica, then my cousin Daniel, and then Rashauna (they were all together at the time) and I was in my room. The whole time I was talking I could hear Mariah and Robbie laughing and I could see Mariah running back and forth between her room and his carrying stuff, but didn't think much of it. Robbie was still in his crib from his 'nap' - ya know one those ones where they never actually go to sleep... anyways, so since no one was crying I thought I'd enjoy the time talking to my sisters and cousin.
But then I started hearing other noises. Mariah ran into my room and grabbed my bra and some other clothes... So at that point I decided I should get off my lazy butt and actually go check on them. And this is what I found: (see below) I call it crib craziness. I was laughing so hard and telling Rashuana about it - she said I should take some pictures and I'm so glad that I did because it somehow turned into a total photo shoot... and yes, that is a bra hanging out of the crib.
The other day Mariah starts walking out from her room first carrying her sleeping bag, then flashlight, then toys, books etc. I asked her what she was doing and she said, "Building a fort, of course." Sorry, I should have assumed that. So her and Robbie played under the table for at least 30 mintues straight... it was so cute. Mariah was reading him books and everything. For a while they were both laying down together. Then that night, she wanted to sleep under there! She only made through half the night, but she thought it was the coolest thing ever. Here's some pictures.
So as most of you that know our family well, my precious Robbie has been such a challenge since about two weeks after he was born. I still don't know what was wrong with him, whether it was colic or something else... but he basically cried for what seemed like 15 months straight. He's had a few stretches of 'happy' days or even weeks thrown in there, but overall, he's just a crazy boy!!
His determination and stubbornness are great qualities that I know will get him places later in life, but as for right now - it's hard to deal with! Church is the hardest for me (and him). He is a loud kid with a loud voice and it's hard for him to remember to be quiet, either that, or he just doesn't want to. It also seems hard for him to remember not to throw trucks at the people in front of us or to not run down the isle or to not shove fifty goldfish into his mouth at once or to not start screaming his head off when I try to tell him to quiet down... I seriously leave every Sunday almost in tears (or sometimes completely in tears), frustrated, tired, angry and usually sweating, which is not how you should feel (or look!) when you leave church! Sometimes I wonder why I even go...
But then I think about it and I KNOW why I go. It's because of those rare occasions when I hear something that really touches me or something that I feel applies to me and my life, and it makes all the crazy Sundays when I hear absolutely NOTHING worth it. But mainly, the biggest reason why I refuse to give up and why I WILL keep going is because it's important to ME and because I know it's right and good for not only me, but for our family. And the only way for my kids to see that, is for me to DO it. Hopefully some day, they will see why I want to go and why I want them to go as well. Something I'm sure my mom prayed for every day when she was dealing with me and my rebelliousness!! Good job Mom! =) Speaking of rebellion my Mariah, being only four (going on twenty one) already complains about church. She says that they "sing the same songs" and "it's boring" and "I don't wanna go!!". I seriously thought this kind of rebellion wouldn't happen until they were like 10 at a minimum. That's why I've implemented the McDonalds reward system. For every Sunday that Mariah goes to church and class happy, we go to McDonalds for happy meals and playing on Monday. We're 2 for 4 so far.
Anyways, I'm totally going off on a tangent here, but the main thing I was thinking about was what a hard time I'm having with Robbie, the past several weeks in particular. I feel like no matter what I try - it doesn't get through to him. To explain just how desperate I am, I took the kids to the library yesterday and checked out a book titled: 'The Happiest Toddler on the Block - The New Way to Stop the Daily Battle of Wills and Raise a Secure and Well-Behaved One - to Four-Year-Old'. We'll see how it goes... (told you I was desperate!)
I have a subscription to Parents magazine (I'm a total magazine JUNKY) and I always read the stuff about how to deal with toddlers and certain situations and blah blah blah and I just laugh because I would seriously love to see the writer try that 'method' with Robbie. Please honey... I'd not only love to see it - I'd PAY to see that. I remember my mom saying that every child is different - that's why they all need to be parented and disciplined differently. What works on one kid might not work with the next. I know my sister Rashauna was a total CRAZY HEAD when she was little. I remember some of it (mainly her INSANE hair and constantly dirty face and loud loud noises)... and now I look at her and see what a super mellow, patient, level-headed woman she's become and I feel hope.
Please don't get me wrong: I LOVE my kids with all my heart... But I do feel like Robbie and I have been in a fight for quite some time now and I'm ready for it to be over. I need help! We'll see how the book goes... but for now, I'm enjoying the peacefulness of sleeping children and a quiet house. I love going in every night before bed to check on them. They are so precious when they're sleeping... I don't know what I'd do without them. They are everything to me. They require so much work, but give me so much happiness and in return.
So that's my little 'journal' blip for now. Or possibly the first one. That was in fact my goal when I started this blog, was for it to be a journal since I don't keep a real one. But I usually just end up posting pictures because that is after all, so much more interesting - and faster to look at...
Okay, the end.
Here's a hilarious video of Mariah driving her Jeep and Robbie 'mowing the lawn' - or should I say pavement -with his bubble-making lawnmower. This was taken after a several incidences involving the lawnmower and Jeep, hence Robbie acting terrified of Mariah's driving. They have so much fun together - and they loved playing with Daddy and Nina and their Aunties & Uncles in Tennessee. Nancy has a gorgeous peice of property that the kids ran all over destroying things and collecting tons of bugs. Sorry for the messes Nancy =) We miss everyone already...
He's the only one that will look at the camera for me... Isn't he handsome?
I was taking pictures of him after he woke up in his crib and he kept making this crazy face!! He would just smile really, really big with his mouth wide open and squint his eyes... maybe because of the flash? I don't know but it was so funny and cute!
This one depicts the face I was referring to much better... makes me laugh...
Has everyone seen Baby Mama? If not, you should - it's a good one. Very entertaining... Anyways, there's this scene where a mom sees her little son running by with something brown on his arm and she asks him if it's poop or chocolate. He wont answer her, so she licks it! Fortunately, it was chocolate and not poop.
This one here is the best - hahahah!
The weather has been sooooo awesome lately we've been able to play outside. Both the kids LOVE bubbles, so we do that a lot. Taven was over and this was his first time with bubbles. He hardly watched the bubbles because he was too busy watching the kids run around like crazies. Mariah likes to blow the bubbles and then Robbie chases them...
Robbie loves:
uncle seth
eating & lightening mcqueen (the car)
sister mariah
reading books - especially airplane, truck, tractor etc. books
did i mention LIGHTNING MCQUEEN??
