Country boys…

Country boys ride concrete armadillos for fun.

Country boys spend their time at the fence talking to the cows. 

Sometimes I think the cows might love Hayden as much as he loves them.

Sweet Sleep

What’s this?  A picture of Hayden sleeping in his bed on our video monitor.  Not that Hayden has not slept in his bed.  He has.  But now, I am so happy to report that we no longer have to rock for 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or even an hour to get him to go to sleep for naps or nighttime.  I never thought this would happen!! 

I absolutely loved rocking my baby boy to sleep every night.  But, it was becoming quite the chore.  A frustrating one at times.  I didn’t know how I was going to break him but I knew it needed to happen soon! 

The first night we were in SC at Jen’s, it took me over an hour to get him to sleep.  An overtired baby in a new place was hard.  But, an hour was a little ridiculous. The time had come.   Jen was my rock in this adventure!!  I seriously could not have done it without her.  The first night, even after rocking for an hour, he cried for quite a while.  SO SAD!  But, eventually went to sleep.  The next morning for nap time, I rocked him for 10 minutes and laid him down.  He cried.  Jen and I left while Jeff Gray endured the crying.  He eventually laid down and went to sleep.  That night, I again rocked for 10 minutes and laid him down.   He only cried for a few minutes.  After a couple more nap/nighttimes and rocking for 2-5 minutes, he no longer cried.  Sweet!!  I was one happy momma!  It was a celebration every night/naptime when he didn’t cry!  I eventually got to where I could rock him in my arms for just a few seconds and lay him down without a sound.

I was a little nervous about how he would do when we got back home.  Guess what, he did beautifully!!  We now are able to just walk into his room and he reaches out for his bed for naptime and nighttime! 

I had always heard that 3 nights is all it takes.  That was right.  3 nights and like magic, our baby boy now just lays down and goes to sleep on his own.  Dad’s words when we go home were, “That’s Amazing!”  I think so!  Makes for a happy momma and daddy!

Side notes:

Hayden has a box fan on high when he sleeps.  He has had one in his room for about a year and blocks sound fabulously.  Again-Jens suggestion.

Do you have a video monitor?  We got this one from a friend of Jen's in January.  I love it and don’t think I could ever live without one.  However, I didn’t have one when we went to SC and I definitely think it helped me stay strong since I could only hear him crying and not see him.

Jeff is a very tough guy.  But not when his baby is crying.  I definitely think he was so relieved when he heard I was trying to break Hayden of being rocked to sleep while we were GONE!  I am not sure we could have been strong enough together to do it.

House Rebuild Update and Our Sunday

This is for you Kelly Ann!

I thought I might have a little more to report to you, but things went a little slower than I thought!  Of course, I always have high hopes. :-)

Trim work was completed and paint is getting closer to being complete.  About half of the trim and interior doors, and all the crown mold still needed to be painted. 

Remember this post?  Well, I ended up not even going with any of those for wall colors.  My friend Stacy encouraged me and I went with her suggestion!  I decided on Sherwin Williams Latte for all the walls and SW Antique White for the ceiling, trim, and doors.  I love it!  I really wanted to do something a little different for the utility room, but I just couldn’t make a decision I was happy with.  So, I decided to wait until I could see everything all pulled together, then maybe one day I might want to change it. 

Of course, color is hard to tell in pictures, but here are a couple in our bedroom.  That is plastic, tape, and paper on the door in the middle.

In this picture, our ceilings look stark white.  But, they certainly aren’t white.  I am really loving the antique white though!

They also started working on trimming and building shelves for our closets.

Here is a dilemma I am having right now.  Our front door.  Well, really all our exterior doors.  I wanted something different.  Something other than white like we had last time.  I really thought I wanted a red.  I am sure it had something to do with the red I already had, but I tried it and it looked TERRIBLE!!! 

So, I have tried a couple of different colors.

Gray…(Can’t think of the actual color right now.)

 

This one is SW Keystone Gray.  Actually more tan than gray to me.

Not sure I love either one of them.  But, I am thinking we may just go with Gray #1 for now until I can find something I love.  :-)  Your thoughts?

Cabinets did not get started getting painted/stained this past week.  Supposed to start in the morning.  I am so excited to see how they turn out!  If they get finished by Thursday (like they said they would be) then we should be getting some kitchen countertops on Friday.  So, maybe I will have some countertop pictures along with cabinet pictures to show you next weekend.

So, what did we do today?  Hung out at home!  I can’t think of a time recently that we did not go somewhere during the day.  We were church skippers too.  Quite honestly, I know this is not an excuse, but I am scared to death of us getting that stomach virus that is running rampant around here.  I didn’t want Hayden to go into the nursery to spread his runny nose and coughing germs and pick up someone else's tummy bug!  S0, we decided to stay home and get things done around here.  We cleaned at the new house.  Cleaned up the travel trailer getting ready for hunting season.  Cleaned up some things that survived the fire that we are going to use again in the house.  Road the Ranger.  Painted doors.  And…shot guns.  Well, I shot once.  Dad and Jeff shot a lot getting several guns/scopes sighted in.

Nice redneck picture huh?  Nothing like holding the gun and your kid in the same picture.  He was trying to hold Hayden still so I could snap of a picture of him and his dirty self.

Hayden played on his slide, ran around, swung, played in the water and mud, and picked up sticks and rocks.  He was simply a country boy who played outside for about 7 hours today.  Today was a one nap day and he was one tired boy come bedtime. 

Oh yes, he went to bed with a fat lip.  He fell and busted his lip right before we came in after being injury free playing outside for 7 hours.  Poor baby! 

The weather was kind of exciting tonight.  Crazy actually.  I know of atleast one tornado only a few miles down the road.  Kind of scary!  Here are a few pictures of the sky tonight.

We had a great weekend and really feel like we got some things accomplished!  Don’t you love that feeling?

Our Saturday

Well, first things first…No Good Samaritan Saturday Update.  I didn’t go this morning.  Isn’t that sad?  Laurie Anna’s was having their Vintage Farmhouse Christmas event this morning too.  Didn’t go there either!  Again, so sad!  Simply too much to get done this morning.  Plus, “the boys” (i.e. my twin nephews Blaze and Blade) were here so we enjoyed some play time with them.

They spent quite a while reading books.  Hayden would just sit and listen to Blaze read.  So sweet!

Blaze is reading “It’s Potty Time”.  LOL!

The boys loved playing with all of Hayden’s toys! 

 

How do you like those Christmas pj’s?  I think the boys would stay in their pajamas all day.  Especially Blade (in the Christmas ones). 

Before they left, Mom wanted to get a picture of the three of them together.  Here is our attempt to get that done!  :-)

 

We also made a trip to “The Dump” (no-not the Dump, Dump, Dump…the furniture store) but the real landfill to dump construction trash this morning.  Doesn’t that sound fun?

Here is Jeff talking to the lady at the weigh station.  They weigh you when you come in and when you go back out after unloading.  It took us about 15 minutes to empty all the sheetrock scraps, trim scraps, old bathtub, old doors, etc. off the trailer.  But, it only cost $30.  Much cheaper than paying for a dumpster again!  We have already had 2 large dumpsters and I would rather not pay another one of those bills of $450-$650 each! 

This afternoon, before it started storming, Jeff got the yard mowed and I got some furniture painting done!   Then, we enjoyed the rest of our afternoon hanging out playing with Hayden and reading lots of books.  I made these yummy beef enchiladas again for dinner.  Tried them yet?

Hope you had a good Saturday!!!  PS…So excited about the Rangers!!

My Big Truck Book

We read this book about 453 times a day.  He is obsessed with loves this book!

(Thanks Whitney, Tommy, and Briggs!)

Tractor!  His favorite page!

 

Doesn’t he just look so sweet?

Good Samaritan Saturday without Good Samaritan

This past Saturday was full of opportunities for treasure hunting!!  Cindy (Jen’s mom) and I had been planning to go to Junkadoodle in Dallas after we found out they were having their annual outdoor flea market this past weekend.  Then, we found out that it was the Hwy 80 Garage Sale weekend as well.  We had a hard time not going to Good Samaritans, but we decided we better go ahead and head toward Junkadoodle early.  So, we decided to take the longer way and check out some garage sales.  We only stopped at two on our way and didn’t find anything.  However, we were so excited that we found this antique double wash tub on a stand at Junkadoodle!

At first, we weren’t real sure which one of us would get it and what we would do with it, but we knew we were not leaving there without it.  

I ended up getting it for $35 and I am so excited about it!! 

So, what am I going to do with it?

I am going to put it on the left wall in my utility room and use it as a laundry sorter.  I have been looking for some type of sorter.  I had not found one that I thought was big enough or worth the money.  I think this wash tub takes care of both of those.  Large enough and definitely worth the $35!  Of course the vintage look is a plus too!  I love it and I think it will look great with my cabinets!

What do you think?  What would you do with it?

House Update 10-18-10

House update time!  We have texture on the walls.  We have interior doors.  We have trim.  We have cabinets!!  A lot has happened in the past week.  But seriously, a lot happened today!!  All our cabinets, trim, and interior doors were all put up today!  We just lack our crown molding, window seats, and closet shelving and we will have all the trim work complete!  They will be calking and getting ready to paint tomorrow. We are moving right along!  YEA! 

I think our cabinets look fabulous!  They really make it look like a house again!  We went with knotty alder cabinets again except for our utility room.  We did bead board paint grade cabinets in there.  I am going to do a antique white with a glaze on the utility cabinets and we are going to stain the rest.  Well, we aren’t going to stain them.  Been there, done that.  The painter should be here Thursday or Friday to do the cabinets.  I can’t wait to see how they turn out!!

Take a look…

Kitchen

 

 Master Bath

Utility

Not really the best picture.  But, I will give you another look when they are painted.  We decided to have them build us some drawers to put under our washer and dryer instead of buying pedestals again.  I am really happy with them.  (Yes, we decided to go with front loading again.)  Different brand though.  :-) 

Trim

These rounded corner cuts are way beyond my comprehension! 

Doors and Trim

So, what’s left? 

This week…finish trim work and shelving in closets, primer and paint trim and walls, stain and paint cabinets.  Get final measurements done for countertops.

After that…wait for countertops to be ready.  Tile Hayden’s shower.  Marble in master shower.  All flooring.  Finish electrical.  Finish plumbing. 

We are shooting to be done in three more weeks.  What do you think?  Do-able?

Happy Half Birthday! Hayden at 18 Months.

Happy Half Birthday Hayden Luke! 

You are now closer to 2 years old than 1 year old.

• You love attention and now have started demanding it.  You will tug on someone's arm, pull their hand, or yank on their pants to get someone to give you your favorite snack you have found in “your” cabinet or throw a book in someone's lap to get them to read it to you.
• You clap for yourself and expect everyone else to clap for you when you think you have done something special or something you have been asked to do (pick up your toys, put something in the trash, not throw your cup, fork, or food on the floor, etc.).  Of course, we all clap with you! 
• You love to read!  You have recently become obsessed with looking at reading “My Big Truck Book” that is full of pictures of trucks, dumptrucks, firetrucks, tractors, large machinery, etc.  You are all boy!
• You have started exploring and trying to “climb”.  I thank God each day that you have not discovered how to climb on the couch, in chairs, etc.  Ha!  You did somehow climb into the laundry basket today and just sat down in there.  Quite funny!  I don’t think it will be too long until we call you a climber.
• You have really started to play more independently.  You have started imitating truck  and tractor sounds, flying a toy airplane in the sky, etc.
• Of course, your favorite place to be is outside!  You are happy just being outside walking around, picking up sticks, and exploring.
• You have started eating a little better.  You aren’t real crazy about veggies though. You will eat some peas and carrots occasionally.  We will keep trying!  You still love pasta-Spaghetti, Chicken Spaghetti, Ravioli, and  Tortellini.  Some of your other favorites are anything with peanut butter on it, waffles, cheese, grilled cheese sandwich, deli ham, quesadillas, yogurt, cheez its, goldfish, Nutri-grain bars, and pretty much any fruit.
• You have gotten really good at letting us know when you are “all done” using your sign language.  Except you do not do the traditional “all done” sign.  You do a sign that looks like you are dusting your hands off on one another.  Clear as mud?  Hard to explain.
• You have 7 teeth and are cutting 3 more right now.
• You wear mostly 24 months clothes, size 6 diapers, and weigh about 28 pounds.
• You have started going to sleep much better at night.  You usually go to sleep between 7 and 8 PM and wake up WAY TOO EARLY!  Usually between 5 and 6 AM.  We are working on this!
• On a good day, where we are actually home all day, you take two naps totaling of about 2-3 hours.  On a typical day, where we are running around doing various things, you get one good nap either in the morning or afternoon-whenever we might be home and a cap nap in the car.
• Some of your favorite words that you say many times a day are: moon, druck (truck), moan (C’mon), ball,  noooooo, no no, dark, Na-neee (Nanny), Mo-meee (Mommy), Da-deeee (Daddy), cow, moooo (any time you see a cow), bi (bite), dog, ish (fish), teeth, bye bye, and Boo!
• You LOVE to brush your teeth.  You will go into the bathroom and say “teeth” and point at your toothbrush.
• You have become quite good at throwing fits.  The good thing is most of the time you can distracted easily. 
• You still love your paci.  We have not been brave enough to tackle this yet. 
• You love to chase or be chased by the dogs (especially Chloe), Aunt Robin, or anyone else that will play chase with you.  You will hide in between someone’s legs to keep someone  from “getting” you.
• You love to open and slam cabinet doors.
• You love for your Nana to spin you around while you are sitting in her rocking chair. 
• You love ice!  When you go to your Nana and Papa’s house, you go straight to the fridge and beg for ice.  Your Lulu has started bringing you a cup of Sonic ice on Sundays. 
• One of my favorites-you have become more affectionate.  You have started giving hugs a little more freely.  You especially like to love on your Momma!  You will just come up behind me if I am sitting on the floor and hug my back or neck.  When you are hugging, you say”Ohhhhh” like when you look at a cute baby.   MELTS. MY. HEART.  You give great leg hugs too! 
• You are busy, busy, busy!  But, you are so much fun and make us laugh so much each day!
• You are one lucky little boy that is a little spoiled and has so many people that love you so much.

Hayden in action…

Random Post including House Update 10-12-10

We made it home safe and sound!  I think we are all settled and back in our groove here at home!  If you didn’t notice from my previous posts, we had a blast in SC and can’t wait for our next visit!  Maybe in the spring! 

When we got home, Hayden had a surprise waiting for him!  I had ordered this chair for Hayden while we were in SC because Hayden LOVED Landree’s so much.  Literally, the first thing he did every morning when he woke up was go sit in her pink chair.  He would just go in her room randomly and we would find him sitting in it.  So, what else would a momma of a spoiled little boy do?  Get him one of his own for his new room!

Ok, so maybe we need to work on the proper way to sit in the chair.  Ha!

He loves it!

I also bought him a pair of high heels and pink sunglasses.  HA! HA!  Just kidding! 

JEFF. WOULD. DIE. 

He already thinks I have ruined him forever by letting him dress up that one time.

  

After a trip to Good Samaritans where I scored a super cute Halloween costume for Hayden for 50 cents, we went to Parker’s 3rd birthday party.  She had a Candy Land theme and let me tell you…it was to die for!  I will wait to let Marla post pictures, but we had so much fun!

Sunday was church and clean up around the new house getting ready for the tape, bed, and texture guys to begin.   Progress!  I was really thinking we would be painting this week, but it didn’t quite work out that way.  I’m over it.  :-)  Maybe next week!

We have spent the last couple of days hanging out at home catching up from being gone for 9 days!  Hope you have a good week!