Patience

Patience is definitely a virtue.

Boy, do I ever know this.

Today, was definitely the hardest day I have had in a long time. And it surpasses the potty training by a long shot.

It all started when my friend, Lori and I decided to get together for lunch. She just had her baby boy in November and we wanted to see each other's new babies.

We decided to go to a local restaurant here in town, somewhere where we eat atleast 3 times a week.

We show up and Lori is waiting with her baby boy, who is being a perfect angel. I drag in with my 2 kiddos. I try to get situated, but the layout of the table was off, so Thompson ended up being further away from me than I wanted. But I thought that it might be okay for today. Well immediately Brycen starts fussing and I start looking for a pacifier. WHO FORGETS A BABY'S PACIFIER?!?! Well, apparently I did. Oh gees, do you see where this is going. And then Thompson starts in with his "I want this, I need to go pee pee, I want this" rant... at the top of his lungs! Then he grabs the little butter packets and starts throwing them on the floor. I grab them and he starts screaming. I tell Lori that I am going to run out to the car to get Brycen's bottle and I will be right back. (Oh why, oh why did I not just get in my car and leave then???) I came back and started to feed Brycen. About that time Thompson spills his whole drink all over the table. I jump up and start wiping that up. I sat back down and finished feeding Brycen. I go to burp him and he vomits all over me and him! (And where is the burp rag? In the car!) I grab some napkins and start wiping us down. Thompson then yells that he REALLY HAS TO GO PEE!!! So I grab him and run to the bathroom. And what do you know... he does not have to go pee. Go figure. So we go back and he starts yelling that he wants "Strawberry!" aka strawberry jam. (Thanks, Nana... you have ruined my child with Strawberry jam) I tell him that he has to eat his chicken and fries before he gets it. Then... the waitress comes and plops down a roll and strawberry jam RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM!! What in the world was she thinking??? So he starts screaming for that all the while Brycen is wailing his lungs out fighting sleep. I grab him up and try to comfort him. And then I just lost it. I took the roll and the jam and threw it on his plate and said "have at it!" And then the tears started rolling. I sat there at the table and just bawled my eyes out. I cried for a good 10 minutes while everyone sat there staring at me. Poor Lori, I probably scared her off from ever thinking of having a second child. I promised her that it usually isn't like this... she is probably thinking that I am big, fat liar! :)

And you know... when it rains, it pours!

I come home and decide to call back the military housing to check on some paperwork corrections that they are supposed to be doing. Well I talk to this lady who has been helping me and she informs me that they won't back date my application until we check into Camp Pendleton. So... that means that we will have to not even get to be put on an actual list until we check in. And you have to be fully checked out of 29 Palms to check into C.P. That means that we have to be out of our house. So... I ask her, "Well what am I supposed to do with all of our stuff from our house? Where is my family supposed to go?" And do you know what her reply was??? "That sounds like a personal problem to me." Are you serious?!?! Did you really just say that to me! If I could have, I would have spit nails at her through the phone. Not kidding.

I call my husband, hoping to hear some kind words of encouragement. And do you know what I got from him?? "Buck up!" Oh no he did not just say that to me.

Why is it that the one day I decide to start a change in my life, the whole world wants to fall right down on me. And I know that there are a lot of people out there in this world with actual life problems. Mine is just stress. Mine is just God testing me. Lord, I hope I passed and I don't have to retake this portion of the test again!

So, if you are still with me, Bless You! You are a brave soul. And thanks for listening. I just had to get it out. I am doing better tonight. Thompson was still a pain tonight, but I am definitely thankful that I have that pain in my life!

Mistakes

“What do you first do when you learn to swim? You make mistakes, do you not? And what happens? You make other mistakes, and when you have made all the mistakes you possibly can without drowning - and some of them many times over - what do you find? That you can swim? Well - life is just the same as learning to swim! Do not be afraid of making mistakes, for there is no other way of learning how to live!”

-Alfred Adler

Mistakes...

I guess I am still hung up on this. I have been thinking a lot lately how I am not the perfect wife, the perfect mother, the perfect person. And honestly, it has taken a lot for me to realize that.

And no, I never thought that I was perfect, but I definitely thought I was always right.

The other night on the phone while talking to Robert I realized this. I am not always the nicest person. I am not always the most sincere. I am a VERY headstrong person. And in the past, I thought that this was a great quality of mine. And it can be... if I were to use it for the positive.

But sometimes (gasp!) I am wrong. There I said it. Sometimes I don't always know the correct thing to do, the right answer, or what is best.

Sometimes I am rude, and unfortunately it's to the ones I love most.

And it's not like I haven't realized this at some point in my life, but now I am finally accepting it.

So how do I become what I want to be??

How do I change this stubborness? I know that it will only benefit my relationships, so that is why it is important to me.

Luckily, I am blessed with a husband and family that have endured this from me. And hopefully they will stick around long enough for me to figure this out.

And no, I am not trying to be perfect, just better.

“Don't wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So what. Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and more and more successful.”

-Mark Victor Hansen

My new favorite!

“Maybe mistakes are what make our fate... without them what would shape our lives? Maybe if we had never veered off course we wouldn't fall in love, have babies, or be who we are. After all, things change, so do cities, people come into your life and they go. But it's comforting to know that the ones you love are always in your heart... and if you're very lucky, a plane ride away”

-- Sex and the City

I love this quote! I saw it today and it always puts a smile on my face.

Don't ask me why...

I honestly have no clue as to why my blogging has started slacking. Shame on me!

So let's see what is new--

Ohhhh! Thompson is about 95% potty trained! YES he is!!! It was a very stressful time in my life. A time filled with doubt of my ability as to whether or not I would survive. Not kidding. It was pretty much the WORST thing I have had to deal with yet as a parent. But, on the brightside it was only 2 horrible days. Then on the 3rd day, you could almost see the lightbulb go off in his head. "I get it... you pee pee in the potty!"

Yes, yes my dear son. You pee pee in the potty.

And now everytime he goes to the bathroom, the proud, newly potty trained little boys announces "I pee-pee!!! I pee-pee!!" And I mean anywhere. Target bathroom, yes. Texas Land and Cattle, yes. TJ Maxx, yes. But it always makes me smile and I always say "Yes, you pee-pee'd!!"

And baby boy Brycen is a growing weed. He is just getting bigger and bigger. He is definitely going to be a talker and he has really started sucking on his hand. He hasn't found his thumb yet, but it is probably just a matter of time.

Robert's mother came up to visit us this weekend. We had a really good time talking and she got to spend time with the boys. We also went over to Robert's grandmother's house on Saturday and visited with them. Brynna, who is 4, just wanted to love on Brycen the whole time. So sweet!

We are still trying to figure out our housing situation. I have a stubborn husband who just has to live in this one housing complex on base. And apparently the six month waiting list does not scare him. Well it scares the crap out of me! Because I know who is going to have to set up housing until we are able to move in. And something tells me it won't be him!

Other than that we are just enjoying our time here.

Here are some pics from the past few weeks.

Thompson eating a cookie while we were at lunch with Britt at Rick's Bakery! Yum!

My sister

Brycen's cousin, Brynna

Nana and Brycen

And the big boy himself.

I had their pictures made last week and got to order them today! They are so good. Don't tell, but I made a cd of them and I will post that tomorrow! They turned out great!

Brycen-- You are 2 months!!

Happy 2 Months Brycen!

You are getting so big!! You are changing every day and are so alert. You will just turn your head from side to side looking around with those big, bright eyes!

You are also smiling more and more. You have even laughed a few times. You coo whenever I talk to you.

You are wearing a size 1 diaper and you are eating 4 ounces of formula every 2-3 hours. You are a big eater! You also are wearing mostly 3 months clothes for the length, although you need newborn for the width. I have a feeling you are going to be tall and lean.

You are sleeping pretty well these days. Although, for some odd reason, your bright-eye hours start at 10pm. So I play with you on your blanket until you are tired and want to sleep. You mostly sleep in your pack-n-play, but you would definitely prefer cuddling with mom. You sleep usually about 5-6 hours at night, eat, and then sleep for a few more hours.

I definitely know that all of our Arkansas family is loving having you here. There are so many people who love you. But I also know that your daddy is missing you. Every night you "talk" to him before you go to sleep.

We love you so much, Brycen. You are an absolute joy! I have enjoyed the past 2 months with you and couldn't imagine our family without you in it.

Happy 2 Months!

Long Time Gone!

Hello, it is me! You know, the girl who use to blog. Well, I am still here... somewhat. I am in Arkansas and when I come to Arkansas, life is busy!!

A lot of great things (and some not-so-great!) have happened recently.

Here is a run down...

Robert started his new school! He should graduate in 6 weeks!

Brycen is celebrating 8 weeks today!

While my sister Brittany was in town, we went to San Diego to the zoo and the aquarium. We also went to IKEA!!! The coolest store ever!

We made our trip across country. Surprisingly, it went very well.

We welcomed a new baby cousin into the family, Lola Katherine Thompson.

And today, I received my long-awaited diploma in the mail! I am college graduate! Whoo Hoo!!