I thought I would just take a few notes of where we are today, Fall of 2009. Of course we have a new baby on the way which is very exciting for everyone. So this is life before baby:
Keaton--He is 6 years old and a 1st grader at Copeland Elem. He is an easy going child for the most part, and always has been. He does have the occasional tantrum and whines a little too much for a 6 year old, but this usually happens when he is tired. I don't think he gets enough sleep. Between our busy schedule, homework, dinner, and bath he usually doesn't get to bed until 9:00. He is pretty much asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow. He catches up on his sleep on the weekends by sleeping in and naps. We are a big nap family. Ever since Keaton was born you can expect us to be napping Saturday and Sunday between 12-4. We don't sleep as long now that the kids are older, but we used to take a serious 4 hour nap. I guess it is good we are still in a routine of naps since I know I will need one once the baby is born.
I refer to him as an easy going child because, for example, he will wear pretty much anything we give him to put on without complaint. He can be negotiated with most of the time and will accept what you are telling him. He is more likely to get his feelings hurt, than show his anger, but he can show his anger also. The anger is usually directed at Cort and I think this behavior is picked up from daycare. I think because he is easy going, he has had to learn some hard lessons at school/daycare to stand up for himself. It is hard to seem him being picked on at school, but these are lessons that every child must learn, because there are some mean kids out there.
Keaton is a picky eater (I have no idea where he gets that from....do you hear the sarcasm??) Mark and I are not forceful when it comes to eating. Our policy is, "We put it on your plate, if you don't want it, don't eat it. That's your choice" I once read if you continue to put it on their plate, it will become familiar to them and they will eventually try/or eat it. I think it has actually worked with Keaton. In addition, I also talk to him about foods he doesn't like. For example, I say to him, "when are you going to start eating squash?" and he will say "when I turn 8 years old, I will try it." These attempts to familiarize him and make him comfortable with the food and trying new things has had positive results. He didn't used to eat broccoli or carrots AT ALL. Now he eats them and more than one helping. He started with broccoli. I put a few pieces of broccoli on his plate one night, like I always do. I loaded Cort's plate with broccoli because it is his favorite. Keaton said to me, "why does Cort get to be healthier than me?" I asked if he wanted more broccoli and he ate 3 helpings that night. Since then, we have added carrots. I am very proud of him for his progress. (And they have never called Mark out for not eating his veggies.....I thought that would have started by now for sure)
Keaton still loves his scratchy(blue blanket) and fish blanket. He still wags them all over the house and sleeps with them. He also usually sleeps with 1 stuffed animal, but the animal can change from time to time. Right now it is the Baby Seal Nana brought back from New Zealand.
Cort--Is 4 years old and goes to Children's Courtyard. He is in the Preschool Room. Cort is very passionate. He knows what he wants and how he wants it. For example, he is very picky about his clothes. He will refuse to wear something if he does not like it. He mostly likes to wear 'fun shirts' with characters on them like WALL-E, Diego, or Transformers. He is picky about his shoes also and would prefer to wear pants over shorts probably because I won't let him wear boots with shorts. He has some issue with buttons. He does not like shirts that button up at all and doesn't really like the polo type shirt with a collar and buttons. If you can get the shirt on him, he will usually forget about it, but it is the convincing him to put it on that is the struggle.
On the other hand, Cort is our good eater. He loves vegetables and fruits. Broccoli seems to be his favorite. I find it amusing that he will eat his dinner, have dessert like an Oreo, and then ask for more broccoli. Many occasions we have been in a restaurant in which I order broccoli and his kid meal comes with FF. He will eat ALL of my broccoli off of my plate and skip the fries. He also loves cheese and yogurt. His favorite yogurt is 'flower yogurt'. Vanilla really, but it has the picture of a flower on the container. He always wants to try the other flavors like strawberry, but really only likes vanilla.
He will eat his dinner and then by 8:00 or 8:30 decide he is hungry again. Maybe this is a ploy to defer bedtime or maybe he is just a growing boy. Nonetheless, he will enjoy a slice of cheese and a cup of juice. Speaking of bedtime....
Cort has always had issues with bedtime....or more so his bed. He never like his crib. That baby would REFUSE to sleep in his crib. We graduated him to a toddler bed at 12 months just trying to see if something new would work better. (The toddler bed just being his crib converted) He still hated it. He once told me he didn't like the bars. I don't know if he felt claustrophobic or what. We bought him a big boy twin bed at 3 years old. I have to say it is getting a little better, but most nights he still comes downstairs. (I think the boys would prefer to sleep on a pallet on the floor in our room than in their own comfy beds) He never really was attached to a lovey. He will sleep with a stuffed animal sometimes, but it can change from day to day which one. Now, because he still takes a nap at school (and he is a good napper. I always get compliments on how he lays right down and goes to sleep) he doesn't seem tired at bedtime and always wants to stay up later. I do sometimes let him stay up and watch a show or look at books. If you tell him to go straight to bed, he is usually up 5+ times. I can't be mad at him though, because he usually wants to come give me a hug or kiss goodnight or tell me something he has thought of while trying to go to sleep. It's cute. (I know, I'm a sucker!)
For the most part the boys play really good together. Cort is just a nut and will do anything for a laugh. He wants his brother's attention. Keaton is more serious and sometimes wants to be left alone. They both are excited about the new baby. Cort wants to name the baby Ella if it is a girl and Luke if it is a boy. This is usually when Keaton pipes in and says no, if it is a boy, he wants to name is Levi. For those of you that don't know the Taylors, Levi and Ella are brother and sister and the same ages at Keaton and Cort. (Cort is sweet on Ella).
Mark's company, Strategic Utility Management, has been doing business a little over a year now. They are actually looking into expanding, by adding on a few more partners. He is still working out of our house for now, but hopes to have office space within the next year. I have been with Corrugated Concepts 2 years now as their Controller. I am excited about my maternity leave next year, I am looking at it as a 3 month vacation in which I can spend time at home and with the kids. We just had some work done on our house. We filed an insurance claim for storm damage and they covered it all. We got a new roof and some of the damaged siding replaced. Because the roof had leaked in several places, we had some internal repairs also. Our master bath had the most water damage. We no longer have wallpaper, they repaired the wall, textured and painted. They also did the same treatment to our half bath. All cracks and leaks were repaired and the whole interior was painted, walls, ceilings, and trim.
As I mentioned earlier, our schedules are really busy. The boys are wrapping up another soccer season (more to come in a new post with pictures). We also have AWANA on Wednesday nights, Cort is a Cubbie and Keaton is a Spark. The holidays are fast approaching, I need to start Christmas shopping or I will never get it done!