Juggling Our Way Through Life

I have really had to choose my battles with little man lately. He gets upset so easily and I can't understand it, but a lot of time in the midst of it, I realize that I have to be the bigger person and not get emotional like Cale and man is that hard. I don't always want to be the bigger person-I want to have my temper tantrum too when Cale does! And let me tell you that there are many times I fail in being the bigger person and let the emotions get the best of me. I just can't understand the little things-for example if a train doesn't fit exactly right on the train track, he throws it and gets upset or he hits me or Jeff sometimes out of anger or just starts crying over the littlest things. Here is what I have learned so far (and let me tell you I don't always practice what I've learned-there are days where my emotions just break)-but I am learning more to remain calm, don't elevate my voice or get dramatic like him, ask him to go to his room and sit in time out until he is done and one thing that really gets him is when I tell him "I will talk to you or hold you or whatever when you stop crying" and then don't pay attention to his fit, just ask him to go to his room until he is done crying and honestly just don't pay attention to it. He did that tonight and I just tuned it out and he didn't like that and he stopped. I know we don't have all the answers, nor will we ever, that Jeff and I won't always make the right decisions, that we will mess up as we continue on this journey of being parents. I am thinking we may have a strong willed little boy on our hands which in many ways is so exciting, I can't wait to see how he uses this as he develops his personality and explores life, but in some ways it scares me and I wonder how strong willed he will be and how he will fight us. It should be interesting.

Cale did the cutest thing tonight. We try to let him know that he is going to be a big brother and let him know that mommy has a baby in her belly. He gets that there is a baby in there and whenever we talk about it, he always says "get it out" It's hilarious. He wants to see the baby now. Tonight we were talking about the baby and I was talking about things that he could do to help out with the baby when he comes like help get the baby things like a blanket or help change the baby's diaper. He got so excited! He ran to get his blanket out of bed and brought it and put in on my belly. Oh my goodness, could he be any cuter!

Cale-I know that things are going to change in the next few months with a new addition to our family, but your mommy wants you to know that our love for you will never change, it will only continue to grow and with the addition of your brother our love will only continue to blossom as parents. We love who you are now, look forward to watching you grow, change, explore the world, develop, and grow into the man that God is creating you to be. We adore you sweet boy and will continue to adore and love you when your baby brother comes into the world.

I know the adjustment won't be easy, and there will probably be some rough days ahead as we all learn to adjust and become a family of 4. We will figure it out, we will work through this together and I can't wait to see where God takes the 4 of us, the love that we will share through the good times and the bad, the adventures we will have, and just being together.

To my little one kicking inside me, you have already captured mommy's heart. I love you dearly and I haven't even met you. I look forward to holding you, feeling you against my chest, snuggling with you, and loving you.

My two sons-how you have captured my heart and continue to amaze me.

Thank you God for the blessing of children and for allowing Jeff and I the huge honor of being parents to these sweet little children of yours. Continue to mold us and grow us into the parents that will show our children your love, lift them up and encourage them and help them find their way in this sometimes crazy and unpredictable world.