Gideon says // 16

This guy has been S U P E R hard to parent lately.  We get so frustrated at his stubborn nature and high speed energy and then we realize we only have ourselves and our DNA to blame.  Kid is ours no question.  No one can sway him and when his mind is made up it is made up.  We always say he is destined for Jesus (ministry) or jail.  Hopefully the first. Here's a little of what he has said lately...

+ He really likes to critique my driving.
   Gideon: Mommy, that light was red. (PS.  It was the other lanes light)
   Me: I've been driving for 12 years.  When you are 16 you can drive.
   Gideon: But mom, I want to stay free (3).  I don't want to turn that.

+ Gideon: Hey mom, can I have some tacos?
    Me: It's 9:30 in the morning.
    Gideon: I'm hungry!

+ While helping Taylor make cookies.
   Taylor: Hey buddy, how many is in a dozen? Can you count them?
   Gideon: One, twoooo .... a lot.

+ Me: Nolan, you're a nut.
   Gideon: Noley, you're an acorn!!

+ While driving in the car (I always seem to be on the receiving end of "these" questions)
   Gideon: Mom, how do you go potty?
   Me: um, I sit down.
   Gideon: But, hows you go without a penis?
   Me: God made girls different so we have different parts and just have to sit down.
   A few minutes later I hear him whisper..
  Gideon: That makes sense.

+ He came to sit at the table with Taylor, propped his elbows on the table.
   Gideon: Dad.  You sure are growing up. I'm proud of you.

+ Taylor and I were watching Netflix in bed one night (every night because addicted to Arrow!) G       came out to use the bathroom.
  Gideon: Were you and mommy cuddling?
  Taylor: Yea, I guess so.
  Gideon: I hear you cuddling every night.

Gideon says // 15

+ After being disciplined.
   Gideon: Grabbing his leg. You hurt me!
   Me: I didn't spank that leg.
   Gideon: stops crying and yelling. Did you spank this leg?
   Me: Yea.
   Gideon: AHHHHHHHH!!!! Continues crying while grabbing his leg.

+ While Taylor and I were getting ready to go on a date.
   Gideon: Dad, are you sure you want to wear that to the date?

+ Earlier in the day, I had told Gideon I was making some squash for dinner. 
   Gideon:  Mom, are we having squat for dinner?

+ Yells from the living room while I'm making dinner.
    Gideon:  Mom! Me and Noley are having brother time!

+ Me: Where's my kiss?
   Gideon: In my pocket!
   This is an ongoing thing that we always say, and then he pretends to pull it out of his pocket put it      on his lips and kisses me.

+ Coming out of his room from "nap" one day.  He was completely naked.
   Gideon: Um.  It's possible I peed in my room. And pooped.

+ Gideon: Do you think I'm awesome, dad?

+ While he was using the bathroom.
    Gideon: Noley! Give me some privacy.

+ Me: Gideon Sawyer, I love you!
   Gideon: puts his hands on his hips.  I love myself!!!!

+ Anytime he starts to get in trouble for something.
   Gideon: I was just making a joke!

Gideon says // 14

+In the car on the way home from church.
 Gideon: I found a boogie.
 Me: In nursery?  Did you put it in a tissue and throw it away?
 Gideon: No.  I put it in my pocket.

 and then recapping this story to Taylor the next day.
 Me: Don't worry I am washing the pants.
 Gideon: NOOOOO!  I want my boogie.

+Taylor: Want to go on a secret mission to get mommy's Christmas present?
  Gideon: And then we go on one for mine?

+While sitting by the Christmas tree.
  Gideon: pointing to the presents.  Tell me what's in these.

+Me: Nolan, I'm going to squish you down to be my little baby again.
  Gideon: No!  He needs to grow and be a big boy.
  Me: I know buddy, I'm just sad he's not my baby anymore.
  Gideon: (In a super compassionate voice) Don't worry, mommy.  We will have another one.

+Gideon's prayer at dinner.
  Thank you Jesus for hamburger, bun, green beans, tato salad, water, um, the top of the bun. Amen.

+Me: I love you, Gideon.
  Gideon: And dad loves me and Nolly loves me.  I love you too.
  Me: You're so special to me.  You are my first baby.
  Gideon: Awwww, that is so cute.

+ Taylor is always joking about Gideon's crack hanging out of his pants.
  Gideon: I have a crack butt.

Batman birthday

Gideon started talking about his birthday party the day after his last birthday party.  He claimed he wanted a Batman party and it didn't change in the 364 days that followed, so it was a pretty safe bet to go full on Batman.

I love doing parties for my boys.  It is not something that feels like work to me.  It stays on my beam. I also love to make them unique and skip the pre-made birthday things, so I try to make my own decorations or find them on Etsy to contribute to small business.

So this is three...

 

Sources:

- Cupcakes: Publix bakery

- Cupcake toppers: LM Creative Designs {Etsy}

- Batman print: Little Lief Creative {Etsy. I asked her to format it to 18x24 and printed at Staples as an engineering print so it was only $2}

- Batman mask party favors: No Limit Crafts 1 {Etsy}

- Pop-up bat wall decor: Amazon 

- Gotham City cityscape: made by me

Three

Dear Gideon,
Tomorrow you turn three.  I struggle to comprehend how we got here.  How the tiny, dark-haired baby boy that I begged God for, grew so swiftly into a rambunctious three year old.  It feels like time is playing a cruel trick.  Where did my baby go?

There is no baby in you anymore.  As you often remind me, you're a big boy.  So big. So handsome. I watched you intently while we played with PlayDoh the other day.  I'm jealous of your eyelashes.  It sounds strange, but I'm not the first to say it.  You have your dad's eyebrows and I love watching them furrow and exaggerate on your face as your emotions change.  You are charismatic to say the least.  That dark newborn hair, turned to bright blonde and is now fading back to dark.  Your baby curls have disappeared leaving a mass of thick waves that often stick straight out after a night of sweaty sleep.  You get so hot at night regardless of the temperature.

This year you became a big brother.  We didn't know how you would handle the change.  To say you exceeded our expectations is an understatement.  You are a champion big brother.  So gentle and sweet.  You laugh and play and instruct Nolan.  You give him kisses and hugs.  The best is when you hear him wake up from his nap.  You burst into his room with a "Heeeyyy, buddy!" climbing in to his crib and bringing the best belly laughs out of our stoic baby.  Your bond is something I cherish and look forward to watching grow.

Oh G.  I love you.  You are loud, energetic, goofy, frustrating as anything, handsome, sweet.  You come out of your room each morning with a hearty "goood morning!" making it impossible for me to be grouchy.  I love how exciting everything is to you.  Going to movies or games is your favorite. You talk about it for weeks afterward and are always so grateful for these experiences.  You adore your friends and despite being two and having issues with sharing, your kindness and affection towards them is evident.

I'll always remember this time in your life as the "superhero time."  Obsessed is an understatement.  You love them.  You could (and do) eat oatmeal everyday.  I laugh at your five course breakfast.  I'm not sure how I'll feed you all in later years!  You love cars, PlayDoh, helping me "make" in the kitchen.  You light up when we have breakfast for dinner and could probably recite every Curious George episode word for word.  You always request the race car cart at Publix, followed by a request for a sprinkle cookie from the bakery where you always tell the worker "thank you."  You are a little OCD about things just like me.  You are you, that's for sure!

Thank you for your bear hugs, smooshed mouth kisses and sweet words like "You're beautiful."  Ah, it melts me.  Thank you for pushing me to be a better me and a better mama.  I'm sad and excited that you are growing.  It's hard knowing you will never be that little baby again, but also exciting to watch the boy you are becoming.

I love you more than M&M's.

Mama

Gideon says // 13

+While in my closet looking at my faux fur vest
   Gideon: What's this, mommy?
   Me: A vest.
   Gideon: For fishing?

+While downtown for trick or treating. Gideon was Captain America.
   Gideon: WHAT'S THAT?
   Me: A grim reaper.  He's a bad guy.
   Gideon: I need to go fight him!

+ At our first stop while trick or treating, he looked and saw they put a Twix in his bucket.
   Gideon: But I wanted Skittles.

+ On Halloween.
   Gideon:  How bout you not dress up.  You just be a mommy.

+ Gideon: You're the apple in my eye.

+ After a few days away from us, Gideon was homesick for mom and dad.  We traveled late at night and got to my parents while he was sleeping.  The next morning around six, I woke up to him standing next to our bed...
   Gideon: MOM! DAD! I'M HERE!  crawls in bed next to us.  I'm so happy!!!

+ Gideon: Can I have some series?
   Me: You mean Reese's pieces?
   Gideon: Yea, series!

+ Gideon: Ow, mom.  You hurt me.  You will have a consequence.

+ While looking at a picture of our first date.
   Gideon: I'm not in that picture. Why not?
   Me: You weren't here yet.
   Gideon: I'm here now.

+ When the walnuts were falling out of our trees.
   Gideon: The coconuts are falling.

+ While getting ready for family photos.
   Gideon: Hey mom!  I looked in the mirror and I was handsome!

Gideon says // 12

+ Me: What do you want to get Nol for Christmas?
   Gideon: A joker.
   Me: You have to think about what Nolan will want.  Do you think maybe some blocks?
   Gideon: No, a Ironman.
   Me: What about a ball?
   Gideon: How about a Superman?
   Me: Or books?
   Gideon: No, a Batman!

+ Gideon was potty training while my parents visited. My dad was giving him dollars every time he went on the potty.  By the end of the weekend he had enough money to buy the Thor figurine he wanted.  I took him to the store to buy it.  We used the self checkout because I thought he would enjoy putting the dollars into the machine. 
  Gideon: Full freak out, tantrum of the century mode.  MY DOLLARS.  MY DOLLARS.
  Me: Do you want the Thor?
  Gideon:  Yes! But, I want my dollars too.
  Tantrum lasted throughout the store and part of the car ride home.  A couple hours later...
  Gideon: I don't want to leave my dollars at Wal-mart.
  Me: I don't either, buddy.  Trust me.  I don't either.

+ Gideon: I want to ride the school bus.
   Me: You can when you get big and go to school.
   Gideon: I want to ride the school bus with Hudson.  And you can stay home mommy.

+ About an hour after getting in trouble...
   Gideon: I'm sorry, mom.
   Me: For what?
   Gideon: For crying.
   Me: Are you sorry for disobeying?
   Gideon: Yea.
   Me: I forgive you.
   Gideon: I FORGIVE YOU!

+ Me: Gideon, do you want to learn to play the guitar or the piano?
   Gideon: Long sigh. THE DRUMS!

+ Gideon saw some trash on the side of the road while we were walking.
   Gideon: What's that, mom?
   Me: It's called litter. Someone threw their trash on the ground. It's not nice.
   Gideon: Litter?  Like for kitties?

+ After I laid Nolan down for a nap and walked into the kitchen to eat lunch with Gideon.
   Gideon: sigh. It's just you and me now.

+ TMI, but... While Gideon was sitting on the toilet.
    Gideon: Raisins make me poo.
    Me: Yep.
    Gideon: And pears make me poo.
    Me: Yep.
    Gideon: And bacon makes me poo.

Gideon says // 11

+ After getting soaked by the sprinkler while in his clothes
  Gideon: I need a paper napkin.

+ I asked Gideon to watch Nolan while I switched the laundry.  I laid Nolan on Gideon's bed.
  Gideon: (I peeked in on him) Don't move, buddy.  Mommy be right back.

+ I had picked up the kitchen rugs to clean the floors.  
  Gideon: Where the floor blankets go?

+ While singing "Take me out to the ball game"
  Gideon: (stops mid-song)  Hey! You should take me out to McDonald

+ Riding in the car one evening
  Gideon: I need it turned off
  Taylor: What turned off, buddy?
  Gideon: The sun.

+ Gideon: Mommy, you have another baby?
   Me: Not yet buddy.
   Gideon: A girl baby.  We don't want another boy baby.

+ Gideon: I a pirate.  You a princess.  Are pirates bad guys?
   Me:  Yes.  You don't want to be a bad guy.  You can be a prince.
   Gideon: No, you a prince.
   Me: Girls are princesses, boys are princes.
   Gideon: NO! Boys are pirates!!!!

+ Praying at dinner.
  Gideon:  Dear Jesus, fank you for chicken and beans, (whispers) I don't like the beans and tato salad, and Amen.

+ While I was getting Nolan ready for bed.
   Gideon: Wait mommy.  I hug and kiss Nolly.  And pray.  Dear Jesus, help Nolan sleep and help him obey and stay in his bed.

Gideon says // 10

+ After running through the McDonald's drive thru because it was late and I didn't want to make dinner (hashtag mom of the year)
  Gideon: Thanks for taking me on a date!

+ Talking to Nolan
   Me:  Can you say "mama?"  "Mama"
   Taylor: "Dada?"
   Gideon: "Giiii eon?"

+ Me: Hey buddy, when you get big and marry a girl, will you still love mommy?
   Gideon: Yea... sometimes.

+ Gideon: Noah made a boat.  And God drived it.  And we were on it!

+ After sleeping in one morning, Gideon walked in our room to find Taylor already dressed for the day.
   Gideon: Daddy, where's your breakfast clothes?
   Taylor:  This isn't Downton Abbey.  We don't have breakfast clothes.

+ While sitting on my lap
   Gideon: You got another baby?
   Me: No, not quite yet.
   Gideon: You have a baby in a wittle bit?
   Me:  It'll be a couple years, buddy.

+ While watching me give our cat, Nala, a bath (her first ever!)
   Gideon: Oh Nala, you don't wike the bath?  It's OK! I don't eiffer.

Gideon says // 09

+ While Gideon was playing in the living room, I heard him fart.
   Me: I heard that toot!
   Gideon: Doesn't even stop playing. I heard it too.

+ While watching me nurse Nolan.
   Gideon: Pulling up his shirt. He drink the food in my belly.  He drink my milk.
   Me: You have milk?
   Gideon: Yea!  Chocolate milk!

+ While being picky about eating his dinner and only wanting the biscuit part of the ham biscuit.
    Taylor: Eat your ham, buddy.  Ironman likes ham!
    Gideon: With the most serious expression.  He likes bread too.
    *We couldn't argue with that and also couldn't stop laughing.

+ At snack time...
   Gideon:  I want two marshmallows.
   Me: trying to be nice. How about three?
   Gideon: How about two?
   *His negotiating skills need work... or his counting.

+ While stalling at nap time.
    Gideon: I need a sips of water... and a nose wipe...no!  A new one...and a story... Oh!  My ears.    Mom, I needs a Qs tip.

+ While leaving the store the other day.
    Gideon:  I got to go to work.
    Me:  What do you do at work?
    Gideon:  Play guitar and talk into the microphone.  (hashtag: pastor's kid)

+ While Nolan was particularly fussy one day.
    Gideon: whispers to me. Spank him.
    * We had a talk about how little babies don't know any better and we weren't going to spank him.
    

Lately with two

Whew.  How has it been almost three weeks since we had a baby?  It goes so fast with some of the longest days at the same time.  Defying logic all day, everyday.  So here is a little update on life with two in our house...

{one}. The hardest part about having two is meeting both of their needs that arise at the same time when I am by myself.  It is impossible (because it is) to nurse Nolan while he is screaming and help Gideon use the potty at the same time.  So one is usually crying while I help the other and then I switch.  But, we are learning and will get it down.

{two}.  Speaking of Gideon and the potty, he decided this week that he wanted to potty train.  After months of us encouraging it and trying and him objecting, he out of the blue asked to use it.  And I am not one to thwart that party especially when it will mean less diapers.  He's used it several times, but is not fully trained yet.  Any help or advice is welcome!

{three}. Nolan is sleeping pretty great at night.  Usually waking every three to four hours.  Sometimes he gets ahead of himself and is up at two hours.  But, I think it doesn't feel so horrible this time around because A). my body is used to it and B). I know that it ends and I will eventually sleep again.  Maybe not for the next twelve months or so, but at some point, he will be big and sleeping and I will be sad.

{four}. Last week, I started pumping so we could try a bottle.  Several reasons I like to do this.  So Taylor can feed him which he loves, in case I need to be/go somewhere and can't bring Nolan, and for sanity.  He took the bottle right away like a champ and hasn't shown an issue with any of them in the evenings before bed.  I also like to know that he is full (he falls asleep during nursing, but with a bottle I can see how much he has had) before bed!  Yay baby, yay!

{five}. Gideon is obsessed with the Avengers and superheroes in general.  I mean obsessed.  He assigns us all characters.  I am either Cat woman or Black widow.  Taylor is usually Bane or Joker.  I think I get the better end of that deal.

{six].  These got longer than I had anticipated so I will stop for now.

Gideon says // 08

I wasn't going to post these yet, but I figured since we are about to hit newborn land WITH a toddler, I would probably have a whole new gold mine of funny things that he has said.  Hopefully I remember to write them down before my fuzzy, no-sleep brain forgets them.

+ I told Gideon I was tired and laid down on the couch.

   Gideon: Shouting at my belly. Nolan, you tired?  OK, lay down!

+ Me: Can I have a kiss?

   Gideon: Can you NOT?

+ Really into superheroes lately.

   Gideon: First thing as soon as he got out of bed.  Batman and Joker are going to Chick-fil-A to eat    chicken and fries.  And Joker sits in the highchair.

+ After being sick for a few days.

   Me: Are you not feeling well, buddy?

   Gideon: I sick... I go to hospital... I need to get in amblance.  (A little dramatic)

+ Whispering to himself after I got him dressed for the day.

    Gideon: I look handsome!

+ We've been talking a bunch about Nolan's arrival to prepare Gideon.  

    Gideon: His own thoughts on the subject. He's gonna POP OUT!

+ Me: What songs are you going to sing for Nolan?

   Gideon: Twinkle, twinkle; Jesus loves me; I will wait.  (Glad to see that Mumford and Sons made the list)

Gideon says // 07

He's too funny not to share and I like having these documented in one place so I can look back over them years from now when he is sassy... oh wait, he already is.

+ Gideon: Nolan's going to have milk. 

   Me: Yes, he will drink milk.

   Gideon: whispers. And marshmallows.

+ Taylor: Buddy, are you going to start using your potty?

   Gideon: Fifty dollars.

   Me: You will use the potty for fifty dollars?  What happened to marshmallows?  What do you need    fifty dollars for?

   Gideon: Cars.

+ Pulling up to the hospital for our tour.

   Gideon: Hey, hey, where's baby Nolan?

+ Me: Gideon, do you want to eat your breakfast in the living room and watch George?
   Gideon: No, the kitchen.  I want to watch the sunshine come out.

+ Trying to distract him in the car while he was getting fussy.
   Me: Buddy, do you see the sun?  It's so bright today.
   Being completely defiant.
   Gideon: NO.  It's dark right now.

+ On our way to Chick-fil-A for a dessert "adventure."
   Gideon: Hey.  Where'd the deventure go?

+While coloring.
   Gideon: I use the wipe one.
   Me: You mean the white one?
   Gideon: Yea, wipe.

+ Several days in a row we found Gideon crouched in the nursery.
   Taylor: Buddy, are you pooping?
   Gideon: Go away, daddy.
   Taylor: Do you want to sit on your potty?
   Gideon: Go in the iving room. Go away.

+ Looking out the window while I hung a picture in the nursery.
   Gideon: Oh look. There is Nolan driving that truck.

+ Me: Gideon, what's your last name?
   Gideon: Tayor Burgess.

What's up with G?

Gideon.  My first baby has turned into a big boy.  Something I sometimes get emotional about and something I sometimes find myself reminding him of, i.e. when he wants me to carry his thirty pound body around on top of the extra twenty pounds I'm already carrying.  Needless to say, I get a great workout on the regular.

So what's up with this guy?  Pretty much everything.  As evidenced above, he is in love with bath time lately.  He had a tiny streak there where he threw a fit about having his hair rinsed, but now pours the water on himself and demands that he be able to stay in and play for at least thirty minutes.  The difference?  Bubbles.  The kid loves a good "bubbles bath."  Who doesn't?  Except he tries to eat them where as I prefer to shrivel in them.

He is officially sleeping out of the crib.  The crib is no longer gracing his room with it's presence.  He sleeps on the mattress on the floor and has done a phenomenal job.  The first night was rough when he came in our room at 3:30...and 4:30...and 5, but other than that he has learned to stay in his bed.  He even sits there until we come to get him and then will tell us, "I slept good and stayed in my bed."  Can't argue with that.

The kid is in love with breakfast food and breakfast time.  He is into imaginative play now and always wants to pretend he is asleep and then wakes up to make waffles.  He brings us "waffles" all the time and we always tell him how good they are.  I found him in his room "playing" his guitar and writing a love song about waffles, oatmeal and marshmallows, which in his world are the golden trifecta of goodness.  Gosh, I love him.

It is kind of weird when your child becomes a fully functioning and understanding little human.  Gideon understands things I never thought he would at this age and the things he does and says just further show me that.  He's a smart little cookie and will remember and repeat things you didn't even know he heard.  (Yea, we have to watch what we say or what is on tv.)

This age may be super hard and frustrating.  Oh the stubbornness and new found independence.  But, it is also super rewarding.  He initiates hugs and kisses and often just runs up to say "I love you, mommy."  You can't beat that and I often pray and hope that at fifteen, when he is so beyond embarrassed of us, he will still run up with a hug and a kiss and "I love you" for his little mama.

Gideon says // 06

+ Me: Gideon, you need to obey mommy and daddy or you will get a spanking.
   Gideon: I obey Gideon.
   20 minutes later...
   Gideon: I obey God.
   {Can't argue with that last one.}

+ While making Christmas cookies, I dropped one on the floor.
   Gideon: uh-oh!
   Me: It's ok buddy. It was mommy's fault.
   Gideon: It my fault?
   Me: No, buddy. It's not your fault.
   Gideon: It Uncle Josh's fault!! {Sorry Josh. Not sure why he's blaming you!}

+ After visiting the library to see a model train exhibit.
   Gideon: At the liberry we say "shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh."

+ After checking out at Target. Gideon looks over and sees the Starbucks while we are walking out.
   Gideon: Mom, I need Starbucks.

+ While I'm activating the bluetooth in our car to call Taylor.
   Me: Call Taylor Burgess
   Gideon: Call Tayor Burgess.  ON MOBILE!

+ Taylor: talking into my belly. Hey little buddy. Ready to meet you.
   Gideon: copying Taylor. READY TO MEET YOU.
   Gideon jumps back. 
   Gideon: Oh, he kicked me!

+ While playing with a stack of our Christmas DVDs.  He picks up Home Alone.
    Gideon: Mom, it's Kevin!

+ While looking at an ultrasound photo of Nolan on our fridge.
    Gideon: Oh, it's baby Jesus.

+ Gideon: Mom,  let's go on a deventure! {Not sure where this whole "go on an adventure" thing came from, but he has been asking nonstop}

+ While playing with PlayDoh
    Gideon: Where'd the snowman's balls go?

Gideon's 2nd birthday!

We had Gideon's 2nd birthday party this past weekend and were so happy to host it at our house.  I had decided a few months back that his party would be baseball themed because he loves baseball.  Well, he loves all sports.  My sister said I should have made it an "all sport" theme, but now I have the next five birthday parties covered.  We can do football, basketball, hockey, soccer, and according to Gideon golf and tennis, over the next several years {or I'll let him decide ;) }.

The baseball theme made planning pretty easy.  What else do you serve at that kind of party but game food.  You can't go wrong with nachos, peanuts, popcorn, and hot dogs.  Throw in some cupcakes and you're all set.  I wasn't sure what kind of activities to have available and I didn't think organized party games would work very well with the toddler age group, so I set out some crayons and baseball coloring sheets, some baseball temporary tattoos and Taylor made a t-ball game in the backyard complete with bases.  They had a great time hitting the ball and completely ignoring the rules of baseball when it came to running the bases.  We also had a million leaves in our backyard because we live at the beach and fall is just catching up, so the kids wreaked havoc in the piles and thought it was great.  Thanks Beaufort for the 75 degree, December day!

It was a blast to have so many of our friends and family celebrating our big two year old {he swears he is five!}.  He was blessed with so many kind gifts and has enjoyed playing with them since.  His big gift was a teepee from his grandparents, aunt and uncle, and mom and dad!  I love finding him hiding in it and I think it will be his own little personal escape once baby gets here.

Happy birthday to our Gideon!

Where to find:

+Banner {DIY by me}

+ plush baseballs {Party City}

+ temporary tattoos {Party City}

+ 36 inch balloons {left over from pack of six last year // Party City}

+ 2 lb food trays {Sam's Club}

+ Gideon's shirt {Old Navy // I ironed on the "dos."}

+ chalkboard {Etsy // I used this for bump photos with Gideon}

+ T-ball set {Target // gift from his Bama}

+ Teepee {The Teepee Guy on Etsy}

+ We found the peanuts and nacho stuff at Sam's which ended up being more bang for your buck!