Turning points

So we have had a few "turning points" lately that I'm excited to share...

Nikki:

Nikki is now going up to bed without having to be dragged (carried) kicking and screaming. She goes in, lays down, and in less then 5 minutes I can leave the room. She puts herself to sleep and she doesn't run around the room or tear things off the wall anymore! (or empty drawers!)

Nikki has also had THREE good meals in the past week... During these meals she decided she will use the fork and spoon. She also eats without screaming and throwing a tantrum first!!!

Jackson:

Jackson is peeing on the potty!! He might not really have words, but, I can put him on the potty, and he knows what it's for. He's up to 4 or 5 times now, 3 within the past couple days! I know it'll still be a while till he signs or tells me he has to go pee. However, the more I take him, and catch him when he's dry, the quicker he'll catch on to the whole business! I am SOOOOO excited (I just wish his sister would catch on)

Jackson is also starting to talk a LOT more! He is saying shoe, book, and more without having to be prompted. He is also starting to copy a lot of the things we say. Our friend Mark came in the house the other day, and he thought it was Steve. He turned around and started saying "Da, Da!"

Alli:

Little miss Allison is just starting to become mobile. Look out mom and dad, as if we didn't have enough going on already!! She isn't crawling, but, she is spinning herself around, rolling, and kinda "wiggling" to move herself a foot or two.

Life is never dull at the Gardner house!

keeping my head above water

Sometimes it feels like I'm barely "keeping my head above water". The kids have been SO sick the past couple months. We have had croup, strep, staph, thrush, multiple, multiple colds, and baby projectile vomit, all in the past 2 months. Just when I cross a few things off my to-do list, ten more "appear". Sometimes it feels like I can't catch a break.

However, since we just came through the Thanksgiving season, I need to remember all I have to be thankful for. The biggest blessing(s) are the kids. They can be so hard, and I mean HARD sometimes. However, they have been through so much, and I can't wait to see their personalities develop. I can't wait to grow as a mom, and watch them grow and follow their dreams.

I am also thankful to God for bringing Alli through a horrible cold. She was so sick, and had such a horrible cough, it was pretty scary. She's still not eating as much as she used to, but, she's on the mend.

I am thankful that Nikki is doing great in school. She is starting to recognize colors, letters, numbers, and is counting higher too!

I am INCREDIBLY thankful that bedtime has gone FANTASTIC all week. I can walk her into her room, get her settled, and walk out less then 5 minutes later!! This is HUGE progress. It means I have a couple hours at night to get some things accomplished, and I can also get some time to "feel human" again.

I am also thankful that dinner is going better too. Her tantrums/refusals are lessening. There was one night when she didn't tantrum at all before eating!

Finally, I am thankful for the little moments with the kids. The moments when Alli will keep looking over at me and smiling, when Nikki uses her words, when Jackson is happy after dinner and wants to be ticked and hugged.

Happy (belated) Thanksgiving everyone!

Emily