WARNING: If you don't like looking at pictures of CJ, don't proceed any further!
Today, I didn't wake up all that thankful. For the two previous days, CJ has slept, all by himself, until 6:15-6:30. It has been awesome. I was hopeful that this was the new normal. But alas, at 5:30 this morning, CJ woke up. Lest you think he is really ready to get up, he's not. He just wants to cuddle with me for another hour or so on the sofa, and then he is ready to get up. So, I let him fuss until about 6:00 when he finally went back to sleep until about 6:20. Since I couldn't go back to sleep, I woke up tired, and the day didn't seem too promising.
We fell into our normal morning routine, but thankfully, I was in a great mood and so was CJ. We had fun, we giggled over oatmeal, and he tried strawberries at breakfast. This usually gets an upturned nose and a push of a hand away, but he grabbed the berry, was biting off chunks and then asking for more. More thankfulness from me! Then we played with Lincoln Logs and puzzles until it was time to get ready to go to the gym. I thought about taking him to story time at 11:00, but since he had a rough start to the morning, I didn't want to mess up his nap schedule with car rides (he is totally carcaleptic...it's hilarious). Instead we came home from the gym, and he was ready to play. The best part of the morning was when he wanted to climb into our bed and tumble. He would stand up, crash into the pillows and then laugh and laugh. It was hilarious, and I loved when he would stop to take a breath and cuddle me for a few seconds until it was time to crash into the pillows some more. We were both tired from laughing so much after almost 30 minutes!
Then he was a wonderful eater at lunch! I put ham, diced pears and lima beans in front of him, and he ate it all except the lima beans, but he at least tried them. This is quite an accomplishment because if any of these three things would have been put on his tray a few weeks ago, much less all three, tears would have erupted. After lots of hard work, he is finally doing well at feeding himself things that are sticky and slimy. Then it was nap time...
And if you are starting to get jealous that our day had been so perfect...don't let the green eyed monster rise up yet! He slept just long enough for me to eat lunch, and then he needed some cuddles. Since we have been working on sleeping until it is time to get up in the mornings, I still lay down with him in the afternoons if he wakes up before nap time is over. I know, it's a sacrifice, but someone has to do it. :) But since I was tired too, I really didn't mind today.
Then after lunch we got to talk to daddy on the computer. Even though Scott has been gone for months now, this little booger is saying dada...but no mama! Stinker!
After talking to daddy, we both needed to get out of the house. CJ loves the park, but it is just too hot. Instead we headed to the McDonalds that has an indoor playground. CJ had sooo much fun. As soon as I got my $1 sweet tea and we opened the doors to the play area, he was off. I apologize for the picture quality...all I had was my iPhone...
He had so much fun! There were two other little boys that were 2 and 4 that took a liking to CJ as well. As they were leaving, the 4 year old asked CJ if he wanted to come home with him. It was so cute. Then CJ made friends with a man who was watching his son play. Here he is talking to him...
And then it was back to the other part of the play area. While CJ was making a new friend, more kids came in, and CJ watched them climbing up the tube where he was playing before. They stopped to eat dinner, and he wanted to do what they had been doing. When we first got there, I didn't think CJ would get past the first pink step, but I think he would have kept climbing higher if I would have let him... (he's hard to find...look for the yellow crocks...)
And then it was time for a little more exploring. I got the hint that CJ wanted in the high chair when he started doing this...
I put my little monkey in the chair and he had fun for a bit...
Then it was time to go home. I originally thought I would just post about our fun at McDonalds, but then when I got home, I started to be overwhelmed with thankfulness. I am so thankful for the opportunity to stay home with CJ. It's not easy, and there are a million little choices like having a $1 sweet tea instead of a $2.50 McFlurry that make it possible, but it is such a blessing. I started thinking about all the things I had seen him do through the day, and all the cuddles and hugs that I would have missed otherwise, and I almost started crying I was so thankful.
Then more fun came. After some coloring (more on that in a different post), CJ found a shopping bag. It went on his head, he put things in it, he dragged it around, and had a blast. I am amazed by his simple joy and creativity.
But again, don't think it is all roses. I didn't blog about the time earlier in the day when CJ threw a tantrum on the rug by our front window because I wouldn't let him play in Connor's food and water. And here, the fun of the bag wore off...see it get thrown away...
All to grab the forbidden note pad from the forbidden drawer! There is a lot of discipline that goes into our days as well. As soon as he grabbed the pad, he looked at me and grinned because he knew he was being bad! I took a step toward him and told him to put it back, and he literally ran away. I chased him down, took him by the hand, walked him back to the drawer, and waited until he listened/obeyed and put the note pad back into the drawer. Of course, another much smaller fit ensued on the rug. But we all survived and CJ learned boundaries and consistency. Again, it's not all easy and fun, but oh so worth it to have the chance to shape his character.
Then my favorite thing of the evening happened. I am thankful I was there to encourage him and thankful I was thoughtful enough to grab my camera to capture it. CJ was playing with his ball and bat, and the ball went under the table where he couldn't grab it easily. It would have been easier for me to just grab it for him, but I want him to learn to do hard things and to persevere though them diligently.
First he tried to squeeze between the table leg and the chair. I wish you could have heard the grunts and groans that went along with this face...
Then frustration ensued. My first instinct was to rescue him, but the mom in me wants him to know what it means to work hard for things he wants, to know what Paul means when he says I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. If he never learn in the small things, he will never win the big battles. So I let him wage his war...
He tried again to get between the chair and table, but then as he was trying to grab through the chair, he had an idea...
Try a different location where there isn't a bar blocking the way!
Step 1 to victory...
Step 2 to victory...
Step 3 to victory...
VICTORY!!!!
Now if that face doesn't melt your heart, you are cold, cold hearted. He is so proud of himself because he did it. He didn't need my help, and he is starting to learn to persevere...even in the hard times.
And then I did cry, because I am thankful. I am thankful I get to be with him during the day. I am thankful that I am the one shaping his character. I am thankful I am married to a man who values these things as much as I do. And I am thankful that I get to go to bed, get up and do it all again tomorrow.
