To Elf on the Shelf or Not?

That is the question for this year. Last year we did pull out the Elf on the Shelf my sister had gotten for us. I struggled though with part of the idea behind it being a naughty elf and getting into trouble. With RC having been 18 months last year at Christmas and that we had started battling with him and the naughty things he was doing, I felt having our elf do anything naughty was wrong.

This year, I really struggled with whether or not I even wanted to bring our elf back out. We want to focus on the reason we celebrate Christmas. We want to celebrate Jesus. We don't want RC and Tank to think it's just about the presents. This year I decided to search around and see how we might be able to make it work. After all, RC did enough having Qwerty around last year and this year can understand it even more.

Last night Qwerty came back with a letter from Santa. Even though we aren't going to push Santa, we still will get pictures with him and have some fun. We'll let the boys make up their mind as they get older.

The letter from Santa was a request to have Qwerty spend the Christmas season with us so that he might learn about Jesus from RC. He needs to learn how to pray to Jesus and learn that Christmas isn't about presents!

Tonight during our bedtime routine, Qwerty joined us to listen to our Bible story and to pray. Oh and if you haven't maybe figured out, Qwerty the Elf is allowed to be played with. He must stay on the mantle during the night to watch over us all.

RC - "Jeus"

A goal of having Qwerty around is to help RC with things like praying as well. We'll see how all this works out this year. Along with trying to teach Qwerty about Jesus and how to pray, we'll be trying some nightly activities with scriptures and crafts!

I worried, but he pratically had no idea we were gone

Sunday, my hubby and I went to a church retreat. I'll write more on the retreat later. This post is simply about having to leave my baby boy behind for the firs time. RC is 2.5 years old now and spent his first nights away from home and away from family for 2 nights while we took Tank (aka Little Critter) to a church retreat for staff and staff in training.

I was very nervous. We wanted to bring RC home from church and take him to his friends house. They were taking him to lunch after church instead so we had to say goodbye at church. RC just gave us a look like "okay you can leave now. You've said goodbye like a million times." I wanted to just cry.

I knew he was in good hands and with one of his older friends he just loves to hang out with (and sadly will be moving halfway across the WORLD soon!), but I still just couldn't help but worry how he would do come bedtime.

Well he did fantastic. In fact, my friend said he went with no paci for both nights! He did get a little sad when my friend walked to our place to bring our milk inside for us. He got to our apartment and said "mommy's back" and then got sad when he was told we weren't back.

He perked up fairly fast though. The bonus of being 2.5 years old!

Upon our return, he was happy to see us. Get gave me a big hug, got his shoes on and went out to "find da" as he says. He got to play with another friend when we got home.

Then it was bedtime. Oh how he did not want to go to bed without his paci. We kept it away at first and let him cry for a little bit. Then we went back in as he wasn't settling down. He wanted absolutely NOTHING to do with me. It broke my heart. He usually wants to "nuggle" at bedtime and read stories with me. He wanted none of it before his complete breakdown or after.

He finally fell asleep with no paci to wake not 30 minutes later crying again. He was practically still asleep during this fit. Travis decided to let him have the paci...and what does he do. Immediately stop crying and fully pass out.

Oh how I wish he would ditch that paci. I am so thankfully he did great for his first time away from home, but tomorrow I pray he wants nuggles from mommy again!!!

Finally a new nickname

I have finally decided on a new nickname for Little Critter. He just isn't "little." After all at 4.5 months he is weighing in at 17.5 pounds and 27 inches! Not exactly little at 18 weeks.

So Little Critter will now be known as "Tank!" I think it fits him better. He even smiles wen you call him that!

Above is Tank at 18 weeks. He is wearing an 18 month onesie! Yes I didn't miss type...that's 18 months! He is moving into 12-18 month clothing depending on what it is. Some pants are too long but 6-9 are kinda too short and a little tight. So instead, Tank will be sporting some awesome leggings from Babylegs. They are way cuter than pants anyway and make for much easier diaper changes!

My Carrier

The other morning my quiet time was on Isaiah 40:11. I am working through a Quiet Times for New Moms book...yes I am 3.5 months behind in getting started with it, but hey, at least I am getting started and back to doing my quiet times.

Anyhow, back to Isaiah 40:11. 

"He tends his flock like a shepherd: 

he gathers the lambs in his arms

and carries them close to his heart;

he gently leads those that have young." (NIV)

As I read this and the additional notes in my quiet time book, I pictured God carrying me. But not just carrying wearing me like I wear Little Critter or RC. I couldn't help the thought. I love babywearing and how close my guys are to me but yet I can have my hands free and doing other things as well. I picture God wearing me so I could feel secure while we goes about his other business.

We all need to be carried. Our carrier is God. Through Him he will pick us up when we fall. Through Him we can get through anything. How are you carried?

Potty Training Adventures

It's that time...the time that your baby isn't a baby anymore...potty training time! That's right RC is taking us on the potty training adventure. Back in July when we went to see my family, he saw his cousins, "Big Guy and Little Guy," using the potty and decided he wanted to do the same.

He would walk around pulling his shirt up and if you let him, walk up to the toilet like he was going to stand there and go. When we returned home, we decided to let him try going whenever he wanted to. I felt at that point, he really wasn't ready. He had no clue when he was wet which I knew would make potty training difficult.

It has been a not even a month of letting him try occasionally and wearing some cloth trainers that he now understands when he is wet. We invested in cheapy cloth trainers that are basically worthless and just like underwear and we invested in a couple really good trainers. So far the Blueberry trainers we got from Abby's Lane (my favorite cloth diaper store) have been the best. They actually hold an accident...unless of course it's a really huge accident which only a diaper would actually contain.

I'm hoping to fix the cheapy cloth trainers to be similar to the absorbency of the Blueberry trainers if I can manage to get some extra sewing time in!

Today to help with sitting on the potty, we invested in a potty seat. He hasn't liked sitting on the potty backwards. He was very excited to get the new seat.

Upon getting home, he wanted to try it out immediately. He even showed it off for a picture with the biggest "cheese" ever!

As we head down this road, I plan to just listen to him. If he doesn't want to wear underwear or trainers...he doesn't have to. If he doesn't want to try peeing in the potty...he doesn't have to. Right now, that isn't often that that happens.

I'm sure we will have many accidents along the way. Hopefully he when he is fully ready, it won't take him long.

So far my favorite thing he has said while trying to go to the bathroom...

"oh noooo....it's broke!" as he stands there not able to pee in the toilet! LOL