Summer Fun

Well, summer it definitely upon us to the point where we dread going outside because it is just so hot!! But Jace loves it so we have been trying to find ways to make it a little more enjoyable. Starting last weekend the blow-up pool made it's first appearance. It is big enough for dad to sit in with him (while sipping a Corona), so it it not too hard to talk either of them into it. Jace probably spends more time out of it than in, but he loves it nonetheless.

I have been missing in blog land lately because 99% of my free time has been going towards getting Kylie's room put together. Our hand was forced because the furniture was ready for delivery and I really wanted to have the room painted before it got here. Last weekend I helped Steve cut-in and tape for painting her room. It was the first time Steve had ever painted anything, except for charity reasons where taping and cutting-in did not happen. I had to reassure him twenty times during the cutting-in that that step took the longest- though he was definitely skeptical and it was wearing on what little patience he had. He was much happier with the roller. The color is Honeydew- a light green. Then this weekend was details- putting together some craft projects and painting a name mural above he crib. It was a long weekend but it is done, and we are happy. Next weekend Steve's mom is going to be here, so she can watch Jace and we can go get all those things you still need for baby#2 like another mattress, changing pad, etc. So we are getting close.....

Sad, Sad Day

Well, our weekend was a low. Late Wednesday night Steve's dad passed away. He had been sick with pancreatic cancer, but he was just in the hospital for diagnostic tests when he passed away, so it was pretty unexpected. Luckily my mom was able to fly in and watch Jace so Steve and I could go to Mississippi to be with his family. If the number of people at a visitation or the flowers sent are a testament to how many people whose lives were touched by Loyd then he touched many. I did not know him very long, but for the time I did, he was always so sweet to me and I know he was a great dad to Steve and a wonderful grandfather to Jace.

Steve's mom mentioned a song that reminded her of Loyd and after I heard it I could not agree more,

"And he bowed his head to Jesus,

And he stood for Uncle Sam,

And he only loved one woman

(He) was always proud of what he had

He said his greatest contribution

Is the ones you leave behind

Raised on the ways and gentle kindness

Of a small town Southern man"

We will miss this him a lot...

Changes all the time

Well, Jace's life has been a changing lately. After just getting him adjusted to his toddler bed we changed things up on him again. He moved from the nursery into a room upstairs- there is so much more space. But like any situation, there were a few small setbacks but we seem to be making progress again. A bit of crying and wandering but the last two nights he has fallen asleep in his bed(knock on wood). When he is not quite tired he gets in his chair and "reads." Here are some pics of how we found him two different nights.

We got a call today that Kylie's furniture is here, so we have to get our butts in gear and get her room painted (well Steve does anyways). Sounds like a Memorial weekend activity.... So there should be pictures soon.

Slow weekend

Well, it was one of those weekends I don't have much to blog about. That is a good thing- we needed a break.

Steve attached a toddler rail to the existing stair rail to aid Jace in the whole stair climbing experience. He is good about climbing up the stairs, but did not like going down backwards. He is kind of getting the hang of using the rail- but like anything it will take lots of practice.

Well after a great start to bed time in the toddler bed there has been ups and downs. There were some nights with lots of crying, and then others with none. The latest trend is that he walks to his bed, after we read a story, climbs in and looks like he is ready to fall asleep. I leave the room and before I get back to the monitor he is up and walking towards the door. He tries to open it a few times, unsuccessfully, and then sits on the floor, and gradually falls asleep there. Then 30 minutes later he is passed out so we pick him up and put him in his bed. Not ideal but at least there is no crying involved. Nap time is a whole other story. He used to nap between 11-12. So we have put him in his bed at noon, and there is no crying, but he is out of bed, reading, and playing. Again not all that bad, but it is not napping. So we let him out and he acted not tired till about 2 PM when he curled up on the floor in the living room and passed out. So we have clued in that that key to nap time from now on is that he will no longer do it unless he is pretty tired- new nap time, around 2PM. This does not coincide with nap time at school, which is at 11:30, so we will see how that works, but he does get up a little earlier during the week. A learning curve for all.

Just some random pics from the weekend....