I haven't had much to write about lately. We've had some rough behavior days with X culminating in a total embarrassing episode last night on the driveway in front of the neighbors. Lovely!
So today I was determined things were going to be better. I was going to be purposeful and positive and keep X busy to try and ward off opportunities for misbehavior. Even if it killed me :)
Here's our Day in the Life for the memory books. It's long and riveting (ok, maybe just long) but if you've got nothing better to do, feel free to keep reading.
6:50am - I wake up shocked that both children are still sleeping and haven't made a peep all night (Wes has recently been waking in what I think are teething pains and X talks in his sleep sometimes). I decide to jump in the shower because getting dressed before the boys wake up just starts the day off sooooo much better, even if it costs me that extra sleep.
7:30am - Boys still sleeping. I'm dressed and making myself some hot tea. I almost don't know how to act with all this alone time in the morning :)
7:45am - Wes wakes up in a delightful mood. We enjoy a little mommy and me time playing with barn animals and sharing my hot tea (after he noticed it on the counter, got a huge grin on his face, then repeated over and over "ha te, ha te" until I gave him some - don't worry, it's decaf!) It's rare that Wes is awake before X so this was nice.
8:20am - Get Wes settled in the highchair with some breakfast and hear X waking up. Can't believe he slept so late (12.5 hours - and after his attitude the night before he NEEDED it!) I go into X's room to say good morning and he is clearly in a better mood (thank you Lord!). First words out of his mouth - "Hi Mama! I need some chapstick cause my lip is bleeding. Where is our baby (Wes)?"
8:30am - Xavier joins Wes for breakfast and we all have waffles and fruit. I load the dishwasher - yeah fun!
9:00am - In my effort to keep him busy, I ask X to help me make some muffins. He loves putting ingredients in a bowl. We made Carrot Squash Cinnamon Applesauce flaxseed muffins. I'm telling ya, they are yum, and they are a good way to get extra veggies in! While we made muffins Wesley entertained himself by sliding all my laundry baskets down the basement stairs. Whatever makes you happy kid!
9:30am - Wes "helps" me change the laundry (and got totally freaked out sitting on top of the dryer while it was running). We fold some clothes and X watches Dora.
10:00am - It's beautiful out. We go for a walk - Wes in the stroller, X on his tricycle. I continue my "kill em with kindness" efforts towards X. I'm trying so hard to praise him more when he does good things.
10:30am - Return home from walk and decide to play outside. I get a crazy notion to make a little sidewalk chalk city for the kids. It turns out well, complete with Target, grocery store, church, library, swimming pool, park, houses, and a life size tracing of X's body :) We bust out the bubble machine because it's finally not windy out -- good times!
11:30am - Back inside the house because Wes leaked out his diaper. X can't get over the fact that a bird pooped all over the neighbor's slide. I promise to clean it while he's napping so he can go down the slide later. Fold more laundry. Wes gets a little too brave - turns over the laundry basket and stands on top of it. Then he slips and falls off into the wall. He was not happy about that.
12:00pm - Lunch. The boys ate up! Alfredo noodles, oranges, string cheese, and muffins. I unload my clean dishwasher.
12:45pm - Nap time - my FAVORITE time of the day. X wants to sleep with so much stuff in his bed (he stole some pillows from my bed earlier in the morning apparently) that there is barely room for him. Oh well, whatever. I finish folding load #4 of laundry and put all the clothes away in their rooms once they are asleep.
3:15pm - Boys are up from nap and wanting to go back outside. I forgot to go clean the slide so that was our first order of business.
3:30pm - Walter home from work earlier than usual - yipee! We continue to play outside. I add a rainbow to my sidewalk city and a couple of neighbor kids join in the drawing.
4:45pm - Walter takes the boys on another walk and I make dinner. I tried out a new recipe (cheese tortellini with sausage and spinach) and it actually turned out pretty good. At dinner I make a point to have X hear me tell Walter all about how he helped make muffins today and did a good deed for Wes. X seemed very proud of himself .
6:00 pm -- Dinner is finished and cleaned up. It's too nice to stay inside, so back out we go! The boys ride big wheels and we talk to the neighbors.X decides to be a funny guy when I take his picture and keeps putting his finger up his nose. The boys turn taking their shoes off into a game and I finally have to lay down the law about keeping shoes on outside. Walter and I discuss how one of the trees in our backyard might be dying. It's disappointing because it's a really pretty tree.
7:15pm - Bikes are put away and we head inside for baths. Xavier does a great job of listening when it's time to head in so he is rewarded by being allowed to turn the water on for bath and be the first one in the tub (this is a big deal for him lately!)
8:10pm - Boys are bathed and in bed after a snack of applesauce and a Curious George book. No tantrums from X so all is well. I put the diapers in the wash and Walter gets started on homework.
Now I'm finishing up this post, will do my bible study, and head off to bed in the not too distant future. Oh the Hollywood style life I lead..........
There you have it. It was a really good behavior day for X which makes such a difference for us all. I'm exhausted from trying to stay on top of him with praise, activity, and minimizing opportunities for conflict. But that was the goal today and it was worth it. I had a better attitude and so did he.
