Learning from God's Point of View

Caleb 5 Months Old

First time eating cereal

Wanting to do it himself

Cried himself to sleep

Rolling over for the first time

July 4th Ft. Wayne Zoo

He cried when I told him he was done and had to get off.. That is how much he loves tractors and he wasn't even sitting on it..Just by it.

Poor guy had to be in the carseat part of the day..

Loved looking at the fish in the aquarium

He met a new friend

He's training to join the monkeys. :)

I love this picture of them walking

At the entrance of the zoo

What a great month July has been. Ashley and I started off the month by taking a 4 day weekend getaway.. A small out of the house trip which was really nice. Last year Ashley took a 4 day weekend off during the 4th and we went up to Michigan so this year he decided to take the same days off. Wed night the 1st of July, Ashley and Isaac camped out in a tent at Ashley's parents house and they had a big time.. They went boating, they did some trails, they grilled out and then slept in the tent all night. I was kind weary on how Isaac would do all night but he slept the whole night. Caleb and I slept inside this time which was fine by me. We left thurs morning and headed up to my parents house and spent the day there and spent the night and then friday morning headed up to Pokagon State Park north of Ft. Wayne. That was fun, but our grill didn't work so we had all the stuff to grill out and no grill.. Ashley ran to burger king and got some hamburgers and we ate those w/ our chips, and whatever else we had..It wasn't the same.. We walked some trails, tried to swim but it was kind of chilly and Isaac just wasn't up to it.. We did the nature center and overall it was a great day. We planned on coming home but we were enjoying being away we weren't ready to come home so we stayed in Ft. Wayne w/ my sister and her family and headed to the zoo saturday morning. That was really fun!!!! We headed home after that and got into rain and it rained the rest of the day... I enjoy my family and any chance to get away is always nice..Even if it is just for a weekend. You don't need to have money to enjoy your family. :)

As you know, Isaac is 2 and I believe 2 is when it all begins w/ back talking, tantrums, not listening, and so on.I'm going to be honest with you. I never really thought parenting would be so hard. You go through the baby stage of them learning how to crawl and oh they got their first tooth and look at the outfit that is adorable and they are eating cereal and baby food and now they are standing up on things and now they are walking and then they are 1 so you throw them a big bday party and look how they have grown and at 1 they aren't really talking that much so as a parent, you are taking care of them and being there for them and definitely pay for them but at the age of 2...That's when it starts (I think). Ashley and I are working together to learn discipline and to be consistant with it. Not so much discipline in a bad way but also in a good way. Isaac is learning from us as well and is learning that he can't throw things, and he can't tell us no, and he needs to listen when we tell him to go wash his hands or go pick up his toys. He knows if he doesn't do that, then he's going to get in trouble w/ spankings. We always follow through to tell him why he got spankings and he knows his wrongs. Good discipline would be when bedtime is with reading and praying and when it's time to eat and when it's time get dressed and when it's time to brush his teeth.

I am reading this book called, "Don't make Me Count to Three" I am borrowing it from my sister in law and I'm not sure the author but it is a good book and I'm learning a few things from it. I may need to read it again b/c I know I'm probably missing out just like a movie. This book is teaching to raise your kids in a biblical mannor, not to be a prideful mother, explain to kids why they are in the wrong and how to fix it and do it right and always be consistant with what you are doing. Ashley and I got a CD from his parents as well on how to raise you children. I know I'm horrible, but I didn't look at the cover so I don't the name of it, but this past weekend Ashley and I started listening to it in the car and so this past weekend I have gotten a lot of advice on how to parent which I love. What really stood out w/ me on the CD was, you start now with discipling and explaining while they are young and teach them how to be wise and compassionate, and learn how to love and listen and teach them about Jesus.

God has really been w/ me this past week giving me good advice about all this through the book I'm reading and through that CD and I am overwhelmed with what we should do w/ our children and how to parent but I am thankful that I have Jesue Christ as my father who I can go to for help. Ashley and I are role models for our children and they look up to Ashley and I. We are all Isaac and Caleb know right now and so Ashley and I need to set good examples for them now so they can see and be taught how we have been taught and that is through the Bible and to live our life for Christ.

I absolutely LOVE being a parent. Isaac is talking so much and everytime he says Mommy or Daddy, it just melts my heart. I love that he trusts us and he comes to us when he's scared and will sit w/ us. He's so loving and sweet. I melt when I see his big eyes smile at me. It's a "I love you smile" I admitted parenting is hard, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. We just started with the whole potty training thing. Today actually. :) Isaac got Thomas the Train underwear and he wore them today. Well, half the day. He went in them so I had to put them in the washing machine and he had to go back to a diaper but he's sitting on the potty so that is a start. I know he's not going to get it in a day or a week but you have to start somewhere. So potty training has began and now we have limited his binky to just naptime and bedtime...My goal for the end of the summer is to be potty trained and no binky. :) If my goals are accomplished, I will be happy. I'm a busy mom who doesn't have a whole lot of time so it's easier to give him his binky and easier to put him in a diaper but I'm discipling myself to give him time to do the potty and saying no to the binky..I don't like the binky but it's easier so now, I told myself, today is the day we start and we have started..He's done well w/ no binky even though I don't know about his dad and if he's doing it at night while I'm at work. :) We will see...

Can you believe Caleb is 6 months old? He's pushing himself up on his arms like he is wanting to crawl but just doesn't have that much strength..he's adorable and I love how he is trying... He's sleeping all night but loves to get up early..This morning he was up at 4:10am so I went up and got him b/c if not, he would of woke Isaac up...They are right beside each other and Caleb was just talking as loud as he could so he came down to his bassinet and stayed in that awake til 5am and then fell asleep til 7am but he just likes to wake up early..I need to do away w/ the bassinet I know as you are thinking but i don't want Isaac up b/c then I'm up and I don't want to be up at 430 am when I go to bed around midnight...It's a battle on what to do... Soon Caleb will not be able to fit in that bassinet so I guess I'll worry about that when it comes. :) You have to walk through Caleb's room to get to Isaac's.. Caleb loves to chew on things and loves to use his hands to play w/ rattles and puts his feets in his mouth and I can tell he's learning...He loves Isaac and Isaac loves him..Isaac is saying Caleb now and will just kiss him and hug him and will say "hi caleb, morning caleb, caleb awake, caleb sleep" statements like that.. I love hearing him talk to him. Makes me excited when Caleb is two and can talk back to him.. :) Well, this is long and I"m going to wrap it up. My camera broke so who knows if I'll have pictures next month..We'll see. Maybe my husband will be nice enough and say I can go buy one. :) hahaha..yeah right!!! I hope you enjoyed my blog and hope it all made sence. :)