I Don't Want to Forget

I don't want to forget...

• The names Serena intends to give her kids when she grows up:  Cody, Bret, Jimmy, Laura, Mary, and Carrie.

Jordan got a tablet, so he downloaded a memory matching game and let the kids play.  They were hysterical, getting SO excited every time they got one right and the "victory song" would play!  We thought it would probably be a good idea to get them used to playing with computers more after Serena referred to the ones at the library as "those mirrors that do things."  ;)

• Bret prayed his first prayer the other night and it went, "Dear Jesus, help us be like Jesus and not cry. Amen."
  
• Serena has started just stopping and praying whenever she's faced with a problem.  The other day, I lost my car keys at Aldi.  I had an extra in my purse, so we when our searches failed, we just went on home.  I was frustrated, though, and when we all got in the car, Serena bowed her head and prayed out loud for God to "give the keys back to Mommy."  Another night, Serena complained something about the temperature of her water at supper, and Jordan explained that the heat in the house is not very warm, and Serena bowed her head right there and prayed out loud for God to make the heat in the house warmer!  ;)
• Cody has finally started walking!!  At 14 1/2 months, he is officially our latest walker yet!

Like the other kids, Cody LOVES climbing!

• Since reading the story of the "Velveteen Rabbit," Serena has become more and more infatuated with the idea of her toys being "real."  Of course, Baby Carrie (formerly known as Olie) was the first to be deemed "real."  

>>>"Mommy, is Grammie surprised?" Serena randomly asked me one day.
>>>"Surprised about what, Serena?"  I asked.
>>>"Surprised that the baby she got at Target was a real baby?"
>>>"Yes, Sweetheart, I think we're all surprised."
>>>"Why?"---  ;)

• Other toys that are "real":  Tottie-Lottie, the turtle; Gus, the horse; and Jack, the dog.

• How Bret gave up his paci and his "special blankie."  For months before Serena threw her paci in the trash, we used to talk about the day when she would make that monumental decision and be all done with her paci like a big girl.  It worked so well for her, that we decided to do the same thing with Bret. Then, the other night, after getting jammies on, Bret sat down as usual with his paci and "special blankie" (an old nightie of mine that he's been attached to since shortly after his first birthday).  As I started to read the night's chosen story, Bret suddenly interrupted with, "I think I need a new paci."  We'd just run our errands the day before, so I told him we wouldn't be able to get a paci for a few more days, so he'd just have to be okay with what he had.  He sat there and thought for a while, trying to suck on his paci, and finally took it out of his mouth and examined it.  Then, "I think I bit it."  He put it back in, but I could see he was getting no satisfaction from it.  "It's not much good when it's been bit, huh?" I said, as sympathetically as I could.  I was hoping he wasn't going to get sad about it or anything, because I really didn't have any other options for him.  He sat for another minute and then said, "I'm all done with it.  Can I go throw it in the trash?"  I reminded him that if he threw it in the trash, it would be all gone and he would be all done with it after that.  He just looked at me like, duh.  And then he asked it he could run and throw it in the trash right then.  Of course, I told him he could, so he ran off and soon we heard the trash open and slam shut.  Then he came running back.  He looked so proud of himself!  He did awesome that first night!  The next afternoon, as I was laying him down in his bed for naps, he decided he wanted to throw away his special blankie.  Not wanting to stop our naptime progress, I told him it wasn't a good time right now.  Besides, I really didn't know if I was up for his getting rid of the blankie so soon after the paci.  But, later that afternoon, he ran into his room and came back out with his special blankie, "Mom, can I throw my special blankie away now?"  What could I say?  So, into the trash it went!  That night was pretty rough; he was up every two hours.  He never asked for his paci or his special blankie; just rolled over and went back to sleep when I patted his back and tucked him back in.  I could tell he was just struggling to get through his sleep cycles without his little "sleep aids."  ;)  The next night, he got a little sad once and said he wanted a cold blankie (the old nightie had been made from a silkie material, so it always felt cool).  He was okay after being held for a bit.  Since then, he's done great, and it's been a pretty smooth transition!  Of course, he's so proud of himself, and talks about how he "grew bigger" that night!  :)  Hard to believe that little bit of babyhood just slipped away so suddenly once again!  Now we just need to get him in a big bed and out of sleeping diapers, and he'll be a real big kid!  ;)

Bret's current favorite book.  Whenever we get to the part where the tired old train says, "I must rest my weary wheels," Bret insists that it is "weary soul" and we can't go on until I reread it as "weary soul."  Cracks. me. up!!!  I have NO idea where he got that!

• Bret is truly a totally different kid from his sister!  He's much more tease-able and active and loud.  He's still our Poky Little Puppy, but he also moves constantly...just not always in a forward-direction!  ;)  The other day, he and Serena were observing Tottie-Lottie the turtle in a pail of water.  Earlier, Serena had been making all sorts of stories up about how he's real, so as they watched him quietly, Bret finally observed, "He's not real."  Serena, completely shocked by the statement, exclaimed, "BRET! He is real!"  Undeterred, Bret calmly said, "But he doesn't crawl."  At that point, I had to leave so they wouldn't hear my laughing!  ;)  Then, the other night, I called everyone to the table to eat supper.  Bret, apparently hungry, came charging through the kitchen on his way to the table.  Jordan said, "Bret, you need to put some pants on first."  Bret stopped in his tracks, and looked down at his bare legs with shock all over his face, "Where'd my pants go?!" he exclaimed.  Another day, Jordan came home from work and seeing Bret pants-less again, asked, "Why don't you have any pants on, Bret?"  Bret answered reassuringly, "I'm not cold!" (as if that is the only reason one would ever wear pants!)  I think I need to do a better job of writing down Bret's quotes, since that is all I can think of at the moment.  He sure is a funny goober, though!

Cody, the drummer boy.  He and Bret love this toy, and pound and sing happily together!