The Boys

I realized that I haven't updated on the boys in quite a while, and felt it was time to say a little something about each of them. 

Thomas - He is now officially three-and-a-half and really amazes me at all he understands and can communicate.  Josh and I spell a lot more around him now when we need to say something that he doesn't need to understand!  We are still working through a preschool curriculum that I found online and that he loves to do.  I have bought a couple of books from Barnes & Noble to practice numbers, as his letter recognition and sounds are way ahead of his numbers.  He can pretty much count to 20, but has a hard time going past 20.  He loves to look at the clock and tell me what time it is.  At breakfast, he will usually say, "Mama, it is eight oh eight," and then proceed to update every minute after! 

Discipline is much more frequent now than at any other time.  We know that he is constantly testing us to see who is in control.  Not only do we still deal with direct disobedience, but also defiance and disrespect.  The rule in our home is to obey happily, quickly, and totally.  If he does not obey in those ways (which rarely happens since whining is still such a big issue) then discipline follows.  One of the biggest areas of disobedience is sharing/being kind to Josiah.  I constantly tell him, "Thomas you have to share with Josiah," to which he says, "But I don't want to share!"  At least he is honest! 

Thomas is still a very happy and loving child. He is quick to express his love to us and is overjoyed to do something one-on-one with us.  Spending time with daddy is definitely at the top of his list and I love to see how much he adores Josh and wants to be just like him. 

Josiah - It is so hard for me to believe, but he is only 4 months away from turning 2!  Maybe it is so sudden for me since it took him forever to walk and I never felt like he was a "big boy" when he was crawling everywhere.  Josiah is definitely a mama's boy.  He prefers me over anyone else, and often will not be comforted unless I am the one holding him.  With that preference of me also comes his many demands of me.  I cannot begin to tell you how many times I hear "Mama" during the day.  Since he doesn't say a lot of words right now, he calls my name anytime he wants something: get out of bed, milk, food, sit on the couch, reach a toy, tattle on Thomas, etc.  Some days it is overwhelming! 

Josiah has always been a very sweet child and continues to be very loving to us.  He laughs easily and still likes to sit in our laps while we read or watch television.  He loves to play with puzzles, cars (he says "car" with a Boston accent - so funny), trains, and read books. 

Of course, sharing isn't easy for him either.  He can take a toy just as quickly as Thomas and often resorts to pulling hair or biting to show his anger.  Sigh...the joys of close siblings who have to share toys! 

Just a little update on both of the boys.  I really would like to post more frequently, but often don't make the time.  I'm reading a lot these days and just trying to spend more time with my boys.  My goal is to blog once a week, but that hasn't been very consistent thus far!

Cinderella

Last night, Josh and I were in the car on the way to meet friends for dinner. He was flipping through the stations and one of the songs I heard was "Cinderella" by Steven Curtis Chapman. I told him I had heard the song the other day and thought of him and our yet to be born daughter. He went back to the song and listened to the first verse and then abruptly changed the station. As I was protesting the change of the radio, he said, "I can't listen to that," and as I looked over at him he had tears in his eyes! A good friend told me that he will never be the same after having a daughter, and I'm starting to believe her (especially since she isn't even here yet!).  Thankful to have a husband who loves his daughter so much already!

If you have never heard the song or would like to hear the story behind the song you can watch this:

Finally - A Girl!

If you are friends with me on Facebook, you have already read about our great news.  Baby #3 is a girl!  We honestly couldn't believe it when we had our ultrasound on Tuesday.  Josh and I both were expecting another boy, so we were so surprised and elated when we saw that baby is a girl!  Thomas went with us to the ultrasound and when the ultrasound tech told us her gender, he wasn't the least bit surprised.  He has told us from the beginning that baby was a girl. 

Josh was skeptical when the ultrasound tech told us those were girl parts.  He said, "Are you sure?  Don't the boy parts hide sometimes and you just can't see until birth?"  The ultrasound tech replied, "You see this [pointing at the screen] her legs are wide open and she is definitely a girl!"  We both were teary eyed when we finally realized we are going to have a daughter.  Josh has already said, "She's mine.  I might let you hold her occasionally."  I told him I would remind him of that at 2am! 

As you other women know I'm busy thinking about all the little girl clothes and decor I need to buy.  I can finally have a feminine diaper bag and buy dresses, bows, tights, and girly shoes!  I have also been wanting a bassinet this time and Josh told me on Tues morning before the ultrasound that if baby was a girl, I could have a bassinet.  So I get one now! 

I'm including some pictures and a short video clip of baby.  The pictures are so great because I went to a specialist's office since my OB is in solo practice and doesn't have the latest technology for ultrasounds.  And of course, I think she is just beautiful! 

He Walks!!!

Prayers have been answered today for Josiah, who is only 5 days away from 19 months, finally decided to walk independently!! You have no idea how much I have fretted, whined, and complained over his refusal to walk. I took him to the pediatrician this past week for his 18 months well-check and he told me that he would walk when he is ready. The doctor said that as long as he thinks it is faster to crawl from point A to point B, he is not going to walk. As much as I appreciate the doctor's lack of concern for his mobility, he isn't 4 months pregnant carrying around a 26 lb toddler!

Thankfully, today he just decided it was the day. Josh's parents came over for a little while to see the boys and Josh positioned Josiah to walk between him and his dad. He has done that plenty of times, so it wasn't that thrilling, except he seemed to have good balance and was walking more than two steps. Then Josh had him walk a little farther, until before we knew it, he had walked across the kitchen! He is still falling down quite a bit, partly because he is so interested in what his feet are doing and also because he is too busy socializing!
We are out of dvd's to record this momentous occasion (I will get some this evening), but I did snap a few pictures of my toddler!

Just For Laughs

I thought I would share a couple of funny pictures with you just to make you laugh.  Josiah is 18 months and we put him on the potty when he has to do his business.  He is a very expressive child, so it is easy to recognize the signs of needing to use the potty.  Believe it or not, he actually likes to sit on the potty and has been doing it for a few months now.  He also likes to "read" while he is sitting there.  I usually ask, "Josiah, would you like a book?" And now he says, "Yeah, Yeah" and shakes his head.  So here are a couple of pictures of his recent "reading on the potty" :

Anyone still here?

You know you haven't visited your blog in a long time when typing in the url you say to yourself, "Now what was the name of my blog again?"  So I guess anyone reading now hasn't forgotten!  It has been a very busy holiday season and this has been the last thing I have thought about.  Of course being pregnant doesn't help either.  Naps are not optional for me right now.  And you know what?  I'm completely okay with that because I know in less than 6 months sleep will be a luxury!  Thankfully, the second trimester has proven to be much better in terms of fatigue and sickness.  I was finally able to return to a normal routine around Thankgiving, which was perfect timing! 

In family news...the boys are doing well.  Thomas and I started doing "school" again the beginning of the month and I could tell how much he had changed just in the six weeks we had taken off.  He understood directions quicker and our activities seemed to "click" with him.  Thomas LOVES to do school.  In fact, he asks most weekends if we can do school. I guess when school consists of playing games, using blocks and magnets, and jumping around any kid would want to do school!  He does know all his letters now as well as the short vowel sounds and most common consonant sounds.  I am debating on whether or not beginning to teach him to read in the spring.  He is eager to know and the book I have seems fairly simple and easy lessons of around 10 minutes. 

Josiah has changed a lot too.  He is into everything!  Thomas was not a climber, but Josiah climbs on everything.  A couple of weeks ago, I found him sitting on top of the train table with all the trains and tracks thrown on the floor shouting, "Mama!"  He knows how to climb up, but has not mastered getting down.  Even though he is into everything, he still does NOT walk independently.  *sigh*  He will walk holding our hands and practically runs behind a push toy, but refuses to let go.  Josiah is a very stubborn (but lovable) child and when he doesn't want to walk, he just lets his legs go limp.  The ladies in our church nursery call him "noodle legs."  We go back to the pediatrician next week for his 18 month well check and I'll see what he has to say. 

Baby Culbertson is doing well.  I'm 17 weeks pregnant and everything is normal.  I haven't felt movement yet, but it should be soon.  I have an ultrasound scheduled for Monday, January 10th.  We are hoping to find out the gender, as long as baby cooperates.  Thomas is convinced he is having a sister.  In fact, the past week he has been saying there are two babies - a boy and a girl!  I hope he isn't prophetic about that last statement!

Well, I've rambled long enough.  Below are a couple of pictures from Christmas. 

The boys listening to Josh read about Jesus' birth on Christmas morning. 

Josiah looks like "Ralphie" from A Christmas Story! 

Future Employee?? This was the gift they both loved the most. 

Another Addition!

If you are friends with me on Facebook, you already know our good news.  We are expecting again!  Baby #3 is due the same time Josiah was due - the exact same date actually (June 8)!  I'm really hoping this baby decides to come a few days before his birthday, because I really want my kids to have their own special day.  Of course, we are very excited and a little nervous too about being outnumbered by kids! 

Thomas is very excited, although doesn't completely understand what is going on.  He thinks the baby should be here now.  We were talking about the baby earlier this week and he said, "Mama, you just pretending."  When he does refer to the baby he always says, "she".  We don't have a preference either way, but I would be thrilled for the boys to have a sister. 

While baby is doing fine, I feel awful.  I think the worst part is the fatigue.  Nausea was something I dealt with in the other two pregnancies (and still feel with this one), but the fatigue this time around is overwhelming.  I honestly have never felt this tired in my life.  Right now, it is all I can do to take care of my boys, cook dinner, and do the laundry.  Thankfully, the boys still take a nap every afternoon which allows me to nap as well.  Any other ladies experience such fatigue with third pregnancies? 

I do want to post some pictures from our trip, but I have to find the energy to go through 400 pictures.  Hopefully, in the next week or two, I'll get them up.  Don't expect much activity on the blog until the 2nd trimester comes.