More pictures and slight update with them.

These are pictures from my trip to Arizona with my best friend, Bethany. It was a trip we took to celebrate turning 30 (and living to tell about it!). We wanted to do something fun and do something physically challenging. We had been working on getting into shape, and it worked out where I was pregnant which slowed me down a bit, and Bethany had been working her butt off (quite literally) so we were pretty even. It was fun! Most of the good pictures were on Bethany's camera, which I downloaded onto my computer but even though the slide show randomly pops up on my sidebar, I can't actually find them to upload onto blogger. :/.



Finally, Aaron got his first haircut a couple of weeks ago. It was fun for him, and now he really looks like a big boy. Next step is mastering the potty. He just needs to become a little more aware of his bodily functions. Much of the time he does really well keeping his diaper dry and telling us when he needs to go, but other times he's more focused on eating or playing. We'll work more on it after Christmas is over since we are travelling this year and it's pointless to try so hard when it will be so hard on the airplane and such.

So, hooray the blog is actually caught up! Hooray!

Pictures.

These are just a few of the pictures of what we've been up to lately. More tomorrow. :)

Thankful

It's been quite the year here in the Grummons' household. It's been a year of changes and adjustments and of incredible blessings. We are SO INCREDIBLY THANKFUL!

And, just in case anyone was wondering. We are thankful everyday, even when things seem bleak and we aren't sure what's going to happen, we pray prayers of thankfulness to our God because, in comparison to much of the rest of the world, we're living pretty well. It's like I said to Sam once, "You know, we pray for God to take care of us and watch over our family. He promises never to forsake us, and it's true. Even if we are homeless on the street with nothing to eat, God is still watching over us and taking care of us. Heaven is our home, not earth and I think we need to keep that perspective." Because, truly, at the end of it all, when we're finished with our incredibly short time here on earth, what matters is heaven and worshiping Jesus forever. Sometimes I get so caught up in what's going on RIGHT NOW I forget the big picture.

So, here is a quick overview of what we are thankful for this year. And then, after this, I will post another post of pictures, because I have been a super slacker posting pictures of the boys and our shenanigans. :) (Which also means I have to go round up the camera because I haven't downloaded my amazing Arizona vacation yet!).

Our thankful list.

• Sam is home! Not only is he home, but he's been home for a year now!
• Carrie's new job. It's been an amazing year of ministry. Lot's of growth for myself and for some pretty awesome students. It's been hard, but it's also been a time of learning and changing.
• Sam finished with his Master's degree! Much rejoicing was had (and lots of celebration!)
• After a rough summer of searching, Sam landed a full time position with the military, which has given us so many extra blessings. Including, full coverage insurance, a housing allowance, and (for the first time ever in our marriage) regular work hours so our family can be a family together most evenings (except when I'm gone for meetings and ministry).
• Sam is also using his degree by teaching an online class for Ashford University. It's nice to see him thrive in the academic environment and nice to see how God has blessed him with this opportunity!
• Sam also got to present a paper at a philosophy conference a few weeks ago, and with that he got to meet up with some friends whom he hasn't seen in a long time.
• We got to move into a house with a yard and a garage. Amazingly it was the house that I've imagined in my head as the "perfect house" for us. Everything! It's a reminder that God is listening to the desires of our hearts, even when we don't necessarily pray for it because we don't want to be selfish. :)
• The kids are a blessing in themselves. I'm so thankful for my energetic little boys who love each other so fiercely and protect one another. I'm thankful that they have their health and are generally obedient, loving little children. And, they just crack me up, which is a blessing in itself.
• Along with my new job there are some extra perks. Childcare is provided for Nathaniel for me right on site with the preschool (and Aaron will be joining him in May) and in the fall, Nathaniel will get to attend the academy as well for kindergarten. It is so nice to not worry about the boys while I work. It's also nice to not worry about my kids' education considering the state of California's schools and the district we live in.
• Baby number 3. We're so thankful for the joy of another little one entering our family next year.

That's a general list. There are so many more things to be thankful for. Mostly we are thankful for our friends and family who love us so well. Thanks to all.

15 Weeks 3 days

I went in for another check up today. I was a little disappointed because my doctor told me last month that she would do a peek to see if we could tell what the little munchkin is gender-wise. Alas, I was ushered into the exam room without the ultra sound machine today. Boo. So, I was weighed, blood pressured, and dopplered.

Hooray for me, no weight gain (I'm not trying not to gain, this was just a good month, apparently). My blood pressure is fine and the heart rate is 148. :) All is well.

Except for the rash covering my neck and upper chest and arms. That's itchy, but nothing to worry about. Apparently, it's a "pregnancy thing". Ugh!

In other news...

Nathaniel has entered a new "phase" or whatever you want to call it. The past three days he has thrown major tantrums in the morning and at night. So, today in the van we had a nice conversation about consequences for our behavior. He was mad because his t.v. rights have been taken away today because he chose (and these are the words I used, "you chose") to sit on the couch and whine about wanting Cheerios instead of getting dressed. Mind you, he had eaten breakfast already, the Cheerios were for when he finished getting dressed. Instead, he threw major fits and laid on the couch under a blanket while I finished getting ready for work, got Aaron fed, cleaned up, teeth brushed and dressed. I then calmly got Nathaniel's clothes, dressed him like he was helpless (at least he wasn't fighting me), walked him to the bathroom, had him brush his teeth while I combed his hair, and then let Aaron be the line leader out to the van (which pissed Nathaniel off to no ends).

I asked him what he would do differently if he could do the morning over and he said (with full 4 year old attitude), "Nothing!!" So, I told him that I wasn't sorry about not allowing him t.v. for the rest of the day. Later he was a bit more repentant and we talked about choices and how they affect what happens.

It's a learning process.

On the other hand, Aaron is enjoying being the sweet one. At least they haven't both thrown a fit together for awhile. One day last week they both were in their rooms having meltdowns.

I think I found more grey hair...

At least we're on "vacation" starting tomorrow. If only Sam were home from work tomorrow...

Ugh.

Is it really the middle of November already?

I keep saying I'm going to update this thing. Then days and weeks go by and I realize the last thing I updated was super long and about my kids' personality types. Ugh. When did I become a boring blogger?

I am thinking of starting over, but then I look at some of my previous posts and am reminded of fun stories that I completely forgot about and realize that while this indeed is a blog meant to keep our families and far away friends up to date with what's going on, it's also a great way to remind me of some of the funny things my kids have done. Like when Nathaniel would get up super early and turn the television on for himself after closing our bedroom door first to keep us from hearing him. He did that at 22 months old. It also reminds me of some of my parenting techniques which were totally frustrating, but worked because now Nathaniel is a fairly well behaved 4 year old. It's a great motivator to keep on going as Aaron enters fully his "terrible two's".

And how!

Aaron no longer says, "No!" in a cute, high pitched way. It is an absolute, "there is no way on God's green earth that you are going to make me do/eat/touch/go whatever, woman!" I swear he says no just out of response to what I'm saying or asking. Even if it's really something he wants, his first response is "No!"

Ah, the joys.

And have I mentioned the biting? He is my little juvenile delinquent when it comes to biting. He is on his last straw at daycare, and still openly bites his brother here at home. Although, today I saw bite marks on Aaron's leg and had to have a stern talking to with Nathaniel ("But Mommy, he was hitting me!"). Today I thought someone was going to call CPS on me because while we were in the bathroom in Disneyland Aaron bit me on the arm and my response was to give him a firm smack on the mouth. Which echoed in the bathroom and he immediately cried (it was three cries and he quit). Then, because he's a white boy, he has a red mark on his face for a few minutes (it was totally gone 10 minutes later). Of course, the cleaning person happened to be sweeping right outside the stall where this all went down. No comments were made, however, and he was fine.

But, between the biting and the fighting and the wrestling and the whining, the boys are amazing. Aaron's vocabulary is starting that fun "picking up the pace" stage where the words are just exploding. He calls Nathaniel "bubba" or "Naaaa", but today I distinctly heard, "aniel!" come from his mouth. They play together well and love each other fiercely. Nathaniel is super protective of Aaron, to the point where he doesn't want him to go on any rides at Disneyland that he deems scary. If he thinks something is too scary or hard for Aaron, Nathaniel will get super upset and cry and try to hold him back physically. I love the protective nature, but keep reminding Nathaniel that Aaron has to learn how to do things for himself and learn how to make decisions. It's the same with talking. Nathaniel keeps answering for Aaron, which makes it so that Aaron doesn't feel the need to answer any of my questions. He just looks to Nathaniel.

I've entered my second trimester with baby number three. It's been a good and fairly easy journey so far. My morning sickness hasn't been too out of control, but I have been more tired lately. I have definitely felt this one kicking for the past week, which is very cool. It's that great part of pregnancy where I feel like I have a secret because while people know I'm pregnant, no one can feel the kicks but me, so I have this neat little bond happening. :)

Nathaniel is asking a lot of questions about babies and development and how they get into the tummy, which has led to a few interesting conversations and child safe pictures in magazines. It's been great, but I think he's a little confused because when Sam asked Nathaniel if I swallowed a baby he said, "No, mom swallowed an egg." hmmmm....

That's about it here. I'm going to try to update at least once a week with anecdotes of my children or of life in general. At the very least I want to post some pictures! I don't even know if people read this any more, but at least it will be good for later.