A low moment. A lesson learned the hard way.

Who made up the parenting "rule" that if you tell your kid something, you need to follow through? Darn that person! Night after night I cook dinner and night after night I listen to kids (mostly Parker really) whine and cry that they don't like it and won't eat it. We've tried not forcing him to eat and if he chooses not to then he doesn't get anything else to eat that night. We've tried just not saying anything at all so that we can actually have a peaceful meal. We've also tried forcing him to eat...tonight was that night. Oh how I wish I could turn back time. Why does being a parent hurt so bad sometimes? Two words, crocodile tears...and they were not the kids'.

Phil got a soft soccer ball so that we could set up the soccer goal downstairs and play soccer down there without breaking anything. It was his surprise for the kids tonight since he hasn't been able to give them much attention in the last week because he's been SO busy with work and church.

Well, we just wanted Parker to eat one small piece of onion and mushroom from the dinner I cooked so they could be done with dinner and go play with their dad. You've seen the scenario, we hold the fork with food on it up to his mouth and he covers his mouth and cries to not eat it. After much coaxing by Phil and getting no where, I reached major frustration and opened my big mouth and told him that if he doesn't eat the ONE bite that he'll have to go get his pajamas on and go to bed (it was 6:00p). So what does he do? Well, what he normally does, chooses not to eat it. So here I am, stuck in a heart wrenching dilemma. Do I give in and let him play with Phil (which is obviously more important than eating one bite of food) or do I stick to my guns and follow through with my word to put him to bed and hope that this one experience will help him to just eat the bite next time. Well, I guess it depends on who you ask, but in my gut and my heart, I took the low road. Off to bed he went.

Believe me, it killed me to send him to bed when I know he'd love more than anything to play soccer with his dad. But he was stubborn and I was stubborn and I felt like it was too late to take it back.

After some time of him crying, I went down to check on him, give him a hug and tell him I love him. What did I see? Parker in his bed, with stuffed animals all around him and Gracie sitting on his bed reading him a story. I asked Gracie what she was doing and she told me that she tucked him in bed, put his stuffed animals around him to help him feel better and was reading him a good night story. At that moment, I felt like I was the child and Gracie was the mother. I had to turn around, run to my room and cry.

Parker cried for a solid hour. I hate the choice that I made. Despite me sending him to bed, he still wanted me to lay with him and he still gave me a hug and kiss and told me he loved me. It amazes me how forgiving kids are.

You know, life is short and it will only be a matter of time I'm sure before Parker will eat all on his own without all of this drama. I realized tonight that this has been one battle that I don't want any more. I love that little boy so much and as much as I'd like him to eat all kinds of vegetables and fruits, I don't think that one bite of mushroom and onion or anything else for that matter is going to make him that much healthier. Honestly, one bite of food as opposed to a happy household and kids spending quality time with their dad and mom.

I don't know if Parker learned a lesson tonight, but I know I did.

Chase's Blessing

Phil blessed Chase yesterday and it was just beautiful.

We were lucky enough to have Phil's mom and dad and his sister Lindsay and her two kids Drew and Dawson fly in for the big event. We had so much fun with them and we were so happy they came to visit.

What in the world happened to Fall?

October 10th, first snowfall of the season. Temps in the 20's and 30's. Man, this is going to be a loooooong Winter! :(

The best view in the house...

Chase will just sit and stare at this fan forever. It's so funny!



On the 30th of September he "officially" gave me his first smile. Of course he has smiled before that, but this smile was definitely on purpose. :) I don't know what it is about little babies smiling at me, but it melts my heart. Chase has been so much fun lately because he is really starting to interact with us and smile so much. Lately he has been working really hard to figure out how to suck his thumb. He'll stick his fist in front of his face and go cross-eyed until he gets it into his mouth. Sleeping hasn't been the greatest, but it hasn't been the worst either. I think between cutting all my favorite foods out of my diet (haha!) and the zantac and gripe water, his colic and acid reflux are doing much better. There are definitely times he is hurting, but they are fewer and less severe. Gracie and Parker just love him to death. They are always holding him, kissing him and telling him that they love him. As for me, well I must kiss his cute little face a thousand times a day!

Fun with Grandma and Grandpa Stephenson

The Neighborhood Dad

Phil goes outside nearly every night and plays with the kids when he gets home from work. They are always going on walks, bike rides and playing sports in the front yard. Without fail the neighbor kids always want to come and join in the fun. There will be times that I look out the front window and don't see Gracie or Parker in sight, but I see Phil throwing the football to a couple of neighbor boys. They just love him! Phil is such a good dad! It amazes me how hard he works all day long and I'm sure would love to come home and do nothing but relax, but he never does. From the moment he gets home until the moment the kids go to bed he gives them his undivided attention. I feel a tear coming on! :) He's the best!