Cupcakes

I was wondering what we could do today...so we made cupcakes. Rett helped mix the cake batter and put the liners in the cupcake tin. We let them cool and then iced and decorated them. He gave his best try at icing them himself. He said he wanted to ice them like mommy. Then he decorated them with sprinkles. He did most of it all by himself! Whatever profession he decides, he'll know how to make a mean cupcake.
We are excitedly awaiting the arrival of little man Dunaway #2. He's due in less than 2 weeks. I'm feeling pretty good and getting ready to meet him.

Rett's First Race

We took Rett to his first running race, held by the Illinois Valley Striders Kids series at a race track by Proctor hospital. He was VERY excited all day. He said he was going to be as fast as Lightning McQueen! Brit did the warm-up with him and was also able to run beside him in the 3 years and under heat. Rett ran the whole 1/4 mile and didn't stop. At the end he got a cookie, apple juice, and a ribbon. I'm so proud of my little runner!

Learning

In a few days I will be 29 weeks along...which means Little Mister Dunaway #2 will be here in 11 weeks or less. I am looking forward to meeting him. I wonder what he will look like and what he will be interested in, what his temperatment will be, what Rett will think about him. I feel I am more prepared in expecting sleepless or sleepy nights/days. I knew pregnancies could be different, but I was not prepared to figure out that I cannot have dairy. My stomach has been upset on and off since the first trimester. I thought this pregnancy was just different. After a while, I suspected that milk might be bothering me, but never thought about yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese, etc. could be upsetting my stomach. I eat it everyday. I stopped drinking milk and dairy products last Monday and my pains went away. I have taken up drinking almond milk for my cereal and an occasional glass to drink. It's not too bad. Here is the latest belly picture, taken a few weeks ago:

In the midst of upset stomachs, Brit and I have been challenged as parents for two reasons: 1) We are taking a class at Northwoods called Spiritual Parenting and 2) Rett has been challenging our authority and trying to exercise his. With #1, we are taking a six weeks series based off a book called "Spiritual Parenting" by Michelle Anthony. It is a wonderful book. It's not about dos and don'ts, but about how we can raise our children with an eternal mindset and fully know who they are in Christ and creating environments for them to do so. It has been good. #2 is getting better. After many days of taking away dessert, DVD time, toys, books, story time....Rett is listening and knowing that we mean what we say. And we are learning to mean what we say and be consistent! I have learned having kids shows you how to be patient, consistent, loving, forgiving, gracious, flexible, and so many other things.

YEAH!!!

These past couple weeks have been challenging and wonderful. Challenging, because Brit and I are having to take a look at reality: our budget. We are confident that God will provide for our needs, he always does. Wonderful, because God answered one of our insistent prayers during our time of fasting in January. I may not be able to give details yet, but the challenge and the answer go hand in hand. I could not feel more blessed and loved.

Rett is showing his three year old colors. Listening and obedient one minute and screaming and crying the next mintue. It's not all the time. It's just trying our patience! His favorites this week have been "The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" book. I have read it for each story time before he takes a nap or goes to bed. I told him I wasn't reading it today. His other favorite has been Shrek 2. Most of the time he only gets to watch the first 30 minutes because I put a timer on how long he can watch it. So I don't lose track of time and he isn't just watching movies all day long. He doesn't like Shrek (the first one) because he doesn't like Lord Farquad.

Looks like we might have one more time to go sledding.....yeah.....

Spring Fever

As I stepped out the door yesterday I pleasantly surprised that I did not immediately freeze. On my way to the grocery store the road was filled with water; dirty melted snow. There were people with their windows down and doors open to their businesses and wearing no coats. While it was a nice change of pace, I am not quite ready to pull out the halter top. Though, it did make me excited for spring!!

Rett has been sick this weekend with a little bug of some kind. Puking, pooping, and no fever. In total, it lasted about five days. Thankfully, the puking and pooping part was only for two days. He's feeling better now. I do not like the feeling that I cannot do something for him,but I suppose holding him on the couch helps him and me :)

5 Minutes All To Myself

I had a more than five minutes all to myself this morning, but I love that line from White Christmas. I enjoyed a bath, time to read the paper, started the laundry, and picked the house all the while listening to Dave Barnes and Michael Buble as loud as I wanted and all by myself! Brit and Everett went out for father-son outing to Dunkin' Donuts. Rett had 2 1/2 donuts...but mostly just ate the tops of the donuts.

Then, if time by myself was not enough, I was even more spoiled when Brit brought me a mocha latte from Dunkin' and an early Valentine present; Fannie Mae chocolates! My husband is the best.

Good Day

There are days when I stay at home that I wonder "What WILL Rett and I do today?" Today was beginning as one of those days. I decided to take Rett to the library. He was very excited because he knew there were Thomas the Train videos there we could check out. He promptly picked one out at soon as we walked in and then went to the computer where he wanted to see the "Magic School Bus" program. I showed him how to click with the mouse and he actually did pretty good all by himself. He listened and there was no whining when I said it was time to be done. We went home and watched Thomas and then played with Play-Doh.

While playing with Play-Doh, I asked Rett what he was going to do this weekend with Brit. "Donuts!" he yelled. They are going out Saturday morning for a daddy-son outing to Dunkin Donuts. He said he was going to get a donut with sprinkles and Daddy is going to get a pumpkin donut (which he got the last time they went). I asked "What if there are no pumpkin donuts? What will Daddy get?" Rett told me that Daddy would cry and come home and lay on his bed...this is what Rett would do. I had to laugh. My little man is a funny one. I enjoyed my morning.

And speaking of a little man, we had a sonogram last Tuesday. Everything looked perfect for our baby BOY! We are very excited. We're just trying to find a name now. I had always thought I would have two boys, and now I will. Being the planner that I am, I have already gotten clothes from my sister who had a baby boy in the spring (I don't think sweaters will work well for a baby in June!). I went through two huge boxes from her and sorted them by size....now for the clothes I already have downstairs. The nesting has begun.

Brit and I are slightly excited by the possibility of a snow day Tuesday or Wednesday. There are a ton of school closures for tomorrow already tonight. We will see! With that said, I am so looking forward to spring.