Pool Day

Saturday afternoon my sister Paige and I took Ramsey to the pool. He absolutely loves it there and spends most of his time playing on the steps, running WILD, or eating snacks. He is getting better and better at treading water with his floaties on and keeping his head from going under. He is quite a water bug so far. He also found a neighbors football which he thought was just "cool" (yes, that is one of his latest new words). Even today in the playroom I was sewing a needed a few more minutes to finish so I asked him to go find a football for me. I was thinking that would keep him distracted a least 5 minutes but he came back in about 10 seconds with a football in hand. What a kid! We've enjoyed a lazy Monday after a very busy past weekend which I am super thankful for and lucky for me Ramsey has been very well behaved today with only 1 threat of a time out. I'll take it when I can get it.

He tried reading my sisters book but found it boring with no pictures:

Playin in the Dirt

I suppose I had not thought much about what we were going to do this weekend after Morgan's birthday party on Friday night. Cope had drill this weekend which means he was gone his usual times (early morning-early evening) both Saturday and Sunday. I was totally bummed that he had guard drill as I know it means Cope needs a break and so do I. What can you do??? Keep on going is all I could think of so Saturday morning my very generous mother came over to help me work on our yard. Since this is our first house I am slowly getting into yard work. I originally thought I would hate that part of home ownership but I actually find it very rewarding and satisfying as it is really peoples first impression of your home. We take pride in our house. We have worked very hard to be here and I'll be darn if we're going to let it look shabby.

So Ramsey, Mom, and Me moved some previous landscape around and then headed to Lowe's for a new tree (Crape Myrtle) new plant (hydrangea) and pine straw. Ramsey helped us quite a bit and pretended to mow the lawn with his new mower. It was HOT but we got it done. I finished today by adding a few more plants next to the front door and putting out 10 more bails of pine straw. I think I've had 3 showers so far and about a gallon of water today. I'm done now and going to crash for a bit. Long weekend but a satisfying one at that.

60th Birthday bash

Morgan my step-Dad (AKA Papa Morgan) turned 60 years young yesterday and we celebrated with a progressive birthday party. We started out with wine, cheese, shrimp, and watermelon at their new lake home. It was the first time many of the guest had seen their house so it was neat to see others discover their little hideaway for the first time. Ramsey tried very hard to be on his best behavior and succeeded with minimal timeouts. Score one for the Rowell parents!!!Trying to escape upstairs by himself which is a huge NO, NO. : Ramsey was stoked about it being Papa's birthday but did not understand why all the attention was not on him: Ramsey hanging out with cousin Ansley. She is 4 years old and Ramsey thought she had pretty much hung the moon. He copied almost everything she did: After the lake house we went to a BBQ restaurant in Euharlee and enjoyed yummy food. After dinner we headed about 10 minutes up the road to their other getaway, the River house. We had champagne and dessert there. Cindy, my sister in law (Will, her hubby is in the Navy and is currently under the sea somewhere) surprised Morgan by flying in for the fun event. So cool that she made it: Making Ramsey pose for me and he hated every second of it: Morgan blew out his candles and made a wish. Morgan is calling age 60 the new 40: Again, I made him pose and he is totally pouting here: Hey Ladies, check out this super fly Pajamas. Real men where footies covered in doggies: Swinging with Nama and thinking Ansley is so great: Fun night and again Happy Birthday Morgan!!!!

Putting Out The Vibe

So I think Ramsey is (at least for now) catching my vibe that I am SERIOUS about this discipline stuff. I realize I've let him get away with quite a bit and not been as consistent as I should. I'm not blaming myself, I'm just becoming aware. Today we had a small meltdown in Big Lots and I gave him a time out and made him sit on a low empty display shelf. I asked him if he wanted to behave and have fun and he said "NO", ok then, we all make choices. So he had to be carried or in a buggy the rest of our errand running. Now, that I am becoming more observant I notice that around 5:00 in the afternoon he turns on some type of crazy switch. He literally starts bouncing off the walls, running like a mad man, and yelling loudly (just to hear his own voice). What a treat for Cope when he walks in the door. Anyway, all this is to say we're a work in progress. It will be a long, on going process and I pray for continued patience, understanding, humor through it all. Parenting is quite a pride swallowing experience when it comes to disciplining your toddler but I can say without a doubt I am so thankful for this challenge of trying to raise a healthy, happy, and WILD little man.

Thanks Blogging Buddies

I just wanted to say a quick thank you for all the sweet and helpful comments left on my last post about discipline for a toddler. I guess this phase has just caught me off guard a little. It is so nice to not feel all alone in this journey of Motherhood. I appreciate others honesty. It is the honesty that keeps me laughing and knowing we are all human and just doing what we think is best for our little ones on a daily basis. I am so thankful I get to be home with Ramsey even if it is overwhelming knowing I am in charge of the majority of the discipline during the days. I'll keep those interested updated on which things work and don't for the WILD man. Keep the comments or suggestions coming. I need all the advice I can get.

Day Off With Daddy

Cope took Monday off so we could just chill after a busy weekend. Of course Mr. Ramsey was thrilled!!! I ran errands with the WILD man in the morning, he took a LONG nap as did I. What, what!!! I LOVE to nap but rarely get to since I have to get things done while he is napping. No today folks, I got in some good ones over the 4 day weekend with Cope home. Thanks honey :) After his nap we went to see my Mom at their river house and then took Ramsey to throw rocks off the covered bridge. He loves to throw them in between the slats and watch them splash below. So cute:

I've been wanting to get Ramsey a little lawn mower and decided today would be a good day to give it a go. Of course he LOVES it! He pushed this thing around ALL day:

Here is just one of the many examples of WILD-ness this little guys is full of:

SIDE NOTE: OK, I need so help all you Moms of little wild toddlers out there. Ramsey is so sweet at times but out of control at others. He wants to do what he wants to do. God forbid I try to hold his hand in a parking lots, he screams, pulls away, or plain out throws a fit. once we finally get into the store he is bonkers. He cried, loudly the whole time in Target today just because he saw a ball he wanted and I didn't get it. Seriously. I have never met a more determined little spirit. I don't want to spank at this age because I feel like I will be spanking for everything. I'm thinking we're going to go back to the time out route and make him sit there for 1 minute before he can get down. We did this last night and he must of gotten down at least 20 times. I felt like I was on an episode of Super Nanny because I kept placing him back until he would sit there for 1 whole minute. This hopefully will work at home but what do you do out in public??? Sometimes he is so darn good and easy but other times I simply don't know what to do. He is a quick study so I know if I can figure the "right" method we can curb this craziness to some degree. Anyway, any ideas or suggestions are very welcome.

Our 4th of July Weekend

We have had a great 4th of July weekend so far. Friday at lunch our friends from Ft. Drum came down to hang with us for the weekend. After Ramsey got up from his nap we all piled in the truck and headed down to the ATL airport to see our friend Randy who was heading back to Afghanistan from his mid tour leave. It was kinda weird to be in the airport seeing all the soldiers in uniform, saying goodbye to their loved ones and remembering that we were there this very time last year. Man, the changes that take place in a years time, thank goodness! Anyway, we grabbed Randy and headed to chic fil a to visit with him for a little bit and let Ramsey play. Then we took Randy back to catch his flight and we all headed back to town in time for our 6:00 dinner reservations at a very yummy Cajun resteraunt. Ramsey was pretty awful and not wanting to sit in a dumb ole high chair since he had been couped up in the car most of the afternoon. So it was quite an adventure catching his thrown food, taking him outside to see the train "choo choo", and keeping him remotely calm so we could enjoy our dinner.

Saturday morning Cope and Brent went early morning fishing and kayaking on the Etowah river and Jenn and I met up with my Mom in town for the parade. It was Ramsey's first parade and he really enjoyed it. He would point out all the big trucks. I thought he would run into the street but instead simply stood fairly still and took it all in. We then went to the park for festivities. We made it back home in time for lunch and nap and then headed tot he pool where Ramsey ended up having quite the ass-plosion in his swim diaper. Have you ever changed one of those suckers full of diarrhea??? Fun stuff. Actually I wanted to vomit but contained myself. Later we had My Mom and Morgan over for chili dogs, buffalo chicken dip, and banana pudding. Yummy! We ended the night with some games, a sleepy little boy, and some fireworks courtesy of our neighbors.

Today, is Sunday, my 29th Birthday! Our friends left after breakfast this AM. We really enjoyed their visit and welcome them back ANYTIME! Ramsey already misses the extra attention and suckers for reading lots of books to him. After his nap we're dropping him at my Mom's and Cope and I are headed to see the movie The Hangover and finish the day off with dinner at the Melting Pot. So as you can tell we've had a busy but super fun weekend so far... I did not get as many pictures as I would have liked but such is life as a professional toddler wrangler.