Shutterfly

I feel like this blog gets neglected often.  I have a Shutterfly Share account that I blog on but it is a private site.  I set it up because everyone was wanting us to print of pictures for them and send them to them.  We really don't mind but we thought it would easier if people could have access to our pictures themselves.  So we upload pictures and put up news and people can also see our calendar if they are interested.  I don't think a lot of people really read this blog anymore but if you do and would like to be added to my Shutterfly Share site please send me an email or a FB message or text and I will add you.  I will do my best to update things on here but if you would like to stay informed the other site is better.  Thanks!

Special Special Day

 Thursday morning at 11:30 am we had the privilege to be sitting in the courthouse as a family. This may not seem like most peoples wonderful way to spend a Spring Break day but for our family it is something we have been looking for over 18 months.  For Aiden and I it has been closer to 8 years of waiting for the right time and more importantly- the right Daddy : ) We stood in front of the judge as our wonderful lawyer asked Josh all the formal questions and after the judge signed the official paper he looked up at Josh and said "You have a daughter." It was such a simple sentence but so special. Aiden's adoption was final!

It is funny though, in the days leading up to the adoption I was trying to figure out Aiden's thoughts and feelings so I asked her if she was excited about the adoption being final and she said "You're already my mommy" as she gave me her usual eye roll. Mom came to court with us just in case Shade got loud and had to leave.  That afternoon mom reminded her she was a Rayburn now and she said "Even in the computer lab?!" This was because at school they had to use her legal name although in the classroom they would still call her Aiden Rayburn.  But since they had to log into the computer lab she had to still use Boardman. 

We are so glad to have this step all done and behind us. I know right now it doesn't seem like a big deal to her because Josh was already her Daddy so she doesn't see the big deal. But I know when she grows up the sacrifice and commitment will mean a lot more to her.  This also gives us the opportunity to go to the temple and have her sealed to us.  That will be such special day too!

Lucky Mamma

 I have had lots of ups and downs in my rather short life.  I never knew how it was all going to turn out.  Now I look at my life and wonder how I got so lucky!  I have an amazing husband who is a worthy and wonderful priesthood holder. He makes me feel special, happy,  loved and beautiful ever single day. He has a great job that he loves which enables me to stay home with my babies.  Which brings me to my little miracles. 

I love my husband!

 I love my kids!

I love being a Mom!

I'm so blessed to have these kids in my life.  No, they aren't perfect but everything about them I love.  Aiden has been such and amazing big sister.  She truly loves her little brother! She loves to help feed him and help me with things around the house. Shade is such a happy, laid back little boy.  He is very calm and relaxed and brings such fun to our home.  I LOVE MY LIFE!!

 

I sometimes feel guilty that I am blessed.  I see others around me struggle to have babies or to get pregnant.  I have yet to figure out how to put that guilt away but I look at my precious angels and count my blessings.   I also hear alot of women complain about their husbands and while my husband isn't perfect- he is amazing! I LOVE MY LIFE!

Aiden feeding Shade his bottle. 

Aiden and Shade playing one of cousin Jax's Leapfrog game.

 

Shade has recently started sitting up by himself. He loves to practice but often falls over : )

Our little escape artist

Some of you may look at the title and think Shade is doing something cute like escape his blankets or find away out of his sleep mittens. But, alas, you would be wrong.  This title and blog post is dedicated to our darling daughter Aiden.  To fully understand I have to start at the beginning.  Let me take you on a little journey. . .

It was dark and windy night. . . no just kidding.  Sometimes after school I let Aiden walk around outside on our street.  She has 2 rules- 1) Stay where you can see the house and 2) Stay where you can hear me holler if I need ya.  Well, one evening she was outside taking a walk and I noticed it was getting chilly.  I went out to let her know she needed to put on a jacket.  I hollered- Nothing.  I walked out into the yard and hollered again- Nothing.  So now I was annoyed.  Josh walks one way down the street and I walk the other way and- Nothing.

Now I am worried! I hopped in the car and told Josh to watch Shade while I drove to the park and Aiden's friend Kallie's house. Aiden's friend Kallie used to live with her Grandparents 3 houses down.  Now she moved with her Mom and lives 3 streets away. I pull up to Kallie's house and there was Aiden standing in the doorway.  I didn't even get out of the car and she knew.  She came straight to the car and got in.  She said "I'm sorry." and I replied "don't you say a word." It was for sure one of those "steam coming out of the ears" moments.  I got home and sent her to her room for her own good.  Luckily Josh calmed me down and we discussed her punishment.  

She came out and we sat her down and asked her if she knew why we were so mad.  We explained it wasn't just because she disobeyed the rules but also because it is dangerous to go somewhere your parents don't know and crossing 3 busy streets, etc.  I asked her if she had done it before and she said she had! I was shocked!! I can't believe that she had been sneaking off  and I didn't notice.  I felt like a terrible mother for not checking on her.  We let her know it would be a long time before we would trust her to walk around by herself again.  She got grounded for a month with no TV, no play dates, no movies- nothing!

Well, after 2 weeks, Josh is thinking I was a little hard on her and wants to let her off early for good behavior. I have to admit she has been doing a lot better.  Her attitude is better and she is more helpful and happy around the house.  So I believe we will be shortening her punishment. Sheww! I thought we had another 7 or 8 years before we had to worry about her sneaking out. 

Sleep Transition- Part 2

I wrote earlier about starting to transition Shade out of his swaddle and off his paci in an attempt for Mommy to get more than 2 hours of sleep at night.  Well, I have good news and bad news.   The bad news is that attempt failed miserably. After 2 or 3 nights he was actually sleeping worse.  So we abandoned the attempt and went back to the full swaddle.

The good news is a couple days ago I had a random thought that I would put Shade down for a nap on his tummy, unswaddled and just see how it goes. He cried for 10 mins, I put his paci in and to my shock he slept for and hour!  I thought it had to be a fluke but I just tried it again for his second nap and he cried for 5 mins then he slept for an hour and a half.  I couldn't believe it. Our big problem is night time though so i wasn't sure this would solve our problem. I decided to put him down just like I had been (unswaddled, on his tummy, with his little mittens on so he can't scratch his face) and when he cried I would give him 10 mins to calm down before I went in and gave him his paci.  I put him down expecting him to cry but he didn't.  He went straight to sleep.  I didn't get my hopes up though because Shade's problem wasn't going to sleep it was staying asleep.  He woke up 7 times that night and put himself back to sleep within the allowed 10 mins 6 times.  At 530am he probably would have calmed himself down had I given him 1 more minute but I went ahead and put in his paci anyway.  We've had good luck with this for the last 2 nights and all naps.  He is able to put himself back to sleep everytime and Mommy is getting some sleep. Sadly, my body has gotten used to not sleeping and seems to not settle till after midnights.  I hope that changes soon : )

I know there are some controversial things in this post. 

1) Crying it out- I know this isn't for everyone but I did it with Aiden and it worked like a charm.  I do 1 minute per month with Aiden but since Shade is only 5 months I didn't think it would give him time to pacify himself.  After that time limit I go in and calm them without talking or picking them up.  With Shade all I do is put his paci back in but with Aiden I would have to lay her back down (she was 15 months) and pat her.  It took Aiden 2 nights and it took Shade just 2 naps.  I don't think this is for everyone or even every baby but so far it has worked for me. 
2) Tummy sleeping- I was hesitant of this at first because of all the cautions and risks.  But Shade is not only big enough to hold up his head but he is starting to roll over.  So I feel confident that he will be able to roll over if need be.
3) I'm sure there is something else in there that will shock or amaze someone but like I have said before, I firmly believe that everyone should do what is best for them and their baby. 

Sleep Transitions

I love my little guy! He is such a joy to have around the house.  He started sleeping through the night at about 2 months old.  I felt like a whole new me!! Then he got a little cold and it threw him off his schedule for a while.  He recently got back on and was sleeping through the night again but this time he would wake up a couple times wanting his paci.  So I would get up and put it in.  Well, a couple times a night turned into 5 times and now 8-10 times a night.  Mommy is exhausted and Shade isn't getting good solid sleep.

Today I did some thinking and research.  I've decided that we have a couple steps. First we are going to try and wean him off the swaddle.  He has always slept in a swaddle and he really likes it.  We want to wean him off now so we can see if he can find his own paci at night and put it back in.  If we find out that he can't do this than we will wean him off the paci.  I know this probably seems so early to wean off the swaddle and paci but I don't see another choice.  We had planned to take his paci when he turned two but I can't go that long not sleeping!

Tonight I put him down in his swaddle with one arm out.  This is how I have heard is the best way to get rid of the swaddle.  He will usually go down at 7-8 and sleep solid until 1130-12 then he starts with his multiple wake ups.  He went down at 8 and started to cry at 830. I went in to put in his paci and he took it back out with his free hand.  I forgot to mention that this is one of his favorite things to do. I don't think that he realizes what his is doing but he does it all the time. I got one of his little giraffe toys and put it in his free arm and am hoping that he will cuddle that instead of pull out his paci.  We will see!! So far so good but it could be a really long night.

If anyone has experience or advice it would be appreciated.  I have to say that we did the cry it out method with Aiden when she was 15 months and it worked like a charm after 2 nights.  I am willing to do this with Shade but not until he is out of a swaddle.  Doing cry it out while in a swaddle seems like a little over the top.  Oh! Another worry I have other than him pulling out his paci is that he rubs his eyes alot when he is tired.  I mean he will rub till his eyes are red and puffy. They don't make the little gloves big enough for him so I hate for him to rub and scratch himself in the middle of the night. I will keep everyone posted!

Busy Busy

I really need to do better at updating this blog.  My new goal is once a week so we will see how that goes.  Let's see. . . Josh is doing great and loving school.  I think there are times he feels a little overwhelmed with teaching, grad school, teaching lessons, callings at church and being a husband and father but he is amazing.  I'm trying to keep everything going and get everyone where they need to be.  Aiden is loving school and having a fun time being a big sister.  This week she is excited because she has a big book report due in a couple weeks.  Shade is almost 5 months and growing so quickly.  He weighed 16 lbs at his last appointment and is starting to transition to a bottle.  He is working on rolling over and sleeping through the night. Hopefully more detail next week!