Puppy Love

Preston has been obsessed with dogs for as long as I can remember. It was actually his first obsession of his life (other than his Mama of course). His first word was dog and anytime he sees a dog he goes nuts. When I was pregnant with Preston, Chip and I decided to get a dog. Her name was Wrigley and she was a black German Shepherd and we loved her so much. Unfortunately she had some major aggression issues towards people she did not know and it was no longer safe for us to have her.

Well a couple of weeks ago Chip and I were sitting on the couch talking after Preston was in bed. We decided we wanted to get Preston a puppy. We went that weekend and picked her out. She was a 4 month old black lab and was absolutely precious. After we paid for her and were all in the car she sat right next to Preston in the back seat. She gave Preston lots of kisses and he was loving it. After about 5 minutes driving home I looked at Preston's face and it had huge welts on it. He is allergic to dog's saliva. We had to turn around and take "Dawson" back :(

Luckily Preston didn't understand that Dawson was his puppy, so he didn't even know that we took her back. Hopefully in a few years he will grow out of this allergy and he will be able to have a dog if he wants one.

Yesterday Chip came home with awesome news. A member where he works was talking to him about how they had lost their 8 year old son's black lab puppy. Chip told him our Dawson story and showed her a picture he had taken of him. They lady screamed and said that was their dog! Chip told her he was at the Montgomery Animal Shelter. The lady called the shop 30 minutes later and told him she got him back. She also said Dawson was a very expensive pure bread lab and had had over $3,000.00 worth of training. We both are so happy he is with his original family :)

Mook and Boon

Preston's vocabulary is increasing what seems like everyday. It is so fun hearing new words for the first time come out of his sweet mouth with his precious voice. This week he has added "mook" and "boon", which is his way of saying milk and book.

He started saying please several moths ago, and his way of saying please is "DA!" I'm not sure how he got "da" for please, but it's the cutest thing ever. Chip and I constantly talk about how we hope he says DA for a long time :)

Time Out

A couple of weeks ago Preston was introduced to time out for the first time. 17 months sounds young... But this kid is smart. He knows when he is doing something "bad" and he knows what no means. I talked to his pediatrician and asked her if time out would do any good at this age, and she said ABSOLUTELY.

Our time out routine is very simple. If Preston does something wrong, he gets 2 warnings. Whether the warning is me simply stating NO or me redirecting him to something else. If he continues to go back to doing the same wrong thing, I go and pick him up and just say "it's time out time". I sit him down in front of the stove and set the timer for 1 minute and I don't look or talk to him. If he gets up I will put him back and reset the timer until he sits in that spot for the entire minute.

When I first tried this I thought for sure he wasn't going to corporate. But I was amazed that it only took me two times resetting the timer for him to sit and not move.

He has only been in time out a handful of times, but it seems very effective for him. Preston NEVER sits still, so I know 60 seconds seems like eternity to him. I love my hyper, busy boy!

Mother's Day

Yesterday was Mother's Day, and it was a great day! Chip had to work in the morning but was home by noon. We took turns going to the gym before we headed over to Grandma Mike's house for dinner with her and the Lee's. While I was at the gym Chip helped Preston color me a picture on a paper plate :).

Dinner was delicious and so much fun. Preston ran around Grandma Mike's backyard with the boys all afternoon. Cooper, Jackson, and Brady were HUGE helpers! They kept a watchful eye out on Preston to make sure he wasn't getting into anything he shouldn't be, which allowed Chip and I to have some good conversation with the adults.

After dinner Preston got bathed and into his PJs. We were expecting to need to leave before 7, but Preston started playing quietly for over and hour.

Chip and Preston bought me new throw pillows for our couch and bed. It was exactly what I wanted (I picked them out last week ;)). It was such a fun day filled with family!!

I only took two pictures the whole day :/. I meant to take a bunch but it just didn't happen. These pictures are around 8pm. Preston was getting very tired but he was having way to much fun playing with his cousins. He also had a BLAST putting you trains into Uncle Jeff's boot and dumping them out, over and over! I can't emphasize enough how much the Lee boys helped out with Preston. I think they should start a babysitting service and Preston can be their first client :)

Some Thoughts

Some days I feel like I'm lacking, or maybe I'm not giving my all. I'm only human, and as much as I know I am doing a great job being Preston's mother there are times of doubt. Lately though, those thoughts have gone away. Maybe it is the prayers I say each night, asking God to enable me to be the best me, therefore being the mom I can be. I'm not really sure what has changed, but I am thankful for it without a doubt.

As I got into bed last night Preston woke up a little. He opened his extremely tired eyes and saw me. He nestled into my chest, put his little hand on my face, and started humming himself back to sleep.

Maybe it's moments like this that put my fears at rest. Throughout the day he reminds me of how much I need him, but also how much he needs me. Don't get me wrong, I am not writing this post to make myself feel worthy, because honestly, I don't think I will ever feel worthy enough to have been blessed with such a gift. Preston is that ultimate gift from God. He changed me, for forever.

Today Preston and I did some art work. We set up a painting station on our balcony and we were out there for 2 hours. We painted, we laughed, we even had a little snack together. It was perfection. This painting will be with me forever. It is now one of my prized possessions.

Bitter Sweet

The day before we left for Houston, Preston and I met up with Aunt Kelly and Lexi for a fun day at the park.  We met up right after lunch and the kids were ready to play, run, laugh, and enjoy the gorgeous weather. 

I am so grateful for the past 16 months living in Dallas.  I have formed such a close bond with Aunt Kelly, and our children have been able to form a love and bond that is unbreakable.  Preston and myself have also been able to form such a closeness with Sari, Pappy, and Janie.  I have always been very close to them, but this past year and a half it has grown tremendously. 

We are sad that the play dates, girls night outs, and going over to my parents house every afternoon will be less, but the time we will get to spend together will not be taken for granite.

In the sadness there is also joy.  We are lucky enough to have had to move to Chip's hometown.  We will now be able to form bonds and memories with the Lee's and with Grandma Mike.  At the end of the day family is always there and for me, family is who I turn to when I am in need or just need someone to talk to.  I am so lucky to have such an amazing family, and equally as amazing in laws.

 

 

Finally!!

We are FINALLY settled in Conroe!!!  Thank goodness!  Moving weekend was insanely busy... but I feel like the week following that weekend was even crazier!  Its amazing how much stuff 2 adults and 1 toddler can accumulate in a little over a year.  We completely purged through the junk, and donated the stuff we no longer needed.  I still have 2 boxes left to unpack... and they have been starring at me over the last couple of days... maybe today I will get around to them :)

We all absolutely love our new "house".  We moved into a 1200 sq. ft., 2 bed/2 bath apartment at The Retreat at Conroe.  They were just built so we were able to be the first ones in our unit and everything is new which is really nice.  Preston loves it here.  He loves that there is now not a use for baby gates or being sectioned off into one side of the house.  At the new apartment, he has free reign.  He runs into his room, around the room, comes back out and runs into our room, runs around there a few time, into the kitchen, around the island, and then climbs up on the couch to catch his breath.  I will have to get a video of him doing it because it is priceless!

We went to visit a private preschool called Primrose School of Conroe yesterday.  It is a mile down the road from us and it is a wonderful school.  Preston will start attending at the beginning of June, 3 days a week. 

Chip and I will also be starting back school this summer.  Chip is loving his new job and is doing an incredible job.  Big things are going to start happening for him, and I couldn't think of anyone that deserved them more.

Preston has started insisting on sitting on pillows anytime he watches a TV show.  Silly kid!

Preston fell asleep on the floor way before bedtime the first day he was here.  He was worn out from helping me unpack.

 

This was our first night together in the apartment.  I woke up randomly around 3am and I looked over and saw this.  Preston sleeps like this every night, and I am just the lucky one who doesn't get the feet!