Milestone ALERT: Jake is now in a toddler bed. It all happened so fast. I put Jake down a little early for his nap this afternoon, b/c I had to go to one of those "pampered chef" type parties, so I was trying to help Chris out by going on and putting Jake down for his nap (today was Chris' first time alone with both boys). I kissed Chris - and was out the door. 30 minutes into my "party", I get a text from Chris that said that the second I walked out the door Cole started screaming and that Jake has already climbed out of his crib 5 times!!! What?!?!?! So, I get home - and Chris was telling me all about it .... how he started feeding Cole once he started crying - and all of a sudden, Jake came around the corner, smiled, waved, and said, "hi daddy" and then went and sat on the couch like they were going to hang out - haha :-) Apparently, Chris put him back in his crib .... and this pattern continued 4 more times until I guess Jake finally fell asleep. Once Jake woke up, he was able to show me how he climbed out of his crib - and I knew that I didn't want a broken arm (I have to admit Jake is very clever and creative, though), so we went on and made Jake's crib into a toddler BED!! A BED! That's a huge step! I was hoping to keep Jake in his crib ..... at least until he was 13 and would WANT to sleep in :-) Jake loves his crib and loves being in it - and when he does wake up in the morning and after nap, just likes to chill and read and play, so.... it will all be interesting now. Tonight, Jake wanted me to sit in the bed with him while I read to him (not in the rocking chair) ..... and no "dropping" him into his crib like we've done now for 2 years! I kissed him goodnight - we exchanged our "i love yous" and out of his room, I went. I asked Chris how long he thought until Jake appeared - Chris said 5 minutes - Jake appeared 1 minute later. I escorted him back to his BED (i keep wanting to say crib), came back out to the living room .... and again the big boy appeared. Chris and I were trying really hard to keep from laughing. Anyway, after I escorted him back, I then heard him playing with a toy, so I went back and stood in the doorway and just pointed to his BED, which he got back into, and then POINTED!!! I didn't react .... and this routine kept up about 3 times until I decided that he could just play with that toy, b/c he was now just thinking it was a game. He played with it for about 3 minutes, then got back in his bed - and that was that. I think he may have appeared 1 more time, but Jake did not fall asleep until 9:45pm, but after 8:30pm - never came back out. So, all in all - I would say it was a successful first night. We'll just see what the morning brings ......
Oh yes....and here are some pictures from the transformation this afternoon. Jake was putting everything into his "new bed" - which made for a lot of clean up BEFORE bed, but you could tell he was so proud. Now, if we could just work a little harder on breaking the pacifier habit ..... The last picture shows the precious, big boy out for the count and sound asleep - until morning, I hope :-)
Cole just chillin'.....
Snack time, so Jake takes a break to sit and eat his snack and watch the game.....
Running around constantly (so much energy - he sleeps well at night, though - especially on game nights)!!
Hugging Daddy after the game....
posing for a picture.....
and before bath time .... just because he's so darn cute!!!
Cole is ALL over the place ... rolling from stomach to back and back to stomach .... and he even did some scooting forward today while on his stomach!! WHAT IN THE WORLD?!?! All Jake has to do is stand in front of him - and Cole WILL make it to Jake.....
And.... you can't argue with the preciousness of my sleeping boys.....
(both on their sides). My turn to sleep now, too!!
What a special treat for us last night - my Dad came to visit! Chris was on duty, so it was a bummer that Dad and Chris didn't get to see each other, but Jake and Cole definitely enjoyed a visit from Papa Dee (or Dapa Dee as Jake often says) :-) My Dad is at a conference this week at Pawley's Island, SC, which is about 3 hours from us, but.... he made the drive yesterday afternoon and got here around dinner time last night - and had to leave around 6am this morning. It took him 4 hours to get here, b/c of Charleston traffic ..... to me, that is some LOVE! I was thinking as I went to bed last night how wonderful it was to see him and hang out with him. It is always great spending time catching up - and laughing (and laughing we did)! I have always had so much respect and admiration for my parents. I've always been so thankful for the Lord blessing me with them! Growing up with your Dad as a pastor probably isn't the easiest thing - mainly because your family is pretty much under a microscope. I never could understand why pastors' families were held to a higher standard?! However, I have looked back and realized how well my parents handled that. They were so great at giving Jul and me the opportunity to make our own decisions and make our own mistakes - with no pressure to be "perfect", but providing us with a strong foundation for when we were having to make those decisions. I think once YOU become a parent, you have a whole new appreciation for your own parents - at least I do. Especially lately, I have realized how important and vital parents are to really molding their children into the person they become. Proverbs talks so much about this, "Train up a child in the way he should go - and when he is old, he will not move from it...." "My son, obey your father's commands, and don't neglect your mother's teaching. Keep their words always in your heart. Tie them around your neck." I am so appreciative of the role my parents have played in my life, and continue to play. I am thankful for their love and training and unending support. These were just some thoughts going through my head as I was falling asleep last night, thinking about how great it was to have spent some quality time with my Dad. I don't think I will ever be able to express to them how thankful I am for them, but I do know that I feel very strong about the verse Proverbs 17:6b, "Parents are the pride of their children." All I could ask for is that Jake and Cole feel the same way about Chris and me as we do about our parents when they are our age. Being a parent is FUN - but not easy..... but I know through the Lord's direction, sweat, tears, lots of work, and some guidance - Chris and I can also be the type of parents where our children will take pride in us - that's one of the many things I pray for, at least :-) Thanks, Dad for the visit! I love you!
Good thing Jake is only 2 and not off to Kindergarten yet, b/c when Jake turned the corner on his toy giraffe with his backpack on his back, I flashed forward like 3 years - and pictured him on his bike with his backpack after school. So glad he's still only 2.....
HOWEVER, then he decided that his baby brother could use it - strictly on a loan basis, of course....
Cole was thinking, "what the heck is this thing?"
BUT.... I sure can see a lot, and it's pretty cool....
By the end, Jake was happy to have Cole using "his" bumbo and watching his every move, so he even wanted to pose for a picture with Cole. Too bad Cole was still wondering, "what the heck is this thing...."?! 
