Suprise Shower

We weren't sure Lace would make it to her surprise lunch/shower today but the baby decided to stay put for a couple more days. My mom and I had planned a little surprise shower up at the Oregon Golf Club and we knew we were cutting it close but it was the only date that worked for everyone. Lace didn't want a big shower so we kept it simple with a few close family and friends and met for a late lunch. She did the baby's room in a monkey theme so we carried that over to the shower. My mom made cute little monkey favor boxes with blue and brown m&m's in them along with some mints wrapped in blue. We got blue and brown cupcakes and set it up as the centerpiece with the monkey in the middle. We're not sure how the baby will turn out but Lace pointed out that Addie is quite the little monkey already so he'll have a good teacher to show him all the tricks! I got a call at 10:30 Friday night saying she was going to the hospital to get checked and I thought for sure I'd have to call everyone and say the shower is off but after keeping her there until 2:00 am with contractions 4 minutes apart and being dialated to 4 cm everything stopped and they sent her home. So...baby boy Prueitt...the shower is over, you have everything you need and we are ready to welcome you into the world...just go easy on your mommy and give her plenty of time to get to the hospital!

Busy Weekend

This weekend definitely tops the charts as the busiest weekend...I am just imagining what it will be like down the road when all 3 of them are involved in activities! It started Friday night with the annual Father-Daughter dance up at Oregon Golf Club. I got the girls all dolled up with curled hair, special earrings and even some make-up and sent them off to have a fun night with Daddy. It was a 60's theme so they had the old-fashioned milkshakes, hula hooping contest (which they both won!) and dancing to a lot of Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers and Taylor Swift. I got a little one on one time with my little buddy and after some cuddling on the couch laid him down early and had some peace and quiet. Saturday got started early with a softball game at 9:00 which Jamie coached while I took Ellie to her rehearsal for her first communion. From there it was rushing around to get birthday presents for the 3 different parties the girls had that day and a lot of dropping off and picking up. Ellie's friend Rae was having a sleepover because her mom was in Arkansas so after the party I brought the girls back here to play...luckily it was a nice day so they stayed outside. I spent the afternoon cleaning the house and running to Party City to get the supplies for Ellie's special day on Sunday. The girls decided they wanted to have a lemonade stand, however, it turned into selling blue gatorade, skittles and gum and giving away "free" water to all the people walking by that said they had no money. It was pretty funny, there was no cute little stand or even a table for that matter...they just had all the cups lined up on the pavement and a handmade sign sitting on top of a fence post. When I asked for a drink they charged me which just made me laugh...I give you all the supplies then I have to pay for a sip of gatorade?! I have to say I was a little sad for them...not one car stopped! What has this world turned into when you can't stop and give a kid a quarter to make their day? They did have some 4th grade boys come by on their bikes and buy some gum so I think they ended up making $1. They had fun though so I guess that's all that matters. After a lot of negotiating I got them to bed at a somewhat decent time...got a few hours of sleep myself and then started Sunday off with more cleaning and getting ready for the party at our house. Jamie and I double teamed it...he did the outside and I did the inside. When I say I did the inside keep in mind that I had 3 little "helpers" running behind me so I seemed to picking up the same things over and over again! Finally...the time was here...off to Ellie's first communion! She wore a beautiful white dress, with tights and shoes that Nana got her and the veil that her great-grandma June made my mom for her wedding which was really special. She was excited and nervous and kept grabbing my hand and telling me her heart was beating so fast. She has such wonderful family and friends that came to support her and everyone came to our house afterwards to celebrate. It was a beautiful day for a beautiful occasion. So it is 8:24 on Sunday night and as I nag the girls to brush their teeth I am off to tuck them into bed, say our prayers, good night kisses and take a huge sigh of relief that this weekend is over!

Now I lay you down to sleep...again...and again...

So we've officially hit that impossible and heart breaking sleep stage. The "I'm almost 2 and I don't want to go to sleep...and I am definitely not sleeping in my crib!" Ever since we went to Arizona and then up to Seattle and he got to sleep with us he has decided that it should be that way every night. We obviously disagree. So the battle of the wills has begun and so far he wins. We have spent the last two nights putting him in his crib only to have him climb out and walk out of the room. Last night we stood at the door and the minute we heard the "thud" we walked back in and laid him down again and again and again...After he realized he couldn't get out he just stood there and cried and cried and cried. There is no wearing that kid down and I think Jamie and I have gotten soft in our old age. With the girls we would let them "cry it out" and for whatever reason we just don't have the heart to listen to it with Jalen. For one I don't remember the girls lasting as long as he does, a few minutes and they would fall asleep. Maybe he got his dad's persistence and stubborn personality because we try to let him cry it out but after a couple of hours and him still going strong, we are both emotionally and physically tired. So he ends up in between us in our bed and within minutes he is out. Aren't we just the suckers?! Nap time isn't much easier, and since we are up he thinks he needs to be up too. We again, lock him in his room but unlike night time he's cool with it...he climbs out of his crib and plays with his toys. Half the time he will fall asleep on the floor or the rocking chair like I found him the other day...but hey whatever works for me to get my few minutes of quiet during the day! I know this too will pass, and I think secretly I don't want it to...he's my last baby and I just want to enjoy every minute of it...even if it means being waken by little hands and feet all night long. So for now, he wins, and I'm sure we will be paying for it when we still have a 5 year old sleeping with us...just kidding...