The First Time Out

Dear Connor,

You had your first time out at preschool this week. You've been going to preschool since you were two and this is the very first one you've ever had and you took it really hard. I could tell something was wrong when I picked you up from school. Then in the car you told me, "I got a five minute time out today."

I asked you what happened and then Hunter chimed in with the whole big story about how you jumped on his back on the playground and the teachers made you sit by the fence for five minutes. Then we had this conversation:

"Connor, why don't you tell me what happened."
"Hunter just told you."
"I want to hear it from you."
"OK. I jumped on his back."

You had so much attitude in that little voice it was actually hard not to laugh. We told you if there was a time out at school that meant a consequence at home and so I told you that your consequence would be going to bed twenty minutes early and missing Ninja Turtles. You were so upset. We ended up having to call Daddy and have Daddy try to calm you down from work. You were a little better after naps but still upset about getting in trouble. Daddy and I felt bad that you put yourself through so much mental anguish that we decided to tell you we were proud of you for telling us you got a time out on your own and for admitting your mistake and we were going to let this one be a lesson all on its own and allow you to watch Ninja Turtles. I've never seen you smile so big.

Fast forward to the end of the week. It was about an hour before school and I asked you and Hunter to do your homework. You both said you didn't want to. I told you that it was your choice to do your homework or not. You specifically told me that you didn't want to miss out on your play time and you were choosing not to do it. I just said ok and left it at that. While you were in preschool Daddy and I talked about it and came up with a plan. When we picked you up we asked you if you got a sucker for turning in your homework.

"No. I didn't do my homework. Remember?"
"Oh that's right, you didn't want to miss out on your play time."

Daddy then goes on to inform you and Hunter that we would not be making lunch when we get home because we did not want to miss our play time. The rest of the conversation was happening very quickly with Mommy and Daddy both trying to make our point, you were trying to find a loop hole, and Hunter was listening intently. This is  basic gist...

"Then who will make me lunch?"

"You will."

"Then how will I watch TV?"

"You'll have to get your lunch made quickly I guess because you might run out of time to watch TV since it's almost nap time."

"Well I guess I won't take a nap then so I can watch TV."

"That's a choice you'll have to make, but if you don't take a nap you don't get to go swimming tonight."

"That's not fair."

"It's not fair that Mommy and Daddy always have to be responsible but you get to play all the time."

"Then I just won't eat lunch and I'll watch TV."

"You could do that, but you'll be awfully hungry. What do you think your body needs more, TV or lunch?"

"Fine. I guess I'll just go straight to sleep with no lunch or TV."

"These are all valid options Connor, you'll just have to decide what the most responsible thing to do is."

"Well, I know how to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches."

"I'm not sure if we have any bread, but you can check when we get home."

"We could stop at the store and get bread on the way home."

"We could, but then I'd miss my play time. I don't want to stop at the store. I just want to go home and play."

"THEN WHAT AM I GOING TO EAT?"

"I'm not sure."

When we got home, I began making Kaylee's lunch and Daddy made a big scene about how he was going to go play because he didn't feel like making any lunch. Hunter began getting a chair to bring into the kitchen so he could make himself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. We did have bread to everyone's relief. I had the jar of peanut butter in my hand and you asked, "Can I have that?"

I told you no because I was using it but you could have the very next turn with it. That sent you over the deep end. The next thing I knew you were sitting on the stairs in full pout mode and there were two slices of bread sitting on the ground in front of the fridge. I almost stepped on them just so I could tell you it wasn't a good idea to leave the bread on the ground in front of the fridge but I didn't want a complete melt down so I just told you it was a bad idea and warned you someone might step on them.

I'm not sure how you actually ended up with a sandwich on your plate and in front of the TV, but you did in fact get your own lunch made and you got to watch your show before nap time. You were pretty proud of yourself. Daddy and I thought the whole thing was rather funny, and we're not anticipating any more issues with choose "not" to do homework for awhile.

I love you sweet boy. All the time. Regardless of a time out at preschool, or when we're learning lessons the hard way- I always love you.

Mommy. 

Dear Baby...

Dear Baby,

Are you a Rusty or a Chloe? We're just not super sure. The first time we got an ultrasound you were in a position we couldn't see. The second time we got the ultrasound you had your legs closed so tight they couldn't get a picture, and the third time Dr. Smith and I thought for sure we saw that you were a little boy but you wouldn't hold still long enough to be 100 percent certain. I've been holding off on writing this until I knew for sure, but I can't wait any longer. I'm so excited to meet you and so excited to hold you. There is less than 9 weeks left and even though I know how fast time truly goes, I also know how long it can feel.

This has been such an amazing year. It started over a year ago. Mommy and Daddy decided they would like to have another baby. Mommy started going to the doctor to lose weight and get her body ready for the fertility drugs that we would for sure need. It took several months to get ready for the fertility drugs, but when we were finally ready we were hopeful that the clomid would work. Month after month, it didn't. I wish I could say that I wasn't frustrated but I was. I was so frustrated. Finally, Dr. Smith said that the clomid wasn't going to work and we would need to move on to stronger fertility treatments. Daddy and I knew we would never do anything more than clomid. I was so upset we didn't get pregnant. I decided that I would sell all of our baby stuff so that I wouldn't have to look at it anymore. The three children that we already had filled our hearts so full and brought so much joy to our home that we couldn't help but want a fourth. It was September when I began selling all our stuff. it was the beginning of October when I had finally accepted that having another baby would not be happening. It was the middle of October and I had a bladder infection. A pretty bad infection. I went to urgent care where they confirmed it and they prescribed me an antibiotic. As he handed me the prescription the doctor said to me, "Do not take this if you are pregnant."

I laughed, assured him I wasn't pregnant, and headed to the pharmacy. When I got to the pharmacy I handed him the prescription and did a little shopping while I waited for it to be filled. It had been a good hour before I had left urgent care and actually had the prescription in my hand. I was holding the bag and the pharmacist wouldn't let the bag go. He said to me, very seriously, "Do not take this if you are pregnant."

I laughed and assured him I wasn't pregnant. As I was walking away I had this uneasy feeling. Something about hearing that same phrase two times in an hour from two different people, something about the way the pharmacist said it...

I grabbed a pregnancy test on the way out of the store. I went straight home and took the test. Within seconds it was positive. I can't explain how excited I was. I immediately called the doctor and told them I needed a new prescription because I was in fact, PREGNANT!  Daddy was even more excited. He wanted to tell everyone right away and we ended up going to dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Allen that night at Twigs to share the news.

What's even more amazing? When we went in for our first doctor appointment they did an ultrasound to determine the due date. You weren't there yet. Making it almost unbelievable that I was able to get a positive home pregnancy test when I did. They ordered another ultrasound for about a week later and there you finally were. Not only did God bless us with a baby in HIS timing but he also told us about His blessing in His timing. Had I not gotten the same message from two different people I may not have taken a test and I may have taken antibiotics that could have changed the way this story turned out.

We love you already, so very much. We can't wait to meet you. Now, if you'd just let us know for sure what you are- I could start washing clothes. What am I saying? I suppose we'll find out when He is ready for us to know for sure. God is so good!

All my love,
Mommy