Seven things I learned this week...because I thought I could think of ten but I couldn't.

As I sit here taking a few minutes to chill out from a loud and tiring day, I thought I would share some of the things I have learned this week about my family, school, and my understanding that football is more than a game.
1. Giving a French roll to Xander while we eat so he can chew on and entertain himself with was a great idea- thanks Alison and Dave!
2. Children can be incredibly sweet and kind one minute and then mean and spiteful the next. What goes on in their heads?
3. If everyone continues their lives thinking "someone else will do it" then nothing important will ever get done. Take responsibility for things!
4. I have never felt proud or willing to talk about going to church, but I really feel inspired to say that I love going to mecklenburg community church. I love hearing the message. I am never bored. I never have time to think about anything else I could be or should be doing. I feel like I am finally able to hear sermons that actually have meaning and relevance in my life. I love how I feel inspired to do better because I should and not because I feel guilty. I love that pastor Jim makes us feel welcome, even though we have never personally met him. If you need somewhere to go to feel this way too, you should come and visit. It is located at the lowes YMCA on Sundays at 9:30 or 10:45. Wear jeans or you will stick out like a sore thumb the first time.
5. I already knew this, but consignment sale shopping is awesome and now I love the way Xander will be dressed all summer!
6. I do have some, not much, will power to avoid junk food or extra calories. Today at Walgreens I saw super peanut butter lovers Reese's cups. Like extra thick so there is a better peanut butter to chocolate ratio just for me. And they were on sale. I didn't buy them but I committed the package to my memory.
7. I am happy to see my pal Peyton Manning get accepted by a new team and i decided I will follow and be a Broncos fan. At least they have orange in their team colors. I mean, it would seem unnatural for anyone to cheer against him. I wish Tim Tebow the best where ever he ends up and I hope to see Peyton Manning lead a team back to glory in the very near future.
What did you learn this week?

New baby deserves new blog...

I'm sure many people blog for many different reasons. The need to vent out their frustrations or celebrate their victories. The need for advice or to give it, whether people want it or not. I think many parents (when they find the time) blog so that they can share the wonder and joy of their children with friends and family, or even share the thoughts and joy with their children when they grow up. As I sat here tonight, i was thinking when do I have time to blog anything- I can barely get my housework done and spend time with Jamie and the kids and get my lesson plans written and read a good book that a friend let me borrow. But then I went back and read my last to blogs, and remembered how wonderful it felt to write them, and how reading about Peyton over two years ago brought tears to my eyes, and since no one has time to write milestones in baby books anymore, I might as well blog it and hopefully google will never go out of business and my blogs will be stored online forever so that when she gets older, she can read them and remember and know how much we loved her from the very beginning.
On to the reason for my blog. A new baby boy. Xander James Stewart was born Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at Lake Norman Regional Medical Center in Mooresville, NC. Weighing 8lbs 13 oz and 20 inches long, he brought tears to my eyes the minute I heard him cry. His birth was much different than Peyton's in that it was scheduled and I was prepared for the process. But unlike her, he cried immediately when they pulled him out. And so did I.
As I thought I was prepared for a second child, I find myself surprised at how different they are. Is it because he is a boy or because he is the second or because I am more relaxed with him than I was the first time? Who knows but this time around, Jamie and I are able to enjoy the experience without all the second guessing what to do that we had the first time.
Over the last 9 months, he has grown already into such a sweet, funny, handsome boy. Everyone we see comments on his bright blue eyes and chunky legs. He and Peyton look so similar now and especially when they were first born it may be hard later to distinguish them. Luckily for
them, digital photos will all be date stamped, as well as Facebook organized and there will be no question about it.
At 9 months old, here's where he stands:
21 lbs 8 oz and 28.25 inches long
Eating some solid food, like bananas, carrots, puffs, and other gerber baby foods like spaghetti.
Won't drink out of his cup but instead prefers to bang it on the table or throw it on the floor and then look at it
Sleeps all night like a champ- but not so much during the day, especially at school
Not crawling yet but thinking about it. Somehow he does manage to move, scoot, or shuffle his way places. Or barrel rolls across the floor. I guess I give him one for creativity.
Enjoys twirling his hands and feet when he is excited or wants to be picked up
Of course, he said "dada" first at around 6 months. I guess I just can't win.
Now he says dada, mama, baba, na
Loves his sister Peyton more than anything, that girl can get him laughing so hard he pees his pants. Oh wait, he does that anyway. It is amazing to see the bond that has already developed between them. I tell Peyton all the time that one day she will tell Xander to leave her alone and they won't be so happy together. She tells me, "mom, that will never happen."
Peyton is now 4 and 1/2. She attends preschool where I work (currently in my class actually.) She is such a good daughter and girl and I am so proud to be her mother every single day. She is so smart, beautiful, and kind to me, her family, and her friends. She will be an excellent role model for Xander, at least until the teenage years and then I hear the tables always turn.
She doesn't make the cutoff for kindergarten this year because she turns 5 in september so we have another year to wait. Currently she loves playdates with her friends and listening to, singing, and dancing to all Taylor Swift songs. We went to see her in concert last November and it was one of the best things we have done together.
Hopefully I will continue my blog more regularly than every two years. It feels so good to express feelings to someone who might actually listen, whoever you are.