A Brothers' First

Yesterday, our boys had their first brotherly "fight." Malachi was playing with some toys and did not want to share with Ezekiel. Z went over and got Malachi's toys anyway. Malachi snatched them back and started lightly poking Z in retaliation for taking "his toys." Ezekiel took a second to compose himself, and before I could fuss at Malachi, Z went over and bear hugged Malachi and pushed him down on the floor. It was great! Then, they laughed and played together. It was sooo funny!

I wanted to make sure that I documented it. My 19 lb. 16-month-old can hold his own against his 35 lb. about-to-be-3-year-old brother. It's on now!

I've put some random pictures down below that were taken on Monday (not the day of the fight)!Brothers with "matching" Sold Out Soldier in Christ's Army shirts

This is what Ezekiel looked like after feeding himself dinner (yogurt included). That boy LOVES to eat with a spoon and fork!

What's up, Dawg?
This is Malachi's hat the we bought him at the beach. He didn't take it off for about 3 days. He slept in it, and only took it off to bathe. Funny boy!

Wrestling with Momma before bed

This bird took up residence for about 12 hours on Malachi's bike. It didn't seem to be scared of us until Kiev came out being the bully that she is:)

Vacation at North Myrtle Beach (June 16-20)

Grandpa & Grammy got a 2 bedroom condo and invited us to join them for a few days. We had a blast playing in the sand, jumping waves, riding the lazy river, and many other things (oh, yeah, and eating, too)!

All tuckered out from a day at the beach


Malachi did not enjoy looking at all the fish in the "dark." If you can see his face, you can tell that he had been crying. He cried the whole time that we were looking at the fish. The only time that he was happy was when we were in the center of the aquarium where there was a touch tank and other hands on items with a lot of natural light. Ezekiel seemed to enjoy it, though, and take it all in well.

Outside Ripley's Aquarium
Thanks to Grandpa and Grammy for sitting in on a 2 hour meeting on their timeshare so we could all go to the Aquarium for free (and our anniversary dinner). It was fun!

Malachi-isms

• "she-shul drint" - special drink (usually an apple juice slushy from Sonic)

• "fradg-rae-are" - refridgerator

• "No, My can reach it" - No, I can't reach it.

• "Betty" - what he used to call Grammy, but we have worked on it so , now it is "Rammy & Ranpa" (Grandpa)
• "Shate, shate, shate your boo-TAY" - you get the idea (Oh, how funny)
• "Da wor-sa you. Ha-you-ya. Ha-you-ya." - We worship you. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. (Malachi loves to sing---wonder where he gets that from?---and will often bust out in spontaneous song and expect me to join in---except on his ABCs)
• "Win-down-rain in his hans" - [He's got the] wind and the rain in his hands.
• "Kidz-wheel" - Kids World (where Daddy works some and they have cool toys)
• "Fwaint-you" - Thank you---a whole lot better than "da-doo" yeah!
• "se-nen" - seven (my favorite to hear him say)
• "em-em-em-em-ma-pee" - L, M, N, O, P
• "dub-a-doo" - W
• "sung my AB, ABCs..." - Now I've sung my ABCs...
  

I'm working with him on changing his My to I most of the time. So, far he's doing ok. He also improved on Grammy (as stated before) and I love you. We are working on shapes and recognizing numbers and letters. He knows the important M, Z, K, and D. The rest are a little shaky. He can recognize 1 & 2 pretty well, too.

***We also went to the beach last week. I'll try to get some pictures out soon. I've been super busy since school has been out, and I want to get all the junk piles cleaned up around the house and get some order going on. I mean, seriously, its been a year of clutter and little order! I'm struggeling.

***Oh, yeah, it looks like we will be getting a new roof thanks to all the hail storms (like 4) that we have had this spring. Woo-hoo!

It's Over!!! (Clap, Clap, Clap)

Ezekiel was scheduled to have tubes put in his ears at 7:30am, so of course, we had to be there at 5:45am for a 5 minute "surgery." Today was the last day of school for students, as well. So, we arrived on time and had to wait for awhile. I was up at about 4am, and Daniel got up about 4:45am. We got Z up at about 5:15. Malachi was still sleeping while Grammy came to stay with him.

Anywho, about 6:45am they gave him some tylenol and something to make him a little woozy & distant. He was hilarious! He was talking like crazy and definitely a little "drunk" acting. They took him away from us at about 7:05. We waited for about 5 minutes in a "conference" room. A nurse came in to say the doctor was done and would be in in a minute. We waited back out in the waiting room for about 5 more minutes. I went and held him in recovery about 7:20. It took us a little while to recheck all his vitals and get him out of his gown. I forgot my camera, so I only have a pic on my phone of him in his little hospital gown. We were home by 8am, and I was at work by 8:45am. Ezekiel wanted to play when we got home, but he was still quite woozy, so we made him lay in his bed for awhile. Grammy said that he was awake for awhile but never whined (it's a good thing, since Grammy's recent surgery wouldn't allow her to pick up our child).

He took 2 naps today and had a good afternoon/evening. He has wanted to play but also a little more clingy & whiny than usual. I was thrilled, though, at how well he did all day. God totally blessed this little boy's surgery and day.

The doctor said that there was some pretty thick fluid behind both ears, so we definitely made the right choice. I'm sorry, Ezekiel, for passing down this horrible ear issue! God was taking care of you, though. Those are the best hands to be in!


***Side note: While Ezekiel had the hearbeat thing on his toe (when he screamed the most), I discovered that he had 2 one-year-molars! How does that happen? He only has 4 other teeth on top and 2(!) on the bottom. So, he has 6 on top and 2 total on bottom, but he has about 3 bulging spots on the bottom. Go figure. How weird?!?

The Verdict

Ezekiel has his surgery to get tubes in his ears set for Tuesday early in the morning.

Apparently, he also contracted a virus that gave him an intense fever for 24 hours and now a sort of rash. Thanks, antibiotics, for killing all the bacteria (good & bad) in my son's body and allowing his defenses to be weak.

I just want this vicious cycle to end---not to mention it is the end of the school year with exams and TONS of paperwork. Oh, and I'm expected to teach students who think life is over after End-of-Grade tests. How fun!

Ok. I'm done complaining. God is good. I'm alive. I have food and a roof over my head and a family who loves me. And, God has given me all that I need. It's good to put my complaining in perspective. Good night all.

Dear Ezekiel,

You are a little over 15 months now, and you continually show me how little I know about raising boys. You and your brother are so completely different, yet you love each other unconditionally. I'm afraid, though, that one of the things that makes you less like Malachi is what you have inherited from your mother. You see, Malachi got lots of allergies from his dad. You got the ear infections. You've only had 2 ear infections, but the first took over 2 full rounds of antibiotics to get rid of. A few months later, you got another ear infection, and we've been through about 4 rounds of antibiotics now. Each time we would take you to the doctor for a follow up, I would hear..."There is no more infection, but there is still some 'healthy-looking' fluid behind the ear drum." When we would finish up the round of antibiotics and an ear infection would come up a day or two later. It's not fair, I know. Sooooo...we are going to the Ear, Nose, & Throat doctor on Friday for an initial appointment. I'm assuming that tubes are the next step, and I'm OK with that. I have not been happy with how many high-powered antibiotics you have been on in your short little life. They kill all the bacteria in your body that causes infection, which means that all the good bacteria inside of you is killed, too. Your little stomach must be torn up. I can tell by your poops.

I've been wanting to get rid of your bop during the day, and only use it at sleep times, but with the past month and a half, I've abandoned that thought until we can get you better. Malachi will be getting rid of his bop this summer as well as going to Potty Training Boot Camp. So, I figured it would be a good time for you to get rid of that nasty pacifier that I never wanted you to have but others insist that you use. I've only got two more weeks of work until I'm out for summer, so look out!

You are sooooo, soooooo, sooooooooo SMART. You can pull yourself all the way up on the toilet seat all on your own. You can step up on the stool in the bathroom to see the fish and get down safely. You understand most of what I am saying, like "let's go wake up Malachi." Just yesterday, you finished off your milk in the car and shook the bottle in your hand and said, "ah-da" (all done). You say "da-da" when you see Daddy. You can say, "ba-ba" (bye-bye) when leaving someone---if you are in the mood. You used to sign thank you, but you don't care to do that anymore. You can take one of your cars and push it on the floor like it is supposed to be used. You love to push your lawnmower around the house that your Nana & Maw-maw bought you. You can eat with a fork or spoon (when you want). Just today, you were eating rice & beans really well with an adult fork. You go, boy! AND, YOU CAN'T SIT STILL EVER, AT ANY TIME, AT ANY MOMENT THAT YOU ARE AWAKE, EVER. You are all boy, but so different from your brother.

I think you may be the rebellious one compared to your brother. I'm not comparing to say that you are worse or better, but your brother was all that I knew until you came along. And, I am totally amazed at how God can cause 2 boys, 19 months apart, with the same parents to be sooo incredibly different.

I love to see you smile. After a day at work, you will run as fast as your little legs will carry you into my arms for your needed hugs. You are a Momma's boy right now. It's Ok by me. I enjoy the cuddles while I can get them. The stillest moments of your day, besides when you are sleeping, is when I am carrying you around. You like to dance to music (even when Malachi & I are singing). You try to talk to us and join in our conversations at time. I just have one more thing to say...

Can you please stop growing up so fast? You'll be speaking in sentences in about 6-9 months. Stop being so advanced! Can't you stay young a little longer (I'd say small, but you are still small--19 - 20 lbs. on any given day)!

I can't imagine life without you, and I am so proud to be your Momma. Thank you for being such a sweet, sensitive, and incredible little toddler. God has blessed us with the best "surprise" that we could have asked for.

-Momma