Two posts in two days...what??

I would like to thank daylight savings time for solving our sleep issues!

Joel was waking up around 5:30am, sometimes 5am for the last few months and he would not go back to sleep no matter what I did. I tried putting him to bed earlier, he'd wake up at 5:30. I tried putting him to bed later, he'd wake up at 5. Because he was up so early, his naps were early and then the whole cycle would start again. I really didn't know how to get out of it. I asked his doctor at his 18 month appointment if it was bad for him to be waking up that early and she told me that some babies just wake up early. After that, I resigned myself to the fact that we'd be rising with the sun, no- long before the sun, forever.

Enter daylight savings time. We decided to put Joel to bed at 8 instead of 7 that first day, because we figured he'd know no different and maybe 5am would turn into 6am in the morning. So far, it has worked great. He hasn't woken up before 6 since and sometimes he'll even still go to bed at 7 instead of 8.

Along with the early waking had come some nap drama as well over the past few months. He'd skip his nap one day, then desperately need it the next. Or, take a morning nap and then skip the afternoon. Yesterday was the first time he's ever taken one long nap, instead of just dropping one nap or the other.

It amazes me how much his sleeping patterns effect my quality of life and my mood! I felt so invigorated yesterday afternoon after 3 uninterrupted hours! I could get used to that. Then he slept in until 7 today. I pretty much jumped out of bed, I was so excited that the sun was up and that he had slept so late, after taking such a good nap yesterday. I just hope we can keep this going!

We spent the morning at the park and walked what I consider a very long way for a toddler, and what was confirmed as a very long way when he got tired and I carried him back the whole way to the car!

He was wiped out though and I'm hoping that will lead to another long nap. I know this post has way too many numbers in it, so if you are as good at math as I am, you are probably a little lost by now and you can just enjoy looking at the pictures. That's pretty much what I did during math class, but that's a whole other topic.

I just remembered I have a blog...

I can't believe it's almost April and the last time I posted was October! Sad. I guess I've sort of been struggling with what to write about on here, since we are no longer "meandering" and that was the whole reason this blog was started. I know at least my mom and my friend Courtney have missed my posts though, so for their sake, and because I know that this time goes so quickly, I'm going to try to blog more often.

We haven't done much traveling since we got here, but we have had the privilege of hosting lots of friends and family who are. Almost every month since September, we have had at least one guest, which has made life busy, but it also makes Florida feel a little closer to Virginia and Maryland. It turns out a lot of people want to visit Florida for various reasons. Joel and I were also able to spend a long weekend in Maryland in February. It was so wonderful to spend time with family and a couple close friends! And of course have a chance to wear his super adorable winter coat!

Work is going really well for Sam. He is very busy and works lots of hours, but we are so thankful for the way God is providing for us. I'm also so proud of how hard he works and how faithful he is as a father and husband. The work he does is not always glamorous, but he has a goal and he is willing to do what it takes to get there. We have really enjoyed having him home every night since he left the ship! This move has been a great opportunity for us to learn to support each other and to relearn what living together looks like.

Joel is growing up so much. It's hard to believe that he is 18 months old already. Thinking back to last year feels like a different life in so many ways. He is saying more and more words every day and I love having a glimpse into who he is and what he wants.

He is a ton of fun and I am loving this age overall...with the exception of the tantrums and picky eating...I'm realizing more and more what a huge responsibility I have before me as he grows up and how fast it's all going to go. Right now, his absolute favorite food is graham crackers. He knows where we keep them and asks for them all the time. If I try to feed him anything else, he responds with quite the heartbreaking cry of "craaaccckkerr??" It's hard for me to resist this face, but I'm working on it!

Thanks to my awesome brother Josh for this picture! (And this was pre-graham cracker obsession)

He also looves his paci. Paci and cracker are probably his two favorite words. I'm working on cutting back on both with him, but it can be a battle. I'm learning that my little guy is quite determined and resourceful. I am looking forward to seeing where these traits will lead him in life.

As you can see, we are embracing life in the South.