Farm Day Fun

Today we went to Cullman (about 35 miles from home) for Farm Day. It was actually much larger than I anticiapated and we all had tons of fun!

Gentry really enjoyed all of the antique tractors. It was hard to keep him from trying to ride them!

. . . And of course the animals! He loved petting the bunny, sheep, cow, and piglets. He did, however, get a little skiddish after the piglets started squeeling. He asked me "make the pigs no oink at me" I tried, with no avail to explain how that I had no control over when the piglets "oinked".

I did get him to sit still long enough in the barn for me to get a quick snap shot.

The Pumpkin Painting was one of his favorite activities. He was concentrating so hard on getting his pumpkin just right.

I wasn't sure he was quite big enough to plow with the mule, but the men working were great with Gentry and he did pretty well. . .

. . . for the most part :)

After plowing he decided to tell "Jake" (the donkey) thank you and to ride him for a moment.

We all really had a good time today.

and now, we are all REALLY tired and going to bed early.

Just thought I would post some new pictures. Gentry's temper tantrums have really gotten better over the past couple of weeks. He is still testing us, but the full out tantrums have stopped. Gentry got to go to Papaw & Mom-B's house last Saturday to play and he was so excited!

I have to say. . . that looking at that smile makes me (temporarily) forget about all the fits. I feel so very blessed!

one more . . . .

His favorite thing to watch right now is what he calls "The cow mooobie" (BARNYARD)
We have to limit his intake. He will actually sit and watch the ENTIRE movie multiple times, if you let him. He got to watch a little bit of it tonight and I just thought he looked cute. . . he caught me with the camera though, and had to pose.

Sunday Best

My baby looked like such a little man today I had to share the pictures. He's growing up so quickly. . . he is now going to potty all on his own (he gets quite upset if you try to go with him). I had recently told Josh that I really wanted Gentry going to potty alone and able to get in and out of the car on his own before we tried for another baby. Much to my suprise, Gentry has all ready mastered both of these tasks. . . I now have to find a new goal ;)

Floffer Biscuit

So. . . . Gentry, Josh, Katie and I went to Red Lobster last night for dinner. Gentry enjoys looking at the bish (fish), dofins, and floffers (lobsters). Katie was enjoying getting Gentry to say each of those items and then she recieved her Lobster Bisque. Gentry kept asking what it was and finally Katie explained the name of her soup. Gentry replied (loudly) "FLOFFER BISCUIT?!?!?"

Here are some recent snap shots for your enjoyment.

Our gracious neighbor brought Gentry the "Gator" and small 4-wheeler that her son had outgrown. Needless to say, Gentry was completely ecstatic! He's ridden both toys until the batteries are completely dead. I'm glad we have the extra room that he can ride on.

As Gentry gets older he is learning to express his own personality (that's putting it EXTREMELY liberally). Basically, he's throwing temper tantrums and Josh and I are just trying to figure out what to do. What I think is most interesting though, is that through the entire time that he has been the worst at home, the ladies that keep him during the day always tell me what an angel he is. "If every child acted like Gentry we'd have it made," they would tell me in the afternoons. (Personally, I was starting to think they had inhaled too many markers. . . )

THEN IT HAPPENED - yesterday I arrive to pick up Gentry to a frazzled looking daycare operator who was glad to see me. I find out that my "little angel" not only bit 2 children but he also kicked and hit a little girl (the point needs to be made here that this particular little girl has a history of biting Gentry and other children). He had been punished and had not responded to any discipline all day, and had basically just given all the workers fits . . . ALL DAY.

Part of my sadistic personality was proud that they knew I wasn't lying, and then I also felt EXTREMELY sorry for them. I know what it's like when Gentry gets in his moods and I can't image what it was like having to protect other kids from this normally docile child.

Most importantly we (the adults) are learning how to deal with Gentry's personality. Any suggestions at this point are welcome ;)

Snuggle time

So, Josh and I have been really good, since the beginning, of putting Gentry in his bed and expecting him to go to sleep on his own. No co-sleeping (except for the one time when Gentry had RSV and Josh was out of town on work) and we haven't even rocked him since he was about 9 months. But, last night after bath Gentry laid down on the couch with me and watched the food network with me until he fell asleep. It was so nice. I know he isn't going to want to do this much longer and I just savoured the moment. At one point Josh tried to take Gentry to bed. . . . I think I growled at him.

I'm trying to remind myself that in-between the 2 year old temper tantrums that the sweet moments still exist and when I see them I've got to enjoy the moment. My baby has all ready turned into a little boy, and he's growing up so quickly.

Momma's little helper

So, a friend of mine made a comment today that she didn't see how I kept this blog so up-to-date. It made me feel bad because I keep chiding myself thinking I don't update enough. . . Cest la vie.

Gentry is officially into the "I wanna help" phase. Last night he asked if he could help cook. Unfortunately I was too busy helping him "help" that I didn't get any pictures. Well, lucky for me he wanted to "help" again tonight. So I was ready with the camera. . . .

We worked together to make Chicken Parmesean. First you have to grease the pan. . . .

Then you have to mix the parmesean and breadcrumbs.

That's about all he got to help with. I was a little paranoid about letting him work with ANY heat, sharp objects, or raw meat. He was a little dissappointed and got creative with what I would let him play with. . . .