Today I decided to revert to Pinterest and look for an activity for Rhett to get him away from his morning cartoons.  I settled on "gak" slime since I had all the ingredients on hand.  It called for Elmer's name brand glue and I had the dollar store white glue so maybe that is the reason why it didn't solidify as much as I expected or hoped it would. 

 

Rhett helped me make the formula and was instantly impressed when the borax was added and an instant polymer gel formed.  My pin said the more it was played with, the better the consistency, but I never really got it from the stringy/sticky phase and for an activity that is suppose to be mess free, Rhett figured out a way to make it messy -- to the point where I had to keep my dog and my 12 month old out of the kitchen when Rhett started flinging it to get it off his hands (knowing the borax is toxic if ingested).  Luckily, it was easy enough to clean up.  It acted as a liquid when left alone but you could roll the "liquid" into a rubbery mass, so that was kind of fun!  Here are some pictures (Rhett is wearing shorts in the first one, but don't mind the no pants in the second one --- we are still having potty training issues).

 

 

 

Weeding the Garden

We weeded the garden yesterday. I weeded the vacant community weed-filled plot next to us with Rhett allowing Saria time to weed our plot without Rhett's helping hands.

We got the ground wet and I started pulling and Rhett carried the weeds to the wheel barrow or help pull the weds with me. I found that Rhett loves to help pull weeds. I think it has something to do with the fact that he could pull plants without being told he was naughty, he could beat the dirt off the weeds, and the could play in the mud and get really dirty. Boys love mud, and Rhett is definitely a boy. He was covered in mud!

I would then push the weed-filled wheel barrow to the compost pile while Rhett sat atop, and I would then dump him and the weeds out. He loved being buried in all the weeds.

Ethan even joined in weeding - as a supervisory role. He watched Rhett and me worked, and even got some dirt flung on him. All our work tired him out and he had to take a nap. Poor thing, working so hard.

Later that day I was mowing the lawn and Saria sent Rhett outside to watch. He likes to follow me around as I push the lawn mower around. About half way through, I felt Rhett pop his head up through my arms, grab the lawn mower handle, and start pushing. He didn't ask if he could help, he just forced his way in. I guess it looked like fun!

He could not push, it was more like holding on for dear life. When I turn the corner, I whip the lawn mower around fairly quickly, and I sometimes tripped over Rhett. He learned how to make sure I didn't trip over him. He would hold on and his legs would flail about wildly, so I stopped tripping over him. It was hilarious to experience seeing his legs lifted off the ground, but he never let go!

Rhett is daddy's little helper - in weeding and mowing the lawn!

Dentist

Rhett had his first dentist appointment, and he was such a trooper. He was so god that the dentist have him a toothbrush at the end.

And no cavities!

Baby gate

Rhett has really been fighting his mid-day nap, but if he doesn't get it he is super cranky. To keep him in his bed, Saria bought a baby gate thinking he would see it and stay in his bed. Well, it kept him in his room, as you can see in the picture. Also he fought sleep for several hours, but finally succumb to it.

I wish I could still take a nap every day.

Swaddle

Rhett sometimes can be a little jealous of Ethan. One day he told Saria, "Mommy, I need swaddle." She was more than happy to oblige.

Epicnic

SoEric had the company picnic - and it truly was an epic picnic. We had steak and lobster - mmm... The was a conduction truck petting zoo (Rhett really enjoyed sitting the the seats and blowing the horns); a real petting zoo with chickens, pigs, goats, horses, and rabbits; inflatable bounce house and obstacle course; a bungee jumping thing (this was Rhett's favorite), and bubbles. Out was a blast, and all of us had fun.

Random Pictures of Rhett

Here are some random pictures of Rhett I have taken over the last month or so.

Becoming a big brother!

As the due date of the baby got closer, John and I tried to prepare Rhett for having a baby and a new brother in the house.  We showed him his old baby pictures and talked about the baby in mommy's tummy.  He would kiss my tummy and say, "I love you baby" (since we didn't know the gender or have a set name, this is how we referred to the baby).  But the moment of truth would be when they met each other.  Rhett got use to mommy always going to some doctor or another and even the hospital (as I had been three times before I was admitted for labor).  So when Rhett fell asleep at the hospital and John carried him out to meet Monica, we were worried how he would react when he woke up to find neither of his parents around (which he has never experienced before).  He did great and had a blast at "auntie Monica's" and played with Monica's girls (it helped that it was summer).

So the moment of truth came... after Ethan was born and I was settled into the postpartum family suite, I called Monica and told her that I was up for visitors and that I thought it would be fun to watch Rhett's reaction to mommy holding a new baby. We planned to video tape the meeting.

When Rhett first walked into the room, I think he was a little timid seeing mommy in a hospital gown in bed.  I told him it was okay and asked if he wanted to meet his brother.  He said yes and when I invited him over, he came and kissed Ethan on the cheek.  What was so amazing to me is that though he was a bit timid to approach me, he did not seem shocked or surprised that there was a new baby.  He immediately repeated Ethan's name when I told him and a smile spread across his face.  I asked if he wanted to hold Ethan and he said yes (he calls him "Ephan").  He got up in a chair and we placed Ethan in his lap and told him that if he wanted to move he needed to tell us so we could pick up Ethan from his arms.  He held Ethan, and kissed him and just stared at him.  In fact, we had problems getting Rhett to look at the camera as he was so mesmerized by baby Ethan in his lap!

When we all got home and settled in, Rhett appeared to do well with accepting a new family member in the home.  There were times you could see a hint of jealousy in his eyes, but it passed just as soon as it came.  He's three and far from perfect, but I was EXTREMELY impress by his attitude and hope the transition continues to go well!

Ambulance

We went to a safety fair and Rhett had a blast because it had some of his favorite things: horses, fire trucks, ambulances, fire, police, and buses.

These are pictures of Saria and Rhett in the ambulance. Hopefully, Saria will not need to ride in an ambulance when she has her baby.

Fire trucks

We went to a safety fair and Rhett had a blast because it had some of his favorite things: horses, fire trucks, ambulances, fire, police, and buses.

Rhett loves fire trucks! He loved sitting in the driver seat. When he went inside out, he was amazed at all the buttons, equipment, and all the other cool stuff in the cabin.

Busses

We went to a safety fair and Rhett had a blast because it had some of his favorite things: horses, fire trucks, ambulances, fire, police, and buses.

Rhett was able to get in the driver seat. Somebody jokingly commented that they were glad he wasn't driving the bus because Rhett was driving pretty wild!

Police horses

We went to a safety fair and Rhett had a blast because it had some of his favorite things: horses, fire trucks, ambulances, fire, police, and buses.

There were police horses and Rhett got to pet them. He was eating an apple and the horse kept trying to eat it thinking it was a snack.

A day at the beach

The great thing about Saturdays and John now able to spend them with us, we never know how our day will turn out or what we'll end up doing, and we love that! Today, Rhett chose the activity. We went out and watered our garden and he kept asking to get wet from the house, so I would squirt him occasionally as I watered. On the way home, Rhett insisted that, "Rhett need to go swimming". It was nice enough, so now where to decide to go. I started looking for community pools with open Saturday swim and then John suggested a state park since we already bought a car pass when we went camping a couple of weeks ago. Turns out there was a state park with a lake not far away....We broke out Rhett's "baby's birthday" gift (what we got him for when the baby was born" since my due date is just two days away-- some sand toys. I think he had fun! And he was pretty popular as all the other kids wanted to play with his toys as well!

Mother's Day Cards

Saria and Rhett made both grandmother's Mother Day cards this year.

It's a really fun idea, and she wished she had my hand print too, but she did it while I was out of town on a business trip.

Grandma Butler got her card and emailed the following:

"Dear Rhett: When Grandpa went to the mailbox today he brought me the neatest envelope. When I opened it I found a very creative Grandma's day card from a very sweet, handsome, young man and a cute young lady. Thank you for taking the time to make me a mother's day card. That really made my day. Rhett and Mommy Saria, Love you lots and lots

"From Grandma B"

Happy Mother's Day!

Menards

We seem to go to Menards about once a week, either because John needs something or Saria has a new honey-do for John. Menards is kind of like a Home Depot, but bigger, better, and cheaper.So John and Saria love going. But Rhett really loves going because they have an upstairs where they have all their toys and outside kid playgrounds set up. Each time we go Rhett starts asking, "Upstairs?" He just wants to play, and if he's good while we are shopping, we let him.