Summer of New Cars

This summer has brought 3 new cars into our family. Well, new-to-us cars. We started the summer off with a Honda Fit and a Chevy Malibu. In July Ammon's car (Malibu) broke down and we decided we were done putting money into it. It's been breaking down for years now, and each time we put "a little more money" into it. We were (FINALLY) done this time! Our big decision was what size of car to get. With another little one on the way, we knew we needed something bigger than the Fit. Because the Fit is a compact car, a rear facing car seat only fits in the middle seat. Which makes it impossible to put another car seat next to it (rear or forward facing). So we needed at least a full size car. But we are hoping to have more kids down the road, so should we just go ahead and buy an SUV/van now? In the past few years we've debated between an SUV and a van, and had already concluded a van. So, the decision was between a full size car now and then buy a van in a couple of years, or just buy the van now and be done. We went for the van. We've been really happy with it and like it a lot! I love not having to climb into the car to get Conner into his car seat!

The next car that we got was this beauty. We still haven't given it a wash, but Conner likes it!

THANKFULLY we didn't have to get a loan for this car! Actually, we got it free from some people at church who were done with it! Score!

The last car of the summer is this blue convertible sports car. It took Conner some warming up to, but he really loves it now! Although it wasn't free like the red car, it wasn't NEARLY as expensive as the van!

We set up the bed in his bedroom (soon to be shared room) and just left it there for a few weeks. We'd read him bedtime stories in it, but he still slept in his crib. After getting use to it in his bedroom, I ambitiously started teaching him to sleep in the bed for naps and bedtime. Naps didn't even last a week. He is back to his crib for naps. I found he wakes up to much during naps. When he's in his crib, he just goes back to sleep, but in the toddler bed, if he woke up early, he'd get out of bed and I wouldn't be able to get him back to sleep. However, he is a champ at sleeping in his bed at night (knock on wood!). In the beginning either Ammon or I would sit in his room until he fell asleep, but now we stay in his room for 20-30 minutes, tell him good night and leave. He's really good about staying in bed and going to sleep. If he wakes up in the middle of the night, we hear him get out of bed, go to the door and call for us, but when we don't respond, he gets back in bed and goes back to sleep! He's such a big boy! We love how independent he is!