Sunday, February 26, 2012

Peepee in the Potty


I realize it sounds ridiculous. Being incredibly frustrated after just one day of potty training is silly. But Liam was so easy to train and Livi is so dang smart. I envisioned it being me showing her a couple of times and that being the end of it. I really need to stop kidding myself. In all honesty, it probably wasn't even that easy with Liam. Anyway, after the first day of Livi having one (half) of a success, I started to wonder if we would have to put her back in diapers and just try again at a later time. I know, silly... And she proved it to me.

Day two was a welcome change. She went IN the potty every single time except for one and that was of the #2 variety so we'll spare you the details. She's doing great and tomorrow we send her to school in training pants. This is such a different environment from being bottomless and seconds away from a potty at all times that there is no way of knowing how she will do. There will most likely be plenty of accidents. But it's a process and I have to keep reminding myself that soon I will have no kids in diapers and that is a beautiful thing!




Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Let's Play 20 Questions


A few days ago I saw a cute idea on a blog. Ask the kids the same 20 questions every year on their birthday starting at age three and add the questions to a scrapbook every year until you end up with a great little window into what they were like way back when. I think it's a great idea and since Liam just had a birthday a couple of months ago, we're gonna go ahead and call this his 4 year questionnaire.

1. What is your favorite color? green
2. What is your favorite toy? Darth Vader
3. What is your favorite fruit? watermelon
4. What is your favorite tv show? Phineas and Ferb
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Peanut butter and jelly
6. What is your favorite outfit? my army guy shirt
7. What is your favorite game? Mario
8. What is your favorite snack? doughnut
9. What is your favorite animal? a giraffe, Bobbie (this is the name of the giraffe from Lion Country Safari)
10. What is your favorite song? the Wild Kratts song
11. What is your favorite book? Star Wars sticker book
12. Who is your best friend? Cameron, Jaiden and Evan, and Eli
13. What is your favorite cereal? marshmallow cereal
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? kick my soccer ball
15. What is your favorite drink? orange juice
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? my sun
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? pancakes
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Chic-fil-a
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Darth Vader and clone trooper 
 

Monday, February 20, 2012

Totally Tubular Party


We had a kickin time at Livi's second birthday party. Not bad for throwing everything together in a matter of days. Thank god for the dollar store, that's all I gotta say. Livi danced the entire time and had her boys there so I know she had fun and that makes me happy. Mommy guilt averted! 












Saturday, February 18, 2012

2 Years Old



It was during the trip I realized it. We had a hotel room and the night we arrived was a rough one. We got there late and Livi is less than easy to put to sleep when she is past the window of time where she normally falls asleep. So she insisted on having me hold her in the dark room until her eyelids just couldn't stay open any longer. I could still smell the yogurt in her hair from snack time and her hand that she was using to unconsciously pat my arm was sticky. She flopped her head to the other side and wrapped her little chubby arm around mine. That was the moment I went from wishing I was in my bed to not wanting to be anywhere else in the world. These moments are fleeting and it won't be long before I don't even have the ability to pick her up (*cough, cough* Liam *cough, cough*). So even when I am exhausted, I need to delight in the fact that she is still attached and a little needy. It won't be that way for much longer at all. Two is a benchmark year. She'll just take off from here. So here is a little about our girl now...

She has more personality in her pinky toe than most adults I know. She LOVES to dance no matter what the tune. She is also pretty maternal. She's been known to line up her babies on her bed and ask "You cold? You cold, baby?" and then retrieve a blanket. Then she'll climb into bed next to them, open up a book and proceed to tell a lavish story that I wish I understood because man- does it sound good! And even though she flings them by one leg into a crib, she is always sure to cover her babies with a blanket.

She is the perfect combination of girly and tomboy. She likes pink and her princess cup, but would rather wear shorts and sneakers than her dresses. She gets dirty with the best of them. Since today was her birthday, she dictated what we did. The day consisted of a doughnut,   the playground with "Tina and the boys" and a viewing of Finding Nemo. 





Thursday, February 16, 2012

Livi's Trip

 

The original idea was to go on a short, weekend trip for Livi's bday instead of planning a big party like I usually do. The reasons being that a) she is only two and b) I am tired. always.

So we opted for Busch Gardens and Sea World since Livi loves Elmo and fishies. I was worried that we picked the wrong parks. I hadn't been to either in longer than I can remember and had no idea if there was really enough to do for small children. Well, I can confidently say we made the right decision. Both place are absolutely awesome and both kids had a wonderful time. Even the big one I am married too did. Turns out they were having a Beer and BBQ festival kinda thing while we were there.

But as things turn out, the mommy guilt did not escape me. After all, what kind of therapy will she have to go through when she sees that Liam got a sweet 2 year old birthday party and I didn't even have a cake for hers? So I am having a little get together (with a theme) on Sunday. This Sunday. And yes, I did decide this two days ago. But it won't be a big deal and it'll be fun to have some people that we love over. I think it's the least I could do for the gal, seeing how entertaining she's been and all. 





Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Lizzie's Assignment

The task: Take some pics of the kids with different facial expressions so that Cousin Liz could use the photos for a lesson at school.

The result: A bunch of pics of nutty kids mostly just sticking out their tongue and making strange noises.

Surprised

Happy

No idea, but no lie- she purposely made this face and held it for like 15 seconds

Sad

Excited?

Yikes!

Happy

Demonic Scariness

Reaction to almost anything I said

Leave me alone now, I want no more to do with this

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Raising Hope


You'd think after having two kids of my own I would be at pro at holding little babies. Not so. How easy it is to forget. The small people that inhibit my home are a far cry from this little creature. So petite and sweet and fragile and newborn smelling.  I had the privilege of meeting my younger brother's daughter just 30 minutes after she was born. My sister lives in Orlando so I have never been able to meet one of my nephew/nieces in such a short time after they were born. It was quite the treat.

I cannot stress enough how proud of Sarah I am, and Josh for that matter. It was a pretty seamless birth and Sarah was able to get through it with no drugs. She was strong and had the support of her amazing husband and I just can't help but smile ear to ear when I think about it. Hope has some amazing parents that adore her. They have that new parent glow that's hard to miss and you can tell they simply adore her. She's in good hands.

As for the facts.. she was born on January 27th at 5:30pm. She weighed 7lbs, 14 ounces and was 18.5 inches long. Her name is Hope Luthien Toledo. Her middle name is from a Lord of the Rings book. If I am not mistaken, it is a Elvish princess and means "Enchantress". I can say she has enchanted me. I simply love her. And so do the kids. Livi calls her "Sope" and talks about her often even though she has only met her once. But there will be many more meetings in the future.  You can count on it.

PS- She can give you a peace sign with her toes... true story....