Potty Training 2010

Potty training is a bit like giving birth: It really stinks when you are going through it, but when you are done you think "Oh, that wasn't so bad!"

I made it through my first potty training experience. I'm not gonna lie. . . it nearly did me in. Big Pete came home those first couple of days to a very grumpy, very frazzled mommy.



I started off trying to work with Avery and Pete at the same time. I had everything ready: the undies/panties, the rewards, the stickers and chart. I thought I was going to be able to handle both at the same time. Yes, I was wrong!!! :)



We "threw" away all the diapers and pull ups. We put up our little charts. I keep saying what my book told me say "Tell Mommy when you have to go pee pee". I started filling them with juice and salty snacks. And then they started ganging up on me . . .

I would run one out of the room to the potty, and the other one would pee pee in front of the TV! Plus, little Miss Hailey still needed full attention pointed at her. On top of that, Lil Pete was screaming and crying everytime I tried to put him on the potty. So, to save my sanity . . . I kept it up with Avery and but diapers back on Pete. I know, I know, total wrong thing to do, but I just couldn't figure out how to "watch" both of them at the same time and take are of Hailey too.



So, this is how I did it: Basically for three days, you and the kiddos do nothing but stay within close proximity of each other. We colored, painted, read books and watched a WHOLE LOTTA TV. You have to "watch" the potty training child like a hawk and catch them each and everytime they start to go, in order to run them to the potty. If you miss it even one time, it puts off the process because she is not able to understand and learn.

So with that said, you have alot of pee and pooh everywhere, and I mean everywhere!! UGGHHH But, at the end of three days, Avery had it. I mean she was still having accidents and didnt pooh in the potty until day 4 or 5, but she basically had it down.

Now we are about 2 weeks out, and she has accidents very infrequently. I also don't put her in a diaper at night and she has done great. The first time at Sunday School she had an accident, but this past Sunday she told them and went. I'm so proud of my baby girl and how good she has been doing!! Now on to #2, and #3! :)

Baptism

Last Sunday, Avery, Pete and Hailey were baptized at the church we have been attending. Our church has become very meaningful and special to me, so I was excited that we would have their baptism done there.

Pastor John did a wonderful job "dealing" with our children and showed them complete love and respect. A,P, and H must have thought the church altar was their playground, because they spent most of the ceremony running around it. At the very beginning, as we were all standing there, they all just stood next the railing on the altar smiling and waving out into the congregation.




Avery very intently watched the Pastor as he sprinkled a little water on her head. Pete wiggled and shouted and even pushed Pastor John's hand away at one point. Pastor John was so good about it, though, and said something in reference to Peter, the disciple of Jesus. To me it added a little personal tough which I loved. Now, Hailey was enthralled. In some of the pictures you can see her very bravely smiling and looking at Pastor John. She was quiet the whole time he held her and LOVED all the attention.


After the service we had all of our family in friends come to our house for a lunch. The whole day was wonderful and I felt the effect of all the love for days after. I was so happy that we were finally able to do this, especially at church that is so special to me! Thank you to all our family that came from close and far away to be a part of this with us!

1st overnight trip to the country

My parents recently added on to their "country home" (hee hee). They actually haven't built a "home" there yet, just the barn. But they are blinging out this barn, better than any home! My mom has fully decorated and it looks awesome. So, with the hopes that we would sometime come for an overnight visit, they added a bedroom. I actually got to see the beautiful sunsets and sunrises, which are gorgeous and I began to realize why my parents are spending so much time out there!!!



The kids and I went one weekend when Pete was working, so unfortunately he missed out on the fun. I was a bit worried about so many of us in a small area, but it actually worked out really well. It was nice not to run from room to room, or up and down stairs and always have everything close by. Plus, the property and barn offer alot of room outside of the house to be.




We did everything while we were there. We fed fish and watched them splash around. We chased grasshoppers and caught a few. We rode around country roads on the four wheeler and looked at all the cows, horses, and other animals. We played in the barn with all the toys that my parents have acquired. Needless to say, we just wore out the kids (along with wearing out the adults!!!)

Do you really have 3 carseats right in a row?

Yes, I do.


Is Avery's finger up her nose?
Yes, it is.

Is Pete doing a fake smile and you caught it right at the end?
Yes, I did

Just a few things I wanted to clear up.

To Be continued

Ah, my blog. My dear sweet blog that I don't ever get to sit down and journal with anymore. Well, more to come about what we have been up to lately, but the short of why I don't blog anymore is sleepless naps, late nights, early mornings, and potty training.

Here is one of my favorite pics as of today. I had to post it, because it really needs no explanation. My sweet little baby growing up (kinda wishing she would grow up really fast thrugh this whole potty training thing and then slowdown again!)

Father's Day 2010

After we got back from the beach, we spent the rest of Father's Day at a local restaurant that often has fun outdoor bands. The kiddos love to dance and watch the band play which is great for mommy and daddy! Pete took all the kids down to the dance floor and got them dancing. It was absolutely adorable!!


Happy Father's Day, Pete!!!

Port Aransas

Once again this summer we went to Port Aransas with Pete's family. The kiddos had a fabulous time playing with their cousins. By the end of the week, all of them also liked the beach! On days that the sea weed was bad (and I mean BAD!) Lil Pete had a really hard time at the beach. I mean, who really can blame him??? He would see it coming and go a-runnin'! Now, Hailey on the other hand, wasn't too perturbed by it. She at various points was playing with it and trying to eat it (much to the dismay of her mommy.) Aunt B worked and worked with Pete to get him into the water and she was often successful . . .except when there was seaweed.





Hailey absolutely loved the sand - every part of it. Wet, dry, it didn't matter. I remember in years past, Avery and Pete being irritated by the sand . . . but not Miss Ha Ha. She played with it, ate it, rolled in it, just basically had a good ole time in it!






Avery refused to take a nap the entire time we were there. She still acted great so I think she was running on adrenaline the whole time. She's started this new thing of not taking naps when anyone else is around (she's just like her daddy . . .doesn't want to miss a thing!!)




So another year of great memories for the kiddos to keep stored up! They still are asking about the beach!!!

Lubbock girls weekend, 2010!

My mom treated Avery and I to a girl's weekend at my sister's house in Lubbock. It was extra special this year because we got to do some wedding planning while we were there. We went and saw the revamped reception place at the Merket Alumni Center - wow, it sure has changed from I went to award ceremonies there! We also got to do a little dress shopping and Ashley might have found the "one" but she wants to do a little more shopping just to make sure!



Avery once again did great on the airplane. This time she was a "ticketed" passenger, so she had her own seat. I brought lots of activities on the plane which kept her well occupied. On the ride home, she actually fell asleep which was fantastic, until I had to carry her out and then haul her and all our stuff to the car. But since that was the only rough part I would say it was a success!

My sister introduced my non-veggie eating daughter to healthy milkshakes that have hidden spinach thrown in and Avery LOVES them. I am eternally grateful, because now Avery has a great way to get her veggies in!!



We also went to this great park that is HUGE and has a wooden town built inside of it. There was everything and anything to run around and climb in. Unfortunately we went right before we had to leave, so we didn't get to spend much time there. . .hence the pic of Avery screaming as I was carrying her out!

Grasshopper

Ahh, little grasshopper - how you provided my family with such fun entertainment. Ahh, grasshopper, you were not so little - more like a Texas kangaroo!

I would not normally make a video about a grasshopper, but it was just so stinkin' funny! These pictures have it all: fear, intrigue, fascination, the "stink eye".

(Again - this video has music. Watch out if you are at work!!)

Grasshopper from c s on Vimeo.

Growin', Growin', Growin' . . . All the kids are growin'

Today I packed away all of the baby bottles for the last time. Once again, I was not sad, but HAPPY! Life is so much easier without having to haul bottles and formula around everywhere. Hailey did fantastically well giving up her bottles. I only really noticed a problem right before naptime, because she was waking up during her nap instead of sleeping straight through. But, I did the same as before and took away the bottles really slowly. I had not been wanting to take away her nighttime bottle because that always means bad sleep during the night. So, about a week ago, I went to make that nighttime bottle and I was out of liners. I figured, well, here we go. She did great! She didn't even need the bottle after all. She is drinking tons of milk during the day and getting her tummy full. Yay, Baby Hailey, one baby milestone behind you already.

Pete just hit a milestone because he is now sleeping in his big boy bed. I know, I know, it seems a little late at 2 1/2 to just now be switching him . . . but I didn't want to mess up a good thing! He never really WANTED to get out of his bed. So when we finally did it, it really didn't faze him at all. This kid has been my easiest sleeper, for sure! Now if he would only sleep past 6:30 . . .

Untitled from c s on Vimeo.

And Avery, sweet, funny, lovable, Avery is just growin' and learning every day! It always amazes me that I can now carry on a conversation with these kiddos! She is singing up a storm and it's really the cutest little thing. Her favorite song is "Twinkle Twinkle" and she loves to say "Ta Da!" when she is finished!