Today we had some potty training success. No pee's in the morning or afternoon-that kid knows how to hold it until his diaper is on for his nap BUT we did have success after dinner!!!! Lincoln sat on the big boy potty (and I had to fight with him to get him on there) and Teddy sat on the little potty...that seemed to work. After a few minutes of whining and crying he started to giggle and tinkle tinkle tinkle he was peeing! I have NO idea what the heck I am doing but I do say ALOT of this:
Me: "Lincoln do you have to pee?"
Lincoln: "No"
Me: "Lincoln do you have to pee?"
Lincoln: "No mama"
Me: "Lincoln are you sure you don't have to pee?"
Lincoln: "No"
After today I think this is going to be a long exhausting road. That kid is stubborn...super stubborn (I wonder where he gets that from). We'll see what tomorrow has in store for us! Kev's going away for the day for business and the boys and I have a night planned with some McD's, movies, prv'd shows and some candy! I'm thinking we are going to have a super fun night!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Highlights from our Maui Trip
We left for Maui on December 27-kissing Christmas good bye (along with the snow, and cold) and we were welcomed in Maui with warm, warm, hot sun! OK the day we arrived it was cloudy but it was warm and humid and that beats the cold rain any day!
Our trip was awesome...no make that fabulous...no it was AMAZING (of course we had our melt downs and fits and tantrums but hell we were on vacation and the sun was shining)!!!! The kids did good on the flight there and at one point the 4 of us actually napped all at once! I'm not going to lie...it did cross my mind...a few times..."what's it like to fly without children?" No on your lap...time to watch the in flight movie without anyone pulling out your headphones...reading trashy gossip magazines without anybody trying to eat the pages...enjoying my pretzels and coke without anyone trying to reach for it...closing my eyes and having a nap for as long as I want...savoring the plane meal (which were delcious sandwhiches by the way). Hmm sounds heavenly but I can't complain too much...the kids did great and we were on our way to Hawaii!
We had a scare a few hours before we left...Nate swallowed glass (go Nate)! I was vaccuming and Nate was out in the living room and when I came back in he was SURROUNDED by shattered glass (glass Christmas ball-now I know why parents by plastic ones). And of course he was chewing away. And I panicked. I picked him up, yelled for Kev and shoved my fingers in his mouth to remove the glass. I thought I had gotten it all and then i felt one more piece and Kev held him on the ground while I tried to get the piece and by then it was too late...it was gone...into his belly it went. And I feared it would tear his insides to pieces. Kev did some research (thank you internet) and said "kids do it all the time." I tried not to freak out and we put him to bed and hoped and prayed it was going to be OK. We had a scare on the plane when I went to go change his diaper...and I won't go into details but holy s^&* what the hell was I going to do a million feet up in the air. I freakin freaked! I knew he wasn't dieing but dear Lord my poor baby. He wasn't in any pain and appeared happy and content. Fast forward a few days and the little man was fine-no pain, no fussing, no more diaper incidents. Thank God!
We love Maui! And it's such a beautiful place to vacation with kids...no worrying about the water and heck...if they need health care-you know it's going to be top notch (and if you need to see a doctor prices start at $165 and that's depending on diagnosis)!
And I learned how to scuba dive! It's something I never thought I do but when the opportunity presented itself I knew I had to do it! And I loved it! Now I have visions of me and my boys scuba diving off the shores in Maui! The experience was amazing! You see the ocean from a whole new perspective...and the sound of the singing whales...heavenly! The water that day was chopping so we didn't get to do our second dive but I know I'll scuba dive again in the near future!
Our trip was awesome...no make that fabulous...no it was AMAZING (of course we had our melt downs and fits and tantrums but hell we were on vacation and the sun was shining)!!!! The kids did good on the flight there and at one point the 4 of us actually napped all at once! I'm not going to lie...it did cross my mind...a few times..."what's it like to fly without children?" No on your lap...time to watch the in flight movie without anyone pulling out your headphones...reading trashy gossip magazines without anybody trying to eat the pages...enjoying my pretzels and coke without anyone trying to reach for it...closing my eyes and having a nap for as long as I want...savoring the plane meal (which were delcious sandwhiches by the way). Hmm sounds heavenly but I can't complain too much...the kids did great and we were on our way to Hawaii!
We had a scare a few hours before we left...Nate swallowed glass (go Nate)! I was vaccuming and Nate was out in the living room and when I came back in he was SURROUNDED by shattered glass (glass Christmas ball-now I know why parents by plastic ones). And of course he was chewing away. And I panicked. I picked him up, yelled for Kev and shoved my fingers in his mouth to remove the glass. I thought I had gotten it all and then i felt one more piece and Kev held him on the ground while I tried to get the piece and by then it was too late...it was gone...into his belly it went. And I feared it would tear his insides to pieces. Kev did some research (thank you internet) and said "kids do it all the time." I tried not to freak out and we put him to bed and hoped and prayed it was going to be OK. We had a scare on the plane when I went to go change his diaper...and I won't go into details but holy s^&* what the hell was I going to do a million feet up in the air. I freakin freaked! I knew he wasn't dieing but dear Lord my poor baby. He wasn't in any pain and appeared happy and content. Fast forward a few days and the little man was fine-no pain, no fussing, no more diaper incidents. Thank God!
We love Maui! And it's such a beautiful place to vacation with kids...no worrying about the water and heck...if they need health care-you know it's going to be top notch (and if you need to see a doctor prices start at $165 and that's depending on diagnosis)!
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| Like father like son! Lincoln did great on the way there! |
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| We are finally there! It had been a LONG day! |
One of our favorite things to do in Maui was go to the beach. The kids loved it! Nate loved the water and eating the sand (but then again what won't that child eat) and Lincoln loved playing in the sand (he wasn't to crazy about the water). Lincoln and I had a sand fight-one of the many highlights of our trip! He giggled and laughed like crazy and we both had such a good time! Makes me wish I lived closer to the beach!
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| Lunch on the beach |
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| My favorite picture! Love the lady in the yellow life jacket! If only I could have heard the conversation between those two! |
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| SAND FIGHT!!!! Seriously he had a good time! |
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| Love this! |
Baby Nate learned how to get his groove on-thanks to Uncle Dusty:
Kev and I split up the kids one day and he went with Lincoln, Brenda and Dusty to Paia for some fish and chips and Nate and I had a pool day! This kid is a water baby! We played in the pool and then layed out in the sun! It was such a great day!
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| Love this kid! |
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| Just can't get enough of his cute little face! |
My Brother and Brenda got engaged on January 1 after taking a helicopter tour. He proposed on a private beach...I'm sure it was magical! That evening we went to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse to celebrate, followed by a walk on the beach! It was a perfect night and I can't wait to celebrate with them on their wedding day! I've considered Brenda apart of our family since the moment I met her (and I am sure everyone in my family would say the same). Brenda is the type of girl you want your brother to marry and I am so blessed to have her as my sister in law!!!
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| Tourists! |
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| Melt in your mouth! |
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| Houston came later on and joined us! |
Kevin has always wanted to scuba dive so when we went to Maui the first time in 2008 he got certified. My dad got certified last year. And the two of them have now become BFF's. They went scuba diving almost every morning together and did a few boat dives. I love that my dad and Kev have a common interest and it was so wonderful to see the two of them bonding!
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| Scuba dream team 2011! |
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| Bahahahaha! |
I love snorkeling but it's not easy to do when you have two kids so when Kev and I went to the beach he stayed and watched the little ones while I did some snorkeling. My mission: to find turtles! I love love love seeing wild turtles and the beautiful fish. My favorite is the spotted pusher fish! My mom was great and watched the boys so that I could go out with my dad and Kev while they scuba dived and I snorkeled above. The beach where we went had tons of beautiful fish!
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| Does anyone really ever look cool with snorkeling gear on? |
He Peed!
A milestone was accomplished today...Lincoln peed on the potty!!!!! And I can't tell you how proud I am! He's peed on the potty before but he usually sit there for 15-20 minutes just to pee a wee little amount and then we call it a day! But not today! He was wearing his big boy boxer briefs, we threw some Cheerios in the toilet, I put him on the toilet and told him to push-not exactly the words I'd ever thought I'd say to my son but hey he pushed and he peed and we cheered and he was rewarded! Just like that! He wore a diaper for his nap and when he woke up it was dry! Yes! We put back on his big boy boxer briefs (say that 10 times really fast) sat on the potty and nothing...so we tried again after dinner...told him to push and he peed! And he cheered and giggled and I was so proud and he was so proud! We may be onto something!!!
I've tried before...hundreds of times. We put the potty in front of the tv and he'd sit there and every now and then he'd pee. It would be completely random. And he'd pee on the carpet and on the floor. And then he began to hate sitting on the potty so we stopped and we'd try again a few weeks later. He knows when he's done #1 and #2 and when he's not wearing a diaper and has to pee he'll grab a diaper and tell me he wants one on. And he tells me when he needs to be changed. I knew we were getting closer and I just think that now may be the time...and if it's not we'll keep on trying and I know it'll happen once he's ready! I just still so proud!!! I really thought this would be alot easier and was convinced I'd have him potty trained by the time he was two. He is Lincoln and he's stubborn and dances to the beat of his own drum (I think that's how the saying goes) and he'll move at his own pace and I have to remember that!
And how cute are these two:
I've tried before...hundreds of times. We put the potty in front of the tv and he'd sit there and every now and then he'd pee. It would be completely random. And he'd pee on the carpet and on the floor. And then he began to hate sitting on the potty so we stopped and we'd try again a few weeks later. He knows when he's done #1 and #2 and when he's not wearing a diaper and has to pee he'll grab a diaper and tell me he wants one on. And he tells me when he needs to be changed. I knew we were getting closer and I just think that now may be the time...and if it's not we'll keep on trying and I know it'll happen once he's ready! I just still so proud!!! I really thought this would be alot easier and was convinced I'd have him potty trained by the time he was two. He is Lincoln and he's stubborn and dances to the beat of his own drum (I think that's how the saying goes) and he'll move at his own pace and I have to remember that!
And how cute are these two:
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| Look at his face! He knew he was in trouble...he got into the veggie dip I left on the ground when we were having our picnic! |
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| And if you look closing he has a piece of a hot dog in his mouth from the corn dog Lincoln left in the living room! |
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| And this morning Lincoln had breakfast with Kitty, Teddy and "B" (blankie)-he put them there himself! |
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| After his nap he came and lied in my arms and passed out cold! I got up to get something and this is how I found him! |
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Christmas 2010
I know Christmas has come and gone but I wanted to document it. I love Christmas. It's the best time of the year. And with children, Christmas is just more magical. Every Christmas I promise myself I am going to stay on budget. I never do. Never. I love Christmas shopping but hate slow tellers and doddling people! It's Christmas people let's get a move on it! This year I did ALL my Christmas shopping with the little ones and it went better than expected! We were constantly running to different stores searching for the right gifts for our friends and family! And the boys were amazing! I think the Christmas spirit was running through their veins. Every year I create a shopping list with all the names of people we have to buy for and how much everything cost...I try not to add everything up...it can get quite frightening but it's so worth it! I love shopping!
I really didn't know what to get the boys this year. We already have tons of toys but sure enough I went crazy. I thought we'd get Nate a car seat for Christmas and although we got the car seat he never actually got it as a Christmas gift. Once I started shopping I couldn't stop. The boys got a little kitchen-I searched high and low for the perfect kitchen and as soon as I decided on one they were all sold out on all the websites. I panicked. I needed to get them that kitchen for Christmas! It became my mission. I spent hours every day searching the web for the Teamson kitchen. Canadian websites had them but of course they cost an arm and a leg and your first born. I was getting desperate. Thankfully a friend of mine found a FABULOUS deal online and I was able to order it. Phew! I was online shopping every day like crazy! And waiting for the packages was the best part! And I made a few new friends at ship happens (I love that place)!
I knew this year was going to be extra special. Not only was it Nate's first Christmas but I knew this year Lincoln would "get it". And he did! Last year I spent countless hours wrapping gift after gift, stocking stuffer after stocking stuffer only to have myself unwrap everything. He had absolutely no interest in unwrapping gifts. This year I knew it was going to be a different story! Christmas was everything I dreamt it to be and more. I have waited my whole life for Christmas morning like the one we had-me, my hubby and our two precious boys...does it get any better than that?
We spent Christmas with Kev's family a week before Christmas. Aunty Nelly cooked her first turkey and it was delicious! The kids loved opening presents and of course they got spoiled!
On Christmas Eve Kev spent most of the day assembling the kitchen (thank you Kev). We let the kids open one present which was their matching Christmas pajama's (they were so fricken cute). And after their bath Kev and I loaded them up in the car and went to look at Christmas lights. Once we got back home we put out milk and cookies for Santa and a carrot for Rudolph. We read The Night Before Christmas (a classic) and read about baby Jesus and the night he was born (the reason for the season). I love Christmas traditions and one day hope my little ones carry on the same traditions.
Christmas morning was magical!!! Lincoln woke up in such a happy mood (who wouldn't...it's Christmas). He was so excited to see all the presents. I thought he'd go crazy and want to start opening up presents. I thought we'd have melt downs. And I thought we'd have time outs. But nope! Lincoln loved opening up the presents. We'd tell him to go to the tree and choose a gift. He'd bring it back to Kev and Kev would tell him who it was for.
My favorite are stocking stuffers. I love them. And Kev does such a good job every year. Swedish berries, mascara, dental floss, travel toothpaste and toothbrushes, polident (for my invisaligns-I thought it was a joke at first), scratch and wins, shaving cream, razors, face cream, gum, chocolate bars and deodorant! Doing the boys stocking this year was fun: toothpaste, toothbrushes, socks, candy (kid friendly stuff), sippy cups, bubble bath, band aids, knick knacks...you name they got it! I loved watching Linc open his presents! He'd get so excited and watching his sweet little face warmed my heart!
Kevin always spoils me. Every year we set a budget and he always goes over. And I appreciate it! This year my last gift I opened contained bullets. I wasn't impressed. He told me we needed a hobby together. Shooting guns with my hubby isn't my idea of a fun hobby! But behind the bullets was a crap load of cash. I cried. He told me it was money for me to go and decorate our new place. Awww I love that guy! And not because he had given me cash...I mean I love money but I certainly know that money doesn't buy happiness and that wasn't his intention. And I know he wasn't trying to buy my happiness. I know he does things like this because he loves surprising me. And he knows I want to get new things for the house. I know he appreciates me and all the things I do around the house. Needless to say this gift was a pleasant surprise and VERY much appreciated. Thank you Kev:-)
Our new tradition is eating breakfast at home as a family. Before Kev and I had kids we'd quickly open up gifts, head to my parents, open up more gifts, eat breakfast, head to some ones open house, visit with Kevs family, head back to my parents for dinner. And it just got to be too much! We agreed that Christmas would be our time and we'd make it about the kids. Kev cooked toutents (deep fried bread dough) and bacon. Yummy so delicious!
Later that afternoon we headed to my parents where the kids got spoiled (and so did we)! We devoured a delicious turkey dinner with all the fixings (oh I love turkey dinner). Enjoyed some family time and called it a night!
And amongst all the gifts and presents and unwrapping I didn't fail to remember the true meaning of Christmas. I couldn't help but think those 5 little children we bought gifts for and I hoped and prayed they had a magical Christmas! I am grateful and blessed. Very blessed. We spoiled our kids but I want them to know it's not about the presents. It's about Jesus and his birth and his time on earth. It's about family and friends and being together. It's about being thankful for our health and for the time we get to spend together. It's about helping others in need. It's about love, and sharing, and giving back. It's important for my boys to know that. Christmas is not about toys. It's about the gift of Jesus and that's the most important gift of all. I never want the true meaning of Christmas to get lost.
Every year after Christmas I always say:
"I should have listened to more Christmas music"
"I should have put the tree up sooner"
"I wish Christmas would last longer"
"I should have said Merry Christmas more"
"I should have spent more time admiring the Christmas tree"
"I should have put up more decorations"
"I should have drank more egg nog"
I should have, I should have I should have...but I know I enjoyed Christmas to the best of my ability. Christmas never last long enough. And the anticipation for next year has started back up again. I can't wait for Christmas!
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| We are in desperate need of more storage! |
I knew this year was going to be extra special. Not only was it Nate's first Christmas but I knew this year Lincoln would "get it". And he did! Last year I spent countless hours wrapping gift after gift, stocking stuffer after stocking stuffer only to have myself unwrap everything. He had absolutely no interest in unwrapping gifts. This year I knew it was going to be a different story! Christmas was everything I dreamt it to be and more. I have waited my whole life for Christmas morning like the one we had-me, my hubby and our two precious boys...does it get any better than that?
We spent Christmas with Kev's family a week before Christmas. Aunty Nelly cooked her first turkey and it was delicious! The kids loved opening presents and of course they got spoiled!
On Christmas Eve Kev spent most of the day assembling the kitchen (thank you Kev). We let the kids open one present which was their matching Christmas pajama's (they were so fricken cute). And after their bath Kev and I loaded them up in the car and went to look at Christmas lights. Once we got back home we put out milk and cookies for Santa and a carrot for Rudolph. We read The Night Before Christmas (a classic) and read about baby Jesus and the night he was born (the reason for the season). I love Christmas traditions and one day hope my little ones carry on the same traditions.
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| Looking at Christmas Lights! |
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| And the stockings were hung by the chimney with care... |
Christmas morning was magical!!! Lincoln woke up in such a happy mood (who wouldn't...it's Christmas). He was so excited to see all the presents. I thought he'd go crazy and want to start opening up presents. I thought we'd have melt downs. And I thought we'd have time outs. But nope! Lincoln loved opening up the presents. We'd tell him to go to the tree and choose a gift. He'd bring it back to Kev and Kev would tell him who it was for.
My favorite are stocking stuffers. I love them. And Kev does such a good job every year. Swedish berries, mascara, dental floss, travel toothpaste and toothbrushes, polident (for my invisaligns-I thought it was a joke at first), scratch and wins, shaving cream, razors, face cream, gum, chocolate bars and deodorant! Doing the boys stocking this year was fun: toothpaste, toothbrushes, socks, candy (kid friendly stuff), sippy cups, bubble bath, band aids, knick knacks...you name they got it! I loved watching Linc open his presents! He'd get so excited and watching his sweet little face warmed my heart!
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| Kev absolutely loves new socks...seriously! |
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| The after math! |
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| Best kitchen ever! |
Kevin always spoils me. Every year we set a budget and he always goes over. And I appreciate it! This year my last gift I opened contained bullets. I wasn't impressed. He told me we needed a hobby together. Shooting guns with my hubby isn't my idea of a fun hobby! But behind the bullets was a crap load of cash. I cried. He told me it was money for me to go and decorate our new place. Awww I love that guy! And not because he had given me cash...I mean I love money but I certainly know that money doesn't buy happiness and that wasn't his intention. And I know he wasn't trying to buy my happiness. I know he does things like this because he loves surprising me. And he knows I want to get new things for the house. I know he appreciates me and all the things I do around the house. Needless to say this gift was a pleasant surprise and VERY much appreciated. Thank you Kev:-)
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| I love that Kevin felt the need to keep the fire extinguisher handy while he was cooking breakfast! |
Later that afternoon we headed to my parents where the kids got spoiled (and so did we)! We devoured a delicious turkey dinner with all the fixings (oh I love turkey dinner). Enjoyed some family time and called it a night!
And amongst all the gifts and presents and unwrapping I didn't fail to remember the true meaning of Christmas. I couldn't help but think those 5 little children we bought gifts for and I hoped and prayed they had a magical Christmas! I am grateful and blessed. Very blessed. We spoiled our kids but I want them to know it's not about the presents. It's about Jesus and his birth and his time on earth. It's about family and friends and being together. It's about being thankful for our health and for the time we get to spend together. It's about helping others in need. It's about love, and sharing, and giving back. It's important for my boys to know that. Christmas is not about toys. It's about the gift of Jesus and that's the most important gift of all. I never want the true meaning of Christmas to get lost.
"I should have listened to more Christmas music"
"I should have put the tree up sooner"
"I wish Christmas would last longer"
"I should have said Merry Christmas more"
"I should have spent more time admiring the Christmas tree"
"I should have put up more decorations"
"I should have drank more egg nog"
I should have, I should have I should have...but I know I enjoyed Christmas to the best of my ability. Christmas never last long enough. And the anticipation for next year has started back up again. I can't wait for Christmas!
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