Adventures in Potty Training- Part Deux

A year ago, the thought of having two kids out of diapers was inconceivable. Today we are firmly marching into the realm of possibility.

Alexa has always been vocal about her dislike for poopy pants yet almost 2 months ago she'd usually walk, or toddel, straight to her room afterwards calling out "poopy" until we changed her diaper.

About the same time, she became very interested in taking her brothers lead and literally follow him to the bathroom when he must go. We pulled out his old IKEA potty seat for her to play on.

She's asked a few times this last week to sit on Nicholas' seat on the toilet but we don't think she's used it. Maybe she has but last night we obtained proof that she went peepee on the potty!

It was just before bathtime and I had her nudie patutie b/c she expressed interest in sitting on the potty. She had been on and off numerous times and I thought she was playing. I hadn't realized she'd done anything until she started poking at her pee! I think she was just as surprised to see it there as we were.

It will still be a long road but the thought of not having to put a diaper under her adorable tutu cute swimsuit by Kate Mack or Ralph Lauren tankini is really exciting!

Happy New Year!

I'm old. I've hit the age/point in my life where I cannot stay up until midnight to ring in the new year. I wasn't even disappointed. How sad is that?!

Jim and I had plans for a nice dinner after the kids went to bed and then possibly play a cutthroat game of Scrabble. Turns out we had leftover pasta and meatballs out of our freezer and didn't play our game of Scrabble until two nights later.

I did come up with some New Year's resolutions, although maybe I should call them New Year's hopes. This year I'm hoping to find a house and run a half marathon. Two is about all I can handle right now.

So now I'm back at work after 12 days off and starting my Adult Team Racing tonight. Let's hope we have as good of a season as we did last year.

Merry Christmas!

December Review in January, Part I

How in the world is it January already? Since I obviously have not been good about posting I'm going to do a big review of our December.

Since I never got to do fun things when I was a kid (hehe), I tried to make an effort to enjoy the Christmas season as much as possible. This year we started (hopefully) a couple new family traditions. Our first being building a Gingerbread house.

As much as I love homemade gingerbread I decided to purchase a kit this year considering Nicholas' age. What do you think his favorite part of building the house was? Let me give you a couple hints in the form of pictures...

It was also extremely difficult to keep his hands off the candy which was intended to decorate the house. Both during the construction process and afterwards. I should show you a picture of the house now! Ha!

As I mentioned previously, the Elf on a Shelf visited us this year. He loved popping up all around the house and the kids couldn't wait to try to find him every day. Even Alexa got in on the search.

Rudolph worked like a charm this December. Nicholas was very aware of the Elf at all times and would make sure Rudolph was not in the line of sight when he was misbehaving and would ask me repeatedly to "don't tell the Elf".

Here are a few of Rudolph's 'hiding' places. Some subtle, and some not so subtle.

I hope Rudolph comes back next Christmas. When is it too early to ask Santa to send him along?

A New Holiday Tradition

You probably don't remember but last December I mentioned being turned on to a New Holiday Tradition called the Elf on the Shelf. You have got to check on this photographer's post about the antics their Elf Twink got into last year. I could not wait until Santa sent Nicholas his own elf.

Nicholas' Elf arrived yesterday. Nicholas wasn't quite sure what to make of the package or the elf.
Even after reading the story, he didn't seem too interested. Despite the apparent lack of interest, Nicholas named him Rudolph (we've been reading a lot of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer lately, and the abominal snow monster has been on his mind) and Nicholas seemed to forget about him.

It wasn't until this morning when Rudolph showed up perched in a vase on our window sill that Nicholas started to show some interest. He than became very intrigued tonight while on the phone with Grandma. While on the phone I was moving Rudolph so that I wouldn't forget before bed. Of course, Nicholas took that inopportune time to come down stairs for an extra hug before bed. Somehow Nicholas got on topic of Rudolph and looked over to his perch on the window sill. But uh oh... he was gone!

We quickly covered up his absence by saying Rudolph must have been on his way back to Santa already and that we'll see him again tomorrow. Apparently Nicholas was still a bit unsure of how the elf worked because after getting into bed he started crying. He said, " I don't want to go." The poor kid thought he was going to the North Pole with Rudolph tonight! Hopefully, after finding Rudolph in his new hiding spot tomorrow all his fears will disappear.

Wondering where Rudolph will appear next? We'll see. Here's a hint.

Now we just have to make sure Rudolph knows we're heading to the Cape this weekend.

Lesson learned

Mom has told me on many occaisions, that girls are more 'dangerous' when they are quiet. Here's my lesson learned.

Aunt Patty and Uncle Bob came over for leftovers on Saturday. Mom, Aunt Patty and I were sitting at the dining room table and chatting. Something catches my eye from the kitchen and I see this.
And then Alexa strolls in...

I can read her mind. She's saying, "yeah, so? You leave me alone and this is what you get."

And just to finish off the story, she did clear the entire roll.

Thanksgiving

What does Thanksgiving mean to me? My favorite meal, lounging on the sofa, and shopping. I couldn't wait until Friday to get my deals. I headed to the Cape on Tues with the kids to get in some shopping at my favorite church thrift stores. As luck would have it, two of them were having 50% off sales. $0.50 for a pair of Baby Gap slim dark wash jeans for Nicholas. Yes, thank you! My favorite find...a Lands End Squall toddler girls coat in excellent used condition for $2! That just might be my deal of the century.

Because of the constant rain there was a lot of lounging on the sofa. Lots of Curious George and Disney/Pixar's Cars when the kids were awake and multiple viewings of the most recent Star Trek movie when the kids were sleeping.

And of course the food. I think we'll be eating turkey leftovers, which are now frozen, for months to come. I'm sure even after the next turkey is cooked at Christmas.

What better way to spend Thanksgiving than sitting on the sofa, watching football with a beer or speckucken in hand.

Looks like the apple didn't fall far from this tree.

Yummy dinner with the fam.

Despite all the good food available they unfortunately were only interested in the cranberry sauce and corn muffins.

Who do you think she looks like?


Sassy.

Alexa enjoying a speckucken. She doesn't bother with the roll, she just digs into the filling with her fork. Smart girl.