Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Mexico?! Really!

In just 6 short weeks, my hubby and I will be staying here....KIDFREE AND WORKFREE!!


We are taking a vacation to Puerto Vallarta Mexico.  When I originally mentioned taking a vacation for our anniversary, I was thinking a nice bed and breakfast on the north shore.  My hubby said, "No- we are going to Mexico!!"  I about fell over!  I still can't believe it and feel like I'm dreaming.  The trip was officially booked today.  In just 6 weeks, this little dream is going to be a reality!  AND I've only had anxiety over leaving the kids a 1/2 a dozen times! They will be staying with gramma and grampa and I know they will be fine.  I'm just going to miss them like crazy.

Friday, October 19, 2012

It's a Potty Kinda Day!

YES!  My little peanut Chloe sat on her big girl potty and actually peed!  I can't even believe it!  The best part was seeing her run out clapping and then hearing her BIG bro say, "Good Job Chloey! I'm sooo proud of you!!  Such an encouraging big bro!  I love it!  AND I love hearing his sweet little voice just loving up his sister!  I also love seeing ALL of us- yes, daddy was home this morning too- doing the happy potty dance!  Man my kids have some pretty awesome dance moves!  I love it!  These are the days I always want to remember!  Everyone in the house was excited this morning, which is on rare occasion.  Beau is usually THE biggest crab ever!  But not this morning- thanks to his little sis!!

Chloe has for the most part always squated when she pees and poops.  She also generally wakes up around 11pm because she has wet herself.  I'm praying we are on the road to early and easy potty training.  Of course if it doesn't work out that way, I'm okay with it.  This is just one of those days that I want to remember and journal about!

PS- she also went when we got home from grammy's house!  yay for my sweet little peanut!  She can't talk but man that girl has dance moves!

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Why I love Fall....

These are just a few of the reasons I love fall (other than leaves changing, autumn scentsy warming, pumpkin pie and muffins, trail mix and pumpkin patches.)  These are the biggest reasons:


These little mini-me's make it so much more fun....These are the days and moments I want to always remember.

Happy Fall Ya'll!

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Baby's FIRST Hair Cut

Okay. So I gave in.  Chloe got her first haircut today.  When I woke up to this: (the little scratch on her cheek just adds that much more) (Love those brownies!!)


And this:


 I felt it was time.  It was looking like a rat's nest.  So, off to get a haircut we went....

Here she is waiting with me:


She sat so good!  I couldn't believe it!  Just looked around a little and let the gal cut away. 

Isn't she sweet?! 

So...her hair looks 10x better!  I can't believe how much bigger she looks with it cut!  Makes me sad!  She's still my baby though and is still ridiculously cute!

Haircut Place: Cost Cutters Grand Rapids MN
Stylest Name: Tera
Time of Day: Noon- during nap time and she was sooo good!
Cost: $10
Age: 15 Months Exactly!

Friday, October 5, 2012

Swimming-0 Beau-1

We've decided to no longer be in swimming.  A few weeks ago while at swimming, the instructor took beau's floaty devices away, leaving him to swim with only the guidance and help from his instructor.  There were a few times he struggled while swimming across the short end of the pool.  Water was up to his chin.  He finished swimming the distance and told the instructor he had to go potty (props for not peeing in the pool!).  I came over to get him and asked him if he was okay.  He told me he didn't have to go potty, rather he wasn't going back in the water.  I took him to the bathroom and he told me again 'there was no way he was going back there.'  Well, we went back and he entered the water for a few more minutes and then we left. We got home and I couldn't help but feel bad. 

On Monday of this week, he asked me if he had to go back to swimming.  I told him we would try it again and I would talk to his instructor and ask that they keep the floatys on him.  He was okay with this.  Wednesday came and well, he didn't make it into the pool.  We arrived and he told me he wanted to just watch.  So we watched.  He started feeling more comfortable and said he wanted to go in.  We walked over, grabbed a noodle and a floaty belt.  He was already to get in.  Then....changed his mind.  So we left.

We left and he told me he was afraid.  Again I felt bad for him.  I don't want swimming to leave a bad taste in his mouth.  I was disappointed the instructor never told him why she took his flotation devices away from him.  The reason she took them away was because she felt he was ready to move forward without them.  This would have been huge for him and would have reassured him that he is a GREAT swimmer.  Instead what beau saw was other kids with them and he was left without them.  This is huge for a 3 year old.  3 year olds want to do what their friends are doing.

I couldn't help but ask myself if I pushed him with too many things...a new school, AWANA and swimming.  This is A LOT, a lot for anyone. A friend reassured me today that sometimes it's okay to push your child.  There will be things they grab a hold of and times they'll simply tell you they don't want to do something.  I respect the fact that he isn't going to be in swimming and that my 3 year old son told me he was afraid and didn't want to be in it anymore.  I respected him enough to not push him.  His opinions and feelings matter.  I would have felt the same way he did....As parents, we pick our battles. In my opinion, this was not a battle to pick.  I would not like someone pushing me to do something I didn't want to do or feel comfortable.  So parents, communicate with your child- even if they are only 3.  They are important people too.

So, here's to hoping that swimming will be eventually be a positive experience for him.  He loved the first class he was in and loved to swim this past summer.  I'm hoping this too shall pass.  And yes, I will be contacting the Y to give my food for thought.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Life as we know it....

There have been a few huge things that have happened in our house the past month:

a) Chuck and I became members of our church West Cohasset Chapel (WCC).  On Sept 23rd 2012 we gave our personal testimonies to our congregation following service.  It was very moving to hear the testimonies and to see how our Father has touched all of us in different ways.  Our journey started last November when we began the 'basics' class.  We couldn't be happier to be part of WCC.

b) We now have a preschooler!  This little man was pretty excited to start his first day of preschool. 




He will be in school 2 days a week, Mon and Tues from 8-3. He was most excited about getting to ride the school bus, which he didn't actually get to ride until the 2nd week.  The bus will pick him up and drive him about 5 blocks (with his teacher on it) to his daycare providers house.  Even though he is only going a short distance, I had to think about it.  I guess it is every kids dream to ride the school bus.  It was sweet seeing him stand with his friends holding hands while waiting for the bus....  Yup, I left with tears.

Some of my favorite beauism...
  1.  "Just joking!  I was just teasing...."
  2. Wearing his little deer hat...cutest when it's on backwards.
  3. Sleeping in his undies, just like daddy.
  4. 'Oh Man!'
  5. Telling knock knock jokes.
  6. Star of the day at school on Sept 25th 2012.
  7. Funny faces and giggles
  8. Chocolate Milk!
  9. Mom are these on the right feet? 
  10. Mom, I think if I ate buddy he would taste like chicken on the grill!
  11. Climbing up mounts of dirt and saying nobody will catch me up here!
  12. Pum over here...(Doesn't say come very well)
  13. My feet are too sweaty to sleep with my slippers so I'll just cuddle them right up.
Beau recently saved and saved for his vtech camera and earned stickers for good behavior.  He also started swimming at the Y and AWANA at church.  He's learning so much already in his little 3 yr old brain.  He amazes me with the questions he comes up with: "There's only one God right mom?" "Did God make this or that?" He will sing "Jesus you are stronger, higher than any other...." not word for word of course but I love hearing his sweet voice singing and especially love hearing him come into Chloe's room to sing 'twinkle twinkle little star'.... or 'rock abye baby on the treetime...' (love that treetime...)

Beau is also becoming quite the big boy too.  He's feet are a size 11 and he wears a size 5 in jeans/pants and shirts.  I can't believe our boy is getting this big already. 

He's all boy, through and through.  He loves to ride his bike, play in the sandbox, ride his john deere, carry sticks, wear his rubber boats everywhere, get dirty, run, play super heros and play with swords.....yup that's my boy.  He even asked santa to bring him a work belt already.

c) Chloe now sits in a forward facing car seat!  This is a whole new world for her!  The first day I kept looking back at her in her big girl carseat and she was just a smiling away with her big brownies looking at me.  Recently I've been putting her hair in a little pony on the top of her head or to the side.  She really needs her hair cut but her little hair is so fine and thin and well, she's my baby and I don't want to cut it! 
She's a pro at pointing to what she wants and running and getting into everything or climbing...yes, she's a climber.  Worse then beau ever was.  Last week we lost a phone due to chloe throwing it so we were out of phones for a few days. She also loves to cover her baby with a blanket and make sure she's all snuggled in.  She has 2 of the same dolly because she loves it so much I had to get a 2nd one as a replacement when one is being washed.  She loves beau's trucks and climbing all over the kitchen chairs.  Don't set any drinks down on the end table and if you do, make sure you set them back far enough.  She grabs everything and our carpet has become very stained.  She doesn't like wearing socks or shoes and she only has 1 pair of shoes that fit her.  Well sort of.  Her right shoe constantly falls off.  As much as she doesn't like to wear her own shoes, she loves to wear other people's shoes and is constantly putting shoes on while walking around the house.  Usually only one at a time.  It's priceless. 
She's almost 15 months and can still get a way with some 12 mos clothing.  Her shoe is a size 4. She loves to giggle and snuggle up to her puppies when they are laying down.  She loves her daddy and says 'dada' when she wakes up in the morning.

This past week, Chloe was tested for allergies.  A rash appeared Labor Day weekend and we have not been able to get rid of it.  It's fadded some after taking her off of all dairy but there is still traces of a rash.  We will know the results this week and pray this is the answer.  Her iron was low so she's now on a vitamin 'fortified' with iron.  We'll see how that goes.





d) Chuck's been working on a huge job in Crane Lake.  He's been gone for going on 3 weeks.  When he is gone, oh how I miss him.  And appreciate him.  I feel so very blessed to have a man that helps me with the kids and with things around the house.  There is just something that is very comforting when your hubby is home too.  Just being in the same room as him...know what I mean?

e) As for me....I'm just trying to enjoy these days with my kids.  They amaze me everyday and I'm just enjoying the ups and downs of motherhood and all the memories that come with it.

Enjoy the ride, for this life is just a glimpse of what awaits us!