Big Girl Bed

A few weeks ago, when Addie was sick with the high fevers, Al pulled out the futon that's in her room, to sleep on with her. She LOVED the futon and asked to sleep on it whenever sleep was required of her. We thought it was a pretty good transition bed- low to the ground, the arms act as guardrails, and she already loves it.

I took away her converted crib- unconverted it and gave it to Alden, and promptly sold his crib.

We practiced with the futon for a few weeks, to make sure she wouldn't change her mind or fall out of it all the time. She has done marvelously!! She loves the futon and she even tells random strangers, "I'm a big girl. I sleep on a FUTON!"

Today, the bedding I ordered for her arrived. I was able to put it all together while she played downstairs before church. When we came home, I surprised her with it. She LOVED it- as I think you can see in the pictures. I still need to take down the quilt off the wall from her crib bedding. Then I need to find some sort of art to go on the wall to fill that big void....

I can't believe my little girl's a Big Girl!! Next thing you know she'll be going off to school! Oh wait! That's happening on Tuesday!!

Anyone know someone who wants Glenna Jean's Maggie's Garden nursery bedding?

Hugging her new bedding.

She is SO excited to have such fun bedding!!

She looks SO tiny here!!

Addie and all her "friends" necessary to nap

The finishing touch- a hot pink Princess nigh light- she picked it out herself!

The Business Brigade

Recently a friend told me that it was recommended to potty train boys at 18 months. At this age they are still Mommy-Pleasers. I thought I would give it a try....

Day 1

After breakfast, put Alden on The Big Potty Chair when I hear him grunting.... He does #1 and #2!! We were both shocked and thrilled!! He kept looking into the PC saying "Yuck! Yuck!"

He LOVED the DumDum he got as a reward. He even shared it with me- smearing it on my jeans....

We try a few more times that day, but he did nothing- oh well. He does enjoy sitting on the PC!

Day 2

After breakfast, attempted to put Alden on Addie's little potty. No dice. I left him naked upstairs (I thought watching a Veggie Tale video would help him be happy sitting still). I brought upstairs the PC only to discover that Addie had peed in it already. In the 5 seconds it took to empty the bowl of Potty Chair, Alden peed ALL over the Potty Chair- looking VERY proud of himself. I cleaned it up, while trying to be encouraging about peeing near the potty- but also pointing out that he needs to pee IN the potty.... He sat for 30 min on the Potty Chair- nothing.

I took him off the PC and within 5 min, he filled his diaper with #2. He smiled really big and told me "Yuck! Yuck!" pointing to his diaper.

Sigh..... We will revist this when it's warmer and he can walk around naked. Hopefully he'll also learn a few more words- communication with a word other then "yuck" would be helpful!!

Happy Boy- DumDum in mouth and down arm. He was thrilled to actually be allowed to touch the TP!!

Here is my Business Brigade.... Addie was trying to be a good leader and show Alden how it's done.... So cute!!

SNOW!!!!

Finally, after many failed predictions, we had a beautiful snowfall!! It was only 2-3", but it was enough to out and play in!!

All bundled up! I love that we have both ends of the spectrum being expressed!


Alden wasn't sure of the snow- he didn't move from this spot where I placed him. I honestly think it was his boots- he's not a fan of them....

Addie LOVED it! She thought it was hysterical that the snow stuck to her mittens!

Working on making our Snow Midget

Our Snow Midget- there was a carrot nose, but it kept falling out....

Attempt at getting a picture of us and our Snow Midget....

Catching snowflakes with her amazingly long tongue!

Mommy trying to get Alden to catch a snowflake.... He wasn't buying it.

Warming-up inside by riding "horses" (aka dusters)

My Man can multi-task- ride his horse AND play the piano!

Indoor Fun

The weather has been cold, so we've been keeping ourselves entertained indoors. Here are a few pics of what we've been doing!

Making arts and crafts

Learning to use the glue stick

Pretty as a Princess

Mr. Chef- Mr. Cool

The men setting-up the new dryer

Addie Funnies

This past week, Addie and Alden have been pretty pathetic with a nasty virus- high fevers. As sicknesses go, I'll gladly take this- no bodily fluids are involved! Alden was just a lump when his Motrin wore, off, but mostly he just moved at a slower pace. Not the case with Addie.... She needed to snuggle- which I gladly did since she's never been a snuggler. And since Addie was pretty pathetic, I allowed her to watch TV and DVD's. Honestly, she probably watched more TV in this last week then she has in her entire life! Thank goodness for Cable and a pretty vast DVD collect! Here are a few of her funny observations:

Addie: Oh, Mommy, look! A 'mercial (commercial) 'bout Baby Dezus ( Jesus)!
This is said about any commercial that has a baby in it- vacuuming, baby food, carpet, etc.

Addie: Oh, how funny! Look, Mommy, somebodies Mommy is a teddy bear (said with total awe in her voice). Please, Mommy, can you please be my Teddy Bear?

She has become a total fan of Jon and Kate Plus 8. She often requests, "Please, Mommy, I wanna watch the boys and girls!" Thankfully during this illness, TLC was playing marathons of that show just about every day!!

Addie has been learning how to not whine and it's been a bit of a struggle lately. Once again, TV to the rescue. I turned on Nanny 911 when the info said that it was about a family struggling with a whining and tantrumy 5 yr old. Addie got to see what whining looks like, and here are her thoughts:

Addie: Mommy, that girl 'noying (annoying). Her not make her Mommy and Daddy happy. Her not be my friend.
Me: Why would you not be this little girls friend?
Addie: Her whining. It makes her ugly but God made her beautiful. I don't like whining.
Guess me telling her that God made her beautiful has sunk in! And it looks like, just maybe, she's starting to get how unattractive whining is!! Now, over 5 days later, she comments that she doesn't want to whine like that girl on TV. She wants to be beautiful! Yay!!

Inaurguration

Today is a big day in our country- we are getting a new president. Regardless of my beliefs about him, he is now our President. I wanted the kids to see this, even if they didn't remember it.

Here is a 3 yr-olds perspective of all the pomp and circumstance:

Addie kept asking if someone was getting married....Why else would everyone be all dressed up?

She wondered where the floats were for the parade (not a bad idea though...)

While watching the events, she decided that Mr. President (Barak) needed some peanuts, so that is what she made him- the PlayDoh version. She is under the impression that I'm going to mail them to him....

She now wants the camera the Obama girls have- at least it shows she was paying attention!

A 17 month-old perspective-

What's that? What's that? - he had questions about everything....

Ohhhhhh! - he LOVED the cannons going off- he even cheered!

Addie watching and making PlayDoh creations

Her long line of "peanuts" for Mr. President

I swear they were watching- at the moment though, Mr. Pig is more interesting....

Sick Days

Our trip to Richmond was fantastic. Hopefully the only thing we left behind are happy memories- but I have a feeling that is not the case.... Sunday night, at 10pm, with only 2 minuets left in the football game, Addie woke-up, screaming with a fever of 101. Alden then woke-up at 6am with a 101 fever. They were both sad, pathetic, wilted flowers- until the Motrin kicked in- and then they were still clingy, but at least capable of of moments that were full of vim and vigor!! Of course, this is the 1 Monday a month that Al has to work in the morning! Thankfully I teach homeschoolers, so they weren't too bothered by the extra noise in the background as I taught. Overall, the kids were very good- and Alden took a nice long nap for 1 class, and then Addie actually fell asleep in my lap for 30 min while I was teaching. Guess I AM that boring....

After teaching, we had a "picnic" in my room as a fun reward. They loved it! Of course they tag-teamed the napping, so I was holding a kid just about every minute yesterday. I love the fact that they want to snuggle when they feel especially yucky (ie when the Motrin has run out and the fever spikes again). My kids were never snugglers- Alden is a hugger, but not a snuggler. Not the best for trying to get laundry folded, floors vacuumed, dishes washed- oh well. I'll take this time to be just with my kids- the dirty-ness is, and did, wait for me!!

So, we will be stuck home for the next few days as this runs it course. Not too bad considering it's really the first illness we've had this season!! I just hope they are well enough to go to Anna's birthday party this week!!

Yummy picnic of cheese & crackers, raisins, and chocolate milk!

Alden digging in!

My Motrined-up girl!

My snuggle-bunny- see what a difference Motrin makes!