Cabin FEVER!

Is anyone else out there feeling like they are beginning to lose their minds?? Maybe it's just me, but I am tired of being inside all the time with not much to do. My little boy especially needs to run and play and spend some time with someone else besides his lovely mother :). I'm looking into a couple of things - MOPS, gymnastics, play groups - anything that gets us out of the house! I'm realizing as Dylan gets older that he needs to spend more time with kids his own age. If you have a 3-year-old, CALL ME!

We also made the exciting decision to sign Dylan up for preschool next year. Originally, I was thinking he wouldn't start preschool until he was 4, almost 5, and then do Kindergarten and so on, but it's become apparent that we both need a break from each other [see above]. We found a really great preschool in Grandville, Maple Tree Preschool, and we went to the open house last night and registered him. He's going to go two mornings a week and it will be nice because the preschool is on the way to work for Matt, so he can drop Dylan off on his way. After next year, he will probably do Pre-K and then Kindergarten the following year. It's a little tricky with these fall birthdays because we want them to start school a little on the older side, even though they may be ready for some social interaction/learning when they are younger. I think this will be a good compromise for us. We just have to get him potty trained before fall!! (Thank goodness for Pull Ups :))

Potty Training CANCELLED [Until Further Notice]

Potty Training, Day 8

It has been a looooooonnngg day. I decided to stay home all day today and really concentrate on the potty thing (we took a few days off out of sheer frustration). We actually made some progress today and Dylan peed SIX times on the potty today. I know that's more information than any of you asked for, but it's where I'm at right now :). It's the end of the day, I'm completely exhausted, and I'm wondering how to do this all over again tomorrow (and the next day, and the next...)

a dress for Ella

I finally found an adorable dress for Ella for the wedding at a reasonable price. Gymboree just came out with their special occasion line for the year and this dress is just what I was looking for and less than $40! I also picked up some shoes at Target for her for $9.99. At least she will be cute now when she refuses to walk down the aisle (j/k...I would guess she has a better chance of making it down than Dylan does :)).

Build-A-Bear

The kids had gift cards for Build-A-Bear from Christmas, so we went last night and survived our first Build-A-Bear experience. Dylan made a Guitar Hero playing Tiger baseball bear (kind of like Joel Zumaya) and Ella made a soft cuddly Bella Bear.





Afterwards, the kids played at the treehouse and Dylan had the best time playing with this little girl he met there. They went down the slide together once as a coincidence and from then on they went down it together over and over again laughing hysterically. It was fun to watch that kind of joy!

3 months to go!

I'm looking for a flower girl dress for Ella for Brett and Kara's wedding...does anyone have any ideas of where to look? Kara would like it to either be white that we could add a ribbon to (the bridesmaid dresses are kind of a pool blue) or the pool blue itself, but that might be harder to match. There is also another flower girl and her dress is white and tulle-y with a blue ribbon and some blue sparkles on the skirt (however, Kara doesn't want them to match).

This will be quite the wedding extravanga for our little family because all four of us are in the wedding...I've already told my parents I need their services that entire day! I'm mostly thinking about how we're going to get the kids to walk down the aisle and then they will probably need to be whisked away since I don't really see either of them sitting through the entire wedding (and neither Matt or I will be in a good position if a meltdown happens). I'm excited and honoered that we can all be a part of their special day, it's just going to take some logistical planning on my part!

I also keep thinking that we have some time before all this happens, but I keep remembering we only have three months! Kara is furiously planning, although if anyone has ideas about reception halls (they want to be able to bring in their own caterer), photographers (artsy, fun and not too expensive), or flowers (anyone ever do them themselves??), please pass that info along!

Pictures from the Vay-Cay.

Potty Training, Day 1

Yesterday was potty training kick-off day for Dylan (we have had some other ill-fated attempts in the past, but now we're SERIOUS*). So far, Dylan has peed in a diaper, in a pull-up, in one of those fancy pull-ups that get cold when they get wet, on his pajamas, in his underwear, and on the floor, but not so much in his potty.

Our main strategy is to fill him up with liquids until his eyeballs float and then let him run around naked until SOMETHING happens (most of you will probably never look at our furniture/carpet the same after hearing that) coupled with a lot of encouragment/bribes/desperation. At first, I wasn't sure if he knew what the "need to go the bathroom" sensation felt like, but now I'm pretty sure he does since he apparently has enough control to pee everywhere BUT the toilet.

Stay tuned...Day 2 coming soon...



*no more moving/ birthday/ Thanksgiving/ Christmas/ vacation/ absolutely no signs of readiness excuses

Engaged!

Right before we left for vacation, we got the big news that we are getting a new sister-in-law! Brett and Kara are engaged and planning an April wedding. The time table is sped up some because he will be deployed again later next year. I don't have all the details yet, but I'm working on it now that I'm home again! Congratulations, you two!

currently reading:

I got this book for Christmas and I've been reading a few chapters every night before bed. It's a book about nothing and about everything, all at the same time, about embracing the little things in life and finding God at every turn. Shauna and her husband Aaron both worked at and attended our church (Aaron was the worship leader), and I got used to seeing them around. Now that they're no longer there, I realize how much I miss them.


My friend Katie told me about this cookbook and brought some amazing muffins made from a recipes in this book over on New Year's Eve. The idea behind this book is that you make fruit and vegetable purees and "hide" them in your kids' food. They're eating things they like and you're making sure they get their vegetables and everyone is happy (or so the author, Jessica Seinfeld - yes, Jerry's wife - says). It's involves a little more planning, but I'm going to give it a shot.

Bullet Points (because sometimes it's just easier this way)

• Matt and I have joined a gym...he's a pretty regular runner these days but I am most definitely not and it's about time that I start getting some regular exercise (no more I'm pregnant/I have a newborn excuses available). We discovered that we could join Fitness 19 where Matt's grandma goes if we signed up under her for the low price of $5/month each. It's hard to pass that deal up. Plus, if Matt's 70-something year old grandma can find time/energy to exercise, I guess I can too!
• We rang in the New Year with our friends Katie, Ernie, and Xavier McCallum...they came to our house and we made humungous homemade stromboli, watched the kids run around, and then the girls watched a Jon & Kate Plus Eight marathon while the guys worked on their Guitar Hero skills. We finally got all three kids in bed and then played Trivial Pursuit and watched the ball drop. The fun wasn't over then though because the McCallums spent the night and we made a New Year's breakfast in the morning.
• I now own a pair of snowboots for the first time since about the 8th grade and I couldn't be happier. I've been trying to take the kids outside more this winter and I was tired of having freezing feet. I'm thinking I should invest in some snow pants next...
• We are leaving for the Bahamas with my family on Saturday. Only 2 1/2 more days to get the pile of stuff accumulating in our guest room into suitcases.

Princess Bella Bonks

We have known for a while that Ella has a funny little personality, but other people seem to be just catching on that she is NUTS. Two (illustrated) examples:

At Matt's parents' house on Sunday night, she first emptied their dish towel drawer and then climbed in (head first)...





Last night, our friends Katie and Ernie and their little guys Xavier were over for New Year's Eve and we were finishing up dinner. The kids were playing very quietly so we were starting to get worried. We looked up to see Dylan pushing Ella across the floor in her shopping cart...




Our best guess is that Ella climbed into the cart on her own, and Dylan decided just to go with it.