Just Because

Just because I haven't posted in a few days, thought I'd upload a few new pics. Nothing too exciting, but neither is our life these days! :) Lots of staying inside b/c the weather is so.frickin.hot. I am ready for Fall (and for MDO to be back in session!!)

Here's our BFF Mal Mal, who is out of town for 2 wks. Sadness.

First time at Publix in the buggy together. They had a ball (though Abby doesn't show it here!)

Happy-go-lucky girl

Roly Poly, Chompers, and a Potty Update

This is going to be a random post.

Something has happened to Abby - she has been a WILD ONE this weekend!! Greg and I spent most of Saturday afternoon just watching her play on the living room floor. I don't even know how many times she rolled from one side of the room to the other. And let me tell you....this girl is a smart one. She had to make her way around many obstacles - Nate, his toys, the coffee table, couch, etc. She didn't let anything stop her! She is definitely entering a new stage, a very ACTIVE one. We have caught her numerous times on the video monitor in the past week, moving around in her crib ... flipping on her belly, scooting around and ending up at the foot of the crib, etc. It is fun to see what position she's in after naptimes and in the morning! We even put her on all fours yesterday to see what she'd do. She loved it a few times, but then the faceplants got old (though we thought they were hilarious - is that wrong!?)Greg helped me finally get a pic of her two new chompers. They are so cute! She is definitely having a hard time with teething though...very fussy and constantly drooling or gnawing on something. This is going to be a looooong process.And as for Nate's potty update - he is doing great!! Mommy's 2 week "potty boot camp" is finally over and I am happy to report that he did wonderful. I think he OD'ed on M&M's though...check out this chart. Each little sticker = 2 M&M's and a big sticker (poop) = 5 M&M's. Yes, his teeth are probably rotting after these 2 wks!
But we did venture out some this past week, and he went potty (#1) a few times in public, without any problem. Climbed up on the big potty like he's been doing it all his life. I was so impressed! We still have some work to do with #2....he is still very hesitant to say the least. We will get there though. And since he finished boot camp, we promised him another reward. Last week was Chuck-E-Cheese and this week...Woody & Jessie from Toy Story!!! My advice to those who want to potty-train their kid: BRIBES WORK.

Cheeks

On the left: Nate at 7 months
On the right: Abby at 8 months

Seeing these pictures side by side makes me realize two things:
1. My kids look more alike than I thought (and DAMN are they cute!)
2. It's about time for Greg to get a new Titans hat

Last Comic Standing

As any mom of an (almost) 3 year old will tell you, everything that comes out of Nate's mouth these days is hilarious!!! I wanted to write a few of my favorite sayings down before I forget them...

1. There's something wrong with me, Mommy!
2. I have a question.
3. Sorry Mommy, just telling a joke.
4. I tell you later.
5. Mommy, don't look!
6. Oops, just a little fart.
7. You a hot momma!
8. Ooh ooh I got a idea!
9. Just betending, Mommy.
10. Take your boobies out! (He says this everyday as I'm closing his door for naptime - not sure why - I think it started back when I'd nurse Abby after I put him down for a nap....weird I know!)

I love my little comedian!! I can always count on him (and his Daddy) for a laugh, everyday, no matter what kind of mood I'm in.

Potty Time

I started potty training Nate last Monday and he has done AWESOME all week! A few accidents early on, but he caught on MUCH faster than I thought he would - recognizing the feeling of having to go pee, etc. Going #2 has been more of a struggle so far, but has done that in the potty a few times too!!!!

He & I went on a special shopping trip last Sunday, to pick out all of our supplies: 2 potty seats, lots of big boy underwear & tshirts, a peepad for his bed, treat jar, m&m's, and "magic juice"

Here he is, Monday morning, wearing his last diaper EVER and about to put on big boy underwear for the first time. Buzz Lightyear - To Infinity & Beyond!!!

We read MANY MANY MANY books on the potty the first two days

Overall, I am SO proud of my boy. He picked it up so quick and hasn't had an accident in days. I really think going "cold turkey" is the way to go...we didn't leave the house for 5 days, and he only wore an undershirt and "boxgers" as he calls them. He learned quickly that it did not feel good to have pee running down his leg! :) Thank you to Mittye and all my friends who gave such wonderful advice. It takes a village!

Greg & I rewarded our big boy with a trip to Chuck-E-Cheese yesterday. He had fun running around playing all the games, and even Abby got in on the action for the first time!

Whack-a-mole

Abby liked the Bob the Builder ride

And the slide!

I'm not sure this is how you're supposed to play skee-ball...

He had 50 tickets and got a lot of loot at the end of the visit!

Going to Chuck-E-Cheese was Nate's first time out in public since we started potty training. We didn't know if he would use the restroom there, have an accident, or what. We were prepared for the worst. He definitely had to "go" but refused to use the potty there and managed to hold it until we got home. I know it will just take him time to get used to peeing out in public. Regardless, we are so proud of him and this big accomplishment!!

And - funny thing - every time I use the potty now, he asks if I want a sticker & 2 M&M's like he gets :)

Eight is Great!

Baby Girl is 8 MONTHS OLD today! Gotta love that mohawk and big grin! Seriously, we get so many comments on her crazy hair. So to answer them: 1. No, we do not fix it like that - it will just not lay down unless we wet it and give her a comb-over. Not happening. 2. No, we do not know where the strawberry blonde tint came from. Though, she is getting more & more blonde everyday. Hopefully she'll be an adorable towhead like her Daddy! 3. Yes, the reason it sticks up is b/c of Greg...apparently his did that as a kid, and still does to this day if he gets his hair cut too short. So, there is hope for Abby! Her hair just needs to grow out more!

The best part of my day is going to get her in the morning...she is usually already awake, but is happily babbling or chewing on her blankie. As soon as she sees me, she gets a BIG grin and starts to arch her back and kick her legs in excitement. She is my sweet Baby Girl, and as Greg reminds me all the time - a VERY good baby. For some reason, I think I am harder on her (already) than I was with Nate. I think I just have less patience this time around, since I'm using half of it to deal with a toddler too!

Abby spent the past month trying lots of new things. She loved both the beach & pool, as well as almost every new food she put in her mouth: applesauce, bananas, oatmeal cereal (this has been her least fave), green beans, chicken, turkey, and ICE CREAM (yes, her first official table food). She had her first double bath with Nate, graduated from the infant carrier to sitting up in the cart when at Kroger, started playing in the pack-n-play/playpen, and started using a sippy cup from time to time.

As I've mentioned before, there is nothing or no one in this world that Abby loves as much as her big brother. In fact, when he was at "Camp Nanny & Poppy" for 4 days, she was a huge pain. Fussy, demanding, difficult. And I am not kidding...as soon as Nate got home she was back to her sweet, laid-back self! She is content, just as long as he's in the same room with her. She loves to watch him play, eat, dance, sing, whatever. I am so happy she has such a sweet older brother as her built-in best friend. Nate has asked to climb into her crib a few times when we go get her up from her nap recently. When they're in there together, giggling and playing, it melts me!

Abby has started babbling a LOT more this past month. Well, really, in the past week. One of her more notable babbles is something that resembles "da da." (Yeah, I'm pissed). It's super cute though, and I love the one that sounds like "hi ya" too.

Oh and the biggest news of all - yesterday, we had a friend over for lunch and she actually noticed that Abby has TWO TEETH coming in!!!!! Her bottom two middle teeth. You can't actually see the tips yet, but her gums are swollen and you can see the slits where the teeth are about to break through. So exciting!!! Nate didn't get his first 2 teeth until 9 months, so Abby is way ahead of him!

Here are a few new pictures from Abby's past month. We love you Baby Girl!
Gnawing on Dad's chilly willy

Our mohawk girl hanging out in the front yard

Rockin' the cutest polo dress I have ever seen - Thanks Aunt B

Forgoing the cereal at lunch & dinner and now having meat instead - chicken!

Dueling laptops (and please pardon Nate in his undies but we have been POTTY TRAINING this week - more on that later!)

Sneezy

Apparently, Abby thinks my fake sneezes are H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S!!

AMERICANA

I love our neighborhood (or rather, our street)! We had the best time yesterday hanging out with everyone....cooking out, enjoying adult beverages :), watching the kids play/swing/run/swim. Nate doesn't know how lucky he is to have built-in friends as soon as he walks out his front door. Oh yeah, and ice cream cones were an added bonus.


After dinner, we broke out the snap-n-pops. They were a hit! I was busy handing them out for over 30 min....to kids ranging in age from 2-8! Nate had a blast with all his friends, and Abby enjoyed being passed around and oohed & ahhed over.



Abby went to bed around 8 pm, and then the "big kids" got to enjoy sno-cones & the fireworks display! Greg got together with 2 neighbors and combined their stash (Thanks Poppy). They did a good job, but I must say, some of the other people in our neighborhood must be professionals. They were the BEST fireworks I have ever seen! We stayed out way past 10 pm and Nate was kinda up & down on how he felt about them....at first he couldnt get enough of them (notice the picture with the doublepoint!) but then he was covering his ears and saying "too loud." But towards the end of the show, he would "help" Greg light a few (sounds safe, I know), and then run away. The running was his fave! We had a ball with everyone and enjoying kickin' back with good friends, good food, good fun. Hope you had a happy 4th!

Camp Nanny & Poppy

Last week, Nate spent 4 days at Camp Nanny & Poppy!!! We left him in Clemmons, NC with my parents after our family beach trip, and he had a great time! He got to sleep in a queen-sized bed, had fun activities that Nanny planned for each day, got to bond with Sophie (their dog), took lots of big boy baths with his "people," ate at K&W for the first time (BARF), and got in some good visit time with his great-grandma, Deedee.

Here are some of the highlights from the visit, courtesy of Poppy:

He became obsessed with silly bands....these happened to be Spongebob...and while you usually see kids with them on their wrists, Nate preferred the anklet look

Pool day & picnic lunch

Nightly fudgsicle on the back porch

Lots of stuff to do at the Children's Museum!! Here, he tried his hand at fishing..

Krispy Kreme man! Oh how my boy loves a doughnut (just like his Momma!)

Shopping around with Nanny

His favorite food, salami!!

Playing around in Nanny's sunroof - oh how I missed that sweet smile while he was gone!

Fun day at the Dan Nichols Park in Salisbury, NC




Hanging out with Deedee


Another highlight of the week was seeing TOY STORY 3 in the theatres!! Nate grubbed on some popcorn and lasted about halfway thru the movie before having to take off his 3D glasses.

I know Nanny & Poppy were sad to see him go, but we were glad to have our little man back! Thank you N&P for taking such good care of him and showing him such a good time! Now, Joyce & Stan - if you're up for it, Nate is available for "Camp Mum Mum & Granddad" anytime in July!!! :)