Is This a Must Have?

I am considering this stroller...we already have two umbrella strollers, the big Graco stroller that matches our car seat, the Graco base stroller that just holds the car seat, and our double seater BOB.  I could sell the BOB for it's value (that was the only reason I bought it-because you can get your money back), but I feel like we will still want to use it every once in a while.  This new stroller can hold the car seat up front, Mack in the middle and Avery on the back (which I think she would like).  This would be the only way I could manage all three of them alone and have them contained.  The reviews are great for the price, but man it's a big purchase...

I guess I have some time to think about it, but opinions are accepted here!!!!  On a side note our third crib is arriving on the 18th-at least we will have one thing ready for this baby.  We are also buckling down every weekend to get the house ready-this weekend is buying a new closet organizer for our room.  This way we add value to the house and make more room for the kids stuff!  Pictures will follow.

Happy, Happy Friday!

Pretty sure we have NEVER experienced this kind of weather! It is kind of weird, but I will take it-especially on my day off. It is about 60 degrees outside.  We headed to the park this morning and I was able to walk a little over a mile while the two peas were in the stroller. Then they were able to run around and play on the big slide. Not much more to say other than Happy Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mr. independent-I was constantly having to bring him in closer to Avery and I!

First time on a big girl swing!

Always eating...

Potty Training Part 2

We started to "potty" train Avery in the beginning of December.  It has been very relaxed because she just turned 2 at the end of August, so we didn't want to ruin our chances.  Over the holidays, Mark and I were thinking about how lazy we have been with training her-how easy it is to put her in a pull up when we go out of the house.  We know that is not going to move us along because she doesn't tell us when she has to go, but with Mack and being pregnant I really didn't have the energy.  She does great when we are at home and she is in her "undies".

Yesterday, I started to look on-line because everyone talks about potty training in a day.  Yes I looked at the Dr. Phil idea about the the baby who pees in the potty.  Then I realized: first-we have only been training for a few weeks and we were not really serious about it.  Second-she isn't even 2 1/2 yet and third-she doesn't have any trouble going on the potty (pee or poop).  With looking at the information we realized we just need to step it up! 

This past week we decided to take her out with no pull up on with the intentions of reminding her to go to the potty.  She does great.  At first she would be working on something and start to go and stop herself while running to the bathroom, but now she screams "PEEEEEE" and we always think she has already gone.  Not the case, she is holding it until she gets in there.  At the end of February she will be 2 1/2 and I think she is doing an amazing job right now.  It saves so much on the laundry of diapers!

My point of writing this is you have to know your child and when they are ready.  I am sure the whole potty training in a day works, but know there will be accidents.  I was just assuming she would be done in a weekend, but there are still times where she has accidents and a lot more times that she needs reminders-not to mention an M & M here and there:)

As I am writing this she just looked at me while pulling off her PJ's to go potty!  We are headed in the right direction and hope to stop being lazy.  We also hope it continues when baby #3 gets here...

Bringing in 2012

This past weekend was New Years.  I wasn't very excited this year due to being pregnant for the third time on New Years so we needed a change of scenery-we headed to the lake.  This time we stayed with the Watson family at their lake home.  It had been about a year or so since we got to stay there, so everything was new and fresh to the kiddos.  We came on Saturday morning and the weather was amazing-I mean 60 degrees at the end of December?  We took a little walk up the street (until Avery wanted to be carried) and then headed down by the water to look for ducks.

Here is the only kind of family photo we could get.

Then we sat out on the deck and let them run around...

Of course now she is smiling!

Mack was throwing the ball for Cooper

Drinking out of water bottles are a huge hit right now!

This is what Mack does when he is excited now-it's pretty funny.

Then Nanny came back from the store with a plethora of goodies-some being these blowers, hats, and poppers.

They were pretty entertained in these chairs and then Nanny gave them rides around the deck

Here are the hats...

Nanny also got this new table for them and they spent a lot of time working, eating, and watching movies at this table.

Overall, it was nice to get away-I was able to nap with the kids because I didn't have anything to worry about!  We thank Nanny and Papa H. for letting us have a relaxing weekend-it helps to have extra hands right now as I enter the last bit of pregnancy.  We came back ready to start the planning for baby three. 

Versatile Blogger Award

 I was awarded the Versatile Blogger award from a fellow blogger!

I have been blogging for a year now as a way to share my life with others.  I use it as an online journal-a lot of people ask how I have time to do this, but for me it's relaxing, fun, and an outlet.  I have not had the time to search other blogs (other than the people I know), but then I noticed a new follower.  It happened to be another mom raising Irish twins!  I give a big thanks to Jodie from Wilson's (almost) Irish Twins for giving me this award, through her and other blogs on her page, I have found a whole new world out there of support.

Jodie has great ideas for meals, activities and everyday life.  It is strange how much is similar to us.  A couple of examples are using cloth diapers, behaviors, and many of her announcements have come during the holidays-just like us.  It's an ongoing joke for our family to ask what kind of news we will give them over Christmas since our engagement, and both kids were announced during the holidays-not to mention our wedding was in December!

This award is basically a chain letter for blogs, but it has given me a chance to look at a lot of other blogs. 

The rules are:

1. Thank the person that nominated you with a link back to them. (see above)

2. Tell 7 things about yourself. (see below)
3. Pass this award on to 15 newly discovered blogs and let them know that they’ve received an award!  Unfortunately I don't have 15 blogs, so I will only be able to pass this on to one other person!

7 Things about myself:

1) At the end of February we will have three children under 2 1/2. 

2) I never thought I would live in a small town after living in 5 states in big cities, but now I have lived in Columbia longer than any place in my life (I guess it's time to call it my home:))

3) Being a mom has changed everything-it was a great thing for me to change!

4) I am an obsessed cleaner and always looking for new ideas to clean and organize.

5) We probably hang out with our family more than friends and I'm okay with that because it gives our children a special opportunity.

6) I have worked at the same school since I graduated with my undergrad-this is my 9th year and they have been so great to let me work part time this year-I now have more time with my babies.

7) Not only do I live in a small town, but we live on 5 acres and every year we add something to our garden-this year I want a composed pile:) this is a HUGE surprise for anyone who has known me for a long time! 

Now for the blog I award:

The Kid-Friendly Home -These ladies are mothers of four children-one of them I went to high school with and I love hearing about what she does.  They give great ideas and post almost everyday.  I have used many of their activities as well as recipes.  Enjoy!

My goal is to find other blogs to read and learn from, but at this time I don't have any other to suggest and I don't want to go searching.  I have however included my favorites on my blog list-these are friends or families sharing wonderful stories of their families-one is my only nephew!  Others I keep hidden because the owners would prefer to be private:)

Everyone blogs for different reasons and what a great place to keep track of your family and activities!  My sister-in-law has even had her post put into a book!  Thank you to everyone who shares their stories!

I Have to Do It!

I know everyone believes they are raising baby geniuses and I am one of those people ;)  I really think it's just amazing to watch and see how they learn and progress, so immediately you assume they are GENIUSES!  This may not be true, but in our eyes it's okay to think they are the smartest babies because they are our babies. 

Today I had to run into work for a little while and go to the store (which is rare to do minus kids), so Miss Emily came over for a few hours to be with them.  When I came home the kitchen was filled with beautiful paintings and Avery was up at the sink cleaning off her paint brushes-such a cute site!  Emily told me Avery had made the following painting and she thought she was painting all of us and labeled it.  I waited until they were dry and after her nap to ask her about it and this is what she said:

She says the same thing every time and I love how she proportioned everyone-Mack is very small (she refers to him as our Boo Boo because I have called him that since he was born).  I had to do it and share how cool this was!

Great Crayons for Kids

Avery and Mack's cousin (and Aunt and Uncle) got them these crayons and they work great with little

 kids!  They both had fun coloring with them.

And they are easy to store.  Thought I would share as a "must have" for kids!