Potty training-take 2!

So before Hadley was born I decided it would be a good time to at least introduce Gracen to the concept of the potty. Little did I know that she would take so well to it and within 2 weeks we were only wearing diapers at night and on outings (just in case). I was so excited, no more changing her diapers, no more buying her diapers. If only if it were that easy...

Around Christmas time, she decided she was done. 3 months of the good life and that was enough for her. She now refused to go on the potty. Bah! What are you supposed to do in that situation? Not sure if she was jealous of Hadley (doubtful, she loves that girl to death) but I've heard of instances when older children regress due to the new baby. But I think she was just lazy (after all we are related).

Anyhoo, I decided it was high time to try again. So this week we've been working on it, and have made some progress! We've gone a couple times a day. And she is starting to get more and more in to it. Hopefully this time around it will stick! We can only hope...

New Room

So last Friday we FINALLY got to pick up the bunk beds (after a MONTH, this lady=not happy). We put them together Saturday morning, then Sunday bought some new sheets, and some bed rails for Gracen so the poor girl doesn't fall out. Sunday night Gabe laid down with Gracen so she wouldn't be scared/so she wouldn't jump out of bed every 2 seconds since she's no longer confined by her crib. To say the least it didn't go well. I don't think it was becuase Gracen didn't want to sleep in her "big girl bed" but becuase she was so excited that Daddy was laying down with her. The few times she's gotten to sleep in our bed, she's done the same thing to me all night long. Every 5 minutes "Hi Mommy, Mommy.. HI!" She thinks it's play time. So on Monday we had a very tired Gracen, and a verry tired Daddy.

Monday afternoon she took a nap in her big girl bed, and did really well. So Tuesday night we were a little hesitant, but she went to sleep all by herself in her big girl bed and didn't wake up once! Hooray, success!

It's an even bigger success becuase we moved Hadley into the crib, hooray! So they're now sharing a room for the time being until we can finish the basement. Right now we want to keep a guest room just in case we have any visitors so they don't have to sleep on the couch. I was a little nervous about Hadley waking up Gracen in the middle of the night since she's still up every couple hours, but sweet sweet Gracen slept right through. AWESOME.

This means we finally have our room back! It's been a rough 6 months with her sleeping next to the bed since she is such a light sleeper and Gabe kinda snores and I move around ALOT. So hopefully this arrangement keeps going as well as it has been!

6 months

I can't believe my sweet baby Hadley is 6 months old today!!!! Where does the time go? Now she's sitting up, eating tons of new foods, and we're about to move her into the crib. She's still not sleeping through the night, but hey it will come with time! She is such a happy baby and loooves to play with Gracen. We're so lucky they love each other so much, hopefully it will stay that way!

So sad about KSU's loss, but really I didn't even recognize the team that was playing. Granted there was probably exhaustion due to the double OT win Thursday night, and many an injury, but that doesn't cover up my dissapointment. I will say they had a tremendous season, and Clemente you will be dearly missed. Frank "that's silly" Martin, you truly deserved Coach of the Year. I've never been so proud to be a Wildcat!!! Makes me sad we have to wait a whole nother year for basketball season to roll around again.

Highlights of the upcoming week that I am sooo excited for:

-Gracen's first night in her big girl bed!
-Gracen's second birthday is Thursday!
-Easter weekend, KC here we come!!!
-Doctor appts on Tues. (well maybe not excited for the shots, but definitely to see how big the girls are getting!)

DWTS

So I have a love/hate relationship with Dancing with the Stars. I enjoy watching the dances, but I'm an impatient person, and I hate watching all the filler mumbo jumbo. Definitely wish I had DVR so I could just record it, and skip through the boring parts. The other problem I have with the show is that it seems to be constantly on. Once a season is through, it'll be like 2 weeks before they're advertising for the next one. Give us a little break ABC!

The reason I was so interested in last nights debut, was for Kate Gosselin. Now I have a love/hate relationship with her as well. I love the old Kate. I started watching the show way before it was popular, I was obsessed with when they did the one hour specials, before they even had a regular show. But now I just think she's ridiculous. I mean really. Oh I put my kids first, I'm done with the media spotlight, blah blah blah, and then you go on DWTS, far away from your kids! And also, you sucked at it! It was like watching that guy try to dance with a CPR dummy.

That's all, just had to get that out into the universe! Can't wait to see who gets the boot! I can almost guarentee it SHOULD be Kate, but because the public is obsessed with her, I can see her back for at least on more week.

I said that's all, but I have one more little blip to add. Was Pam Anderson drunk or high? Seriously she did not look like she was all there!

Go Cats!!

What a weekend! Starts off with a KU loss followed by a Wildcat victory!!! And I have to say, I'm even MORE annoyed with the KU fans then if they would have won! Seriously get over yourselves. All the trash talk is just plain ridiculous. All I'm hearing now that they lost is ohhh K-State fans have nothing to talk about except the KU loss. Well guess what dumb ass all you're talking about is K-State fans!!!! The chickenhawks choke again, that's what your known for. Ya had to go an get all cocky, and guess what YOU LOST. TO UNI!!!!!

So come on K-State, all eyes are on you baby!

Puppy!

Gracen loves puppies. Our neighbor across the street has a little puppy, and everytime she hears it bark outside she runs to the door screaming puppy, puppy! Ruff ruff! It's so darn cute. I really think she's wearing Gabe down, she just looks up at him with her own puppy dog eyes and says puppy? with her hands up like "where's my puppy daddy?" if this wasn't such a busy year for us with weddings and such, I think this year could have been the year, but perhaps next year! I know she really wants a puppy, but I also know it will be me taking care of it! We'll see what the future holds!

HaPPy St. Patrick's Day!!!!

No George Clooney's in T-town!

What a weekend... we survived our 1st trip to the emergency room, and let me tell you it was nothing like ER, and there certainly no George Clooney doctors walkin around.

This kiddos have been sick since last Sunday, and it has been a rough road. Gabe stayed home all week to take care of them, and we had 3 doctors visits. Apparently these doctors don't care about co-pays! Monday we went in for Gracen, and we were told she was good to go. Whilst there we had them check Hadley's ears and chest just in case. Also a clean bill of health. Fast forward to Thursday. Back to the doc again, this time Gracen had an ear infection, and Hadley again was a clean bill of health. Friday night, Saturday and Saturday night was intense. Hadley would just cry and cry. Inconsolable. Finally Sunday afternoon I couldn't take it anymore and back to the doctor's. Luckily our pediatrician is open on Sunday's. This time, no clean bill of health. Duh. She has really bad double ear infections, and was having trouble breathing. They gave her a breathing treatment and checked her oxygen. Not enough. Off to the ER we go!

Talk about a nervous wreck. I could handle the need for stitches, I could handle a broken bone. But my baby's not breathing? Not ok. They checked her for RSV(a respiratory virus), which she most likely has, which was causing her to have trouble breathing. Poor sweet Hadley. We did another breathing treatment, and luckily this time she slept through it. For those of you who don't know what that entails, it's a long hose that spits out steam with medicin in it out of a mask. Do you think a 5 1/2 month is content with a mask on? Uh no. After a very long day, we got discharged, and a prescription for the ears. What a week. I need spring ASAP!

Conspiracy theory

Another weekend has come and gone, yet feels like there wasn't one at all! Luckily I got some major cleaning done (which was needed, bad). Unfortunately Gracen started feeling yucky (yet again--I hate you winter!) on Sunday afternoon, running a slight temp. So we gave her some motrin and she was back to her ol' self, only a little groggy. We put her to bed around 8, and could hear her coughing quite a bit. Around 9:30 she woke up and was on fire. She had a temp of almost 105. So naturally I freaked out. Called the nurse, who told us to give her more motrin and then I called my Dad and he said yes to the motrin and use a cool washcloth. If her temp didn't go down in an hour it was time for the ER. Let me tell you, I was not ready for my first ER visit, and luckily fate was on my side and her fever broke a little over an hour later.

Meanwhile, Hadley girl had a GREAT night! She only woke up twice! So I am convinced they conspire against us, and when one has a good night, the other keeps us up. Ahh parenthood.

Let's just say I'm tired.... again. Happy Monday!

Cross one off the ol' list!

So last night I did it! I created my meal from scratch. Yay for crossing one off my list! (Well I used a jar of spaghetti sauce, and boxed noodles, but really I don't have time to make either of those 2 from scratch!) Here's my proof:

First I mixed together 2 eggs, 1 cup of spinach, a bag of mozz cheese, and 1 cup of ricotta cheese

Meanwhile I boiled 12 jumbo shells

Then I stuffed my shells with the yummy cheese mixture

Slathered (i don't think thats pc chef talk but whatev) it in sauce, popped it in the oven and waited... impatiently i might add

Meanwhile Gracen happily watched while snacking on an apple

and Hadley girl ate some yummy cereal in her big girl high chair

The end result, topped with more cheese of course

Bon Appetit! I must say I was impressed with myself!

Friday State of Mind

I'm pretty sure I've been in a Friday state of mind since Monday. I guess that's what happens when you're dog tired from getting up 4 times a night! Ms. Hadley must be going through a growth spurt or something, (I'm going to go with teething, becuase that's my fall back excuse for everything!) becuase she is up 4 times a night, chug a luggin. She probably eats 20 oz (give or take) and then has maybe 8 during the day + cereal and fruit 2 or 3 times. This girl has her days and nights CONFUSED! No idea how to help her correct it.. the "nurse" told us she'll figure it out. I didn't like that answer. I thought maybe we should restrict her napping to only 2 hours at a time. But of course her response was "I don't think you should wake a sleeping baby". Wake up lady! All the books and docs nowadays reccomend waking up new borns every 2-3 hours to eat. I don't see how this is any different. Your answer is outdated and frankly I'll make up my own. Ha!

Let the creative juices flow..

Something very exciting is in the works! So my sister Jaime made some letters for Gracen when she was born to hang on the wall. And I was obsessed. We all joked that she should start a business. For Gracen's 1st birthday her and my sister Steph made her a table and chairs that matched the letters. When Hadley was born she too got some letters. Christmas rolls around and Jaime made her a step-stool for the bathroom. Finally, after almost 2 years of telling her to make a business out if it (she's also made many letters for her friends kids) I have convinced her! I'm going to help her put them on a website to sell them. Since I have all of her products, I'll be the brains behind this operation (scary I know!)

So all 3 of you that read this (haha) that know/have kids that would like some personalized hand created things, stay tuned for photos and information on how to buy!

T-Rex take 2!

So the last post was titled T-Rex for a reason, I'm not crazy. Well.. not that crazy. I was going to write about the whole weekend, but realized just talking about taking away Gracen's paci was long enough. So anyhoo. On Saturday we drove to KC to look for "big girl" furniture for Gracen at NFM. (Nebraska Furniture Mart). I love NFM, I could walk around for days and days and that still wouldn't be enough. After picking out some bunk beds and a new dresser, we headed to T-Rex for lunch w/ Papa, Michelle, Aunt Nanie and future Uncle Matt. There was so much to look it, and I think Gracen was still a wee bit scared of the loud noises and giant dinosaurs. Although we do enjoy Dinosaur Train on PBS.

We were thinking about making her one of the stuffed animals (like at build-a-bear, only build-a-dino) but the girl already has a million stuffed animals, and when Gabe brought her to look at them she wasn't interested in creating the dino, but the accessories. All she kept pointing to were the shoes. She is my daughter after all!

Here's a couple o pics from the lunch, they had these awesome fish tanks right in the middle of the tables and tons of life size dinos all over the restaraunt.

Hadley girl just hangin out with Papa

Gracen and Daddy looking at the fish tanks (you can't really see the fish tank, bad lighting)

Is she not just the cutest thing you ever did see? Besides Gracen of course!

T-Rex

What a nice surprise this morning when I went outside and the sun was shining. Hello Spring! One more reason I'm excited that it's March. More from the weekend as promised!

So Friday I decided that this was going to be the weekend that we took away Gracen's Paci. Now this was a personal dilemma for me, becuase as a kid I was unhealthily obsessed with addicted to, my pacifier. My parents have told me stories of how they used to hide them on top of bookshelves thinking I wouldn't get to them. Then sometime later they would find me hiding in a corner with it after I had climbed up and got it. So I feel pretty hypocritical taking hers away, considering I still remember being devastated when they took it away from me.

Every parenting book I've read, doctor or friend I have talked to, has recommended to get rid of it by age 1. Gracen will be 2 in a couple weeks. Whoops. Since Christmas time, I've been saying when she turns 2 we'll get rid of it. BUT, I love birthdays. And I did not want her to associate such a special day with getting rid of her paci, so we had to move the date up a bit. It was starting to interfere with her eating (or at least that's my excuse as to why she sometimes refused to eat dinner), and was generally driving me and Gabe up the wall with whining for it.

So Friday night, we were done with the paci. And I must say Gracen took it all in stride. Much to Gabe and I's relief. Before I put her to bed I told her "You're a big girl, and big girl's don't need paci's". Much to my surprise she said Ok, and laid down. As soon as I shut her door, she started to cry. I knew it couldn't be that easy! After only 5 minutes of crying, Gabe being the softy that he is, was starting to second guess taking it away. And I will admit it's hard to let your 2 year old scream bloody murder when your 5 month old is asleep in the next room. So after 30 minutes of letting her cry, we couldn't take it anymore. But it was my decision to take it away, so I told Gabe I'd be the bad guy. I went into her room and told her she was a "big girl" and asked if she wanted to sleep in the "Big girl" bed. She said yes. So we went in the guest room and laid on the big bed and she was out within a minute, and not even a whimper! Didn't even wake up once during the night. Now that's what I call success!

SpLiSh SpLaSh!

First off, Happy March! Second, what a weekend! Seriously where does the time go? We had a jam packed 3 days, and it's hard to believe it's Monday already. Unfortunately, Friday night I didn't get to make my spinach and cheese stuffed shells, so I didn't get to cross it off my list. But on the bright side, we got to go swimming! By "we" I mean Gabe and Gracen, I don't even own a swimsuit at this point in my life, and it was pretty much Hadley girls bedtime. So we sat nicely on the side and watched Daddy and Gracen attempt to swim. Gabe's niece (and goddaughter) Sierra turned 11 on Friday so they went and got a room at the Holiday Inn to go swimming. The one here has a big ol' waterslide, and we thought Gracen might have fun, and we always like to have play time with cousins.

This is her attempting to enter the pool, it was pretty chilly water, she went futher in then I thought she would!
 

This is her "caught in the headlights look". Soon after we were out of the pool.

Instead of the big pool, we headed over to the hot tub where she had some fun w/ her cousin Noah. He's 3 months older. Showin some love, such a sweetheart!!

She finally warmed up to the hot tub. She loved the bubbles, and by the time she was really having fun it was time to go home :(

But we did have a really great time! And there's much more to blog about including getting rid of the Paci!! But that's all the time I have right now, so I guess you'll just have to stay tuned!