Friday Five: Updates

Time for a few updates on the fam!  There have been lots of new developments going on and I don't think I have documented any of them!

First, one of the greatest things ever in all of time......MOLLY IS POTTY TRAINED.  Of course, now that I put it on the blog I am basically asking for an accident, but oh well.  We have been working for what seems like an eternity with Molly to get her out of diapers.  I hate having two in diapers.  It makes it seem like all I do all day long is change diapers.  So, we have been working overtime with Moll to get her out of the stupid diapers.  We tried candy and sticker charts and new princess undies and peer pressure and nothing was working.  And then we went out of town.  I just knew that throwing a wrench into our schedule and sticking her in the car for hours on end was going to erase any progress we had made, however, it had the opposite effect.  Cuh-razy.  I don't know why or how it happened, but while we were at the lake Molly stopped having accidents and started going in the toilet all. the. time.  And we are still accident free since being home.  We do still have to use diapers at nap and bedtime, but hopefully that will be over with soon also.  I used to hate it when people said their kids were potty trained when they were still in diapers at night, but I get it now.  She is potty trained.  She knows to go in the bathroom when she has to go and that is a MAJOR success.

photo from our recent playdate at chick-fil-a

Second, Lawson has done a few major things lately.  He is sitting up now, though he won't do it unless it's his idea, he is almost crawling (just needs to get one more arm in the mix) and he has been saying dada for like a month.  But the biggest Lawson news of all is his sleeping all the way through the night without waking up at all even for a paci replacement!!!!  Yes, yes, I know.  Kids much younger than Lawson sleep through the night, but well, I just couldn't find it inside myself to sleep train my little guy.  I have been tired, yes, but I have really enjoyed my middle of the night, quiet, nursing time with him.  And once again, by putting it on the blog I am practically ensuring that tonight he will be up a dozen times! 

Lawson being his regular smiley self.

Next up, Isabelle.  That girl is a hoot.  She is getting so big and so smart.  I have learned that for her when she says she wants to do school what she really means is that she wants to color pictures, read books and sing songs.  She does NOT want to practice writing, practice cutting or work on patterns.  Since she is already so far ahead in those areas I am going to give her a rest and try to get a little more creative in my schooling approach. 

Isabelle at CFA.

As for me, things are going well.  I joined a local MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) group and l.o.v.e.d. it.  I don't want to sound to nerdy or cheesy or anything, but for a long time I have been trying all kinds of different things to meet people and get connected with other moms and each time have come up short.  While I have gotten something out of everything I have tried I always come away with the feeling that I haven't quite found a place to fit in or to belong. Because of that, I almost didn't go to MOPS.  I was apprehensive to say the least.  I was worried that I would be odd man out or that people wouldn't like me, or that I wouldn't like any of them, and I was worried my kids wouldn't like going.  Thankfully I went ahead and went and it was so great.  Like so great.  The girls had a great time, Lawson did great, I was not odd man out, in fact everyone almost everyone I met was new to the group this year, and they were all so incredibly nice.  Not fake nice, but like actually nice.  In case any of them are reading this I will stop now so I don't seem weird, but just between you and me, it was such an answer to prayer!

Lastly, J man.  Well, I bet you can guess what kind of updates I have on Jason.  He is busy.  Betcha didn't see that one coming!!!  That man stays busy.  I laugh when he says something about how he is "super busy this week" as if he wasn't "super busy" last week.  I am grateful that his company has work and that he is staying busy but there are times when I wish he wasn't so busy all the time. 

So there you go, some updates on our little fam.  I am almost done with all the laundry that we dirtied up while on our lake adventure.  This weekend is a busy one so I need to get it all finished today!  Hooray for laundry!

Embrace the Camera 7/19

It isn't easy for me to get in a picture every week.  In fact, it is near impossible.  I don't know how Emily does it.  This past week the husband and I were out shopping for a mattress (fun, fun) and my mom was home with the kiddos.  Isabelle wanted us to take a picture so we did and texted it to my mom.  It turns out it has been awhile since J and I have been in a picture together!!

So here we are, embracing mattress shopping!

I still have a hard time with being in pictures.  I don't usually like how I look because of what I am wearing, or lack of makeup, or crazy hair or the fact that I still need to lose some weight from this last pregnancy.  But...I know that one day my kids will treasure photos of their parents together.  When I look at photos of my grandparents together I don't think that my grandma looked fat, or that she needed different clothes or that her hair is crazy.  I am just thankful for photos of them together.

SO, grab your camera, get some pictures with you IN THEM! 

Around Here

Here's what's been going on around our house (and some pics of the kiddos)!

Last week we went in for some blood work for Molly to figure out if she has any food allergies.  We have been dealing with her "sensitivities" for awhile now and it feels like we are perpetually figuring out foods that don't agree with her and her stomach.  The blood work came back today and just as I suspected, no allergies came up.  SO frustrating.  I knew she probably didn't have any true allergies, but rather is just sensitive to some foods, but I wish I could know in advance which foods so that I didn't have to keep discovering new ones on my own.  Plus, poor Molly....who wants to feel sick to their stomach all the time, not to mention that she has non stop diaper rash from all the poop.  (sorry for the tmi)  So we will continue to keep a food log and watch for foods that don't agree, but really I am just sick of it all!

totes adorbs

In other news, Isabelle has a fun new saying!  Just kidding.  It really drives me crazy.  Whenever she wants something and is being told she can't have it, but then continues to ask and gets in trouble for asking over and over she will shout, "Never mind!"  Doesn't that sound just precious? 

from our recent trip to the zoo

Lawson is good, getting big.  Tomorrow he will be five months so I will do a five month post for him.  When we were at the doctor today I saw two newborn babies.  It made me realize just how fast they get big.  Lawson is only five months and he looks huge compared to a little baby.  It also made me slightly want another one.  Slightly.

moo with uncle dan at the zoo

My girls have been swimming like crazy.  Both are becoming expert swimmers.  Isabelle likes to have on water wings and swim all over the pool.  Molly on the other hand likes to go down the steps, get to the bottom step and then push off and swim underwater to either Jason or me.  They are both like little fishes.

also at the zoo

The summer bucket list is still in progress, but might need to be revised for Molly's diet!  Hoping to get the sidewalk paint project in this week! 
As for Jason, he is working like crazy.  Not as crazy as a month ago, but still pretty busy.

the cutest

And me, well, I am wrapped up in a current obsession...prek home school.  I would really like to find a curriculum (which I think I have at www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com) and start working with Isabelle this fall.  Technically, she could not start a prek program until next year, but I think she is beyond ready.  She already knows so much and is interested in learning more. 
Happy Monday.

Friday Five-Father's Day

Father's Day is Sunday and so today's post is a thank you of sorts to my wonderful husband. 

When your kids are super little (like ours...all three ages three and under) they can't really show or tell you how much they appreciate what kind of parent you are.  In fact, probably they won't tell you until they are much, much, much older.  So it is important to remind your spouse what a good parent they are when their special day rolls around (and probably more often than that!).

So here goes, five reasons that J is a spectacular dad.  In no particular order and clearly not a comprehensive list.

1.  J plays with the kids.  Like gets down on their level to do what they want to do.  Not what he wants to do, or what he has time or energy to do, but what they want to do.  If they want to play outside, he goes outside.  Read a book, yep he'll do that.  Color, fingerpaint, play-doh?  Yep, yep and yep.  He puts their needs/wants ahead of his own every time.  I am pretty sure they will remember this.

first time holding belle

2.  J gets up with the kids every single morning.  That's right.  He is the one to get up with them (at 6am), get their milk, turn on their favorite show, and snuggle up on the couch.  This momma almost always gets to sleep until 7am (sometimes later!!!).

first time holding molly moo

3.  J is a good and patient teacher.  Kids need someone who is patient to teach them new things.  I am not especially good at that.  J is great.  Like when he taught Isabelle about fishing.  Or when he works with the girls to help them get dressed or put on shoes and they insist on doing it by themselves.  He doesn't flip out or get frustrated.  He just helps them and shows them how to do whatever it is they are trying to learn.

you guessed it....holding laws

4.  J is a hard worker.  All the time, no matter what the project, for work or for home, Jason is a hard worker.  And I am not saying that because I am his wife.  Just ask his boss, or his colleagues, or people in his field, or his closest friends.  They will all agree with me.  Whether his kids realize it now or ever, he works hard for them and for our family.

funny faces with belle

5.  J does the girls' hair and paints their nails.  I know that doesn't seem like a lot, but the girls think it is the best thing ever.  I am sure that when Lawson is older he will do equally as cool things with him.  It is the small things, the details that make him such a good father.  Yes, he is good at the big things, but he is good at the details also.  Details matter, details are what is remembered. 

Happy Father's Day, Jason.  You are truly an amazing husband and father and we are so blessed to have you!  I love you.

Easter in Pictures....and a few words

Easter this year was a little different than normal.  We went to church early Sunday morning...like 8:30 a.m. early, and then didn't do Easter lunch but instead had our Easter tacos for dinner Sunday night.  And while I do prefer Easter lunch to Easter dinner, we all still had a great time.  The girls had an outstanding day eating candy, hunting eggs and eating more candy.  Sadly, I did not get a single picture of Isabelle in her dress or Lawson in his new Easter threads.  Such is life.

Molly hunting eggs. 

My bro, Danny and my niece, Lauren.

Danny and my sis in law Katie.

Even Jason got in on the egg hunt.  Don't you love his pink basket???

Isabelle with candy.  She has not stopped asking for more candy.

Easter baskets for the girls....with a fun new chair for the backyard.

Molly....hyped up on sugar.

It is pretty tricky explaining the meaning of Easter to a two year old and a three year old.  We tried our best to make sure they knew Easter wasn't about bunnies and eggs and candy, but who knows.  I think that next year I may incorporate Emily's idea and not go quite so candy crazy.  I hope you all had a great Easter!  And if you have ideas for how to explain Easter to little ones I would love to hear them!