Bonding in Our Boots...

Have you looked out the window today?  

It's cloudy, raining, and absolutely the PERFECT weather to take a trip to the mailbox in your rain boots.  So much FUN for a toddler!  (And her mommy!)

It's in the near future!...

Potty training.  An exciting thought and one that I also dread.  I think about it often, asking myself questions such as:

1. Will I start her too soon?  I've heard if they're not "ready" potty training can be a pain.

2. Should I wait until after Christmas?  Ellie Grace will be older then, PLUS we will have already traveled to Indiana for Thanksgiving.  I can't imagine the pain of stopping every 15 minutes, scurrying in to those ever so clean gas station bathrooms (or any public restroom) all to hear that she has just had an accident.

3. Should I use a potty her size or the insert that goes on the big potty?

4. Will this increase the number of times I am up in the middle of the night?

5. Will I have to do MORE laundry? (sheets, underwear, clothes)

I bought a Potty Time with Elmo book and a potty at a yard sale Saturday.  Mia reads that book over and over and over.  (I'll post the video of her reading it later.)  Needless to say, we've talked about the fact that she will use the potty in the near future.

So today I go in to get her up from her nap and guess what?  Her diaper was dry! (I've heard that once they start waking up with a dry diaper they are getting close to being "ready".)  So I thought I'd just give it a try...let her sit on the potty.  After all, she's been telling us for months every time she goes in her diaper, AND thanks to Elmo, she's an expert on the subject now.  haha!  So how did it go?

This sweet little girl was not successful.  She sure did have a good time though!  She was so proud that she got to sit there, but eventually Ellie Grace needed to eat which meant potty time had to come an end. We may have not gone pee pee in the potty today, but hey...it's in the near future.

P.S.  I still can't believe how much my life has changed!  I am now a mom of two, and I am now blogging about my child going potty.  WHAT?!!!!!

Any advice on making this experience easy/ enjoyable?  Share what's worked/ hasn't worked for your kids!

Daddy to the Rescue!

Some days are crazy!  

So crazy that Mia and I are still in our pajamas at the end of the day. (see pic below)  Thankfully we have Caleb.  Just when things started to fall apart with the girls last week, Caleb brought out the bike trailer!  

Mia had the time of her life!  

When they got back home, Caleb informed me that every time he pulled on to our street, Mia would scream "NO!  I want more, Daddy!"

Well, how can a daddy say no to that?  

And how can I not absolutely fall head over heels in love AGAIN and AGAIN with a man like this?....

:)

No words necessary...

Now go ahead...scroll back up to the top and look at those sweet faces again...

Golf Cart Extravaganzas

My in-laws have a golf cart.  Not just any golf cart.  A very large one.  They bought it so that we could all ride together when we are at the beach. (We stay on an island where everyone drives golf carts.)  It never made it to the beach though, (island rules about bringing your own) but we get TONS of use out of it here in good old Greenville, SC. :)  I honestly think "golf cart" was on the list of Mia's first words.  She LOVES that thing.  My in-laws frequently call and ask if they can come take Mia for a ride.  Umh....YES!!!!!!  We get a 15 minute (sometimes longer) break, and Mia has the time of her life!

Last week Josh and Christi pulled up on the golf cart.  The cousins got to meet Ellie Grace, and Mia got to go for a ride with some of her favorite people.  Take a look below...

Caleb was holding her on a pillow bc he said she is a little "heater".

Waiting for Noni to come on the golf cart.

She is stoked!

Fun memories. :)

Papa had all of the grandkids last night, and they stopped by to get Mia.  Can I just say how FREEZING it was?!!!!  The kids all had their hoods on, and I gave them blankets to cover up with.  (Don't worry...I got some great video!)  They didn't care though.  Kids just like to have fun.  Me?  I stayed home in the warm house. :)  Hey...every party has a pooper, right?  (Please tell me y'all have seen that movie.)

What's Poppin'?

Mia and I have a new fun activity...poppin' popcorn!

My mother-in-law gave us their old air popper and we LOVE it!  I'm pretty sure we had one like it when we were growing up, so it brings back memories of Sunday nights.  We would pop a huge bowl*, grab a pepsi and watch Murder She Wrote as a family.  (I know...it sounds weird now that I am an adult that we watched that, but I think it was one of my mom's favorite shows.  It wouldn't have mattered what we watched though...we just enjoyed being together as a family on Sunday nights.)

After I met Caleb I learned that his parents LOVE popcorn too.  And not the kind you put in the microwave...the kind that you cook on the stove.  Ahhhh....I fell in love.  "Real" popcorn tastes so much better to me.  The only problem is that I never got the hang of cooking it myself.  It was either too chewy or too burned.  YUCK!

But now popping popcorn is SO EASY!  You literally pour some kernels in the top, put a bowl under it, and plug it in.  Then you stand in awe (or squeal if you are Mia) as you watch the kernels pop up and down and change into popcorn!

(Totally wish I would have focussed on her face instead of the popcorn here.  I love that she is so amazed by it!)

Pour some butter on it.  Add some salt.  Snuggle under a blanket on the couch in your pajamas with your toddler.  Ahhh...pure bliss. :)


*or clam dip


(The pics were from our first batch 2 days ago.  We finished it this morning, so we made some more.)

Caught in the act...

...of loving. :)

I looked over today and saw Mia loving on Ellie Grace while she watched T.V.  Now doesn't that just melt your heart?  I've prayed for their relationship since before Ellie Grace was born.  I can't wait to watch them grow up together.  Mmmmm....my heart is happy. :)

However, the "loving" had to stop when I saw the blanket go over Ellie Grace's head. haha  Yes, there is a baby under there.

Have a FANTASTIC day!!!!!

Hooray for Fish...

...and HOORAY for my little Mia Jubilee!  I am SO thankful for her that it literally takes my breath away sometimes.

Sleeping Beauties...

Who needs T.V. when you have this to look at?

It's getting close!...

Ellie Grace will be here soon!  Her due date is two weeks from tomorrow. :)  Little Mia is seriously going to be the best big sister!  Look at how well she takes care of her babies now...

This child is so goofy!

I guess the only thing she needs to work on is putting some cute clothes on her babies.  haha  I promise we won't let Ellie Grace go naked all day. :)

She's going to be a natural...

Mia is going to be the BEST big sister!  She spends the majority of her playtime feeding her babies, changing diapers, pushing them in strollers, wrapping them in blankets, holding them, and asking "You okay, Baby?" after they fall on the floor.  She is going to be such a great big sister!  Only three more weeks! (OR LESS!!!!)

I did it...

...I bought the Mr. Potato Head.

Caleb and I have been trying not to spend ANY unnecessary money.  This means no decorating, fast food, toys, etc.  However, I have a sweet baby that I LOVE to give gifts to.

I think I told y'all that she's all about Toy Story right now, right?  We now have a Buzz and a Slinky (thanks to my friend, Natalee's boys who sold them to Mia to raise money for their beach trip).  Woody will be her "big sister" gift when Lucy is born, but I've looked at Potato Heads for about 6 months now and just have never made the plunge to buy one.

Until I fell in love with this bundle:

I found them on Craigslist and just couldn't stop thinking about them.  I know we aren't spending money right now, but this was unique!  When would I ever find these again?  There are 4 babies, 2 regular sized potato heads, and a giant one (15" tall) to keep all of the TONS of extra parts in! (plus there are a bunch of Disney parts)

I sold a stroller and swing on Craigslist to earn some extra moola!  My mom wanted to chip in on half of the cost too. (THANKS, MOM!)  So I purchased the potato head without feeling "bad" about spending money. WOO HOO!

I felt even better about my purchase when I saw Mia's reaction to them.  She literally played with them ALL day yesterday.  As soon as she woke up from her nap, she put a couple of them on the couch with her while she ate her snack and watched...Toy Story, of course!  :)

She is OBSESSED with the "babies" (the little ones) and carries around the giant potato that stores all of the parts.

I'm so glad I bought these!  (and since they made me pursue selling my stroller and swing, we even made some money to add to our bank account) Score! :)

P.S. Mia is currently playing with them right now.  Seriously people...great purchase! :)


Have an awesome day!  

And let me know if you or someone you know wants to buy two Pottery Barns children's chairs. :)

Mia's new crush...

FINALLY...Mia is hooked on a different movie!  For weeks (maybe longer) all she wanted to watch was Little Rascals.  While I love that cute little movie, it gets old after let's say...watching it 100 times!  Caleb and I would find ourselves quoting it and singing the songs.  AHHHHH!!!!!  

We are now on to the next favorite movie: Toy Story!  It's nice to have a change. :)

We were walking around Walmart the other day while Caleb got his oil changed, and what do you know?  We stumbled upon Woody!  It was love at first sight for Miss Mia Jubilee.  I wanted so badly to buy it for her, but he was a whopping $35!  I told Caleb, "That's okay.  I'll go home and google the cheapest place to buy him."  Turns out Walmart IS the cheapest place. (and Target too)  He is $50 at Toys R Us and $40 on Amazon.  What in the world?!!!  haha  I'm thinking this may be Mia's "big sister" gift when the new baby gets here. :)

By the way, have I mentioned how CUTE Mia Jubilee is?!!!! She is so FUN and HILARIOUS!!!!  We're also getting closer to choosing a name for Baby #2!!!  There are SO MANY names that I love, but they just don't seem to "fit" her.  Hopefully we'll have a name to share with you soon!

Don't you just want to squeeze her?

She dressed herself in her apron and life jacket for the day.  :)

Loving on Lydia!

Have a GREAT day everyone!!!!  And let me know if you see Woody on sale anywhere. :)

I'm back!

I haven't blogged in FOREVER!!!  Not because we haven't been doing anything, but because up until this week I have STILL been feeling sick.  But I think we have turned a corner, people!  At 23 weeks along, I am happy to say that the prego sickness has FINALLY left!!!!  (I would totally be jumping up and down right now if my belly wasn't so big.  haha!)  Hopefully I can catch up on blogging within the next couple of weeks.  For now, here is a glimpse of last Saturday.  (more pics to come!)

Saturday was WONDERFUL!  It was the first Saturday in a long time where Caleb was all ours.  He didn't have anything else to do except hang out with us.  So what did we do?  We went to the zoo!  Mia LOVES animals, so this was the perfect outing for us.  I was so thankful that Caleb was there, because our little Mia Jubilee is a handful!  Check out this sweet pic of her and her daddy. :)  I am absolutely so in love with these two people...

I hear her through the monitor now, so that's my que!  More posts to come!