Wednesday, January 16, 2013

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly...

...about potty training!

The Good:
  • No more diapers to change (at least for Kinley)
  • No more diapers to BUY (at least for Kinley)
  • The face of pure excitement over her accomplishment (both Her face and Mine)
  • That little voice saying "Hurry! It's potty time! Run, Run, Run!"
  • "Punzel & Minnie Mouse" Panties are just about the cutest thing ever (Rapunzel)
  • Lots of treats and Goodies in the house...everyone gets to enjoy them ;)

The Bad:
  • 55 "practice" trips to the potty just during dinner alone
  • More laundry - ugh - at least they don't have to be ironed
  • Constant potty talk...even at the dinner table
  • Living in a state of fear, panic, constant awareness of your childs every move & sounds and what they mean.
  • Packing for 5 days when you're only going to be gone an hour...just in case there is a/multiple accidents

The Ugly:
  • She's growing up too fast
  • Umm, yeah I still have to go through this ONE.MORE.TIME.  Gulp

 
 
As you can see, The Good far exceeds The Bad and The Ugly!

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Happy Half Birthday

I can't hardly believe it has been 6 months since you arrived.  You are a go with the flow baby for the most part.  I often say you're very portable.  We're in the car A LOT and you usually do pretty well.

This past month we went on our first vacation as a family of 6.  We drove up to the North Georgia Mountains and stayed in a cabin with Gi Gi and Poppa, Nanna and Grandpa and the Riffel Clan.  You did great on the whole trip.  Slept pretty well for the most part.  You got your first sickness while we were up in Georgia...and of all things it was the stomach virus.  We ALL got it - all 14 of us.  You got it on Thanksgiving night and I am so thankful that Walmart opened early for "Black Friday" shopping because it could have meant a trip to the hospital for you.  We were able to get you some pedialite.  Me and Daddy were pretty scared for a while there, but you bounced back quickly.


You are drinking five 6oz. bottles throughout the day.  You also started solids this past month.  I wasn't really ready to start, but you've been having some tummy issues that we've been trying to get worked out.  So far you have had prunes (and prune juice), peaches, pears and oatmeal.  You were not a fan of the prunes (can't blame you) but you've enjoyed everything else.  I have been making your baby food using the babybrezza system that Sis. Bobbie Jo let us borrow.  I love using it and it makes me feel better knowing that I am saving a little bit of $$$!  The solids haven't completely fixed your tummy problems so we're going to add 4oz of diluted white grape juice to your diet and see how that helps.  You eat one meal a day - about 1-2 Tbs of oatmeal mixed with about an ounce of fruit and an ounce of formula.  I also offered you a sippy the other day with a little bit of formula.  I think more dribbled out of your mouth than made it in your belly.


You roll all over the place and you can now sit up unassisted for a brief period of time.  You're still a ways from crawling I think because you haven't gotten up on your knees yet.  You're still pretty stingy with your laughs, although you're very ticklish and that usually gets a chuckle.  You recognize your family and smile big when you see your brother or sisters come into the room.  You love to grab hair, especially Kinley's hair...and she loves it when you grab her hair too!  I'm amazed at how much Kinley loves you and I can see how much you love her too.  We've gotten in a routine of you two taking baths together and now Kinley won't even consider taking a bath unless you come too.  And at bedtime, Kinley always asks "Is Sophie sleeping with me tonight?"  Ahh bedtime...you and Kinley officially share a room.  Kinley sleeps great with you there with her.  You, however, are another story.  You go to bed around 8:30!  We usually put you in your bed wide awake, turn on your turtle, give you a binky and lovely and you are fast asleep in a few minutes.  But then you wake up around 5:00am most mornings and need your binky put back in.  You go right back to sleep, but a lot of times you've tossed your binky out of the bed and we have trouble finding it in the dark.  We really can't do the cry-it-out technique since you share a room, so we continue to get up at 5:00am.


Your 6 months Stats are:
Height: 25" - 24%
Weight: 14lbs. 7oz. - 20%
Head Cir.: - 17 1/4" - 85%

Today at your doctor appointment you got 2 shots plus a flu vaccine.  You will go back in about 4 weeks for your flu booster.  At that time, the doctor will also check your head circumference.  Since your head circumference is in such a higher percentile than the rest of your body it's something we need to keep an eye on.  We are not overly concerned since you are meeting all your milestones, but we do need to watch to make sure your progress does not slow/stop as that could indicate an issue.  But again, NO ONE is worried...you just gots a biggie noggin!

Sunday, December 9, 2012

"I'm Gettin' Nuttin For Christmas"

I know pretty much everyone has seen this on instagram or facebook, but I just needed to document this for myself here too!

Kinley has always been our child with stranger anxiety pretty much from birth!  She has been talking some big stuff about going to see Santa this year and asking Santa to bring her an Ariel Pillow for Christmas.  So we all piled into the car and headed to the mall to visit Mr. S.C.  While waiting in line, she was waving to him and smiling at him and singing to Sophie "You better not cry...I'm telling you why."  So our turn comes and we walk up to Santa and she instantly takes a death grip on Abbey's neck.  So we get Sophie situated on his knee and I take Kinley from Abbey.  I'm talking to her and telling her how nice Santa is and how Abbey, Brady and Sophie are going to be right next to her.  Needless to say, we didn't buy any photos (this was one that Matthew snapped on his phone).  We've made progress tho, at least we got her to sit on Santa's lap this year!


Tuesday, December 4, 2012

"Give A Day"

For the month of December, I have challenged my kids, my husband, but mostly myself to take the time to do something generous or thoughtful or helpful for someone EVERY SINGLE DAY.  I told them that it can not be someone in our immediate family and each night at dinner we discuss what we were able to accomplish that day.  It is a way to get us all to think about others and not ourselves.

We started it on December 1st and I think Brady has worked the hardest of all of us to accomplish this challenge.  And it is a challenge.  I know for myself, I am at home A LOT with the little girls and often don't have contact with anyone outside of our family.  Brady was on the verge of tears Monday night because none of the teachers he offered to help throughout the day took him up on his offer.  I explained to him that this was not meant to make him feel bad about himself.  The point of it is to make them think about others and that is what  he did...even if no one accepted his help.

We have been so blessed in this life and I want my children to not only appreciate all that they have been given, but also learn to share...share their love, their time, their heart.

Friday, October 26, 2012

In it to win it

I've got to brag on my kiddos just a bit! At the beginning of the school year Abbey asked her Daddy if he would buy her an iPad if she got straight A's all year.  And without hesitation he said sure! Then, of course Brady wanted in on that deal too.  So Matthew made the kids a deal: if they were able to average straight A's at the end of the school year he would buy each of them an iPad.  This means that the kids would be allowed a B once in the school year in each subject and still be able to get a final grade of A's.  Me being the party pooper that I am said "Give me a break we ARE NOT buying 2 iPads" but after seeing the reaction and the determination on the kids faces, I reluctantly agreed. 

I am proud to say that BOTH kids are still in it.  Abbey got straight A's this nine weeks and Brady got 2 B's and the rest A's.  It has been a VERY stressful few weeks as we have had some issues with both kids' teachers.  But today was the grade deadline and everything is official now!  Both the kids go to magnet schools with advanced curriculums.  Abbey is in an IB (international baccalaureate) school and Brady's school is the leading school in STEM curriculum.  Needless to say, A's are not easily achieved.  In addition to Brady's daily school, he is also taking a math class through Polk Virtual School.  He is taking a 6th grade class(and he's only in 4th grade).  And, oh yeah he's got a 98.6% in that class as well.  His teacher had a phone assessment with him today and told him he "was the only student to get all the answers she asked correct without having to stop and think."  Now if we can just make it through the next 3 quarters with fewer issues teacher wise.  I think I'm more stressed out about school now than I EVER was when I was actually taking the classes.

Alternate Titles:
  • Proud Momma
  • I will either be completely gray or completely bald by the end of the school year
  • Paying for the Grades...yeah we do that
  • iCentives

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Remember When...

Remember when I used to write on this blog?   Remember when I used to have witty creative posts like "why I don't fist bump" anymore or "how to avoid ironing at all costs."  Remember when I didn't live out of my vehicle and shuffle kids all over creation for hours and hours of my day.  Yeah, I don't really remember that one either.


One of these days I shall return to my funny ways.  Please bare with me.  Please don't leave me.  I will work REALLY hard to improve my creative juices!  In the meantime, I will leave you with some random information:

Abbey and Brady have been challenged this year.  Matthew has offered to buy them each an iPad if they are able to achieve a straight A average in school this year.

Kinley's favorite sayings at 2 1/2 years old are: "I can't hear you" "Change your attitude" "Maybe" "Show me" "I so proud of you" & "Sophie smiled at me"
Also, Kinley has learned how to jump and jumps every where she goes.


Sophie at 4 months old can roll from her back to her belly(and belly to back) in the blink of an eye.  She can grab at toys.  She can stand supported.  She smiles at just about everything, but is stingy with her laughs. Was just transitioned to her crib...which means the two littles are now officially sharing a room.  I'm sure I could list more, but it's late and I can't think of anything else.

Sophie's 4 month old stats:
height: 23 1/2" - 20%
weight: 12lbs 6oz. - 20%
head cir: 16 1/4" - 58%

Saturday, August 11, 2012

New Year's Resolutions

What? It's not January?

I know it's not January, but I feel like as a mom of school aged kids, I get a second chance to make changes.  At the beginning of the school year, I always get the urge to tweak what is working and revamp what hasn't worked.  After having the whole summer off and having "go with it" days, the new school year brings new activities and new schedules into our routine.  And especially since we have added a fourth child to the mix, I am really going to need to be on my 'A' game in order to stay organized and accomplish all that needs to be done.

One of the big changes we are preparing to make this school year is making allowing the kids to ride the bus to school two mornings a week.  With the kids attending the magnet schools, it is a good 20-30 minute drive each way then add car line in the afternoons and I am spending 2.5 hours in the car each day...now add on the cost of fuel and you get one grumpy momma!  Fortunately, even though the kids are at two different schools they will ride the same bus and it picks up right in front of our subdivision.

Another change that I will be making is something that is going to require a lot more dedication and determination on my part.  I'll be honest with you, my housekeeping skillz have have been sporadic at best.  Sure I keep the kitchen cleaned and toys picked up (most days), but the weekly chores often go undone.  And that's WITH the big kids responsible for cleaning their own bathrooms and vacuuming/dusting their own bedrooms.  So I will be attempting a daily chore chart for myself.  In the past I have always done all my cleaning on one day, but with a big pregnant belly for a number of months and now a newborn, trying to block off an entire day is just not feasible.  Please pray for me that I will not let the distractions of the world (ie. facebook, blogs and of course baby sugars) prevent me from accomplishing my responsibilities.

So there we go...I bid you all a happy new year...new school year that is!  What does the new school year bring out in you?