Me, Him, and our Little Birds

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Our Family Photos!!

Whoa was I ever excited to get the email this morning with all of our brand spankin' new family photos from Amanda.

There were a lot, and for the sake of time I only posted my favourites...which were most of them actually. But I didn't repost any that you already saw in the "teasers". Had to be efficient here. Please excuse my little comments throughout, I couldn't help it.

Take a look!

(In case you were wondering, this is my absolute favourite out of them all with the 4 of us and I hope to blow up and hang in our living room. woo hoo!)

(The Wren Face.)

(Really, there is nothing sweeter than this one.)

(My runner up of the 4 of us)

Not sure how we are going to be able to decide what goes on the walls! Thanks again Amanda... ah-mazing.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

That Ol' P.T. Business

I have purposely not updated you on potty training. Since I last posted about trying to train Wren, it was a complete disaster. Tantrums, screaming, crying. She pushed back so hard that we gave up again at that time. Then I didn't want to talk about it because I felt like a failure and was frustrated.

As I began thinking about planning her 3rd birthday, I realized that day was already coming soon- next month!! And I wanted to try her again with the P.T. to see if she would be a little more, ahem, receptive.
So, I picked a cold week (this one) and resolved to stay home the whole week. No play groups. No play dates. No errand running. No walks...oh wait that's because I'm a sissy with the recent cold weather, not because of training.
I pulled out her box of big-girl undies, and tried a new approach.
I brought the little potty to the kitchen- a more friendly space than the bathroom perhaps.
I had chocolate goldfish crackers handy as small rewards just for sitting on the potty alone. Bonus if she went.
But besides those things, I had a secret weapon...the thing she loves the most in the whole wide world...
The Soother.

I know. I know!! Sounds ridiculous. She's almost 3. A soother??

But it's totally working. She lives for the Soother. She always try to steal it from Ellie's crib or anywhere it is put down when Ellie isn't using it. We find her in corners, head down, madly sucking on that Soother and freaking out when we take it away.

The rule is she only gets it while on the potty. It's more motivating than treats or stickers combined.

I'm on Day 3 of P.T., and she doesn't tantrum the same way she did that last go around. She WANTS to wear her undies..!!! She actually gets mad when we have to put on a diaper at bed time. She wants to sit on the "big" potty in the bathroom with her little seat.

There are still lots of accidents, but she is slowly getting it.

I'm tired. I'm sick of only being at home and feeling worn out by constantly sticking her on that toilet every 20 minutes or so and asking her every 5 min if she has to go. But it's happening. It's really happening this time. We have this quiet little joy growing in us, because this has been a long time coming. (Remind you of sleep training? Ha!..ha..sigh.)

Anyway, it seems the stars have aligned and Wren is ready and we're going for it. Next time you see her, give that kid a high five!

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has passed, yes, but my photos weren't ready until now. I've been busy, what can I say? Hope you all had a good one.

4 generations with Ellie this year!

Reading stories. Picture was snapped exactly 0.2 seconds before Wren looked up and told me to get lost with the camera. Ah, toddlers.

Wren and Uncle Kyle playing "Doctor". It's her new favourite game.

"Okay, you be a patient and I be a Doctor. You Betsy." (You just have to go along with it).

Ellie and Uncle Kyle bonding.

My mom had a great idea this year to have Wren paint pumpkins. It was a HIT.

Wren was kind enough to share a pumpkin for myself and Andrea to paint. She painted the other 3.

Ellie and Uncle Cam. She's a friendly baby and likes everyone. Such a remarkable contrast to her sister.

Ellie loved Great Grandma Elfrieda's scarf. We had to rescue Grandma once from Ellie's death grip.

And for good ol' times sake, another 4 generation picture with the Neufeld side.

As Wren walked by, we snatched her and the goldfish crackers up for a photo. We may look happy here but we're all secretly dying because Wren had a poo and it was toxic.

As I tried to write this post, both my kids woke up about 10 times. I can't believe I still find time to do this. (Oh I know why, it's all thanks to "autosave". Yes!)