Bunny Flop

I feel like a bit of a bunny flop in this years pre-Easter celebrations. Anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE a holiday.  Any reason to decorate, craft, have fun, or celebrate I am in!

I knew Easter was the week after Kyle's birthday and hence a week after his party so I didn't put out my Easter decor. Mostly because I didn't want too much decor in the house.  B-day party stuff and Easter stuff.  I didn't want to take anything away from Kyle's day. and I certainly didn't want the house to look too tacky.

After Kyles party I ended up with quite a stomach bug and was knocked off my feet this week.  Yesterday I was feeling truly depressed and like I let my little ones down this Easter season.  No Easter crafts, no decorations throughout the house, we didn't visit the Easter Bunny, I didn't even prepare everything for the Easter Bunny to come to the house!  I did find some solace in that they did decorate Easter eggs with Grandma Koo-Koo aka Jay's Mom (they refer to her as Grandma coo-coo because she has a clock that they love).  But I still needed to step up!

So I handled everything for the bunny so he can come to our house, last night...go me!  I felt much better.  This morning however my little ones were literally begging me to take them to see the Easter Bunny.  How could I refuse?  So, I dressed them in their Easter outfits and it was off to the mall we went.  They were so excited to see the bunny, and even talked about having their picture with him.  So when it was our turn.....

it didn't go very well.

 

At least I feel better about some pre-Easter must-do's.

 

I am feeling better, and I am looking forward to a wonderful Easter Sunday full of egg hunts, food, family and love.  Despite the picture I think the kids will look forward to the Easter Bunny coming this weekend too =)

 

Happy Easter!

Had to Post

So I have been sick the last few days.  Like, real sick! I won't go into the gory details.Really who wants gross  breakdowns to anothers illness?  But it does have a funny baby story attached to it.  Which is why I am sharing it here:

Kyle: Mommy I have to go pee

Mommy:  Daddy will take you baby

Kyle: No,Mommy take me

Mommy: Kyle, my tummy hurts and my butt is on fire please let Daddy take you pee. (yes I know not necessarily appropriate but I don't feel well and I had another baby hanging on me)

Kyle: No Mommy I don't want to go pee.  No my bum on fire.

Mommy: No baby you won't catch on fire. Mommy is just sick.

Kyle: Daddy I have to go pee

 

(a few minutes go by)

Kyle: Mommy is your bum still on fire?

Mommy: No bubby I'm OK.

Kyle: So, mommy is all better. She put out the fire?

Ahhhh kids.  They can ever make a shitty situation a little brighter =)

Birthday Boy!!!!!

Today my baby boy turns 3!!!  I swear once you have babies time flies faster.  I can remember exactly what I was thinking and feeling at this hour 3 years ago, like it was yesterday. Kyle chose his birthday theme "The Little Einsteins" .  Yesterday we celebrated him and his big day with friends and family.

We decorated the house. In Little Einsteins everything =)

Thanks to my sister in law Karen; Kyle had the perfect cake.  He was SO EXCITED to see Red Rocket on his cake.  All the kids had to have a slice of Rocket cake. We couldn't slice it fast enough!

Daddy and Kyle had on their matching b-day T-shirts.  Really, they matched head to toe =)



I have to admit I got a little teary eyed singing Happy Birthday again this year. However, I did hold it together enough to actually sing the song.

The presents!  My goodness all the presents!  I have to admit though with all the help from all the other kids at the party I can not recall everything Kyle got.  It all happened so fast.  I do know he is one lucky and loved little kid who got a lot of really nice clothes and super fun toys.

Despite chilly temperatures the kids ventured outside for fun.

Everyone (adults too) got to play with all of Kyle's new and old toys.

Hailey got to Diva it up.

All of the cousins formed a baby band. (I missed a lot of great shots of all the kids in the band)

Lucas was actually awake for some of the party!

Uncle Al and Uncle Chris made Kyle's cranky afternoon so much brighter by putting together his "red motorcycle). He was so excited he had to get his hammer to help =)

I REALLY hope fun was had by all!  I think everyone enjoyed themselves with all the food, treats and FUN!  I know this Birthday Boy did!

I can't thank everyone enough for making the four of us feel so special.  The gifts, the love, the generosity.  It is all so truly appreciated by the four of us.  We are so blessed to have so many amazing people in our lives. 

I am so blessed to have my family.  But on this day: April 17th I feel beyond words lucky to have my Kyle in my life.  He has changed my universe and I love him for that everyday.

Happy Birthday to a little boy who has incredible personality, a fantastic imagination, a kind caring heart, and a mommy who loves him beyond words.  You truly amaze me everyday Tidbit.

Happy Birthday Kyle. May this be your best birthday yet!

More Pissah News!

I think it is official Kyle is potty trained! Now, poopy trained not so much.  We are in pull- ups for a few more days but then I am going to transition him to big boy potty pants all the time.  I think, maybe.....

Despite all of our business and fun he didn't pee in his pull-ups at all these last few days.  The other day when we went to get his haircut he needed to pee and I brought him in the bathroom.  I forgot our mini potty travel seat, but I did have "potty protectors".  The first time we went in Kyle freaked out a little about having to sit on the big potty.  He still won't use the one at home.  BUT he asked to go a second time and BINGO he WENT!  I am just happy I am as ridiculous as I am that I had my camera in my pocket and captured his first potty on the toilet outside the home.  What can I tell ya?  I know I am ridiculous and I am proud of it =)

Hailey is doing well, but she is still little.  Heck she is 1 for another month so I am not expecting her to be perfect. However, she does ask to go on the potty and (I think) is doing REALLY well.

So proud of my babies!!!

Aww

Awwww.  Snuggle Buddies =)



P3

I need to mommy vent for a minute.  This whole potty training thing...its kinda gross!  AND I thought them both training at the same time would be easy....but its not! 

I feel like there is pee everywhere!  Granted, I know, and I assure you all there is not. 

Kyle is doing really well. He is in pull-ups full time and even asked to wear his "buzz lightyear big boy underwear".  He is also sitting on the little potty now; which is a huge score because the whole standing to pee thing wasn't working for me.  Pee all over everything!  Although in his defense, it was only when he would first start to pee, once he hit the mark he was good to go =)

Of course after an hour in his big boy underwear he pooped in them. SO GROSS! Miss. Hailey also pooped a few minutes later but did so on my bedroom floor.  I know, GROSS!  Needless to say Lysol and bleach are basicly attached to my hip.

I LOVE that they are doing so well.  I do, I really do.  BUT everytime Kyle goes, Hailey has to go.  Though we all know she just wants the sticker.  She will trickle a bit.  A few times she has come to me on her own, and had great pees, but for the most part, just little trickles.  Which is still good, great even.  The problem is after Kyle sits to pee she starts yelling "my turn, I have to pee" in my small echoing bathroom.  As I celebrate Kyle's victory, pour his pee in the big toilet so he can flush, she is yelling and hanging on me.  Where I turn to her pulling her pants down and I lysol the entire mini toilet so she can pee, and try to pull Kyles up as he is jumping for a sticker.  He picks a sticker, she jumps off the potty demanding a sticker. I have to applaude her mini pee puddle.  It takes her 5 minutes to choose a sticker and Kyle is right there helping her pick, which often times annoys her.  She FINALLY chooses after what feels like forever and they take another 5 minutes to put the sticker on the correct day.  I am then pulling her pants up and they both run to the toilet again to flush her pee.  Where they fight about who is flushing and if it is OK for the other one to help flush.  Where I can then pull up Haileys pants, take a second to breathe and get my cool back all in our tiny bathroom.  Sound annoying or even a little frustrating? It is! All day!

However, I also have to admit my patience has not exactly been the best considering I have been sick and feeling awful all week.  But really over all they are doing well and I am so PROUD of them.  We have really made a lot of positive leaps and bounds.  I just have to get them to poop on the potty. AND I would like for them to sit on the "big potty" becauseI think the little one is gross and cleaining it after each pee and tinkle in between each child is a lot!

We will get there. We are getting there.  Like I said I just needed to mommy vent for a minute. 

I do have one funny pee story: Kyle came to me and said "I have to pee mama".  I went in the bathroom and helped him with his pants.  I then went out to get something and he called me back in to watch him.  I don't know why they need me to watch.  Needless to say Hailey was in the bathroom cheering him on.  I looked at his face. He smiled at me and held eye contact.  You could tell he was trying to get the pee out.  We are still looking at each other.  He had a cute little grin how could I not look at him.  Suddenly in my periferal vision I see something.  It is PEE streaming across to the other side of the bathroom and hitting the curtain. Of course we all laughed! "Did you see that Mama? Sorry Mama, sorry"  it was a precious fun moment; and then a little gross.  Don't worry I washed the shower curtain in the machine and lysoled the bathroom again =) but still FUNNY =)

Thanks for listening, or well, reading =)

Take a Picture

My children hugged and asked me to take a picture.

I had to oblige, and of course share it with you =)

BEWARE!

It's fishing season!

I know how much my husband enjoys fishing. I also know and appreciate how hard he works for us.  So, if he wants a little down time to get out on the water and cast I try to understand.

Apparently this winter was LONG and he has gone a little stir crazy:



Yup, that is his boat on top of a bunch of yard work and topped off with our recyclable cardboard.

But, this morning was even better:

 America, I am sorry my husband is a crazed idiot.  Please beware of him on the road.  He is not on drugs just crazed for fishing.

ABC

Hailey randomly started singning her ABC's while painting.  I was lucky enough to capture it.



Not bad for a 1 year old =)

Its the little things that make a mommy smile =)

Pissah 2

Wondering how potty training is going in the DeVincent home?

Well, OK I guess.

As you can see Thursday and Friday were really good, any little tinkle ended up in the potty.

Saturday morning Hailey went on the potty.  Kyle wanted to help Daddy outside. I knew putting him in big boy potty pants was a huge risk. However, he did so well Thursday and Friday coming out from his room or coming up from downstairs to use the potty I thought it was worth a try.  Obviously that didn't go so well. Hailey peed herself and as I was changing her he came in soaked.

I assured them both it was OK it was an accident.  I also asked Kyle if he wanted big boy pants again and he said YES.  I thought well, maybe since he was wet once and he didn't like the feeling he will come in. Nope. Within 5 minutes he had pooped.  So off with the big boy pants and on with the pull ups. Despite the 2 accidents it was a move in the right direction a.) he actually wore big boy underwear and b.) he wore pull-ups.  So that was a WIN in my book.

Sunday was similar to Saturday.  Kyle work pull-ups all day and actually came in from outside once to pee on the potty.  Better than nothing =)

Today was better.  Both wore pull-ups.  Kyle peed 5 times on the potty.  3 of those times were tonight when he should have been sleeping, but hey at least he got out of bed to pee on the potty AND another win: he would pee with his pants at his feet instead of having to get completely naked.  He still won't sit on the potty  so we do need to work on his aim. But a win is a win and I will take what I can.  Of course Hailey is his #1 cheerleader.  She follows him in everytime he goes and claps and says "good job Kyle".  Then she has to try.  I guess her copying everything he does has its benefits sometimes =)

So I'm not the greatest potty trainer.  At least we are making progress.  I admire all those moms who have expert potty trainers in a day.  My children are going to take it slow and steady.  I do recommend the stickers as a reward. My kids LOVE them and I feel a little better because I am not rewarding them with food =)

Happy peeing =)

Love!

 

 

 

Want to know what I love MOST about my kids?

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They love one another!

  On our walk today they held hands as we walked around the neighborhood.

At naptime earlier today Kyle crawled into Haileys crib to cuddle and she rubbed his head to help him fall asleep.

If I pretend to leave Hailey behind Kyle always calls out for his sister.

The other day I gave Kyle a choice to stay home or come with me to the store. He decided he wanted to stay home with Daddy and Hailey had to stay with him. Well, Hailey wanted to come and so he had to come with me as well.

If Hailey cries or gets hurt or if they tiff he always hugs her and apologizes if it calls for it.

Hailey kissed Kyles boo-boo when he bumped his head the other day.

 

So as much as they fight.  Though some of those fights are knock down drag out fights; and sometimes they drive me CRAZY. I know deep down they have a lot of love for one another.

I pray that as they grow up they are close and always love and respect one another.  I imagine a future where Kyle has to watch which friends “sleep over” and that they stay away from his sister.  I can see Haileys girlfriends coming over and flirting with her big brother. 

It might be a crazy future, but it will be a future full of love.

Mani/Pedi

It was a beautiful day outside.  Warm, sunny and bright.  Kyle was napping.  Daddy was working on the house and the yard.  So, Hailey and I were left to find our own fun. Hailey needed her nails trimmed and that just turned into a little pedicure.

Off to the bathroom we went to the nail polish bin to try and find an appropriate color for a 1 year old. We found one! Purple, that rainbows and sparkles.

It was so cool!  She loved it!

In fact, she couldn't get enough!

If it were up to her I would be on my 100th coat out there polishing away.

It was fun for me to dress up her toes, and fun for her because she loved it!

She showed everyone she could her painted toe nails.  Maybe this will be a little thing for us.  Maybe we can get mani/pedis together =) It might be a little too soon, but she does love them.  Her Daddy is in BIG trouble with this Diva Girl =)

Yay, Another first! =)

Wicked Pissah

Today was a wicked pissah day (Bostonians completely understand this term)!

Why??

Because I had 2 babies go on the POTTY today!!!

You have to understand I have been trying to potty train Kyle for a while now!  He just had NO interest in even sitting on the potty.  Today was a new day.  A potty day.

Just after noon I thought lets try this again.  I brought the potty out to the living room and Hailey volunteered to sit on it.  We took off the clothing on the lower half of her and Kyle lost his clothes too.  I couldn't believe it!

There was genuine interest in the potty!  YAY!

Hailey was the first to hop on and try. She tried and tried. 

We tried by drinking a lot of water.

We even played catch while trying to pee.

But guess who went first?

THIS GUY!

Here is the funniest part...he would NOT pee sitting down. This was just the only appropriate shot for internet purposes.  He HAD to pee standing up!  I guess kids really do learn a lot just by watching (LOL).

I was super impressed by Kyle.  Around 5pm he was playing in his room all by himself and then he came running out, half naked (I love seeing his little bum) stood over the potty and peed. All by himself!  I have to say for a first timer his aim was pretty good, and thankfully improved throughout the day. =)

I first rewarded them with 5 M &M's.  The second time Kyle peed he wanted carrots, (weirdo).  Hailey finally peed because she was determined to get M&M's.  But that reward came and went and what lasted.....

Stickers!!!! I tried this before, but this time it actually worked. So with only 1 chart and 2 sticker books with their names on them I had the perfect reward

Look how many there are!  We had to overlap..a lot! 

So whats my game plan?  I bought all new underwear (Kyle outgrew the ones I had bought at X-mas).  Hailey got Princess & Minnie Mouse panties; and Kyle got Super Why, Mickey Mouse, Buzz Lightyear, and boxer briefs (just in case) I also got some pull ups.  Hailey wore her Princess underwear, and had her first accident.  Kyle REFUSED to even try his underwear on.  So this weekend, despite the nice weather we are supposed to have I am thinking we will be house bound probably half naked (them not me) potty training. It took this long for them to get interested and excited about it; I am not going to do ANYTHING to blow it.

Wish me luck and a wicked pissah weekend =)