Potty Training Bootcamp: Day 3

Well, this is a day late. Yesterday was our 3 year anniversary and the boys went to mama and papa's for the day. So no potty training Bootcamp happened. We're going to give it another go next week.

Potty Training Bootcamp: Day 2

Well today was Day 2 of Potty Training Bootcamp. It's been a slow process. I'm beginning to think that this is going to take longer than 3 days. I keep reading that every child is different. So, I'm torn on what to do... Keep going or take a break after tmw. I know Gabe is old enough and I know he understands. The question is: "Is HE ready!?" If he's not ready then he's just not ready. I think I'll stick it out through the end of the week at least.

Anyway today- well today wasn't easy. Gabe did pee in the potty but that was only after he POOPED in the floor. To say I was disgusted and aggravated is an understatement. But, I kept my cool and took him straight to the potty and again, I explained how we go poop on the big boy potty and not in the floor. It was a lot of the same thing as yesterday. Hopefully we get there soon! Tomorrow's another day. Oh & it's also our 3 Year Anniversary! 

Potty Training Bootcamp: Day 1

This post is a little late due to the fact that both boys thought it'd be fun to stay up until 1 a.m. Seriously this has got to stop!

Anyway, today was Day 1 of Potty Training Bootcamp for Gabriel. We tried this a few months ago but only lasted a day. This time we're hitting it full force. I know there are a couple different approaches to this Bootcamp- but in my opinion you find what works for your child and you.

Here's our approach: Most say that the Bootcamp takes 3 days. I knew that I needed to do this at a time when I knew we could stay home all day for 3 straight days. No interruptions (i.e. Doctors appointments, errands...) So this week is perfect. 

I started by explaining to Gabe the night before that he was going to start going potty on the big boy potty. I also explained that if he started going In the big boy potty that at the end of our 3 days he could go pick out a new car. (It can be any toy but with Gabe a new car does the trick!) Today, I sat him down on the potty after we had woken up. We sit for about 10 minutes each time. I let him go diaper free after that. I took him back to the potty every 15-20 minutes. Each time encouraging him to go potty. I did put his big boy undies on him 2 times today in between trips. He peed in both I them. 

I prepared myself for accidents since I knew it was inevitable. My main goal for today was to get him used to sitting on the potty and to get him to realize when he needs to go so he wouldn't go on the floor. 

Now, there's a few important things that I find to be vital during this Bootcamp. 1) Always encourage him and praise him for at least trying. 2) Don't get discouraged when he doesn't go. 3) Do not get mad when he has accidents on the floor. That's a big one! Gabe only peed on the floor twice today. Each time he told me immediately after he did it. I explained to him why he needs to go in the potty instead of on the floor. I also praised him for at least telling me that he went. Then I took him back to the bathroom and sat him on the toilet and again I explained that he goes potty in the big boy potty. Nap time was the only time that he had a diaper on today. We also put a diaper on during supper and he had it on after that until bedtime. 

Gabe likes to watch Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. On the show the song a song "If you have to go potty- Stop and go right away! Flush and wash and be on your way!" We sing this song.... A Lot! It not only teaches him but also helps him to realize that when he feels that urge to go it's ok to stop playing and go to the potty. A few months ago he was actually watching that episode and asked if he could go potty! :) 

We also have a Potty Chart. I explained to Gabe that everytime he goes potty in the big boy potty he will get to put a sticker on his chart. I made the chart Mickey Mouse themed so he would like it. We have one star already- but that's from te first time we tried the Bootcamp. 

Overall, today was successful. I'm hoping that tomorrow will be even better and he will at least go in the potty. :) 

Checking out his potty chart! 

Lincoln joining in on the fun! 

Showing off his big boy undies! 

Potty Training Bootcamp

Today we are giving the "Potty Training Bootcamp" another try. Say a little prayer for us! I'll be updating nightly on our progress!

Cherishing Late Nights & Early Mornings

Sleep. It's something that I LOVE and don't get enough of. Before having kids, I enjoyed sleeping in. I loved the days that I could sleep in and not have to be at work until 11:00 a.m. Ah YES! Those were the days. 

I prayed and prayed that my boys would enjoy sleep as much as I do. Guess what!? They don't! :) Yes, my boys have been keeping me up late and getting me up extra early these days. Lincoln used to sleep from around 9:00 p.m. to 9:00 or 9:30 a.m. Now, I'm lucky if he goes to sleep before midnight. On the bright side, he does sleep in now until around 10:00 a.m. Gabriel used to go to sleep by 10:00 p.m. and he would wake up around 8:30 a.m. or 9:00 a.m. Now I'm lucky if he goes to sleep before 2:00 a.m. Seriously... what is going on!? haha. 

Last night, Lincoln would not go to sleep for anything! I was blaming it on his teeth, but the fact that he was wide awake and ready to play made me realize that his teeth were not the problem. Tonight, I put Gabriel in bed and started my nightly cleaning up chores and worked on a few orders. I went to check on him about an hour later and he had managed to get the iPad off of the bathroom counter where it was charging and take it into bed with him. He was watching Curious George on Netflix. So I thought, "Ok, he'll fall asleep watching this... he looks tired." About 30 minutes later I went to check on him again... this time he was in the bathroom trying to get the iPad back on the counter to charge because it had died. He's seriously too smart. How in the world does he know to do this!? 

What's a mother to do? I sent him upstairs to Jesse and he sat on his lap for about 30 minutes and passed out. Whew! I'm glad. 

You would think that with them going to bed so late, they would sleep in. However, Gabe NEVER sleeps in. Despite what time he goes to bed, he is always wide awake by 9:00 a.m. He sleeps in our bed... so I always here this sweet little voice saying "Momma...momma... play with cars!?" He doesn't sit still until I'm awake. Now, I will say that there have been some days when he'll sneak out of bed and go to the living room and play for a bit and then come back into bed and wake me up. But- those days are few and far between. And of course, when he goes into the living room to play, Lincoln hears him and wakes up. And SO the day begins. 

A few nights ago was the worst! Lincoln woke up at 2:00 a.m. I thought for sure that he'd go back to sleep. NOPE! He was wide awake and ready to party....despite all of my best efforts to get him to go back to sleep. Gabriel got woken up by all the "partying" (netflix) around 4:00 a.m. Again, despite my best efforts he didn't go back to sleep either. Can we say EXHAUSTED and MAD? I mean, who wants to be up at those hours? I decided to let Lincoln cry it out and took Gabe back to bed. Jesse couldn't take it and of course brought Lincoln into the bedroom. ANd so-  we were up. It wasn't even light outside. No one should be awake that early if they don't have to be. What's worse? Both boys were wide awake and ready to play! They weren't even tired. I brought a pillow and cuddled with my blanket on the couch while both boys played. I put the baby gate up and blocked the living and dining (Lincoln's room) off with his crib. I contained them to one area, turned on Mickey Mouse and laid down on the couch. I had bottles ready, food ready, and cheerios within arms reach. I told myself to give them an hour and they'd be ready for bed. NOOOO! Bring on 8:00 a.m. and Gabe finally laid down. It was another hour or so before Lincoln finally passed out. Now, someone please tell me the secret to getting them to sleep again! 

I know I may sound like I'm complaining... and let's face it, I am. However, I do realize that one day they're going to be grown up and they won't need me to get them back to sleep or cuddle with them. So even though I dislike those early mornings and late night... I am taking the time to cherish those little moments with my boys. After all, it's during these times that Gabe says the funniest things and he is the sweetest little boy ever! And Lincoln, well he's just as sweet too. They smile or laugh and it sure does make those late nights and early mornings worth it. 

I guess what I'm saying is... don't get too frustrated with your kids if they're not operating on "your schedule." Take the time and cherish those little moments. Those are the moments that count. 

Christmas, Birthday, Fitness & 2 1/2 Years Old!

Hey Friends! 

I realize that I haven't updated in quite some time. I could give you a million excuses but the truth of it is... I just don't find the time to sit down and blog. How sad is that? Life with 2 little boys is crazy... not to mention during this Holiday season! 

Speaking of my 2 little boys... big news now is that Lincoln is officially CRAWLING!! And when I say crawling... I mean he is crawling EVERYWHERE! He used to just stay in the living room. That is, until a few days ago when he discovered that there is life and room all throughout the house. Did I mention that everything goes into his mouth as well? I swear, there could be a tiny piece of paper 20 feet from him and he finds it! How do they do that? So, I've been CONSTANTLY vacuuming and cleaning to keep that little man safe. Oh & he's pulling up now too. Yeah, he thinks he's big stuff. I was prepared for this. I knew that he would catch on much faster since he has Gabriel to show him. But I wasn't prepared for him to go straight from crawling to standing. Tonight he even stood up and let go of the table and stood there for a few seconds on his own. MAN OH MAN! I've got a lot of work cut out for me. 

The past few weeks have been crazy busy for us. Jesse turned 24 on December 20th! We had his side of the family over on the 21st to celebrate and we also did Christmas with his Brother & Sister's families as well. It was fun and we had a house full of kids to entertain us as well. Gabriel Lee was also officially 2 1/2 years old on the 20th! Where does the time go? I know, I know... I say that all the time. But seriously? My tiny, precious baby boy is growing up on me. And I DO NOT LIKE it at all! Can we just pause time and let him be my baby boy for a while longer? Please!? 

I can't even begin to explain how excited I was for Christmas this year. I've been buying things here and there for a while now and I couldn't wait for Gabe to see all of his presents. Not to mention the fact that I LOVE decorating for Christmas. Heck, Christmas is my favorite Holiday in general. This year was the first time we've had a mantle to decorate and let me tell you... I was super pumped and super excited on how it turned out. See the pics below! 

Here's how our Christmas Holiday went: 

On Christmas Eve we headed up to Jesse's mom's to celebrate and have dinner with them. We picked up some Fried Chicken and his mom and stepdad made the sides. It was delish. Then we exchanged gifts and just hung out while the kids played. Gabe got the new Go GO Smart Wheels and he absolutely loved it. That boy sure does love his cars. Lincoln just had a great time crawling all around and getting attention, as always. 

That night, Jesse and I brought down all of the presents after the boys went to bed. We had a ball pit to blow up- sadly, it took both of us to get it done. That thing takes A LOT of air. haha. Santa brought the boys their very own "Santa" bags with their names on them. I bought these last year after Christmas at Walmart and couldn't wait to use them this year. We stuffed some of their smaller presents in them to make them look nice and full. Then we stuffed their stockings and relaxed on our NEW couch while watching "It's A Wonderful Life." Apparently watching this movie is a tradition for Jesse. I can't say that I've ever watched the movie in its entirety so I was excited to see it. Sadly, I fell asleep after the 2nd hour. I was exhausted... and I can never make it through a movie late at night...especially when I'm wrapped in a blanket on the couch. :) 

Christmas morning Gabriel woke Jesse and I up around 9:00. That sweet boy let us sleep in just a little bit. Lincoln wasn't even awake yet, so we had to get him up so we could all do Christmas together. Gabe was super excited... but not as excited as I thought he would be. We started with the stockings and Gabe LOVED it. He got a stuffed "Horton" from "Horton Hears a Who" (one of his faves) and like 5 trucks plus some candy. He LOVED the trucks and was perfectly satisfied with those. So satisfied that we had to MAKE him open the rest of his gifts. That boy made out with the jackpot! He got tons and tons of cars plus a stuffed "Sully" from "Monsters, Inc." (another fave). Lincoln of course didn't really know what was going on...but he did have a good time watching and playing with some new toys. My favorite toy that we got for both of them was an activity cube box made by B. Brand from Target. It was probably our most expensive purchase but the boys LOVE playing with it! I especially love this brand of toys and was super excited that we got it for them. 

That afternoon we headed over to my parent's house for lunch. As always, it was a blast. We did our annual Christmas Exchange (which is always fun and interesting), played some games, ate A LOT of good food, and that night we did gifts with my parents. Gabe got a barn set that had a "cow" and "goat" so he was set. That boy loves his animals. The boys also got several of their favorite movies... Monsters University, Despicable Me & UP! We've already watched them all several times. Even though we have all but Monsters U recorded on the tv. haha. 

The next day we headed over to my brothers house to do another round of Christmas. We had Fried FISH (which I LOVE)! The boys got some more gifts and we played some ping pong and had YUMMY Margaritas!

Overall, we had a fabulous Christmas. I hate that it's over. I love this Holiday Season. 

Well, this sickness bug has been going around like crazy. I thought that we had gotten lucky and it skipped us... but nope, it's come on full force. 2 days ago, Jesse woke up in the morning throwing up. I kept the boys away from him all day, praying that neither of them would catch it. That night, Gabriel started throwing up. I hate when my husband is sick (I lose my wing man) but I hate it even more when my babies are sick. It scared Gabriel and I could tell that he was miserable. He threw up again that night and then went straight to sleep without hesitation. He woke up yesterday morning feeling good and acting somewhat like his normal self. Jesse felt better too...just not 100%. I got my hopes up thinking that Lincoln and I got lucky. But NO! Tonight, my precious baby boy started throwing up as well. I hate it! He's miserable and not sleeping well at all tonight. My poor baby. I'm the only one that hasn't caught it yet, but I can tell that I'm not feeling well. I'm praying that it'll go away and I won't get the brunt of it. Jesse goes back to work tomorrow so I can not afford to be sick. 

So, New years = New Year Resolutions, right? I won't lie, I'm not going to set a goal for the new year because we all know that resolutions last about a week. But, I will tell you that I'm bound and determined to become healthier in 2014- just because I need to. I really took a break from working out over the past week because of Christmas and I can really tell that I feel worse. I feel bloated and don't have as much energy as I did when I was running at the gym. So, starting tomorrow is time to get back on track. I'm cutting out sweet drinks, AGAIN, and going back to strictly water. My membership is up so until I renew it again I will be doing my workout videos here at home. I'm also planning on doing the Advocare 24 day challenge sometime in the next month or so. It's kind of pricey, so I'm going to wait a bit. However, I figured I'd kick start this and start by eating healthier and drinking lots and lots of water. I HAVE to get healthier. I want to be a healthy wife and mother. I don't want to be that mom that sits on the bench because I'm too fat and tired to do anything. I want to be the mom that can run around with her kids and not run out of breath. I want to feel better about myself and not wear stretchy pants all the time. I just want to feel like my normal self again. And let's face it, I haven't felt like that in quite some time. I had gotten back down to my pre-pregnancy weight after Gabe- plus I lost about 10 extra pounds. Then came the pregnancy with Lincoln. Silly me, I thought- Oh, the weight will come off after this one too. Boy, was I WRONG! I only lost about 10 pounds the weeks after having Lincoln and since then I've lost between 5-10 pounds. I fluctuate a lot. I'll lose 10- gain 5- lose it again- gain it- lose about 10 more- gain some... .it's a never-ending cycle. And I'm SO SO SO ready to put an end to that cycle. 

We have a Florida trip in May and I would like to be able to put on a swimsuit and feel good about it. I'd like to wear my jean shorts and feel good about it. I'd like to be able to go shopping down there and actually buy clothes that I'm happy about buying. That's part of the motivation as well. I also want to go see Britney Spears in Vegas! I mean, who doesn't? But I told Jesse that I'm not going unless I can feel good about myself and get an outfit that I feel good in. Plus, we're going to save our money a little each month so it doesn't break us when/if we go. She's there for 2 years people... we got the time! :) 

So, there you have it. It's time to get healthy. And you, my readers and friends, you are going to be the ones to hold me accountable. I promise to do a monthly post on my progress as well. 

Hope you all had a WONDERFUL Christmas filled with many, many loving memories with family and friends. 

 

 Santa Claus is Comin' to town!

 

The boys' "Santa" bags

 

 Should have just gotten him a box... it's more fun! hah

 

Tired after a long day...snuggled with his new CARS blanket. 

 

My Mantle... LOVE it!

Holiday Season

Ya'll, I can not believe that Christmas is almost here! ahhh!! Where did the time go? 

This season of Holidays is hands down my favorite time of the year! I love this weather, the food, and the spirit of the Holidays. I love curling up on the couch with a blanket and hot cocoa and watching Hallmark movies. I love getting to wear my Uggs, scarves, hoodies... the list goes on. And I'm loving getting to teach my little boy the true meaning of Christmas. I'm especially looking forward to seeing his face on Christmas Morning! AHHHH- I can't wait!
Unlike the past few years, I'm actually kind of prepared for this Christmas. I bought several gifts at the kidsignment sale this year- so now it's a matter of getting a few more small things (and shopping for Jesse) and then I'm done! OH & of course we gotta make a few handmade gifts too!  I want to decorate so badly right now- but I'm also wanting to paint our living room (which I should have done when we moved in- but I was pregnant and tired...don't judge. haha) Anywho, I'm hoping to get this done sometime next week and then the decorating will begin. I'm also making our stockings this year... which I'm super excited about! I have so many ideas for decor for Christmas that I can not wait... can Christmas just last all year? 

I actually had a pretty hard time buying for my boys this year. I mean, I had several things in mind that I wanted and got most of them at the kidsignment sale. BUT, let's face it- since I kept almost every single toy that we've ever had- Lincoln doesn't really need anything. He will "inherit" all of Gabriel's toys. And Gabriel, man oh man, that boy is hard to buy for. I mean, he'd be happy if we bought him 100 more Hot Wheels. Seriously. It's not like he has enough...just kidding. 

Anyway, I have managed to come up with a few more things for Lincoln and I'm actually super excited about them! Jesse and I plan on going shopping together for Gabriel to get him a few more things. I decided that I didn't like some of the things I bought him at the sale, so we're reselling them and getting him some new toys! 

This Christmas is going to be so much fun- especially with Gabe. Since he's older now and can understand it more I think he'll have a great time. Oh man, I can't wait. I bought them both these Santa bags last year after Christmas that I'm going to embroider their names on and put each of their gifts in! It'll be like Santa really left his bag! How fun, right!? 

The worst part about the Holidays!? It's all over within a day. Oh well, I intend on making it a perfectly fabulous day anyway! 

The Blunt, Honest, Kinda Hilarious Truth about Motherhood...with 2!

A while back I did a post on the things I've learned since being a mother. I've learned A LOT since having Gabriel and I'm still learning more everyday. I've also found that life with 2 boys is quite different than life with 1. So here's the blunt, honest, kinda hilarious truth about motherhood with 2 boys:: 

1) If one is crying- the other one will most likely start to cry as well. I mean, really? This usually happens to me on car rides when Gabe is really tired. He'll start crying uncontrollably, wake Lincoln up, and then Lincoln starts crying as well. It's usually one of those moments where I just take a deep breath and deal until we can stop or we get home. 

2) Your oldest will take interest in the youngest one's toys. Yes, this is a fact... at least in this house it is. Gabe LOVES playing with all of Lincoln's things. His walker, rock n play sleeper, teethers, swing, bouncy seat... you name it, he loves it. Thank Goodness that boy doesn't weigh to much- so I don't have to worry about him breaking them! haha. 

3) God does have a sense of humor! :) I'm a firm believer that God does a sense of humor... I mean, he gave me 2 boys! haha. If you know me, you know I love ALL things girly... but God gave me these 2 boys and now I'm learning to love Cars, dirt, and playing outside. It's definitely interesting and there is never a dull moment. But I love every second of it. 

4) The youngest child will learn so much quicker than the first. I'm a firm believer that children learn by observing other children. Lincoln is already catching on to things so quickly- and I believe it is because he has his older bro to look up to.

5) Diaper changing will become more of a hobby-you'll just do it without thinking. Seriously, I probably change at least 10 diapers a day...probably more than that. Perhaps I should count how many I change in 1 day. It's crazy! And the craziest thing of it all?? My boys will always, always poop as soon as I change them. It NEVER fails! 

6) You will freak out anytime they are near any thing that could possibly hurt them. I'm on edge every time that Gabe takes off running on our concrete playing. It freaks me out. I know it's inevitable for him to get a scraped knee or need stitches, Again, but I REALLY want to avoid that. Oh boy, what am I going to do when they are BOTH running!? 

7) You will do more laundry for these small people than you ever have before! haha. I feel like I do laundry every single day... and on those days that I don't feel like folding- I just hit start on the dryer again! shhh... don't tell! 

8) Night Terrors. They're terrible! Gabe recently started having night terrors and I absolutely hate it. He is still asleep and he starts crying out loud or whining- and he's inconsolable during these times. I've read about them and most say to just block them from anything that can injure them. That most likely they won't remember any of it in the morning. And yes, that's true. I'm usually more traumatized than Gabe is the following morning... not to mention more tired! 

9) Toddlers are like little tornadoes. My house constantly looks like a tornado went through and just threw our toys everywhere...and yes, I mean EVERYWHERE! Granted, it's partially my fault for buying the kid so many toys.. but seriously, how does one little boy make such a mess? Can you imagine life when they're both running and playing? Whew! I'm tired just thinking about it. 

10) Your body won't be the same after birth. Don't we all know this already? Boy, what I'd do to have that old body back. But, these boys are worth every bit of it! 

11) You will be exhausted and yes I mean EXHAUSTED!!!! Keeping up with these 2 boys has me more tired than I have ever been. I was just telling Jesse how I wish I could just have one day to catch up on my sleep. 

12) Again, people will always comment and give their own parenting advice. Just take it in stride- that's all I can say. I remember taking Gabe to the grocery store when he was still a baby... I had him in his carrier and thought that he'd be just fine. We weren't in the store more than 5 minutes and he started screaming. I had just fed and changed him so I knew that wasn't it. Well, this older lady came up to me and said- "Oh, I think he's hungry... is he on the breast?" I simply replied, no he's not hungry- he's just mad." Again, she said, "I think he's hungry." What can ya do? Just smile and move on! haha. 

13) Following the previous post...shopping in general will be hard with 2 if you are alone. I usually try to only take 1 of the boys with me when I do my grocery shopping OR I go with my mom so she can help too. I must say that the last few times I've gone grocery shopping with just Lincoln (he's always in his carrier) I've had people offer to unload my cart for me. This always restores my faith in humanity. 

Gabe is 2 and Lincoln is 3 months!

My OH My... has it really been that long since I've blogged? I always tell myself that I really need to blog- but then I get tired and let's be honest...there really aren't enough hours in the day? Why didn't ya'll warn me that having 2 kids would keep be super- SUPER busy!? 

Well, it's been 3 months since I've updated on here. Lincoln Alexander is growing so SO SO fast. I seriously can't believe it. My little man is holding his head up and he LOVES standing up. He's trying to "talk" a lot more and he absolutely loves watching his big brother. I even got a video of Lincoln saying "HI!" Ok, maybe it was a complete accident- but he still said it. 

Life with 2 little boys has been quite busy. You'd think I would have lost at least 50 pounds by now! haha. But seriously, those first few weeks- I wasn't sure I was going to make it. The lack of sleep alone could make a person lose her mind. haha. Gabe was getting up early and Lincoln was staying up all night long. Eating constantly. And yes, I mean CONSTANTLY. I was exhausted. I think I slept with my little man on the couch for the first 2-3 weeks. I did everything I could think of... I kept the room quiet and dark, I laid him down with his head elevated, I played music... i did everything!! What did I find that finally worked? The Fisher Price Deluxe Rock and Play Sleeper. Yes, I'll give this sleeper 10 stars all day long. It literally took about 2 nights for Lincoln to get used to it- and then after that he was sleeping all night long in that thing. It was a dream come true. And this Mommy was very happy to finally get some sleep- in her bed!! haha. 

I must admit though, Lincoln is a pretty easy-going boy. Those first few weeks it seemed like he just slept, pooped, cried, and ate. But now, he's up a lot more during the day. He has a smile that can melt your heart. He's just beautiful. 

Gabe LOVES his little brother too. For the first week or so, he wasn't quite sure what to think. But now, he loves him. He hugs Lincoln all the time, gives him kisses, and he even tries to help Mommy get Lincoln to stop crying. A few weeks ago I was in the kitchen. I had gotten Lincoln settled into his swing and Gabe was watching Mickey Mouse. I finally had some time to do a little cleaning. And of course, Lincoln started crying. By the time I walked into the living room, Gabe was holding Lincoln's pacifier in his mouth saying "shhhh- baby." haha. Granted, Lincoln was still crying, but it was priceless- and actually, quite hilarious too. Gabe is always trying to help... the other night Lincoln was napping and Gabe, Jesse, and I were watching a movie on the couch. All of the sudden, Lincoln woke up and started crying and Gabe said- "Uh OH- Baby Cry." It was soooo cute. I love those boys. 

Gabriel is getting to be such a big boy. He's so funny, smart, handsome, loving... the list goes on. I've been letting him sleep in our room since Lincoln got here. I know, I know... I always said I'd never let me boys sleep in our bed but here's my thinking. 1) I like to have my boys close to me- just in case anything were to happen. 2) If I were 2 years old and upstairs by myself, I'd be scared to death. lol. 3) It makes my boy happy. Turns out, our little 2 year old boy is a bed HOG! yep, that's right... he takes up as much room as a grown man. haha. So, we moved his Mickey couch into our room, folded it down, and now that's where our little man sleeps... most of the time anyways. 

Oh yeah, our big boy is 2 years old... can you believe it!? We celebrated his birthday on the 22nd of June. Of course, we had a Mickey Mouse swimming party at Mama and Papa's. My boy is so blessed to have so many people that love him in his life. He definitely got spoiled on his birthday! And what might my 2 year old be up to these days!? Well...

- He LOVES Mickey Mouse and the Chuck the Truck show on Netflix. 
- He loves mowing with Papa
- He loves his vroom-vrooms or car cars... 
- Cows are his favorite animal... 
- then again, frogs and ducks are up there too. 
- Birds are called "P's" - he got that from Papa's Pigeons. 
- He loves playing outside, getting dirty, and playing with rocks
- He likes bananas, pancakes, spaghetti, macaroni, animal crackers, cheetoh's, and oreos. 
- He has a smile that can melt your heart. 
- He loves to laugh.
- He can count to six. 
- He loves playing with cars and anything that makes noise. 
- He's a climber. 
- He enjoys bath time
- He loves his brother
- He can operate an iPad better than anyone I know
- He loves it when he hears the "Choo-choo's" going by
- He has to sleep with his cars and Hippo
- He likes it when we say... 1, 2, 3 GO! 
- Weighs a little more than 20 pounds

Lincoln, my big 3 month old, well here's what he's been up to:: 

- Sleeping through the night... actually longer than Gabe! haha 
- Poops likes it going out of style
- Enjoys having exploding diapers on daddy
- Still breastfeeding
- Loves watching his brother play
- Loves bathtime too! 
- wearing 3 months clothes
- weighs over 11 pounds
- Has a ton of hair
- Likes to play with his monkey on his play mat
- Loves to stand up
- Enjoys moving- and not sitting
- sleeps in the car
- Staying awake more during the day
- Smiles at Mommy all the time
- Enjoys hugs from his brother
- Cries when no one is paying attention to him 
- Sleeps in his rock and play sleeper
- Not a huge fan of his swing or bouncer
- Loves being outside...just like his brother

Anyway folks, that's about all the updating I'm doing tonight. I promise I'll do more soon.. along with more pics! Have a good one!!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter Friends!! 

Photo courtesy of You-nique Capture Photography! 

Please DO NOT copy! 

Photo courtesy of You-nique Capture Photography! 

Please DO NOT copy! 

I realize it's been a while since I've updated. I have no excuse... just been tired, busy, and well, tired! I'm telling ya'll- this baby is taking all of my energy! Jesse literally had to push me out of bed last night so I could go to the bathroom... that is how hard it is for me to get up! Needless to say, I'm ready for Baby S to get here. 

We had a great Easter weekend. We started off the weekend by going to Easter in the Park here in town. Gabe and his buddy, Papa did the Easter egg hunt and got 31 eggs! My big boy looked so big going around picking up all of those eggs! He's growing up way too fast... Have I said that lately? Today, Gabe and I headed to church and then we all went to my parent's house for Easter dinner and our annual egg hunt! My 2 boys actually passed out before the egg hunt- so Mommy was the only one that got to hunt for those eggs with everyone else! I made $14.00 plus some candy! Yep, redeemed myself from last year (I didn't get anything then!) haha. 

This weather is CRAZY here in So. IL! We've had a few very nice days where I've been able to take Gabe outside to play. He's getting some GREAT use out of his Batmobile these days! I bought him a little Mickey Mouse 4-wheeler to ride too- but he's still a bit skeptical about it. He likes to sit on it- but he gets a little scared when he pushes the button to make it go. I'm positive that he'll be riding it around all over by the time summer gets here. My little man certainly loves being outside! Which is great because I want him to get a lot of use out of his outdoor toys. However, Mommy isn't an outdoor person BUT I am learning! What's the saying again!? You do ANYTHING for you kids. Yep, that's true... I'm learning to love being outdoors for my child! haha. 

Some other news in the Schiff household? Jesse got a job! Yep, that's right! He's working as a Diesel Mechanic and he actually likes it. His hours are better than before and he gets to spend more time with Gabe and I! The best part? I know he'll be able to get off when I go into labor! Yay! Wouldn't want him to miss out on all the fun! 

I recently started taking Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University Class at church. I'm loving it! And I'm happy to say that hopefully (fingers crossed) we will be completely debt free in a year. At least that's the goal. We're blessed enough to not have as much debt as many people do- but make no mistake, becoming debt free is going to require a lot of hard work and dedication on our part. But just thinking of the peace that being debt free will bring us is our motivation. I'm not placing blame on anyone but life has certainly hit us with a lot of obstacles that have definitely contributed to some of our outstanding debt. We're praying (& praying) that a few of these issues will get resolved very soon. Say a little prayer for us! =) Anyway, life has certainly been a hard road since we started out. However, we are aware that all of these hardships are lessons learned and will only make us stronger in the end. But boy, do we wish that this tough road would end sooner than later! haha. 



So... how about that baby update!? 

I'm currently 33 weeks- I'll be 34 weeks on Tuesday! So far, so good. My glucose test came back perfect and my protein levels and bp have been excellent each time I go. I guess it's no secret that this baby is perfectly healthy. The only thing I am suffering from is getting HUGE and being well, miserable. I'm not a good pregnant person- I don't like it. I feel fat and my energy level is LOW! I'm ready to have this baby here! 

Anyway- we have less than 7 weeks left until baby gets here. Here's to hoping that time flies...FAST!! =) 

Now here are some pics from the past few months or so... 

Didn't you know that dog food is FUN!? 

The boy loves ice cream! 

Papa had to let him ride the truck! 

We love bathtime! 

He literally has a room full of toys but chooses to play with everything else! haha. 

Runny nose & Mommy's sunglasses= FUN!

Cutest kid around!

His new Mickey 4-wheeler!

He sure does love his BATMOBILE! 

Fun outside!

Trying to eat bubbles is more fun than playing in them! 

32 weeks & growing... 

The house was too quiet... this is why! 

Playing with Daddy's shoes!

Helping Mommy wash his hair! 

Watch out! He's a good driver!! 

Silly Faces with Mommy!

Loving his new carseat! 

Sucker from the Bank! Yep, we were all sticky by the time we got home! haha

Bubbles, Bubbles!!

Egg hunt with Papa! 

Easter bunny came for a visit!

Riding his new 4-wheeler from Aunt Diane and Cousin Lydia!

Our last Easter as a family of 3! 

3/31/2013

Playing with his Easter basket!

Like father, like son! haha. 

Cutest blue bunny around! 

Easter Egg Hunt with Papa! 

{3/30/2013}