We started doing regular Movie Nights with the babies a few months ago. At first they would get bored after about 20 minutes, but lately they’ve watched almost an entire movie. We go all out with popcorn, candy, and juice. Heaten our TV hog is usually on Daddy’s lap while Shenzie sits next to me. A long time ago when I looked into our future this is what I saw. Our family hanging out together laughing and cuddling on the couch during movie night. I love movie night!!!
Some of our theaters offer free kids movies during the summer which is just awesome. Last week Jeff took a vacation day and we headed out for our first Movie Day in a real theater. I tried to talk it up to the babies, but of course they had no idea what a theater was so when we got there they were in awe. I thought for sure Heaten would sit and watch the entire movie *Space Chimps* and Shenzie would want to roam around and play. Much to my surprise Heaten was more interested in the projector and lights than the actual movie and after about 30 minutes on my lap he was up and ready to explore the theater. Shenzie sat on my lap for the rest of the movie eating her popcorn and enjoying the film. It was SO much fun! I wish Daddy could go with us every week as I don’t know if I’m up to taking them alone. It might be tricky, but I figure hey, it’sfree and if we have to we can always leave early, so I’m sure I’ll be writing again soon about our next theater experience!!
Short and sweet, I’m tired. Saturday morning we took the babies to their first totnastics class of the summer (more on this later). Saturday evening I had a Photo Session with the cutest little 2 year old and her Mama. She reminded me of my Shenzie Bear and I had a blast. I can’t wait to start processing tomorrow!! Sunday morning I worked a bit and then took the babies to the library - I am so glad that my kids love the library as much as I do. Then I had the best treat ever!!!! I headed out for Girl’s Spa Day at the Red Rock Casino! For Mother’s Day Jeff got me a gift card for a massage so my sister’s and I made a day out of it. We had a light lunch and then headed to the spa. I’ve been to this spa once before and for sure it is favorite spa - it is so nice! We hung out in the jacuzzi, hit up the steam room, the cool dipping pool, a shower, followed by 50 minutes of blissful massage. Ohhhhhh man, I do love me some massage!!! After our blissful heavenly massages we headed outside to the lap pool and lounged in our cabana relaxed and happy. It was mentioned how fast the time goes by when you’re away from your kids - 6 hours away felt like 2. Of course when you’re home stuck with crazy kids all day 2 hours feels like 6. Sunday evening I came home to happy kids, bbq burgers, and my fabulous husband. A great day!! Now I’m sitting here reading while Jeff plays his guitar. Ahhhh, life is good. Very, very good.
I am very grateful that no one was seriously injured. So, so very grateful.
Jeff’s car:
The other dude’s car:
I am thankful:
That the babies were not in the car.
That this accident was not Jeff’s fault.
That the other driver had insurance.
That his insurance guy is the same guy that we use so hopefully that will make things easier.
I am not thankful:
That we have to get a new car most likely with a payment. Both of our cars are *were* paid off, this sucks.
That Jeff is sore and bruised.
That even though this wasn’t Jeff’s fault we still have to deal with all of the drama of the accident.
For Father’s Day I had the *great* idea to do some photos of me and the babies (I say great sarcastically because I am not all that photogenic and really don’t do well in front of the camera). I wanted the photos to be soft and loving with the babies. I asked my sister Kristy if she would take the photos for me since she is a new into photography and can use them in her portfolio. Thanks Sissy!!! You did an awesome job!
I edited them to save her the added work and am really happy with how they turned out. I made them into a book for Jeff and plan on ordering this one in a gallery wrap.
Jeff likes mainly color photos that don’t look overly edited so his book was full color. Me, I like a variety - here are a few of my favorites.
*Warning, picture overload*
Freaky alien eye
I don’t love me in this one, but I LOVE this photo. I love how I can see the happiness and love busting out of us.
I love this photo, I just wish Shenzie’s beautiful eyes were open. She was giving her “Cheese” smile.
Kisses for Mama, there is nothing better.
More kisses for Mama.
Sweet Little Shenzie.
And of course, the hand holding walking photo.
Sorry for the picture overload, but I make this blog into yearly books and I want these in our book. =)
Saturday we ended up hanging around the house in our pj’s all morning and then I went to Pilates. Due to various sickies over the last week and a half I haven’t been to the gym so it was nice to go back. Saturday evening we went to Wally World and stocked up on a few key items….Vodka and Diapers to be precise!! We headed home and had a rare treat of Dominos Pizza for MOVIE NIGHT! We seriously love Movie Night around here. This week we watched the rest of Cars.
Sunday was Daddy’s Day so he got an extra sleep in day, had yummy homemade waffles, bacon, and got all of his presents which he loved. He said this was the best Father’s Day so far because the babies understood about giving him his gifts. They were SO excited to give him their hand tiles and cards. It was so cute. (He also got this photo accordion and this photo book along with a “coupon” book full of all sorts of goodies).
My online girlfriend Eva and her husband do “dates” with their twins giving each parent a little one on one time out and about. Jeff decided he wanted to give it a try so he took Heaten out Sunday morning for some fun Daddy and Heaten time. They went to the pet store and saw all of the cool animals and then hit up the dollar store and got some fun goodies for our goodie bag. Shenzie was supposed to go with Daddy for Ice Cream after her nap, but since she refused to nap she missed out on today’s date. Don’t feel too bad for her though, while Daddy and Heaten were out playing we had a great time. For the very first time she got her toenails and nails painted!! Yes, I’m well aware that this is probably long overdue….but seriously, with two two year olds it just isn’t going to happen. She loves her pink nails and I’m sure this will become a regular occurrence.
To beat the heat Sunday afternoon we headed to our old library across town and wasted some time in the kiddos section. After which we came home and fired up the grill (hahaha, it always cracks me up when people say that) and bbq’d some chicken with broccoli rice and corn on the cob. Yum Yum Yum!! Perfect end to another wonderful weekend!
I just want you to know how wonderful your Daddy is. I mean, I know you know it, but I wanted to remind you. Your Daddy is so loving and kind and patient and caring. He gives your crazy Mama all the breaks she needs to be a better Mommy and person. He teaches you, listens to you, and loves you. Oh how your Daddy loves you. You are both the center of his universe and I am so very grateful every single day that he is your Daddy and my best friend. I love to see your little faces light up when he comes home - and Daddy’s too. Watching him with you makes my heart swell with pride, love, and happiness. You are very lucky to have such a wonderful Daddy and I am very lucky to have such a wonderful husband.
Love,
Mama
Dear Jeff,
I am truly lucky to have found you. You are perfect for me in every way and I love you with my whole heart.
*The video does tend to go on and on, but they just got more and more silly so I couldn’t stop recording. Also, notice how I rain on their bouncing off the walls parade and blame it on Daddy. Heehee. Daddy doesn’t let them have any fun, but Mama is the FUN QUEEN!
That’s right. I’ve finally got off my lazy ass and decided to start potty training Shenzie. After very little thought I chose to do them separately. Not only is Heaten not ready, I am already dreading doing one - why oh why would I want to do two!?!? I’m really hoping when Heaten sees Shenzie doing it and all the hoopla surrounding it he’ll want to do it too.
On a whim one morning last week I decided to start potty training Shenzie. We already had undies purchased as well as Pull Ups (I didn’t do much research regarding potty training and have read tons of pros and cons to Pull Ups, but I wanted to have all of my options available).
So the back story of potty at Casa de Barr. I bought potty’s when the babies were like 20 months and introduced them to sitting on them. From that point on the potties became sort of a toy. The babies would wear the seats on their heads and run around laughing (don’t worry, they hadn’t yet did the deed in them so they were clean).
August 2008
My parenting style is things will happen when the babies are ready for them to happen. I thought maybe Shenzie was ready so I thought I would just try and see how it went. If she didn’t want to try then she didn’t have to, but if she did then she would get one Raisinette (I figure hey, raisins aren’t all that bad for you so at least some part of the treat is semi not unhealthy). =) Going on the potty gets you two candies. I have M&M’s, Marshmallows, Andes Mints, and other goodies ready as bribery. Also on hand is a goodie bag (bowl full of dollar goodies used for potty training and our new sticker reward system (which I write about later).
Along with Potty Time Elmo that the babies have watched OVER and OVER and OVER I feel I have all of my bases covered.
Day One (Thursday June 11): I explain the candy system (which is all she really cares about) to Shenzie and asked for one candy if she wanted to try? She tried, but nothing happened so she got one candy. I set the timer for 20 minutes later and asked if she would like to try again and she did. And she went pp!!! I jumped up and down and cheered like a loon. I made a big production over dumping the pp in the big toilet and letting her flush it. Then we washed our hands and got her candy. She was so proud of herself it was so cute. For the next 30 minutes until the timer went off I was telling her how great she did and reminding her if she had to go pp to tell me. She ends up going one more time in the potty that morning
November 2008
Day Two (Friday June 12): She went pp in the potty 3x this morning with prompting from me. She even went #2 (on accident - I don’t think she knew it was going to come out) on the potty! The afternoon she didn’t want to try and went in her diaper.
Day Three and Four (The weekend, forget about it): I didn’t ask her to go potty once. We were out and about and busy all weekend so I figured I start again on Monday. I think she went by herself for Daddy once when I was out, but it’s all a hazy blur and I don’t remember.
Day Five (Monday, June 15): Woke up and rushed out the door to a playdate - not one mention of potty made. Got home and fed the kids lunch after which Shenzie takes off her own diaper and sits on the potty and goes pp. Holy moly - that was awesome! I instant messaged Jeff with tons of these!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I periodically asked her after her nap if she wanted to try but she told me no. As I’m filling the tub with water tonight she tells me she went pp in the water. Ugh. She practices on the potty while I drain and refill the tub (poor kids having to sit in each other’s pee, cuz I know Heaten pees in there). Right at we’re getting ready for bed Shenzie starts taking off her pj’s and diaper and saying pp so we run over to the potty. She sits but nothing happens. A few minutes later she drinks her entire sippy of milk which she NEVER does so I know she is trying to make herself go pp.
I don’t think anything of her drinking the whole thing thinking she is in bed and will just go in her diaper. Hahahah. Lets just say she went to bed at 8 and at current time of 9:08 she has called me up there three times to pp. This is great news right?!? Yes and no. Yes that she is recognizing and holding her pp until I get there and she sits on the potty. No, because when I go in there she already has her diaper and pj’s off and is sitting there yelling pp. Which is probably very soon going to result in a wet bed. The whole process was going out to the loft where the potty was, go pp, come downstairs together, get her candy, go back upstairs, eat it, clean her hands, have a drink, and go put her back to bed. Whew, that is quite a process! After doing that 2 times I wizened up and brought the potty to her bedroom and brought the candy and wipe into her room with me.
Edit 9:32: Make that four times. After the 3rd time I told her next time leave her diaper and pj’s on if she has to pee again and this time she doesn’t get any candy because it is night time and time to sleep not eat candy. I really didn’t think she’d call me in a fourth time, Sucker Mama! So I go in and she is standing in her crib with her diaper and pj’s saying pp. I put her on the potty AGAIN and once again she goes pp all the while telling me she doesn’t get any candy. Awesome! I thought she would cry about it or be confused, but she totally got that it was night time and she didn’t get any more candy.
Day 6 (Tuesday June 16); Well, it appears my daughter has potty trained herself. She cried out from her crib this morning PEEPEE. When I went in to get her she had taken her diaper off, but was dry and sat on the potty and went pp. Throughout the day she went all on her own without one prompt from me. At one point I was on the computer and she comes running in excited and happy carrying her little potty insert with the pp still in it. After her nap she yelled for me and went on the potty again! Yep, I’d say she was ready!! #2 is another story though since she went in her panties today.
So in mind my so far this is going really well and maybe isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Is this crazy thinking? Does it get harder/worse?? I would love to get your expert advice and experiences. My questions so far are:
1 - Do I limit liquid intake after a certain time at night? I am worried that she will get thirsty/dehydrated this summer when it is 115 and FLAMING HOT if she doesn’t get liquids say after 7pm or whatever time is the cutoff.
2 - Do I continue to give her candy each time she potties after bedtime even though it is drama to do the whole candy/cleanup/drink routine so many times?
3 - How and when do you night train? Should I even be concerned about this yet? If it matters, they are still in cribs with plans to be there until they are 15 so they cannot get out of bed on their own to pee.
4 - How and when do I wean away from the candy every single time?
5 - Where do we go from here? Do I need to go the “boot camp route” and stay home a couple of days to just get it done or continue slowly and her lead the way?
Boogies!!! Ewwwww!! Daddy is so grossed out by the word, let alone the act of picking and eating. Sorry Daddy, this post had to be done.
So it all started when Shenzie got sick the last time and would pick her nose. Then of course Heaten saw her doing this and started picking his nose. These days her finger is stuck so far up her nose I think she might hit her brains. The grossest part is she eats them. Yes, my sweet, girly girl loves to eat her boogies. EWW! EWW! EWW! Even that one grosses me out.
Yesterday while changing Heatens sheet I noticed a couple of dark spots on the outside of the mattress sheet by the crib. Guess what those dark spots were?!? You guessed it, dried boogies. EWW! I will say at least when he has a boogie he gets in and gets it out. His finger doesn’t linger and he doesn’t dig for braaaaaaaaaaaains. Hence, no photo of Heaten the Booger Saver.
Now Jeff thinks this story is just gross, but hey, boogies and kids is a fact of life so get over it silly Daddy. When I was little I remember picking my nose and putting them on the wall. I had a spot down below the mattress at the top of my bed where I would store the dried, crusty Ewwwies. Mom, do you remember this? Apparently my son takes after me and wants to save his crusty, dried up boogies as well. Who am I to judge? =)
Daily after I put him down for his nap he will start yelling out EWWWWWIE! EWWWWWWIE! I go in and he is standing in his crib with his finger out and a boogie on it. What do I do? Get a tissue and wipe it off? Nope. I grab it with my fingers and put it in my pocket. Like Mother Like Son. Don’t worry, at least I don’t eat them!
