Labor Day Weekend...pt 2 - the Zoo

After a fun day at the park on Saturday we decided on the zoo for Sunday.

Riding the train around the zoo

looking at some "muuunnnn-keys"

cutting a rug outside the Louisiana Aquarium exhibit

Luke had fun too:)

he was talking away to this little guy

looking at the 'raffes'

beautiful creatures aren't they?

Kate and Mama checking for prairie dogs - we saw none :(

yay! another playground!

like mother like daughter!

looking at zebras with Pa

sacked out!

it was a great day and I think we were the last ones out:)

Labor Day Weekend...pt 1

So the day started off with a trip to Wal-Mart :), lunch at Subway, and then we headed to North Park. It was a warm sunny afternoon but was not miserably hot.

My little guy thought it would be a better idea to nap.

Of course I couldn't argue with a nap under an old oak tree with a breeze blowing in my hair:)

READY

SET

GO!!

She had an absolute blast on the slides - and HAD to do it herself! Such a daredevil!

doesn't he look peaceful? and so handsome? :) (no I'm not biased)

Kate's not the only one that had a good time:)

Look at that face! She really enjoys life!

break time before we head home!

(and as you can see from the LSU jersey it was opening weekend for football:) ! too bad she doesn't have MSU clothes - but I'm on the hunt!)

week 3 potty update

So as you can see Week 3 went much better than Week 2 :) She is making fantastic progress. She is telling me when she needs to go (most times) and is even taking it upon herself at times to go sit on the potty - however most times when she does this she ends up peeing through her panties but hey, she's going right? She is still having some accidents but minimal and usually just because she is too occupied to tell me she needs to go until its too late but usually makes it to the potty in time to finish:) She is doing both of her businesses in the potty - yay Kate! And while I know we still have a while to go, I am so proud of her for all that she has accomplished thus far. She's growing up so fast :( but she is such a joy! :)

She is liking both the big potty and the little potty!

This is the latest in the potty stash:) A full day with no accidents and she gets to pick whichever she wants! (yes she is a Sesame Stree fanatic!)

to do list - crafts

Ok, so I've been home almost 12 weeks now and only now have I begun to delve into the arts and crafts that I have so long wanted to do. Yes, I wait until two weeks before I go back to work to start this stuff, but it is only now that we are on a semi - consistent routine that allows me to do these things. I'm hoping that even when returning to work (maybe not those first two weeks) that I will be able to continue. I find myself much more accountable when things are in print and I can check them off:) So here is my list of things to do (please don't give me those evil eyes, because yes I am THAT far behind)

Ribbon Blanket for Kate ( in progress)

Textured Ribbon Blanket for Kate

Textured Ribbon Blanket for Luke

Kate's Scrapbook

Luke's Scrapbook

Pillowcase dresses for Kate

burp cloths for Luke

photobooks - Kate 1, Kate 2, start Luke 1

learn to use photoshop

learn how to better use my camera

make new bows for Kate

finalize first year in Kate's baby book (pictures are all that is missing)

keep up on Luke's pictures in his baby book

make Paul a photo gift for our anniversary

make some Christmas gifts (we'll be generic since some of you may be reading this)

Ok, so I think that is enough to keep me busy:) We'll see how long it takes me to work through this list and of course I'm sure I will be adding as I come across 'things I must try' :)



well...off I go to work on that blanket :)

blood and superglue

Ok so it finally happened. My child finally injured herself to the extent that we had to seek medical attention. Now I think we could have probably survived without it but due to the the fact that it wouldn't stop bleeding and chance of a nasty scar, we went. I asked the receptionist at the walk in clinic if there was someone who could sneak a peek so that we didnt sit and wait for nothing. She proceeded to tell me that I might have to go to the ER because it was on her face and when they stitch the face on kids her age they have to sedate them and of course they don't do that there. HA yeah right, I'm going to a) go sit in the ER for hours for a moderate laceration? and b) let them sedate her for it? - nah, we'll deal with the scar thanks. Well, luckily the doctor said that although it did need some attention, it could be done there. He said they would just put some superglue (yes superglue!) on it to close it up and thereby minimize any scarring. So I'm thinking they are gonna just squirt it on and off we go, right? WRONG! I had to go sit in the waiting room and fill out the 10 minutes of new patient paperwork while Luke proceeded to let everyone in the waiting room know that it was time for him to eat. Well, I got him settled, got the paperwork done, - and finally got the bleeding on the chin slowed - not stopped, but slowed and we sit back to wait - and wait we did - for two and a half hours . TWO AND A HALF HOURS - glad nobody in there was dying as it seemed that NOBODY was being called to the back. And what a wait it was - needless to say - we'll either ER it or take our chances next time.

Oh, I forgot to mention how we got into this whole predicament didn't I? Well, now that you ask (because I know you are DYING to know), we were at my office for a meeting and Kate tells me she has to potty (yay for potty progresss!), so we go. Well sure enough she used the big girl potty, however when I got her down she didn't stop long enough to let me pull up her bloomers so she falls, I pick her up and go to pull them up when she takes off again, falling again. But this time she made it out into the hallway and through the opening leading to the waiting room and proceeded to catch the corner of a bench in the waiting room. She cried a little so I picked her up, comforted her and put her back down. Then I saw the blood - all over my shirt and running down her chin! As small as the spot was I didn't think it warranted at trip to the doc so I put a bandaid on her chin, she bled through, I put another, she bled through, I put two on top of each other, she bled through both, so I decided that we probably should go. So off we went.

projects finished...part 1

Well I finally got Luke's room finished:) It only took me two months but we went from this (rough draft of Kate's nursery)

to this...

And after having started on her room prior to Luke's arrival, Kate' big girl room is almost ready. We are only lacking her shelves (which Daddy is almost done building) and her curtains (which Nana is making for us:) So we are almost there. I am not an artist by any stretch of the imagination but must admit that I am proud of her room. I think I did a pretty good job:)

now...on to their blankets - let's see how long those take me..haha!

a fun day!

The morning started with a good Mass at church then we headed to Lowe's - Daddy's favorite place:) We had a good ol' cheeseburger for lunch then went to Uncle WJ and Aunt Roxie's so Daddy could sell his Ford (was sad to see it drive away but it wasn't doing anything but killing grass and collecting dirt at our house). We spent a few hours over there and Kate played hard. Meg kept her busy :) Then we went home and outside with Daddy and Uncle WJ she went.

This is how she looked when I found her - from head to toe!!

Doesn't this break your heart? Her Elmo juice was empty and she was mad!

as you can see she got happy again when she got to 'ride' the lawnmower

Then Kate and Daddy started playing in the grass

She likes to fly:)

and hang upside down!

and then in the middle of eating supper she falls asleep. Paul and I were in the living room feeding Luke and it got eerily quiet. I looked over at her and he said 'What? Is she asleep?' and yes she was. A few seconds later I heard the pacifier hit the deck and it was time for bed. She did not wake up while I cleaned her face - even scrubbing her eyebrows:) She roused while I got her out of the chair and stood her against me to clean her hands and belly but as I was doing this she leaned against me and fell back asleep - needless to say bedtime was a breeze last night:)

the cleaning lady

If only I could get her to do the dishes and laundry too!

oh and making the beds, I HATE making beds:)

cleaning the potty

flushing down the water to see her 'clean' potty bowl :)

She likes to sweep and dust to too!

dainty and delicate? NOT!

well another fun night outside with daddy :) my little girl, or should I say my little tomboy, loves the dirt. She is definitely not scared of it! And she loves the baths that come after - hmm...wonder if that's her motivation? nah, she just likes to get dirty - she is her father's child!

week 3 here we come!

So as you can see we made some progress. The first part of the week (we start a chart on Wednesday) was not so productive but we were out a good bit. However, she finished strong:) It's a lot for a 21 month old so I'm proud of her for trying. As you can see by the double sticker box on Monday she even went poo in the potty! Yay Kate! :)

week 3 and we're off!


Oh, and she found more than one use for those Elmo panties she loves so much:)

what a ham!

this is how she prefers to be dressed, however she does usually like wearing the panties on her behind:)

Week 2 was a bit more successful for Miss Kate - she's not quite consistent in going every day but the days that she goes, she goes several times. In her defense the days that she does not do real well are the days we are on the road. We try to go when we are out and about but she tends to go when we are in the car. And, since she has been going in her diaper for almost 22 months it is a hard habit to break when you are strapped in a car and know that you can go in your pants and it won't go everywhere. I am not yet brave enough to put her in the car with big girl panties yet for fear of being somewhere that I can't stop when she says "poo-poo"(meaning she has to go - whether it is wet or dirty). She is doing very well at home when not in a diaper. I find that the diaper is her crutch so she won't mention that she has to go until after she has gone and wants it off of her, so most days she is either in panties or commando - depending on her mood:) I am really proud of her because she really is trying and she is still young so I'm taking that into account and not getting upset when I am on hands and knees cleaning up an accident or mopping the floor.[

that elusive little smile:)

Ok, so this cute little bundle of joy better known as my son has the sweetest smiles, yet everytime I pick up my camera to catch one - he stops smiling. I pull the camera away from my face to talk to him and get him smiling again only to have him stop the minute I pick it back up. "Nannie" says that she wouldn't smile either if she had that big ol' thing in her face either, "but I get much better quality with my big camera" I say. But for argument's sake I take out my point and shoot and give it a go, only to have the same result so it's back to the 'big-un'. Well I finally caught it Sunday morning after church and it was such a beautiful smile I actually almost cried :)

a tease...

catching him coming out of one...


a little closer...



AND FINALLY....

I got it, that full out sweet little baby laughing grin!

Doesn't it just melt your heart?