Potty trained!!!

We did it after a slow start and lots of candy treats, Sara took off like a champ.  We had 3 days of accidents and 5 days of success.  Sara was very hesitant to go #2 on the potty and held it for 2 days, once she went she decided it was fun to go "Poooooh- Poo" as she says.  She doesn't even want to wear her diaper at nights.  Yesterday we were at our cottage and she told me I need to go poop, we tried twice and didn't have luck.  A few minutes later she came running out without pants on and told me she went.  Great job Sara you did it! 

     We have had a great first week of vacation.  We made it to the village pool twice, the beach, the village playground, accomplished some shopping and errands.  I love being home with the kids and they love playing with the neighborhood children.  We usually walk to my parents before bed and while we walk home Evan is on the lookout for any kids he can play with. 
     Last night both the kids were asleep by 6:30, it was heaven.  Sara can skip a nap without getting cranky and then fall asleep early and sleep all night.  We now try to give her a shower at the cottage and put her in jammies, knowing she will be asleep within minutes in the car. 
     Marc has Wednesday-Sunday off and so far we have no plans.  I would love to go car shopping at some point, not that I want to deal with a car salesman but its time to get a new car.  I'm debating between waiting for the 2013 Honda Accord or getting the Honda Oddysey now.  My car is 7 years old and although I love now having a payment it is starting to look  a little rough.  My car is my last priority and luckily we have not had to put any money into it in 7 years other than gas, a set of tires, and a set of brakes. 



    This morning I finished the kids 4th of July pictures.  After the 12 hour night of sleep they cooperated for some pictures.  Last week he had to go for Allergy tests.  He has severe seasonal allergies.  The Allergist warned me in advance that sometimes on children it takes 2 years to show up on the test.  Well he was correct the only allergy that showed was an allergy to cats, funny since I can only recall one time Evan has petted a cat or been near one.  His back looked horrible and is still healing.  He has itched it non stop, I wish I would have taken a picture.  He had 25 pin pricks, that swelled beyond belief as well as additional rashes from them on his back.  So the Dr. told us we could continue using the allergy meds we have been using (Rx eye drops, nasal spray and Allegra) or he could try Singulair.  He wants to see Evan in April when his allergies are full blown.  He said he could order blood testing but wanted to wait until April.  Hopefully next year will be a mild allergy season.

Funny Quotes

Yesterday we sat at our cottage eating dinner with my parents.  Out of the blue Evan looks at Marc and says did you forget something?  Marc was puzzled.  Did you remember to tell me thank you for your shirt today?  Evan and Sara had given Marc a batman shirt (Evan chose this gift) for fathers day before breakfast.  It was too funny because everyone heard it and it sounded like something we would say to him.

Sara is obsessed with dogs, the neighbors across the street have a small dog "Barney", and we call them Miss Toni and Mr. Gary.  Last week we went to visit and Toni gave Sara a popsicle.  Well she won Sara over all I hear is Miss Toni home, go see Miss Toni, when I tell her she is busy or sleeping or not home, she tells me go knock on door.  At two she has it all figured out.

Tonight we came home and Sara asked for Apple juice and chips, when I gave them to her she told me your a good, good Mamma.  Too funny!  We hung a potty sticker chart on the fridge today.  Sara went on the potty 2x since we came home around 3pm, I think she went in the tub too.  She was very proud to wear underwear and put a sticker up.  Evan asked if he could have a sticker chart for taking naps.  He has napped the past 3 days.  Although the naps start around 3-4 pm.  Today he fell asleep in his bed at 4 and I woke him at 5:30, hopefully he is sleeping now.

We can write!

     It is amazing what a bribe will do with Evan.  I bought a box of Lego's a few weeks ago and told Evan he could have them when he learned to write his name.  Well we started on the side of the tub with tub crayons.  He was a bit frustrated but with his puzzle making mind told me if we took the wall and flipped it the V would look like an A.  He continued to give me examples of things we could flip over to look the same.  I swear I have an engineer or architect in training.  So the first night he mastered the E.  The next night we tried on paper and he know how to write it but is struggling with holding a writing utensil. Yesterday when I came home he was begging me to let him practice his name 2x so he could have the henchman (a lego figurine from the box).  He has progressed well this week, we still need practice but I'm very happy with his progress.

      Sara is talking up a storm, she tries to get out so much that she often stutters the first few words.  I remember Evan doing this too.  She is trying to learn the ABC's and is very proud each time she finds an S. 

      Tonight is ou 3rd night of soccer for Evan.  So far he has not become a sports star.  Although we have a Fisher Price pitching machine that is very popular with the neighborhood kids.  This week Evan decided it was his turn and he "knocked em out of the park" as the toy says. 

     Today is the last day with students.  It is always bittersweet.  Last night we had the Finance Academy Graduation.  We spend 3 years with the same class for this program so it is sad to see them go.  This years junior class that I have in accounting is my favorite so far.  Yesterday I received a text at 7am, telling me not to stop at Tim Hortons they had it covered.  One of my students told me I knew today would be a long day for you so I figurerd you would need a pick me up.  I ended up giving her the money for the drink she picked up but that small act of kindness brightened my day. 

     Hopefully the weather will hold out and we can hit the cottage this weekend.  I still need to clean up from the garage sale.  The maternity clothes were not a big seller, I think I will end up taking the tax deduction and donating them.  The only baby item remaining is a pack and play.  Maybe 4th of July week I'll put it outside the cottage and it will sell.  I am in no hurry to ever do a garage sale again. Last Saturday it was low 50's, I made $166 and my mom made $100.  Giving up 6 hours on a precious Saturday is not worth the hassle to me.  I would much rather do the consignment sale and have someone else do it and earn more money.  The next sale is in September, time to clean out this summer.

Summer Goals

Its almost time for our summer goals, here they are:

1. Potty train Sara - once school is out I'm quitting the diapers, I think I'm going to bribe with nail polish, she loves to have her nails done and I keep telling her only big girls have them done.
2. Good bye pacifer this is my mid summer goal for her.  She only uses it to fall asleep but I am not letting this go until next summer.
3. Evan needs to learn to write his name.  He can do the E, but hates to color and write.  I purchased a new Lego to give him when he masters his name.  There will be a Lego/bribe theme this summer!
4. We are ditching the baby potty for Evan, he prefers to go #2 on the baby potty.
5. Goodbye sippy cup!
6. Evan and Sara need some sleep training.  Evan likes me in his bed when he falls asleep which turns into an hour plus some nights, and Sara falls asleep on  the couch each night.  We have some major work to do with this.
7. Clean.... organize... and purge, I'm starting this with a garage sale at our cottage today.  I'm getting rid of all the things that are not nice enough for the consignment sale.  I'm selling all of my maternity clothes, some are from 2004... its time to kiss them goodbye.
8. Exercise!! I bought some new dvd's and its time to get my butt moving.  No more excuses, as I sat on the couch alone at 6am and started to watch a Pilates program on TV and still wasn't motivated to join in. 
9. Clean the kitchen each night before bed..my counters are not always empty/cleared off due to falling asleep with Ev.

3 more weeks of school to go.  On another note I received my proctor schedule for Exam week and I have 6 duties.  I checked a half dozen other teachers and they have 3-4, I debated emailing the Assistant Principal and decided to.  I told him I didn't mean to complain but it seems awfully unequitable.  I asked if there was any rhyme or reason to it.  So far no response.... hope it was a mistake!

Two and a half

The princess and the prince were married tonight

The sealed there vows with a kiss

1.     This weekend Sara turns 2 and a half.  She is such a little princess. 
2. Sara is very easy going and can skip a nap and still not be miserable
3. She still uses a pacifier to sleep and I plan on getting rid of it this summer
4. Sara will not fall asleep at nighttime on her own, but will for naps.  At night she lays on the couch and falls asleep or lays in our bed to fall asleep and we move her to her crib.
5. She is a fantastic eater and will ask to try something new.
6. Each time I take her grocery shopping and we walk through the produce she asks for new cauliflower.  She loves to dip cauliflower.
7. Last week she was eating raw beans and peas.
8. Her favorite foods are any fruit, she has been know to eat 3 oranges in a sitting, fruit snacks, pretzels, popsicles, chicken, triscuits, cheese, and apple juice.
9. She rarely drinks milk and that is probably my fault I rarely offer it since I never drink it.  She will have it in cereal, which Evan will not. But Evan will drink it.
10. When Sara doesn't know what to say when talking to Daddy on the phone she tells him, Daddy come home, Daddy have big bummy (butt, far from true, Mommy's is bigger than Daddys :-( , Daddy have pick up, and me have polly wogs.
11. Sara loves Dogs and calls Max the dog across the street, my dog Max, she also loves Max's owner Kim and will tell us when Miss Kim is home or gone based on when the minvan is there.
12. We still haven't mastered colors, for some reason she knows pink, yellow, and purple, but confuses red, green, and blue.  I'm not sure if she really confuses them or just doesn't want to be bothered.  Shen seems to know them when its time to choose a freezy pop.
13. Tylenol is not our friend.  Sara is a very healthy little girl.  Antibiotics have only been needed once in her life so far.  Other than a cold and a recent virus, she has been healthy.  Last week a virus struck and she gags each time I give her Tylenol.  I even attempted the chewable and she told me not tasty Momma, after two violent puking episodes after trying to force it down, my mom, a pharmacist, recommended the suppositories.  The first few doses were fine until she told me no touch my butt.  Poor baby, luckily we recovered but I'll keep some very expensive $8/6 doses, on hand. 
14. We are beginning to learn letters and Sara loves to point out S's, she found some in a novel I'm reading and was proud to show me.
15. Sara has mastered a few 24 piece puzzles.
16. Each day we play with the loving family dollhouse for a few minutes.  She doesn't have a favorite toy.  At this age Evan was obsessed with Gordon a Thomas train. 
17. Today Sara was happy to play in a baby pool with a tea set.  She set everything up as if she was setting the table.
18. Blocks and legos are very popular and Sara loves to set things in rows.  The other morning she matched and filled the doorway with our shoes.
19. Dance skills and agility are very strong skills for Sara, she can watch a movement and follow it very quickly.  On our trip home from Charleston I was making up arm movements to keep her occupied and she could always mimic them. 
20. Potty training is still a work in process, as soon as school ends diapers are disappearing.  Most mornings Sara wakes up dry and will go on the potty with a little encouragment.
21. School ended Wednesday and Sara will really miss is, althought the kids at that age don't interact a great deal.  Sara loved her teacher and the activities.  She was always very proud of the projects she brought home.  Next year as long as she is potty trained she will go two mornings a week.
22. Cinderella is our favorite movie.  She loves her Cinderella pj's and t shirts.  We have a barbie and some small dolls but there is no obsession yet!
23. We love to read books, she doesn't have a favorite, but that is my fault, because she often falls asleep on the couch we don't always read before bed.  My parents have the kids 3 days a week and they read to Sara each day.
24. Evan and Sara play very well together at times, Evan creates the activity and Sara usually follows along.  They have been playing hide and seek on their own while I fix dinner.  Sara's idea of countingis one, two.... and she is off!
25. Shopping is a favorite activity.  Sara was very upset with my Mom last week.  They usually run errands while Evan is at school and my mom stayed home instead.  Sara is very well behaved in the cart or stroller.  We traveled to the outlet in Niagara Falls on mothers day together, and had a girls morning of shopping.  When we are finished shopping she asks me more shop??
26. Sara's memory amazes me.  She remembers things from months ago that I wouldn't expect her too, of course while I'm racking my brains for an example none are coming to mind!
27. Picking flowers is a popular spring activity each time we go outside.  One day she filled an entire bucket with dandelion heads.  There must have been hundreds in the bucket.  Marc said it kept her busy while he cleaned up outside.  Wish I would have had my camera out for that.
28. Sara is very brave and attempts many things Evan wouldn't dream of.  We have a open foyer and a hallway with a railing on one side in our upstairs.  I caught Sara attempting to walk accross it on the wrong side.  I almost had a heartattack, as she was about 6 spindles out on the ledge with a 14 stair drop to hardwood! 
29. Vocabulary is not an issue she knows so much more and surprises us each day.  At the cottage she told us go on boat - no turn power on.  Clarity still needs work,  little is yittle, and many words sound similar. 
30. Sara's memory is amazing, we picked up flowers last week at a nursery and when we drove by it again she told me buy flowers there.  Sometimes it is things that happened last fall

One of those moments

Today was one of the moments that struck me as the entire journey to this point has been worth it.  Over the years I've had envy of those who have easy pregnancies, easy conception, sleeping babies, etc.  After the struggle to conceive, losing Rachel, and then our twin sons, being on bedrest, having abdominal surgery during pregnancy, followed by two c-sections, life was never a walk in the park.  Today as I sat with Evan at his Mothers day tea, it was worth every tear, scar, sleepless night, and struggle. 

He was so proud to have me next to him.  We shared our snack of sundaes, and then his class sang for us.  It was adorable!  He was so proud to have everyone clap after each song.  Priceless!  They answered questions about their mom, well Evan told them his mom is 83... well 38 is more accurate.  Evan has always been Mommy's boy and I love it!!  I had to leave school and then return after lunch.  I felt like I floated in I was so happy today.  I'm so proud and happy to be a Mom.

So glad we persevered and tried every available option for parenthood.  What a fantastic day.  While we were trying to start a family and after our losses, I always loved the word Believe, for so many reasons.  I had a bracelet with a Believe charm, and we have a wooden cut out of the word on our dresser.  Through my losses and grief that word meant so much, belive in God, belive it will happen, believe in afterlife, believe we will see our babies again, and believe we will be parents some day, believe my babies will be delivered safetly, believe in the abdominal cerclage, believe in my intuition.  Such a simple word and such peace it has brought to me.  Today it really felt like that belief has brought me such joy!

Talking up a storm!

Sara has turned into a chatterbox.  I was a bit concerned in February her preschool teacher suggested we have her speech evaluated.  I hesitated but said I would make the call.  The more I spoke to neighbors, our sitter, and friends, they all thought it was a complete waste of time to call.  Sara talks non-stop its not always clear but she has 7-8 word sentances at times.  Yesterday she asked my Mom after shopping at Wegmans, "Why that boy take our cart?"  Yesterday she asked for a dink(drink) and I asked he what she wanted, I had a hard time making out lemonade.  She has a very broad vocabulary and can usually get across her point.

I had to pick the kids up from preschool this week and I was able to speak with her teacher.  Sara barely talks in class, so she is just busy observing.  The funny thing is once she gets around us she never stops talking.  This morning at 4am, I heard "Mom", I ignored her and then I heard "Mom come to my room".