Random post

Wow, it's been a long time since I posted anything to blog. I don't have any good excuse. So, I figured I better post something before y'all forget I even have a blog!  Here are just some random thoughts and pictures to keep you interested.

Valentine's Day - I was out of town at a conference on Valentine's Day so I wanted to include a few pics from Evan's V-day party at school. I had so much fun visiting his class. 

Icing and putting sprinkles on his cookie

Yummy cookie!

Evan and his friend Alex

And a video of Evan while they were singing.  He was doing great until he realized I was there and then of course he ran over to see me.

On our way to Indianapolis, we flew through Chicago and got to spend a few hours with Camden and Nikki. Here Caitlin and Cam posed for a picture.

In Indianapolis, we of course went to the Children's Museum.  Caitlin got to ride the carousel on a horse for the first time and loved it.

She enjoyed the toddler area as well.

This is a random picture from our house. I have one cupboard where I keep our Tupperware and kids stuff. She loves to climb in it!

Well, there you go! Hope you enjoyed the quick blog entry. In news... not much is new. Caitlin is on the verge of walking on her own.  She's so close if she would just stop leaning so far forward!  Evan is doing well too. We are still working on potty training but we are slowly making progress (I think). He loves to ride his bike and we've enjoyed spending time outside now that the weather is nice. Bryce is recovering from something like the bubonic plague. He had a horrible case of the flu while Caitlin and I were out of town.  Fortunately, he seems to be the only one to get it (I'd just like to point out he was the only one to NOT get a flu shot.. coincidence?).  He is still not fully recovered but doing much better.  Big, huge, colossal thanks to Michelle, Brett, and Casey who took care of Evan. 

Spring is coming

I  know I shouldn't complain about the weather because compared to the Midwest/East Coast, we've had it easy. However, the last few weeks have been cold by Texas standards and not real pleasant. Here's a few pics from the snow day.

All ready for fun in the snow

Our snowman!

Do bikes work in the snow??

 This weekend, we finally had some really nice weather so of course we spent time outside.

Saturday, Bryce and I took the kids on a walk up to the park where they got to play. Evan rode his bike both there and back and loved it.  I enjoyed snapping some photographs of them playing with some new photography tricks I learned on my camera! 

Sunday, I took the kids down to the Austin Zoo - not a zoo so much as an animal rescue. Evan LOVED feeding the different animals after he realized they weren't so scary.  We got to see lions, tigers, and other various cats. Evan loved running around after Aidan.  We even got to go on a train ride! 

Right now, I'm blogging from San Antonio!  I am here for a conference for the next two days... my first time away from the kids (besides being in the hospital to give birth to Caitlin).  I miss them and Bryce but at the same time, having some time just to myself is kind of nice!  Thanks to Michelle and Becca for helping him out... he really appreciates it I know!

Well, hope everyone has a great week.  I am off to Indianapolis on Friday to go to a baby shower for my good friend Lauren. Can't wait to see her and my other high school gals!!!!!

Evan - 2.5 years old!

Yesterday, Evan officially turned 2.5 years old.  How did it go by so fast??  I look at him and see this sweet, smart, funny little boy when not long ago, he was just a little baby to cuddle and hold.  Now, he wants none of that - he wants to run, jump, ride his bike, and does not stop talking!

I figured 2.5 deserved an update so here's my attempt at capturing what's new in Evan's world!

Don't you love this pic? Our photographer Kathy Whittaker took it actually about 3 months ago during one of Caitlin's shoots but I couldn't resist it.

Language:  There are too many words to put what he knows! I can't believe how much his language has exploded in just 6 months from when he was two.  He speaks in full sentences most of the time. I almost always can tell what he's saying (although others not familiar with 2 year old speak may have a harder time).  He communicates what he wants, what he's feeling, what other's are feeling (like "Sister is sad" when she's crying).  He has opinions! I give him choices now (like you can wear brown pants or blue pants).  He knows all his colors REALLY well.  He knows a lot of the alphabet.  He can repeat a lot of what he hears and likes to.  I can ask him about school and actually get some useful information from him about what he did.  It's just so much fun to have a conversation with him!

Motor Skills:  He LOVES to run and jump! Nothing new there.  He is great at sports (but I'm biased of course).  He can kick balls really well, can play baseball, has a pretty good jump shot, and in general loves to play them.  I can't wait to start him in a little soccer league or something in a year or two.  We got him a balance bike for Christmas and although the weather hasn't been great, we've been out riding it a few times and already he goes pretty fast on it and is starting to actually balance on it. I think he's pretty much right there with all these skills.

Food: Evan still loves fruit although his tastes have changed somewhat. He used to eat any fruit but now he really dislikes melons. He loves berries of any kind - probably his favorite.  For other food, it used to be a real challenge to get him to eat but he is doing so much better with sitting at the table and eating whatever we are eating.  He likes all your typical toddler food (hot dogs, mac n cheese, chicken nuggets). He loves yogurt, raisins, crackers, and fruit snacks. He drinks mostly milk and water. He is NOT allergic to anything that we know of.  I'd say he's a pretty typical 2 year old when it comes to eating.

Play: He loves to play with friends, especially Avery and Leah whom we see a lot.  He also loves our nanny Elizabeth and Lucy her daughter and they have lots of fun together.  When I ask him about school, he often mentions Alex and Landon as people he plays with.  He has started to do pretend play which is fun to watch - he pours me tea and makes me muffins in our play kitchen.  His favorite things are cars and trains - all boy here!  He LOVES Thomas the Train and Chuggington so we often read those books. He has a new train table that he can play at for quite awhile. He also will just play with his cars all by himself, very contently while I am doing other things.  He's not as much into Nemo although his favorite movies are probably Cars, Nemo, and Toy Story (and Thomas of course).  He loves to go outside so hopefully we get nicer weather soon. 

Sleeping: We usually put him to bed around 8:30pm after reading a few books.  Most of the time, he just sits in his bed and talks or sings.  He rarely falls asleep right away but I love to sit outside his door and just listen to him talk and sing to himself. So cute.  He still takes a nap most days, usually from about 2-5pm although it varies.  I'm just thankful he is still napping and hope it continues!!  He is still in his crib... he's gotten out just a few times and I don't think he had the most graceful exit so he doesn't do it often. After potty training, we will probably think about transitioning him... it's just so nice to be able to put him in there and not have to worry about him getting up and wondering around or not going to sleep. 

Potty Training:  This past month, we've really been working at the potty training. At this point, he's doing great.  He pretty much wears only underwear at the house and then a pull-up if we go out.  I still put him in a diaper for nap and bedtime though.  He is doing great with peeing on the big potty.  However pooping is another story... we just cannot master that.  I've heard it's pretty common so we will just keep working.  But I'd love to be diaper free before long!!

I guess that's about all I can think of.  He's a pretty good listener although he is familiar with time-out :)  He's super sweet to his sister most of the time.  Melts my heart!  I have a love/hate relationship with growing up.  I'll try and get some good videos of him singing or talking to himself in his bedroom if I can get to it.  Did I mention he loves to sing??  I catch him singing all the time - especially Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Old Macdonald, Jingle Bells, and random other tunes. Too cute!  Anyway, that's my 2.5 year old Evan update!  Love you buddy!

Here's just a few pictures I pulled out from the last 2.5 years to see how he's grown!

 

Evan just after he was born

Evan at the hospital

Can you believe he was this little?

Evan's first Halloween as Nemo

First bluebonnet picture

Evan's baptism

First summer!

Evan at One Year Old!

Evan with his new baby sister

Evan's 2nd Bluebonnet picture - with Caitlin!

Yummy cake!

Evan's 2nd birthday

Evan starts preschool

Evan's 2nd Halloween

What a big boy!

Blog Q&A

Well, I don't have a lot to post at the moment, so I'm going to take the opportunity for a little Q&A!  I need some advice, parenting help, and whatever else I happen to think of! And in the process of asking the questions, I'm sure you'll get some update into what's been going on with us.  Also, some of this blog entry may be TMI (too much information) in which case, stop reading after question 2 :)

1) Blog name!
 I'd like to revamp the blog a little with a better header and background.  And I'm thinking I'd like to get a different name.  Maybe something a little catchier or cuter and more related to the kids since really, that's why I have the blog.  I'd love some thoughts and suggestions for a fun new name!!  Please send me some!  I hear such cute other blog names that I'd like to have my own cute blog name :)

2) Low grade fever?
Caitlin started a low fever (like right at 100 degrees) on Wed night. She had the fever all day today (I mean, it stayed right at 100 degrees).  She's been really fussy and just wants to be held all the time. She is eating okay.  She is not congested AT ALL. No pulling of the ears.  I can tell she's not feeling well. I've given her some motrin and it doesn't do a lot for her.  Any ideas what it might be? I'm assuming just a little virus but wondering if I should take her to the Dr. anyway.  Thoughts??  I think if she still has a fever tomorrow, I probably will just take her in but I'm curious what other parents would do in this situation. It's so hard to know when they can't tell you what's wrong!

3) Potty Training!
We haven't been real serious with the potty training until after our big Christmas trip.  Before then, we would encourage Evan to sit on the potty and he would use it whenever we put him on it for the most part.  But, we hadn't ventured into the world of underwear and pull-ups.  Since the beginning of the year, I've been really wanting to work on this and so we have now officially started potty training. 

So far, it's going pretty well!  When we are at home, I have him in underwear and for the most part, he does really great.  I've even started putting him in pull-ups for preschool and they said he's doing fine.  But, we have a few issues and those with experience (especially boy experience), I'd love some advice. Here goes:

Question 1:  We have a little potty and he likes to sit on that. He's kind of scared of the big potty (although just tonight I got him to sit on it and actually go on it - big accomplishment).  Any tips for how to handle the big potty, especially when you are out in a public place?

Question 2: To stand or not to stand.  At preschool, I guess Evan has been using the little kid urinals so it's not an issue that he wouldn't sit on the bigger potty.  However the whole peeing to stand thing seems rather difficult if you are out and about at the mall let's say.  Anyone taught a boy to pee standing up first??  Just curious if you have and how you did it and how it worked while out!  It just seems way too difficult to me but maybe I'm wrong!  Of course, sitting down there are other issues too - like spray!  I'm thinking girls are SO much easier to potty train!!

Question 3:  Pooping!  So, I think we've got the pee thing down, but pooping is a whole 'nother story. I just don't know how to work this issue.  He really doesn't poop in the potty. I mean, I put a diaper on him at night and for naps (and obviously right now if we go somewhere), so I think he just waits to poop then.  Any suggestions for encouraging it in the potty?

Question 4: General potty training - I feel like we are making good progress.  How do I sort of take the next step to being diaper free?  Just continue with what we are doing?  He's not really telling us still when he NEEDS to go. I think he's doing a great job of holding it and going on the potty... but I'm worried that if I didn't take him as often as I do, he'd just go and wouldn't necessarily tell me.  He has told me a few times and I do take him.  And when he has a diaper on, he often will tell me after the fact.  Is there maybe a good book I should read?  Whatever tips anyone has, I'm all ears!

I guess that's it for questions.  Please post comments to the blog entry so I can get your opinions on all the above issues.  As you can see, my world is SO exciting!  After potty training, next step is getting Evan out of a crib and into a toddler bed.  That will be another blog entry full of questions but for now, I'd love answers to the above.  Thanks y'all!