Happy Birthday Nicholas!

Happy birthday to my baby boy!

Nicky turns one today and while his party is not for another 10 days, we will certainly be doing a little celebrating today.

Today started out with some green birthday pancakes which was a delight for Nicky but not so much for Marlee. She took one look at the green and said "caca". Green was not my best choice. I was able to look back at all the monthly Nick posts and it is just amazing how much he as grown. 

One thing I can say about baby boys is that they are 100% different than baby girls. Nicky is the most active child that I have ever met. He never holds still. He is even active when he is sleeping. 

Nicholas is a climber and jumper and destroyer. Seek and Destroy Nicky. Currently, his favorite thing to do is climb on the couch and he is so proud of himself when he does. It is absolutely adorable - until he jumps off the side. This little boy has no fear. And while I know that boys will be boys, I am not sure my heart is going to be able to take it. The bruise to his chest and scratch to his back is a mystery but the abrasion to his nose is from him pulling the lamp down on his face. And these are just a few of his injuries. 

Nicky has ten teeth now and it is a good thing because food is his best friend. Peanut butter and jelly, pasta, oranges, crackers, pancakes, bananas, and the list goes on. He loves his food. He is my healthy little boy. 

And he makes my heart so full. 

I love you so much baby boy. Or should I say big boy?

Happy birthday Nicholas James!

Nicky Thru the Months

I should be cleaning since the kiddos are playing nicely but I wanted to make a short post containing Nicky through the months. I cannot believe he is one year old today! To think I was in the hospital mentally prepping at this time for his arrival. I will get one year old pictures after bath and nap time but for now - here is Nicky through the months!

Such as big, handsome boy! 

Happy birthday Nicky! Cannot wait to see what 2016 has for you!

Potty Training is Fun - Part 3

We finally hit a wall. Marlee and I had gone to war over using the potty and she won.

Well she won the battle. I won the war. 

If you have read part one or two, you know how I feel about potty training. Marlee and I are still trying to figure out our groove. Four days ago, I woke up so gung-ho about potty training and I was determined to make today the day! Marlee had been wearing big girl undies during the day but refusing to use the potty. She would literally be dry all day, pee in her diaper during her nap, and then be dry till bedtime. I decided to really load her up on apple juice and she was going to pee on the potty! Long story day short, Marlee was not having it. She begged for her diaper. She cried on the potty. We were in the bathroom all day and all night. No successful pees. She peed on the rug. She peed in the corner. She peed in the kitchen. 

I gave up. 

Back on went the diaper and off she went to bed. 

I bawled. Ridiculously sobbed to my husband. 

I did not know what I was doing wrong. I had the treats. I had the Minnie Mouse potty. I had the sticker chart. I was a born motivator. 

I had become frustrated and out the door went my patience. 

I took a couple days off. I decided I would stop pushing her so hard. Marlee was just not ready and forcing her to sit on the potty till we are both crying is counterproductive. 

Then my husband did the most wonderful thing. He waited for her to tell him that she had to pee. He waited for her. Then he took a video of her accomplishment and sent it to me at work. She was so proud of herself! She had peed on the potty and she didn't even have tears running down her face or redness from throwing a tantrum! I was over the mood with happiness. I think I showed everyone at work the video.

Sorry fellow co-workers for making you look at pee in a Minnie potty. 

Something must have clicked after that night - for the both of us. I took a backseat to the forcing of the potty and the constant asking if she had to go, and she asked to put on the big girl undies. She peed in the potty four times yesterday! We did have quite the flood of an accident in the kitchen (that grilled cheese was too good to pull herself away from apparently) but I was calm and positive. She helped me clean it up and we put on a new pair of undies. She even went number two in the potty before bed! Her sticker chart is filling up and I could not be more proud. 

Bonus moment: she woke up at one in the morning to go pee and woke up dry. We still use diapers at nighttime but I was quite impressed with her since we have not really talked about not peeing at nighttime. First thing she did this morning was head for the potty. Seriously, who is this kid?

Do not get me wrong. We are no where near being officially 'potty trained'. I literally just got done fishing a giant turd out of the bathtub. Sorry for the image. But I am feeling so good about how things are going. Instead of begging for a diaper after her bath, she begged for big girl underwear. The one with the wittle bow to be exact.

My word of advice for moms going through potty training troubles - be patient! I know it is easier said than done but being stressed is only causing them stress which only leads to an unpleasant experience. 

Patience and sanitizing wipes. 

New Years Resolution

The New Year is a time for celebration, rebirth, and renewal. 

Yes, I get the notion that you should be a good person and set goals for yourself all year round but there is something about the New Year that symbolizes a new beginning and a better self. I usually do not get too caught up in the resolution bandwagon (it has literally been to loose weight since 2005) since it never really works out but this year I have decided to do things a little differently. 

My patience with a sassy two year old and a needy (soon to be) one year old has been wearing a little thin lately. After the family dinner we had last Sunday, I realized just what I wanted my resolution to be. 

We went to dinner with my sister and her boyfriend. Nicky was already tired and hungry so I knew he was going to be a bit of a pistol. Nothing a little bread and milk can't handle. As I was getting his sippy cup situated with a hint of lemonade, he reached out and grabbed my drink which was full to the rim and pulled it off the table. I saw it in slow motion but there was nothing I could do. It slammed to the ground but not before bouncing off the highchair and spilling into our diaper bag. Pepsi went everywhere. I was so embarrassed. I lost it. I yelling at little Nicky and told him that he was a bad boy (eleven month olds are never bad - they don't even know what that means!). And of course, I yelled at my husband for not helping me fast enough. It happened in a blink of an eye. Everyone jumped up to help clean up but the damage was done. And I felt like an ass. Luckily, Marlee was being as sweet as can be making a huge mess with the salt and pepper. I say this with a little sarcasm because while it was a huge mess, she was being quiet. I like quiet. 

Let's just say that it was an awkwardly quiet dinner for a little while. 

Awful.

This incident had solidified my need for a New Years resolution. I would ask God for more patience. It would be my resolution. More patience for my kids, my husband, and even for myself. 

It really boils down to more patience for myself which I feel will trickle down to having more patience for my husband and kids. I was so upset at dinner because I should have known that Nicholas was going to grab that cup. He is a baby. He loves cups. It was so close to his seat. I should have known that he was going to grab it. I was embarrassed when it happened and let my embarrassment turn to anger. A little patience would have gone a long way. A deep breath and a re-evaluation of the situation. Kids make messes. They are messy little creatures. I know this, my husband knows this, everyone at the restaurant knows this. It really was not that big of a deal, until I yelled. 

Guess what. 

Dinner went on.

We ate. 

I received another glass of Pepsi. 

The kids were good. 

My kids are not bad kids. 

I am not a bad mom.

Kids make messes. 

Moms yell. 

Neither are bad for it. 

So here is to a New Year. A year of more patience and understanding. 

A great year.

Cheers to 2016!





And I would like to loose weight too - ha!

Christmas Mashup

When it comes to being a picture-taking-mom, I am usually at the top of the list but I have to admit that I failed on Christmas. I took maybe two pictures. It was pure chaos. The type of chaos that involves a dozen family members, a room full of gifts, giggles from every angle, and thank yous being shouted across the room. 

The good kind of chaos. 

Luckily we did other Christmas stuff on other days. We went to see Santa at the Mirocke household and I got some good pictures of Nicky with Santa. Marlee did not want anything to do with Santa but that was OK with me. I don't like Santa either. 

Nicholas took the kiddos to my grandmothers house on Christmas Eve. 

My handsome boys

And these are from Christmas morning, before everyone arrived. Like I said, not exactly great pictures but I was busy opening presents and admiring all the amazing gifts the kiddos got. 

It really was a wonderful Christmas. I am just now figuring out where to put everything! Everyone got along and I think we really enjoyed the true meaning of Christmas - family!

Now to start planning Nickys birthday party - does the madness ever end?!?

Happy Eleven Months Nicky!

Nicky is eleven months on the 21st!

Can you believe it?

He will be one year old next month!

Where does the time go?

Nicky is a professional walker now, unless he has shoes on. I finally bought him a pair of shoes and he walks like a cat with socks on. Like his feet are so heavy now that he over exaggerates the lifting of his legs and ends up falling over. He is getting better everyday though. For now, we will get in a good laugh over his comedic walk. 

Nicky is still a great eater and puts his eight teeth to good use. He loves apples, oranges, and anything with syrup. Not really hard to please this boy and the only thing he has actually turned away was broccoli.  He has been in the terrible habit of throwing everything on the floor when he is done with his meals so I have to keep a vigilant eye out for signs that he is done! Messy little boy. 

Nicky is still my little lover. He loves to give kisses and hugs, is always looking for a good cuddle, and just wants to be held all the time. So sweet but absolutely impossible to get anything done! I rather cuddle than do dishes anyways...

Pictures were impossible this month! I think I have one good one. The rest are looking up, down, to the side, eyes closed, facing away, or running away. Nick and I had a fun time trying to get this to work. 

This pretty much sums ups the energy little Nicky has! He is such a busy little boy. Now we are getting ready for his first Christmas and soon his first birthday!

Happy eleven months Nicholas!

Christmas Adventures

Merry Christmas

Christmas adventures this year started with finding the perfect Christmas tree!

Keeping up with tradition, we ventured out to Pine Tree Barn on Sunday and found the one. This is Nicky's first Christmas and Marlee's third (third? Is that even possible?) adventure cutting down a tree. With our ever growing family, we had the pickle of figuring out how to transport all the kiddos to the tree and back - with the tree. We backpacked Nicky and Marlee half walked, half was carried. Isaac was a huge help as usual with pulling the tree. The weather was perfect and we enjoyed every minute of finding the tree, cutting it down, hauling it back, and then, of course, having hot chocolate at the end.

Marlee was a bit of a grump (how dare we make her walk! worse parents ever!) but was all smiles once she got her hot chocolate. Now I know to get hot chocolate first...

After Pine Tree Barn, we put the tree up and decorated the house. After a bit of a Christmas stand debacle (bigger tree = bigger tree stand), we got the tree up and put on the decorations. Marlee loved helping with the lights and wanted more, more, more ornaments. My mother gave me the Disney ornaments that I remember so fondly from my childhood and I was able to put those up with Marlee too. I even ordered Minnie from the collection off Ebay because you can't have Mickey without Minnie! Nicky surprisingly did really good with the tree too. He grabs at the ornaments but then quickly moves on to the next ornament without taking any down. It really made me smile to see the tree bring my kiddos so much joy. Might have even filled me with Christmas spirit.

Maybe. 

Presents are almost wrapped and stocking are hung! Now we are just counting down till Christmas.

Don't tell but I am pretty excited for Christmas morning. The kids are going to love it. 

8 more days!