Happy Easter

Happy Easter!

And a beautiful Easter it was!

Before I go any further, I have to give credit where credit is due. My husband dyed eggs, put together the Easter baskets, stuffed and hid all the Easter eggs, made a casserole for lunch at Grandmas, and cleaned the house while I worked and napped before we left. He truly is a gift from God and I am not sure how I was able to get so lucky. 

Thanks Nick. 

Anyways, I digress. Easter morning, Marlee and Nicky did a mini search around the house and Isaac joined in to find the Easter baskets. The Easter bunny brought a ton of treats, candies, and toys and the kids were thrilled. Isaac got a new baseball bag too which he helped pick out but the Easter bunny paid for. (Is that how it works?)

Marlee was running around in her underwear after he bath shouting "Mom! What's dis? Oh mom, look at dis! Mom another egg! What's in dis?". Needless to say, she was thrilled and so excited the Easter bunny finally came. Nicholas on the other hand grabbed one egg, shook it, laughed in delight, and ran into the other room. One and done. 

The day continued with an egg hunt at Grandma Wanda's house and an egg hunt at the Tozzi's house. All the kids had a blast. It is such a blessing to have all the family together. I wish we could get together more often. The baby cousins need to be close. Cousins are best friends first!

Such is life - busy, busy, busy. 

Needless to say, the kids were spoiled with clothes, chocolates, eggs, and kisses. Nothing better than seeing your kids smile. And they did. All day. Laughed, giggled, ran, and smiled. 

It was a great day.

An exhausting, wonderful day.

 

The Costello, Tozzi, Hough Clan

Happy Easter Everyone!

Jump into Spring

Spring!

A time for new beginnings, sunny days, growth, and flowers!

The smell is amazing, the grass is green (or getting there), and the windows are open (or at least cracked.)

And we bought a house!

I saved the best part for last. The long search for a house is over and we are jumping with joy. The child in me thought house shopping would be fun and exciting while the adult in me hated every minute of it. Smelly houses, shady owners, and disappointing days. 

Blah!

Finally, our time - and our dream house - arrived. We finagled a deal with friends of friends (its all about who you know!) and it made all the long days of house shopping and the disappointment of losing two deals, 100% worth it. Good things come to those who wait. We have a long closing ahead of us but we are counting down the days until we move. 

70 days!

In the meantime, we are cleaning, de-cluttering, boxing, and planning. So much to do that we are grateful for the long closing. It gives us enough time to get stuff together and make a good solid plan for moving. It also gives us a couple extra months for saving and preparing. We need a fridge and a good mover and a carpet scrubber and the list goes on and on...

The kids are super excited. Well Isaac and Marlee are super excited. Isaac is going to love the basement and the backyard while Marlee just knows that her room is pink. Which is really the only important thing when you are two. I, on the other hand, am stoked about all the extra room. The family living area and the kitchen are ideal for entertaining. Not that we even do a lot of that but the thought of having family dinners really gets me excited. I love my family and wished we got together more often - more often than holidays only. I know life is busy but to have a place for sisters and kiddos to play on Sundays would make my life whole. 

Now back to the mom life, Nicky is wanting to play and I need to empty the dishwasher. 

Next post will be an Easter post! Shopping for outfits this week! 

February Break Down

I only had to heat up my coffee once today. 

That is a good day. A great day actually. 

The children are playing band or drums or something along those lines so I am going to do a little updating on the past month and a half. 

Nicholas had his pirate party at the end of January and it was wonderful! Our house was full of family and friends. Nicky loved his birthday cupcake and all his gifts. It was simple, easy, and fun. All I could ask for to celebrate my baby turning one. 

Marlee had a blast too playing with the other children at the party. And I am pretty sure all the gifts were really hers. So in reality, it was Marlee's party but Nick was allowed to attend. Sassy toddler always wins. 

I did not get a lot of pictures because I was busy running around like a mad woman but the kids had a blast which makes everything 120% worth it. 

Thanks to all that attended! The kids absolutely adore everyone and we feel so special to have so many people that love and spoil our babies. 

Second on the list of February mania is that we are moving. Ok so we are not moving today or even tomorrow but after all of our hard work since last June to get ourselves ready to start house shopping - we were finally pre-approved for a house! We were completed over the moon with excitement! It has been a long hard journey to save, pay off debts, and get our budget in order. Finally, we did it! 

And then we found a house!

Two houses to be exact!

And we were denied both times.

Cue the sad music and tears and disappointment. 

We take all this time to save money and no one wants it. 

We thought that the saving and paying off credit cards was going to be the hard part but we were wrong. Actually finding a house is the hard part. We have seen maybe a dozen houses at this point and searched online for a million more without any luck. We are staying optimistic though. Spring is right around the corner which is going to bring a better market of houses. 

Our dream house is out there! Somewhere. 

My goal is to be completely moved in to our new house by Marlee's birthday in July. 

Marlee gets a new house for her birthday.

She is a princess after all.

Since Nick has turned one, our routines and schedules have really been on point. He has been napping (for the most part) everyday and I have been able to plan breakfast and lunch around his and Marlee's nap time. I know this sounds simple but its not. Which is why it has taken me a year to figure it out! We have also implemented the cage for early morning containment which looks like a torture device but in reality, it is a sanity keeper. We have to get ready in the morning somehow and the cage is the winner. 

And if we don't cage, this happens. 

This boy is fearless. And all boy. 

He still loves his food. All the foods.

And Marlee is turning into a teenager before my eyes. I was talking too loud so she got her headphones. Sorry to bother you, my dear princess.

These two love each other. Marlee says Nicky is her best friend and Nick thinks Marlee has beautiful hair (he pulls it frequently). They are going to grow even closer as they get older. I love it. It makes my heart so full. 

Never a dull moment with these two.

Actually, they now found me and my coffee is empty so it is back to work.

Or play.

Depends on how you look at it.

Have a good February everyone!

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!