Milestones and New Challenages!

She did it, she did it!!!

Ok, so Hadley has been potty trained since August, pee trained that is... We have had the on going battle with #2! She wouldn't go in her underwear but every time we put a pull up on her for nap time or bedtime she was going #2! Well I am happy to say we have had a solid week of going #2 on the potty! I have no idea what changed or why she decided that it was now time but almost 6 months after being pee trained she is officially POOP trained too!!! WOOOOOWHHHHOOOO! We are such proud parents! Now onto getting rid of pull ups at night! haha.

Next on the agenda was her soother! I honestly didnt see much problem with her having one until she was 20 if she wanted because she was only having the when she went to bed!!! However this started changing about a month ago... For some reason she started wanting it more and more! Every little owey turned into an absolute breakdown until she got her 'sue, sue'! It didnt matter where we were if she was upset about something she had to have it or we had to leave because of the huge temper tantrum that would insue...
The second reason we decided it have to be gone was she started chewing holes through them! 5 in the last 3 weeks! So we would have to throw it out and give her a new one... Well they are not cheap and my biggest fear was it was going to happen just before bedtime or during the night and I am sorry but I am NOT taking a 3 year old and a 1 year old out in the middle of the night to buy more soothers...
I knew that it was going to be hard on her (and me) but 3yrs, 2months was the time for her.
I talked about it for a few days telling her on Thursday the Sue, Sue fairy was going to come and take all the sue, sues away and give them to babies that need them. That she was a big girls and needed to help the babies. She was strangely welcoming to the idea and smiled and said "ok Mommy". On the big day we put her soother in a bucket and left it on the front porch for the Soother Fairy to take. The whole thing went way too smoothly! I actually started to think that all the Mom's that blogged out there about their success stories werent full of crap and this was going to be easy!!!! Well bed time came, we got our treat that the Fairy left us and she was still going ok. I put Ivy to bed, read to Hadley, tucked her in and closed the door... She was doing so great... for about 30 seconds and then the tears came, and came, and came! It was awful! I went in every 10 minutes or so and reassured her everything was ok, but the tears kept coming! After about an hour I went in and laid down with her until she feel asleep. She woke a couple of times during the night upset but went back to sleep pretty quickly. The second night was much better with this only lasted about 30 minutes, then last night was FAR WORSE with me almost caving! Today however she actually took a nap without her soother for the 1st time EVER! She cried (mostly whimpered) for about 5 minutes then went right to sleep! I am so proud of her and know that it was for the best... Who knows what tonight holds but I think she is turning a corner.

Leaving her soother

Seeing if it was still there

Found her treat and looking for the soother

Not happy the soother isnt there...

Ring pop and a note

Yummy sucker!

I have been quite shocked by some of the feedback I have gotten. Most positive and supportive, but some very negative telling me I should NOT  "do this to my child"! I feel that I am a great Mom and would NEVER do anything to harm my children in anyway!!! I know their wants and needs better than anyone on this planet so it surprises me when someone else thinks they know what is best for my children?!?!?!?!? Anyway, I appreciate all the support and know that everyone does not do things "my way" but I respect the people who believe in me as a Mom. I may not always do everything right but I always do them with the best intentions, and with my children's best interests in mind...


Off to a birthday party for Hadleys friend!
Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

13 (and a 1/2) Months

Ivy Mae went for her one year shots today (a little late per usual) and did so great!

At one year they get 3 different needles! It amazes me how strong these little ones are because I would be freaking out if I had to get 3 shots in one day!!! She did cry a little but was over it in about 30 seconds and just wanted to get down a run!

Stats:

22 pounds - 50%
30 Inches - 75%
12-18 Month clothes
size 3/4 shoes (depending on the brand)

Eating everything in sight, drinking whole milk, done with bottles, still taking a soother, still backwards in a toddler seat (she loves looking at her sister), sleeping like a champ 12-13 hours a night and 2 naps a day.

We feel so blessed having 2 beautiful, healthy little girls!

Ivy's 1 Year Pics

Here a few pics from Ivy's 1 year old shoot! Hadley joined her little sister for her 3 year pics!!!

Callie, once again, did an amazing job with the girls :)

I die for these little girls!


Thanks again Callie @CapturedMomentsPhotography by Callie Black

Christmas Fun!

I have to say I think this is one of the best Christmas's we have experienced in a long time! Hadley is at the age that she is understanding more and more about presents and Santa, so it is so cute to watch her excitement in opening gifts! Ivy is into everything so she is just hilarious ripping into anything she can!
I love seeing the shear joy on their faces with every gift they open. They didn't really "want" anything for Christmas so they seemed genuinely grateful and excited for all of their presents :)

Christmas Eve we spent at the Farm with all of G's immediate family and opened gifts from Aunties and Uncles! The girls were spoiled rotten  and all of the kids all play so well together! I feel so lucky that the girls have cousins their age to play with!

Lexi and Hadley playing dress up

Emery and Ivy Mae

Grandpa Barry, Hads, Ivy, and Emery

Our best shot at getting them all together!

Christmas Morning we spent (just the 4 of us) at our house! This is the first time this has happened since Graham and I have been together! We are usually traveling somewhere or someone is at our place Christmas Morning because we have never lived in the same city as everyone else! hahaha. While I am grateful for visitors it was so peaceful to be at our place and not have a house full of people. We got up, had breakfast, opened presents, set up toys, and had a relaxing day with our little family.

My girls in their matching Christmas PJ'S! Not sure how long they will let me do this but I love it!

After the girls naps we loaded up and headed back to the farm for Christmas supper. It. Was. AWESOME! Great food, great family, great fireworks, (wish my side of the family could have made it up), but other than that it was a GREAT Christmas!

Love My Family

Hope everyone had an amazing Christmas Holiday!

Ivy Mae - 1 Year old (yesterday)

Well darn it, I am a day late!!!!

Ivy's 1 Year Check up:

As we suspected you are long and lean...
19.8 Pounds (down half a pound in the last 2 weeks thanks to the nasty bug you had)
50-75%

30 In (roughly after my Centimeters conversions)
90-100%

Wearing 12-18 Month clothes
Size 3/4 shoes

Eats everything  and is in the process of changing from Formula to Whole milk.
Sleeps 12-14 hours a night, has two 40 min - 1:15 min naps a day

Sweet Ivy Mae,

1 year old! Where.Did.The.Time.Go?!?!?!?!
In the last year I have been so, so blessed to be your Mommy. You are such a sweet, cuddly little girl.
You love to be held, especially by your Mama, but defiantly love your time with Daddy as well! Your giggle brings so much joy to our house! I love watching chase Hads around! You still think she is the funniest person you know. Your personality has come out in full force in the last few months. You are so smart and funny. You are independent and fearless! You love to climb on everything! You love to dance around with Mommy and be silly! You are a great eater and sleeper! You are walking and babbling non stop! Thank you for being you! Ivy Mae you are such an amazing little girl and we are so proud to be your parents!

Mommy and Daddy love you so much.... To the Moon and Back!

3 Years Old

To say the last 24 hours have been a whirlwind would be a HUGE understatement! 2 parties in less than 24 hours was STRESSFUL!!!! Both girls seemed to really enjoy themselves so it was worth it... ;)

I can NOT believe that my sweet little baby is 3 years old today! She is such an amazing little girl! She is sweet and loving, strong-willed and stubborn, funny and loves to laugh, caring and sympathetic, loud (like her Daddy, smart and loves to learn, loves music and dancing, loves animals,  and most of all she just loves people! I love that she loves everyone! She thinks everyone is her friend and wants to be friends with everyone. She has such a big heart.

-Say ABC's
-Counts to 10, 20 with a little help
-working on colors
-Loves coloring
-Loves playing hockey and anything outside
-Eats just about everything but LOVES noodles
-wears 3T
-size 6/7 shoes
-LOVES Dora
-Has a stuffy named Ellie (the elephant) that she sleeps with

We have her 3 Year check on Tuesday so I will update with her stats then

Stats update 12/18/12
31 Pounds (down a pound?)
37.13 Inches

Here are some pictures from Hadley's Curious George- Gymnastics Party! She had a BLAST!

Hadley and Daddy

Cake :)

Opening Presents

Hadley and Lexi

Ivy sported her Curious George shirt to support her big sis :)

Hadley,

3 Years ago today at 2:07 am I learned what true, unconditional love was! The second I saw your little face, heard your cry, and held you my arms, I wept knowing that I loved you more than I had ever loved anyone or anything! You forever changed my life and I am so blessed to be your Mommy. You make me smile every day! You make my heart skip a beat when you run up to me and give me a hug for no reason and all and say I love you Mommy. I know that everything I do in life is for you and your sister. Thank you for being you. I thank God everyday for picking me to be your Mommy.

Love you to the moon and back,

Mommy