Tuesday, July 27, 2010

In our first week of potty training, when she does a good job, she is so proud of herself!
We had to put the potty in the playroom so she could watch Toy Story.

REALLY?

So, we are at week one of potty training Reese.  I had just finished saying how I didn't expect to even start trying until after preschool started for the year and she was able to watch other kids.  Two weeks ago, she refused to sit on the potty and had no interest in it at all.  Now, she loves wearing panties and gets so excited when she keeps them dry.

I have purchased one pack of Pull-Ups - her Dora panties.  They will be used when we plan to go out in public for more than a couple of hours.  The rest of the time she will be in regular panties and in her "nite-nite panties" for naps and bedtime.  These consist of the thicker training pants type underwear and a pair of rubber pants. 

If the rubber pants were not the largest, bulkiest things I have ever seen in my life, she would wear them in lieu of Pull-Ups when we go out.  But the get the job done at bedtime.  I have ordered some off the internet that look like they may be a better fit, but they have not arrived yet.

I say all this because in my search for better fitting rubber pants, I have been amazed at the comments by parents (mainly moms) with regards to some of the products I searched.  There were numerous negative comments about the Gerber rubber pants (the giant ones) because they were messy.  No kidding.  They aren't diapers.  There is going to be a little mess. 

Almost all of the brands I looked at though had at least one negative comment in common:  They don't hold as much as a Pull-Up.

Are you kidding me??? Really??? Listen, if you are going to use a Pull-Up as a diaper, just stay in diapers.    Why go through the expense of Pull-Ups?  I know why.  Because it is easier.  Potty training is life consuming.

I'll be honest, I don't particularly enjoy having to ask Reese every 20 minutes to sit on the potty and then sit there with her for 15 minutes until she goes, but if I just left her in a Pull-Up and only took her to the bathroom when I thought about it or it was convenient for me, she would never get potty trained. 

Of course, theses are probably the same parents who put Coke in their 3 year old's bottle.  I don't know why I am surprised.  I know they are out there.  I just can't believe they are giving negative feedback on a product, not because of the product's defectiveness, but because of their laziness. 

You want to know what's wrong with kids today?  It is their parents!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Hank turns 1

I can't believe it, but our little Hankie-doodle is ONE!  I am not sure where the last year went.  Our tiny little baby has turned into the sweetest little thing to ever walk around on two legs!

The Beach

We had a great time in Destin.  It rained almost every day for the first few days, but we had time each morning to go to the beach and have a blast. 

Reese loved the "big water" and Hank loved being held and falling asleep to the sound of the waves.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Swimming!!!!!

Today we went swimming.  Hank hung out in his little pool and Reese wanted in the "big pool."  So, we sat in the little boat float for a while and then she decided she wanted to swim.  I put some arm floaties on her and with in minutes she was jumping off the steps into the water and then "swimming" back to the steps.  At one point, she let herself float all the way to the middle of the pool.  We are talking 12'-15' from the steps, and she swam back!!!  By the time we go to Florida at the end of the month, she will be a pro!  I'm so proud of her!!!

I took a short video on my phone and am in the process of trying to upload it to YouTube - hopefully it will apepar over on the side there...

Friday, May 28, 2010

Catching up





Back in March we went to Disney World - - the whole Bing bunch.  All of us in one house.  It was the kind of vacation that resulted in me needing a vacation  when we got home, but we had a blast and already can't wait to take the kids back.  Here are a few pics of our wonderful week:


Sunday, May 23, 2010

Poor Baby

On Friday night, the kids went to Nana's, and Drew and I went on a date.  Nothing fancy -dinner at Chili's and then to see IronMan 2.  About 35 minutes into the movie I see my purse light up.  I pull out the phone and its the second of two text messages from mom.  Reese is throwing up and running a fever of 102.4.  Super.  So, we leave the movie and go to get. 

As soon as I sit down on the couch beside her, she sits up and proceeds to throw up on me.  Which wouldn't have been so bad, except I was wearing white.  Oh, well, that's what OxyClean is for!

She ran fever all day yesterday and stayed in bed for the better part of the whole day.  I knew it was bad when she heard Drew in the kitchen in the morning and looked at me with the most pitiful eyes you can imagine and pleaded, "No eat breakfast,"  You know it is bad when she is begging not to eat.

But, even being sick, she still managed to tell Uncle Derek that she loved him.  He came over yesterday for a few hours.  It was the first time he has seen the kids since Christmas.  He got to see Hank stand up and play and be his generally jolly self. 

It looks like Reese's fever broke during the night, so hopefully she will feel better today, or at least well enough to want to eat breakfast!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

It Is Only a Matter of Time

My little man made great strides today - - ok, they were little baby steps, but it is only a matter of time before he is running around the house. For the past few days, Hank has been letting go while standing. Each time he stands for a little longer. Today after standing for about 30 seconds, he took two steps towards me. And the best part wasn't even the walking - - it was the magnificent light in his eyes and the giant toothless smile that spread across his face. He was so proud of himself.

Not to be outdone, Reese immediately jumped up and said "My turn!" and then proceeded to take a few steps forward. She then looked at me to see why I wasn't clapping and cheering her on, too. Gotta love that girl!

Long time, no see


Where have the last few months gone? I wish I knew. Its like I woke up one morning (in our new king-sized bed, no less) and it was spring, Reese is 2 and talking and Hank is so close to walking that I've already got a bag ready for our first trip to the e.r.!


Despite only working two days a week (in the office, that is) somehow my days are over before they start. I am hoping now that preschool is out for the summer, I will recover a few hours each week to be able to once again, keep up with my blog. One would think that having a 2 year old go to preschool 2 days a week would actually create time - one would be wrong! Basically I had between 10 and 2 each day to clean the house, run an errands that had to be run, feed and care for Hank, check and respond to all work emails and all work that flows from that...ok, when I type it all out it doesn't sound like much, but it is!


The kids are doing great. Reese won't be quiet and Hank is perpetually in a good mood. My sister-in-law, Amy, has started a blog that I am going to start contributing to, so make sure you check there for updates on us: http://www.everydayisanadventure.net/

Sunday, January 24, 2010

So much for keeping up with the blog!

Well, my initial goal of keeping up with a blog that would let those who cared keep up with what is going on in our little world just didn't work out! Life since Hank was born has been hectic, to say the least. Life is finally starting to fall into a rhythm. Even so, I know that a faithful updating here is not going to happen, but for now, here is an update:

Reese has finally started to talk. And she won't shut up! Right now she is repeating over and over "cuh-ring" ("coloring") as she sits in the floor and draws with her left hand. Everything that has writing on it is "cuh-ring" and if you ask what color is it she says pink. She would rather be watching "Cat n Hat" right now but she is grounded from her DVDs. Grounded at 22 months, you say? Yup grounded. That is what happens after the 6th time of playing in the houseplants and getting potting soil on EVERYTHING. Punishments progress with each time the next discipline getting explained. She was told that her movies would be taken away. She tested me. Cat in the Hat, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Yo! Gabba Gabba and all the others now live on the top of my closet. That's how it goes. She hasn't been back in the plants in 24 hours. Lesson learned? Probably not, but at least I haven't had to wash the baseboards today!

Hank is the sweetest little 6 month old that has ever been. I think this is because he knows he has to be since Reese is a limit-tester to the extreme. He is starting to sit up and to get up on all 4's. He will be crawling before he is 7 months. He is about as laid back as they come. He also is huge. I don't know exactly how big - he hasn't been for his 6 month check-up yet because he got off schedule last time when he had to wait to get his shots because he had another ear infection. But we had to go to the minor med on New Years Eve because he was running a fever and I was worried the ear infection had come back (it hadn't) and he weighed almost 17 lbs! I don't think Reese weighed 17 lbs at her 12 month check up!

Work has been keeping me busy. I'm still only going in 2 days a week, but trying to get the things done on my days at home that I need done is not working out like I would like. I am running out of hours each day to try to get in my work, my housework, and personal errands done. It is just not happening.

On a somewhat related note, we have joined Hope Presbyterian. I say related because right now the sermon series is aimed at helping to deal with these problems (well not directly, but this is what i am taking from it!) I finally feel like we have a church home and am praying that God help me find the hours in each day to get more involved.

I must admit the only reason I am on here today is because Drew's Aunt Rita has started a blog to help "keep her honest" as she has set out on a year long goal to make 5000 pairs of shorts for the children of Haiti. Her goal is 100 pairs a day. It really puts things in perspective for me. I am trying to find 20 minutes to take a bath to have some quiet time...she is devoting a substantial part of the next year to doing something totally selfless.


Hank is waking up from his nap... as if he knows that i have had time to myself!