Sunday, September 30, 2007

Princess Power






Aidan has been sleeping in a toddler bed for the last 9 months. Molly in her beloved cribby. We've asked periodically if she would like a bed like Aidan's and her reply has been "No. I like my crib". Truth be told mommy and daddy weren't in any rush to set her free as she is not always cooperative at bedtime. Recently, Aunt Barbara found toddler sized Thomas sheets and a matching pillow case. I finally got around to washing and putting them on Aidan's bed. The boy was in heaven. Molly wanted to know where her new sheet were. We told her she could have princess sheets when she slept in a big girl bed. Behold the power of the Princess. Daddy couldn't get the tools out fast enough. While Daddy and Aidan worked on the crib, Mommy and Molly (decked out in her princess skirt, tiara, jewels and purse) went in search of princess sheets. Three stores later we hit the mother load and headed home with our booty. We put her to bed that night and she promptly requested to have her crib back. We told her that she sleeps in a bed now. She was okay with that and we got her settled in. We left her room and waited anxiously downstairs. Not a peep from the little princess and she's been sleeping in her bed ever since. She only fell out once and didn't wake from the fall or from being put back in her bed. She's still less than cooperative about going to bed but once she's tucked in she sleeps like a champ. We're proud of you big girl.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Fun in the Sun




















We had a TERRIFIC week in Ocean City, New Jersey. The weather was gorgeous and we went to the beach every day. September really is the best month at the Jersey shore. The week featured lots of time on the beach, bike rides, fun on the boardwalk and quality time with Mommy, Daddy, Mo and Pop Pop.

Molly and Aidan loved the beach and we went for several hours each day after nap time. The house was a short two blocks away so we were able to load up the wagon with our gear and walk over. Molly loved the ocean and went in as often as Daddy would take her. The water was warm at the beginning of the week and cooled off a bit towards the end but that didn't dampen Molly's enthusiasm. She would request to go back in as she stood shivering and blue-lipped in the sand. Aidan wasn't crazy about the ocean because the "wave-es" splashed him in the face. He went in reluctantly when it was time to rinse off and go back to the beach house. Besides, the boy was way too busy digging in the sand and pushing his dump truck up and down the beach. We would set up sand "cones" and he would plow them over. Molly also liked digging and rolling in the sand. It was non-stop action on the beach. Our friends the Taylors were also staying the week in Ocean City and joined us on the beach a few days. Their son Andrew (2) is from Astana, Kazakhstan and their son James (10 months) is from Guatemala. The kids had fun together and so did the parents. There were a few stand offs between the Kazakh boys but it all worked out in the end. James was a happy baby and was content to crawl around and eat the occasional fist full of sand.

One evening we went for ice cream and took the kids in their strollers. They like when we turn them around and pull them backwards on the back wheels of the stroller. Pat was pulling Aidan in this manner and hit a bump in the side walk. The stroller slipped from his hands and Aidan was dropped on the pavement. The boy has a hard head and the drop wasn't very far but he was startled and began to wail as only a 2 year old can. We were in the process of calming him down when we noticed the two grandmotherly figures on the porch. Molly apparently spotted them at the same time, waved her hand merrily and shouted "Hello hiney!". Not exactly our most shining moment as parents.

During our stay we visited a friend of my in-laws. Her name is Dolly and she is 100 years old. She is an Olympic Gold Medalist (1924 games-swimming) and also swam the English channel. Molly and Aidan immediately sat on her lap upon arrival and hugged and kissed her. She was very sweet.

Molly was shall we say less than cooperative at bed time. She cried and called out for Mommy/Daddy and it took a good 1/2 hour or so to finally get her settled. Mo and Pop Pop offered to watch the kids one evening while we went out. The night arrived and we were a bit nervous about how Molly would behave at bed time but my in-laws are seasoned veterans and told us not to worry. We went to dinner and a movie and had a great time. We figured no news was good news and didn't check in. And we were right. The little stinkers went right down without a peep. How does that work?

We were originally scheduled to come home on Friday but Aunt "Leen and Uncle Ron decide to take the day off from work and come down so we stayed until Saturday. We had a very nice visit with them. On Saturday, we packed up the car after dinner, put Molly and Aidan in their PJs and headed home around 8:30pm. Its about a 2 1/2 hour drive and it wasn't until we were about 10 minutes from home that Molly closed her eyes as Aidan's began to flutter. I think we have the only two kids known to mankind that DO NOT sleep in the car. It was a great week. Thanks for having us Mo and Pop Pop.

Sunday, September 09, 2007

To The Beach

We're leaving shortly for a week at the Jersey shore. All our bags are packed and we're ready to go but the wee slugs are still in bed. Aunt 'Leen and Uncle Ron must have worn them out yesterday. They sat for Molly and Aidan while mommy and daddy golfed in the 4th annual neighborhood open. We'll have a full report on the trip when we return. Here are a couple a pictures from out trip last year.



Monday, September 03, 2007

Mutiny On The Potty Revisited


If you had asked me a few weeks ago I would have told you that Molly and Aidan we're fully potty trained with the exception of nap time and overnight. We still use a pull up at these time because the kids don't have access to the potty. Aidan is usually dry after a nap and many mornings he is also dry. We were cruising. We spent two weeks traveling to Virgina and Canada. The kids did really well in the car and used the "big" potty where ever we were.

It all started at my sisters house. Molly and Aidan were outside on the deck while we watched them through the sliding glass doors from the kitchen. For whatever reason they were in their underwear (not an unusual occurrence). Aidan suddenly begins to dance and run in circles. I leap out of my chair, threw open the door and ran outside. Too late. This was the first time since we started potty training at the beginning of March that the boy p*oo*ped his pants. Accidents happen. Don't worry my sister and I tell him as we hose him off and clean up the mess. You'll make it next time. No big deal.

We decided before the trip to Barb's that this would be a good time to put the little potties away. Molly and Aidan arrive home to find their potties gone. We use the big potty now we tell them. Doesn't seem to be a big deal. We head off to Canada. Again both kids do well using the toilet. Aidan po*ops in his pull up after we put him to bed. This hasn't happened in a while. The day before we leave he hides in another room and po*ops his pants again. Luckily it is contained in his drawers. This time I'm a little firmer in my reminder that we don't go in our pants.

We get home and there are now many requests for the return of "my little potty". No we say. You're big kids now and can use the big potty. Aidan po*ops in his pull up one day and his pants the next. We were not so luck this time and have a mess to clean on the rug. Even firmer this time in our reminders that we don't go in our underpants. The next day we head to my in-laws to celebrate my FIL's birthday. Yep, you guessed it. Aidan sneaked off into the guest bedroom, p*oo*ped his pants and left a mess on the rug. Needless to say there was a lot of crying (mommy and Aidan) this time. Just to make things interesting and in an effort not to miss out on mom and dad's attention, Molly suddenly cannot hold her bladder. We're not talking a little wet either. Good Lord. She peed twice in her car seat (don't worry Kristen you can wash the cover). The second time she did it was on our way to the park. She had gone before we left the house. We didn't allow her to play at the park and she was one unhappy little girl.

We were in trouble folks and needed to bring in the big guns. No TV in the house or in the car for little girls and boys who pee and po*op in their underwear. Aidan decided to be on the safe side and not po*op at all. Nothing for two days (unusual for him). I was debating whether or not to get out the little potties but decided against it. Finally the boy tells me "mama I have to go stinkies" and he does. He has done so for the last few days and we're hoping that we weathered the storm. Molly decided she can't live without her beloved Backyardigans and has been dry as a bone. She will go to the bathroom and wash her hands all by herself. Of course, she has to close the door all but a crack because "I need some privacy" as she is fond of saying. Ah, the never ending joys of parenthood.