Christmas Pictures!

This year we were so incredibly lucky to win a Christmas Tree Farm mini session with the incredibly talented and sweet Samantha Nicole Photography.

 

I was super excited, eventhough hubs couldn't join us, because I figured we could get some good pictures for the Christmas card.  What I got were images that were beyond words adorable.  Sam was awesome to work with, super sweet and great with kids. She was also apparently a ninja, because everyone knows that getting great images of a three year old is darned near impossible. As you can see, what she got was perfection.  We actually took these pictures over two days. The first day was, and I'm not even kidding, 18 degrees and a freak rain/sleet/ice storm that started the second we got out of the car.  The next day it was 60 and sunny. Pittsburgh weather, you are officially weird.  

 

 

I can not wait to schedule a session with Samantha when all three of us are able to get pictures, if you're in the Pittsburgh area by all means check her out!



Halloween 2014

Early in September my mother in law texted me a picture of a Buzz Lightyear costume for Grayson, saying it would be cute if he wanted to be Buzz. Well at that time it was a lion, then a yellow bee, then a super guy. Fast forward to when they were in town for Grayson's birthday and we hit the costume store, where Grayson decided he wanted to be none other than Buzz Lightyear. 

 

Well the costume at the costume store was pretty chincy looking, so we trekked out to the Disney store and Gigi and Pap suited him up as Buzz. A few weeks later we hit the streets.

 

 

 

 

Of course, the weather was crappy. It was semi misting/raining. That wasn't going to stop this kid though, he was on a candy getting mission.

One of my favorite things about the neighborhood is the fact that the firefighters participate in the holidays. So obviously, we had to make that our first stop. 

 

It wasn't to infinity and beyond, it was more like once around the block, but we still had a blast! Grayson came home with two pumpkin buckets full of treats and a sugar high to last for days. Id call that Halloween success.

 



Pumpkin Patch- 2014

This year my father in law was in town to go get our pumpkin, and Grayson was so excited to take his Pappy to the Pumpkin Patch.

 

We've gone to Sorgels Orchard every year since Grayson was literally three weeks old. They have so much more than just pumpkin picking to offer, and I love that each year we get to do more and more there.

 

Its crazy when they're actually big enough to climb on the play things. Stop growing now, please?!

 

Hey Mom, Ima drive the tractor.

 

For the past two years they have also offered apple picking and someone was super excited to pull the apples from the trees.

 

It only took us about 20 minutes to fine the pumpkin this year, because Grayson was far too interested in checking out all of the boo boos on the pumpkins.

 

Waiting for Daddy to pay for the pumpkins, Grayson offered to take me on a little drive. I think this is how my future will look when he turns 16. Only then I may need valium.

 

Until next year, Sorgels!

 

I dont even think I can call myself a blogger anymore...

Guys! Why do I suck at life so hard?

You know its bad when your father tells you its time to update your blog. Seriously.

PS- Hi, Melissa! Thanks for telling on me! :)

 

It just seems lately that life is busy. Even if I don't really do anything. The kid is busy, so I am busy. However, I told the hubs I miss this 20 minute brain dump time and I want to get back to blogging on the regular. I.E. not telling you about Fathers Day in September. 

 

So that's on the list of resolutions.

I need to write about Halloween, Christmas, The adventures of Bob the Elf, Christmas tree hunting, my best friend getting married, things we've chucked away at on the house bucket list, and just life in general. My phone has a list of ideas, I just have to get them out of the brain and onto the blog.

 

Another thing I want to do is de-clutter my life. I've set up the challenge of ridding AT LEAST one bag of trash per week from this house. Donate, Sell, Trash- I don't care how it gets out of here but it needs gone.  In all seriousness though, I rarely trash anything.  I usually try to give it to someone I know is in need, put it on free cycle or craigslist, or donate it. Far too much trash going to landfills, and just because I don't want it anymore doesn't make it trash. I just in all seriousness would like to be able to open the closets and see organization, and not total chaos. I really think if that was the case, I would have more time to do other things- like blog!

 

If any of you are still bothering to read this, thank you for sticking around! I appreciate it more than you'll ever know and I really promise to try harder.

 

For today I'll leave you with a few of Grayson's Christmas pictures- because no post is complete without a picture, right?!

 

 

 

 

Our Potty Training Must Haves

It n all of our potty training trials we have only had two accidents. Both of those have occurred because we were in places that didn't have easy bathroom access. So he told us he had to go, but simply couldn't hold it until we got him to the bathroom. After talking with the girls I work with one of them suggested getting the Potette Travel Potty.

 

Hello, lifesaver.  

 

 

Basically, its a small travel potty that folds down and stores in a bag that easily fits into a diaper bag. However, once you take it out and pop the legs up and add a bag with a specially designed liner you have a potty you can use anywhere.

 

 

 

It also folds out to be used as a seat for public restrooms- which is pure genius if you ask me.

Also, when you run out of the liners, you can easily sub in a grocery bag with some napkins.

 

 

 

Once we got this, I no longer have to worry about not having a potty close by. I have carted this to the park, the pumpkin patch and even used it in the back of my car in a parking lot. Its well worth the $13 bucks Amazon charges. If you're currently facing potty training challenges, trust me, this one is a must buy.

 

Another must have? Cheerios.

 

You want to teach a little boy how to aim? Toss a few cheerios into the potty and have him practice "sinking" the cereal. It works like a charm! I'm fairly certain that the makers of the breakfast cereal would never want to advertise this use of their product, but if they were smart they might start.

 

I really believe that without our reward system we would have failed. Grayson saw this fish tank on TV that he decided he NEEDED, and I used that to my advantage. One morning after we had started peeing on the potty he saw the advertisement and told me to "order it online, Mom!!" and I told him as soon as he pooped on the potty I would get him his fish tank.

 

Its actually called a Teddy Tank, and it consists of a stuffed body that stretches over the fish bowl. He LOVES this thing. It makes the perfect home for Dory the Fish.  They also sell them in dogs, monkeys, bears and even a unicorn but we took home Mr. Penguin. 

 

Basically, the name of the potty training game is whatever works.

 

So tell me, what were some of your potty training must haves?!

 

 

 

The Scariest Part of Parenting So Far- Potty Training.

Raising tiny humans is a scary endeavor. 

 From the realization that they are actually going to send you home from the hospital with a human being, to the first time they get sick, then the first time that you realize they are now mobile and you have to baby/toddler proof all.the.things and everything that happens in between. While most of these moments are also amazing, I think we can all agree they are scary as all get out as well.

However this summer I reached the most terrifying moment of toddler hood so far- potty training.

 

I was scared ya'll.

 

Until this moment, I had control. We could go where we wanted, when we wanted (you know, with minimal hissy fits and tantrums) without really having to worry. I knew once we started potty training we would have to be more careful with our outings. Making sure a potty was readily available, constantly asking if he had to go potty, being ready to clean the car seat or the sheets or the couch in the occurrence of an accident. To be honest? I wasn't sure I was ready for that change. However I did want Grayson to go to preschool, and in order to do that, he had to be potty trained.

 

Over the summer we would put him on the potty before bath time and he would pee and he was waking up with dry diapers, so I knew he was getting close to being ready to try. However we also had a nice 10 hour drive to the beach in the beginning of August, so I knew I didn't want to do anything until after we returned from our trip. 

 

So I read books, blogs and articles. The three day method, the five day method- you name it I read about it. The facts that say boys can take 6-8 months to be fully trained, those that claim it can happen in three days. By the time we were ready to try I didn't know what the hell I was getting myself into. 

 

Over Labor Day weekend we decided to start, because Grayson had to be ready in two weeks for preschool. I went out and bought a bunch of rewards, little toys and stickers, as well as a bunch of fun big boy underwear. We had lots of juice and water at the ready and I was determined.

 

So Saturday morning hits and I got him up out of bed with the alarming news, Mommy had ran out of diapers. I told him we would put on some big boy underwear and if he had to pee he would just tell Mommy or Daddy. Then I said if he managed to keep his underpants dry until we could get to the store he could pick out a present. He said okay and off we went with our "normal" routine. Only we ran to the bathroom every 20 minutes and as soon as he went pee on the potty he got to pick from the prize bin. He managed to stay dry all day, so after dinner we headed off to Target to pick out his reward. Once we were there I asked if he wanted more diapers or a toy- and he went toy. There was no looking back.

 

Over the next three days he had only one pee accident. He asked me to change his diaper and when I said he wasn't wearing a diaper he then said "Well then I peed on the carpet." Thanks, dude.

 

So he got the hang of peeing very quick, but for some reason was terrified to poop on the potty.  For the next week he pooped in his underwear, in the tub, removed his pants and even went on the floor- but come hell or high water he would not go on the potty. Thinking the reward system would work I told him if he pooped on the potty he could go pick out a fish for a tank we would put in his room- he said he didn't want a fish.

 

I literally didn't know what to do. My in-laws said that when the hubs was little he had a similar issue, and they solved it by turning him around on the potty so he was facing backwards. The next time he said his belly hurt, I convinced him to try the potty. Turned him around and that was all it took. After he realized that he went he was so proud, and it only took him about 30 seconds to ask if we could go get his fishy. How could I argue, in the car we went.

 

 

Everyone, meet Dory the beta fish.

 

I truly believe that I had nothing to do with this success, it was all this boy. He has to make his mind up to do something and once he does he's golden. I'm just glad he made it pretty easy on us, because if it was a 6-8 month struggle like one book said I may have sent him off to college in some Pampers.

 

As terrifying as this parenting gig may be, this kid makes it a pretty awesome ride.  

 



First Day of Preschool!!

How did we get to this day? Didn't I just bring this goober home from the hospital? Now he's heading off to preschool?

 

What's next? Med School?!

 

At the end of the year last year we signed Grayson up to attend preschool at the High School where I teach. The teacher in charge is phenomenal and the students in the Child Development Classes are some of my favorite students from past years. Plus I knew I could just sneak downstairs every now and then and take a peak at him.

 

So I did everything you should do. I bought the book "The Night Before Preschool". We went backpack and folder shopping. We picked out a first day of school outfit. I made a pinterest worthy sign. I charged the camera....oh wait.

 

You guys, I loaned our camera out and totally forgot to get it back.

 

When did I realize this? At 9 PM the night before school started.

 

Parent fail #1.

 

Oh don't worry, I thought. We have the small Fuji camera as a backup. So I charged up the battery and the hubs assured me that he would take LOTS of pictures.

 

Until the next day when he realized the extra memory card was in the camera bag with our Nikkon.

 Yep, Parent Fail #2.

 

Thank God for iPhone cameras or our kids first day wouldn't even be documented.

 

At least we didn't forget the sign? I came up with this last week using PicMonkey and I was super happy with how it turned out.

 

 

Yep, you read that right. A Pirate. Not the Pittsburgh Baseball Player kind, the Arrgg kind.

That's my kid.

 

He was so excited to take his first day of school "chipper" (picture).

A friend covered my class so I could sneak down to see him at the end of the day. When I asked how his day was he told me  "Me cried, just a ittle bit." When I asked him why he cried he answered that he just needed a minute, cause everybody cries Mom.

 

Well, that's right little man. Cause as I walked up stairs after seeing him go in I too was a bit of a crying mess. In fact one student asked me if I was okay.  Luckily its a kid I've had before and when I told him why he just smiled and said I was crazy.

 

My kiddos really get me.

 

 

Looks like preschool was a success. Now to see if we can get him to go back again!

 

So tell me lovelies, am I the only one who cried on their kids first day of school?