Birthday Party!

Before I write about the birthday party we had with Ryan's family, here are a couple of pictures that I just have to show.

Jack drew a picture of Caroline for her birthday. I love his portraits! Also, notice all of the tape! I love how he tapes things!

Here is the gift Jack wanted to get Caroline for her birthday. How could I say no to this bib?

On Saturday we went up to Ryan's parents' house to celebrate Caroline's birthday with his side of the family. (Ah, the joys of living far from both our families!) It was a lot of fun to see everyone. There are so many cousins for the kids to play with, and the boys are busy from the time we get there until we leave.

I thought Caroline looked like a little ballerina! She was just so precious. She takes just one or two steps at a time (as of today!), and she loves walking holding onto my fingers. I can usually get big smiles for pictures this way!

Caroline had a lot of help opening her gifts. There were a lot of older cousins around to help!

Ryan's parents bought these balloons and the banner for the celebration, which was so sweet! I just really wanted something low-key so that everyone could get together and also celebrate our little girl, and it was perfect. Caroline is lucky to have so many people (on both sides of the family) who love her!

Friday Night Fun!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: We LOVE the Children's Museum of Indianapolis! We went to the Members Play Late night last Friday with my sister and had such a great time. It is so nice to be able to enjoy the exhibits with fewer people there--no offense to non-members. The best part was that there was a new exhibit: Dora and Diego. Of all the temporary exhibits they've had, this may be the boys' favorite. It was awesome!

The boys love these little dog toys, but usually the toys are filled with other kids. They really wanted to take them home with us, but we decided they are novelties best enjoyed at the museum!

Jack, Baby Jaguar, and Diego

One of the great things about this exhibit was a place for little ones. Caroline loved this part where she had to match up the shapes on the bases of the flowers. And I loved that she was able to play, too, so I didn't have to just carry her around while the boys played!

Grant worked really hard to inflate a tire on Diego's car.

I just thought this was a cute picture of Caroline.

Technically this is Saturday morning, but I wanted to include a picture of the kids with Aunt Melanie. She came out to our house for several days and enjoyed (?) spending time with all of us before she gets married and moves far away. It was great to have her visit, and boys loved playing with her. She is wonderful with them. We will miss seeing her as often as we do!

Happy birthday, Caroline!

Caroline at 5 days old wearing the dress I wore home from the hospital as a baby

Little Miss on her birthday--full of smiles!

BIG SMILE after her dinner of pasta fagioli!

Dear Caroline,

Oh baby! Where has the time gone? You are one year old! I remember when you were born like it was just last month. Daddy and I were SO surprised to have a little girl--and so excited! I still remember Daddy saying you were a girl and not quite believing or understanding what he was saying. We had just assumed you would be a boy. I am just beginning to get to know you and all the little things that make you YOU! You love to push buttons, open cabinets and drawers to pull washcloths/towels/dishes/etc. out, and crawl over into my lap when I sit on the floor. Anything your brothers have or are doing immediately attracts your attention, but they don't always like to include you, which you take pretty well. You have a sweet temperament and disposition, but I think you will be a bit feistier than your brother Grant--and that's okay. I love dressing you in bows, dresses, and tights. I love holding you close and snuggling you because I know just how fast the time goes. You will always be my baby girl, but you will not always be a baby. I love you more than words can say, and I thank God daily for you and the gift you are to our family. May He continue to bless you and keep you safe and healthy as you become a toddler full of spunk and will. And may He give your mama wisdom as she deals with all that having a daughter entails!

Love, Mommy

My Career

On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I teach preschool at the YMCA. I enjoy it well enough, but the main thing is that I get to be home with my children most of the time (and the free membership doesn't hurt). I did not go to school to teach preschool, but as it turns out, with my elementary ed. degree and experience, it works.

So yesterday at work the (college student) Americorps volunteer, who was subbing for my assistant, asked, "So, is this, like, your career?"

Hmmm...the question took me aback. Career? I responded, "Well, no, not really. I'm a mom." To which she responded, "Oh, well, yeah, of course." And I could tell she was a bit embarrassed.

So I started thinking today about what my career really is. It sounds odd to say that my career is being a mom, but I certainly don't consider my career being a preschool teacher--and I have not taught in an elementary school for five years.

Here is what I have done in the course of a day as a mom: cleaned, laundered, mediated, bathed (children!), fed, clothed, entertained, loved, taught, cuddled, read, disciplined (hate that one!), dressed, encouraged, chauffeured, and more, I'm sure. I don't know what my "career" is, but I KNOW being a mom is much more demanding than any other "job" I have ever had. My Americorps friend can look at me and wonder what in the world I'm doing with my life, but I believe that I have the most important job/career in the world!

Sweet Caroline!

I just have to say I love these pictures, especially when viewed together. Seriously, is she not the cutest thing in the world, even when she is crying?

Potty Training, Part 3

Yes, you read that right--part 3, and hopefully "The Final Chapter." If you'll recall, I had a post a few months ago that was supposed to the first and last post on the matter. Hmmm...so, here we are on part 3.... If you are not into potty training posts, sorry. This may be one you'll want to skip.



When Jack was little I had heard about this "window" of time during which you could potty train more easily. He was so easy to train (relatively, anyway) that I figured I was a genius potty trainer, had hit that window, and what was the big deal about potty training. Yay me!



I think God gives self-righteous mamas another child for the sole purpose of humbling them.



So after attempting to potty train Mr. Stubborn two times my pediatrician (A.K.A. the most laid-back dr. I've ever met) suggested that I wait until he shows interest. I seriously think the child would sit in diapers until high school if I didn't do at least some encouraging. However, I figured maybe he knew his stuff and would try his approach.



As we hit the third birthday I started to think maybe we needed to up the ante. I put Grant in pre-fold cloth diapers and assumed he would immediately want to wear his Thomas undies. Perhaps I should have shown him the Hot Wheels cars that we had bought as a prize because when he found those he immediately wanted to be changed into his big boy pants and sit on the potty. Woo-hoo! The problem was that he did not have anything in his little bladder--enter liquids. And, of course, an hour or so later, he wet his pants. I told him he needed to change his underwear, which he refused to do. I told him he could not sit down anywhere until he had clean pants. This is how stubborn he is--the child STOOD on a stool at dinner (instead of sitting) because he would not change his underwear. He stayed in that wet pair until bedtime. Ugh!



That was yesterday. Today, because we were snowed in (thanks to an unexpected 6" that fell), we thought we would do it again. He did okay, but I think we need Ryan's Grandma Violet to come work her magic like she did for Ryan when he was little. I've already told Caroline she will be potty trained at a younger age than Grant!

Ice Day #3

We had yet one more snow day. I love my children and love days off with Ryan. However, the novelty is wearing off. And we have one more tomorrow--minus Ryan. Hmmm...I think the kids and I will be venturing out to the Y just so I can work out, see other people, and have some "me" time. So...here are snippets of our day, which was not too exciting, but I figured since I started this on our first snow day, I would post something for each one. (FYI: there may not be one tomorrow. No one really wants to see a sweaty mommy dealing with three antsy kids by herself.)

I had this great idea today that we would switch Grant into cloth pre-fold (old-fashioned) diapers, which, of course, would suddenly make him realize how yucky diapers are and how great it would be to use his potty chair. Unfortunately, my little boy, who was born with a bit of a stubborn streak, decided that he was totally fine with sitting in wet and dirty diapers. I need to win this, but boy, is he testing my patience.

This is what we have become--couch potatoes. Generally we set a 2 hour limit/day with TV and computer time, but we have maybe stretched that a bit these past few days.

Caroline stands now and is so proud of herself. It is seriously adorable!

The boys did pages in their workbooks for a little bit. Poor Caroline wanted to steal the markers (for some reason she loves them), and Grant kept grabbing them away from her. I'm sure you can imagine the noise in our house stemming from this situation! We definitely need to get out!

Ice Day #2

We had another day off today, so here are the pictures to document our time home. I have to say, snow days were a little more relaxing B.C. (before children). I seem to recall days of sleeping in, napping, drinking coffee, baking. I guess I did most of those things today, but there was a greater amount of noise and selflessness involved for sure.

Here is the layer of ice on the arbor in our backyard. Thank you, Lord, that our power did not go out or even flicker! I had bought enough food but was happy that we were able to eat hot food and stay warm.

The bears were dressed again for some reason. I just thought this was cute that both the boys' bears were sitting on our kitchen.

Grant with his crazy hair and Curious George band-aid. He finally got his hair washed last night after a week of dirty hair (we didn't want to risk getting the stitches wet). Yay! I love his fluffy hair and the fact that Caroline has the same type of hair.

Ryan and the boys enjoyed a feast that Caroline wanted to enjoy as well. Unfortunately for her, Caroline's brothers did not really want a baby to join.

I decided to bake today! I love baking dairy-free things so that I can have tasty treats, too. We made oatmeal raisin cookies, and I had two great helpers. They love turning the mixer on and off. (I also made waffles and homemade spaghetti sauce, but, after doing all of those dishes, I have decided that tomorrow will be a bake-free day!)

Grant has never really helped me with baking, but he did a wonderful job dumping the flour into the bowl and then stirring. Jack liked supervising and sort of helping.

And here I am in my comfy, snow-day clothes (at least I changed out of pajamas!), standing on the ice that covers our driveway. Ryan didn't even attempt to shovel since it was all ice. I'm not sure at what point we'll be able to see our driveway again, but I'm definitely ready for spring. Those hot days in Branson seem like so long ago!

Ice Day #1

Today we had an ice storm so all of us were home. This is our day in pictures.

Caroline chowed--but that's typical. She is such a good eater, but I think her brothers were, too, at this age. I know that I just need to enjoy it for now.

The boys and Daddy enjoyed reading Winnie the Pooh on the iTouch. It was so cute to hear Jack laughing at some of the parts!

Caroline even read some books, but mostly she explored the house and got into all sorts of mischief. That is a HUGE difference with a third born. I just cannot watch her all of the time--and she's a curious little monkey!

Caroline and I were able to enjoy watching a "puppet show," which included, for some reason, underwear on Jack's head.

We then lined up all of the animals on the couch, complete with their puppet show attire. I love how Jack felt the need to change into his summer pajamas that are too small. Grant's stitches did come out yesterday, but we still have cream and a bandaid to cover it while it heals.

The day ended with baths. This just shows how Caroline's hair is growing--at least, in the back. Before long she'll have a mullet!

It was a good day, and we'll get one again tomorrow. Ryan and I both have school canceled, so we shall see how tomorrow goes. Jack desperately wants to lose power so we can have a fire in the fireplace but doesn't quite understand that no electricity means no TV. The remote runs with batteries so why wouldn't the TV turn on? Hopefully we won't have to deal with it in the morning!