Ballet Baby

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If at first you don't succeed, try laziness...

Alternately titled: How I Potty Trained My 2nd Born Child

When Ivy was in school last year her teacher encouraged me to potty train her. I thought it was too early (she was not quite 2 and a half) but because I'm eager to please I complied. I sent her to school in panties. And she had a few accidents every day for a while but eventually she was mostly successful at being potty trained.

Then in October I took her out of school. And being pregnant, exhausted, and (if I'm honest) a little lazy I put her in pull-ups to avoid having to clean up accidents during the day. I still encouraged her to use the potty but the presence of pull-ups lead to her regression into the not-even-remotely-potty-trained stage.

And I didn't care. Because I think it is easier to have a kid in diapers with a new baby than one who is teetering precariously on the edge of being potty trained. I know what you're thinking. But, I'd rather change a diaper than my sofa slipcover. Again. Apparently, though, other people cared. And I got some concerned inquiries into when I was going to start potty training again. I always said I'd tackle it when she turned 3. And then she turned 3. But the process was so overwhelming to me that I just couldn't stick with it. Plus my pediatrician said as long as she was potty trained by the end of summer I'd be fine. I was more than prepared to put it off until the end of summer. Or the beginning of Kindergarten. Whichever.

Then about a month ago, Ivy came up to me and said she needed to go potty. Which was nothing new since she'd been half-heartedly doing this all along. But she did it throughout the day. And the next day. And the next.

So I pulled out the Disney and Nick, Jr. panty collection and prepared myself for the weeks and weeks of accidents that would come next. But they didn't. In fact, in one month the only accident we have had was one where she fell asleep for the night without a pull-up on and woke up wet because she couldn't hold it through the night. Other than that? We've been gold.

It was so easy. So completely natural. And so much less painful than the 6 month process I put Kai through just so I could say my 2-year-old was potty trained. God bless her.

With Ivy, I took the lazy way out. And for once it actually paid off.

What potty training tips worked like magic for you? **Bonus points awarded if you give me tips for training boys to file away for when I have to train Trav!**

Three: A Birthday Haiku

My sweet faced baby
Just yesterday you were born
Where did the years go?

Happy 3rd birthday, Ivy! I love you with my whole heart.

It's snowing?!?

I can't even count the number of snow predictions we've had this winter that never turned into anything but disappointment. So, when the weather man called for snow on March 1st (after a 60 degree day just two days prior) I didn't even bother telling the girls.

And, guess what??

SNOW! In Georgia! In March!







And last, but certainly not least, Kai finally got her wish to make a snowman this year. Sure, he was only about 6" tall and she had to use sunflower seeds for eyes but she was beyond thrilled!

And then she smashed it into a million pieces.

My kids. They are a great many things. Precious. Kind. Creative. Smart.

But, right now, coordinated is not one the adjectives I would use to describe them. Not that I can talk. I mean, I'm certain they get it honest.

For a while, I thought it was just Kai. She moves around the world too fast and just doesn't have time to keep up with her surroundings. And, I can't tell you the number of times my girl has plowed into a door frame because she was zooming all over the house at the speed of light.

But, if clumsiness is contagious then I'm certain Ivy has managed to catch it. She's beginning to have a permanent red mark on her forehead from banging into one thing or another. And, just the other night she actually gave herself a big ol' bruise while drinking a cup of milk. Who'd have thought a nighttime cup of milk could be so dangerous?

Thanksgiving Day, though, she took the cake (or the Turkey) in clumsiness.

I've mentioned how my mom's house is. It's beautiful. And impeccably decorated. Basically, it is a veritable mine field for my children. So, Thursday as we're all settling in to cut the Turkey I hear "the sound."

You moms are familiar with "the sound" right? It is the noise that is made by a catastrophic crash that you are certain has left something decimated beyond all recognition thanks to your child. This time around it sounded like a crystal chandelier falling two stories into the family room. Thank God, it wasn't.

Instead, it was my two-year-old bumping into and knocking over a very expensive 5 foot tall glass cylinder floor lamp. And smashing it into a million pieces in the process.

Thank the Lord, she kept moving on past that lamp and didn't linger in the wreckage because it was the thing Thanksgiving nightmares are made of. We could easily have landed in the ER with an appointment with plastic surgery this week. Instead, she escaped unscathed and the only lingering effect was my own sense of mortification at her propensity for damage and relief at her ability to escape without a mark.

I was also pretty thankful it was at my mom's house, 'cause, you know, Grandma's have to love their grandkids no matter what, right? My kids are definitely testing that theory out with each and every visit!

But, what about you? What is the worst damage you or one of your kids has inflicted on someone else's house? Surely, I'm not the only parent uncomfortably familiar with "the sound?" (Please say no!)

Two Years

2006

2007

2008

The night before you were born I asked my mom the secret to loving your second child as much as your first. I couldn't imagine how much love a mother could hold in her heart. She assured me I would never question my ability to love once I held you in my arms.

But, she was wrong.

Because I didn't even have to wait until I held you to know my heart had a capacity for love that was bigger than I could possibly have imagined. I remember the moment you were born and your lungs cried out with your first breath. I remember being flooded with an overwhelming sense of love in that moment. I remember knowing I would never be the same.

You, my amazing girl, taught me about the breadth of a mother's love. You showed me that my heart was capable of more love than I could have ever known. You revealed a part of God's heart I had never before experienced.

You changed my life the moment you entered this world. You bring immeasurable joy. You have shown me all that is good in me and all that is good in this world.

I love you, precious baby. I am thankful every day for you...

Only Two Days

Just two days away from having a full-fledged two-year-old. But, thankfully, she still acts like my baby...






P.S. I promise to have a Total Truth up this evening. So, check back if you're interested in knowing more weird facts about me...

Faerie Forest Tea Party

**I apologize in advance for how looong this blog post is. I just wanted to document everything 'cause this birthday was so fun and this will end up going in our end of the year blog book!**

I LOVE birthdays. Not necessarily my birthdays, but other people's birthdays are the best. Especially when those other people are ones I am responsible for planning parties for.

So, every year around February I start planning the girls' birthday party. Luckily, their birthdays are about a month apart so we get to cheat and plan one big party for the two of them.

They've had an Asian themed party (complete with Sushi Cake), Luau Party (with Hula Dancers), Pop Art Party (with a paint balloon throw), and now a Faerie Forest Tea Party. This party may just have been my favorite.

This party was a bit more laid back than previous parties 'cause we really didn't plan lots of stuff for the kids to do. We had it in the backyard and just let the Faerie Forest do the entertaining. And, boy did it! The kids stayed busy the whole time.

Here are some pics of the party.

First, the Food.

Aside from the fresh fruit and veggies (Faeries are nothing if not healthy), we had magic pretzel wands

And Garden Cupcakes


And Flower Cakes


And Strawberry Popcorn Balls


For Decor we put up a portable outdoor Gazebo to keep the food under and decorated it with burlap ribbon and craft paper. We kept the whole theme very earthy.

Even our napkins were Garden themed:


And my favorite was the Faerie Garden Thomas built for the kids to enjoy:


We also had a couple pics of the girls framed with signable mats for the guests to wish Happy Birthday to the girls. We've done these for each of their birthdays since they were born and look forward to having a collection of them when they're older.


Now, for the best part. The goodies.

Each guest walked into the garden after visiting these bags of crowns and wands. The sign read "Trooping Faeries gather here/come quick and take a peek/first grab yourself a wand and crown/to join the faeries that you seek!"



The bags were made with hot glue, burlap, ribbon and some cardboard. So easy!

Then they walked down the garden path with their crowns and wands:

Girl crowns & wands:
Boy crowns and wands:

The crowns and wands were made from the cuttings from our Muscadine Vine. I just wove the crowns, hot glued various flowers, ribbons, and leaves onto them and they were good to go. The wands were even easier. They were made from Muscadine Vines and small tree limbs. I just cut them to a good size, wrapped them in gold ribbon and hot glued the ribbon on. Super easy and the kids loved them!

My absolute favorite thing about the whole party was the "Faerie in a Jar" party favor. Thomas designed these Faerie jars for the kids to take home with them. They were awesome! Each one was cut out and mounted inside the jar with a forest background and then we filled the jar with Moss and ta-da! Faeries in Jar. They were a huge hit with the kids and the grown-ups!



All-in-all I'd say the party was a success. We had fun. The kids had fun. And hopefully our guests did, too. Now I'm off to relax and not worry about birthdays again until sometime in October!

Wordless Wednesday

How is it possible that this is the baby that is turning 2 in one short week? Time moves too quicky...

I have a feeling...

this is going to be the child we end up taking to the ER for broken bones, stitches, and all the horrible adventure related injuries kids seem to get.

I turned my back the other day for a second and found my fearless almost-two-year-old nearly halfway up the climbing wall. Doesn't she look like she's having a blast?

She enjoyed it. But it terrified her mother. Why can't I have at least one scaredy-cat kid?

Like Yao Ming at a Holiday Inn..

We think this is what it must feel like for the 7'6" basketball player to sleep in an average sized bed. We're still pondering why Ivy felt like giving it a try.

Say Cheese!

I made the mistake of turning my back on Ivy tonight at dinner and leaving the shredded cheese on the table within her reach. Apparently, my macaroni and cheese wasn't cheesy enough for her 'cause this is what I came back to.


Somewhere underneath all of that cheese is a little bit of macaroni. And this is what Kai thought about that...



I so totally love my kids...

Not quite getting it...

Despite my utter refusal to acknowledge her attempts, Ivy is moving forward with the whole potty training thing. She is obsessed with "going potty." In fact, whenever we can't find her we end up looking in the bathroom 'cause chances are she's sitting right there. She hasn't quite fully grasped the concept, though, 'cause half the time she is sitting like she is in the picture: completely clothed.

It seems that despite my initial reluctance to conquer this milestone so early, my hand is being forced. We will be starting the long arduous journey to potty training this weekend. Boo. : (

Sometimes I write...

It's few and far between these days, but sometimes I find a moment to write something down. This is an early draft of something I wrote a few months ago and just found. Feel free to constructively criticize. But, please, be gentle.
--
For Ivy
November 15, 2007
It is a quarter to two in the morning and you are awake and crying for the third time. Is it any wonder I need a nap most days? This, my friend would say, is reason 878 not to have kids. My exhaustion says she is right. But, I know she is not. This is reason 10, 694 to have kids.

I walk into your room where you sit dazed from dreaming and crying. You see me in your doorway. “maaamaaa.” You almost hum the words. Not a cry. Not a call. More an exhalation.

Your arms reach out half hugging half pleading for escape. I climb into your bed past the rail that keeps you safe in your cocoon of blankets. I lie down, my back flat against the cool wall, and curl up to you. “sshhh. Sleep, baby. Mama’s here.” Your little body, exhausted, relaxes and your crying slowly dies down. Your head bobs from back to front and side to side. Your eyes close and you lie down in the warmth of your bed.

These moments are the ones I will miss when you grow too big to be my baby. You will sleep the restless sleep of an adolescent and I will sneak into your room pretending to fold clothes but stay to watch you and remember. I will wish for one more night like this.

But tonight, I pat your back until your breathing deepens and I hear the rough breath that tells me you will sleep the rest of the night. You lay there beside me warm and calm and I know that this is the job I was made for. I am your mother, the calmer of midnight tears.

I hold your tiny hand, hot and smooth as a stone. This hand, perfect and innocent and pure, will grow with you until I cannot guard and protect you from the world. This hand, so diminutive and warm in mine, may touch pieces of the earth I have never imagined. This hand may change the entire world. It has surely changed mine.

I slip quietly out of your bed and leave you to breathe the rhythm of your dreams. Smoothing your dark hair over your forehead, I exhale a silent thanks to God for this moment.

Crack a smile, why don't ya?

This is Ivy's favorite way to walk around now. In public. At home. With friends. With strangers. She pulls them down like this on purpose. I guess she really is starting to look like her daddy...

Why you never give potted plants to kids...

Thomas took Kai out for a date for Valentine's Day and he bought the girls some flowers. But, in an effort to give them something that would last beyond Valentine's Day, he gave them flower plants.

Valentine's Day at our house was a bit crazy since I was still in the midst of my overambitious crafting project, and I let the girls play for a while on their own (you'd think I'd learn my lesson, right?). I went back to check on the girls and guess what I found? Yep, you guessed it. They eviscerated the plants. Luckily I was able to perform life saving measures and rescue the plants, but I was still left with a terribly messy crime scene. Oh, the humanity!

What the Pho?

Here's reason 55,468 why I love my girls: They are so brave when it comes to trying new things! We ordered Vietnamese food tonight from a local restaurant and it is one of their absolute favorite meals. The girls ate the noodles like they were going out of style. Ivy filled her bowl of Pho with bean sprouts and cilantro and Kai put Hoisin sauce in hers. They've eaten this particular food before, but it has always made me proud to see how adventurous they are with eating.

We were also amazed to watch Ivy eat the cilantro on its own. We had to post pictures 'cause it was too unbelievable! She sat there in her high chair eating the cilantro straight off the stem! These girls are too much...




Oh, yeah and lest you think me very witty, I must tell you that What the Pho? is the very clever name of a Vietnamese Pho restuarant over in gwinnett and not a clever title of my own. It was just too cute not to use somewhere...

Some Creative Dressing

The other day Ivy took some time out of her busy day of coughing up a lung to disrobe in the living room. I asked her to please put her pants back on and apparently she understood me. She just didn't fully understand how to do it. Of course, our children are nothing if not creative and she had a creative way of putting her clothes back on...

Thanks Perez Family...

for the delicious and entertaining blue yogurt covered pretzels with sprinkles. Who knew a pretzel could be quite so fun? The girls absolutely LOVED them! : )

Sad little playhouse

Ivy destroyed it in just under a week. She tore off the doors 1st. Then apparently leaned into the window and tore it. Then came the other window. And in less than an hour she had torn the whole thing apart.

So so so sad. Because I think I loved the whole playhouse more than they did. I bought a vinyl table cloth and replaced the facade with it, but I don't know how long that is going to last. Not to mention, there was something a little more fun and whimsical about the first one.

Here's the new one...