Cousin

Two months vs Four months:

Ethan and his cousin Braden are about 2 months apart... This was the first of many playdates/photo sessions

Happy 2nd Birthday Ramey!!

Wow... 2 years old!!!

Ramey had a great birthday week...

Monday ~ Tot time at the library

Tuesday ~ Playgroup at the park followed by a play date with Mia, Molly, Whistler, Sadie & Olivia

Wednesday ~ Special dinner of homemade mac-n-cheese followed by cupcakes and practice candles (Ron thought he might have to work late on Thur so we did an early b-day dinner)

Thursday ~ HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Great start to the day with pancakes then Playgroup at the park and then my 2 year old thought she was too old to take a nap... finally fell asleep around 245. After a short nap it was back to the park for Story time and Kathryn & Kiley brought her cupcakes. Ron surprised us and came home for dinner... her first birthday dinner at a bar!!! Highdive! Then more cupcakes at home.

Friday ~ Relaxing morning at home before Aunt Donna & Grandma Betty arrived.

Saturday ~ Party day

We had a small party at the house with a small group of friends and family. The kids all had a great time running about laughing and giggling

Sunday ~ Nana & Papa stayed and we went to church then out to brunch...

It was a great week!!! All the while working on potty training... which is improving

Peas, Yank You & Saw-ee

I am very proud of my polite little girl!!! She has been saying please for a while and sorry has been around for a few weeks, last week something that sounds like your welcome was overheard... This weekend thank you emerged. Most of the time they are used without much prompting too!! Momma is so proud!!

I just hope she continues to use them...

A few more frequently heard phrases:

~ I want ______ (cheese, fruit, apple, melon, etc)

~Les go

~ Yeah, ok!?!

~ Lefty stay (she now makes the dog stay in her room when she goes to sleep)

~ Sit down (sounds like "see dow")

~ Baby s-eeping & baby eatin' (She is finally able to say "Ethan"* but still calls him baby)

~Dadda work/Dadda bus

~Momma/Dadda talk (phones)

~All done & No more

~ Momma cooken

~Wha do-ing? (over and over again)

~Waz dat?

~I jumping

Yesterday I even heard an "I need help"

*The progression to Ethan... E T (which ironically are his initials), Eh-ta, Eeeten and finally Ethan

I just love hearing her little voice... I wish I could box it up and save it forever. (although the whiney I could live with out, my have to get the whiney box from my parents LOL) We are working on using our words... somedays are better than others

Ethan is also starting to become more vocal... his little ooh's & ahh's just melt my heart and make me smile... enjoying every minute with the little bug

Nature Museum

In memory of Grandma Cheryl, we took a trip to the Nature Museum

She loved nature and being outside so we felt a trip to the butterfly garden would be a great way to remember her.

Ramey and Ethan had a great time

Cooken'

Ramey loves to "help" in the kitchen.

Whenever I cook, she is right there ready to help...

She likes to help pour and stir...

We made peach muffins:

and she did a great job helping make pancakes this weekend!

And while I was cooking the pancake, Ramey "played" with Lefty

I have since learned that once you have a toddler help you in the kitchen, they will always want to help... on the plus side she likes to "help" unload the dishwasher!!

Potty Training

I feel like we've been in a potty training holding pattern for a long time...

The last month or so of my pregnancy, Ramey really started to show some interest in potty training, but given my state, it wasn't something I was ready to tackle but got the potty chair, the big girl panties, m&m's and pull-ups... Every now and then she would sit but we never had much success, we had 1 or 2 instances when we "caught" it and timed it right.

Well I'm feeling back to normal and am able to bend over so I'm ready to put a little more attention into potty training, I just hope Ramey doesn't fight me too much and still has some interest in doing it... I also would like to get it somewhat underway sooner than later, as next week we start some classes.

I was starting to worry that we had missed the window and we were going to really struggle... The m&m's have taken that worry away!

Day 1 - Monday
I decided to give potty training more attention... Got Ramey to sit on the potty chair but only for a few seconds, she then wanted a pull-up... No biggie will just set the timer and have her sit every 15-20 mins and keep her water cup full. She stayed dry all morning but no success on the potty chair... After nap she went diaper free.. a few accidents but a success too!!

Day 2 -Tuesday
"pee pee on the potty... pee pee on the potty" Success, first thing in the morning!! A few more hits (and misses) thru out the day.

Day 3- Wednesday
Just like Tuesday... She is wanting to sit more...that and she knows she'll get a chocolate when she sits, looks like it might be time to up the ante

Day 4 - Thursday
More of the same... when home she is diaper free and is getting closer... we are having more hits than misses, even caught a poo!!! Not sure if I'm ready to tackle the outside world... at least the park has a bathroom, which we did visit this week...

Day 5 - Friday
We are on the right track!!! Definitely getting closer... Still taking her to sit every hour, but she is starting to head there on her own, sometimes right after she has already gone... but that's a start!

First thing Saturday morning she asked for the potty and went!!! Mornings are better than afternoons, but we are getting there!

Next week is the first week of a bunch of classes/play groups so may stick to pull ups while we are out but visit the potty before, during and after... very excited to be cutting down on our diaper purchase...

Potty training with an infant in the house has presented its own set of difficulties... it never fails that she has to go (and/or goes) while I'm with Ethan, even if she just sat (or it could be a ply for more attention... hmmm) I do see the light at the end of the tunnel

4-6 Weeks

Once again, time is going by WAY too fast!

Hard to believe my little man is six weeks old!!!

He is getting so big (4 week stats)
Weight: 9lbs 2.5oz (25-50%)
Height: 21 1/2" (50-75%)

His neck is getting stronger everyday... He is really starting to hold it up high, so high that he has rolled over a few times!! (Will work on getting video of it)

AND we've gotten a few baby smiles and giggles!! (really need to get the video camera out)

A little grin

I really didn't want any more baby paraphernalia in my living room but at the end of one extra fussy day, I decided to get out the swing... So glad I did!! He LOVES it!! (so does Ramey!!) Naps have improved since starting to use it! (as long as Ramey doesn't help "push" it) Night time sleep is going well... up 2-3 times to eat but he's right back to sleep most times. Every couple of days I get a 5-6 hour stretch (unfortunately typically starting at 7 or 8)

We are getting out of the house a little more, mainly to the park... We got the wheel board for the stroller so going for walks have gotten much easier. Running errands is still a challenge, but a baby carrier will solve that!

A quick shot of Ramey getting her baby ready to run some errands

She makes a great big sister and mommy's little helper!