Brynn

Brynn is becoming a ham.  She is so expressive and silly!  We just love her.  She finally got her first 2 teeth, and she is so fast at getting around.  She'll be walking by her birthday for sure.  She's been way better at sleeping, for which I am grateful!!  And she actually is becoming more cuddly, I think, which is fun.

8 months

9 months

10 months

10 months

10 months

2013!

Doesn't this year sound lucky?  Maybe just because there is the lucky number 13 in the year, and that number has become 'our number' here at our house since both Brynn and Drew's birthday is on the 13th.  Maybe it's because we are continuing to try and stay positive about the pros about living here in MT, and out in the country, rather than focusing on the cons.  Maybe it's because I have cabin fever and I know that now the days are getting a little longer, spring is the next season, and I will have Drew potty trained sometime during this year. :)
I'm not one for New Year's resolution generally, but I do like making goals.  A goal I made in December was to read the Old Testament from cover to cover.  I haven't ever done that before and I want to so that I can then say that I have read the Old and New Testament, The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price.  I'm actually really enjoying studying it and am grateful to deepen my testimony of the Bible, Heavenly Father and His plan for us.
All of the other goals that I wanted to accomplish, I found, all hinged off of one goal...going to bed earlier.  Andrew and I have been doing this together and it really has made a world of difference for me.  I am feeling more rested and satisfied of my self-discipline.
Other goals that we have been working on are companionship scripture reading and exercising (4 days a week).
I have really felt happier the last few weeks.  Not that I was in the pit of despair, but I just have noticed an increase in my (our) happiness.  We feel it is a blessing from being more diligent in our scripture study, and I also think it's a blessing from having more self-discipline and being more productive.
I had an epiphany a few years ago about happiness. Self-discipline and mastery.  If we are self-disciplined, we will be doing what we are to be doing, speaking carefully and kindly, thinking carefully and kindly.  Not sure if I am being clear, but that is my goal in my stage of life right now.  Self-discipline.

Family Pictures from November

I thought I was kind of savvy with the computer, but I couldn't get our Christmas card scanned to put in here...duh.  Anyway, I thought I would post the pictures from our little photo session in November. (So Brynn was 8 months and Drew 2 yrs. and 3 months.)

...More Potty

So after that awesome week or whatever...we backslid.  I resorted to using skittles and that helped a bunch!!  After a week or so of that, he was back to fighting me about sitting on the pot although his eyes were swimming.  We have upped the ante.  GUM.  Then I threatened punishment if he messed or wet his pants and reminded him of the rewards otherwise..which I was always opposed to doing.  These last two days have been way better.  This will probably last for a week.  We'll see.  :\  Just felt like I should update.  I think last entry I said (or at least thought) mommy knows best.  Well, now I'm feeling 'mommy knows nothing.' :)

The Potty

First of all, I must say that as I thought about writing this post, what came to my mind was...'should I just be writing this in my journal instead?'  I'll do that too, but I wanted to get this out there on the internet journal too. :)
Secondly, I always HATED it when people would use the word potty especially to anyone over the age of 3 and now it has become a word I probably repeat the most during the day. It's yet another one of those 'I'm eating my words' moments that I have had repeatedly as a parent.
I decided to get going on potty training with Drew mid-October for various reasons.  One being that I had a week  in there that I had totally free, I wanted to get it done (or going) before the holidays, and I thought he was understanding enough and ready. (From all that I had read/heard it seemed like a good week would get a person far...NOT FOR US.)
I'm a book person.  I like to read parenting books of all sorts.  Yep, I'm one of those that says, "well, in a book I read..." that I'm sure makes most 'seasoned' parents or other people roll their eyes.  But what I like about it is that I read different parenting books so that I can see what is out there, and then decide what will work best for me, my style, and my kids' style. Anyway, not to get too far off track...I had bought two different potty books and had done plenty of reading online.  My first mistake was that I didn't read both books all the way through before I started.  hahaah  The first book I read was one that has training suggestions according to personality, so I took the personality test of Drew and only read that section.  After 2 weeks of getting nowhere (consistently) with the potty, I read through all of the personalities and discovered that the quiz questions put Drew in a different category than he really was. So reading 'his' section gave me some new insight.  
So, after two weeks of going about it casually, I hit it hard core for another 2 weeks.  We would have good days and bad, as expected, but it just didn't seem like we were headed toward any good progress.  So I dropped it for a week (even though some books said don't, I felt encouraged by the others say do drop it if there isn't progress:).
After that week I revisited the idea but didn't push anything.  After the previous weeks, he could hold it for 2+ hours so I would have him sit after that time and started doing great!  It only took a short time on the pot before he did his business.  So this week is starting week 3 and (I hope I don't jinx myself) it's been the best week so far!!  Today he ran to the bathroom twice when he had to go...that's a big deal. :)  I'll spare you the rest of the gross details.
So here is what I have learned and want to share:
     *Treats may work great for other kids...not for Drew. (Reward yourself though:) It just caused problems.  He is seriously motivated to just make us all happy (I hope that lasts throughout his life)!
     *Showing by example with a doll or stuffed animal was awesome in the beginning.
     *I need to trust myself and my instincts. I'm usually right with my own kids.  I know them unlike anyone or book. :)  Also, I usually am right when I think he has to go eventhough he says he doesn't...that's when a lot of the accidents happen.
     *I loved reading the book about your child's personality and how that will affect potty training.  I feel like now that I have his personality more pinned down, it has helped me understand him more in general and why he does what he does, and also with disciplining him.  I'm totally going to use it with Brynn.  She is a totally different personality type and maybe treats etc will work great with her.
     *There will be accidents and that's how it is...it's fine.  Just hurry and clean it up and everyone move on. :)    I know that I'm not out of the woods yet, and that we still a lot further to go, but we have come so far and now I can actually see the light at the end of the diaper tunnel.

Anyway, not sure if you have made it through this far...it's a lot of text, but I just wanted to get that off my chest.

We love these two!

Just wanted to share some dang cute videos of my sweethearts!  I would say really in the last few weeks, Drew has become really involved or interested in Brynn, wanting to play with her and help with her.   It's so fun to see.

I love this picture because you can see Brynn is laughing/smiling too with her brother.

It was Drew's idea to give "Baby" as he calls her a ride.  He's a sweetie, and Brynn loved it!

He insisted on feeding her.

He loves to read to her.

Catching up

October 13th

Brynn 7 months and Drew 26 months

The month of October was consumed by potty training.  I bought 2 different books, read them, and had at it.  I made several mistakes along the way...big ones being that I didn't read the books all the way through.  HAHAHAH  Anyway, the progress in 4 weeks was so minimal that I was starting to go a bit nuts.

We enjoyed spending family time trick or treating Halloween night, but we didn't get good pictures of the kids that night but we did get some.  We just went around town here and it was really fun to get out and about and chit chat with the candy givers at the door for a second. :)





Brynn is growing up so fast!  She is eight months old today!  Time definitely passes faster once number 2 enters the family.  Does that mean we are having fun? Of course (when we aren't potty training).  Brynn is always all smiles and has some powerful lungs so that she isn't forgotten on the floor.  She is SO LOUD!  She army crawls like a champ and has been caught in bear crawl position and pulling herself up on her knees and even a couple of times on her feet!

We borrowed the jumper from my mom and Brynn LOVES it!

Drew is talking more and more which is fun, cute, and helpful.  He is so sweet to Brynn, most of the time. He can identify the letters B, C, D, E, I, O, P, and Y.  He can identify and say all the colors except orange.  That's a tough one for some reason.  He likes to exercise with me which is really cute.  Watching a two year try to do jumping jacks and push ups is hilarious.  He is such a sweet boy, and talented...he some how got his laundry basket into his bed without getting out of his bed...and I thought it was out of arm's reach.  Guess I was wrong.

Humoring me by taking a picture after making our ghost.

He loves being on anything with wheels.

What a helper!

Now this boy is CUTE!!!