Did, or do, your children (or child) have a favorite "item" that they cant seem to live without!? Kai never had this...Si has gone through a few...and the current one, I would like to see lost!
Her first item she would never put down was her white soft bunny. It is very cute...and worn well. Bunny has been at the "doctor" for a while as mom needs to sew its arm back on and has yet to do it...a little thing called, needing more time.
From Bunny has come dolls. It doesn't really matter which doll, so long as there is at least one and usually two baby dolls in her arms: She sure has a maternal instinct that is for sure.
But now, the "item" has turned into something she wears. A pink t-shirt. A pink t-shirt that was purchased in Italy last year and for some reason has now won her heart. It seems the only way I can get her out of this shirt is if it is "dirty" and is being washed...I try to leave it there for a few days in hopes of her forgetting...but this does not happen.
Saturday we had some family photos/maternity photos done. Si was in a TERRIBLE mood. Barely let me put her down, cried most of the time, and would not "pose" for a single photo. I am thankful that between tears there were a few saving grace moments where the photographer was able to get a glimpse of smile.
But, in true Si fashion, there was no way she was dressing the part of Dad, Mom and Kai in our jeans and dark tops...she would not take off the pink "Ciao Bella" t-shirt...and so we have some photos to remember her beloved t-shirt.
I finally finished Kai and Si's rooms a fee weeks ago and keep forgetting to post the pictures.
Here are some photos of Si's big girls room. She loves all the butterflies on the wall. I am please with the end result :)
Now, if only she would wear dresses and not want sweats and a t-shirt all the time!
And we couldnt leave Kai out all together, so he got some new bed sheets, an airplane stencil...and a large plane to hang from the ceiling. He was stoked! He loves his "new room" as well.
this is the huge plane we have yet to hang from his ceiling
Nursery is nearly there... I will share those photos once the baby has arrived.
Our basement turned out great! It actually feels bigger (and much more organized!) now that the wall is up. Ryan and I now actually don't mind heading downstairs and relaxing with the kids. Much warmer and cozy than before.
The office...the guest bed is set up, my desk is organized...still have a few more details to finish, then it will be complete as well.
It has been a busy time getting these things done; but feels so great to have the big items of the lists.
Next up...
Wash and install the baby's carseat.
Sort thru newborn clothes. Wash and sort.
Clean out some closets.
...then have a little kids/adult clothing garage sale along with a few little items.
Have a bunch of stuff that is in great shape but collecting dust. What a shame...time to find it all a new home!
Maybe by the time I tackle the next list...baby will then make an appearance! Here's to wishful thinking!!
Since we have been back I am all about "nesting." I am making plans and spending money (sorry love). We are getting organized to add a wall, and still maybe bathroom, to the basement. I am mapping out the nursery and where things should go; and today I went out and bought Si's new bedroom! I am so excited for it to all arrive and to set it all up for her 2nd Birthday!!
We are in need of the crib for the nursery, no point in buying another crib. And since we have converted the crib anyways, she is ready to go. What a perfect birthday present.
It is beautiful. The bed, the mattress, the sheets and duvet. I am so excited for the delivery and set up...still another month away; yet I feel like a big item has now been crossed off my list of things to do. The list seems to be growing, so nice to have something complete!
While shopping for her, I finally got my head wrapped around the nursery as well. I was stumped as to what I was going to do and how I wanted to decorate it. The nursery room is on the smaller side, so not room for a lot of stuff...but just enough.
Gotta love nesting. It makes you a cleaning machine and an organizational freak. Me and cleaning regularly, not a friend; me and organization, already am...so in hyper-drive, look out!
I wonder what this Scorpio growing in my belly will be like...if it's anything like me, it may be dangerous!
Si's bed (not the same bedding). I am in love with this bed!
Baby's Bedding... not the crib, but same color!
I was asked a little while ago to review a new kids book. I will post on it tomorrow, along with a giveaway of the book!
A children's book authored by supermodel Agatha Relota with an introduction by Jessica Alba. "The book teaches children not only about music, dancing, and staying active, but also about culture, geography, and friendship. It also contains over 50 beautiful illustrations by famed fashion illustrator Thierry Perez."
Ryan and I have had a whirlwind couple, well handful, of years and just as we think we are finally settling... a curve ball is thrown.
A positive... a positive...!?
That in laments terms is, I peed on a stick and yep, I am pregnant!
Here's to three under three-and-a half...holy s*#t.
Here we were getting used to our life as a family of four, still not sure if "eventually" there would be more, but not totally set on that... and as life would have it, there was a plan for us I guess.
"A grand adventure is about to begin."
-- Winnie the Pooh
Our life is already crazy chaos, what is this new stage going to look like? I guess only time will tell. We will need to band together as husband and wife, mom and dad, and Kai and Si as sister and brother.
So many emotions/feelings sit inside of me right now, along with a fluttering stomach and slight bit of nausea. Oh my god, to start. Can we do this. How will we do this. Thank goodness I am working again. Will our new addition be a boy or girl? How will Si handle a baby (being the youngest). How will Kai and Si handle it as they are the best of friends right now. How is my husband handling the news I graced him with this Saturday morning...
"Family: A social unit where the father is concerned with parking space, the children with outer space, and the mother with closet space. "
-- Evan Esar
And through all of my questioning, concerns and worries... I can't help to be really excited for this new chapter of our lives that is ahead. I know that I will continue to learn everyday. Be filled with love and joy. And that I will just have to remind myself to breathe every once in a while.
"The most important thing she'd learned over the years was that there was no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one."
- Jill Churchill
"A daughter is a mother's gender partner, her closest ally in the family confederacy, an extension of her self. And mothers are their daughters' role model, their biological and emotional road map, the arbiter of all their relationships." ~Victoria Secunda
Today was a rough morning. There is nothing nice about taking your child to the hospital for any reason, but today I had two. Si is growing leaps and bounds... she is such a bright little girl, an eager learner, fast runner, loud speaker and strong fighter! I think with having an older brother to keep up to, she has learnt a lot and held her own. Lately though, as she has been growing, her legs have been growing outwards... she is bow-legged. With having seen the typical "diaper stance" with Kai, we assumed for a while that this is all it was, but with her petite frame, it is very accentuated. And so, with a visit to our GP, we were referred to a pediatrician. Yes, the confirmation is that she has bow legs, and so off to the hospital we went today for a couple of blood tests and THREE X-RAYS. I think in some ways this becomes more traumatic on me as I knew what was coming, for her she went with the flow... until she had to be held down for the x-rays and held still for the blood work. Tiny veins and 5 TUBES OF BLOOD does not make for a quick, painless procedure... she did not get through all the tubes and I am praying to God that they got enough blood so we don't have to go back! When a 17 month old has crocodile tears racing down their cheeks crying for their momma there is not much of a worse feeling. Having to put her through this made me feel terrible, but I know it is for the best in the long run. So now we wait for our results... the blood tests are to help rule out things like Rickets and/or Vitamin deficiencies. The X-Rays are to look at the bone growth and determine if this is a stage of growth that she will naturally outgrow or if our next step will be to an Orthopedic... please let it be the first! Apparently bow legged is quiet a normal thing to see. Most often, the children just naturally grow out of it. Gone are the days of leg braces, thank god! There has been no proven science that the braces aided in re-correction... just time; that makes me very happy and keeps me staying positive! A parent always worries about their kids... i have been told, this will never end. From the minute the test says positive, life begins. My life began twice. I will do everything in my power to protect my kids, to keep them safe, show them love and let them grow and learn. I look at this obstacle as just that, a bump in our road that we will jump over and continue moving forward from. As I said, Si is a strong girl... and if you don't believe me you can come over and see her wrestle her older brother to the ground. I have much to learn from her.
"A baby is an angel whose wings decrease as his legs increase." Author Unknown
I guess she is just holding on to her inner angel as long as she can. :-)
The time has come, to potty train Kai. He will be three is April and, well, quite frankly, I am tired of changing diapers. We began this process in the fall and he was actually doing really well...and then he reverted. Through reading as well as hearing through other people, I have heard this is a normal thing and that "when they are ready" they will let you know. Well, I think he is ready!? He asks occasionally to go to the "toi-yet" and we try to remind him that if he does he gets to have a treat. His choice is usually some Smarties. But not even chocolate tempts him some days. So our war against Kai's diapers has begun. This morning, I took off his overnight diaper and put his pants on...no diaper. I came home the other day with another bag of the pull-ups training diapers, but even these don't tempt him enough. He somehow knows that he can still pee in these...and so commando it is! For Christmas we got him some new big boy underwear "just like dad wears." he loves wearing these, over his diaper, because he knows he has to keep them dry; so today, they are going on! It is just past 8:00 and so far we have made the trek to the potty three times...positive start!
We still have at least a few more months of diapers in our home with Sienna not quiet there yet; although, she already lets me know when she needs a new diaper and then runs to the toilet...already ahead of Kai in some ways. I am hoping this is a strong start for her and potty training.
Potty training is something that takes time and patience. I know that I am partly to blame for Kai still being in diapers. I have not yet put in the right time to continue his success, and so today we are starting with the time!
Here is a list I found from babycenter.ca on potty training boys. To each their own I guess, because I already see many discrepancies for us here! 1) Wait for the right moment
2) Let him watch and learn
3) Buy the right equipment
4)Help your child get comfortable with the potty
5)Buy him some cool pants
6) Set up a training schedule
7) Teach him to sit first, then stand
8 ) Set aside some naked time
9) Celebrate his successes
10) If at first he doesn't succeed, try, try again
11) Raise the fun factor
12) Move into night mode
13) Ditch the nappies completely
I definitely agree with #1. After having reverted, this is a true fact. Just because you are ready to train them at a certain time, does not mean that they are ready to learn. So make the time when they have shown their own signs of readiness! For us, #2 on the list is not an option...I think he has had enough "learning time" in that department! Maybe to watch dad may give him his benefits now, but for those of you that recall a blog I wrote awhile back about Kai noticing the difference between girl and boy...#2 is not an option for me! #3...of course you need the right things to train, but for some that list is huge and for others, all you need is a toilet (check) and some big boy underwear! Kai never took to sitting elsewhere in the house to use a "potty" and I never really had an interest in emptying a crap filled kids potty into the real thing, and so, he sits on the porcelain TOILET. #7 seems to have come naturally to him...i guess he has watched daddy do it. I have to admit it was pretty cute watching him stand to pee, while actually having to stand on his tip-toes to shoot in the bowl.
So, to each their own. Good luck to all of you training or soon to be! I am sure there will be more on this subject in the near future, but for today, i am staying positive, and Kai is staying dry.
Thanks for visiting!
I am a wife and a mom to three amazing children. My days are busy and chaotic at best. My quiet and productive time seems to always be, While They Are Sleeping!
