Potty Training

Back around Nicholas' 2 yr birthday we tried potty training Nicholas.  He was ready for it, but didn't want to take the time to do it. So I decided to wait until the 1st of the year to try it again.  We started in the beginning of February and I'm happy to say we are about 90% there.  He doesn't like pooping in the toilet so this is where our struggle is going to be.  He is doing such a great job.  We went and bought him some big boy underwear yesterday.  He picked out Toy Story & Jake &; The Neverland Pirates.  He was so happy to pick them out this morning and put them on!  I still have to remind him to go potty, but most of the time he tells me when he needs to go.
I'm so proud of my little guy!  We went out for a few hours today to play with some friends and I put him in a pull up just in case and he told me 3 times he had to go and stayed dried the entire time.  He's growing up too fast!

January 2014

2014 started off with a big snow storm and arctic blast.  After Christmas break schools were still closed for 3 days because it was so cold!  Samantha couldn't wait to get back to school so we played school at home one day.  Nicholas colored some winter pictures and Samantha practiced her cutting, writing & coloring.  We had fun doing it and it broke up the day.  She was so happy to be back at school with her teachers & friends.  Nicholas was also happy getting back to speech as well.  It was nice getting back into a routine.  Jim has been working a ton of hours and just had his In Service exam.  He finishes this month in the ER and then next month he goes into the PICU.  Next month is going to be rough.  He works almost every day.  I think he only has 2 days off the entire month.  UGH!!
Samantha has been busy with school and is doing really well.  She is starting to read and write.  She continues to love draw and do crafts!  Nicholas is starting to find his voice more and more.  He have 4 words that are consistent.  Mom, no, more, please.  He will say other words if he is prompted to say them.  Hoping it will become more consistent and he will start saying more words on his own.  I have started potty training with him as well.  We are on day 2 and so far no accidents since he has been up.  Hopefully it will continue to go easy and we can be done with diapers soon!
Hoping this year will be better than last year.  We had a lot of things financially not go our way last year.  Hoping this year it will be better and that hopefully by the end of 2014 we will know where Jim is be an EM attending at.  Hoping it's close to family & friends.  We can get settled in a house and the kids will be starting school.  It's going to be a fun, interesting & exciting year!

Conversations with Samantha

these are a few conversation that either I have had with Samantha or I have overheard Samantha have with other people.

Me: Samantha what do you want to be when you grow up?
Samantha: I want to be a doctor like my dad.
Me: what type of doctor?
Samantha: a resident.


Girl at park:  What does your dad do for a job?
Samantha: My dad is a famous doctor
Girl at park:  oh wow...my dad is not famous

This was a conversation Samantha had with Jim while taking a bath with Nicholas
Samantha: Daddy was does Nicholas' front butt stick out?
Jim:  That's just how God made boys
Samantha:  Hmmm...it looks funny.

Samantha:  Mommy do you know where milk comes from?
Me:  No...where Samantha?
Samantha:  Mommy it comes from the cow's butt thing that sticks down.
Me:  Oh really
Samantha:  Yeah.  I wish I could get milk out of my butt
Oh this girl cracks me up!

December 2013

This month went really quick!  Samantha had school, Nicholas continued with speech therapy and Jim is still on nights.  We had Christmas shopping to finish up, wrapping, and packing for Chicago since Jim got a week off for Christmas this year :)  We had a bunch of snow in the beginning of the month.  Nicholas was not very fond of it.  He kept taking his gloves off and his hands were freezing!  He did like making snow angels like Samantha and kicking the ball.  I think it took longer to get him dressed than he played out there.  Oh well!  Maybe if we get some heavier snow they can build a snowman or a fort with daddy!
This year we took the kids on a drive for to the Wayne County Christmas lights!  It was so much fun listening to the kids oooh & ahhh over all the different lights.  At the end we got to see one of Santa's reindeer and we got to see Santa!  The kids are so much fun at this age.  Buddy, our elf, came again this year and brought the kids ornaments from Disney.  Samantha got Cinderella's slipper and Nicholas got Woody & Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story.  They both loved them and couldn't wait to put them on the tree!
We were able to travel to Chicago this year and spend Christmas with our families.  It was so much fun seeing the kids open up all their gifts and it was fun seeing the kids excited about Santa.  Nicholas wasn't sure at all about opening the presents but once he got the hang of it he had so much fun!  We got to see most of our extended families during the holidays but I'm sure there were some that we missed.
We headed back to Michigan after Jim's birthday and celebrated Christmas just the 4 of us when we got home too.  Samantha was so excited that Santa came to Michigan too!  Jim had to work New Year's Eve so the kids and I watched movies and were in bed before midnight.  It was pretty uneventful!  Here's to a great 2014!

Happy 2nd birthday to my Tank!

Happy Birthday to my sweet little boy!
I can't believe you are 2 already!  Where has the time gone.  This year for your birthday mommy & daddy made you a cake and put Buzz Lightyear on there since you are in LOVE with Toy Story!  Oma & Papa came to Michigan for Halloween and went trick or treating with you and then on your birthday Oma, Papa, Samantha and mommy went to Red Robin for your birthday dinner.  Daddy had to leave that morning for a conference in San Francisco.  We had a laid back type of day and you had fun playing and hanging out with family.  You were so happy when we sang Happy Birthday we had to light the candle 4 times before the song was over because you kept blowing it out.
Nicholas Fun Fact
Weight: 32 lbs 94%
Height: 35.5 in 78%
Favorite Movie: Toy Story & Monsters Inc.
Favorite Food: Waffles, chicken & apples
Favorite Toy: Buzz Lightyear
love being outside, going to the park & riding in the dune buggy
We still rely heavy on your sign language since you are still not talking too much.  Mommy for the most part always knows what you want.  We have started speech therapy now for a couple of months.  You have a couple of words, mom, no & papa.  You are starting to make more sounds.  You are paci free since 21 months and have been sleeping in your big car bed since 16 months.  You love listening to music & dancing and watching movies.  This past year has been amazing.  I have watched you grow and develop into a wonderful sweet little boy.  You love playing with Samantha and you guys play so well together.  There are many things I'm missing but I know i have plenty of pictures to show you what your 2 year was like.  Can't wait to see what God has in store for you in this next year.  Love you to the moon & back my little buddy!

Happy 5th Birthday Princess Samantha

Happy Birthday Princess!  You truly had a magical 5th birthday this year!  This year we traveled to Chicago a few days before your birthday and celebrated with Papa (oma was in Florida with great oma because she needed help) Auntie JuJu & Uncle Awesome!  You got some pretty cool gifts from them.  You got some clothes, The Little Mermaid DVD, Jessie from Toy Story, and money for your trip to Disney!  A couple days later, Mimi, Daddy, Nicholas, you & I all hopped in a big limo and drove to the airport for your much anticipated trip to DISNEY!!!!  Everything went smooth on the trip down there.  We got checked into the house Mimi rented and went swimming!  You and your brother had so much fun!  Wednesday we spent the day at Animal Kingdom!  What fun we had.  You met your first princess Pocahontas!  She was beautiful and you fell in love with her!  Nicholas met a few more characters that you would not even come close too (i.e. chip & dale, donald duck, goofy)  We walked around for a bit and then daddy, you & I went on your 1st roller coaster ride!  As you called it the Yeti ride.  It was so much fun and you had a blast on it!  Even when it was dark and we were going backwards you LOVED every minute of it!  After the ride we went to lunch at Tusker House and met some more characters.  You still wouldn't go by them, but you at least waved to them!  After lunch  we waited for the parade to begin!  What fun that was!  We also did a safari and then went to The Lion King show.  After a busy day and your last day being 4 I say it was a good one!
On your birthday we went to the Magic Kingdom and your got to see the castle for the 1st time!  What a magical look you had in your face.  You were so excited to see it!  As we walked up to the castle you saw The Fairy Godmother and was able to get your picture with her and then you got to go to the Bippidi Boddidi Boutique and get made up to be a princess for the day!  At first you wanted to be Jasmine but they didn't have all the accessories for that costume so instead you were Rapunzel for the day!  It was such a fun experience and you loved it all!  We had lunch in Cinderella's castle and you even got to dance with Cinderella!  After lunch we stood in line to see Rapunzel the look and your face when you saw her was priceless!  Mommy started crying to see the joy in your face when she called you by your name and wished you a happy birthday!  It was pure joy!  We spent time going on rides after that.  It was so much fun and your brother was a great sport throughout the whole trip!  All in all your birthday was magical and one you won't forget!
This past year you have grown so much!  You are wonderful to be around.  You are always making us laugh.  You still have your sassy side, but that is what keeps mommy & daddy on our toes!  You are for sure a daddy's girl.  You have daddy wrapped around your finger!

5 year fun facts:
Weight: 43 lbs
Heights: 46 inches

Favorite Movie: Tangled, Monsters Inc.
Favorite Show: Sofia the First
Favorite Toy: Dress Up & Babies
Food: Chicken rolls, cereal, cookies

You are doing great in school again this year.  You are in 4 yr preschool.  You are starting to read and love making pictures & coloring.  Thank you again for being a great big sister to Nicholas.  Even though he gives your trouble sometimes you love him, kiss him and love to play with him.  Daddy & I are so proud of who you are growing up to be and can't wait to see what God has in store for you next year!  Love you baby girl!

All I want for Christmas is my 2 bottom teeth...

Probably around middle of August Samantha said her 2 bottom teeth were hurting a little.  Jim and I just said she probably ate something that hurt them and that they would be ok.  One night she comes running out of her room a couple hours after sleeping tell us her teeth were loose.  Sure enough her 2 bottom teeth were loose!  Time went on and each day they were looser & looser.  Well the 1st tooth came out Sept 21 at my brother's wedding!  All of a sudden Samantha is crying and blood is coming out of her mouth.  Jim took her in the bathroom because this is all happening while my mom & brother are dancing!  After the tooth was out and the blood was gone Samantha was as happy as could be!  She walked around telling everyone that her 1st tooth was gone!  She told me that the Tooth Fairy doesn't come to hotels so when we got home then the Tooth Fairy was going to come!  So when we got home from Indy, that night we put her tooth in her tooth pillow and put it on the counter in the kitchen!  She was so excited that next morning to see the Tooth Fairy came and brought her $5 and a book!
On October 1, Samantha & Nicholas were downstairs playing and all of a sudden Samantha comes running upstairs telling me she lost her other tooth!  Sure enough it was in her hand and no bleeding was going on!  She was so excited that the Tooth Fairy was coming again!  So now my not even 5 year old has 2 teeth gone already!  She is growing up so fast!