Happy Birthday Daniel!

At 11:52 am, three years ago today, my son came into this world kicking and screaming. This moment made me a mother.



I told Carlo last night that he should get me a present for all I went through. He didn't buy it. Really, I am trying every trick in the book to get him to buy me a Wii!

The Curious George theme has been a success so far. We have more to come! For now, here is a picture of the cake I made late last night.

Exercise with Children!

Volleyball has to be the best sport in the world. My body and mind crave the fluid motions of bump, set, spike. It has been a few years since my every changing birthing body has set foot on the court, but I am up to the challenge and have been playing Tuesday mornings. It's not the usual intense games I use to play in high school and college, but it gets my sweat poring now!

Daniel has done and said some interesting things today in the spirit of potty training. He held his pee in for so long today (not sure that running around the house is sooo much fun you have to hold it) that he crossed his legs in the kitchen, but it still all came out. Needless to say, a bath and clorox cleaning followed. Currently, he has been running back and forth trying to poop. I sympathized with him at how hard it can be to do that and he told me that "wiggling your fingers helps you poop." I'll be sure to try that next time! And finally, he used my toilet and I walked off. His little bum kept sinking and he just kept holding on and didn't say a word. Thankfully I noticed and he just laughed (once I had lifted him off) and said "Don't flush me down your potty Mommy!"

Coral attempted some more backbends today. I even found her asleep in that position at one point. Maybe she finds it extremely comfy, but I hope the limberness and the likeness for it lasts!

As for Daniel, he sleeps extremely sound and then wakes up like a bat out of a cave asking for apple juice! Notice the sleepy face?

Future Gymnist

Coral was trying to watch Daniel and I sitting at the kitchen table. I think we may have a future gymnist on our hands!

I am so excited. I bought me a folder and some dividers today to organize my food storage information. I'm ready to dig in. Daniel also picked out some Scooby Doo underwear and I grabbed some boxer briefs for him. It's fun picking out undies for him now that he's potty trained. I can just imagine how crazy I'll go when Coral reaches that stage.

Here is a great website I checked out for finding deals on clothes- shopstyle.com.

Daniel's Nighttime Prayer

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for cookies. Thank you for my bed. Thanks you for Dad. Thank you for Mom. Thank you for Coral.
In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Prayers of children are so sweet, innocent and laughable. I cover my mouth to suppress giggles all the time!

Dancing King

I love lazy days . . . Carlo was home again yesterday and I was able to recoop a little. It is sooo nice having him home much more.

We've all had a little bit of a bug/allergies. Coral had a tiny fever on Wednesday, Daniel today and I didn't feel too well yesterday. I finally showered tonight- yea, the last time was Tuesday morning. Yuck!

I bought Daniel's birthday present today- an art easel. I wanted to bust it out as soon as we came home, but I will have to restrain myself 'til Wednesday. I also went to Party City and bought various Curious George party items. You've gotta love that monkey! Why is he so curious? :) It's going to be a fun family bash!

Daniel has been doing really well with using the toilet- except this morning when I was too tired to get up again to help him. Note to self: always help Daniel when he asks to go to the potty. I had an accident to clean up that wasn't exactly what I wanted to wake up to.



I tried putting Coral in her Deluxe Jumperoo, but she's still too tiny. It was fun watching her though. She'll get in there soon.

Time

10:00 PM
I am lying on the couch, my eyes drifting closed, trying to be a devoted wife by listening to Carlo present his sales pitch so he can be ready for his first call in Spanish.

11:00 PM
I can't fall asleep now and my body is ready to jump out of bed for Coral's 11 O'Clock wake up call. It never comes.

3:00 AM
I am not sure when I fell asleep, but Coral has just started crying. I go into her room and try to put her pacifier into her mouth, but she just smiles and coos. Is that really cute at this time in the morning?

5:00 AM
Coral is still not asleep and I have been drifting in and out of consciousness- wasn't this what I went through a few months ago when we brought her home from the hospital? I finally decide to feed her and wake up in the chair around 45 minutes later. She's asleep, so I put her to bed.

5:30 AM
Carlo's alarm goes off and he starts getting ready for work. Sometime later he gives me a kiss and says our morning prayer- I think . . . I don't really remember.

6:30 AM
Daniel is in my room with a bright smile and I am trying to coax him with anything to let me sleep a little longer.

Aren't I glad all my evenings don't unfold that way. I'd be dead from lack of sleep. My children are both finally bed-a-bye for nap (which means I should grab and quick wink), but the blogging world has been calling my name! I had to share Coral's new need to cough every five minutes in an effort to get my attention and, oh yeah, Daniel hasn't gone poop in three days. Is this really the life of every mother? I do believe it is- if they are truthful, that is . . . Now sleep.

Simplify

My ward is doing a book club and I really didn't want to participate as the book right now is one of those self help kind. I'm more into the mindless reading that takes me on adventures through the Cathedrals in Italy while I am trying to solve the unusual murders of Catholic priests (anyone know what book I am reading?). However, I did get guilted (my own of course) into picking up a copy of the read and am LOVING it.

The author just kind of lays out all her thoughts on Simplifying in ways I have never thought about, but am constantly trying to do. Since I have picked up the book, my mind has been constantly pondering her words. I am looking forward to the reviews tomorrow night.

I am a phase person. I think perhaps I have long term attention deficit disorder. I can focus on tasks at hand, but I don't like to be working on those tasks for a long period of time. I am also like this with hobbies and pretty much everything else. Right now I am tired of dishes and laundry. Next week I will probably have them all done every day and done perfectly. For now, I have no desire. Oh, and my hobby right now is blogging and reading. Perhaps my one constant has always been volleyball.

I think I may have passed my phaseful life onto Coral. She was a perfect sleeper for three nights in a row and now wakes up every three hours and cries forever before going to sleep. I'm hoping the sleeping phase will kick in a again soon!

My Day

Carlo had to work late, so I have been trying to keep busy today. As a matter of fact, it is after 10:00 pm and he still isn't home.

I dropped my car off this morning at Just Brakes for the fourth time. I am not happy with them and hope the problem has been fixed this time. I don't want to go back there anymore!

My friend, Valerie, and I went and looked at Joanne's for things to make hairbands for our babies, but I couldn't find anything I liked. However, next door at Babies R Us we found trays for Bumbos. I already used it today and it was great for Coral to get her toys.

My big oops of the day . . . yep, I forgot my mom's birthday! I am such a jerk. I cried when she reminded me. And here she is the one who took me at 7:30 this morning to drop my car off for it's brakes! I feel like the worst daughter ever.

Daniel went poop on the potty again today. He kept getting off and on the toilet and I finally put him on there and kept giving him books to read. It took forever (once again), but he didn't have any accidents today.

His birthday is in a few weeks and I am doing a Curious George cake. I can't figure out what I want to do though. I found a few ideas online, but I think they are beyond my skills. I need to figure out what to do!

Learning Lessons

This is just a quick post. I was so boastful about Daniel's pooping on the potty yesterday . . . . then we went to Walmart and I rented a Barney (not my fav) cart. I heard him ask if there was a potty half way through shopping and found him squatting in the cart. Yep, he'd gone poop. I'm sure that one will take awhile! I'm learning though.

I took a picture of Coral in her Bumbo. She's adorable! And then Daniel had to have his picture taken too! Enjoy. :)

Sleepy Time

I had to add another post. Coral slept until 6:00 am! I was super excited, but my nursing boobs were feeling it!
Oh, and Carlo is home all day today. He's is doing at home research for his new job. It should be fun. A whole day with my husband home! Yea! He's been up since 6:30 am and busily working around the house. I do love him . . .

Keeping in Touch

I always use to make fun of Carlo for being addicted to computer games- now he makes fun of me for being addicted to blogging!
I think blogging is a great way to keep in touch. It's like online journal entries with pictures and fun things that make up that person's life. I check out all of the posts of friends I have listed on my blog and even some other ones. I enjoy reading them and feel like those that are far away aren't really that far. And for those of you who don't know, you can subscribe to blog feeds- it is super easy. At the bottom of the blogs is this link "Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)" and if you just click on it then you will know everytime that blog has a new post. The feeds are listed in the same drop down as your favorites and are highlighted whenever there is a new post! It's fabulous. Just wanted to share that info so you are not clicking on every single one to see if they posted something new!
Oh, I've included a picture of Daniel on the potty. He went poop again! I just think he's doing so great!

Successful!

Thanks to all who post comments on my blog. I LOVE reading them.

Daniel has been successful in potty training. I thought it was one milestone we would never cross. He even went poo on the potty today- nothing in his underwear Valerie (who was there to witness the first accident). And I've reverted to language I never imagined- "Do you have any poo or pee in you Daniel?" It sure seems silly, but beats changing diapers. Oh, and he went at the airport yesterday. That was his first out of the house experience. No more diapers! He even wears underwear for nap and bedtime.

Yes! Carlo is home. He said he had an emotional weekend, but is grateful he went. He was presented with the flag (his grandpa was in the navy for a short while) and was given some great golf shirts. I know Grandpa Troy will be missed.

Coral laughed out loud at Daniel today. It was quite funny. She loves watching him and I love watching the whole interaction.

Cory, I added some things to my blog, so check them out. Eva, I have tried a billion times to post a slide show of pictures from Coral's baby blessing, but the interet keeps shutting down. I'll get it though!

A Death in the Family

Carlo's grandpa died on Tuesday. He found out three weeks ago he had cancer and it was in his stomach, lungs and throat. It's truly sad to have him pass on, but it is also a blessing. Now he is not suffering.
At this moment, Carlo is taking his final for organic chemistry. When he gets home, we leave straight for the airport. We won't see him again until Sunday night. Unfortunately, we are not able to afford plane tickets for the family. I have never been left at home without him, but I know he needs to be there.

So Much Water!

So, my neighbor behind me called the water district and reported us for water waste. We had a notice put on our door saying (and I quote)"observe water pouring through backyard. Water coming from irrigation system."
Now, I ask you- does it look like we have any type of water system in our backyard? And does our backyard look like it is wet at all? Carlo and I were so mad that we received a warning and the investigator didn't even bother to check our backyard. If he had, he would have realized we do not have any place for water to cme pouring from! I'll keep you posted on what happens with the drama!

Potty Training

I've decided to try potty training- again. Daniel turns three at the end of this month and I'd like to have him out of diapers by that time. So, this morning while I was nursing Coral, I asked him to get a pull up for when we left the house. I could hear him in there looking and he kept yelling "I can't find pull ups Mom!" So, I went to help and found him with everything pulled out of his drawers and on the floor. Of course along the way, he found his red hat and had to wear it for the day. He is one handsome kid! Oh, and he told me he was sorry I didn't have boy parts!!!! I love being a mom!

Daniel and Coral- Can you tell the difference?

My Pink and White Flour

Carlo has been home more this week since he has started his new job and he only has one more week of school. He won't be going back until spring. It is going to be really nice having a "normal" life with Daddy home at a certain time and not trying to study constantly.
With all the free time we have had together, I was able to make cookies with Daniel yesterday while he watched Coral. We were having so much fun and even created quite the mess. I had Daniel help me turn on the mixer and flour flew everywhere! We just laughed and laughed. Daniel was standing right in front of me and took the brunt of the flying white powder. Next time, I think I will be a little more careful.
I dressed Coral up in my pink dress from when I was a baby. My mom saved so many of my sister and I's dresses and they are in such great shape! She looked so cute- like a "little cupcake" as one of my friends said at church. She had so many layers to pull up and chew on! I keep telling her it is not very lady like to show her undies. Oh, and I was able to get her to laugh and laugh this afternoon. She has been a hard one to steal giggles from. Daniel would laugh constantly, so she is a new challenge for us in the laugh factory. However, she does coo like crazy. I think as a girl she is a natural born talker.
I taught part of the lesson today in Relief Society on the new "All is Safely Gathered In" pamphlets about home storage and family finances. I loved teaching in Relief Society. I only hope the sisters grasped the importance of being prepared. We just need to begin . . . I'll put a link to the provident living home page (part of LDS.org) which has suggestion after suggestion on being prepared.
Well, it's time to begin winding down for the evening- or beginning toward the wind down. Carlo wants to go for a walk again this evening. Last night Daniel ran half the block with me. I think he's going to get me in shape again!

My Beach Baby

I decided this outfit was the inspiration for my blog. It is so cute! I was at my Costco and found it for $6 and it is a Carter's brand. You gotta love Costco!

My husband and I just celebrated our fifth anniversary! When we married, five years seemed so far away and now two kids later . . .
We didn't do anything really fancy- just went out to dinner without the kids. Then we picked up Coral and went home. Coral is breastfed, so I don't spend too much time away from her. Daniel, on the other hand, spent the night at Grandma and Grandpa's house! How nice is it to have my parents live down the street. It was a special treat to just have one kid at home for the evening. And now I am blogging and Coral is back to sleep. Pretty soon I will have to go and pick up my almost three year old and then it will be back to constant noise, but I love it. He is one funny kid!

Too Many Changes

Yea, so I think I have changed my blog like five times. I keep looking at other blogs and I just can't find what encompasses my family. Perhaps a constant change in look is "my thing"- we shall see. I'll keep posting pictures and fun things and attempt to do some blogging in words. For now, enjoy . . .