Riding the Potty Train - Finally :)

It was long over due and we started and stopped a few times along the road but when the forecast was going to be below zero for the next week I knew this was our window!  So we finally got Will a one way ticket on the Potty Train.  I knew I was going to have to think up something totally new and creative to keep him excited and interested.  Being that Will is almost three and has sadly had his fair share of candy I knew that alone would not work.  He could care less about the big boy pants so that shopping trip would be just another trip to target.  So I played up his weakness....trains!!

When he woke up I brought him onto the bathroom to see his "Potty Train."   He was super excited at first but then slowly realized what was going on and was not happy.  During his breakdown at 6am he then peed all over my feed in the hallway.  Not a good start.

But we all stayed positive and hunkered down for our first day.  Here are some of the days stats:

- 6 Pees

- 2 Poops

- 2 Accidents

- lots of candy

- 8 stickers

- 12 pairs of different underwear worn

- 1 jump of of his crib

- 3 times he asked US to go potty

- 2 juice boxes consumed

- zero time spent outside the house

- no pants all day

On to day two!

Sam 10 Months, Will 2 Years 10 Months

Will - 2 Years 10 Months

My sweet sweet boy you sure are starting to test everything and getting so smart!  You have loved everything about this Christmas Season and it makes it all the more fun for us!  You have demanded a Christmas related craft every time Sam takes his morning nap and you have drawn so many circles with your markers if I lined them all up it might stretch from here to the moon and back.  You love your little brother and really want him near you all the time.  You love everything about the Polar Express.  Everything you talk about is Polar Express.  We let you watch the movie but you are afraid of it - but are still obsessed.  You have learned the whole song "When Christmas Comes To Town" as seen in the other post.  When I was filming it I was crying it was just so sweet.  You melt my heart little boy.  You love being my helper and help me with Sam.  You want to be the big boy but are still so much a baby.  You run off so independent to your "Little Beans" class and when its over run so hard into my arms.  I am so proud of you!

Sam 10 Months Old

You are into everything!  Not in a naughty way in a super curious adorable way!  When we go to the play cafe's you are excited to play and explore.  You want to be everywhere Will is - digging in the legos, crawling in the tunnels and taking every train and tossing it around.   You are taking two good naps now - 9am and 1:30pm.  It has gotten much harder almost nearly impossible for you to nap on the fly because you are so curious but we have done it here in there in the car when needed (cold mornings when our heat went out and I thought the car would be warmer).  I still dress you in jammies almost everyday.  I love how they keep your feet warm and the fleece wicks off all the breakfast you spilled on yourself.  You are so go with the flow but also want to get out of your stroller now and explore.  When I let you out you squeal in delight.  You are still nursing alot - and not sleeping at night but its ok.  These boys are both eating me out of food too!  Its AMAZING!

Christmas Eve

Brother Love

Fun in the snow - Will loved it so much and Sam didn't smile or cry so we think thats a win!

Up to no good!

Pancake face

Pizza and water AT wholefoods.  Its a big treat to get to eat at the grocery store :)

Circle Mania

Christmas #1 in Chicago

Because we were going to Connecticut for Christmas and we can still fool Will into thinking Santa makes more then one stop we had a Christmas in Chicago with the boys gifts before the big day!  It was fun.  We picked a Sunday morning before we left, put all their gifts under their tree and played it all up like it was Christmas morning.  They had a ball.  Will LOVED his new trains and tracks.  LOVED!  It was the perfect gift.  Sam LOVED Wills trains and tracks - it was the perfect gift.  Its funny how when Will was Sam's age he got all age appropriate toy but Sam loves anything his brother touches.  Its sweet.  They love that train table so much.

Little sweetie at the train table with the new CTA fleet

All the lines having breakfast

Will helping Sam with his new train book

Mr. Polar Express

"When Christmas Comes to Town" - Will Pope 2.5 Years Old

Tis the season to do everything Christmas in Chicago

We kicked off the holiday season with decorating the house before we headed out for Dallas.  The season is far to short in my mind and I like to come home from traveling and be in the holiday spirit.  With now two little guys we knew we were going to have to take a new approach with the tree.  We tossed anything breakable and went for cloth ornaments only.  It was so cute to see both boys so excited - we knew this was going to be the best Christmas yet!!!

Next up was the CTA "Santa's Express."  When we were explaining to Will we were going to ride on a train that was all decorated in Christmas lights with Santa he was convinced he was going on the Polar Express.  Poor guy just didn't want to take no for an answer so in Will's mind we truly rode the Polar Express.  We all bundled up and raced to catch the train.  We jumped on the jam packed train and took in as much as we could.  We only rode the train 2 stops but it was cute.  Kinda a blur.  I think Will had just as much fun riding the normal brown line 2 stops home :).  The funny part was when Jason and I went out for a date night we happened to catch the holiday train too!  

Next up was the trains at the Botanical Gardens - a favorite of all of ours!  We jumped in the car early and took a nice relaxing ride out to the burbs.  

Sam loved watching the snow fall from the ceiling

Will explaining to anyone who would listen how the train was going to come back "Hey guys it will come right back.....SEE IT CAME!!!"

Then one morning I took the boys to Navy Pier for the Christmas Fair.  I can't remember the name.  I had never been and we got free parking with our Childrens museum pass so I thought we would try it out!  There was a train so obvi that was the first thing we did - 4 times straight!!  Sam was actually super into it too!  Looking out the window and standing up on my lap.  I felt so lucky to have two awesome boys to have such fun outings with.  

Mom and son selfie on the train!

And then we met the big guy!  Actually funny story we went to see Santa at shops at 900 but he got sick and after waiting in the line they sent us all home.  LUCKY for us Macy's was right across the street with no line.  Phew!!  He was a nice Santa but looked tired and probably had high blood pressure from all the annoying parents.  We were a low key family.  They kept asking us to try putting everyone on his lap and Jason or I didnt care.  Will just wanted to talk to Santa and Sam sits where ever we put him.  It was sweet.  Will told us "he held Sam's hand so he wouldn't be scared."  Melt me!  Will was a bit scared by the whole thing but was very brave when we got there and asked Santa for the CTA trains.  Santa looked at me like "hope you can find those because I just said he was gonna get them."  It was a big hit for Will and we talked about Santa alot in the coming weeks.

Will 2.75, Sam 10 Months 

Other notable holiday activities was cookie backing.  I hope I read this post next Christmas before I start the cookie backing.  BUY SLICE AND BAKE!!  By the time Will and I made the dough, chilled it, rolled it, cut the cookies out, baked them, cooled them, made frosting, died the frosting and decorated and iced every single one I wanted to roll over take a nap and not wake up for a week.  Also please note we started this whole process at 4:30pm.  Yikes.  But it was a hit.  Will had a ball and the cookies were super good!

A very Dallas Thanksgiving 2012

It is always such a treat to spend holidays in Dallas in the nice warm sunshine!  We can head out to parks with the stroller and scooter, runs in the morning, play in the backyard and enjoy fun with the cousins!  We did alot of relaxing, playing and spending time with family.  Will was super busy the whole time.  Grandmommy has the best toys ever!  She saved all the boys toys which are always such a hit.  Will digs through the closet in the computer room pretty much all day looking for new stuff.  Grandmommy is so patient with him and just laughs when he pretty much destroys the room.  Sam was Mr. Social the whole trip.  Sitting with anyone that wanted to hold or smile at him.  All the cousins thought it was so fun to plot a huge baby on there lap and Sam just relaxed and took it all in.  So sweet. I always joke the Sam takes the pressure off Will.  3 year olds dont really like to take pictures but 10 month old fat happy babies dont care :)

Sleepy boy on the airplane

Son and Daddy chairs

The boys with Grandmommy and Great Grandmommy

Getting ready for Christmas

Beautiful sunshine

Two EXHAUSTED BOYS!!

Cousins - Will 2.5, McKenzie 4, Caleb 4, Colt 6, Grace 6

Sam 9 months - Will 2 years 9 months

21 lbs 3 oz


Sam's Likes:  Sammy boy you are officially on the move!!  Sam is crawling and pulling up and really enjoying all these new adventures.  His favorite thing to do is pull up to the train table and try to play along.  He is also eating up a storm.  All finger foods now with nothing off limits.  Sam has slept through the night 1 or 2 times but for the most part get up 1 time per night.  There was one week when he got up 3 and 4 times so we had to do some sleep training back tracking.  Little buddy asks for very little during the day I hate to hear him cry at night.  I am a total sucker.  But we did let you cry one night and it went on and off for 1 hour - but I think it was worth it as the second night I barely remember you crying.

You started saying your "dada and baba" just before your 9 month doctor appointment which was hilarious because we were tracking you up to the final hours for the silly work sheet!  You love screaming and talking.  You also started waving.  Sometimes you watch your hand open and close and somethings you swing you whole arm.  The motion is always what you do with we make the bell noise for the pretend trains that cross in our house all day.  You love to crawl over to one of us and climb up to be held or sit on us.  You also do this to Will.  You love to play in Wills crib and pull up and watch him while we sing songs.  You always giggle when he puts his hand through the crib rails and tries to push you down.  So loving :)

Still such a little bear cub

The first official "pulling up"

Favorite spot to be standing up

Movie to Liam

Dislike: Getting your nose and face wiped off.  Getting dressed.  Getting diaper changed.  You also don't like being put down right after you wake up from a nap or in the morning.  You like to be held and cuddled and slowly introduced back into the world.  I think its awesome.

Will Update - You have grown so much in this last month - you want to be very independent but also a baby at the same time.  Toddlerhood is a hard, confusing, frustrating and silly time for you.  You want "big big big big" hugs and snuggles.  After you had hand foot and mouth and it hurt so much for you to suck your binki we put it away and you haven't asked for it since.  As happy as I am that we got rid of your binki its always sad to end an era.  You loved your wubs (which you ended with the giraff, red dog which was brand new for Sam, and 2 frogs which were both Sam's as well).  But they are gone and you are growing up.  Going to sleep has been a little harder for you at night.  Lots of stall tactics such as sleepy goes on and off, pants go on and off, diaper goes on and off and on and on and on.  We made a schedule for you to try to get you back on track which you loved.  I think you are literal and want order like your mama :)  You love to play schedule with me and always make sure it is known that it is "just pretend" - this is not reallly sleeping.

You love when your brother takes his nap in the morning because you get to do crafts with me.  We have made turkey pictures, bird houses, glue sticks, paint, markers, stickers and on and on.  You love doing projects and you love more when I make one right with you.  You also love to bake.  When I ask "do I have any helpers?" you always scream with such excitement "WILL DOES!!"  You love helping with Tacos, pizza, cookies, smoothies and anything that involves cutting "that are very dangerous."

You still wear a diaper (size 5) and have zero zero interest in wanting to be potty trained.  We have put big boy pants on your here and there but you are not a fan.  Its not going to fun when that day comes very very soon.

You have so much energy lately and just want to run run run all over.  I am adjusting your activities for the winter to accomodate :)

Funny things you say: "No thank you sammy" (which is what I say to Will when he is doing something bad), "I dont like that choice", "Sammy that is a big boy thing you can't have that", "That would be Grrrrrrrific" (from Daniel Tiger), "thats my bestest" and constantly naming his best friends of the moment, "so cozy cozy", "all by my SELF!",

Using his toy tools to help Daddy - he was so excited he was shaking.  It was also about 9pm at night :)

A bit scary seeing him swing the hammer 

Headed to school with Bob Bob

Two peas in a pod after "running" all over the turf.  Such a snuggle bug

Busy making bird houses

I was busy making dinner and I looked over and Will had gone into the fridge and helped himself to hummas and carrots.  A few days later I opened up the hummas and there were chewed carrots in there.  Thanks Will :)

Here is a video of a night playing choo choo's.  I love the little voice that is non-stop.  So many thoughts in that little head.

Dislikes: Going to bed and us shutting the door.  Lots of new fears and you like to point out if something is pretend.  Also much more cautious about new places or activities.  If other kids are doing it you will join in no problem but not if you are alone.  Like a bounce house.