it's time.....

Today is my last day of work before the Christmas holidays and let me tell you...I am definitely counting down the hours.  I have about a week and a half off and I figure that since Lil J is 2 1/2 on Christmas Eve, it's finally time to tackle what most parents would love to avoid:  potty training.

He's been semi potty trained for the past 6 months but neither my husband or I have been very consistent.  I had hoped that once he started daycare, he would follow suit with the other kids and learn to go potty himself.  Not a chance.  In fact, he might even be regressing a bit.  He does, however, get really embarrassed when he's going #2 - he tends to hide in a dark corner where no one can see him.  Another sign that he is ready for the big leagues.

My plan is to be very consistent of putting him on the potty.  I'm talking every 15-20 minutes.  I'm going to load him up on fluids and after a day or two, put him in his 'big kid' underwear.  It's actually kind of exciting!  I'm so over Lil J's Easy-Up's!

I'll keep you updated on our progress.  Hopefully I'll be blogging at the end of next week about how Lil J is fully potty trained!!

the journey 2.0: waiting period

In the midst of all of this Christmas chaos, there is one very major thing that is constantly at the back of my mind.  The 29th cannot get here soon enough!!  That's the day of my next monthly check-up and, for some reason, I am extremely anxious to hear my baby's heartbeat.  It could be that I don't really feel like I'm pregnant right now {I'm not complaining - I know a lot of women out there would die to trade positions!} and it's making me..well...very anxious.

I don't remember feeling this way when I was pregnant with Lil J.  I think I kind of just went through the motions because it was my first pregnancy and the worst case scenario never came to mind.  Except for that night where I looked out the window every 30 seconds for my husband's car because he was late coming home and I couldn't get ahold of him.  All I could think of was that something had happened to him and my baby was going to grow up without a father.  Of course, that didn't happen and he was home within the hour.  It was funny because I did a lot of reading while pregnant with Lil J and came across an article where a mom recounted her situation where the exact same thing happened to her!

Despite my anxiety, I'm sure everything will be fine.  My hubby pointed out last night that my belly looked bigger than usual {duh!}.  Actually this is what he said:

Hubby:  Whoa babe stop sticking your stomach out!

Me:  I'm not!

Hubby:  Yes you are! 

Me:  No, really.  I'm not!

Hubby:  {looking down in awe}

Me:  It's pretty big already, huh?!

Hubby:  Ummmm, YEA!!!

I love my hubby.  Yes I do. 

christmas shopping 101

Christmas could not come any sooner in our household.  I just can't wait to see the joy on my children's faces as they open their presents.

I am very proud of all of the deals I found online and in stores this year.  I did a majority of my shopping online - mostly on Amazon and Walmart.com - and had my packages either shipped to Blaine or to the store itself.  Both shipping options were free and the packages that I picked up in Blaine had a minimal $5 fee.  The results?  Absolutely amazing and completely stress-free.  There was no waiting in line, no screaming kids, no crazy parents and no difficult sales clerks to deal with.  As long as you know your prices, online shopping is the way to go.  I know it'll be the only way to go for me next year with a baby and toddler in tow.

Now I'm pretty sure my hubby doesn't read this blog but just in case he does in private {babe, consider this your warning}:  TO MY HUBBY:  PLEASE REFRAIN FROM READING THE REST OF THIS POST UNLESS YOU WISH TO SPOIL AND UNVEIL YOUR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY OPEN THEM.  THANKS BABE :)

So now I just have to share with the rest of you some of the great deals I found online.  Here are the kid's Santa presents:

Radio Flyer 500 {for Lil J} - Regular $109 - 130.  Paid $69 at Walmart.com with free shipping via Site to Store.  I'm hoping all the pieces are in tact as they shipped it without the original box.  Will have to check when I get home.

 

Photo courtesy of radioflyer.com

 Justin Bieber Cardboard Cutout {for Miss S} - paid $34.99 on Amazon.com with free shipping.  Saw it a week later for $29.00

Photo courtesy of Amazon.com

And now for my hubby's gifts which totalled under $100!!  We made a pact this year to go easy on spending for each other and this is what I found:

Puma El Ace {black leather} - Regular $60.  Paid $39.99 in-store at Finish Line {also available online}.

Photo courtesy of puma.com

Dearfoam Slippers - Regular $36 at dearfoam.com.  Paid $9.99 in-store at Marshalls

Photo courtesy of deafoam.com

And last but not least - for the little kid inside of him:

Nerf N-Strike Stampede and Bandolier, ECS-50 Kit - N-Strike regular price $44.97, Bandolier regular price $9.98.  Paid $34 for the bundle at Walmart.com.  I saw it a week later for $29 for the bundle.

Photos courtesy of nerf.com

My hubby's gifts came to a grand total of $83.98!!  How's that for some bargain shopping??!

the journey 2.0: first vivid dream

Last night I had my first vivid dream since becoming pregnant.  In the dream, I woke up to my husband panicking because, apparently, I had birthed triplets in my sleep.  Triplets!!  Can you even imagine?!

We thought, 'How could this be?  None of the ultrasounds showed two extra heartbeats and I had been going to my regular checkups.'  It was just so strange!  My husband found the babies in small cardboard boxes wrapped in blankets.  The first two were alert and extremely healthy looking but when my husband took the blanket off the third baby, he was purple and non-responsive.  I instantly took the baby in my arms and within a few seconds I felt him move.  And then, cry.  This part of my dream was probably a result of an article I had read earlier in the day about an Australian mother who unknowingly used 'kangaroo care' to basically give back the gift of life to her son {I'm tearing up just thinking of it}.

The dream was so real that I actually almost believed I actually was pregnant with triplets when I woke up this morning.  I honestly can't even imagine.....

testing twos: not that terrible after all!

Lil J is well into his 2's now - he'll be 2 1/2 on Christmas Eve - and I'm still waiting for the 'terrible twos' to show up.  So far, so good!  He does have his moments where sometimes I just want to lock myself in a closet and scream at the top of my lungs {okay that might be exaggerating}, but when I sit back and take a look at the situation, it's more or less just me and him both getting frustrated.  Me because he's not listening and him because he doesn't understand what I'm saying or is trying to say something else that I'm not understanding.

Communication can be a touchy subject to a kid that is trying to learn to speak, trying to learn to express himself properly.  For me, I try to take a deep breath in and remind myself that Lil J probably doesn't fully understand the consequences of certain situations.  I try to carefully explain things {in hopes that he understands me} or let him learn by example.

While Lil J may not be in his 'terrible twos', he is definitely in his 'testing twos' - hence the name of this blog series.  Every little thing he does, I feel like he does it to test me.  My only problem is being consistent.  After coming home from a long day at work, I'm often tired and have no more energy to do anything - except I come home and try to do everything.  Sometimes I give into Lil J's whining {I know I really shouldn't!} but most times I'm stern with him in a good way {hopefully!}.  He gets it.  He's definitely smarter than he looks.

And while Lil J does like to torment me, he makes it up by making me laugh 100 times over.  For example:

Lil J and his 4 eyes :)

'I'm too funny'

I love this kid too much.

out of the mouth of: my mother

My mother called me back a few minutes ago and this was our conversation:

Me:  Hi Mom!

Mom:  Hi hunny!

Me:  I was just wondering....could I have your shortbread recipe?

Mom:  {long pause} Are you going to be making them?

Me: {thinking}  Why else would I be asking for it?  Ugh, she's so predictable.

Me:  Ummmm, yes Mom.  Why else would I be asking for it?

Mom:  Well, I just wanted to make sure you were making it and not giving it to anyone else.  This recipe, everyone asks for it*

*  According to my dad, these "secret" recipes that my mother so closely guards are from none other than the Betty Crocker cookbook or Canadian Living Magazine, etc.

This conversation doesn't really evidence anything but does anybody else out there have a dysfunctional relationship with a family member?  Or do you know someone in your family who is beyond predictable?

the journey 2.0: guess what?!

Since we have told most of our family and friends already, I finally find it fitting to officially announce our secret to my online family......and, if you haven't guessed already, here it is..............

I'M PREGNANT!!!

The last two months since I found out has been surreal.  Now that I think of it, it's gone by so fast and it's scary to think how fast the next six months will fly by.  The second time around is definitely different than when I was pregnant with Lil J.  The first time was much more leisurely whereas this time is just hectic - from making dinners, to trying to keep the house clean {not happening!}, to laundry, to getting lunches ready for school, making sure the kids are happy and fed, bath times etc, etc..... Thankfully, I have a very supportive husband and a step-daughter who is completely self-sufficient {in most areas}.

I am now 14 weeks along and already showing!  I love having that bit of tummy back and flaunting it.  It's also a plus that, so far, this pregnancy has been super easy with no morning sickness or nausea {except for the few occurrences driving to work where I felt slightly nauseous - nothing to complain about though!}.  I had written a post when I first found out about the pregnancy with a date by date "journal" of how I was feeling.  After reading it over, I came to the conclusion that I didn't want to share those private moments and have chosen not to post it.

We told my brother and Miss S when I was about 11 weeks along.  Of course my brother was ecstatic but the reaction I was monitoring the most was Miss S'.  And did she ever have a reaction!  She was surprised, excited, hyper and very happy when we told her.  A reaction beyond what my husband and I could ever had imagined, and it definitely wasn't a reaction we were anticipating.  I'm just very happy that she feels this way and that she is "soooooo excited to meet her 'baby sister'".

No, we do not know the sex yet.  And, no, we are not going to find out.

Miss S just really wants a sister!

The weird thing is I don't even feel pregnant - except for my bump and the fact that my appetite is through the roof and I'm consuming 1000% more food than usual.  Don't tell the nurse at my OB's office that.  She thinks I don't eat at all.  I remember feeling the same way with Lil J but this time around I feel more and more anxious to go to my next check-up so that I can hear the heartbeat again.  I know I am just overreacting but I really can't help it.  Must be those hormones!

I will do my best to keep you up-to-date during this pregnancy.  Looking forward to going on this journey
with you all!

gingerbread laneway house contest

Vancouver's original laneway house builder, Smallworks Studios and Laneway Housing, is hosting a festive giveaway on their Facebook page, in partnership with Kreation Artisan Cake, open to all Metro Vancouver residents!  You could win a yummy, eco-friendly holiday centerpiece in the form of a Gingerbread Laneway House.

Smallworks was founded 6 years ago and is Vancouver's first and most established laneway house builder.  They specialize in building small, environmentally sustainable homes and abide by the green building practices of Vancouver's Green Home program.

The one-of-a-kind Gingerbread Laneway House was inspired by Smallworks' West House which was showcased at LiveCity Yaletown during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, BC.  Local Vancouver bakery Kreation Artisan Cake is the genius architect behind the Gingerbread Laneway House.

Metro Vancouver residents {18 years and over} can head over to Smallworks' Facebook page, "like" their page and enter to win the unique and dessert-worthy Gingerbread Laneway House from now until December 15th.  As Smallworks' president Jake Fry puts it, "Not one piece of our structure will end up in landfill.  Every peppermint swirl, candy corn, and multi-coloured jujube will be stuffed into someones gob, probably at the end of a huge holiday dinner."

I know in my family, this Gingerbread Laneway House will not last the night!

christmas is in the air!

It's that time of the year again and our house is getting more and more festive by the day.  We put up our Christmas tree on Saturday while my husband caught up on some much needed "zzZZzzzzz's".  My two little elves helped me put the tree up - Lil J grabbing the branches of our fake tree which are colour coded {great way to practice his colours!} and Miss S helped me put the branches on and spread them out.  All the while, we listened to Justin Bieber's Under the Mistletoe about 5 times and Selena Gomez's latest CD once.  And I hate to admit this, but I'm actually really liking JB's Christmas music!!  Lil J and Miss S also put up window decorations using the sticky, jelly type stick-on's.  Lil J is so proud of his work!

As a slight control freak, sometimes I tend to try to limit what the kids do and try to do things myself without even thinking.  I'm trying to make a conscious effort to stop doing that and let the kids enjoy putting up decorations themselves and remind myself that not everything needs to look perfect {a recent picture of my house will show that it is beyond looking perfect.  Hey, I never said I was a neat freak!}.  In saying that, I wanted Lil J to feel included so I let him help me decorate the tree {surprisingly, Miss S didn't have any interest in decorating the tree}.  I also told him not to touch the ornaments that were already on the tree and he seemed to understand me.  He did take interest in one silver bell, though, which he kept taking on and off, on and off.

It was amazing to see the sense of accomplishment in Lil J's face.  We're going to do some more decorating tonight and I'll post pictures of the results!!

when kids grow up

During our morning rush earlier today, I dropped Lil J off at daycare...or "school" as I like to call it.....and was rushing to get his jacket off, put his lunch in the Ziploc bag {which is then left in the fridge} and sign Lil J in.  I was all proud of myself for getting this done in less than 2 minutes and turned around to say bye to Lil J.

"Mooommmmyyy", Lil J says with his face slightly turned down and his eyes looking up at me.  It was a knowing, tell-all type of look.  A look that told me I had forgotten to do something.

Geez.  2 1/2 year olds grow up way too fast.

I looked down and realized that I had forgotten to take his rain boots off and put on his runners.  Was this really happening?  2 weeks ago, Lil J refused to take those rain boots off.  And now he's telling me to change them?

Did this kid mature overnight?

I thanked him for reminding me and he just sighed.  Man, this kid is too much.