Smiling Through the Rain

I hope no one clicks on this post expecting to find great advice on the topic of potty training because I can promise you, it won't be here.  In fact, I would recommend avoiding my blog for all helpful tips on pregnancy and child-rearing, and certainly on conception, since let's face it.  I suck at all 3.  Yeah, my kids are healthy and happy and very loved.  But am I doing things that follow any book ever written even loosely?  Not a chance.  We're paving our own way and enjoying it for the most part.  So potty training is the same thing.  I haven't read a book or asked much in the way of advice or even brainstormed on it much.  No clue what Pinterest says on this topic.  Shocking, right?!? But anyways, here's our story in a nutshell.  Paisley got a potty chair right before her 2nd birthday.  I sat it out to let her get "curious".  She got interested and wanted to sit on it and play with it which I found disgusting....

We took the kids to Bass Pro last night to meet Santa. They have such a great setup for kids during the holidays. Their Santa looks authentic and he's super nice, they have fun games to play and the decorations are adorable. I was pretty certain that Paisley would like him again this year since she has this strange love of all grown ups in costumes. The Chick-fil-a cow, a giant mouse at a local game place, etc. And as expected, she happily jumped on his lap for pictures after talking to him briefly. Graham was asleep when I handed him over but woke up as soon as I made the transfer. He just drowsily glanced up at the giant white beard. Looks like that might have scared him, but apparently mom and Santa look just alike. ;) You might recall that I am a humongous holiday Scrooge, but I have to admit that these kids are bringing back the spirit for me!!!

It occurred to me today that all parents have a very different routine with their kids.  For us, we stay busy.  Busy kids are happy kids and then sleepy kids.  Which is good.  Paisley and Graham are both more content if we're running around and doing things rather than staying at home.  She gets bored with her own toys and would much rather be exploring the world she lives in.  And I'm glad because I feel the same way!  Aaron and I were never home-bodies before children and it makes me panic a bit to think about ever being snowed in the house with these 2 kids. SO, I thought I'd post about what we do to pass the time during the typical week. Monday :  Kids wake up about 8:30 am (they don't go to sleep until about 10ish) and we typically go to the vet clinic in the mornings.  Getting ready takes us about an hour though because Paisley is NOT a morning person and it takes a bit of warming up before she's ready for the general...

It's official. Paisley has inherited our sarcasm and sense of humor. She knows when to use it and how to use it. And she thoroughly enjoys herself. This little girl makes me laugh all the time. She's feisty and silly and independent. I know she enjoys her life and that makes me feel so fulfilled as her mom. Her language has been exploding lately and she now strings together as many words as she can come up with. She still favors "Paisley do it", "Paisley fix it" and "Paisley get it". Miss Independent. She now calls us cuckoo and waves her finger in a large circle. She'll say "dada cuckoo". :) She asks for her "blue mo" which is milk in her blue sippy. Or whichever color she decides it will taste best on that day. And she loves to recap the day with me before we fall asleep at night. He'll remind me of all the things we did. She knows all of her colors, with ridiculous ones like fuchsia and seafoam...