Smiling Through the Rain

I'm sure the kids will want to kill me for this later on, but look at these adorable matching shirts! I ordered the iron ons from Giggles to Go on etsy and they look great! She had amazingly quick delivery and is really sweet!!!!

This stage of my life has been a bit difficult. Parts of it are better than ever when I have help with the kids and we take them to do fun things. But the rest is harder than ever. Paisley is in full swing on the terrible twos and is giving us a glimpse at the tumultuous threes. I hoped that everyone was wrong that three is harder than two, but she gets more difficult with every month. She throws fits and demands everything be exactly her way. She is a tiny Hitler. Thank goodness she's cute. And she just potty trained fully and moved to her big girl bed so there are just so many changes with her right now. And I think her jealousy of graham is kicking in causing her to want to love on him one minute and "fight him" the next. She actually asked me for permission to fight him the other day. :). I had to decline her request, even though she asked in a sweet voice. Graham is becoming mobile and busier and awake more. He's learning to eat solids and needs ...

I decided it has been too long since you all have seen any pictures of my previously perfect babies. So here ya go!!!p

Paisley has been in her big girl bed for about 3 weeks now and once she falls asleep, she sleeps through the night without any issues. The key is ONCE she manages to fall asleep. And this is becoming a big production. I would say it was because of her switch from the crib but the last month or so in there was the same way. Lots of crying and overreacting and piddling around. The child hates bedtime. No matter how busy we are during the day and how hard we try to wear her out, she can fight sleep like nobody I've ever seen. Her daddy said he's waiting on her to pull her first 72 hour stretch of no sleep. It will happen. So one of us frequently lays down with her thinking it will help. She turns in 360 degree circles like a spinning top, rolls the full length of the twin bed, covers up and then uncovers about 150 times, puts her feet on her pillow and then my face and then my belly, snuggles up to me and then plays with my hair, talks in her sweet voice, gives Eskimo...

Paisley decided last week that she wanted to sleep in her "big girl bed". I thought it was just crazy talk so I tried to ignore her. But she persisted and I decided to try it out. She has done great! She doesn't get out on her own as if there is some imaginary fence around the bed or alligators on her bedroom floor. And I'm not interested in telling her otherwise. Also, she potty trained herself four days ago. This kid has been peeing on the potty for 9 months and has even had some really good attempts. But this time was different. She suddenly woke up and decided it was done. I didn't have to ask her to go anymore, she just goes on her own. And she refuses to wear a diaper now. So she's only had one accident in the past four days, including overnight!!! I am so hopeful that the potty training craziness is coming to an end. We were really proud of her this weekend when we took her to the medieval fair for four hours and she held it the whole tim...

When you get a new car or appliance or toy, it comes with instructions on assembly and parts and operation. And most importantly, it has troubleshooting. This is what I need in order to raise these kids. A guide to troubleshooting. Paisley decided she would start sleeping in her big girl bed this week, right after I decided to get a 2nd crib. She has done it three nights now and is sleeping through the night really well. I am thrilled with this and graham is now sleeping in his room which is great instead of in the Hello Kitty room. :) But as easily as bed transitioning happened, potty training is making me crazy. I would love to be back in diapers 100% at this point but she frequently takes them off and either goes commando or puts on her panties. Great right? Not so much. The kid is great holding it all night long and through naps. She even does well at baby gym and other outings. But she has taken to peeing on my carpet. I feel like she just doesn't care. She...