Just when I thought he couldn't do it...

He proves me wrong! lol Chris and I were just talking about how these walkers are not practical for those learning because they would fall right on their face. Still, yesterday I got it out and showed him what to do (he was very shaky on it and needed me to help). Then this morning out of nowhere, he comes walking across the living room ON HIS OWN! I was shocked, but managed to grab the camera for proof! He still might be a little behind his sissy (she was about 8 1/2 months when she started walking...yes, you read that right). He is 8 1/2 months now, but getting steady on his feet...and most importantly eager to try. I think he will be full out walking sometime in his 9th month! I wonder if this means they are going to be good athletes??

btw...we had a fabulous Christmas, and would like to thank everyone for helping make this such a wonderful one for the kids! I have more blogging I need to do, and plan on posting more about our holidays! Feel free to check out the pictures on shutterfly!

Merry Christmas from Ava!!!

Hearing ourselves talk

Have you ever seen that commercial where the mom is driving, and starts yelling at another driver. The camera pans to the toddler in the backseat watching the mom and soaking it all in and the narrator says something like "how would you react if you were being recorded 24 hours a day?" Well, this is the story of my life. Not that Im THAT mom (although I can't exactly deny it at times either), but that is most definately my child! It was very disturbing the first time I really heard "my voice" come out through Ava. Hearing her yell "AAAAAHHHHHHH" loudly in frustration over something silly. Or "LEAVE ME ALONE, GET OUTTA HERE" to Phil. Or "Stop it RIGHT NOW, Logan. I mean it." Or (and this one gets me everytime)..."DONT TALK TO ME LIKE THAT" to me when I tell her no. She'll say things with the same infliction of anger/frustration that I at times catch myself doing. IT really is like being recorded 24 hours a day, and then having someone play that video back to you. Raising a toddler is interesting, to say the least. I know, I know...it only gets worse from here. lol

Its not always a bad thing though, which is what I really wanted to share with this post. I have learned through Ava, that there is a lot of love and nurturing going on in this house. One night last week, both kids had an absolute terrible night. Ava is getting her 2 yr molars in, and this particular night she was in a lot of pain and was up most of the night. I heard Logan stirring around 4 am, which is not a normal time for him to wake up. I was just going to leave him be, knowing he would fall back asleep. Although, I did worry he would wake Ava up. Well, not that she was even sleeping. Not two minutes after he started fussing, I heard her on the monitor...HIS monitor. I knew this was really going to wake him up and he'd want to play instead of sleep. But, I just had to sit there and listen to her for a few minutes. Here is a little snippet of her convo:

Hey buddy! Whats the matter? Why you crying?? Did you lose your paci? I'll get it for you. There you go, is that all better? (meanwhile he is now laughing). Want me to give you hug? Ok let me go get my stool. (she leaves the room, he starts crying...she comes back a second later with her stool.) Oh honey, dont cry. Whats wrong? Honey, now now dont cry. Shhhhh. (he starts laughing). There you go honey. You're so handsome, honey. Such a handsome boy. Time to go to sleep now though ok?? Its still dark out. Its 3 in the morning and time for bed (my EXACT words I said to her just right before this lol). Mommy will get mad, ok? Goodnight sweetheart. Dont cry honey. Dont cry.

Its so funny to hear her say the same things I would to him, or would say to her in the situation. She says stuff like this every morning too or after naps when we go get him out of bed. Hey handsome. Good morning sweetheart. Or when I change his diaper...lay still baby, lay still. Monkey see, monkey do (or say) has taken on a whole new meaning since I became a parent. Everytime I hear her sound like myself or react like I would when Im mad/frustrated, it stops me in my tracks. Im just thankful that in my house, the good and the loving outweigh the rest! Hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving, and enjoy the upcoming holidays! Check the shutterfly website (top right link) for recent pictures. Here are a few of my favorites:

Our 6 month old Turkey

Logan is 6 months now! He weighed in at 20 lbs 6 oz...he will be a perfect sized turkey just in time for thanksgiving! 90th percentile for weight, 75th for height, and 50th for head! He is definately a big boy! He crawls backwards, rolls all over the floor, and definately knows how to get around. He is so close to crawling forward, Id say any week or even day now. You can see the wheels a turnin when he's bouncin on his knees! He definately has a look of determination and it wont be long before he is keepin up with his sissy. He also has his two bottom teeth (we all worked hard for those with fussing and lack of sleep!!) Hopefully, he will get a break with teething for a while. Our next task is sleeping through the night. Ive decided its time to work on that. Ava was so easy, she was sleeping 12 straight hours by the time I went back to work. Logan took me going back to work a lot harder and actually got worse with sleeping. But, its definately time, mama is tired and daddy certainly isnt getting any breaks on the weekends. The doctor said there is no reason he needs to eat 2-3 times a night...I happen to agree with her. Wish us luck!!


Ava really enjoyed halloween! This was the first time she really went trick or treating. She had so much fun. I think she was pretty amazed that she got candy just for saying "trick or treat". :) Here are a few pictures of the pair. Logan was a teddy bear, fittingly for his sweet personality. And Ava was a pink dinosaur...don't you remember seeing those on Jurassic Park?? I need to catch up on the blog, and post some fun pictures and videos Ive taken the last month or so. I'll stick to Halloween for tonight, but feel free to check out the new pics up on the shutterfly website (link on the top right). Happy voting day!!

I think we may be in trouble!

Little stinker just turned 5 months! His sitting is now perfected, so he thought he'd move on to standing! He got so mad at me when I sat him back down. He wanted right back up but couldnt figure out how to pull himself up yet, so he just yelled at me til I stood him back up! lol. He is very mobile on the floor, but no crawling quite yet. CLOSE though, very close. Chris and I both think it will be a matter of weeks. His sissy was walking before she even turned 9 months. I think he may be following suit!

Logan also started getting very interested in eating when we were eating dinner. I wanted to hold off til after 6 months with solids because he is doing so well on just mama milk. However, he told us otherwise! After weeks of him grabbing everything off the table, reaching for every bite I put into my mouth...I finally gave in. He is such a happy boy now at dinner time! So far he has only had rice cereal and bananas! But, he LOVES it all! Ava never really liked baby food. Its so funny how different they can be!

This picture below is the whole reason I finally gave in to solids! Ok, so this picture needs an explanation! NO, I am not feeding him a sandwich. lol. He was sitting in the bumbo joining me and Ava for lunch. He decided her sammy looked yummy and so he picked it right up off her plate. I thought it was hysterical, grabbed the camera just in time. However, our flash takes like 10 seconds, so I had to intervene and grab it out of his mouth before he ate it! So, no I am not feeding him a sandwich. And, no he did not get any of it actually in his mouth!! :)

Mr. Independent

They grow so fast don't they??

Singing in the rain...

Just singing in the rain. What a glorious feeling, Im happy again! doodoodoodoo

You can watch the video, just don't call CPS on me! :)

You guys won't believe this!!!

Its now Day 3 of potty training, supposedly the END according to the potty training GURU. I was a skeptic myself. In fact, I think I went into this thinking its not gonna happen, she just isnt ready. I guess it was mommy who wasnt ready because its now almost 5 and not one accident all day! I know I should knock on wood, but even if she did have ONE who cares! Do you know how far we have come? I started from ground zero with this kid! The first two days were stressful, especially with a teething baby on my hands. Day 2 was the worst, since Chris wasnt here. It really helped having a second pair of hands/eyes on her all day the first day. I wanted to come post an update last night...but this would of been all I would have posted...


I was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo stressed. I thought, no way will she get this in 3 days. My kid is sloooow. This 3 day lady is crazy. What was I thinking? lol You get the point. But, this morning she woke up and immediately asked to go potty. She has told me every single time since. I didnt even use a pull-up for naptime and she woke up dry...FIRST TIME EVER! Its been a great day! To anyone with kids who arent potty trained yet...I highly suggest doing this when it comes time (and the GURU says anyone over 22 months that can communicate, even if they dont talk)! Its a stressful 3 days (2 really for Ava), but worth it in the end. The best part of it all, Ive never seen my daughter so proud of herself. Who knew potty training was a life lesson for success and self-esteem?


http://www.3daypottytraining.com/