You know the fun thing about potty training a little boy? He gets to wear adorable little boy undies with cars on them!
The end.
That and you're giving him life skills or whatever.
My mom (who managed to potty train three kids) has this on lock, but I'm still learning. She gets him to pee pee in the potty a couple of times a day and I get him to sit on the potty for a couple of minutes with no such reward, but still, progress! I remember a time when asking Dylan to sit down was like asking Jared to get all the things on the grocery list: Impossible and frustrating because they didn't yet have those skills.
Just getting him to sit and not scream or want to get up immediately is huge for us, and that he's actually making potty progress blows me away!
I don't think he really gets what we're doing, but with Dyl is a slow process with near perfect results. Once the boy gets something, he really, really gets it and doesn't mess it up. His probably the best teeth brusher I've ever seen, and when he understands how to say a word, he says it like a grown up.
That being said, wish our whole family luck because if it ever takes a village to do anything, that something is potty training a Dylan :)
Ooh, sidebar! Jared went on a small grocery trip last night and got EVERYTHING on the list, including wet wipes (baby things are mysterious to him, he may have come back with Clorox wipes, you can never tell,) which means that even a Jare Bear can learn! I'll keep you posted on how many things in our house are ruined by urine or Jared's inattention to detail until we get this under control!
-KelStar
(Love you Jared. You're a good shopper. Sometimes. If the list is only five things. And none of those things are for me or the kids. <3)
6.10.2010
#6. The Change of Life. Literally.
#6. What things did you give up when you became a mom that you really miss?
My rock hard abs and spontaneous trips with Jared and company. End transmission.
Possibly the biggest surprise for me about becoming "Mom" was how little things changed. I'm still me, I still do the same things that I have always done - everything just takes a little more planning and I have a permanent accessory which I get to dress however I want. I'm the Paris Hilton of working mothers.
I was terrified when I was pregnant with Dylan that I would never be able to go on a date with Jared or catch a movie with my girlfriends ever again, but in reality, not only do I still get to do all of those things, but now it means so much more to me. We don't just meet up like back in the day, we go out of our way to plan a fun night and we all care about being there. It's a very warm feeling to have to plan a get-together, actually.
My mom and dad are saints and watch both babies one night a month for us. Overnight. The whole shebang. That night Jared and I get off of work and pack so much fun into one night it'll make a college kid look as lame as YOUR parents, and then we sleep in, eat at Cracker Barrel (reppin' the hashbrown casserole, you feel me?) pick up the kids and enjoy our lives as Mommy and Daddy :)
Now that the kids (I'm looking at you, Lyl) are sleep trained, there is a whole new galaxy of possibilities! I get to hang out with my girlfriends about once a month, I can go and get haircuts that I don't have to squeeze into my lunch hour... I can eat my food while it's still hot. LUXURY, PEOPLE!!
In closing, spontaneity only exist for me if we randomly decide to order pizza instead of sushi but my abs are nearly back to their former glory. Nothing has changed, really, but everything is better.
-MomStar
My rock hard abs and spontaneous trips with Jared and company. End transmission.
Possibly the biggest surprise for me about becoming "Mom" was how little things changed. I'm still me, I still do the same things that I have always done - everything just takes a little more planning and I have a permanent accessory which I get to dress however I want. I'm the Paris Hilton of working mothers.
I was terrified when I was pregnant with Dylan that I would never be able to go on a date with Jared or catch a movie with my girlfriends ever again, but in reality, not only do I still get to do all of those things, but now it means so much more to me. We don't just meet up like back in the day, we go out of our way to plan a fun night and we all care about being there. It's a very warm feeling to have to plan a get-together, actually.
My mom and dad are saints and watch both babies one night a month for us. Overnight. The whole shebang. That night Jared and I get off of work and pack so much fun into one night it'll make a college kid look as lame as YOUR parents, and then we sleep in, eat at Cracker Barrel (reppin' the hashbrown casserole, you feel me?) pick up the kids and enjoy our lives as Mommy and Daddy :)
Now that the kids (I'm looking at you, Lyl) are sleep trained, there is a whole new galaxy of possibilities! I get to hang out with my girlfriends about once a month, I can go and get haircuts that I don't have to squeeze into my lunch hour... I can eat my food while it's still hot. LUXURY, PEOPLE!!
In closing, spontaneity only exist for me if we randomly decide to order pizza instead of sushi but my abs are nearly back to their former glory. Nothing has changed, really, but everything is better.
-MomStar
6.07.2010
More Sweet Tea, Please!
Lately, more than ever, I am obsessed with being one of those old couple who wears matching fanny packs and holds hands while they sit on a bench swing on their front patio. I'm loving my life slowed down to a pace that I don't think my generation even understands. I'm still coming to terms with the idea of relaxing and enjoying life with no strings attached.
I am having a blast being a twenty something wife/mom/precision instrument of speed and aerodynamics, but I am going to be pretty much perfect at having grandkids and going to bed at 7:30.
I have been making an effort to sloooow it down and not succumb to the constant pressure in my world and just chill and get back to basics. It's totally working. I hope I can remain this calm for the rest of my life because surprise, surprise, it feels good to just BE. I stopped checking my email from home constantly, stopped caring if people get pissed if I don't update my facebook status, and stopped worrying that people assumed I am the worst mother EVER if Lylli has a fit in the store or calls someone's little boy a puppy or if Dylan has a meltdown that I can't get him to come down from for a moment.
My new attitude of being slow like honey is serving me well, I can literally feel a sense of peace with each new task I tackle, and I'm liking the way it feels to be a little less connected to my phone/computer and a LOT more connected with my babies, my sexbomb husband, my wonderful friends and family, and perhaps most importantly, my good, ol' fashioned, southern inspired home cookin'.
-Kel
I am having a blast being a twenty something wife/mom/precision instrument of speed and aerodynamics, but I am going to be pretty much perfect at having grandkids and going to bed at 7:30.
I have been making an effort to sloooow it down and not succumb to the constant pressure in my world and just chill and get back to basics. It's totally working. I hope I can remain this calm for the rest of my life because surprise, surprise, it feels good to just BE. I stopped checking my email from home constantly, stopped caring if people get pissed if I don't update my facebook status, and stopped worrying that people assumed I am the worst mother EVER if Lylli has a fit in the store or calls someone's little boy a puppy or if Dylan has a meltdown that I can't get him to come down from for a moment.
My new attitude of being slow like honey is serving me well, I can literally feel a sense of peace with each new task I tackle, and I'm liking the way it feels to be a little less connected to my phone/computer and a LOT more connected with my babies, my sexbomb husband, my wonderful friends and family, and perhaps most importantly, my good, ol' fashioned, southern inspired home cookin'.
-Kel
6.03.2010
It's Just Work
Today in a conversation with my boss I said, "I am so blessed, that's why I want to help people so much. If I could have handpicked children I wouldn't have found any better than Dylan or Lylli...and I DID handpick Jared...so that's why I want to give back so much - I have it really good!"
This came up during a meeting which started out with me professionally sharing my workplace struggles and challenges(i.e, complaining, complaining, complaining.) We both decided that the things that matter to us are the things that really matter, and getting bent out of shape about scheduling software and personality differences in the office are not worth the stress.
Now, my brain knows this to be true, but sometimes I don't listen to my brain, and that's why I frequently forget to lock the car or put the milk away, so it was good for me to talk this out with someone I respect and to be encouraged to free the unnecessary stress.
I'm really going to try. It's just work. I don't know how the owner would feel if I put that in my email signature, but that little reminder would really help!
Here's to being deliberately aware of how much God has blessed me and my beautiful family and doing a bang up job without losing my mind,
KelStar
This came up during a meeting which started out with me professionally sharing my workplace struggles and challenges(i.e, complaining, complaining, complaining.) We both decided that the things that matter to us are the things that really matter, and getting bent out of shape about scheduling software and personality differences in the office are not worth the stress.
Now, my brain knows this to be true, but sometimes I don't listen to my brain, and that's why I frequently forget to lock the car or put the milk away, so it was good for me to talk this out with someone I respect and to be encouraged to free the unnecessary stress.
I'm really going to try. It's just work. I don't know how the owner would feel if I put that in my email signature, but that little reminder would really help!
Here's to being deliberately aware of how much God has blessed me and my beautiful family and doing a bang up job without losing my mind,
KelStar
5.08.2010
Mother's Day - My Mom Owns It
"World's Best Mom!" A phrase found so often in the cluttered Mother's Day aisles at Wal Mart, an overused exclimation, but in my case, it's actually true: I sincerely have the World's Best Mom.
I loved my mom before I had words, and I know this not becuase I rememeber being 15 months and coloring with a bucket on my head with her, but becuase I have pictures of me ooing and ahhing over her before I could do much else. I remember watching her put on mascara and perfume and wanting to be that kind of "grown up" when I did, indeed, grow up. I was never amazed that she made every holiday special or every gift thoughtful or every cookie and southern baptist fried piece of heaven out of this world - she made it look so easy! I was never surprised that she juggled all of our lives and made it to every field trip and PTA meeting. It didn't occur to me that this was a talent, and a labor of love, until I myself became a mom.
My mom taught me everything I know about crappy 80s movies and french braiding. All of my baking skills come from her, but I won't blame her for what a bad cook I am. Bless her heart she tried to teach me! Most importantly, she taught me unconditional love, a trait that has come in handy raising Lyl!
I valued her opinion and loved her sense of humor always, even when I was convinced that she didn't have a clue about things like slap bracelets and my desperate need to wear doc martins with baby doll dresses ( I know, she was lame, right?.) The older I got, the more I needed her to make me home cooked meals and watch reruns of Fresh Prince with me.
Since I entered Club Mom she's been invaluable. She cares about my kids as much as I do, which I thought was impossible. She's as good with them as I am, which never annoys me - I'm so, so blessed. I want the best for my minis and I have it. My mom watches my monsters for me from 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM so that I can work a fulltime job to do stuff like pay bills and make sure they have food to eat, and I've never seen her break a sweat, lose her temper, or be at a loss for what to do next. She's just the best.
When I can't figure out something with Dylan or Lylli, I can always call, and she always knows. It's magic. "I'll bet it's because Lylli's evil," she'll say, and I know that she's speaking the truth :)
I hope that one day Dylan and Lylli will grow up and think of me the way I think of my mom, and I think that's the best compliment I can give.
On a sour not, she doesn't like IKEA, and sometimes I'm not sure a relationship can move past such a HUGE barrier.
Happy Mother's Day to The Best Mom in the World. ::I'm toasting her with sweet tea in my head::
Love,
Kelli
(Princess MooMoo)
I loved my mom before I had words, and I know this not becuase I rememeber being 15 months and coloring with a bucket on my head with her, but becuase I have pictures of me ooing and ahhing over her before I could do much else. I remember watching her put on mascara and perfume and wanting to be that kind of "grown up" when I did, indeed, grow up. I was never amazed that she made every holiday special or every gift thoughtful or every cookie and southern baptist fried piece of heaven out of this world - she made it look so easy! I was never surprised that she juggled all of our lives and made it to every field trip and PTA meeting. It didn't occur to me that this was a talent, and a labor of love, until I myself became a mom.
My mom taught me everything I know about crappy 80s movies and french braiding. All of my baking skills come from her, but I won't blame her for what a bad cook I am. Bless her heart she tried to teach me! Most importantly, she taught me unconditional love, a trait that has come in handy raising Lyl!
I valued her opinion and loved her sense of humor always, even when I was convinced that she didn't have a clue about things like slap bracelets and my desperate need to wear doc martins with baby doll dresses ( I know, she was lame, right?.) The older I got, the more I needed her to make me home cooked meals and watch reruns of Fresh Prince with me.
Since I entered Club Mom she's been invaluable. She cares about my kids as much as I do, which I thought was impossible. She's as good with them as I am, which never annoys me - I'm so, so blessed. I want the best for my minis and I have it. My mom watches my monsters for me from 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM so that I can work a fulltime job to do stuff like pay bills and make sure they have food to eat, and I've never seen her break a sweat, lose her temper, or be at a loss for what to do next. She's just the best.
When I can't figure out something with Dylan or Lylli, I can always call, and she always knows. It's magic. "I'll bet it's because Lylli's evil," she'll say, and I know that she's speaking the truth :)
I hope that one day Dylan and Lylli will grow up and think of me the way I think of my mom, and I think that's the best compliment I can give.
On a sour not, she doesn't like IKEA, and sometimes I'm not sure a relationship can move past such a HUGE barrier.
Happy Mother's Day to The Best Mom in the World. ::I'm toasting her with sweet tea in my head::
Love,
Kelli
(Princess MooMoo)
4.10.2010
Numbers
Dylan has been a little off kilter lately. We've had a much too busy month full of appointments, therapy sessions, and doctor visits, and quite honestly, if I'M burned out and I'm awesome Kelli, I know my little trooper has been a little over scheduled himself.
Before he can start his pre-k classes, he had to finish up his last round of evaluations, so we've been stretched pretty thin. Thankfully, we knocked them all out now, and we're re cooperating from the March/April busy season.
That being said, he's been a little more sensitive and a lot more "autistic" this past week. He's been more interested in repetitive behavior than imaginative play and more withdrawn than usual. I made a conscious effort to get Lylli to bed on time so Dylan could have some easy going mommy and daddy time.
We sat on the couch and read about Cookie Monster and his numbers, and Dylan deftly showed me all the numbers, out of order (which I LOVE so I know he really recognized the numbers and hasn't just memorized the order,) and we were having a good time! He turned the page and pointed out "seven," then turned back and said "six!" He then took the book and turned it upside down and I internally cringed because he had been doing so well and I just KNEW that he was going to start spinning his book instead of reading it. Resigned not to make a big deal out of it, I kissed his hair and then he shoved the upside down six in my face and said, "a nine!"
Ha!
Freaking brilliant.
Jared and I high fived and would have chest bumped if we weren't sure our old bones would have broken from the effort of getting off of the couch.
His brain is so beautiful - I am trying to get video of him playing piano and humming back the notes in perfect pitch, stay tuned! (get it..tuned!? I'm so fun!)
Happy Saturday!
-Kel
Before he can start his pre-k classes, he had to finish up his last round of evaluations, so we've been stretched pretty thin. Thankfully, we knocked them all out now, and we're re cooperating from the March/April busy season.
That being said, he's been a little more sensitive and a lot more "autistic" this past week. He's been more interested in repetitive behavior than imaginative play and more withdrawn than usual. I made a conscious effort to get Lylli to bed on time so Dylan could have some easy going mommy and daddy time.
We sat on the couch and read about Cookie Monster and his numbers, and Dylan deftly showed me all the numbers, out of order (which I LOVE so I know he really recognized the numbers and hasn't just memorized the order,) and we were having a good time! He turned the page and pointed out "seven," then turned back and said "six!" He then took the book and turned it upside down and I internally cringed because he had been doing so well and I just KNEW that he was going to start spinning his book instead of reading it. Resigned not to make a big deal out of it, I kissed his hair and then he shoved the upside down six in my face and said, "a nine!"
Ha!
Freaking brilliant.
Jared and I high fived and would have chest bumped if we weren't sure our old bones would have broken from the effort of getting off of the couch.
His brain is so beautiful - I am trying to get video of him playing piano and humming back the notes in perfect pitch, stay tuned! (get it..tuned!? I'm so fun!)
Happy Saturday!
-Kel
4.08.2010
And He's Also The Funniest Guy Ever. EVER!!
#5. How Does Your Husband Cope With Everything?
He doesn't.
He excels. ( You see what I did there? I tricked you into thinking he doesn't do well when in fact he DOES do well. Strategic spacing strikes again!!)
Jared, is amazing. Not in the cliché sense, either. I mean that in the most sincere, genuine way; he is awe-inspiring. Some mornings when he's wearing his jammy pants and a clean white t-shirt making me coffee, I could literally faint. I go all lightheaded just looking at him and the way he moves. I don't think I understood the word "palpable" until I fell in love with him. I get dizzy when he kisses the kids goodnight. I still feel those elusive butterflies when he leans in for a snuggle. I still stop breathing for a split second when I hear music that reminds me of him.
As for the children, they completely adore him.
He has a way with Dylan that I can't duplicate when it comes to getting him to stop his repetitive behavior (spinning, flapping his hands, what have you.) which I'm always impressed with. I don't have the touch! He usually simply asks Dylan to stop or removes him from the situation and Dylan is totally chill with that. He taught Dylan how to five and cried with me when he said his first "I wub boo!!!" He had an intense bond with our Dylan from the moment he held him. It was, once again, palpable. I watched Jared turn into father as soon as their skin touched each others' -it was magic.
Lylli has him wrapped all around her adorable fingers, but he tries his best to seem like he's in control. He tells her she's terrible and she smiles at him to let him know who's in charge, and he smiles back, powerless to her daughter charms. He's a grown man weakened by a teeny tiny princess, and it's just SO FREAKING precious.
So, as far as him coping, he makes it look like he's not being made to "cope" with anything. He's Nike about the whole thing - he just does it, with style, might I add :)
We get stressed, totally. We worry about Dylan starting school and Lylli rounding up boys and everything in between, but Jared handles it with the strength and wisdom of someone well beyond his years.
He's truly a remarkable young man.
I should also mention that two Saturdays a month he goes and shoots airsoft guns with his friends in the woods, or something. The details are fuzzy and sometimes people lose teeth. So...maybe he's not that good at this parenting thing and he's just been shot in the head with pellets too many times to put up much of a protest about giving them horsey rides?
::shrug:: Either way, he's really good at Daddy-ing. <3
-Kel
He doesn't.
He excels. ( You see what I did there? I tricked you into thinking he doesn't do well when in fact he DOES do well. Strategic spacing strikes again!!)
Jared, is amazing. Not in the cliché sense, either. I mean that in the most sincere, genuine way; he is awe-inspiring. Some mornings when he's wearing his jammy pants and a clean white t-shirt making me coffee, I could literally faint. I go all lightheaded just looking at him and the way he moves. I don't think I understood the word "palpable" until I fell in love with him. I get dizzy when he kisses the kids goodnight. I still feel those elusive butterflies when he leans in for a snuggle. I still stop breathing for a split second when I hear music that reminds me of him.
As for the children, they completely adore him.
He has a way with Dylan that I can't duplicate when it comes to getting him to stop his repetitive behavior (spinning, flapping his hands, what have you.) which I'm always impressed with. I don't have the touch! He usually simply asks Dylan to stop or removes him from the situation and Dylan is totally chill with that. He taught Dylan how to five and cried with me when he said his first "I wub boo!!!" He had an intense bond with our Dylan from the moment he held him. It was, once again, palpable. I watched Jared turn into father as soon as their skin touched each others' -it was magic.
Lylli has him wrapped all around her adorable fingers, but he tries his best to seem like he's in control. He tells her she's terrible and she smiles at him to let him know who's in charge, and he smiles back, powerless to her daughter charms. He's a grown man weakened by a teeny tiny princess, and it's just SO FREAKING precious.
So, as far as him coping, he makes it look like he's not being made to "cope" with anything. He's Nike about the whole thing - he just does it, with style, might I add :)
We get stressed, totally. We worry about Dylan starting school and Lylli rounding up boys and everything in between, but Jared handles it with the strength and wisdom of someone well beyond his years.
He's truly a remarkable young man.
I should also mention that two Saturdays a month he goes and shoots airsoft guns with his friends in the woods, or something. The details are fuzzy and sometimes people lose teeth. So...maybe he's not that good at this parenting thing and he's just been shot in the head with pellets too many times to put up much of a protest about giving them horsey rides?
::shrug:: Either way, he's really good at Daddy-ing. <3
-Kel
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