NoPe NoT Me!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by McMamma - at www.mycharmingkids.net. You can head over to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

This past week I did not let my 2 year old daughter eat Scooby Snacks (fruit snacks) for breakfast, because that would not be filling... and even if she wanted to eat three packs - I would never let her do that....

I did not ask my dear husband who I love so much to pick up his own Valentine present because I couldn't handle the babies by myself after the car ride alone... and I did not bribe my two year old with a soda from Wendy's if she would just let me look at some scrapbook material at Roberts - I did not order a small soda and get a 22oz ??? and I most certainly did not hand it back to the man at the drive up and say I wanted the small small...

This week I did not let my baby play vacuum instead of picking up the macaroni and cheese and various other nutritious foods off the floor because that would be disgusting... I also did not give him chocolate chips for breakfast.

This week I most certainly did not enjoy going back to work and leaving the kids home with their daddy, because I love and cherish every single second with my babies. This week I did not wash Gracie's panties at least 42 times (it was probably more like 10 times) while potty training. And I certainly didn't tell her to go in her pull up at Wal-mart because I couldn't figure out how to take her and take care of Max by myself...

On the subject of Valentines Day - (Thanks to mom and Cassie for driving an hour in a snow storm to watch the little ones!) I did not get so sick of my hair that I went and had it chopped off! After a romantic dinner of pizza and nachos we did not go into Michaels to buy a craft knife and I did not make a comment about not telling my husband we came here as I was holding hands with "some guy", just to give the checker something to gossip about... To finish the evening off we most certainly did not have 3 scoop sundays at Baskin Robins with hot fudge and Strawberry sauce, and finish every last drop before getting in the car, and my husband and I are not so lame as to be home by 830 on a night we had such wonderful sitters...


This week I did not count down for Survivor with much anticipation...I did not watch every minute on Thursday night, let alone rewatch it on Sunday evening when my baby wouldn't sleep. Jeff who?

I'm not starting off this week with a combined total of 6 hours sleep over the past 48 hours, so I'm sure this week will be quite interesting.... So - here's to a whole new week of Nope - Not Me's!

TaGeD

Nicole Tagged me... and I will play along.... :) Even happily!

5 Addictions -

1- I'm addicted to Brownies. I love them. Plain ones, cream cheese ones, frosted ones, in ice cream, bite sized ones.... I love them, and they give me heart burn so badly every single time- but I can't stay away from them.

2- I'm addicted to blogging. I'll admit it. Before the kids wake up in the morning I run down to see if any of my friends have updated their blogs... I like the backgrounds, the blinkies, the counters, the pictures, all of it. I even check people that I don't know - and I have cried over random people's blogs.... (What is wrong with me!)

3 - I'm addicted to card games and Parcheesi.... I love Hearts, 5 crowns, Phase 10 and even a good came of slap jack....

4- I'm addicted to Training Table and Crown Burgers french fries and fry sauce.

5- I'm addicted to Harry Potter. I can not wait for the 6th movie. I wish there was another book. I listen to the books on CD all the time in the car. I even have my very own wand. (thanks Jason...) There was a time that before books 6&7 that I spent A LOT of time strategizing and analysing what would happen and who was good and who was evil...

I tag Sheri, Stacy and Kori!

Panties, Potties, and Big Girl Bed's

When Mike and I talked about starting a family I knew one thing, unless we had twins I would never have two kids in diapers. Perhaps my feelings on this came from my little sister and brother who were 14 months apart, and both in diapers, and it seemed like all we ever did was change them... But I just firmly believed that you had a baby, once that baby was walking, talking, potty trained then you had a second baby. *FOR ME*

Well, I have said it before, someone else had other plans for our little family, and so for the past 9.5 months we have had two little ones, running around in diapers. It was nice about three months ago when Max moved in to size 4's, so both my kids at least wore the same size - but it is a bit pricey!

About a month ago Grace wouldn't put on a diaper, so I told her she would have to sit on the potty and she did, and she went. After about an hour we went to Wal-mart and bought panties and a little potty. She did really good for about a day - then wanted nothing to do with it. I got my hopes up, I could see the day that I only had one child in diapers - and then, and then - back to two diapered little ones.... She wasn't quite two yet - so I really didn't push her....

I also checked out this website - http://pediatrics.about.com/od/pottytraining/l/bl_potty_rdy.htm it has a quiz in if your child is ready to start potty training. I took it and it said that Grace "might" be ready. I love the Internet!

Then last Thursday she wanted to go again - she has done so well ever since! She loves the potty treats that we let her pick out. Today is day 5 of potty training - and we are still doing lots of reminders, last night she wanted back in a diaper, but it was dry this morning - and that never happens - we are so proud of Grace!

So mommy decided that if she is going potty in the big potty, then it really is about time we get her a big girl bed - So off to the Wal-mart we went on Saturday. I have to say the selection really sucked. But we got one that matched Max's crib (because matching is very important to mommy....) and daddy and mommy started putting it together.... 5 hours later.... church of Christ crib from Barbados.... did I mention 5 hours(in reality it was probably only 4... but still for a toddler bed?) (((And mommy and daddy still love each other after it was all said and done, we just know we can never go on the Amazing Race and have to put something together as a team...)))

This is Grace helping daddy.... he might call it something else....

Ta Da - Big Girl Bed!!!

(oh yeah, we let her run around in a panties and a shirt at home... so if you visit, potty training is the reason my two year old will have no pants on... :)

(Update: while typing this post, I'm at home so it's taken about 2 hours - we have had two accidents in panties... so we will keep smiling, and keep trying....that's what I get from "bragging"...just keepin it real...)

Time Out

So - I've been thinking lately....

Grace and I are in the middle of a massive battle of wills. It's a daily battle, for lack of a better word. I'm struggling on where to draw the line with my 2 year old - "no mom. no - no - uh uh. nope." These are some of her favorite things to say whenever I ask her to do something. I swear her first response is to tell me no - or ignore me all together.

The other day Grace was put in time out several times throughout the day for telling me some form of "Nope mom, not gonna do what you want me to do." I know she is just barely two but it is driving me crazy!

So, on time number 5 in time out I had a thought come to mind. I wonder if this is how Heavenly Father feels about us(ME) sometimes? How often do we know his counsel and still say "nope, not going to do it HF. Sorry, but no." I wonder if God ever gives us time outs?

Tribute to My Mom

My Tuesday Tribute today will be to my mom, also known as "Grama Kate",
"Katie Cathryne", "Kate", "Papa" and "Grandma".

My mom is the most giving, loving, caring person I know. She does not lie, or even ever exaggerate the truth. She has worked her whole life to provide for her children, we never went without. I know she has worked several Saturdays/Sunday's and extra shifts just to buy school clothes, birthday presents, or that fancy pair of shoes one of us kids had to have.

My mom taught us the value of being honest, good people. She was always an example to her children. She always helps with the grandkids, and they all love her so much! She shares in our joys and is sad by our sorrows. She gives good advice - when I got married she told me there will be times I don't want to be married. Go get some ice cream, then go home and work it out. Because that's what you do. When I had my 2nd baby so close to my first, she said not to forget that Grace was still a baby too. How many times have I had to remember that over the past year?

My mom likes to read, likes to be with family and is the best Parcheesi player (or at least in the top 3) in the world. My mom has probably seen the movies Dave, the American President and Pure Country at least 100 times each. She taught me to only watch happy movies because life is sad enough, why go to the movie to be sad? She taught me not to shop at the Valley Fair Mall because that is where people get shot, and not to eat at the Denny's in Layton because it's disgusting. We never put quarters in the candy machines because the candy had probably been there for years and had germs and we never took the bus into town because it wasn't safe. Well, I'm sure that I'll be warped for the rest of my life for some of these things, but I made it to adulthood, happy and healthy! My mom offered to take me toilet papering when a boy said he wouldn't go to a dance with me. My mom backed us on our decisions and wanted us to be happy.

Love you mom!

If you want to participate in Tribute Tuesday check out this blog - http://pudmud.blogspot.com/ .

Check-ups and Smiles!

Is there anything as sweet as these pictures? Grace loves to dress up in a "Pincess dress". She loves the tiara, and has little glass slippers. Some times (understatement...) she likes to act like a princess and is extremely particular and bossy. My sister has started calling her Cinderella.


Could this child be any cuter? Max has the biggest brown eyes, and reminds me of my dad and my brothers.

We took the kids for well checks and shots yesterday Grace weighs in at just under 24lbs (fully dressed) and was right at 25 percentile for both height and weight. She is doing all the things a two years old should be doing and got an A+ for her speaking skills.... Max weighs in at just over 22 lbs (dressed) and was 75 percentile for weight and 95 percentile for height. Which explains why my 9 month old is in 18 month clothes.

Funnies from the checkups - Grace insisted on wearing her Santa hat and Frosty the snowman jacket that lights up. So she was an instant hit with the nurses and receptionist. She kept saying she wanted to see the doctor for a check-up.

Dr. Hibbard asked if Max was a good eater, and I told her he is if it is something he likes, and I proceeded to tell her he won't eat peas or beans, or chicken & rice, turkey & rice, chicken noodle etc. I said he loves carrots, sweet potatoes, squash and the doctor chuckled, she said my baby has a sweet tooth. (hmm, where could he get that from?) I also said the only meat he would eat was apples & chicken or pineapple glazed ham, pretty much confirming the sweet tooth. (I mean, I never touch sweets so I have no idea why Max would be that way!)

After the shots both my kids were blood curdling screaming and the nurses brought in balloons, Max immediately stopped, not to cry again for the rest of the night. Grace was not to be won over, and cried the whole way home. She cried until we got her a happy meal with her very own Sprite. They both slept great and this had to be the easiest round of shots yet! Yeah!!!

Visiting Teaching

Have you read the Relief society visiting teaching message this month? I'm sure you are all way better than me at getting this done, and don't procrastinate until the 28th...but I really liked it this month...

It talks about Standing strong and being Immovable in Faith.

Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president: "Latter-day Saint women must be strong and immovable in their faith. They can and should excel in living and sharing their testimonies of the Lord Jesus Christ and His restored gospel. We do this as we:

Make and keep covenants with Him.
Are worthy and worship in His temples.
Study His doctrine in the scriptures and the words of prophets.
Qualify for, recognize, and follow the Holy Ghost.
Share and defend His gospel.
Participate in sincere personal and family prayer.
Have family home evening.
Live principles of self-reliance and provident living.

I love that is says these are essential things that must be done before nonessential things and that no one can do them for us. We must do these things for ourselves. I'm sure this is a great reminder for all of us, how easy is it to put the nonessential things first? I do it every single day - "I'll just start one load of laundry before I read my scriptures." "I'll clean my house first, then read." "Let's watch this TV show, then have family scripture study and prayer." And more often than not, it doesn't happen. Satan is so powerful and wants us to put aside the essential things!

:) Got to go visiting teaching now.... :)