Potty Training Success...

Well, we are entering our fourth week of no diapers for Paul...finally!! I didn't think we were ever going to get to this point. Before Addie was born he showed a lot of interest in going potty on the big boy potty and then she was born and he forgot all about that when sis came along. The week between Christmas and New Years, he decided he was ready and that diapers are "gross".

Two weeks prior to that, Kevin told Paul that he'd take him to a hockey game (MSU-Mavericks) on January 2nd if he was potty trained, because little boys who wore diapers couldn't go to the hockey game. Paul didn't care to much about that, he was still too busy to try and use the potty. Well the week of the hockey game came and all of a sudden he decided he was done with diapers. This was a Monday night and Tuesday he insisted on wearing underwear to daycare, did great all day, except at naptime, because our dcp didn't put a diaper on him. He hasn't had many accidents, just a few at naptime. He got to go to the hockey game on January 2nd and had a great time on his boys night with daddy!

These pictures are off of Kevin's cell phone.

As of last week he refused to wear diapers to bed, so we've been letting him wear his underwear instead, he comes down about 4:00-4:45 and tells me he has to go to the bathroom, goes and then crawls in our bed. He's only had one accident in the middle of night and that was this past week, he came down at 2:00 am and told me he was wet. I changed him and just had him sleep on our floor until morning, I didn't feel like dealing with the wet bedding in the middle of the night.

He's doing great and I think we're beyond diapers for good for him! We hardly have to ask him to go potty, which is a bonus. In fact most of the time he goes in and goes on his own without being reminded. We're so proud of him and as a reward he got to go to the hockey game last night again with my Grandpa and Kevin. And next weekend I think Kevin is taking him to Monster Trucks at the metrodome.

Pauly with Stomper

So Big!

Adeline is growing up before our own eyes. Hard to believe that in less than two months she will be ONE! Where did that time go? Seems like I was just pregnant with her and now she's a crawling, climbing, sassy 10 month old! She is a spunky little thing. You think Paul has spunk, I think she's going to top him! Haha! She is in to EVERYTHING!! Saturday morning I was in the bathroom helping Paul go potty (more on potty training later) and in crawls Addie...like always, only this time, she crawled up on the stool that the kids use to climb on to wash their hands. She was just too cute I had to take a picture! She looked so proud and as if to say to me "Look what I did". Her Godmother says she was laughing at me saying "Haha mom!" She's a stinker, that's for sure!

She is all over the place and I have a feeling it won't be too long before she is walking. She is cruising around furniture or while pushing her baby stroller that Santa brought her, but she is also becoming more brave and letting go of things while standing by them, she can stand on her own for about 5 seconds before falling. And when she falls it's because she realizes she wasn't hanging onto anything. Yesterday morning while I was dropping Amelia off at school, Kevin stayed home w/ Addie and Paul so I didn't have to take them out in the -24 degree temps, he said that she stood up from a crouching position w/o hanging on to anything. She's becoming such a big girl, not real sure I'm ready for this yet!!

Fun in the snow...

We played in the snow with the kids on Christmas Day. We spent the entire day just the five of us and after Amelia and Paul took naps we took them outside while Adeline was still napping!

Amelia climbing the giant snow ball!! Kevin and Paul had a blast laying in the snow!
Yes, we got a TON of snow!

Our Frosty!

Merry Christmas

We had a fantastic Christmas, we spent a lot of time together as a family, which was absolutely wonderful! Paul was the first one up, like usual...I got him to crawl into bed with us for a little bit, but at some point after I fell back to sleep he snuck out to the living room and he got into his gifts and opened one of his presents from Santa, before we made it out to the living room. That was kind of a bummer that we didn't get to see him open it, but he was super excited because it was the one thing he REALLY wanted Santa to bring him. It was th e Lego Duplo Fire Station, he tore the picture out of one of my magazines and had it posted on the fridge for weeks, and he brought it with him when we went to see Santa last week. Amelia got exactly what she asked for too...PINK Legos! Addie got a little walk behind stroller made for babies. However, she seemed more interested in the big kids gifts!!

The girls playing with Addie's new mailbox.

Paul playing with his Fire Station, we had to put it together before we went to Mass.

In their Christmas outfits.

Yes, I realize that Paul doesn't match the girls. I had ordered an outfit from him from Children's Place and it didn't come until Christmas Eve, turns out I hated the sweater once it got here and I didn't have anything to replace it with for him to wear with the black cords I ordered for him, so instead I used the outfit Mary and Ron got him for Christmas. He looked really cute, but I typically go more formal for their Christmas and Easter outfits, oh well, there is always next year right?! I kind of dropped the ball on his outfit this year, I ordered too late and they were out of almost everything I wanted!

Addie Mae is 10 months old today!!

Our Christmas Day was rather quiet. We were suppose to go to Lutsen and stay at a condo for the weekend with my family, but due to the weather we cancelled our trip and stayed home instead. So we just hung around the house since we were basically snowed in. We went to Mass this morning. Came home and cooked breakfast and then we all put comfy clothes on and vegged all day! We watched movies and played in the snow. We have a ton of snow and the kids really enjoyed playing in it. I need to upload the pictures from my camera so I can post pictures from playing in the snow!

Christmas Eve

I let Amelia and Paul head out into the snow on Christmas Eve morning to play for a while, the snow in the backyard was deep! It started snowing here Wednesday afternoon and continued through the night and I think we woke up with about 8-10 inches Thursday morning.

Amelia and Paul lasted for about a half hour outside before coming back in. Amelia took her mittens off and then got stuck in the snow by the swingset and then she was screaming for me to come get her because she was stuck. And when she got inside she declared she hates snow. What a funny girl!!

Trying to trudge through the snow!

The ice buildup!

We stayed home for Chistmas Eve, we were suppose to leave Christmas morning to go to Lutsen, but due to the weather we decided to stay home. We decided not to risk our safety go on a mini-vacation. Thankfully the resort will let us reschedule the condo in the next 90 days! So none of us will be out our money, which is a nice thing!

Addie, Paul and Mimi opening their Christmas gifts!
The dress Addie has on was Amelia's when she was a
baby and she also wore it for Christmas eve!

Studying her gift!

Children's Mass

Saturday evening was our Children's Mass at church. Amelia goes to religion class on Wednesday evenings when Kevin teaches confirmation, so this year she got to be part of the Children's Mass. She was one of the cows with one of her little friends from daycare. Her and Brook made super cute cows! Addie also had a role, she was baby Jesus. She wasn't so sure about her roll in the program, after about a minute she realized mom was no where in sight and started crawling away! Paul was Baby Jesus when he was a baby too, but he was much smaller (5 weeks old) and he couldn't get away! :)

Amelia the cow...

Addie as Baby Jesus

All of the kids in the program!

Dear Santa...

We took the kids to Mankato last night to see Santa. Amelia and Paul walked hand and hand up to see Santa. Miss Addie wasn't so sure about Santa. They try to sell you their expensive pictures...the cheapest package was $17. Thankfully we asked and they allow you to take two pictures with your own camera...so that's what we did and then I just made it look a little more festive!