VACATION: PART I

Many months ago, I asked for this week off from work as A has off too. Little did I know that this week would mark the transition for me from my first PA job of 6.5 years to the next job. My new job means I go back to working full time (hopefully not forever!). I'm trying to soak in as much family time as possible this week ... we've spent the first half of vacation at home. Tomorrow we're headed on an airplane.

We've kept busy! (It's nearly impossible to take quality photos of my two these days ... thank goodness for cell phone cameras to capture a moment or two!).

We visited the library and the indoor gym:

the MN zoo:

the MOA and dinner with Uncle M

and Aunt J:

and Bounce World:

Rrroar!

SICK

I'm tired of being sick. Well, not just me. All of us.

It's definitely more than coincidence that our house has been plagued with some sort of virus or illness for the last 6 weeks ... about the time we started the new daycare. We've loved it there, but my kids are learning how to share more than just books and toys. Before enrollment, JP and AA had only been on one course of antibiotics in their life.

Of course, this is the peak of cold and flu season too. And it hasn't been that bad. I was sick in January for nearly two weeks with a nasty head cold. AA came down with the adenovirus earlier this month ... I've never seen her so miserable. Fevers around 104; red eyes, and nonstop yuck. On her final day of recovery, JP picked up the virus. His symptoms seemed to last longer than hers, so I finally looked in his mouth on day seven. Poor kid had tonsils the size of blackberries and the color of pond scum. He was on antibiotics for a week. And now this morning while we were out running errands, JP kept telling me that his ear hurt. Since this is the first time he's ever told me that something hurt, I was concerned. Without being prepared, we drove to the Saturday clinic. Ninety minutes later ... (that means 85 minutes of sitting with both kids in the small waiting room around other sick people without ANY toys or books or snacks or drinks or a spare diaper for smelly AA) ... JP was diagnosed with an ear infection. Uggghh.

POTTY

I've changed my tune.

Potty training has been the most humbling lesson for me thus far. By a long shot. Before JP turned one, I was certain that he'd be diaper free before he turned two. After all, I was potty trained by 19 months, and my brothers were shortly thereafter. How hard could it be? I rolled my eyes when I saw three year olds with diapers hanging out of their pants at church. I couldn't believe that moms were buying size 5 diapers at Target. I was astonished to read in my parenting magazines that most experts suggest starting to train between 28 and 32 months old. What was wrong with these parents?

And then it was my turn. We took JP to buy a potty seat before AA was born; probably around 16 months or so. He loved to sit on at at first, but then he grew terrified. I put it away for 8 or 9 months and then took it out again around his second birthday. Throughout the summer and fall he sat on the potty a time or two each day, tinkled maybe once or twice each week ... but I don't think his brain and bladder really were connected. Around October, I started potty boot camp. We shopped together for Thomas undies, we loaded up on candy, and we spent a weekend going commando (well, just JP did). Every hour we marched into the bathroom and sat. The neurons seemed to be connecting ... JP would go all of the time when on the potty ... but he went all of the time off of the potty too. I was frustrated beyond belief. I read, and researched, and prayed! We tried sticker charts, verbal, and sugar rewards. We shopped for new undies, and we even worked on things at Miss Emmy's. But JP still had accidents. He rarely told me when he had to go. I nearly gave up. Just how does everyone do this? It was then that I grew completely humbled. I was filled with remorse for judging other parents before enduring the process myself!

And then finally. Finally. FINALLY. When JP was READY, something clicked. All of a sudden, JP started telling me when he had to go. He wanted to wear his underwear and informed me that diapers were for babies. This seemed to happen around the same time that he started his new daycare in early January. Thankfully, all of his classmates were at the same stage, so he was completely encouraged.

I'm not sure at what point I can actually mark down on his calendar that JP is "potty trained." He still wears a pull-up to bed and wakes up wet once or twice each week. But I'll take that. I rejoice in the financial freedom of not buying diapers each week! I love that JP goes in the bathroom, pulls up his pants, and washes his hands all without telling me (okay, so he still calls me to wipe him!). He did it! I did it! We did it!

Better late than never.

FORT NIGHT

After putting AA to bed last night, we told JP what we had in store for the night ... fort night downstairs on a big air mattress in front of the fireplace ... movie, popcorn ... just JP, Mommy and Daddy. The smile on his face was priceless. Of course, we deviate from the normal bedtime routine all of the time when we are out and about (which seems to be more weekends than not) ... but I can count on one hand (okay, one finger!), the number of times we've let JP stay up past 7:30 pm when we were at home. (I sound so hard ... but in actuality, JP often asks to go to bed!).

My original plan was for JP to fall asleep while watching a movie, and then for A and I to watch one of our own ... and for the three of us to sleep peacefully together downstairs. After watching the entire Winnie the Pooh Movie (nearing 9:00) it became evident that JP does NOT take after me ... there was simply no sign of him falling asleep watching a movie! With that, our fort night came to an end. Without any complaints, JP went to bed in his room and slept soundly.

(Oh, and I fell fast asleep during my movie!)

GRANDPARENTS

Last weekend we started doing FaceTime with Grandpa A and Grandma K ... a really slick way for the grandparents to get their grandkid fill ... live video, uninterrupted ... mismatched jammies, sticky faces, temper tantrums and all. Last weekend we also told JP that his grandparents would come to visit on Friday. I know that toddlers don't have the concept of time nailed down, so I told JP that Grandpa A would come and visit in "Five more sleeps." Each night, we counted down the number of sleeps left for Grandpa A (and Grandma K!) to come. This counting down, mixed in with a few FaceTime chats throughout the week was apparently too confusing for my son! Each morning he asked if he could go downstairs to see them ... FINALLY Friday came!

And within minutes, the kids were opening presents and eating sugar! Ugghh ... I guess that's why the countdown for The Visit is such a big deal! I hope someday my grandkids will love me as much as JP and AA love theirs!

LOVE

Happy Valentine's Day!

The kids were delighted to see a package and cards on our doorstep for Valentine's Day.

AA immediately grabbed her new heart shaped pillow and towel and chilled while big brother JP finished opening! Clearly a hit!

SUNDAY FUN

With both kids on the sickness mend, we planned a low key Sunday. We finger painted Valentine's ... some of us had more fun than others!

(to be fair, JP screamed the first time that he fingerprinted too ... the fear probably originated from my scream: "Don't eat the paint!!!").

We then toured the ice sculptures downtown.

Hmmm ... I wonder which one JP like the best?!

SANS KIDS

Many months ago, some college friends and I began planning a girls weekend getaway (without kids, that is). The thoughts of boarding a cruise ship without any puffs or wipes spilling out of my purse; a meal with a glass of wine and without whine; sleeping in; and enjoying nonstop talk with girlfriends seemed so magical. As the cold weather came in January, I looked forward to my five day adventure even more.

But as the final days drew close, I became more and more anxious. Sure, the kids would be with A the entire time (and a road trip to Grandma S and Grandpa J was planned). I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing that I could count on one hand the number of nights I'd been away from Jackson up until this point (and on two fingers for AA). I was filled with extreme guilt for accepting (and organizing!) this girls weekend. What kind of a mother was I? Of course, my feelings of apprehension shot through the roof as AA came down with a horrible virus (although we didn't know it at the time) just 48 hours before I was to leave ... high fevers, lethargy, conjunctivitis, runny, nose. She clung to me like never before.

But with prayer ... and pep talks from my husband and girlfriends, I decided to go. I boarded my plane last Thursday afternoon and came back Monday. I texted with A nearly every hour until our cruise set sail on Friday. I was even able to keep in touch while out at sea. Thank goodness for technology these days! Each phone call gave me more and more confidence in my decision to stick with my weekend. The kids did fine ... AA finally knocked her illness ... and JP eventually picked it up. JP and AA were spoiled by grandparents and A, I'm certain. They probably had no idea how much I missed them ... and how often I thought of them or told stories about them.

And I had a wonderful time. I cannot even begin to articulate how amazing it was to reconnect with old friends ... our lives have all changed so much since those college days many moons ago, but we still hold common ground. We laughed, ate, and drank. We exercised daily (!), and slept in (well, 7 AM). I read 2 books and took a nap. I had quiet time with the ocean waves in the background. It was simply rejuvenating. My feelings of guilt diminished as I realized that this short trip away was actually energizing.

I made it home just a few hours after A and the kids returned home from their long adventures up north. The kids ran to the top of the stairs to greet me ... and I will never, ever forget their smiles and hugs when seeing me. These are the moments I live for.

The kids were thrilled with their Bahamas souvenirs!

ZOO

We met our friends Carrie and Mason at the MN Zoo.

The penguin exhibit was clearly the favorite!

(or maybe it was the only exhibit that I could actually snap pictures of my two active toddlers together!)