Happy Birthday, Greyson!!

Today Greyson is 2! I can't believe it.....

I love you, babycakes!

More birthday pictures and stories to follow soon!

Two Peas in a Pod

Well, Greyson has now joined the first stitches club along with Madelyn. He split open his chin today while..... I actually don't know. All I know is that there was a big crash in the dining room and I turned around to see (pantless) Greyson chin-down on the floor looking dazed before he started wailing. I thought he might have hurt his teeth so that was the first thing I went to look at but then I realized that this chin was bleeding. I took a look and was in disbelief as I realized that he had a GAPING HOLE in his chin! We were supposed to be on our way out the door to take Madelyn to gymnastics (Ben wasn't home yet). So I cuddled a distraught Greyson for a minute, tried to stopped the bleeding, put a bandaid on it, got everyone's jackets/hats on, grabbed my purse and Greyson's diaper bag, locked the front door and closed it behind us. The plan at the moment was to drop Madelyn at gymnastics (Ben could pick her up afterward) and I would take Greyson to urgent care to get stitches. However, as I reached into my purse to get the keys, I realized that my keys were in my other coat located inside the house and no extra key anywhere..... AGGHH!!! I tried to call Ben at his desk, no answer, on his cell phone, no answer.... call back and leave messages.... then walk down to a neighbor's/close friend's house to get help. When I got there my friend was just getting home. She leant me her car to get Greyson to urgent care and took Madelyn to gymnastics for me. (Thank you, Beth!!)


So here's Greyson playing while his chin was being numbed up. Before the doctor came in, Ben came with Madelyn and a Burger King dinner to visit. He left with Madelyn when the doctor came in to do the stitches. Greyson did wonderfully while getting the stitches! I thought that he might freak out but he laid there very quietly and still while the doctor put them in. I am soooo proud! Just like with Madelyn, the doctor and the nurse were amazed with how he did. Greyson got four stitches, although, I am not as happy with these stitches as I was with Madelyn's. Oh well.... I just didn't feel right telling him to take them out and try again. :)

What peace?

So my kids are full swing into squabbling these days.... it does a number on my nerves, too. I'm embarrased to say that you might even catch me getting in on the act sometimes. Yesterday though, I couldn't help but laugh. Let me set the stage - I was cooking dinner and, as usual, Madelyn and Greyson are playing with their toys in the living room. Madelyn was playing with something and put it down for a second, when the mischievious Greyson snatches it up. (I sincerely think he does this for effect!) Here's what was said:

Madelyn: GREYSON!!! GIVE THAT TO ME!!
Greyson: no.
Madelyn: GREYSON, I HAD THAT FIRST!
Greyson: no.
Madelyn: (starting to cry, get frustrated, and pulling at the toy) Greyson, give that to me NOW!
Greyson: (screaming now) NO! NO! NO!
Me: That is enough! Madelyn, I know that he took your toy when you didn't want him to, but your response is not okay. You are older and you need to keep the peace.
Madelyn: What peace? (or did she mean "piece")
Me: (laughing) Nevermind... Greyson give the toy back to your sister.

Here are a couple of recent pics for you to enjoy!

Here we go again!

Disclaimer: this is a monologue on potty-training... read on at your own risk!

Well, it has officially started I think. I can't believe it is here already! Greyson is potty-training! I guess I should modify that - Greyson is potty-training us. He has decided that it is fun to say that he has to go poop and/or pee and that we will stop everything and take him. Before a couple of days ago, Greyson would grab his bottom and say "oop" and then run with glee to the bathroom, sit on his little toilet, and immediately "say" (through signs, not words) that he was all done, usually followed by peeing or pooping in his diaper 5 minutes later. He even started using it as a bedtime stall tactic. I even got the point that I was only paying attention to his requests about a fourth of the time. However, a few days ago, he actually started sitting on his little potty like he is waiting for something to happen. And today I'm super excited because.... today, Greyson told me he needed to go poop, I sat him down (after undoing his overalls and onesie), and he sat there until he went poop! WOW! I'm pumped! Not because I think he is wonder boy (which I do :) or that this will be easy (pretty sure that it won't be) but because poop-training Madelyn was such a pain! I said after all our exasperated months of poop-training Madelyn, that I would not even try to start potty-training our following kids until some poop-training was in place. I know this is a long, arduous process but I'm excited that it has started without fussing, frustration, tears, or any expectations. With Greyson being a boy, I didn't and don't expect to be done potty-training for years!

Hmmm, I guess this also means that I need to stop putting Greyson in onesies.... Here is a cute pic of him trying out his little toilet a couple weeks ago.