9/15/08
9/9/08
Happy 30th Birtday !!
Today is Kristin's 30th Birthday. We will be celebrating next month with a nice trip to Las Vegas. Please take a second and leave a nice comment for Kristin. I know many of you check the blog, but do not leave comments....please do this time. Kristin and I have been together for over 10 years. She has been with me for the most rewarding experiences in my life. Kristin is everything I could have wished for. If my daughter turns out to be EXACTLY like my wife, then I will know that we have done our job. Happy Birthday to my beautiful wife! I love you!
9/5/08
Oh, The Humanity!
The mood swings of an emotional toddler girl are in full swing...
Other recent funnies:
During one of her little crying spells (such as the one above), Rod told her she was being a drama queen and in her most serious, distraught voice, Victoria said, "I'm not a queen, (sniff, sniff) I'm a princess!"
I put a pair of 3T jeans on her last night to see how they'd fit (side note: they're just about the right length, but even with waist adjusted the still slide down). She came up to me pulling at her pantlegs and told me, "I need my sleeves pushed up. Too long!"
Other recent funnies:
During one of her little crying spells (such as the one above), Rod told her she was being a drama queen and in her most serious, distraught voice, Victoria said, "I'm not a queen, (sniff, sniff) I'm a princess!"
I put a pair of 3T jeans on her last night to see how they'd fit (side note: they're just about the right length, but even with waist adjusted the still slide down). She came up to me pulling at her pantlegs and told me, "I need my sleeves pushed up. Too long!"
8/31/08
Potty Training Details
But first, a photo, since I seem to be slacking on that front...
And now... the gory potty details:
Stickers didn't work, celebration didn't work. The secret to our success: M&Ms
After a lot of trial and error, I realized what worked best for Victoria was reward for the little things.
We started out asking her if she needed to go, but after seeing some advice on a free DVD, they made a point for changing wording to "Okay, potty break time!" Which worked well in the beginning - of course, if you ask a toddler if they need to go, they'll say NO - it's in their nature!
Regular M&Ms for #1, peanut for #2. If all goes well, she got between 2 and 4 M&Ms with each potty visit.
The first step was recognizing her if her diaper/pullup/underwear was dry when we got into the bathroom ("Are your undies wet or dry? Dry? WooHoo!!!")
Next was to go potty, wipe, wash hands, etc. When all is cleaned up, we go to the packages of M&Ms. If V just peed, she would get two regular M&Ms, and I would explain that one was for dry undies, and one was for peeing in the potty. Ditto with Peanut M&Ms.
We started with peanut M&Ms and realized quickly they were the perfect motivator. She would get one for pooping in the potty, but she would get TWO if ALL the poop was in the potty (as opposed to starting in her pullup, then going on the potty).
We had a little bit of a tough time explaining that the M&M reward isn't a forever thing, but I explained to Victoria as the bags were getting emptier (I was only using small packets of candy) that they were almost gone, and once they were gone, she was to go in the potty because that's where big girls go. So far, so good!
Of course there are still a few accidents here and there, mostly when she's too distracted to realize she needs to go until it's too late.
Hmmm... what else? Victoria is now only in pullups for naptime and at night (and the occasional long trip, depending on where we're going). And so far it's gone much smoother than I anticipated. We're not having nearly the issues I thought we would with having to be out and about needing to find a bathroom.
I think we've cut back on her overall liquid intake a bit, too. She still gets a drink whenever she wants one, but we're not offering water/juice/milk constantly. I think that cuts down on accidents as well.
Well, it's taken me over a week to get this post out, but hopefully it works for someone!
And now... the gory potty details:
Stickers didn't work, celebration didn't work. The secret to our success: M&Ms
After a lot of trial and error, I realized what worked best for Victoria was reward for the little things.
We started out asking her if she needed to go, but after seeing some advice on a free DVD, they made a point for changing wording to "Okay, potty break time!" Which worked well in the beginning - of course, if you ask a toddler if they need to go, they'll say NO - it's in their nature!
Regular M&Ms for #1, peanut for #2. If all goes well, she got between 2 and 4 M&Ms with each potty visit.
The first step was recognizing her if her diaper/pullup/underwear was dry when we got into the bathroom ("Are your undies wet or dry? Dry? WooHoo!!!")
Next was to go potty, wipe, wash hands, etc. When all is cleaned up, we go to the packages of M&Ms. If V just peed, she would get two regular M&Ms, and I would explain that one was for dry undies, and one was for peeing in the potty. Ditto with Peanut M&Ms.
We started with peanut M&Ms and realized quickly they were the perfect motivator. She would get one for pooping in the potty, but she would get TWO if ALL the poop was in the potty (as opposed to starting in her pullup, then going on the potty).
We had a little bit of a tough time explaining that the M&M reward isn't a forever thing, but I explained to Victoria as the bags were getting emptier (I was only using small packets of candy) that they were almost gone, and once they were gone, she was to go in the potty because that's where big girls go. So far, so good!
Of course there are still a few accidents here and there, mostly when she's too distracted to realize she needs to go until it's too late.
Hmmm... what else? Victoria is now only in pullups for naptime and at night (and the occasional long trip, depending on where we're going). And so far it's gone much smoother than I anticipated. We're not having nearly the issues I thought we would with having to be out and about needing to find a bathroom.
I think we've cut back on her overall liquid intake a bit, too. She still gets a drink whenever she wants one, but we're not offering water/juice/milk constantly. I think that cuts down on accidents as well.
Well, it's taken me over a week to get this post out, but hopefully it works for someone!
8/28/08
Please take a moment today
To hop over to Manna's blog and wish her a very happy birthday.
To Manna: Happy Birthday to my dear, dear friend. I'm so glad we're still friends after all these years. I just wish we were closer together to celebrate. I love you, and miss you.
To Manna: Happy Birthday to my dear, dear friend. I'm so glad we're still friends after all these years. I just wish we were closer together to celebrate. I love you, and miss you.
8/23/08
A couple videos
Victoria's newest song: Ring around the rosie, poca poca rosies, ashes, ashes we all fall down! As you can tell by the video, she's out of breath because she does this nonstop for 10 minutes straight! It's her alternative to not jumping on the bed.
And talking to Busha on the phone... I tried to catch her when she was really chatty, but missed. Still too cute!
And talking to Busha on the phone... I tried to catch her when she was really chatty, but missed. Still too cute!
8/21/08
Fall Spring Cleaning
In an effort to declutter Victoria's bedroom and make it a little more toddler-friendly, I just went through and pulled out any clothes that are or will soon be too small for her.
So, to Jeff & Marie, Natalie, and Manna... Head's up! Many outfits are coming your way soon! Everything on the dresser top and the closet floor are too small.
Now, half of her closet, all her baskets, and half her dresser drawers are empty!
Other goings on: We had our first white-trash weekend at our house last week. We ended up with three trailers, three families camping out and had a blast. With the exception of course of our monster, man-eating, killer mosquitoes!
So, to Jeff & Marie, Natalie, and Manna... Head's up! Many outfits are coming your way soon! Everything on the dresser top and the closet floor are too small.
Now, half of her closet, all her baskets, and half her dresser drawers are empty!
Other goings on: We had our first white-trash weekend at our house last week. We ended up with three trailers, three families camping out and had a blast. With the exception of course of our monster, man-eating, killer mosquitoes!
8/8/08
Shrinking!
Well, not really, but I am finding out that a Victoria sans-diaper needs smaller clothes (at least when it comes to shorts and capri's). Meaning that it's still going to be a little while before she's out of her 18-24 month and 2T clothes!
Some capri's have become more like bermuda shorts, which are just as trendy for now!
Though the shirts are getting a little tight, and a little short, and the 2T pants are just starting to get too short. Not that she spends much time in pants these days.
I do fear we'll run into the same problem we've had in the past for pants, where the waist is going to be far too big when we get pants in the length Victoria needs.
She's been much better about trying whatever food we're eating (steak, chinese, etc), partly due to a growth spurt in the past few weeks. Yet another reason pants aren't going to fit come fall.
Some capri's have become more like bermuda shorts, which are just as trendy for now!
Though the shirts are getting a little tight, and a little short, and the 2T pants are just starting to get too short. Not that she spends much time in pants these days.
I do fear we'll run into the same problem we've had in the past for pants, where the waist is going to be far too big when we get pants in the length Victoria needs.
She's been much better about trying whatever food we're eating (steak, chinese, etc), partly due to a growth spurt in the past few weeks. Yet another reason pants aren't going to fit come fall.
8/5/08
Exciting Week!
Victoria has a play mate every day this week. Lauren's daughter Elisabeth (just turned 3) is hanging out, and (for the most part - they're still toddlers!) they're having a blast!
I make Victoria sing the alphabet when she washes her hands so she scrubs for long enough...
I make Victoria sing the alphabet when she washes her hands so she scrubs for long enough...
8/1/08
Random pics
Not to much out of the ordinary going on around here...
Some pictures of Victoria in her big girl bed
And just some other cute pics from the past few days.
Some pictures of Victoria in her big girl bed
And just some other cute pics from the past few days.
7/28/08
So Far, So Good!
Well, Victoria has spent two nights in her big girl bed (she was at Jaja and Busha's house this weekend so we missed a few days), but so far so good. Rod and I have talked quite a bit with V about staying in her bed all night until Mom comes and gets her in the morning and so far it's worked. Today will be the first naptime in the big girl bed, which I suspect might pose a little more of an issue for Victoria, as it usually takes her a little longer to wind down at naptime, but we'll work through it.
Victoria is loving anything that makes her feel like a big girl. She's pretty much only wearing a diaper/pull-up at nap time and at night, and on long-ish road trips, and for the most part she's continuing to stay dry. She's gotten really good at actually telling us when she needs to go potty. Our secret? M&M's (must've gotten the M&M bug from Grandma Penny!)! We tried stickers, which kind of worked for a little while, but lost their novelty quickly, and we just ended up with stickers stuck on things and in the carpet all over the house.
For those of you contemplating or struggling with potty-training, let me know if you want the specifics and we'll be glad to share. I'm just glad I found something that works!
Victoria is loving anything that makes her feel like a big girl. She's pretty much only wearing a diaper/pull-up at nap time and at night, and on long-ish road trips, and for the most part she's continuing to stay dry. She's gotten really good at actually telling us when she needs to go potty. Our secret? M&M's (must've gotten the M&M bug from Grandma Penny!)! We tried stickers, which kind of worked for a little while, but lost their novelty quickly, and we just ended up with stickers stuck on things and in the carpet all over the house.
For those of you contemplating or struggling with potty-training, let me know if you want the specifics and we'll be glad to share. I'm just glad I found something that works!
7/24/08
The Big Girl Bed
Lots of changes around here in the past few weeks. We have finally gotten away from the high chair and tonight is the first night in the big girl bed. This bed was passed on to me from my grandfather Jack Feamster and was made by his father Clyde. So happy to have this bed, and be able to pass it on to another generation. Enjoy the pic.... Rod.
7/18/08
12 hours later...
Here's what our kitchen looked like this morning (Thursday morning, as I'm posting this at 1AM!) after all the prep-work we did yesterday (Wednesday) - taping, moving, etc:
Here's our little helper in action (I let her loose where the stove goes!):
And here's the final result, complete with hand-scrubbed floors. 12 hours of painting and cleaning and our kitchen is probably the cleanest it's ever been. And, yes, it confirmed that I really indeed do hate to clean!
And I say Farewell to yet three more tan walls, just a personal mission of mine :D
Here's our little helper in action (I let her loose where the stove goes!):
And here's the final result, complete with hand-scrubbed floors. 12 hours of painting and cleaning and our kitchen is probably the cleanest it's ever been. And, yes, it confirmed that I really indeed do hate to clean!
And I say Farewell to yet three more tan walls, just a personal mission of mine :D
7/15/08
New Toy!
We went shopping at a few second-hand stores the other day, and this was Victoria's find...
7/11/08
Portraits in the Park
I (Rod) am in the process of taking tons of photos....one of which will hopefully be used in my next tattoo. I have spoken with the most talented portrait tattoo artist I have ever seen (Tom Renshaw). He said, "Take a s@&tload of pictures and send them to me. I will find one that works." I have seen his work, and I trust his opinion. If you would like to see some of his latest ink, go here ---> Tom Renshaw
These are some of the recent photos I have taken in Lexington today. Enjoy
7/9/08
7/8/08
I NEED ADVICE!!
Okay, this one has nothing to do with the family or Victoria, it's all about me. I need honest feedback on the new specs. I have two months to change my mind on them. I just can't decide if I like them or not, so I'm asking what you all think.
Honest opinions, please! If you hate 'em, tell me! If you love 'em, tell me that, too!
Honest opinions, please! If you hate 'em, tell me! If you love 'em, tell me that, too!
7/7/08
4th Fun
Victoria and I had some new friends over for a girl's night in on the 4th (since Rod was working mucho overtime, of course).
Before they got to our house, V helped me make some fresh guacamole.
The girls decided they were going for a walk... (click on the picture to see it larger if you can't see them ).
They got all the way to the end of the driveway before we had to lure them back with food!
Before they got to our house, V helped me make some fresh guacamole.
The girls decided they were going for a walk... (click on the picture to see it larger if you can't see them ).
They got all the way to the end of the driveway before we had to lure them back with food!
7/3/08
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