New Orleans Trip!

My parents were nice enough to invite us to go to New Orleans with them last weekend. It was supposed to be a big fun family event, with Josh and Toye and Sutton coming, along with my mom, dad, and sister, then of course my own family - Ryan, me, Carter and Eliza. Unfortunately, an offshore job came up for Ryan, and he had to leave on Tuesday before the trip...so I decided to just pack the kids up and head out there myself! Kayla rode along with me and shared the hotel room. It was great getting out for a bit, though totally exhausting walking around the city, pushing strollers and carrying babies and diaper bags and toys. But thankfully my mom and dad and sister, along with Aunt Cherie and Uncle Glenn, were there and really helpful.

On Saturday, we had the requisite Cafe du Monde beignets, then headed out the Aquarium and Riverwalk. Carter loved the fishies and kept asking for Nemo :) Eliza even woke up long enough to look around and she seemed interested in all the pretty lights.

All in all, it was a lovely weekend, capped off by the Saints win on Sunday night! Here are some pics:





Carter LEPT out of my arms to pet this iguana! He was braver than me!


Little monkeys!














Booo Vikings!




There was a super weird fog...

From New Orleans Trip

3 months old!

Ellie is three months old today and cute as can be :) I can't believe how fast she's growing. She recently discovered her hands and will try to gnaw on them any chance she gets. She currently loves to kick kick kick in her bouncy seat and send the elephants and lion flying. She still thinks her daddy is the funniest thing on earth. She's also started laughing when she sees Carter, and those moments are the ones that make me feel like my heart will burst at any moment.

I can't believe my baby girl is growing so fast. We just love her more and more every day, even though it doesn't seem possible to love her more than we currently do. She's just a lovely sweet angelic little thing and I can't believe we are lucky enough to have her in our lives :)





Still Mommy's little pumpkin ;)




Smiley girl!

From 3 months old!

We survived our first outing post-potty training!

No accidents and Carter even peed in the toilet at Target, even though he has NEVER peed on a regular toilet before. I was so excited and praising him big time. Then we walked out of the bathroom and he proceeded to announce to the next four people who rolled by: "I peed in the big boy potty! I peed in the big boy potty!"

One was this older lady and she said, "Wow! That's great! I'm so proud of you!" LMAO

Another was this college age guy and he said, "Yeah!!"

OMG bwahahahaha! Kayla and I cracked up!

Go Carter!!

Potty Training : Day 3

NO ACCIDENTS TODAY! While I know that we will certainly have accidents in the future, I feel like Carter 'gets it' and we have made MAJOR progress. I'd consider his 3 Day Potty Training Boot Camp a success! Go Carter! :)

Potty Training : Day 2

PROGRESS! Carter had about 75% success today, which is much better than 0% yesterday! haha He only had two accidents and even told us several times when he had to go.

One funny from the day: when he was sitting on the toilet, Ryan told him, "Ok, Carter, when you have to poop, tell Dad so I can put you on the big potty and we can flush it." Carter said, "You're kidding me?!" haha Let's hope he decides it's not such a far-fetched idea ;)

Potty Training Boot Camp : Day 1

We decided it's time. Buying diapers for two = $$$. So I got ahold of a copy of a potty training method called, obviously enough, the '3 Day Potty Training' method and Ryan and I decided that since I have a long weekend, we'd give it a try.

2 hours in = 5 accidents

Haha.

At first, Carter didn't seem upset at all when he would pee everywhere, but the last couple of accidents, he cried when he got all wet, so we just comforted him and keep praising him for keeping his underwear dry, and I'm hopeful that it will click soon.

Cross your fingers!

A little perspective

Apparently, I'm not the only mom in the world who feels overwhelmed at times ;)

http://www.mycharmingkids.net/2010/01/im-gonna-miss-this.html

This deserves its own post - ELIZA SLEPT ALL NIGHT!

Yes, at just 2.5 months old, Little Miss Angel Baby slept from 9:00 pm last night to 7:00am this morning!!

I woke up twice and had to reach over and check to make sure she was still breathing :) But of course, she was fine...just giving her Mama some much needed rest. Let's hope that she can repeat again sometime soon!!

Busy busy busy

I am so sad for my poor little blog...13 whole days in January and only one post! It's just that I went back to work last week and POOF! There went any and all free time I had before.

I am so lucky that I'm able to work just half-days this month, but in some ways, that makes my life even more hectic. It feels like I have half-time at work and half-time at home...and therefore get nothing done at work and nothing done at home!

I think Carter is a little stressed by all the changes too because at night he tends to pull at either Ryan or I and say, "Noo, read to me! Play with me!" And then we have to sit in his room and give him our full attention. As hard as it is to leave the dirty dishes in the sink and the laundry in the basket, that time spent with him is so worth it and I try to remember that that is the only thing that matters.

I also had to turn my New Years' resolution from "take a picture every day" to "take a picture most days when I remember and the camera battery is charged." haha I've already FAILED at the first resolution, but I'm trying to take a picture most days. I know how fast the kiddos will grow this year. So here are a few pictures from the last week and hopefully I can keep it up!

Little Miss Houdini broke out of her Miracle Blanket


LOVE the boots Nanny TT gave her :)


About to roll...








Beautiful girl

New Year's Resolution FAIL (already :(

I made it my resolution to take at least one picture every day this year. I didn't specify what it needed to be a picture of, but I assumed it would mostly involve my tiny people. Well I already missed a day! haha. I did get some funny pics in the last week though, so I'm going to get back on the wagon and just keep trying! Here are some fun pictures from the new year:

Check out that beauty:


Thank you so much to our neighbors who gave us this book in our Secret Santa exchange. Carter LOVES it!


He cracks me up!


Sleepy babies:


(and the reason for my paranoia - Eliza's preferred sleeping method...of course, she was right next to me on the sofa and doesn't get fluffy pillows in her crib :)


Love


Goofy




Love her






So let's see if I can keep it up all year! ;)