It's done

My poor, poor neglected blog. I apologize for leaving you dormant for so long in between my entries. But, you see, I have been focusing lately on something much more important: Potty Training.

Yes, that's right. Potty training. Times two.

It all started last Monday. I asked my husband weeks ago to take off February vacation week so we could concentrate on getting the boys to stop wearing diapers. At 3 years 8 months, it was time. So Sean stayed home, the boys woke up Monday morning and we put underwear on them (with some warning in the previous days) and have not looked back. They are doing so well it is prompting me to ask myself "Is that it? Could it have been that easy?".

I had been dreading this process, mainly for selfish reasons. I envisioned myself staying home all day every day until they got the hang of the whole potty thing. So by asking Sean to stay home and help, I assured myself that I could at least escape for an hour at some point if it all got to be too much.

So we started exactly one week ago today and the boys have been out in public with no accidents. We have gone to a family function and the boys told us when they had to pee. I am just amazed that it just clicked so quickly. Of course, I think their age had something to do with it. Had I attempted this 6 or 8 months ago, I don't think they would have gotten the hang of it so fast. Timing is everything.

And for once, I timed it just right!

Happy Love Day!

We were watching Blue's Clues this morning and for some reason they call it Love Day instead of Valentine's Day hence the title.

So, here in Boston we are experiencing a Valentine's Day Nor' Easter. For those of you not from New England, that is a significant storm characterized by strong winds and lots of precipitation. Right now we are getting a little bit of everything--snow, sleet, rain and back to snow. A great day to stay inside and cook. Which is what I plan to do. A special Valentine's Day dessert for my husband and I--banana caramel bread pudding with creme anglaise. Mmm Mmm.

Here are a few pictures in the spirit of the day. My heartbreaker and my Mama's boy. And Ciara on the receiving end of a hug from her brother, looking a bit unsure.

Off to bake...

Chilly Chili

The other day I was making chili. The boys came in and wanted to know what I was making and I told them. So they asked me what was in it and I told them and asked if they wanted to try some when it was all finished. Aidan said "No!" straight away and Gavin said "Sure". Can you tell who my adventurous eater is?

So the afternoon goes on and my chili is simmering away. Dinnertime appoaches and I ask the boys what they want, forgetting all about our conversation earlier. Aidan wants fishsticks (surprise, surprise) and Gavin announces he wants "the cold stuff". I have absolutely no idea what he is talking about and after more insistance that he wants the cold stuff, it finally dawns on me that he means the chili. I ask him if he is sure. Yes, he is he says. I put Aidan's fishsticks in the oven plus a few extra. I spoon some chili into a bowl for Gavin and present it to him. He takes one bite and says "I don't like it!". I figured as much. But at least he tried it before deciding unlike his brother who I cannot get to try anything new.

The chili turned out yummy by the way. They don't know what they are missing!

18 Months

My baby is 18 months today. One and a half. Almost two.

Ciara is certainly not the petite, demure, girly girl I had envisioned having when I was younger. No, no, her two brothers make sure of that. She can chase, bounce on beds, and leap into couch pillows tossed on the floor with the best of them. Hair accessories? Only if I can put them far enough back on her head where she can't reach up and rip them out. Although, there was one day where she seemed infatuated with her hair bows and kept handing them to me to put in her hair. That lasted about 5 minutes.

Actually, now that I look at my handiwork, perhaps that is why she doesn't want anything in her hair.

Dolls? She does love her dolls which she will just as soon throw across the room as tuck them lovingly in their bed and feed them.

She is such a mix of her two brothers, it really is funny. She has Aidan's build, his laid back temperment and his rhythm. She also shares the same penchant for her milk bottle that he did and really has no comfort object other than that.

From Gavin, she gets the antagonistic behavior. I never thought I would see that trait come out at such a young age but it's there. She will scream just for the heck of it which annoys the heck out of Gavin. Gavin will then proceed to complain to me. And then Ciara will very purposefully go up to Gavin, look him in the eye and scream. Which just about sends him over the edge so of course she does it again. I actually find it quite funny (except for Gavin's shrieks of "STOP!!!!").

I was just thinking about Ciara's 15 month appointment at her doctor's. I mentioned to him that she really only had about five words and I was surprised because of having older siblings plus the fact that she was a girl. Now, at 18 months, her language has just exploded. She still communicates with lots of pointing and grunting but I am amazed at how much she says. The newest phrase being "I love you" which she just learned yesterday. Only it comes out as "Ah uv do". Another one is "more" which she pronounces with a perfect Boston accent "mow-ah". Have no idea where she got that pronunciation, must've been the grandparents. And then of course thiere is "Dat doe" while shaking her finger. I have to admit she got that from me as I shout in exasperation "That dog!!" when he barks incessantly at squirrels (luckily she just picked up that and not the other choice words).

Happy half-birthday Ciara!