Uncle Bill & Aunt Brenda!

Our good friends, Bill & Brenda invited us over for a BBQ last night.  I used to work with both Bill & Brenda at Sprint through the years - and have known them for almost 15 years . . . they are great friends and they treat Molly like another niece - of which they have many!  She LOVES to play with them and they always spoil her way too much with gifts whenever we see them!  We didn't want to leave - as is always the case when at good friends' houses -  and stayed a little past Molly's bedtime and here she is sacking out next to Bill!

Moms Night Out!

I've met some INCREDIBLE smart, generous, witty, fun moms since I had Molly and we all have one very important thing in common - we all started our families 2.5 years ago!  That's right - we all have 1st born kiddos around Molly's age!  I've met these moms through all different ways the last 2 years  . . . pre-natal yoga, church, Gymboree, the park, playgroups, etc.!  I finally decided it would be great to get all these fabulous women together to eat, drink and be merry and introduce them all to each other!  After all - we NEED a night out right now - with 2 year olds at home! A few girls could not make it - but 7 of us still got together the other night and we had so much fun!  I hope to make it a regular moms night out!

  

(l-r:  Amy, Maggie, Heather, Kate, Lindsay, Me, Megan)

Planting Flowers!

This morning Molly and I decided it was the perfect morning to plant our annual flowers and vegetables in the yard . . . it was SO fun to get outside and get DIRTY - especially after spending so much time inside this week with potty training!

  

As you can see, some of Molly's babies came outside with us too in their stroller!

After some work in the front yard, it was time to hit the back yard . . . Molly helped carry all the gardening tools.  Cheap labor . . . just had to give her goldfish and she worked for 2+ hours!

Time for a break to play!

Back to work, mom!

My little gardener!

16 weeks!

"Baby Bump" at 16 weeks! 

Molly went with me to my 16 week doc appointment this morning - which meant she accompanied me in the restroom for the obligatory "pee in the plastic cup" we pregnant women do for each Dr. appt.  As you know, Molly was recently potty trained so she is fascinated with all things potty right now.  I told her I had to write my name on the cup and then go potty in it.  Her face had a thousand question marks across it as she stared at me trying to figure out what I was doing . . . then after a few quiet moments - she looked up at me with her high little voice and said, "Oh!  You gonna' drink it, mom?"  With her typical high note at the end of the sentence - as if to say -  that sounds like a good idea!

Craving right now:

• Ruffles chips with sour cream
• Breyers REAL chocolate ice-cream with big scoop of peanut butter on top!
• Cadbury eggs
• String cheese
• Pineapple juice (Can't get enough!)
• Iced tea over crushed ice
• Feta cheese in salads
• B.L.T's

No More Diapers!

So . . .  as you might recall from the blog post two months ago -  Molly tried to train herself in February (I was 8 weeks prego and VERY sick and was just not ready *at all* to tackle potty training).  I did give in to her pleading and bought her a potty chair at her request.  She loved it for about 2 days - went poopy in it for almost two weeks - then she was over it and to be honest, I was relieved.  I was not ready to re-inforce it or even take it seriously myself.

Well, now I am over 16 weeks pregnant and we only have a few more months until Baby Mac #2 arrives . . . so Mike and I decided it was a good time to give it a real A+ effort - at least 3-4 days at home really focused on it.   Molly will be 2.5 in just a couple of weeks and she seemed to show all the signs of readiness - except for the fact that she was wet all day long (never had a dry diaper) and was soaked at night even with overnight diapers on . . . so maybe I should say WE were ready to train her.  We decided to start the process Sunday morning. . . 5 days ago - which is why you have not heard from me all week!

If you could have seen me at the grocery store Saturday monrning - you would have thought I was preparing for the biggest snow blizzard KC has ever seen!  A pregnant woman preparing to be HOME (and not allowed to leave the house for food or anything) for 3+ days is a sight to see.  I am not lying - My BIGGEST WORRY WAS RUNNING OUT OF FOOD FOR ME.  I'm not kidding.  It was not step 1.) throwing away all diapers.  No, it was running out of food.  Luckily, that was not an issue, thanks to me buying out the grocery store - almost.

Saturday night Mike and I planned a fun date night out - to enjoy being "out of the house" one more time before I was going to be stuck in the house for a few days . . . of course, as soon as we leave the babysitter, the thought crosses my mind that this sweet teen-age babysitter is going to get to be the one to change the LAST diaper on my child.  Really?!!?  That is what I'm thinking?  I'm sad I will miss the last diaper change on Molly?  Thank God I  have another baby on the way - I'm way too sentimental about these parenting milestones.

Sunday morning, Mike celebrated the special occasion by making us a big pancake breakfast!  After eating, we all went to Molly's room and helped her get all her diapers . . .all her little size 4 diapers, the overnight ones, too as well as the pull ups we never really wore and she threw them away (really in a huge trash bag for Daddy to store downstairs for Baby #2) but we all got the point.  Molly thinks they are in the trash and all gone - so that is what matters!  They are GONE.  No more in my purse, no more in Molly's backpack or room. All the diapers are gone.  Molly was so excited about this and then picked out her big girl panties to wear. She just wore a t-shirt and big girl underwear the last few days at home so she/we would have easy access to the pull-down routine for potty time!

We had lots of accidents that 1st day - or last minute trips of us carrying while she was pee'ing to the toilet.  But, overall it was a really good 1st day.  She was very proud to remind us that she doesn't wear diapers anymore!  Day 2 was even better, with just 2 accidents all day and many successful dry panties/trips to the Potty.  We never asked her if she had to go potty - we let her tell us when she had to go and we reminded her to tell US when she has to potty!!  I would also ask her to feel her panties for me often and tell me if they were dry - so I could shout on more positive feedback!  Yeah - dry panties - Good job, Molly!  She was so proud . . and Night #2 she slept ALL night in her big girl panties and was DRY IN THE MORNING.  This, personaly, shocked me.  I don't know how she did it!  But, she slept from 8 p.m. until 6:30 a.m. without wetting herself.  I think I just stared at her for the 1st 3 hours on Monday getting over the shock that she was DRY.  Then Day #3 came and she had no accidents all day (except woke up wet from naptime) and then slept all night again without wetting herself!

Yesterday was  Day #4 and she stayed dry all night and all day (even at naptime!)  I'm SO proud of her!!!  She did become a little constipated over the last few days - which I guess is common with potty training - so although I was very nervous about her upset tummy - she finally went poopy this morning in the potty and acted like it was no big deal at all - of course. Guess who the 1st person she wanted to call to tell them she doesn't wear diapers anymore??  Rockin' Rob.  Yes - the Kansas City childrens singer who she saw perform 3x last year at the Farmers Market and a birthday party.  She has his CD and we listen to it ALL THE TIME.  Since I didn't have his phone number, we sent him a message on Facebook instead.  :)

This morning Molly went with me to my 16 week OBGYN appt to hear the baby's heartbeat and check my vitals, etc.  Molly couldn't wait to tell the Dr . . . "I don't wear diapers OR pants anymore!"  

Good job, Molly.  Mommy & Daddy are soooo proud of you - and yes, we will wear pants again someday . . .   

Molly Lately . . .

Lately, Molly has insisted on walking 10-20 feet in front of us.  Whether she's climbing the stairs on her own (she yells back at me, "It's not your turn yet, mom!") or just walking to her bedroom to go to bed - she will turn around to ensure that I am not on her heels - that I am at LEAST 10 feet behind her at all times.  I thought this was great at first - she was showing her independence after all - but this past week she practiced this same routine while in public - in places she's NEVER been!  We were leaving a restaurant the other day and she insisted on going first (even though she didn't know HOW to get out!)  She hesistated at every turn as I followed (5 feet) behind so as to give her "space!"  She would look around, then make her best guess - as I corrected her from 5 feet away looking like a crazy person.  I always knew Molly was independent but this new "routine" brings things to a whole new level.  Slow down, little one, slow down . . . you are growing up too fast!

Last night we got a new babysitter.  Lauren is an 8th grader and will go to Bishop Miege high school in the fall - just 3 blocks from our house.  I met her doing volunteer work with Molly a few weeks ago and Molly and I both loved her from the start - Molly sat on her lap within minutes of meeting her.  Last night after mass, we all 3 picked Lauren up at her house so we could meet her family and so they could meet us!  Her family was lovely and although we do have another babysitter we LOVE - Beth - it's good to meet someone else as well!  Molly loved Lauren's dog, Buddy, and was SO excited when Lauren rode back to our house in the back seat with Molly!  They had a great time last night playing together and this morning when Molly awoke, the first thing she said to me was, "Where's my friend, Lauren?"

All of the sudden, about 10-12 days ago, Molly decided she hates all melted cheese.  What?!?!?!  This is my eater!  Molly  has always LOVED food and eats anything and pretty much everything!  Just about everything I make for dinner most nights has melted cheese on it - baked pasta dishes, mexican dishes . . the list goes on!  Poor girl - I hope it's just a phase - life would be pretty rough if you don't care for melted cheese - think of pizza alone!

The last couple of months, Molly tells people that she will get to do many things when she is 8 (years old).  I have no idea where she came up with this number - as 3 - 4 sounds like a big girl to her at just 2 and 1/2.  Mike nor I have ever mentioned things happening at the age of 8 - but somehow she came up with this magical number where everything cool happens.  The other day she was at her friend, Jacob's house and he was drinking chocolate milk (which Molly has never had before) and she told Jacob's mom that when she was 8 she can drink chocolate milk too!  I smiled and explained that she can really have it much sooner than that!  I guess because she loves regular milk so much I just never thought to offer chocolate or strawberry milk for fear that she might never go back to "plain" milk again!  :)   *sigh* At least I will know that when she is 8 we should probably should have the coolest birthday party ever - as that's going to be QUITE THE YEAR, according to Molly!

After Christmas season was over this year - I put the Christmas decor away while she was sleeping.  She woke up and was very sad to see her Snoopy (Charlie Brown) Christmas book gone . . . To be honest, I waited until mid-January - but the time had come to put all our Christmas stuff away, decorations, books, games, etc.  I knew that if I put them away they will be just as special when we get them out again next Christmas season.  She talked for months about that book and other Christmas fun stuff that went away "With Christmas, mom?"  Whenever anything was missing that she couldn't find she would say - "It's with Christmas, mom." - Well, lately that has been replaced with Swiper.  Swiper is a character on Dora (her latest favorite TV show).  He will "swipe" toys or things from Dora and they can't find them.  Now she says that Swiper took things she can't find - like the chapstick Daddy hid after she licked (ate) half of it. She just shrugs and says, "The chapstick is all gone.  Swiper took it."  Thank GOD for Swiper.

Molly's Art Wall . . .

Our fridge is overflowing with Molly's drawing and pictures - and don't get me wrong - I LOVE it - and hope our fridge always looks like that.  But, when I can't possibly fit any more pictures - I end up putting them in a drawer for safe keeping.  I was brainstorming a way to showcase more of her work for a longer period of time.  I finally decided to do this Art Wall downstairs in our play area/family room.  The total project cost me just $32!  I bought the most basic clip boards for $.99 each at Target (the cheaper ones are perfect because they are super light!), then Mike spray-painted them for me - a cool antique bronze color.  I used mounting tape to hold them to the wall since they are so light - yeah for no screw holes in the wall!  Molly is quite proud to get show off her art work both upstairs and downstairs now!  

Friday Lunch!

Molly and I met my old co-workers from Sprint today for lunch!  I miss them dearly and it's always good to see them and catch up on the happenings in Corporate America!  Molly was slightly bored with the marketing jargon - but a bowl of strawberry ice-cream kept her happy!  Happy Friday everyone!

Spring Swim Lessons!

Spring swim lessons are done - check!  This year Molly took Level II Mommy & Me Lessons.  She LOVED it.  She seriously smiled every class - from the minute we walked into the locker room until we left the building each day.  She learned how to kick, blow bubbles, climb in and out of the pool on her own, monkey crawl . . . Every time the teacher asked if the kids were ready for the next activity she would yell, SURE, LET'S GO!, with a huge smile on her face!  I hope she always loves swimming and the water as much as she does now!  Mike and I are super excited to bring her to the pool with us soon - Bring on Summer!

Trip to the Fire Station

We went to the Fire Station this morning with our Mom's Group at church and had lots o' fun!

Lots of Molly's friends were there . . . here she is with Lucy.

Brooks came too - with his Firetruck shirt on!

 The Firemen gave a tour of their truck - the outside and inside and then we all went inside to see where they relax, cook dinner and go to sleep . . . 

Lucy & Molly LOVED the big recliners the Firemen have for TV-watching . . . for some reason the girls thought they were hilarious chairs and could not quit giggling!  It was contagious!

Molly's friends, Henry & Vivienne were there . . . 

 As well as her friends; Catherine, Nicole, & Danielle!

Lucy's mom let the girls help feed Baby Blake (7 months) his bottle!

Everyone else was in line to go inside the Fire Truck - but Molly was in awe that she was REALLY feeding a bottle to a REAL LIVE baby doll!

She was here in this exact position for at least 10 minutes, feeding Blake his bottle while all the other kids were running around.  She then told me, "I'm gonna' be a GOOOOOD big sis-ser, mom!"  Yes, you will, Molly Bear, yes you will!

Molly's 1st Kite!

Grandma & Grandpa Pat brought Molly her 1st kite, with Winnie the Pooh on it!  Mike and I took turns flying it just in the front of our house the other day and Molly LOVED it - although she thought the goal was to catch it - I think.

She won!  She caught it!

Playin' in the Backyard

Sunday Morning Pancakes . . .

Molly wanted to help Daddy make pancakes this morning for everyone!  She was a great little helper - even before the sun was totally up!

Mike taught her how to make blueberry pancakes - she loved "dropping" the bluesies in!

Daddy even made a Mickey Mouse Pancake!

Trying out the 1st one to "make sure they taste OK!"