I Won!

Isn't winning great? And a little addicting?

I have become smitten with the boys line at Kelly's Kids-cute, simple, jon jons and rompers in great fabrics like seersucker for the summer. Very classic, and VERY expensive at $48/each. I am not a big E-Bayer (in fact, I had only bid on one thing before), but I discovered the beautiful smocked clothes and Kelly's Kid's rompers online for a third of the regular price or less, and I could not resist. I have won all my auctions thanks to my sister's single bidding tip-you wait until literally (and this is hard to do sometimes) the last 15 seconds of the auction. Swoop in and scoop up the item before the other bidders realize they have more competition.

Yesterday I beat out THIRTEEN bidders with this tip and scored a like new romper for $15 that I plan to have monogrammed. Two others I won have already arrived and are perfect, one still with tags on it.

Babies

A few weeks ago a neighbor/friend was telling me about Babies, a short movie/documentary that came out a few years ago. Remember seeing trailers for it ? (http://focusfeatures.com/babies). I thought it looked interesting, so I headed over to our library and rented it.

Too good for words. Four babies from four very different regions around the globe are followed from birth to their first birthday. When you look at the stark contrast between the American baby and the African baby, the STUFF that fills our homes seems ridiculous.

Like all this stuff:

and this stuff.

I LOVE my house. It is big, beautiful, and warm, and we are surrounded by friends.

But I complain about needing more space (for all our stuff),

wanting newer furniture,

coveting everything in the Pottery Barn store (have you seen the new vintage Hawaiian throw pillows or the seashell duvet cover?).

Several people have asked me about PINTEREST, and you'll notice I haven't blogged about it.

You see, I am afraid to join. I am fighting the urge and don't know how much longer I can hold out.

Because I know I will love it, become addicted to surfing it, and want everything.

I don't want to want more.

I really don't.

I should be more than satisfied with my life. God has provided for my family, and then some.

But I am not always content. I wish I could sew, embroider, smock, design, do carpentry, knit, needlepoint, draw, paint... Then I could have all those fantastic DIY projects I have found online.

Thank goodness I have a husband who loves me despite my inability to make my kids' Halloween costumes or needlepoint our Christmas stockings.

So what I am really trying to say is,

Rent the movie.

Good Excuses

I know, I know. My posts have been few and far between. But for good reasons. Lots of good, warm, sun-filled, reasons. I haven't blogged, because we have been living outside (practically). My house is in need of a cleaning, dishes piled up, laundry remains unfolded, all because we have taken this beautiful gift from God and run with it. Anyone from Pittsburgh knows that almost two weeks of 70 degree weather is unheard of - even record setting. So...

Little ones traded in carpet for grass.

A water table was fashioned from a lonely red bucket and a cup.

The swings were abused with hours of "higher, Mom, higher!"

Long lost friends were found again-Hello, sun.

Plain rocks became works of art.

Whew, we are a tired group over here and sleeping good. We woke up to rain this morning, but it was almost a welcome excuse to have a lazy morning in our pajamas. I sacrificed P's naps this past week so he and I could get outside without Tommy holding us back in our activities, but boy has he been cranky by bedtime. So glad my little big guy is still a good napper.

And as for Tommy...He has mastered the art of opening the pocket doors, so I have put up more roadblocks. Our house is looking like a mouse maze these days. Always on the move, always wiggling, always into something. Also, it turns out he is a biter. He got me good on the shoulder yesterday. I thought he was just going in for a good hug cuddle when he hit. Then he breaks my heart with his squinted up face and tears after I yell at him and put him on the floor. I am getting better at reading the warning signs, and at least he hasn't gotten Patrick yet.

YET.

My First Estate Sale

I went to my first estate sale this morning just up the street from my house. Not much to see, but this purse caught my eye. I picked it up, put it down, picked it up etc. It was $20

The embroidery and beading detail are perfect. Not a loose bead. I love, love the rhinestone row along the top. Since I love purses (especially clutches), I decided to splurge.

Tom hates it. He thinks an 80-year-old spinster should own it.

Once home, I googled the brand and found several near-identical matches to my purse up for auction, this one below being the closest. It is listed at $325! Most of the others ranged from $300 to $400, and I actually think the design is more detailed on mine than the one below. It was made in the 1930's/1940's. Not bad for my first estate buy. I now officially own a French designer purse. Now I need the perfect outfit to go with it for a dressy evening out...

I Spoke too Soon

(Sigh.) I think we went through 7 pairs of underwear today. Not full accidents, but lots of little leaks all day long. I hope this doesn't become the norm after he has been doing so well. At least he has a bathroom with a view. Mr. Busybody has to always know what is going on.

Bargains

I stopped at Kohl's the other day and stumbled across this laundry sign by pure accident after I had spent a whole evening looking for one just like it online. Kohl's clearance price: $7.50-sold. With my sign tucked under my arm and the kids in tow, I headed past the furniture section and spotted these guys:

Hmmm, I thought. These would be perfect in this little corner:

So home they came after I discovered they too were on clearance. Are you sharing my bargain high? Total for the shelf and bench: $120. I still have big visions for our little basement. Tom is anxious to get back to work down there tomorrow after a few weeks of delays.

Bursting at the Seams

Recently, we had two new families move into our neighborhood, one across the street, and one directly next to our house. Both could not be nicer, and the numbers of children in our development keep multiplying. With the 60-70 degree weather this week, we moms mingled, chatted, sunned and talked new babies and soon-to-arrive babies. The other day I walked around our street and stopped at three houses to chat along the way. Passed another two neighbors I knew walking with their families. I think we live in a storybook neighborhood surrounded by too many friends to count on your fingers and toes.

Zoo Colors

Last week I took Patrick to his second zoo class on animal colors and he had a chance to pet an albino corn snake and a chinchilla that I wanted to take home in my purse. The kid doesn't have a problem touching anything, that is for sure.

Isn't this girl the sweetest thing?

Baba's Birthday

Our beloved Baba had a birthday this week and what better way to celebrate than with kisses and cake? This family is EXTREMELY blessed to have such supportive families who live so close by and the boys take full advantage (as do I).
Happy Birthday, Baba!

Potty News

Pleased to report Patrick is still an undie-wearing kiddo. We have only had a handful of accidents: one at the mall, and three at home. What has surprised me most about the whole experience is that most mornings when he wakes up and we head straight for the potty, his diaper is completely dry. He still isn't thrilled to do #2, but then he also does it some days without prompting. I have been taking his little potty to the park when we go and letting him enjoy some public urination between the cars, and on store trips I throw his big potty seat ring in my backpack. A bit of a pain to keep hauling these big pieces around. Today, relief has arrived in the mail-the Kalencom Pottette Plus Portable Potty Seat. Can't wait to put this thing to the test. It is quite smaller than the potty seat ring we have, but also converts to a small floor potty if a toilet isn't available.

I have convinced P that he can run so much faster without a diaper and I think that is keeping him going. Looking forward to the pool this summer with only one in swim diapers.

Wiped Out

The dreaded GI bug that has been sweeping all of the schools struck Friday-luckily it was me, and not the kids who got hit. Our weekend plans have gone out the door, including finishing the carpet squares and Tom getting his work done. More blogging when I recover...

Happy Dance

We are all doing the happy dance at our house. Underwear all day and ZERO accidents. Even, yes, yes, the dreaded #2 was conquered. Patrick sat on the potty for TWO hours and refused to get off until the deed was done. I did sacrifice his nap because I didn't want to break the streak and put a diaper on.

We venture out tomorrow to the park, but I bringing the potty with me.

A Rare Snow

Lindsay Lohan has seen more sobriety over the past few weeks than we have snow. What a crazy winter. Today, we woke up to a few inches of fluff and took advantage of it before the 61 degree weather moves in on Wednesday.

Just hanging out in my house, enjoying our new finished basement ceiling. That's right, ceiling-CHECK. And who is this talented, yet decidedly handsome, man installing the first of the carpet squares?
Tom got about a third of the squares down before we ran out of adhesive. Back to Lowes the kid's I went today and we are most certainly stocked in the glue department now. Surprised that the cheap squares look better than I had expected. The downside of our renewed push has been that my treadmill is slightly misplaced and there is a glue smell that I have to tolerate when I finally get my butt down there for a late run tonight.

After the squares are done, the fire rated door that will replace the brown door to the far right of the photo is the last big piece of the project. So close...

Big Things

These adorable firetruck underwear belong to none other than my own big little boy.

You see, I had an epiphany today regarding the whole potty training ordeal. It is as simple as this: I have been encouraging, bribing, and sweet talking Patrick into ditching the diapers and using the potty, to no avail. But when he turned a year old and it was time to get rid of the pacifier, I didn't consult him. I didn't encourage him to give it to me, I didn't bribe it away from him. I just took it, because that is when my doctor said to take it. So why was I not doing the same with diapers?

I didn't consult him. Today, I took off his diaper and didn't put a new one on. I put on big boy undies instead. 30 minutes later he had an accident and I didn't scold, or yell. I just put on a new pair and told him you can't pee in underwear. 30 minutes later he told me he had to use the potty, and we did. An hour later, he used the potty again. Even if today is a fluke, it is a step in the right direction. He is on his potty now watching Caillou.

So proud of you, P.

#2 will be another story. I will be shocked if he does that in the toilet so easily.

(9PM update. Be careful what one wishes for. FIVE pees in the potty in a 2 hour period. I guess we buckle our seatbelts tomorrow and get this ride started. I have a clear calendar tomorrow that is now filled with tinkling.)

Growing

Gotta tell you boys, you are way more fun together than I had imagined. I love when you make each other laugh at the drop of a hat.

Patrick, when we had your feet measured at the store the other day, I hugged you when the lady said your feet had grown a whole size. You looked sad. "What's wrong, aren't you happy you grew?"

"If I grow Baba can't pick me up anymore."

Ahhhh.

The next shoes we buy will be a 7.5

And Tommy, you now have 5 teeth (2 upper, 3 bottom). You are a bit more of a biter than your brother was, but I have my eyes on you. You started walking this week with me holding just one of your hands instead of both (although you would rather crawl). Cruising on all the furniture of course.

It's Good to Be Organized

No matter how hard I try, I just cannot grasp "tidy". I detest clutter, but there is a constant stream of papers, mail, receipts, coupons, etc. all over my kitchen counter at any given moment.
I can never find my keys.
It was love at first sight when I came across this organization system at Pottery Barn:
...and this became the vision for our most cluttered space (this picture was on a day I cleaned up)-
But because our budget is not unlimited, this is what we actually ended up with:

And I love it!

Got it on sale (of course), and my always-organized husband hung it for me this morning.

Hello, keys.

No Place But Up

Time to get the baby gates (the ones we never got around to installing for P) up. Tommy can climb the whole way up and he doesn't think he needs a chaperon-twice he was halfway up before I even realized he had left the family room.

Did I mention I lost him last week? I was making lunch and when I didn't hear the sounds of baby play, I peeked around the corner and the pocket door was ajar (ought oh). I immediately looked on the steps, but no Tommy. Bathroom, nope. Scanned the family room again, no sign of him. Panic setting in. I did the whole downstairs loop before winding up back in the family room where I found him triumphantly standing behind the overstuffed armchair with a big grin on his face. He had managed to craw over the blockade I had set up and had been just out of sight the entire time. Gave me a heart attack.
Okay, so I didn't really lose him.

Penguin Parade

Our zoo has been parading the penguins on the walkway outside the aquarium for the past few weeks, so we went to check it out. Apparently in 35 degree temps, you still need to show up 30 minutes prior to the start time just to get a good spot on the parade route, which isn't that long. It was a little disappointing when only 6 penguins marched by instead of the gaggle shown on the zoo's website video. Still, Patrick seemed to like see them waddling around outside.

Here is a little video from the parade:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vppKIl_8kE