Potty Training and Big Girl Bed Update...

The first of the year brought big changes in our house and we've been somewhat hunkered down trying to make things a smooth transition.

As I mentioned in a previous post we moved Shelby into a big girl bed around the 2nd of January.

I'm not going to sugar coat things, there were some good nights, but bad ones too.

3-weeks into it, I'm hoping we are smooth sailing but just Saturday night, during our cousin sleepover she rolled and fell out of the bed.

It's pretty low so she was fine but it scared her and I went up there to console her and get her back in bed.

That's the first time that has happened, but more the issue has been her waking up after being asleep for several hours and getting out of bed and crying for us and wanting to get out of her room.

Again, we NEVER had these issues with her in the crib until right before we transitioned her and she was trying to get out.

Our strategy has been to just go in there and put her back.

She cries and goes nuts, but we just close the door and hope she gets back into bed.

Again, some nights have been better than others.

Even last week, we spent 3 and 4 hours putting her back in bed.

Exhausting to say the least, but at least Brad is an awesome Dad and helps out!

 We introduced Shelby to the potty months ago, but it wasn't until she got into the 2-year old class when things got serious.

She started in there right after her birthday and between them doing the routine with them daily, the potty baby my parents got her for Christmas and just encouraging her, we're almost there.

This past week the teacher kept going on and on about how great Shelby was doing with the potty so she said to go for it and send her to school in panties.

So, last Wednesday I went for it and she's done really good!!!

Her first day she had NO accidents at school or home!

Talk about proud!!!

Look how proud SHE is. 

:)

Over the weekend we had good and bad moments but still never #2, that it until last night!

I know we're not over the hump, but I'm really hoping by this weekend we'll be one step closer!

January is generally a slow month anyway with events and such so our goal was to try and get through some of these transitions before Spring and Summer travel season.

I think we're ALMOST THERE.....

Cousin Sleepover

This past Saturday night we had our first cousin sleepover with our niece and nephew on Brad's side!

In an effort to have some sort of activity to do with all the kids we did 'make your own pizzas'.

Brad is the pizza king so this was right up his alley.

The kids got into it too even though the niece and nephew won't eat anything but cheese on their pizzas!

Brad made the famous family dough recipe and gave the kids a lesson in getting it right.

 I love this picture that captures our nephew pounding his pizza dough out!!

 Then onto rolling it out!

 As you know we love to cook and have Shelby involved so we had enough utensils for all the kids and they loved that.

Can you imagine them trying to share?!

NO! ha!

 As I mentioned, our niece and nephew only wanted cheese on theirs but Shelby loves olives and tomatoes so we added some of those to hers.

 It was a lot of fun and a great chance to make memories.

I say this about everything, but maybe we'll do it again and make it an annual event.

 Good times eating their masterpieces!

 After dinner the boys retreated to play video games downstairs and us girls watched the original Annie.

I love that movie..even after all these years....

Everyone in the Northeast is bracing for a blizzard and I secretly wish we were getting a little bit of it just to have a few days off and hunker inside!

No such luck it seems..........

A Shower for Baby Hannahs

This past weekend I was honored to be invited to what was a beautiful shower for a new friend that is slowly turning into what I know will be a life long one.

Mary and Jim are expecting their first bundle of joy next month and haven chosen not to find out the sex.

I met them through our dear friends Keith and LuLu who do CrossFit with Mary.

On Sunday Lu threw them the prettiest baby shower.

 The main color in Baby Hannahs nursery will be yellow to Lu took that and ran with it.

 I love all the details down to the flowers and lemons on the cupcakes.

 She looks so good for only being a few weeks out!!

 Lu thought of everything down to the favors.

Such a cute idea.

 Anna Grace was the youngest in attendance.

Lu wanted me to bring Shelby but I just knew there was no way I could entertain a 2-year old at such an event and be able to enjoy it myself.

 Mary got a lot of great things!

 That's one good thing about not finding out the sex, people have to buy you necessities instead of clothes for the baby.

 Even if it is a life jacket for the boat!

HA!

 6-year old Anna Grace managed to use my camera and get a group picture of all of us.

So impressed!

 Great shower thrown by a great friend for a great friend.

 So excited for Mary and Jim!!

Making Our First Mardi Gras King Cake

I've been talking for years and years and years about doing it, and it finally happened over the weekend.

I made a Mardi Gras King Cake!!!!!!

I generally get lazy and intimidated and just order one, but this year I was told World Market had a 'kit'.

Friday I decided to go and get one in order to give me something fun to do with Shelby.

Girlfriend has learned over the past year what Mardi Gras is, especially with her tree in her room now.

She was excited about a 'King Cake'!!

(yes, i'm the cheese ball that had her dressed for the occasion)

The kit comes with a large plastic Ziploc bag to knead your dough in, but there were also directions on how to do it with a commercial mixer, such as a Kitchen Aid.

That's the route we took.

I can't say enough good things about my Kitchen Aid.

Best investment ever.

The kit tells you to let your dough rise for 30-minutes on a warm oven, but if I make another one before the season is over, I'm going to let mine rise overnight this time to keep it from being as 'doughy', after being baked.

Shelby loves helping and has really gotten good at helping roll dough out.

We rolled it out into a large rectangle as directed and prepared the praline mix that came with the kit and threw a few nuts on there as well.

I think again, if I decide to make another one, I might do a different filling, such as a cream cheese. 

That's always my favorite!!

Once it was all spread out I rolled it up into a jelly roll and baked for 30-minutes.

After it cooled, we used the icing mix to coat the cake then came the colored sugar sprinkles!

The baby is put into the cake after it's complete in a discreet location by poking it underneath.

We brought the cake to a cookout at my cousin's house and her husband got the baby!!

Overall, it was super fun, easy and the cake was tasty and not too sweet like ones you might encounter from New Orleans bakery.

Now, here's the funny part about this kit.

I posted about our baking session on Facebook and forgot that the company who produces it and other Louisiana products was started by one of my college best friend's in-laws!!

I was even in her wedding but totally forgot about it!

HA!!

Talk about a small world!

Happy Mardi Gras!!

Crazy Fun Week

I feel like I have been MIA here on the blog, but it's all for a good excuse.

There's been a LOT of fun happenings around here that I'm going to break out into several posts.

Today, just a brief overview of the past week, or as in the corporate world it's termed, 'high level'.

One of my best friends made a stop in Charlotte last Wednesday.

It's pretty ridiculous, but I had not seen her in 7-years!!

We were sorority sisters in college and lived in Vegas at the same time but in the last 7-years we both met our husbands, got married with 2-months of each other(causing it to be where we didn't travel to each others weddings), and had baby girls within 3-months of each other.

WHEW!

The good news is, her family is relocating from Vegas to Chicago here in the next few months and it will be MUCH easier to visit.

Can't WAIT to get the girls together.

Instead of going out, we hosted her in our home.

Delta Gammas!!

By having dinner in our home, it gave her a chance to meet Buddy and Shelby and we didn't feel rushed to get a 2-year old out of a restaurant!

The visit was so fun, but too short.

Can't wait to do it again in Chicago!

Last week I also had a JamBerry party, and some low-key time at home with Miss Shelby, who happens to be doing pretty good with the potty these days(more on that in another post).

By the time Friday rolled around the weather warmed up and we enjoyed a great weekend out and about.

That included a play date Saturday morning with Shelby's best friend from school.

We took the girls to Discovery Place Huntersville and it is perfect for toddler aged kids.

They have absolutely thought of everything for 'pretending'.

Pretend vets office..

This was my favorite.

Huge area to run and play, water tables and more.

These two ran so hard and fast I thought I had lost Shelby a couple of times in there!

Shelby and MaKayla's favorite was the grocery store.

She also spent a large chunk of time acting as a paramedic.

Later in the afternoon, we went to my cousin's for a cookout on their new Green Egg and got to meet our friend Kelli's new pooch that she brought in tow.

Sunday was another gorgeous day and we went to yet another cookout over at BIL and SIL's house.

Where Shelby got some time in on the swings with her cousin Paige.

I also had a baby shower(that's another post).

Then the weekend was topped off by having Monday off and I was able to hit up a few runs at one of our mountain ski resorts.

Gorgeous day, great conditions and great company with my co-worker.

Cheers to a great week and weekend!

More on the rest of the fun in the next few days.

Hope you had a great week too!!