it's about that time.

y'all just prepare yourselves.

I feel like I was JUST writing posts on Cal potty training, and I believe in one of them I wrote "in no time I will be training Andy...!" Well.  Guess what.

Home boy is ready.  

His mother? Not so much:

I mean, I am ready to be done with diapers and man-sized dodo in diapers, of course.  But I am not ready for the rest of it... the accidents in public, the meltdowns that follow when he doesn't want to stop playing to go pee, the battle of the pooping on the potty, the sitting and waiting...and waiting...and WAITING. The crying:

A while ago he started expressing some interest in the potty.  He would announce when he went-- totally normal stuff.  He had never peed on command or gone in a potty for that matter.  He had pooped on the potty a few times (we gave him a suppository to help with a stop up and he ran to the potty to go...tmi? sorry.  go read another blog).

This week, he has been more into the whole *potty* thing.  He was telling his teachers every time he went and then got so bold as to remove his diaper himself once he soiled it-- thankfully just with pee. 
At soccer on Tuesday night, I was telling a few other moms that I thought potty training was right around the corner for us and out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Andy, pants down around his ankles with his diaper waving in the air.  He said he peepeed and didn't want his diaper on any more.  

We came home diaper-less and he immediately peed on the floor.  Eddie and I had a brief team meeting and decided to do this.  It is, after all, a joint effort and both of us had to be on board.  That being said, I had a party Tuesday night and left just after feeding the boys dinner (hehe- sneaky, right?).  I wasn't at the party for 4 minutes when my phone rang Eddie's ring tone.  I stepped out to answer it and Andy was on the phone "I peepeed in the potty, mommy!" And so it began. 

He went to school Wednesday where his teachers told me he told them that he had to go, but didn't make it to the potty (he had a diaper on).  We went out for family night at the club last night and he told us over and over (and over) again when he was going.  A friend of mine observed this and said "you are crazy- that boy is ready to train! Why is he in a diaper?!"

And so, after another team meeting, Andy was put into big boy underwear today when he woke up.  He thought these were amazing.  They had Mickey Mouse on them and he was pumped. 

I decided to go about my normal day and I would just pack a bag of extra clothes to take with me wherever we went. 

He peed on the potty four times before 7:45 this morning.  Every time he did it, we would cheer and he loved us cheering.  I was SO excited! This was the confirmation I needed that he was ready (as if both grandmothers and teachers telling me wasn't enough).

We went to the gym and I took him to the potty as soon as we walked in.  He didn't go. 
I worked out for 20 minutes and then came to the childcare room to see if he needed to go, he said yes, so I put him on the potty and he didn't go. 
After I finished my workout, I went to the room and sat him on the potty again-- still nothing. 

Crazily/bravely, I took the boys to Target.  I walked directly to the bathroom (I might start a chart to see how many bathrooms we hit a week), and he was kicking and screaming the whole way.  He did NOT want to go potty there.  I told him he didn't have to try, but that me and Cal really had to go.  We both went and then without asking, I dropped his pants and hoisted him on the potty.  He kept saying no no no no, so I said under my breath "I will get you a cookie if you peepee." His little ears perked up and he said, "a cookie??" Then proceeded to pee like a race horse on the potty. 

I was so proud! He got himself a cookie and we finished up our shopping list!

After target, we were supposed to meet a kid from Cal's class at chick fil a to eat lunch and play.  I was nervous about taking andy, because I feel like no kid would ever stop playing to go to the bathroom.  We walked in and went straight to the bathroom (where is that chart of mine??) where he peed again and then ate lunch.  Both boys were done with lunch quickly and went into the play area.  Our table was right next to the door so I could watch them.  Andy came running over to the window and banged on the glass and said "I PEEPEED!!!!!!" while pointing to his crotch.  I told Cal to stay put and hoisted Andy under my arm and hauled rear to the parking lot to change him.  I explained that it was okay he had an accident, but next time we would try harder to go into the bathroom.  He agreed (like he knew what I was saying).  I feel like that accident was totally my fault, though.  If we had just gone home, he probably would have gone on the potty.... so I take blame for that one. 

We left after a few more minutes (and Cal's friend not being able to make it) and went home.  I got ready to put Andy down for a nap with a diaper on and he shouted out "I need peepee!" I took him to the potty and he peed like crazy! That's got to be something, right?

We have soccer practice this afternoon and we were going to go to dinner afterward.  Pretty ambitious for our first day of training... we may be setting ourselves up for failure.  But maybe he will surprise us...?

Two things I do know...

you've got to wash your hands....

and stick together...

wish me luck....and wine!!!

 

Cal is FORE!

We were super excited for Cal's birthday party this weekend!

It was supposed to be outside, in my parent's side yard, but, as luck would have it, the weather wasn't looking too promising.  We ended up making the call to move the party to inside the country club, and it is a good thing we did since it poured down rain during the party!

We invited quite a few people, since we would have the entire yard to run around and play, and when we moved all those people inside, the room got small QUICKLY! All in all, I was really happy with how it all turned out, and most importantly, Cal had a blast.  Can't ask for much more than that!!!

Right around Cal's 3rd birthday (ha!) I got the idea that I should do something with FORE and golf for his fourth birthday.  Cal loves golf (as does his daddy!) and I love a good play on words- hahahaha! The party kind of took off from there.  I saw a party where they gave each kid a set of clubs and thought it was the most perfect favor...but then I couldn't find the clubs anywhere and once I did, they were WAY more than I anticipated paying! After doing some mega research, I found them at Wal-Mart, marked down for end of the season... phew!

Here are some pictures...

I found an adorable shop on etsy to make the invites...

Since we had to move to plan B, the club let us use this little putt putt set they have.  I got the grass from Home Depot and had a little putting section set up. 

For centerpieces, I put golf balls into vases and tied a ribbon around them.  The same person who made the invites also made the food tents and the favor tags.  I gave all the food "golf" names ("club" sandwiches, orange "slice", potato "wedge", "Mulligan" Mix,  "chip shot," caddy crackers, etc etc...).

 
A friend of mine on FB, used to run a small business of making and selling pastries, etc.  She stopped doing it a while ago, but just does it for fun now.  Her son was in a golf camp this summer and she posted pictures of the cupcakes she made for the camp.  They were adorable so I asked her if she could make from for our party, and she was happy to!

I hung little white balls from the chandeliers to resemble golf balls (that might be a stretch.... but hey...we were working with plan B)

The party was a 4:00 and we arrived at 3:50, with the hopes of taking a few family pictures before everyone arrived.  Well, at 3:54, people were at the door walking in! So, we didn't get any family shots, but that's okay!

Cal was so excited to see all of his friends arriving!

The putt putt on the side was a safe place for the kids not excited about the bounce house-- which was like a free for all wild house.  The kids in there were WILD and Cal was right in the middle of it all!

A view of the room before it got too crazy... it really isn't the biggest room, but it worked out perfectly for us. 

I tried to get a pic in the bounce house, but it was not easy!

These kids were so so SO sweaty! Cal's hair was soaked! The AC in the club couldn't keep up with us! We ended up opening all the doors to get some air flowing and that helped, but these kids were just playing so hard, they were all sweaty.

Sweet Ava and Abigail showed up too-- they were taking it all in...

I was trying to keep the flow of the party going, so I pulled the plug on the bounce houses (I also didn't want kids to eat and then get back in to jump....) and we sang to Cal.  He was grinning ear to ear... makes me so happy.  

After doing cupcakes, I gathered all the kids together to do a pinata.  Cal LOVES a pinata-- I mean, LOVES one.  This was a must have at the party.  I looked for a golf ball pinata, but couldn't find one so we used a star.  And I had the kids hit it with a golf club (I mean, obviously!).  They did such a good job sitting and waiting to be called on to take their turn.  

When the pinata (finally) broke, it was like a feeding frenzy on the floor! The kids dove on the candy and scooped it all up in their little hands.  

 After the pinata, we brought out the favors, just to have them ready in case people were starting to leave-- again, just keeping the flow going!

 I thought these turned out so cute.  I wrote each kid's name on the caddy with a favor tag that said "thanks for swinging by my party!" These were a big hit with the kids!

 
I was able to grab one picture with my momma-- isn't she cute?!

And then I got a few more pics of Cal and his best buds...
Cal and Ava-- she didn't mind his sweaty mess!

Cal and Brad-- they were both sweaty messes! But look at those smiles! I love these boys!

And Cal and his cousin, Jackson!

 

a "SUPER" birthday

My sweet little CalBoy turned FOUR yesterday. Honestly, I was a bit torn up about it! Wasn't I *just* pregnant with him? Weren't we *just* celebrating his first birthday? I could go on and on. 

As I have mentioned before, birthdays are a big deal in my family.  My mom did birthdays right for us growing up, and always made us feel so special.  My goal is to try my hardest to make my boys feel that special on their birthdays. 

On Sunday night, I decorated the dining room and wrapped his presents.  His birthday party is a golf theme (he is turning "FORE"...get it???), but he is so into super heroes so I decorated in a super hero theme. 

 Hard to tell in either pic, but the picture on the window above is the one of him in the driveway (see here for better shot) and in the below pic, I used his super heroes as decorations around all of the presents.  He thought that was hilarious to come down and see those guys there...

The morning of his birthday, I was so excited, you would have thought I was the one turning four.  I set my alarm for 6 so I could get up and get showered and dressed before he woke up.  I woke up before my alarm, went downstairs to turn on lights and then took a fast shower.  I was finishing getting ready when Cal called out.  I put one present in his room to wake up to-- my friend Jill gave me that idea!-- but he hadn't seen it yet.  He still will not get out of bed until we tell him it's okay to get up.   My little rule follower!

So, I went in and turned on the light and said "do you know what day it is today??" He said in the cutest groggy voice ever: "umm, prolly it's Thursday...?" So I told him to look around the room for any clues of what day it might be (the present was sitting on the dresser).  He looked around his room and said, "is it dinosaur day?" (he has dino sheets).  THEN, he spotted his present and the birthday boy FLEW out of bed to grab it! He could not believe the batman wrapping paper! He carried the present down to our room where Eddie was still in bed.  He sat next to the bed and opened his first present.  

Then, just the three of us went down to open the rest of his presents.  Andy was sleeping and we thought it would be better if Andy wasn't screaming and grabbing every present declaring "MINE!" Just for a few minutes...

Cal opened the above glove that makes the webbing noise every time you flick your wrist.  He put it on immediately and did not want to take it off! He asked, in all seriousness, if that meant it could climb walls now.  I just stared at him, not fully understanding what he meant, and then he ran over  to the front door and attempted to climb it... ha!

If you can't tell from the next pic, spiderman is a big hit in our house...

He also got a super man utility belt and some other spiderman paraphernalia that he loves...

Then, I ran to Dunkin Donuts to get the birthday boy a chocolate frosted donut with sprinkles... we sang happy birthday to the sweet guy...

Andy was up by this point and in awe of all of Cal's new toys!

Monday, Cal had school, so after celebrating at home, we loaded the car to take him to school.  He was just being SO sweet the whole morning, I hated to take him to school, but I knew he would have so much fun.  

Unfortunately, there are 6 kids in his class with September birthdays and the teacher did not want to do 6 mini parties, so they are going to do one party on Friday for all 6 kids.  Cal told me when he went to school that he was excited to get to wear the birthday crown and have the class sing to him.  Well, the teacher decided not to do that-- she is going to hold off until Friday.  Honestly, I am slightly bitter.  It would have been less than 60 seconds of her day to have the class sing to him, but whatever.  Stepping off of my soap box now!

Walking to the car after school, Cal said "mommy, I really wanted to wear the crown and I didn't get to today." I felt bad for the kid-- he should feel special on his birthday! So, we went to Chick Fil A and got a milk shake-- that should make any kid feel special, right??

After school, Cal played with one of his new toys- the Hungry Hungry Hippos game! He loves this game and thinks is it is so much fun...

My mom and dad came over last night for dinner and to give Cal their presents from them.  I didn't take any pictures, but we had a great time celebrating! Cal sat at the head of the table with a batman mask and a crown on (haha--I told my mom about Cal's day at school so she got him a crown). 

We ate dinner, sang happy birthday over cupcakes and then played out in the driveway until the bugs drove us in.  My mom gave the boys matching super hero jammies and they are to die for cute:

Cal went to bed smiling last night and I feel sure he had a great day! He has his party on Saturday so I will do another post about that part of the celebration!

I hope this little boy knows how much we love him.