Sometimes You Have to Lie

So, potty training is really the biggest milestone that I have been dreading in a major way! I have no clue what I'm doing! The fact that I've gotten so much mixed information from books, magazines, and other parents doesn't help! Mallory has hit most milestones early so I thought that potty training would be the same. However, we have been fighting this battle for a long time now! It would usually end with a puddle on the floor and a crying meltdown begging for a diaper! (Begging by Mallory, not me!) I tried little gifts every time she would go, candy for going, blah blah blah. Then I thought maybe she just wasn't ready and began listening to everyone who was making it sound like one day she will just come to me and tell me she was done with diapers. Yeah right!
So, Monday I told a little white lie, that there weren't anymore diapers that would fit her. It's close to the truth since she was wearing size 6 and rapidly growing out of them. After a bit of a struggle, once we got the underwear on her it's been great! Two accidents the first day, one accident the second day and dry overnight, no accidents the third day and dry overnight! The kid even goes in and poops alone which she wouldn't even do in her diaper! I'm wondering why I didn't lie sooner!? I'm also wondering how to explain this later in her life should it ever come up!

Halloween!

We had quite an ardeal trying to get Mallory to decide on a costume this year. I think that in the beginning she thought that she had to be the same thing she was last year, a bumble bee. Then she changed to a butterfly princess, then a dinosaur, then a bee again! Exhausting! So we finally ended on a purple dinosaur and no, not Barney! Then there's good old Michael, who is pretty clueless and got to be whatever I chose. I got him a very cute puppy outfit with big floppy ears! About an hour before we were going to leave I tried the costume on Mallory and it fit. Great, try on Michael's, not so good! Someone had put a 6-12 month costume in an 18-24 month package! And boy was he mad that I couldn't get that thing on him! So we run to Walmart where I proceed to buy him the wrong sized costume again! I'm losing my mind! With 8 people in front of me, 1 person working customer service, and Brian and the kids in the car I gave up! I retreated to the car irate and nearly in tears! Brian took us all home and went back to get him a right sized costume and this is what we ended up with!

We got both of them dressed and ready to go and headed to the neighbor's house. They were a hit! Until Michael went running down the driveway as I tried to get them into the car and wiped out in the street scraping up his chin and bloodying his finger! He spent the rest of the night in a stroller! Better luck next year I guess!

We have a Walker!!

Taaa Daa! Finally after nearly 16 months on the planet Michael has decided to join the rest of us on two legs! He has yet to learn to watch where he's going so as not to trip over anything and everything on the floor, but maybe that's the boy in him. Well, actually Mallory was the same way, over and through it, not around it. Either way I couldn't be more proud and excited! Now I just have to get the boy to wear shoes!

Go Tincaps!!

This is the inaugural season for the new Parkview Stadium downtown and we went to a game last week with Brian's office. I have to tell you that it is awesome! I really didn't feel like I was in downtown Fort Wayne. We were part of the first sold out crowd with over 8,500 people there and Mallory had a great time! Not only did she get to indulge in a soft pretzel, popcorn, root beer, and ice cream for dinner, she played in the kids zone before the game. Of course she had to climb the rock wall, it was only 20 feet tall or so. She also tried her hand at hitting the ball which didn't go very well but she did love dancing between innings and Jake the Diamond Dog who picked up the Tincap's bats and caught frisbees. Somehow by the end of the game though she wasn't even sitting with us anymore. I kept asking her to come back to her seat but I got the hand and was told, "I'm talking to this lady!"

There was an awesome fireworks display after the game. Somehow she managed to stay awake even for the car ride home, maybe it was all the sugar! So if you're ever in town and have a chance to see a game it really was great! I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical after attending a Fort Wayne Wizards game, but they did a really nice job with the stadium and our team is going to the playoffs!

The Zoo

A couple of weeks ago, I'm a little slow at posting, we spent a day a the zoo with my cousin Nikki and her boys, Cade and Quinn. We had a great riding rides and sharing in melt downs.

Mallory and Quinn loved the goats! (You should click over to the Ferguson Four blog to see more of Mallory with them) And Michael loved the Komodo Dragon statue. Cade was a great sport as Mallory shouted, "Hey Cade, hold my had" all day long!

We had lots of fun and hopefully we can get down to the Indy zoo to share more of the same!

Catch up

I have a lot of catching up to do! We're having a great summer so far. Mallory is becoming an excellent biker! She even rides her bike when we go on walks around the neighborhood now. Michael is still refusing to walk on his own. He will if he's holding something but otherwise forget it! I've even tried bribing him with goldfish crackers, but it's not working!
The kids spent the week before July 4th with my mom and aunt. They had a great time visiting the zoo, Chuckie Cheese, and area playgrouds. I was glad to get a break for a while but after about 4 days the house was creepily quiet and lonely, and I was feeling completely useless! Brian and I spent the 4th with Scott and Wendy at the lake. It was a ton of fun despite the weather! We spent an afternoon cruising Kendallville, not too exciting, but I did kick Brian's butt at putt putt golf!
Last weekend Wendy, Scott, Jack, Bob, Sabrina, and Madison came the Fort and we went to the zoo and then cooked out at our house. We all had a great time and Mallory was ready to go home with Bob and Sabrina! Hopefully we can do it again soon!

Too Good To Be True

I was out with Mallory enjoying the sunshine while Michael and Dayna were sleeping. AAHH the peace watching how blowing bubbles can be so entertaining. Then I hear, "Mommy, come pick this dog poop up!" It's like a slap in the face from reality! Welcome back!