2 1/2 Years Old!

 "Daddy,  sit on my lap"

 I think this way works better.

 Getting to hold Baby Brooks

 Brooks looks like he is as big as Natasha

 Enjoying a cupcake at Jack's Birthday Party

 First day of Mommy and Me Preschool

 At the craft table with Ms. Carol

 Stamping apples

 The finished product

 Fun with play-doh

 Snack time

 Reading time

 Playground time

 

Monday was Natasha's half birthday and now in less than six months she will be 3 years old!  Not only is she growing up fast, but my pregnancy is flying by too.  Natasha and I started our Mommy and Me Preschool on Tuesday.  We only go once a week for about three hours.  But we are glad to be back in school.  Natasha had a great first day... can't say the same for some of the other kids though (yikes).  The structure is the same as our toddler time class from last year.  Come in and do interactive play, help clean-up all the toys and craft stations, sit down for circle time, snack time, one on one reading time, playground time and closing circle time.  It is a great program and a good stepping stone for when Natasha goes to preschool next year (by herself).  

So, what else is new with our 2 1/2 year old?  She is very much into imaginative play.  Natasha loves to play in her play kitchen fixing us breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert.  She does so well playing independently as well.  Pushing her dollies around in the stroller or shopping cart, doing puzzles, playing in the yard and dressing up.  But she still loves to meet her friends at the park for play dates or bounce in the bounce house with her bff, Kiki.  Natasha loves to spend time with Grandma, as well as Mimi and Papa.  And she loves to help daddy in the yard.  Natasha is also always on the go and not much of a home-body.  Every morning when she comes into our room she asks "where are we going today?"  And I better have an answer for her because staying at home is not an option unless Grandma is coming over or we are having one of our tailgate parties.  She is such a social butterfly who likes a good party.  But who doesn't like a good party.  Natasha brings us smiles and laughs everyday and we love her so much!     

Right on Track

Nikolaus has chubby cheeks like his big sister!

27 weeks 5 days

Today was our growth ultrasound of Nikolaus to see how he is growing and we are happy to report that he is doing just fine.  He is a little above average in size (59th percentile).  So, even with his marginal umbilical cord insertion, he seems to be getting all the right nutrients (and enough) to keep growing.  His weight is estimated at 2 lbs. 9 oz.  His head measured at 30 weeks, while the rest of his body measured at 28 weeks.  I think he will have a big noggin like Natasha.  The ultrasound tech tried to get a better 3D image of him, but he was snuggled right up against the placenta and wouldn't budge... must make a great pillow.  Nikolaus is also head down as of right now, which I hope he stays that way.  And he is pretty flexible... at one point he had his foot right next to his head.  My doctor was not in today, so after she reviews the ultrasound, we will find out if we need to have another one.  The nurse practitioner said if we did need another one, it probably won't be until week 36.  I will be 28 weeks on Sunday and feeling pretty good.  I also measured right on track for being 28 weeks pregnant and I passed my glucose test.  I think the nesting thing is starting to kick in because everyday I am working on Natasha's big girl room, so Nikolaus can have the nursery.  It is definitely a project since the extra bedroom has been a guest bedroom/storage space for so many years.  I will post pictures once everything is done!  Thanks for checking in on our sweet Nikolaus.  

The Adventures of Potty Training

 Big girl undies and cowboy boots... let's get this "potty" started!

 I probably should have taken this as a cue... 

she pooped in her undies about 5 minutes after 

this photo was taken

It has been three weeks since the potty training adventure began and our not-so-little girl is doing great so far... well, pee pee-wise.  Going number 2 on the potty has been more of a challenge.  But, I have read that that is phase 2 of potty training.  For now phase 1 has been successful (she does still wear a diaper for nap time and bedtime though).  It has been over a week since her last pee pee accident and let me tell you as a pregnant woman, I wish I had her bladder.  This kid can hold it for hours and hours.  I have learned that potty training is just really nagging your kid every half hour or hour to use the potty.  I wasn't really sure when we would embark on this adventure, but one week I wasn't feeling great (another head cold), so I didn't have any big outings planned.  Why not try now?  So, Monday morning we took off the diaper and tried on the new big girl undies.  I tried to pump her full of liquids (juice boxes, milk, water) like many of those 3-day Potty Training books recommend, but if she is not thirsty, she won't drink.  Before noon, she had two accidents.  Of course, I started to feel discouraged and thinking maybe she wasn't ready... typical mom response.  Then after her nap (woke up with a dry diaper), she actually told me she had to go pee pee.  We raced to the potty and sure enough, she went!  Ah, success!  Here is where the special treats come in.  I used chocolate chips at first, but Natasha didn't think 3 were special enough and threw a fit (the next day I bought some Mike 'n Ikes... something she has probably only had once before).  Day two was even better... no accidents!  Well, until she had to poop and she pooped outside in the yard in her undies.  The conversation I posted in the previous post (Tasha Tells It All) is from this day.  She did however hold her urine for 9 hours on day two, which is crazy.  But, since then she is more regular now (about every 3 to 4 hours... like I said, I wish I had her bladder).  Besides the number 2 issue, the only other thing we are working on is using the public restrooms.  Natasha is not a big fan of the loud toilets.  I don't blame her, most bathrooms echo and it can be loud when you flush.  She hasn't gone yet in a public bathroom, unless it is a regular toilet like the one we have at home.  I have even promised to not flush it until she is out of the bathroom, but she won't do it.  It will happen in time, just like pooping on the potty.  We are very proud of our little girl and still get super excited when she goes pee pee on the potty... and now she sometimes asks for a special treat and sometimes not!