We are still Alive

I know, I know! I am WAY overdue for a post. Life has been a little crazy here and i have fallen way behind, it happens to the best of us, right? Well, in a nut shell, we are still alive. Things are going good. Macade is now 5 and in school and loving it. He is still smart as ever and such a fun kid to be around. Braxton is almost 3 and funny, funny. He is so active we sometimes wonder where this kid came from. He keeps me on my toes. Hallie is just so precious. Almost 5 months now she is talking, rolling, laughing and just such a joy. I have so much fun dressing her up. I love having my girl. Cory has recieved a promotion and has been working his tail of training for it. Down side: because of the training, he has been out of town every week since May. Thats right, almost 8 months of being gone Monday through Friday every week. But we are proud of him and know that soon it will be over leading to a big move for us. Way excited. As for me, just keeping up around the house and with the kids. With Cory gone i have my hands full with these three little kids. it has been a real test to have a newborn and two toddlers all by myself but i have grown in ways i did not think possible. I am a single married woman and a new woman because of it!! Here are some pics so you don't forget what we all look like. Beware: picture overload!

She's Here!!!!

On July 21, 2011 at 6:17 pm our little angel finally came. Hallie Diane was born at 7 lbs 14 oz and 20.5 inches long, our smallest baby yet. Everything went very smoothly. Only a 6 hour labor (my shortest yet) and only 10 minutes of pushing. She is an absolute doll and such a good baby. She sleeps 4 hours at night, eats then sleeps another 4 hours starting our day at 6am. She takes great naps, for the most part and her schedule has leveled out so much that getting things done is becoming more and more easy. The boys absolutely love her and always want to hold her and love on her. We are so blessed to have her in our lives! We love you Hallie!

First Boating of the Season!!!

Finally, we had a warm enough day for a day of boating. Cory and the boys have been waiting for this day and it arrived. So on Saturday we headed off to Lake Samamish and soaked in some sun, soaked in some water, and loved every minute of it.

Tubing with Dad

Driving the boat (My father-in-law really does let them drive. He just adjusts the speed and lets the boys steer where to go. Even when we are pulling someone. The boys love it!!!

Cory wake boarding

Braxton was so tired he spent most of the day like this with me! And i loved every second of it!

Off to the Zoo

On Memorial day we headed off to the zoo. It was a beautiful day and very much enjoyed since we knew it was our last day until Cory started his District Manager Training and would be gone for 6 weeks. So we took in every last moment and loved being together. We spent 5 hours there just walking, playing, and looking around and enjoying the moments!!!

Looking at the Reptiles

Playing in the Play area. The giant spider web won them over!!!

Its in the blood

For those of you who really know Cory and I, you know we both LOVE soccer. We met on a soccer team, both played soccer growing up and in high school and to this day still go the Seattle Sounders games and watch them on TV. We just love the sport. Well, now our sweet little Macade is learning to love the sport as well. We signed him up this spring for soccer and he loves it. He started out really rusty, not wanting to take the ball away from the other team because he thought that was rude. But one practice at home with me and he got the hang of it. The rest of the games he was in there taking the ball and making goals. A child after our own heart. We are so proud!!!!

Ready for the game

Team Circle

Getting the ball

Even though this kid was way bigger than Macade he was in there everytime getting that ball from him. Thats my boy!!!

You can see that the ball is going in the goal. Macade made that shot. He scored three goals that day!

Funny Boy

Macade is always saying things that just crack me up. He is so intelligent, the things that he says are just amazing. The other day we were sitting at the table eating lunch. We have had a lot of rain these last few weeks and the weather has just been terrible. The conversation went as follows:

Macade: Mom, Washington is so Dramatic!!!
Me: Why do you say that sweetie?
Macade: (with a dramatized roll of the eyes) Because it cries all the time!

These boys are just too funny. They make me laugh pretty much every day!

Goal #3 Complete

Oh my, it took 6 days but my little guy got it. He has gone 2 days without accidents and has told me everytime he has to use the restroom. Oh my goodness. It just clicked for him on day 6 and things are going well. He even wakes up from naps and bed dry!!! I am so happy.

Funny thing, this boy goes more than anyone i know. In one day he will pee like 10 times. I was telling Cory this and his reply is..."Who cares, its in the toilet." True, true. I can not complain!!! So YAY to Braxton for being the smart little boy i know he is!!! That was our third and final goal for Braxton before baby #3 came. No more Crib...check. No more binki...check. No more diapers...check

You've got the wrong idea....

So it seems many of you think that potty training is going swell and i am just fabulous. Well you have the part where i am fabulous right, but as for the potty training...you have it all wrong. Braxton has the BM thing down. He will run to me and tell me when he has to go and that is that. As for the pee, no way. He will not tell me when he has to go. When he sits on the potty for a few minutes he will not go, then minutes later he will pee in his pants. I will ask him if he has to go with the answer no and minutes later he will pee in his pants. He goes a few times in the toilette, but still has 2 accidents a day! I am at my wits end. I have lost my patience several times and have had several crying fits in my room. I am going to give it a little longer and if it does not improve...i will postpone this for a few months!
So don't think that i am so great and that my method is fool-proof for potty training because all is not peaches and roses here at home!

Braxton Potty Training Day 3

Well, by golly he has picked it up and i am so grateful. He is doing so well. At church he had an accident but i forgot to get him and take him to the bathroom. Other than that, he did great. He is starting to tell me when he has to go and all. He even woke up at about 9:30pm and said he had to go potty. Yippee. he is getting the hang of it!!!

# of wet accidents: 2
# of BM accidents: 1 (poor little guy has diarreah and is having a hard time with it)
# of times sat on the potty: 13
# of times went in the potty: 7
# of Braxton breakdowns: 0
# of Mom breakdowns: 0

Progress is being made and i am so glad that this stage is going to be over soon. And it means only one little one in Diapers which is music to my ears!!!

Braxton Potty Training Day 2

Well today was MUCH better than day one. I hope it just keeps getting better. I think he is getting the hang of this which gives me hope. Way more confident than i was yesterday!!!

# of wet accidents: 2:-)
# of BM accidents: 1
# of times sat on the potty: 16
# of times went in the potty: 7:-)
# of Braxton breakdowns: 0
# of Mom breakdowns: 1 (after he just sat on the potty and did a BM and then 5 minutes later wet his pants. So frustrating)

Like i said, way more successful today. I will just keep praying that this continues!!!!

Braxton Potty Training Day 1

Ok, Here we go again. When Braxton was born i was seriously dreading this moment already. But it is now here and we are trying to get the little one potty trained. Day 1 was a real test for me. He is not picking it up quite as quickly as Macade did but, i think in a few days he will get the hang of it...hopefully. Below are some stats of his bowl movements. So if its too much info, discontinue reading!!!

# of wet accidents: 6
# of BM accidents: 0
# of times sat on the potty: 18
# of times went in the potty: 1

Lets just say Day #1 did not go as smoothly as our first child, but i am not giving up. He will get it i think. Time will Tell!!!!

Drumroll Please...

Its A GIRL!

We are very excited to welcome our first daughter into our family. Now i am thinking "oh my heck, i only have 4 months to get ready for this little girl!!!

Our little angel

The Gender Shot. (I love that she put an arrow there. Too funny)

Braxton's Birthday

Ok, so this happened a month ago. I am slow, what can i say. But now my little guy is 2. He had a great birthday, Waking up to the Birthday blanket and all of his presents (way to many). And a Train cake with ice cream spent with Grandma and Grandpa Ross! It was a wonderful day. He was so cute, everytime we asked who's special day it was he yelled "MINE, I'M TWO"! Too precious!

With the Birthday Blanket (excuse the christmas paper, i did not realize until late the night before that i had no more birthday paper! He's 2, he does not care, Right?!?)

Train Cake. These take so much work. But they turn out so cute i think!

Some late news!!

So we have known since the beginning, but i have neglected to tell those who do not see us on a weekly bases. You may have noticed the count down on the side bar of our blog, but here is the exciting news. We are expecting our 3rd little one into our family. I am almost 19 weeks along and find out what gender on March 2nd. We are very excited!!! Things are going well with me. I was very sick in the beginning for about 5 weeks which is new to me because with my first two I never experienced the nausea. Macade and Braxton are very excited for this one and are very aware of what is coming. It makes it so much fun to show them the pics in my book and let them hear the heart beat at the docs. All in all, we are already counting down the weeks to welcome this little bundle into our lives!!!!

Here is my ultrasound at 11 weeks.

Goal #1 Complete!

Braxton is no longer in his Crib. Woohoo. On Saturday we took down the crib and told him it was time to sleep in the big bed. For Christmas we bought the boys a bunk bed. So since Saturday, with no problems, Braxton is now in the bunk. Smooth transitions are the best!!!! We use the side of the crib that we took apart and place it along the side so he does not fall out. Really, he does not need it, he only sleeps in the middle!

Here is their new bed.

And Braxton, all grown up.