Hippo

Ok, the other day I was flipping looking for something to watch on t.v. and I came across this show on the like the discovery channel or something. It was about this couple that lives with a hippo. I am dead serious, a hippo. The couple live in South Africa I believe. They acquired the hippo from when they found it washed on shore as a baby. There were two they had (they wanted to breed them), but the male was shot on a neighbors farm. Ok, they let this hippo all in their house and on the bed (that it broke because it is a HIPPO, duh!). Are people really that stupid? check it out for yourself

http://hubpages.com/hub/There_is_a_Hippo_in_our_house

ABSURD!

Pizza Making

Tobbie had her friend Austin over for a playdate and they got to make their very own pizza. They were so cute and loved every minute of it! The only problem was that Austin wouldn't eat his pizza when it was done because the cheese melted and it looked funny. He gets that craziness from his mother (te he, just teasing you Lisa). Look at all the fun that was had!

Tobbie at the dentist

Well, Tobbie went to the dentist today for the third time. This was for her 3 year checkup/cleaning. She went at 1 year and 2 years and will have to go more frequently than other children because of the amount/type/length of time of antibiotics she was on when she was born. The past two years, they just wanted to check her teeth for decay and to keep an eye on palate from being intubated for so long. This year she got her first cleaning and she did such a good job. I was terrified that she wouldn't let them touch her, but she was all about it. Thank goodness for reading books about going to the dentist! She is now a member of the "No Cavity Club" and received an award from the dentist. She was especially proud of this. All afternoon she kept telling Tristan about her teeth. It was too cute. Though there were no cavities, her teeth are starting to show signs of decay. We just have to be extra deligent on brushing the proper way.

Waiting for the cleaning to begin!








Edited to add: I went to the dentist on February 4th and I have a cavity!

sleep is so wonderful!

Huge victory in the Mince household last night! Tristan went to bed at 10:00 and didn't wake up until 4 this morning and then woke at 6:30 for a "quick snack" and is back out (crap, that means he is grOWING), and Miss Tobbie went down at 8:30 and slept until just now at 7:00. This will make me a much nicer mommy for today, maybe.

MOVING & MY 3 YEAR OLD

We are moving!!! We have had our orders for a couple of weeks, but have been waiting for more confirmation of other information to officially announce it. Basically all I can say online is that the kids and I will be moving to Georgia for almost 2 years. I am sure you all know why and no, Michael and I are not getting divorced, we are quite happy with each other (on most days).

We have found a house near Robins Air Force Base and are just awaiting the approval for rental. It is cute. It has 6 mature pecan tress on the property and has a beautiful sun room. Ahh, I can't wait, warmer weather!

And Miss Tobbie has been so much better since we have gotten back on our schedule. Plus, she just needed a little extra attention from me. I love that little piece of sweetness.

I'll post pics later!

Time Outs & Locks WORK!!!

Ha ha ha! Time outs do work! Persistence is all it takes. I would rather spend the time to correct some of that bad behavior now than when she is a teenager. Make sense? It's not like I am asking her to construct a crane out of paper (that would be origami). Tobbie is smart enough to know to not scream at her mother at the dinner table and when I tell her to NOT do it again or she will go to time out, she understands that too. Anyway, enough on that.


Bedtime battle won last night. Michael put a new door knob on Tobbie's door (one with a lock) and he put it on backwards for me. I know some might consider this cruel, but when your child scales a baby gate at the top of the stairs during the night, you have to consider her safety as well. So, after 5 minutes of crying and knocking on her door last night, a little princess went and got into her bed and fell fast asleep (she should have, she hasn't slept in almost a week!). She did just wake up at 0600, but I can so deal with that. I get up early anyway.


She is a well rested little one


this is for her safety


Another awesome tidbit, check out this little guy. He slept ALL night (well, until 0530, but that counts)! I can't believe I slept for 6 1/2 hours straight last night. I haven't done that in MONTHS!


Gotta go and do some Flylady chores!

I won, until 3 am...

Well, I won last nights bedtime battle until 3 am when Tobbie woke up. I was fine letting her scream it out at the top of the stairs, then at 5 am, she scaled the baby gate and fell down the stairs. She then proceeded to jump up run up the stairs into our bedroom and after I ran for her, she hit the door knob on my door and split her little head open. Here is the proof I haven't been abusing my child.

Lovely little photo of her after she passed out on the couch. I will get through this, I know I can! She won't still act like this in high school will she?

score

Me:1
Tobbie:1

I WON, for now atleast!

I think I won the bed time battle for the night! Tobbie has been in her bed for over an hour. She didn't go down easy, but she gave up. I did have to sit on the outside of her door and hold it shut, but she gave up and went and got into her bed!

Score:

Me:1
Tobbie:0

I am a very exhausted Mommy!

battles with a 3 year old

Don't get me wrong, I love my precious daughter, but like most children, she can be a handful. Right now she is dealing with her world being turned upside down by our newest addition, Tristan. It has always been the two of us, day in and day out forever and now she is having to share my attention and time with her new baby brother. I understand that it is difficult for her to understand. My mother told me that she will adjust and I do believe that, I just wish it would have happened yesterday!

There are many, many battles in our home right now, eating (this has always been a battle with us), back talking, hitting, kicking, and refusing to go to bed (more like refusing to stay in her room).

I know what the problem is and I honestly haven't had the energy to fix it. She needs more time and one on one attention from both of her parents, mainly me. Today is a new day with a new set of rules in our home. I know that there will be some people that don't agree with the way Michael and I are going to handle this, and that is ok. Tobbie is our child and we have to find a way that is going to work for our family unit.

I started reading a new book last night by Dr. Kevin Leman (he is the guy that does the infomercials on the radio, the total transformation guy), "Have a new kid by Friday." This book is going to become my new bible. I will make this work and I will make my child respectful and pleasant to be around. I owe it to her, and I WILL win the time out war!

CATCH UP POST

I am going to use this as a catch up on a VERY long week!

Since my mother has left, Miss Tobbie has been very trying (nothing against you mom, she just got super attached to you, which is a wonderful thing). The person that called it the "terrible two's" needs to be shot because we are only into week 3 of being 3 years old and OMG! She can make my blood boil! After a nice long talk with my mom, she reassured me that it will be this way for the rest of my life (thanks!), which reminded me of something she once said. "I hope you get paid back times 3." Now, I don't know if she was meaning I would be paid back by the child's age of 3, 3 trying kids, or 3 girls (which will not happen, only room for one more in this family, unless it is twins). She told me to stock up on Kleenex, I will need it for the rest of my life. Motherhood is tough!


Happenings this week:


Tobbie learning to ride her bike






Tistan doing what he does best (hasn't he gotten chubby?!?)





Tobbie refusing to sleep in her bed (she can also climb over a baby gate now, she does wonderful PLF's)



Friday Night Fun (Lincoln Logs) I don't think I ever played with Lincoln Logs as a kid(I wasn't deprived, I just didn't have the patience). Look, I built the Big L Ranch and then Tobbie and her My Little Ponies came trotting through and tore it down.





A new thing I am trying: FlyLady It's cool for you to be jealous of my shiny sink!


And lastly, my new FAVORITE!





Now I need to finish getting ready for the day!

Missing my Mommy

Last week my mom came for a visit and got to meet Tristan for the first time. And boy is he one spoiled little boy now! Just kidding, I have already spoiled him. It was so nice having her here to help out. I was able to sneak in a few much needed naps. Tobbie especially loved having her here. She started calling Mom's dog, Hunter (his real name) by the name of George. We thought it was cute. We also took the kids for a portrait session. Both Tobbie and Tristan did really well. Other than missing my mom, life is normal, somewhat. Miss you Mom!

Oh, Tobbie is learning the letters of her name and wrote a "T" all on her own yesterday! She is a genious.

back to the real world

Make a wish sweet girl!

Well, it is Monday. Michael has gone back to work and I started exercising again today. I gotta lose some of this weight before moving back to GA in a couple of months.

Well, on Saturday we had Tobbie's birthday party. She scored on gifts and she got a tricycle from Mommy and Daddy. She is super excited over it. Bad news is that she can't ride it outside yet because of the fabulous weather we have been having here. So we have been letting her ride it around the house. All in all I think the kids had a grand time.

For the past two nights Michael and I have gotten some "decent" sleep. We have had to resort to putting ice cold rags on Tristan at about 8 every night to keep him awake to make him sleep more. That and we had to start giving him some gas drops. His little tummy isn't liking all the different flavors that his mommy likes. Poor little breastfed baby.

Well, I'll be back later to post some pictures of my adorable munchkins!

Happy Birthday Tobbie

I cannot believe that my sweet 1 pound 9 ounce baby girl turned three today. It amazes me at how time passes so fast. What really amazes me is how far my little peanut has come. This past year Tobbie has grown so much. Not just physically, but developmentally. The one thing that I didn't think we were going to accomplish before turning three was potty training and she did that the week before Tristan was born. We spent today going to Chuck E. Cheese ( I loath that place) and Tobbie had a blast. Of course I forgot my camera at home. I have a hard enough time trying to remember all the things I need to get out the door with two little ones. Tomorrow we are having her birthday party, Strawberry Shortcake themed. She is so excited to be having her little friends over. I just love her so much and could never imagine my life without her in it. Happy Birthday Tobbie!

Well, the little man is crying, again. I'll post more tomorrow after the party. Oh, happy new year!



1 week shy of turning 3

2 days old.