11 Months

Cohen's first Birthday is fast approaching. He is just 3 days shy of 11 months old. For the past, oh, 4, 5, 6, months (I really have no idea) I didn't think I'd survive! Cohen is the complete opposite of Ayden. He is a total mama's boy. I know the day will come when he won't need me anymore and I'll miss it but right now, in the moment, it is hard. He wants nothing to do with anyone but me. And for the most part he is happy with me as long as he is attached to my hip. If I put him down on my terms and not his, he will let me know. Trust me! So many people comment on how happy, sweet and smiley he is when we are out and about. One lady looked at him and said, "I bet he never cries." "Oh, you have no idea," I said. Sleeping through the night? What the heck is that? I'd be happy if he only woke twice to nurse! He wakes up all night long. He wakes up an hour after he goes to bed like clockwork. And then every hour or two until I go to bed. And for what? A pacifier? To make sure I haven't left him? Oh and yes, I said until I go to bed. Andy doesn't even sleep with us anymore. He sleeps with Ayden in his room. Our old king mattress is up there on the floor for daddy and his boy to sleep soundly all night long. I feel bad. I feel like all I do is complain about Cohen. I love him with all of my heart but he is just so stubborn! I keep telling myself that by 18 months all of this should be a distant memory (or not so distant for me). Soon he will be happily, or so I hope, playing with his brother. I'd love to see him walk soon. Ayden was taking steps at 9 1/2 months and by 10 months had the walking thing down pat! Since Cohen spends so much of his time in my arms, I wonder when he'll take an interest in learning how to walk.



Yes, this sweet little boy of mine can make life quite difficult...

Potty Training Ayden Style!

Run around the house bottomless.

Start to tinkle while playing with my Handy Manny Tool Bench.

Look down and realize what's happening.

Stop tinkling.

Run over to my potty and sit on it backwards.

Get huge smile on my face and say "I pee! I pee!"

Then proceed to say "I dump! I dump!"

Take potty insert to bathroom, dump my pee in the toilet and flush.

"Bye-bye pee pee!

This has been going on for about a week and a half now. I'm quite proud of Ayden! He pretty much started doing this on his own. I was convinced that he was just playing games with me and sitting on the potty. I was getting really frustrated but I didn't want to discourage him. It payed off! Last Monday he was bottomless because he had wanted to sit on the big potty and of course make the pee sound "pssssss" and do nothing. His little potty was in the family room ready for business. To my surprise he went over to it and peed! I stayed home as much as I could that week. He's got it down for the most part at home but we do have some accidents. Not so much when we're out and about. He's making progress and I am using a lot less diapers on him! He's even pooed on the potty too!

Playing at the Park

We recently went to a local park that for some reason I hadn't taken the boys to this summer.

Ayden had fun playing with his cousins.


Shockingly they all looked at me and smiled!

Ayden fell off the bottom of this slide twice! I would have though he learned his lesson the first time. He crashed into Carter at one point too.

End of Summer Project

So we've had this composite decking sitting in our driveway for at least a year. I know, I know, totally hillbilly! We had every intention of re-doing our existing deck and making it bigger, it just took a really long time to actually get around to doing it!

Andy found someone off of Craigslist to build the deck and
I took on a small landscaping project.

I had a little helper!

The deck came out GREAT and for the right price! We couldn't be happier!
There are still a few minor details that need finished. Lattice needs put up around the bottom and maybe eventually a railing.

So far Ayden's favorite thing to do is jump across the deck.

And how cute is this table and chairs?!?
My mom bought them for Ayden's upcoming birthday.

Bedtime Battles are Gone!

I am happy to report that Ayden's bedtime battles are over!

He's been going down super easy and sleeping all night once again since the beginning of the month!

Ahhhhh, it's been so nice!

I took his childproof door handle off. He now comes downstairs all by himself when he wakes up!

When Andy or I put him in bed for the night, he goes into hibernation. Poof, vanishes under the covers. It's quite funny actually!

I don't even keep the monitor on for him at night anymore.

My little boy is growing up...

Not Me! Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

It most certainly has not been 2 weeks since I have blogged! You know since nothing new has been going on in my life...

I am so not procrastinating on planning Ayden's 2nd Birthday Party. Nope not me!
I have been planning for weeks...

There was not at least 4 loads of clean laundry piled high on top of my dryer this morning! I would never let our clean clothes sit there and get nice and wrinkled. And I wouldn't finally fold them and hope the wrinkles work themselves out! Nope not me!

I would never let Ayden walk around the house in just a diaper. Nope not me! He's always dressed and ready to impress.

I was totally not amused to see him walking around in said diaper with his shoes on. I definitely didn't help him put on his hoodie when he insisted on having it on. Nope not me!

What have you not been doing this week?

Toddler Tantrums

Enjoying a Starbucks Smoothie:..


Throwing a fit about who knows what.
I decided to see the humor in this one and photograph it...