Date Day

This is my last week of working part-time so Nick and I decided to take one of my off days and have a date day.  Our school Country Dawn was able to let us start Tova a week early so we could make this happen.  Nick and I haven't spent grown up time and/or time with just the two of us in longer than I can remember.

Our date day was bitter sweet in that it was also Tova's first day at school.  I talked myself into being OK by noting that if all hell broke lose I would be able to race right back to her as opposed to a day when I would not be able to because I was at work.  She gave her new teachers a huge smile and was not crying when we left so we drove South with optimism.

Of course we chose to head down town and make our favorite rounds.  Pastries and coffee at Le Panier, walking the Pike Market for spices, browsing Pacific Place, a quick stop at Frans, cocktails at Cutters, a visit to the map store, and lunch at Cafe Campagne.  We even tried to visit SAM but of course they are closed on Tuesdays!  No matter though, we had a blast and were so full of yummy food and treats that dinner was completely unnecessary. 

When we picked up the kiddos Deven was in a good mood and Tova was so calm and happy.  It was a perfect end to one of most relaxed days we have had in too long.

Thursday is my last day of leave with Tova, cross your fingers that it will a good one!

A couple pics from our day.

walking the pike market first thing in the morning

a cyprus marg from Cutters (peach with black rock salt)

Potty Update

POTTY UPDATE WARNING:  Don't read if you don't want to hear about #2's!!
 
To all parents Frans' chocolates make excellent bribes for potty training.  Dev wanted to know what was in the bag we brought home from our date day.  I told him that it was a poop surprise and that unless he went poop I couldn't tell/show him.  An hour and a half later...no joke...he was on the pot for an hour and half...we had success.  We WILL be successful!! 

Deven loved his dark chocolate covered caramel topped with sea salt!!  So much so he was trying to go again an hour later so that he could get another chocolate. :)

Tova - 12 weeks

Tomorrow Tova will be 12 weeks old.

So much as happened in the last month and Nick and I are so so so so glad.  Did I mention we are really happy??  We are by no means out of the crazy baby period of this little ladies life but she has definitely gotten past some of the worst parts.  Over stimulation is still a major issue but either she is able to cope with it better or Nick and I have begun to understand how to help her cope with it.  Bottom line we have to leave her cute little room every once in a while.  This big, loud and colorful world was just too much for her to process for her first couple of months but she is getting more and more interested in peaking out and taking it all in without extinguishing any hope Nick and I have of sleeping at night.

She's happy a lot more, eats like a champ and has the most squishy kissable cheeks second only to maybe her brother's when he was 12 weeks old.

Deven and Tova's first soccer practice

Deven started soccer last Thursday.  Nick was working so it was just me, Deven and Tova.  I am pretty sure this was my first solo event that lasted more than 15 minutes...it was an hour to be exact.  Pretty scary stuff for this momma but I honestly didn't think about it too much ahead of time because we were is such a rush to be on time for the practice.  True to form I jam packed no less than four appointments this day.

First coffee with the girls...one last day-time ron de vue before I go back full time.  This sounds harmless but any outing more than five minutes from the house still takes some significant self discussion...i.e., "you can do this," "Tova will be OK," "it's OK if Tova is not OK"...things like that.  We went to cute little coffee house in Edmonds called the Water Front Coffee Company.  The location is great, their pastries are yummy but the coffee is only so so.  I'd go again though because there is a super fun little beach area right next to the train tracks.  Perfect for a Deven sort of outing.  Not great for Tova though...note to self: trains are very loud...babies do not appreciate trains!

Second, a drive (and thankfully a short nap for T) to Uvillage for a quick appointment.  I am shocked and awed by Tova's ability to keep it together at this point.  After a train inspired over stimulation any good public behavior is amazing.

Third, we drive all the way back home to wait for the carpet cleaners.  They gave me a four hour window...yes four hours...I never really understand why they can't give me a better more specific time frame.  Thankfully they came on the third hour and finished up at 4pm so I could pick Deven up from school timely.  Doubly thankful that the little lady slept through the entire cleaning and got in a good long nap!!


Fourth and final was Dev's practice.  I am not sure what I expected a soccer practice for 3 to 5 year olds to be like but the dream of just sitting with Tova and watching Deven listen to the coach, stand in line, wait his turn and make some awesome shots on goal quickly flew out the window.  Tova decided to extended her nap for half of the practice so I could run around making sure Deven didn't run over his new teammates and that he sort of listened to his coach.  After Tova woke up she joined me in running after her big brother so I guess it was Deven and Tova's first soccer practice.  It was pretty comical watching the three of us; I will choose not to think about what the other parents thought!!

I kept my blood pressure down for the most part, only losing it once after practice when he decided to run in the opposite direction of where our car was parked.  Both kids were alive, not crying and Deven got ALL his energy out!!  Here are some pics to memorialize this crazy crazy hour!!

Smiles

I thought I was taking a pic but this tiny video out perfect.  It's rough around here but these little moments are what's getting us through!!

Pretty School

Every once in a while I post Deven's daily from school.  I'm sure this will be really embarrassing later in life, I mean, who wants the world to know what time they went to the bathroom when they were almost three.  So I will keep this short and sweet...Deven has not gone to the bathroom in his diaper since Sunday and that includes at school.  This is his daily from today.  Nick and I are happy happy parents!! 

Cross your fingers that this will last.

You will notice in the comments at the bottom that Deven says that he is now ready for 'pretty school' (preschool).  :)

Potty update

Warning: If you don't like to hear about toddler trips to the bathroom or other related topics, this blog is not for you!

As noted a few posts ago, we have started a new 'program' here à la maison du Johnston.  It's called 'Operation Bribe Deven to use the Freaking Toilet'. I must say, hopefully not to jinx anything, it seem to be working!!  We have moved through big boy scissors, to a cup cake party (Nick and I appreciated this one) to his most recently 'earned' bigger airplane.  It is a BIGGER airplane because he acknowledged that he already owns an airplane, he just wanted a bigger one. 

Well today, to our amazement and joy...yes I'm using these words...Deven pooped in his potty all by himself.  I'm talking he was at the breakfast table, he told us he had to go poopoo and he went to the bathroom by himself.  At first he wanted total privacy (he actually told us he needed privacy).  He even went so far as demanding that we not even talk to him because he was in the bathroom going poop.  But he was either nervous or needed further encouragement because momma was called in for backup.  I was instructed to go poop too.  This was both weird and hilarious.  He was on his special potty so this was actually possible.  Let's just say I do what I'm told if there is a chance my kid is going to finally do the deed without the entire house turning upside down with chaos. 

Several minutes later...you all know how tough it can be...and much grunting Deven had done it.  Yes, not some sissy try at pooping where you know he will just go in his diaper five minutes later, a genuine toddler man poop. 

#2's are of course worth two stars so with 8 already on the board he has made it to 10 and earned his bigger air plane.  In anticipation of this glorious moment I had pre-purchased Sideley the airplane from the Disney store earlier in the week.  Instant gratification seems to be working because he has been diaperless all morning with no accidents and has even earned another star since!

I know we are not out of he woods and are doomed for set backs along the way but this was very encourageing to say the least!!

Next up I'm told will be a 'big hammer' like daddos!!  Hmmm...

2 month update and a check up

This week Tova turned two months old...wow...I feel like we are still getting to know each other even after what simultaneously feels like a short and long amount of time since she showed up here!  Some days are very tough because of what Nick and I can only identify as combined growth spurts (extreme hunger), being over stimulated (needing a nap asap) and not knowing how to sooth herself (no napping -anywhere- without major intervention from her parents). 

But then other days are actually really fun.  She has started to really talk now.  Cooing, gurgling and laughing out loud.  Generally (when he doesn't roar like a dinosaur in her ear) you can tell she just loves Deven.  She laughs a lot around him and they snuggled on her play mat some evenings (the good ones).  She likes to practice her standing reflex and holds her head up like a champ. 

We went in for a check up this week and Doctor Price says she is doing A-OK.  She's still top of the class for weight; such a good little eater both from me and the bottle from Nick.  I started back part-time to work this week and Nick took over for me.  He's a pro, even though I can tell some days he would prefer to be at work!!  It's almost harder to leave her then it was Deven because she has such tough days but Nick being able to help the transition to bringing her to school helps me cope.  I will be starting back full-time and Tova will be starting school the first week of July.  I'm hoping we've got a few more things figured out by then but if not I know the ladies will take really good care of her, just like they did with Dev!

These are pics from this week...thankfully these happy smiling moments are increasing every day (and night)! ; )

Art a la Deven

Deven's school does a relay for life every year and so they do art to decorate accordingly. 

Sun??

Occasionally we get some sun so I ran out and got Tova a sun hat last week.  The one I had was Deven's so I thought I would get a girl one.  Nick informed me that the one I bought was also a boy one...apparently the blue patch with a pirate on it didn't tip me off - momma of a girl fail.  Even so she's ready to hit the out doors when the sun makes an appearance.

Walla Walla Visit

Nick and I have sort of accepted the fact that we will not be going on a major vacation anytime soon. By major I mean anything that requires a plane ride.  Not for at least another year or two any way.  Nope, instead we have convinced our good friends the Block's to take us in 2 or 3 weekends a year for the last couple of years to get the 'travel' bug out of our system.  We were so excited to be invited once again to help celebrate Jameson's birthday.  I cannot believe he is two already...Shannon and I always talk about how Deven tried to swat him in the hospital room the day he was born...apparently things between them haven't changed much!!

Seriously though Deven and all the kiddos had such a blast.  Tova even had one of the best days and nights she's ever had.  She knew momma needed some Walla Walla sun, a little wine and some good girl talk!!

Both kids, I am proud to say, traveled really well.  Of course we had to stop several times to feed Tova but all and all our little lady must have known we were going some place we love because she made it pretty easy on these two crazy parents.  I was pretty apprehensive about the long drive but Nick being the awesome husband he is and Shannon being the best friend a girl could have both convinced me that we might as well bring our crazy to Walla and have a glass of wine with some good friends rather then keep our crazy all locked up in Lake Stevens.

So glad we went and can't wait for the fair in the fall when I hope they will permit us to bring our brood again!!

Here are some fun pics from the weekend.

Deven ready for the ride to WW

Don't worry this is a mix - not all wine!

Post party balloon blow out

Some H and T time

Balloons are so cool

Ahhhhwww...cuteness!!

Us!  Love Him!

Trying on her new hat!!

Fooling you, she's really exhausted here!

Some tub time!

May 2012 art

I've been remiss in posting Deven's art from school so I don't feel guilty about not saving every piece.  Starting anew here is his May installation!!  

Big Boy Scissors

Deven has been working sometimes hard sometimes not hard enough (according to Nick and me) at using the potty...not diapers.  It has been a tough road for our little guy but I am told I am not alone, boys just take longer?!?!?  Well I am ready...changing a real babies diaper just shows me how gross changing a three-year-olds diaper is and I am ready to be done!!!

THE Potty Chart

Last week I made Deven a potty chart. That's right, I broke out the arts and crafts for this one...glue, big girl scissors, construction paper and glitter glue!!  The game is: if he goes 10 times, not necessarily in a row, he will get a surprise.  I decided to leave all the surprises blank so he can tell me what he wants.  I would never have guessed that he would want scissors for his surprise so it is a good thing I asked.

Well he did it folks, a freakin' miracle!!  We went to target and got the scissors that very night.  His next surprise is a cup cake from the bakery!!  Apparently baked goods will get this kid movin' because he even went at school for the first time ever this week.  Wish us luck and let's hope he keeps his surprises this cheep...something tells me he will catch on soon enough though and will start raising the stakes.

The Zoo!!

So Tova and I sort of ditched Deven earlier this week.  In all fairness taking Deven out of his routine (going to school) can be a bad idea these days and we had just gotten back from an intense trip to Walla Walla (post to come later).  So I decided to meet up with a friend at the zoo solo...or rather with the sleeping 8 week old.  :)  I hope Deven forgives me later in life when he reads this but momma just needed a break!!  I can guarantee I would not have gotten such fun pics chasing Deven.

Flamingo

Giraffe

Monkey eating an apple

Wort Hog

African Elephant

Orangutan

The Dentist

So one of my goals being out on maternity leave was to get us to the dentist, well at least Deven.  

I haven't been to the dentist for a very very long time...like 10 years too long.  I decided this was a bad example and this was the year we all need to start going!

First though, why have I not gone in so long??  I hate the dentist...I know who doesn't?  I have a good reason though I swear!  Novocaine doesn't work on me. I've even had dentists drill my teeth to insert it next to my nerve and it STILL didn't work.  The next step up, not sure what its called, which is supposed to take five minutes to set is already well on its way out of my system by then.  The problem is dentists don't seem to believe me and they just keep trying.  I've had my fair share of cavities and I generally feel all the drilling...thus my severe dislike if the dentist.  I'm hoping Deven has not inherited this trait and I will not be telling him about it anytime soon.  

Yesterday I met my goal though and got Deven in...I'm signed up for the end of the month, promise!  So these pics are not good but I tried to take them quickly because even though I was being 'that mom that takes pics of her son's first trip to the dentist' I didn't want to go totally nuts and make him pose or anything.

The conclusion is that Nick and I are doing great taking care of his teeth!!  Deven let them clean and floss his teeth too!  So proud of our big boy!!

Wearing his "cool dude" sun glasses to help with the lamp they use

Holding his dentist take-a-way tote - complete with toothbrush, mouth wash and floss!