Dirt Eaters and Pea Pod Makers

I wish that the title reflected my motivation to work in the garden but it does not, because I am not. And, that is a blog for another time. Here is a rundown of the family stuff for the last month of so.

Doug and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary with a little trip to Portland without the boys (thanks to Gma!). It was actually for a couple "pre-season" bike races but we treated it is a getaway because, well, anytime that we don't have to wipe bums is a getaway.


Speaking of bums; Evy is doing great with the potty training thing, staying dry most nights and naps. He wears underwear when we are home and a pull up at night and when we are out and about. He does a great job at letting us know but not so great at the advance warning. If he say's he has to go it means NOW! That's okay though he's still learning and I am totally impressed at how awesome he does.

Big boy feeding the ducks

Corbin just had his 9 month well baby and we are thinking of submitting an audition tape for "The Biggest Loser" infant edition! Just kidding, he is perfectly healthy and right on track he's 22lbs (75 percentile)
23 inches (95th percentile)
and had a normal size head (I can't remember how big)

He has mastered the army crawl and gets around like lightning doing that! He tries to crawl on his hands and knees but eventually gives up because it's easier to do it the other way. He is pulling up to standing on everything and falls at least once a night in the bath because he won't sit still. He is just full of energy. He say's Dada quite well and Baba (which is brother I think) and occasionally a Mama will slip out. I know that those aren't real words right now but they seem so real! He's growing so fast.

Dirt Eater

I recently threw a Pea in the Pod baby shower for my friend Dana, it was pretty fun (If I do say so). My mom did Aunt Mary's ring test on her (they are keeping the gender a surprise) and it said BOY! We'll see if the test holds true!

Pee Pee in the Potty

Evy has been running around in big boy underwear for a week now when we're at home just to get him excited about maybe potty training. We are not pushing it but tonight he said "Uh oh! Peeeee!" and we ran to the potty and he peed BIG TIME! Doug and I freaked out danced around and gave him 3 chocolate chips. Then about a half hour later at the dinner table he said "PEEEE" So Doug runs him to the potty and he goes AGAIN! Then again while in the bath tub he jumps up and says "Pee" and goes again! Now I'm not counting my chickens or anything but WOOO HOOO!! The prospect of not changing two kids diapers everyday is within my grasp! Go EVERETT!!!

Transition

So, the Striley's kind of dropped off the face of the planet for some time recently. A few weeks ago we (I) decided it would be a great time to move the boys into the same room together. This was always our original plan but we (I) wanted to wait until Corbin was solidly sleeping through the night. So now that he is, and its a new year, I was feeling confident in the transition. Here is how it went down.

Night one: Everett removes pajamas and diaper and pee's on his bed. Climbs into the crib several times with Corbin and removes the tape from the light switch and turns it on. No one slept.

Night two: Everett again climbs into the crib several times with Corbin, we go in 45 times to remove him, turn off the light, shut the door, etc...

Several nights follow like night 2.

Night something or other (I haven't slept in a million hours at this point so it was difficult to keep track): Everett and Corbin are both oddly quiet, Doug goes to check on them and declares "a lotion incident" we'll call this "LOTIONGATE" it was more like a lotion flood. both children are covered although Everett is naked so we only have to rub it in. The crib is soaking in some hippie ass smelling lotion, I have no idea even where he found it. There were also spots of Orajel around... I don't even want to think about were that went.

The next few nights are like night 2.

Then comes the breaking point. After dinner at my parents, we arrive home late. Both boys are already in their jams ready to plop in bed. we again have to fight with Everett to get out of the crib, until the last time I go in and Everett is STANDING on his brother while Corbin is face down. I scream, everyone starts crying, Doug comes in, and we all get pissed. So there we are 9pm Doug is ripping the crib apart to set it up back in the other room (which has become a playroom). We've failed.

Oh yes, there is more. The next day Doug decides to fit a piece of plywood to the exposed side of the crib so Ev can no longer climb over. Brilliant. We also loosened the lightbulbs in the light, put in a nightlight and put the door knob thingy back on the door. Then, Corbin gets 2 teeth and a cold. So, crib in the boys room, and Co slept in the pack n play in the playroom for a week.

We just recently got back on track and so far, things seem to be going well, Everett can't climb into the crib and Corbin can't see Ev when he is going to sleep. So there ya go. we are finally getting there, it reminds me of when I had newborns and I thought they would never transition out of a particular thing but before I knew it we were on to the next challenge.

If I had a free moment these past few evenings you bet your ass I wasn't blogging. But you are now caught up on the Strileys! Lets hope all goes well for the next 16 years that they will be sharing a room :)

The Crafty Bug Bit Me In The A**

It only comes but once a year, usually around baby shower time. Last time it was the diaper cake, which I now realize was childs play. This time, it's invitations! My BFF Dana got herself knocked up (on purpose, she even got herself a husband before she did it! A rare thing here in the rogue) and we once again are throwing a baby shower. They are keeping the gender a "surprise" because they like to torture people, so we must be "gender neutral". I found these adorable pea pod invites and figured I could make them better and for half the price, so once again the craft bug found me.

I found a local scrapbooking store that has a Cricut (this super cool cutting machine that if I ever actually cared that much about crafting I would have to get) and for a very reasonable price they cut 40 pea pods, pea pod shadows, and vines. So two days later I emerged from my crafting oblivion... my children have grime behind their ears, my husband is starving and my house a wreck. Just like when I read the Twilight books!

Here are some pics of my project all the way through. I was right, they are MUCH cuter than the ones I found online, and cost less than half the price!

to start

after punching a million little peas

The finished pea pod

gotta love the ole ink jet

Ta Da!

#17

Doug and I welcomed our SEVENTEENTH(!) niece (well, all together nieces and nephews we have 17) on Thursday, January 7th. Sweet baby Nyah Lynn Striley was born to parents Jayson and Jessica. She is a beautiful little 8lb 19inch girl and we are so excited! Lori was lucky and was their L&D nurse (I made sure they had the best!) and took excellent care of them. Jessica was a serious trooper and looked amazingly beautiful just moments after birth. What a blessing all these kiddo's are to us!

Bath Buddies

First pic of the boys sharing a tub... this was right before Coco got a little slippery and had a face plant in the water, it might just be a little to soon to sit bare bummed in the big tub :)

Why, God?

It has been almost 2 weeks, TWO WEEKS and Everett has only napped twice (once, while I wasn't even here, so that shouldn't count). Are we at the end of an era? I have tried everything, removing all his toys from his room, rocking, singing; threatening, screaming. Nada, he just stays in his room and plays with his toys until I give in and let him out. I just cannot believe he is done with naps already, he still poops his pants he should still take a nap!!

I actually wouldn't mind so much, he does play quietly in his room but when 5pm rolls around he turns into an evil little zombie whiner and frankly I'm scared he's going to try and eat my leg. And just in case there are any Everett sympathizers out there here is a video to prove what a little pill he is (This is not the worst either).

Yeah, makes you want to run screaming doesn't it? Seriously is this the end? Any words of wisdom out there? Or is Ev's new bed time 6pm?