Big Boy on the Big Boy Potty

Well, it is that time. The dreaded time (and once completed, celebratory time!) of potty training! A couple months back, we tried to get Andrew excited about potty training with the purchase of his very own potty chair and big boy undies. To no avail, the boy kicked and screamed and ran away. I had been warned that "you will know" when he is ready and when he is not. Clearly, he was not! This little boy is very determined when he wants to do something or will exhibit signs when he is interested. At this point in time, he was not interested. We decided to give potty training a brief rest and revisit soon. When my Spring Break arrived and we didn't have any commitments, we decided to seize the day and try again. And it was not planned that we would start potty training on April Fool's Day but alas, here we are and it's go time!
Thankfully, day 1 was successful and despite a few accidents, the sticker chart proved to be motivational and Andrew was using his big boy potty. By day 2, Andrew was more independent of our help and was using the potty on his own accord. Andrew-1, Mom and Dad's stir craziness due to being confined to the house for 48 hours-0!

Day 1

Day 2 was a VERY BIG day for Andrew. Two thumbs up for the number 2!

He isn't so little anymore!

Holy cow! This mama is in straight denial! I look at this little boy and through my eyes, he is Mommy's little boy...just that, my "little" boy! Ugh!! The kid is almost 2 1/2 years old and talking a mile a minute. He wakes up and is ready for conversation (certainly got this from me because we all know that Kyle is NOT a morning person!) And literally, he is HUGE!! He is about 38 inches tall, which is over 3 feet tall. I forget how tall he is until he stands next to other children who are about the same age.

He is developing into his own little person and exhibiting the coolest characteristics! He is project driven and wants to impress. He also is a doer and likes doing things himself. He will certainly let me know if I am intervening when he doesn't want me to. And as of two week's ago, he is referring to himself in the third person. "Good job Andrew!" or "Thank you Andrew!" He is cracking me up on a daily basis with his spunk and his little man-isms!

We recently acquired a power wheels truck and I honestly thought it would take him some time to learn how to drive it. It has a forward or reverse motion with a button to operate each function. Within 5 minutes, Andrew was driving this truck like he owned the road. He was taking ramps and hills and begging for speed. He maneuvered in and out of turns without hitting objects. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? When did he get so big? Can you say, "denial!!??"

In addition to being 100% boy, he warms my heart every day with a smooches to die for. He will stop what he is doing and run over and give me a snuggle and a smooch, with the biggest lips and pucker! He melts me! I hope this phase of him offering and initiating these smooches lasts awhile. It was one of my favorites and I cherish it!

Andrew is also great at negotiating. If he feels that it is his turn to do something, he says "my turn" or "share." Thankfully, he is great at understanding what it means to take turns and he is GREAT at sharing. There have been a handful of occasions where I could have sworn that a meltdown was about to happen when he was asked to share a toy with another child, and to my surprise, he willingly gives it. YES!

Lastly, it appears that my OCD gene has passed on to Andrew as this little boy loves to clean. He has become an expert with the Swiffer and loves to vacuum. Give him window cleaner and he will clean every surface. He also clears his own plate and puts it in the sink.

 

Seriously, someone pinch me...when did he get so big?

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day from our little love muffin!!

I love this little boy to the moon and back!

Have you ever held a gold medal?

One of the many hats I wear as a teacher is that I am also the ASB Advisor. This position is very time consuming but EXTREMELY rewarding as I get to work with the cream of the crop of our students within our program. These kids are the leaders of our school that truly want to make a difference and embody the characteristics of exemplary students. Recently, we were asked to make a presentation to the Springs Board during their board meeting. My kids were amazing!! They stood with poise and represented our school and their efforts well.

After their presentation, the entire meeting was introduced to our keynote speaker, Dain Blanton!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? Beach Volleyball Olympic Gold Medalist from the 2000 Sydney games is speaking in front of our students. Here I am trying to be composed and not be star struck in front of my students but the minute he said, "I would like to allow you all to touch and see my gold medal," I about peed my pants and lost it. I was giddy!! I mean, come on!! It's not everyday that you get to meet an Olympian, particularly one in the sport that used to consume your every being AND hold a gold medal. It was truly one of the coolest experiences of my life and I will never forget it!

This is me trying to keep it together...after I about clawed it out of students hands and sat like an impatient little brat. I did not set a good example...I know!

 

My students were pretty pumped too.

Merry Christmas from The Wallaces!

If you are or know anyone living the life of a fire family, you know that holidays are just another day. Rarely do we celebrate holidays on their recognized dates since Kyle is never home to celebrate on the actual day. This year, we celebrated on Monday and boy oh boy, did Santa spoil our little boy rotten! Thankfully, Andrew doesn't know the difference. Even if he did, the look on his face when he came downstairs to all the lights twinkling and presents and bows shining under the tree, let us know that he didn't care.

Christmas this year has been exceptional! We have spent some needed time with our dear family and friends. Andrew absolutely loves all the Christmas decorations and adores Santa. He won't say a word to the jolly old man but loves him! "Tanta, Tanta, Tanta," he says. He loves Kyle's tree, especially the lights (insert Courtnie screaming "bah hum bug" over the lights and Andrew's obsession and fascination over them). If you aren't sure why I sound like such a Scrooge, read my post about our Christmas Tree. It does look great but read up to understand the sarcasm. :)

So alas, Santa came early this year. He brought Andrew a Radio Flyer tricycle, which this little boy absolutely loves and can't get enough of. He can barely reach the pedals but thankfully his legs are long enough that he can move about. Andrew is also obsessed with trains so it was only fitting that Santa bring him toy trains, even some fun trains for bath time fun. Now that he is old enough and can comprehend, it was fun asking Andrew to give and deliver the presents to their owners. He loved giving Kyle and I our presents. Even more so, he loved helping us open them! He ripped open the paper without hesitation, which of course, made Kyle so proud. You must be a Wallace if destruction of things make you happy.

His face says it all!

Our morning was delightful and Kyle and I smiled watching Andrew rip open presents and seeing the excitement beam all over his face. This is truly the magic of Christmas!

The video is long but he is so sweet with his initial reactions. He even makes sure that his bear gets a ride.

He loves his books!

The aftermath...seeing Kyle and Andrew enjoy these sweet moments absolutely warms my heart and makes me smile.

We wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas! We will be thinking of you on Christmas morning and hope that your morning is as amazing and love-filled as ours was!

The Griswold Family Christmas Tree

So this might sound completely insane but it is true! Like little kids, Kyle and I can never agree on a Christmas tree. He likes the pine trees with tinsel garland and colored lights...AND...bubble lights! Truly, the tree from A Christmas Story. All we need is a Red Rider BB gun and we would be complete! Me, I grew up with noble firs with white lights and ribbon. We both grew up with different traditions and so to us, it is all we know. So how do you end an argument between two little kids? Well, 13 years ago when we first started dating (yes, 13!!), we made a compromise. We were practicing for marriage apparently. We decided that on odd years, Kyle would get to have his Christmas tree with décor, without any lip from me. And then, on even years, it would be my turn. Childish, we know! However, it has worked and every year there is an expectation and an understanding. With all this being said, it is 2013 which means, it is Kyle's year...ugh! :)

Now that we have a little Kyle running around, Kyle couldn't wait to pass on his HIS tradition to his mini-me. So alas, we went Kyle-tree hunting. This is an all out ordeal. The tree has to be cut down and literally, from the movie, Christmas Vacation, the angels and lights from the heavens have to shine down on the tree and sing to him. But I'll tell you what, when we went this year, the tree sang to us both! It is huge and I would have been willing to bet that it wouldn't fit in our living room. But with determination and just straight being stubborn, Kyle marched into the open area and cut down his tree! It is huge! Fat, full, and HUGE!

Close, but not yet!

Wickerd Farm is really cool and has great trees!

Teaching Andrew how to pick the perfect tree!

Eureka! We have found it!

 

Once we got home, the Wallace Family tradition of decorating the tree consists of Christmas music, jammies, and Bailey's!

Andrew was trying to help! It was so cute watching him copy Kyle's every move.

 

Contrary to my belief, the tree fit and the star just barely kisses the ceiling! After the tree was decorated and the stocking were hung, the bubble lights were a bubblin' and Kyle sits in contentment admiring his tree. I can't wait for next year...my turn!

 

Merry Christmas friends! We wish you a happy holiday season!

Pumpkin Patch Fun, Part 1

It has become an annual tradition in the Wallace house to visit the Peltzer Farms Pumpkin Patch. The Farm is full of lots of fun things to do. And with Andrew being such a busy boy, he had loads of fun this year and ran himself silly. Since I have been slacking on posting pictures of my little man, I will let the pictures tell our story and share the fun we had!

It is so hard to believe how fast these past 2 1/2 years have gone. I don't realize how big he is until I look at how little he was when we came the first year, and even last year. I remember thinking he looked like such a big boy last year. 

He sure loves his daddy!

He was very busy, trying to organize pumpkins, and running amuck! 

He loved chasing Kyle around this ring of hay.

I was leery to let him lift these pumpkins but he is Kyle's boy, and by that, I mean when he sets his mind to it, there ain't no stopping him!

Hold the phone...there are chickens and goats at this place?? Next stop, petting zoo!

Well...maybe we will jump some more!

And some more!

He absolutely loved the baby goats!

He was so sweet with them.

Kyle had a surprise visitor.

Andrew welcomed him to our petting party.

I can't even begin to think what is going through Andrew's head looking at this chicken.

Where did everyone go?

By the thumb's up, I would say the Peltzer Farm Pumpkin Patch is Andrew tested and approved!