Worth the Wait

After Christmas, I decided to hold back some of Cecilia's toys she got so I could pull them out when we were tired of playing with what we already had or needed something new when trapped enjoying the weekend at home.  I read where another mom did this and I thought it was genius!

Sunday when we just couldn't color another page or play anymore babies, I pulled out one of her Christmas toys.  It was a tent and tunnel that my aunt and uncle got her and she loved it!

I had to crawl thru it a few times to show her how it was fun (yes I fit. barely) but then she got the hang of it.

She even got her daddy to join the fun!

Last night after a few passes thru the tunnel, she wanted to put it up because she had discovered another new toy under the bed.

(excuse the pjays at 4pm.  Daddy/daughter day consisted of staying in pjays all day.  It's how they roll)

 When I got it, I didn't really think it was a boys toy but after putting it together and seeing it, it kind of is.  Oh well!  She loves all the noises it makes and all the things you can push.  She played with it off and on all night so who cares if it is boyish.  We don't have to be all babies and tea parties.

I'm so glad I held a few toys back.  Having something new to pull out in our desperate times was just what we needed not to go crazy.

Weekend in Pictures

We've had a nice weekend so far just hanging out and spending some time together.

Everyone enjoying their "me time."

Cecilia and I breaking out the coloring books.

Clearly I enjoy the coloring books a little more than her!

Daddy throwing Cecilia in the air.  Her FAVORITE thing to do with Daddy.  Mama has a stroke each time!

Ending the night with a little family play time in C's room...

We even found Minnie on our potty this weekend.

I though this would get her excited seeing her BF on the potty but it didn't.  She picked her up, looked to see if she had done anything, then sat her back down and walked away.  If Minnie and chocolate aren't going to get her to go, I'm not sure what will.

Time To Get Serious

I thought we were on our way to having an early potty going kid.  That was until one day she stayed home with Daddy and things haven't been the same since.  He swears he did nothing but she hasn't sat on the potty since.

That was until I pulled out the big guns...

stickers and M&M's.

It's time we nip this in the bud and get out of diapers!  I'm tired of dodging flaying legs and arms at EVERY diaper change.

She can tell you when she is wet ("I poop!" Says that for both) and has started pulling at her diaper so I'm digging in my heels and getting this kid potty trained!

Last night was night 1.  I told her I would give her a sticker for sitting on the potty (since she now has a fear of it, I need to reward) and M&M's for doing her business.  She kept pointing at the M&M's and I had to tell her no less than 50 times that she couldn't have them until she used the potty.  I'm hoping her love for chocolate out weighs her fear of the potty.  If she is anything like me, she can hold out 1 day but not 2.

We made a little progress last night and she actually sat on the potty.  Of course, she about came unglued once her cheeks hit the seat but we praised her and gave her a sticker (which she wore to bed and was still looking for this morning!).

Can't wait to see what night 2 holds.  If we don't get some type of progress, I'm afraid Brent and I will tear into the M&M's.  It's rough having chocolate in the house that's not yours.  They taunt me and I have no will power against chocolate. (and my dad is thinking, 'you are your mother's child.')

Dullville

We haven't had a lot of exciting things going on at the Miller household.  I was out of town on business a couple of days this week so I haven't wanted to do much but hang out with Cecilia.  I still hate leaving her but the return is so sweet!  To hear her scream with excitement and bounce up and down when I walked in, made my day.

In other boring news, I FINALLY ordered Cecilia's 1 year book.  Only a year behind but no biggie.  In my defense, I've had it done for at least 8 months but hadn't ordered it.  Oh well, that really doesn't make me sound better either.  That just points out how lazy I am.

I got it today and it turned out so good!  I'm so pleased with it and have already looked at it twice.

Almost gets me excited about working on her 2 year book.  Almost.

Sun Kissed

Ok so I'm not sure what happened last night but apparently I hit "Publish Post" instead of "Save Now" so my crazy ramblings got posted last night when they weren't supposed to.  If you happened to jump on here early and saw that I apologize.  I was trying to write but Brent had the latest trash tv show on and I was caught up in that.  Plus I was having to yell and him and the dog to cool it and stop wrestling around.  I have no idea what I wrote or if it made any sense.  So I'm sorry if you wasted your time reading it.

Now that I have that out of the way, I will try to put something together that makes sense.

I have found a new product (thanks to my WONDERFUL hairdresser) that I am just wild about!  You may be thinking hair product but you would be wrong.  It is actually a self tanning product.  It's called Tan Towel and I am LOVIN' it right now.

I was a tanning bed junkie during my college years but after marriage and a baby, I have no time really to lay in the tanning bed.  I'm always trying the latest lotions that promise not to turn you orange and fast results. But I never like the results and I feel like I smell like tanning lotion all day.  Spray tans scare me thanks to the Friends episode where it goes terribly wrong for Ross and there is no way I'm going to let some young size 00 girl airbrush me while she judges my stretchmarks and muffin top.  No.Thank.You!

So every time I get my hair done, I ask my hairdresser if she would get in the airbrush business.  She is only person I show off my muffin tops to.  She is one of my mom's best friends and been in my life since day one.  There would be no judgement.

The last time I brought it up, she told me about Tan Towel.  My mom got us a box and I tried it for the first time Saturday.  It promised to be easy and show results in 2 to 4 hours.  Let me tell you, that was the EASIEST self tanning I have ever done and after 4 hours I was 1 to 2 shades darker!  I couldn't believe it!

I have used 2 more towels since Saturday and I'm pretty pleased with my color.  Brent even noticed that I had lost my Casper look!  The directions say to apply 2 to 3 times a week to maintain but I'm thinking in the winter I may just use 1 a week.  I made a few rookie mistakes but nothing that can't be covered by clothes.

We have only been able to find it at the beauty supply shop and on HSN.com.  They are cheaper at the supply shop but I'm hoping I can catch it on tv sometime and get a better deal than on the website.

So if you are needing a quick and easy tan without the tanning bed, grab some Tan Towels.  They work like magic!

Resolutions

Yes, I'm fully aware that I'm 9 days into the new year and just now starting my new year resolutions but I needed some more time to think about what I wanted to accomplish this year (and continue popping chocolate peppermint candies like an addict pops pills before declaring better eating habits!).  I hate setting goals that fall to the wayside by mid January.  I get bored easily and lose focus.  I wanted to set real goals that I know I can accomplish.

So here is what I have so far...

1.  Eat better.  I'm not a horrible eater but lately I have been addicted to sugared cereals, too many cokes a day and french fries.  Oh and the chocolate peppermint candies I mentioned above.

I would say lose some weight but I don't want to hear people say that I don't need to.  You people have no idea what goodness lays beneath my clothes!  But I know that if I will get better a few pounds will come off.  Of course I could just go exercise but its highly overrated and I'm highly lazy!

2.  Get on a budget.  Brent and I had been on a budget a few years ago but Cecilia was born and she came with LOTS of medical bills that first year so we got off track.  I was tired of wondering where money was going so a budget helps us to keep track of that and helps us not to overspend.  I'm WAY more excited about it than Brent.  He thinks they are a good idea until he wants something outside the budget but we each get an allowance so he will just have to save up! :)

3.  Chill and relax.  I have a bad habit of hitting the door at night in full force.  I'm always doing something (cleaning, laundry, straighting things that are just going to get destroyed 2 minutes later by a toddler, etc).  I typically never sit down much or take time to really be with Cecilia and Brent.  It drives Brent nuts!  On a typical night when he is there you can hear him say "sit down," "what are you doing now," "will you just relax.  that doesn't have to be done right now."  "will you please sit down."  And even when he isn't there, when I run to do something I can hear his voice echoing in the walls!  :)  So I've decided to just relax and play more with Cecilia instead of jumping up every time she goes off by herself to play.

4.  Read more.  Before Cecilia came along I was known for reading at least 3 books a month.  It was all I did when I had spare time.  I miss reading and wanted to get back into it.  Thanks to my parents, I have a NOOK tablet and I will be reading whenever I get the chance!

Short list I know but they are important to me and I'm hoping as the year progresses I will set more goals.  I already have a few in mind but don't want overwhelm myself and get discouraged and give up.  So for now this is my list.

Christmas 2011: The Finale

Friday around lunch, we left to go to my in-laws to celebrate Christmas with them.  With New Year's falling on a weekend, we were able to spend more time that usually with the fam.

Saturday, my mother-in-law made appointments for all the girls to get pedicures.  My pedicure partner was my niece.

She was a hoot!  While the lady was massaging her legs, she asked her how it felt.  She replied, "wonderful!"  HA!  Then added a"'wonderful da-ling."  I lost it!  What 5 year old says that!  :)

Cecilia had a good time hanging out with her cousins and watching 'moo-bees' together.

Sadly, I don't have very many pictures because a lot of the weekend we slept in, laid around and did a whole lot of nothing.  I tired to take a few pictures when we were opening presents but Cecilia kept trying to take Aubrey's and Nora's toys so I had my hands full.

We did get a surprise when we woke up Monday morning to snow!  Luckily it wasn't too bad yet but it did snow on us most of the way home.

There were cars off in the median everywhere and thankfully we weren't one of them.

And our trip home was more enjoyable because Cecilia got a portable DVD player from Brent's parents.

I had forgotten how quiet a 4 1/2 hour trip could be without a kid screaming for 4 hours of it.  The thing has changed my life!