No More Pacifier

After a long few nap/bed times and a lot of stressful moments, I am happy to report that the pacifier is GONE!  After we cut the bigger hole in the pacifier, Diana had no interest in it, which was the goal but my little girl who loved to nap and go to bed at night turned into a monster.  She would fight going to her room, being laid in her bed and would scream her head off.  She would get so mad sometimes that she would jump and climb out of her bed.  After 3 times in 4 days of getting out of her bed, luckily not hurting herself, I was at a loss.  I didn't think she was ready for a toddler bed, as I didn't think she would stay in it, but I clearly didn't want any broken bones either.  As Brad was working on converting her bed to a toddler bed, he discovered that it could in fact go lower with the crib rail on front.  Thank goodness!  Now there is no way she can get out, well I probably shouldn't say that, but at least she is staying in her bed.  On Monday night, I was reading books to her and told her it was bed time, I thought she was saying "duck" but she was actually saying "rock."  The sweet little thing wanting me to rock her, which she has never asked for nor allowed me really to do before.  After I rocked her for a bit, she went right into her bed and fell fast asleep with no crying or standing up even.  Tonight I did the same thing and think it's her new way of being "soothed" before bed.  I will take the rocking and NO pacifier!  Here is to hoping she doesn't figure out a way to get out of the bed again EVER!

Family Pictures

We got our family pictures back!  Here are some of my favorites.

Sneak Peak

We had family pictures taken on Sunday and Diana was less than cooperative, so it seemed.  She took a couple pictures, of course wouldn't smile and said "done" as she was signing her all done.  When we would ask her to look at the photographer, she would stand with her back towards us and say "no" or cross her arms and refuse to smile.  After I told the photographer that I didn't think posed photographs were her thing and that we might need to keep her moving, I think things got better.  I received this picture and email from the photographer tonight...

"I wanted to share at least one photo with you as I was working on your family's photos. I did get some of Diana smiling! There were more as well, but I wanted to let you know that we were able to get some cute ones of her. You guys are such a nice family, and I was really glad you liked the first portrait session and trusted me enough to use me again. Your kids are beautiful, and it's really a joy photographing them. Your son especially is so handsome, and he could really be a model-he smiles so readily and is so cooperative. I haven't said this anyone else, so I'm being genuine about it. The camera really loves him.  Anyway, I can't wait to show the rest to you, but I at least wanted to share this one because I think it's so sweet!"

Moving on Up

Jonathan has been working hard at his bike riding and is constantly asking to go over to the church parking lot.  Earlier this week he figured out that he could ride his little bike in our driveway. He whizzes around on that thing, in and out of the garage and around our driveway like no one's business.  Well today Brad decided to take off the training wheels of his "big" bike and off he went.  He was able to ride it just fine but he had problems starting it and getting off of it because he can't quite touch the ground.  Luckily for Jonathan, he has a super dad and worked with him on how to start and stop on it.  After I put Diana to bed, I saw Jonathan riding his bike from the church across the street with Brad, down the sidewalk and up our driveway like it was no big deal.  Seriously, you have to see it!  I don't even like riding my bike up our driveway hill.  Then he showed me how he could start on his own.  He is so proud of himself and loves his dad even more, if that is even possible, for teaching him his new tricks!

Pacifier Update

Well Diana got better about her paci this week with the holes and didn't want it nearly as much as before but she still would say "nap" and want her paci...normally around nap, bedtime and around 5 pm.  Tonight I asked Brad to make more holes in it and he cut a pretty decent size hole and even said, she won't be able to suck on it now.  Well...leave it to Diana, she has figured out a way to keep the darn thing in her mouth.  We have no idea how but she does.  She can't suck, it's more like biting and chewing on it.  We will see how long this lasts now.

Diana Can you Say...

Jonathan and my favorite game these days is to ask Diana, "Can you say...?"  She normally does a pretty good job mimicking.  Today, I asked if she could say "Jonathan," she responded "Bro-bro."  I said yes, he is your bro-bro but can you say Jonathan.  She just kept saying bro-bro.  So Jonathan tried, she usually does better for him than me, and she still just would say bro-bro.  We were all laughing.  Finally tonight at dinner she said "Jonathan" (not very well mind you, I guess it is a hard word to say). 

Indoor Swimming

The kids have been going through withdrawal from swimming since we came home from Florida, so I have been promising them that I would take them swimming.  We joined a new sports club and they have an indoor pool with open family swim time.  Today, after school we joined his friends: Alex, Evan, Drew, Stella and Nora at the pool.  It was a really good time, despite the chilly pool water.  Diana wasn't as adventurous in the pool today but I think it was because there were so many "things" to go get (pool noodles, kick boards, weights, etc) that she was too busy getting stuff to actually swim.  Jonathan was all over the place swimming with his friends.  I can't wait for summer!  (Oh and I mowed the lawn today...starting to feel like spring around here, finally!!!)

Pacifier Week 1 Attempt

I have been putting off getting rid of Diana's pacifier long enough and now that all of our trips are done, I really don't have any more excuses.  Plus, I am thinking about potty training her soon so she can't be potty trained and still have her paci, can she?!?  Her screams and intense behavior has me holding on to the paci but tonight I asked Brad to break the paci, literally by cutting a hole in it, which is what we did with Jonathan (but at 14 months mind you).  Jonathan sucked on his for one second and said broken and handed it over.  Diana struggles but she still somehow manages to actually suck on it and hold it in her mouth.  Baby steps.

Riding Bike Without...

Jonathan has mastered how to ride his bike without training wheels.  On Friday, we went around the block with his friends Paxton and Connor and Connor just figured out how to ride his bike without training wheels Easter Sunday.  We rode for awhile in the parking lot together too and I kept asking if Jonathan wanted me to get his bike without training wheels but he said no.  On Saturday, Jonathan teased to go to the parking lot to ride bikes and I said sure but only if we bring your "two-wheeler."  He agreed but said he didn't want any help.  So I watched him continue to get frustrated with trying to start on his own and once he did get going, not go very far because he didn't know how to turn.  I had to get ready for a play we were going to that evening but Brad stayed with him longer and apparently as soon as I left, Jonathan figured it out.  How to start on his own, how to turn, and just go go go!  He told me he was doing crazy 8's on his bike and I told him I didn't believe him.  Today we went over to the parking lot so I could watch and sure enough he has got the hang of bike riding.  Off he went and there was no stopping him.  And as Uncle Jason put it, "He has only one speed [fast]!"  It's going to be a fun summer with Jonathan and his bike.  We are so proud of him!

5 Year Check Up

Jonathan had his 5 year check up today and all is good with him.  He is staying on his growth curve between 50th and 75th percentile for both height (43.5 inches) and weight (44 pounds).  He had to take a hearing and eye test, which he nailed.  The nurse said he even got the hard/tricky ones right in the hearing and he only got confused on one eye picture (it was after he held that eye closed and I think it was just blurry because she went back to it and went a row lower and he was fine), let's hope he gets Brad's eyesight and not mine!  He did have to get one shot, but at least it was combined chicken pox and MMR.  It used to be 2 different shots.  I don't think we would have been able to get two in him. He was totally freaked out about it but the nurse was AMAZING!  She really did a great job, telling him her secret (to keep his arm loose like spaghetti and not to tense up).  She said she never had anyone cry yet and he wanted to so bad you could tell but he held it in.  Dr. Bagamery looked him over and said she had no concerns.  Go Jonathan!

Feathers

I am sad to inform you that Feathers (Jonathan's Beta fish) passed away today.  :-(  He was a good little fish but has been fading over the last few months.  I have been preparing Jonathan that I didn't think Feathers would last much longer.  Jonathan was sad but he didn't cry.  He said he knew it would happen.  Brad and I were amazed at how well Jonathan handled it.  Jonathan and Brad burried Feathers in our backyard.  Poor Diana kept pointing at the tank and saying, "Fishy Fishy" while shaking the food bottle.  I see another fish in our future.

Dare Devil

Grandpa decided to go swimming with the kids today.  I don't know if he realized what he was in for.  Diana is a little dare devil!  She thoroughly enjoyed jumping off the edge of the pool and kept going back for more.  Grandpa was braver than me and would let her go under water just a little bit when she would jump in and she didn't care.  We think by the end of all the jumping she was actually learning to hold her breath.  Here are some pictures I got of her one jump, think it was the first one.  They took a break from jumping and pretending the raft was a boat or something and Diana was "driving" it.

C'Mon

We went to the Children's Museum of Naples (C'mon) today and the kids had a blast!  It was a great museum with lots to do!  Diana didn't get to go at Thanksgiving, we thought she was too young, but I think it was perfect for her this time.  If the kids weren't hungry and Diana wasn't sleepy, I think we could have lasted there all day.  I was happy GB was with me though because  the kids didn't always want to be in the same area. 

Guess Where We Went?

To the pool again!  My kids are turning into fish.  :-)

Cool Shades

The kids were being silly today, I think this picture captures their excitement to go to the pool again.