Winter Wonder Land

My Little Man Did It! He is officially Potty Trained!
We worked with him for a month this summer to try to get this goal accomplished but he just wasn't ready. So we decided to try again when he turned three; we started right after Christmas and he picked it up so quickly. He really was just ready this time around. He has been doing great and tells us when he needs to go.
We are so proud of our little boy who is not so little any more.
He is becoming so big and tall!

The Big THREE has also brought a lot more time in TIME OUT! This kid has learned how to push our buttons lately. His favorite statement lately is "I'm Not....."
The word "NO" is in full force at our house on both sides.

We finally got some snow this week. Berke was so excited to see this magical white stuff and wanted to play in it immediately. Saturday we went to Charlotte's back yard and played in the snow. Berke looked like the kid from A CHRISTMAS STORY as he would fall down and couldn't get back up. It was pretty cute. McDuff enjoyed running around in the fluffy white stuff as well. Sadly the snow was too light to make FROSTY which Berkeley really wanted to do, perhaps next time.

Berkeley has finally taken some interest in his Mommy's hobbies. He has always loved music and instruments like his dad, but this week he has taken interest in running and exercising. We had to buy him running shoes last weekend at the New Balance Outlet so he could be like Mom. When we got home he put his "running shoes" on and ran figure 8's around the house for a good 20 minutes.
He also decided to workout with Mom today; he enjoyed doing some Biggest Loser Boot Camp with her (at least the stretching part).

This kid, he is fun and exhausting, but we will keep him cause life would be pretty dull without him.

One year ago our street looked liked this

Today there was a thin layer of snow; the first of the season, it melted by the time I got home from work. The only real sign of winter this year is the leafless trees and fat squirrels.

I chose this years winter.

Somehow my son made me miss snow today suprisingly. When he woke up and saw the little snow we had, he was so excited to play in it. So for him I wish we had a little bit of snow (but briefly), so we could build Frosty. Other than that, I am happy to not have our cold white friend visit. After all I would much rather have family and friends come and visit!

The Bad Parent Award Goes To......

So it happened, I suppose it is a right of passage, but I just don't like that it happened on my watch. Berkeley swallowed a penny yesterday; that is correct, Mr. Lincoln is swimming in his belly today.

Berke has an obsession these days with money; any sort of money he gets is $16. He is obsessed with a bowl of change we keep on a table in our entry way, he is always asking to play with money and we always give him a couple pennies to with which to play. It has always been fine.

Yesterday he was playing with his $16 (3 pennies) and it was time for his nap. Berke asked me if he could sleep with his $16, I had a thought enter my head. Hmm, that sounds like a bad idea, he could swallow the money. Then another thought, he'll be fine, he never puts anything in his mouth. It was like the angel and the devil on both shoulders, although at the time it just seemed like problem solving. So I told the kid he could sleep with his 3 pennies; that would make him happy and that is all I really want after all. So I laid him down.

Fast forward 10 minutes and I hear crying coming from Berkeley's room, a very unusual sound during his nap time. I rush in to see that we now only have 2 pennies instead of 3, and my little man is holding his throat. I ask if he swallowed a penny and he said "yeah." I thought, well he IS breathing so that is a good sign. He was distressed however, so I became distressed. I got him up and called our doctor friends. He was crying, but could talk and drink water and I took that as a good sign. I was told unless he has pain or trouble breathing it probably is just gonna come out in his poop. I calmed the kid down and we went back to bed.

I laid down with my boy, who was a bit traumatized. He kept trying to reach down his throat to get the penny and said, " I can't reach it mom." We talked about how it was okay, but he shouldn't put money in his mouth ever again. Berke then turned to me and said, "We should only swallow waffles mom." So true Berke, so true!

We both settled down and nap time proceeded without further problems.

Lesson: Don't let your kid sleep with $16, even if they NEVER put anything in their mouths!

A Birthday Mashup

Saturday we had a Musical Birthday Party for our Big Boy who is

THREE!

(I have been telling him all week he is a big boy and one day he told me he is not a big boy, he is a girl. Not sure what to make of that....)

We invited some of Berke's little friends over for a fun party. These kids are the cutest! Lily was the only girl who could make it, but others were invited but couldn't make it. What a fun group of friends my kid has...seriously!

Everyone showed up and Auntie G and Aunt Stefy helped them make party hats. They also got cool musical bandannas.

Once everyone got some energy (aka food) and had a party hat, they were ready to PARTY!

We started out with singing time

Then had a little dance party.

These kids have some serious moves!

The kids danced pretty hard, so after our dance party, we sat down and played with a big birthday surprise......some cool drums! Everyone got their own drum; they learned how to drum fast, slow, soft and loud and then we drummed to a few songs. We even did a little parade with the drums around the house.

No birthday is complete without birthday cake and ice cream, unless it is Berkeley's party, cause he doesn't like cake or ice cream. So we opted for his favorite sugary treat...DONUTS! It was a sticky, delicious, messy time and EVERYONE loved it. Lily was a bit distressed that Berkeley wasn't having a birthday cake, but I think she was happy in the end with her donut.

Berke's little friend Ian showed up a bit late, so he missed the friend picture, but here he is. I love these rockin' boys in their flannel shirts.

Berke had a fun party with his pals.

A BIG thanks to all Berkeley's friends and their "special birthday parent helpers" for coming to the party and for the wonderful gifts they brought Berkeley! As well as Auntie G and Aunt Stefy for all their behind the scenes help.

I have to say I look at other blogs and see all the cute decorations and party favors that are carefully crafted and oh so adorable, and I will never live up to that. However, even with my Dollar tree Happy Birthday banner, plates and table cloth I think I know how to throw a fun party! I mean these kids left with the cutest drums and had a fun and exhausting afternoon, and I don't think I can ask for anything better than that.

I have also learned something about my little Berke as of late, and that is that he doesn't do great in groups. He is the funniest and sweetest boy one on one, but he doesn't jive in groups. If there are group activities he seems to stand to the side; he watches and observes what the other people are doing and takes it all in. I thought he would love his little dance party as he rocks out at home all the time, but when his friends came over to dance he stood against the wall and watched them, and did a few moves of his own, but on his safe wall away from everyone. It is quite interesting and I think that his daycare and primary will be helpful in helping him to be more comfortable in groups (I hope). He has started to come out of his shell at daycare when they do singing and exercise time, and that took a few months, so I think it is good for him.

Berke also started PRIMARY today. Yep, my little man is a SUNBEAM!

In our church all the little kids who turn 3 years old by or on December 31st start going to primary instead of playing with toys in the nursery.

So Berke BARELY made the deadline. If he was born 14 hours later he would have been in nursery for another year. I have been pretty stressed and worried about this, as it is clear Berkeley is the youngest in his class. There are 13 Sunbeams this year, so they wisely divided them into two classes. Berke did pretty well today; I sat in the back of the room and he was turned around 1/2 of the time waving to me and saying, "hi mommy!" His attention span is not quite there, but he did better than I thought. He did very good in his class time however and I think he might just be okay.

I love my little three year old big boy!

Dear 2012,

Dear 2012,

I know we just met, and so far I have good impression of you. I just wanted to let you know that you sorta intimidate me.

You see 2011 and I got along pretty well. We had some ups and downs but it was mostly wonderful. There were some hard times, don't get me wrong, family and friends had medical problems, we lost two wonderful grandfathers, there were some hard personal stuggles, but in the end, the good out shined the hard.

We had a lot fun travels this year to various beaches, New York, Disney World, Utah and Yellowstone. We got to spend time with a lot of family and friends this year. We saw one sister sealed in the temple, while another friend got married, we welcomed two nephews to our family, a friend got pregnant with twins after a battle with her body, another got into graduate school, while yet another opened her own business. We continued to be happy and healthy, and for that we were grateful.

The thing is 2012, I know you are a year of change for our little family. Not a little change, but a HUGE change. My husband, Christian, whom you met yesterday, is graduating with his PhD this year from Brandeis University. This is something he has been working towards for MANY years. This is the year that he goes onto the job market, which is a great thing, yet a VERY scary thing. If he gets a job it means we most likely will be moving away from a place and from people that I am VERY attached to and love. If he doesn't get a job it means heartache and plan B's. Either way, it is gonna be rough, but we know it can be good. So I just wanted to ask you to go easy on us. I know you have great possibilities in our future and we are excited about them, but please bring us hope instead of doubt!

We look forward to our continued relationship. We promise to work on our goals related to our health, wealth and wisdom. My main hope is that this intimidation can slowly widdle away into a truly wonderful friendship. I'm sure we can get along wonderfully!

Warmest Wishes,

Laci

BERKEY'S BIRTHDAY

Berkeley turned THREE years old. Each birthday continues to be an emotional and sentimental day for me, much more than I ever anticipated. This little boy has changed my life so much; he has brought me more joy than any one could have ever told me. I love this kid so much.

Berkeley woke up to his room covered in balloons; he was very excited by this fun surprise.

We got ready and picked up Berkeley's little friend Soren for a play date. We went to two of Berkeley (and apparently Soren's) favorite places. We started the morning by going to Dunkin' Donuts to get a donut and milk. It was too funny to see these boys, who are both super clean freaks eat their donuts. Soren used his palms to eat the donut, as to not get his fingers dirty or have to touch the frosting in any way. Berkeley chose the option of no hands and just bit the donut from the table. Both creative options and both seemed to work.

Then we headed to the Museum of Science! We had lots of fun learning and exploring new things. Dad even taught us about volcanos.

We even went to the Butterfly Garden as a special birthday treat, but it turned out to be more of a special birthday horror show. Berkey and Soren were not really digging the butterflies. They were pretty active and were flying around everywhere. Berke was terrified to say the least and Soren was trying to be brave, but was asking to leave quite frequently.

Two cute three year olds. Berke is lucky to have such wonderful little buddies.

I just love this picture!

We dropped Soren off at his house so Berke could take a much needed nap before we headed to Target to get Berke's 3 year photos taken. Berke got to pick out any toy he wanted when he was done and chose a little Spider Man on a motorcycle toy.

We headed back to the house, where Berke opened presents, ate dinner and played with his toys.

Our friends RyRy and Nikki came over and we ended the night playing Wipe Out 2 on the Wii. Berke stayed up until 10pm and still wasn't ready to go to sleep, but we were. Christian and I forced ourselves to stay awake to watch the ball drop (I have no idea why). Then we headed to bed.

Happy Birthday Sweet Berkeley! We love you!

Happy New Year Everyone!