Meema, Popple and The Potty

We just said bye bye to Meema and Popple. We had so much fun with them and are so happy they could come down to visit. It feels like Santa came and went the way they went shopping for us... BUT the best gift of all was Charlie's new potty. Ahhh potty training. The moment I have been dreading since before I had my own children. It has turned me into one of those moms I can't stand. "Do you have to pee-pee?" "How bout now, honey... potty??" Ughh... the worst.

Now, I honestly think that Charlie could be in diapers going to kindergarten and it would not affect him one bit. He could sit in his mess all day and not care... always has been like that. So, I am SURE that this potty training thing will go really smoothly.

First, we tried the real training underwear... the kind with the padding that feels wet when there is an accident... Well three accidents within 5 hours later, I quickly realized that I didn't want to be hanging out in the laundry room for the net month of my life. Now, we are trying pull ups. the problem: he still doesn't care if he goes in them. They are too close to diapers. I guess I will just have to have him run around naked (especially while we are in a rental-right?!) Oh well, he is doing his best, I guess... one good day, one not so good-this might be a 6 month event.

Casey is still happy and content. He started baby foods on a regualr basis... that's right...do the math. He is almost 9 months. Is it about time? I honestly know someone who started their baby on baby food at 7 weeks. Are you crazy? Why would you want to complicate things?
Anyway, he is doing well... loves sweet potatoes (espcially all over his face). He is doing better at sleeping. That makes me a happier person :)

We have done a couple of days trips so far. Yesterday we picked up Cameron and Shannon (aka Cam and Shan) Hoover and met Heather (Angus) over at Heritage Village. Charlie had a blast hanging out with other kids and is positive that Cameron will fall for him someday soon :)

We also visited the beach. Both the boys loved it there. There is a little playground and boardwalk and most importantly FOOD. Charlie and I stuffed our faces with soft pretzels and lemonade. Well, that was my favorite, but I think Charlie had the most fun running in the sand. He couldn't get enough of it and actually ran through a beach volleyball game and kept right on going. He couldn't be stopped. The sad part was that he kept calling the sand snow. I mean, we moved away from the beach 5 months ago. Did he forget already??!

Blaine started games and his days have been longer, but he still gets to come home for dinner which we will miss during season.

It's been a fun week and Mindy and family are coming tomorrow- we can't wait!

Spring Training Start

Well, now at Phillies Spring Training in Clearwater. Blaine drove down with Wrigley and Charlie, Casey, me and Mom Mom decided to fly. We were a bit nervous as flights have not always gone smoothly with Charlie aboard; however, both boys were on their best behavior. Charlie actually didn't ask us to whip out the DVD player until an hour to landing and Casey slept ate and slept some more. Even the stranger that had to hold him because I didn't have enough hands to control Charlie, hold Casey AND fold down the stroller thought they were angels!

We rented a small 3/2 house that is .5 miles behind the field. The house is pretty nice inside but the neighborhood definitely needs some work. Besides the semi-creepy neighbor boasting about how he beat up Cole Hamels to Blaine, daily walks around the block are nerve racking. In addition to it just looking plain crappy because there are tractor trailors parked on every street and no one has grass where grass should be growing, a good deal of the houses have half rusted chain link fences with usually at least 2-3 massive foaming dogs behind them. I acually had pepper spray on my list of things for Blaine to pick up at Target. Oddly enough he wasn't able to find it. Which is just as well because I am sure one if not both of the children in the stroller might have lost their vision, perminenty, if I ever had to use it on a walk.

So, anyway, we have been walking over to the field to watch Blaine practice. There are a good amount of people there. Charlie loves going to watch daaa. The first day we went we watched some pitchers including Blaine doing some running drills. I pointed out which one daaa was to Charlie and without skipping a beat, he shouted at the top of his lungs "run daaa, run!" It was one of the cutest things I had ever heard. Blaine, luckily, thought so too. Ever since the first couple of practices, Charlie is a little more interested in the hot dogs than the baseball, but we still go for entertainment.

Casey has been wonderful too. He has finally learned to sleep past 6am (knock on wood) with the help of his new sound machine. Casey and I sleep so soundly with it, Blaine does not :( Oh well, 2 against 1.

My parents are down here now, then Mindy and Steve and the boys, then the Neals again. Lots of fun for all of us!