Life and books...

Things have been crazy, I seriously can't believe it's September 20th! I love this month and it's almost over! How does this always seem to happen...really before I know it my baby girl is going to be here. I keep saying just Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas then she's here...I think I need more time! ;)

Here's the two book I've read the last month, (I know only 2! I've been lacking in the book reading area because I've been working on crafts and things around my house)

Both were absolutely amazing. Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is a quicker read and it was for September book group, very cute story I loved it. And The Forgotten Garden was a lot longer of a book and more serious, but very good as well.

Right now I'm reading 2 amazing books, the reason I'm reading 2 is because I started reading "Lone Survivor" which is this incredible true story of a US Navy SEAL and his real life account of being in Afghanistan and all the SEALS in his team dying except for him. Seriously this book is amazing. But as I was reading it my husband kept asking me to read it out loud to him at night so now we are reading it together and it's taking forever to finish! But he loves it and I really don't mind reading out loud so it's good for both of us. And then for my personal book I'm reading "A Tree grows in Brooklyn" which is very good as well. I've been wanting to read it forever and so I'm finally doing it. And so far I really like it.

Well hopefully if you're lucky I'll post a pic of my belly one of these days...I really hate pictures of me prego, but I love it when other pregnant friends post their pics. We'll see if I actually post one or not. So stay tuned:)

Surprise!

Well lots of people out there know this Surprise but some still don't...

We are expecting baby number 3 ! and it's a GIRL!

I am so excited, especially now that I know I'm having a baby girl.. but I hate to admit this I haven't been way excited the last 19 weeks... This has been quite the surprise (that's a better term then accident don't you think? ) for our family. I was quite content with my 2 boys for the next couple years. Especially since little Lukey is quite the handful. But sometimes there are other plans that we don't account for and I know for a FACT that this little girl wanted/needed to come right now and no matter the precautions I took she was coming! haha! I've been so so so sick and the usual ridiculously tired that goes along with the first trimester. But finally at 18 weeks she's decided to be a good little girl and I haven't paid tribute to the 'porcelain god' in over a week!! It's been great! And now today I found out that it's a little girl and I am so happy. I love my boys don't get me wrong! But a cute little girl to dress up and wear bows...I am so excited:)

So even though I've got my work cut out for me with...yes...3 kids under 3. I don't like to hear those words. I know it will be OK. Hopefully. So the facts are I am 19 weeks along, due January 13th, Isaac will be 3 1/2 and Luke will be 20 months. It's going to be crazy! But fun and I know I will have lots and lots of family and friend support so I will survive! :)

Here's where I'm heading...

Yay for the beach I hope it's warm. It seems I only go to beaches when it's cold, but I think it will actually be warm this time! I'm excited and I hope my babies do well in the car all day tomorrow:/ wish me luck!

Summer Reads

I haven't posted my books I've been reading this summer, so I thought I'd take a quick minute and fill you in on the books I've read the last month or so...

Still Alice by Lisa Genova

Loved this book! It's a serious book about a woman diagnosed with early onset alzheimers. It's amazing. And really makes you consider life worth living.

Widow's War by Sally Gunning

I was in need of a book and just randomly picked this up at the library. It was a good read, I liked it, if you only read 1 book a year I wouldn't recommend this one but if you can't find anything to read it was good. It's a good historical fiction.

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale.

This book was way fun and a quick read. It was the book for my book group. It's juvenille fiction but I still liked it.

The Goose Girl also by Shannon Hale.

Since I liked Book of a Thousand Days I decided to pick up more books by Shannon Hale and I loved this one. I thought it was better then the Book of a Thousand Days. This book is just good fun fiction. You completely become lost in this land of royalty, I really loved it. I love a good book that takes you to far away places every now and then:)

How To... Potty train in 1 day!

So I told a couple people I would post my potty training in a day schedule. If you don't have a toddler in need of potty training then I would probably skip reading this post! But I am very proud to say my 3 year old is finally potty trained! Wahoo! Life is good:)

Step1: Pick a day
If you have other children this should be a day when the other children can go with daddy or grandma for the day. ( I didnt have this option so I just did it with Lukey and it was stressful but it still worked)

Step2: Buy 15 or so 1$ "prizes" from the grocery store or dollar store and put them in a box of some sort. ( I cut off the top of a used diaper box and put a sign on it that said "Isaac's Potty Prizes" )

Step3: Buy juice boxes or capri sun's or some kind of liquid they can drink through the whole day.

Step4: Buy underwear (multiple pairs! We went through 9 pairs the first day!) and it recommends a small potty ( I used a potty seat for the toilet and it worked fine, but I've heard a little potty works better? So it's up to you I suppose)

Ok here's what we did...
-Woke up, put on underwear! Wahoo we're going on the potty today!
- The key is Dont Ask Dont Tell! They have to tell you on their own!
-First Accident
you say:
Uh-Oh did you feel pee coming? Ok when we feel pee coming you (now do these steps and say them while you do them)
1. Stand up 2. RUN to the potty 3. Pull down your pants 4. Sit on the potty 5. Pull up your pants. Yay good job!
Then you repeat this 5 times!! Yes 5 times. and you DONT change their wet pants. So you go back to where you were playing when they had their accident. and you Say Ok when you feel pee coming you REPEAT 1-5 ! Yay so fun!!
-After 5 times you say Ok good job lets go look at your prizes. You pull down their prize box and say "which prize do you want right now?" and let them point or tell you and then you say "well too bad you didnt pee in the potty, maybe next time!" and you put the prize box back up. Then they get to put on clean underwear and pants, and emphasize how good the clean underwear feels!

-Repeat this HAPPILY (yes HAPPILY even after they've peed in their pants 9 times!) all day long:) and when they have a bowel movement you do the same thing! It's really terrible but we only had to do that once and it was enough for him! ( with the BM you clean out most of the poop and clean them up a little bit but not all the way trust me it's important! and then after the 5 times they can get in the bath and get clean clothes).

So that's it ONE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, STRESSFUL Day but then it's over. Isaac was still peeing his pants right before bed and I was quite discouraged and quite sick of the steps by the end of the day, but the next morning he woke up, peed his pants one time in the morning and hasn't had an accident since! Wahoo!!

Apparently this is from a book, I dont know what it's called maybe Potty training in 1 day? haha that sounds sarcastic but I seriously don't know what it's called. My pediatrician gave me this advice and I loved it and I wanted to share. Because if any of you are like me I was pretty lost at what to do besides stay at home for a week or 2 and get him to go on the potty. Which I am NOT good at staying home for that long so that wasn't a good option for me and I loved this! Just one bad day and then all is well:) Let me know if you have questions and good luck!

Busy Days

Lots has happened the last month and a half as I've been avoiding my blog. Not for any particular reason, just haven't really felt like blogging. Well I mentioned Luke turned one and we had a fun little party for him. He's such a doll, I just love my little blondie:)

Then we had the wonderful opportunity to go to the Oregon Coast with the Soffe Fam. We had a great time playing at the cold beaches, and seeing the Redwoods:) I have so many memories of Oregon as a kid it was so fun to take my kids and Brock and let them see everything!

Isaac at whaleshead beach. He was in heaven:)

Luke had a great time too, I spent most of the time trying to make him stop eating the sand. As you can see I wasn't always successful:)

Our little family at the Tree's of Mystery. I love the redwoods and I really loved being there with Brock.

Then this little monster turned 3! and we had his cousins over for a fun little water party! I love this picture:)

He loved his slip in slide, this is a nice action shot...Then on his actual birthday we took him to the zoo! Then went and got some yummy dinner at Ruth's diner. Look at those silly brothers!

We also celebrated the 4th with the Murray Parade, a BBQ and lots of fireworks. And I went to girls camp which was great fun! and basically the rest of the summer is planned out a week at Park City, a week in California, 2 BFF's getting married... so much to do and I love it all! Hope everyone is having a fun safe summer:)

The Big ONE!

Newborn

12 Months

Happy Birthday Dear Lukey! I can't believe it was a year ago today I had spent the last 14 hours birthing you! You have been tough! But they say the best things dont come easy and I think this applies to you! I LOVE you! You are so funny and I love your personality that is beginning to shine through:) I love you Luke! Happy 1st Birthday!