full circle

So, I really need to blog about Khloe's 2nd birthday ... but as I sit here, I find my mind fully encompassed by a different topic.

Below you will see pictures of what filled my evening ...

It doesn't look bad from here ... wish I could insert a "smell" photo.

Across the room!

Me, too, Khloe ... that's exactly how I felt! 

It ain't chocolate, folks!

Seriously ... disgusting!

Cleaning up a mess of poop wasn't what I had hoped for this Monday afternoon/evening, but Khloe's curiosity and boredom got the best of her during nap today ... and she left me a huge, stinky mess to deal with.

When I opened the door, I could immediately smell the waft of fresh poop.  It was disgusting!  I knew that something must be terribly wrong ... then I opened the door wider, and I looked into her room.  There she was ... standing in her crib ... smeared with poop.  Her crib rails, sheets, walls, stuffed animals, blankets, feet, nails, hair ... all were smeared with poop.  But I, also, noticed poop on the floor and across the room.  It was a solid poop that she must've used as a play-doh to smear it the way it was--all over everything!  She had thrown some of the solid pieces across the room and onto the floor.  The worst part might have possibly been the smell.

As soon as I saw her, I just stopped in complete awe.  I stared at her.  She stared at me.  No one said anything for a few minutes.  Then Khloe said, "Poop is EVERYWHERE!"  I managed to say, "What did you do!?!"  Then I realized ... she had removed her shorts and diaper.  She said again, "Poop is EVERYWHERE! I played with it."  Yes, you did, Sis ... yes, you did.  Ugh!

I immediately started the bath, and I stripped off the only piece of clothing left on her ... her shirt.  I put her in the bath and scrubbed poop off of her feet, fingers, hands, nails, ears, hair, cheeks, legs ... it was definitely everywhere.  Once she was cleaned, I dried her off and sent her to Colton's room.  She got dressed and banished from the kids' room area.  I had some serious disinfecting to do!

I have washed everything ... including the carpet!  I'm still reeling from the smell, but at least it's all clean ... every last crib rail. Grrrrrr!

I'm now overloading our washing machine with stinky, poopy everything.  At least it's almost all done ... what an evening.  I need a massage!

On a side note ... I titled this blog "full circle", because, apparently, I did this to my Mother when I was little ... so what goes around comes around ... all my Mom did was laugh when I called her.  Thanks, Mom!

what's what ...

We've been busy, as usual, lately.  We've had a ton of fun MOMs Club outings due to Swaptember where, if you have season passes to anyone of these locations (FL Aquarium, Lowry Park Zoo, or MOSI), you can get into the other places for free all month long ... so we have been hitting up each one to get the most out of our season passes.  Here are a few pics from our Aquarium trip:

Our trip to the Florida Aquarium!

Colton and his buddy, Alexander, looking at the sharks and giant grouper.

Khloe hides like a hermit crab in a shell.

Colton loves playing on these shells!

The touch tank!  The water is COLD, but he really loves to feel the starfish.  Khloe was not so interested. 

Colton got a black eye a couple of weeks ago.  It's still trying to heal, but he basically ran into a chair.  We were at Monkey Bizness, and he was talking to me and walking backwards as we left.  I asked him to turn around and let's get going ... when he turned around, he bonked right into the side of a chair.  A few hours later, he had a HUGE black eye!

One night this past week, Colton was playing Mario, and Khloe likes to hold a remote and pretend to play, too.  She came walking up to me, and said, "Look at me!"  She had the remote around her ankle.  Great work, Koki, great work.

So, we hosted a few things last weekend.  I had a MOMs Club event at my house, and the next night, we had church plant at our house.  I decided to make pizza buns for CP, so I used Grandma Heinrich's bun dough recipe.  I had never made it before.  With a little bit of Mom H's help (I called her a few times), they turned out perfectly!  They were really tasty, and several people told me that they really liked the pizza buns ... they said the fresh baked bread really made the difference.  Thanks, Grandma H and Mom H!  

And while I was at the whole making bread thing ... I decided some caramel rolls for my MOMs Club event would be tasty.  So, I made up a batch ... and they seemed to be a hit.  I love caramel rolls!  The house sure smelled great while they were all baking.

At our MOMs Club event, it was Kids in the Kitchen ... so, I had the kids make these apple smiles.  It felt "fall like" using apples, and all of the ingredients were kid-friendly.  I thought they turned out super cute!  Thanks, Pinterest!

Our friend, Levi, had his 4th birthday last weekend.  It was a pool party, and it was Jake and the Neverland Pirates themed ... it was really fun!  All of the kids had a great time ... luckily it was a sunny, hot FL day ... no rain, so we really were glad to spend a few hours in the pool!  I thought the kids made super cute pirates!  

All of the kiddos!

Pirate Captain Colton 

Pirate Captain Khloe 

"Argh!"

"Walk the plank!"

Just wanted to end with a cute pic of the kiddos ... they make life a whole lot better!

My two fishies!

"please lady ... save your judgmental words and reflect ..."

I, honestly, get so tired of the plethora of judgmental parents, grandparents, aunts, cousins, uncles, best friends, mother's-daughter's-roommate's-second cousins out there who offer their blind-sided advice and give unnecessary cat-calls out to parents whom they feel are "doing it wrong".

For the record ... having two small toddlers to chase around Target, Publix, the mall, the park, the gym, etc. isn't an easy task!  You have one in one hand ... and usually, one in a cart ... if you're lucky!  You may be chasing the other one around who flat out refuses to get into said cart.   If you are having a good day, you may get into the actual store without shoe-flying, ankle-biting, lay-on-the-ground fits in the parking lot ... because your kid doesn't want to hold your hand.  If you make it inside before the incessant chanting for the free cookies begins, you are one step ahead of most of us--thanks for that little piece of annoyance every time we go into your store Target and Publix ... free cookies for kids ... marvelous addition to any child's healthy diet.  (And some of you reading this might say ... "Why ... you're the parent--just say 'no' to them.  Do you know how many times I go to Target and Publix in one week!?!  Eventually, you pick your battles and a free cookie isn't one of them!)

Once inside any of these places, you are on your mark to get them to "put that down", "don't touch those", "those aren't for you", "no, we're not buying that", "where did you go", "follow me, please", "stay with me", "stop yelling", "please stop crying", "use your words, what do you need", "eat this snack", "I'm out of snacks, sorry", "no, I didn't bring milk", "we might visit the toy section, if you are listening" ... only to buy more than what you needed and to forget half of what you were there for in the first place!  All to end with them begging for "STICKERS, PLEASE!"

By the time, they are hauled back out to the car, loaded in their carseats, and you have answered their questions for "turning the movie on", or "water please", or "can we go home" ... you wonder what made you think this short, little stop (an hour and half later) to Target or the grocery store sounded like a good idea.

Through all of that craziness ... we do not need the nosey, judgments of those with grown kids--let's face it, you all don't remember what it was like--or those with no kids to shout out of their car window as they drive by while you're walking into the store, "GRAB THE HAND OF THAT LITTLE BOY!"

To that I say: "Mind your own business."

Longboat Key

We had a great weekend--a short getaway to Longboat Key!  We spent a couple of nights at Longboat Key Island Resort and met up with a few friends who were there for FH Wesley Chapel Board Retreat.  For an added bonus, we got to help celebrate our friend, Gwendy Adams' 33rd birthday, too!  

View from our room.  Longboat Key Island Resort. 

We had a great time!  We spent Sabbath out on a boat cruising the ocean.  We stopped for a few hours on a gorgeous bird sanctuary island ... Egmont Key.  It was white sand ... clear water ... and not too many people.  Perfect!  The water is so warm right now, so it's the perfect time to be out at the beach.  We, also, got to see so many manta rays!  They were traveling in packs along the shore line.  They would just swim around us as we sat and swam in the water.  It was so cool!  Colton LOVED it!  He kept trying to chase them.  It was incredible how they would swim right next to us ... touching us at times even!

Brian was our boat captain, and Colton was navigating!

Khloe liked the boat ride ... when it wasn't going too fast!  She didn't like it when the wind got too strong in her face.  But she was enjoying it here!

The birthday girl, Gwendy, and her boys!

We made it to Egmont Key Island!  So gorgeous!

When we got to Egmont Key, we saw tons of Manta Rays!  They swam all around us!

Colton enjoying the water ... and our boat in the background!

Khloe loved the water!

Colton was so excited to see the rays so close!

Koki was looking for shells.

Just loving the water and the beach!

For lunch, Brian drove the boat to a restaurant off of Longboat Key.  It was fun boating up to eat!  It's not every day you get to do that!  We had some good food, and we met some more friends for a tasty lunch at the Sandbar Grill.

Captain Brian takes us to lunch!

Colton and Daddy enjoying a zooming boat ride! 

The gorgeous view! 

Koki wanted to sit with Daddy.

After that, we boated back to the marina so that the moms could take the kids back to the hotel for baths and naps.  Billy and Brian went for a little extra boat ride sans kids.  It was a nice break for them!

What a nice day for being on the water!  We enjoyed it and the kids had a good nap.

That evening, we went to Chart House to celebrate Gwendy's birthday.  We had a tasty meal, and a fabulous lava cake dessert--courtesy of a FH admin that we kept seeing out and about on Longboat Key all weekend.  (I guess he owns out there ... and it was owners weekend.)

We got some more beach time in this morning, and we spent some more time with the rays swimming all around us!  Billy and the kids saw a huge jelly fish, too!  It was a really fun weekend spent with some very good friends, and I'm so happy that we got to experience such a wonderful beach here in FL.  It's nice to find some of the special places!  The weekend was filled with family time and friends, and we couldn't have had a nicer time.

Enjoying our last bit of beach time this beautiful morning!  What fun we had!

potty training 101 with khloe heinrich

She's ready!  Am I?

Let's be honest ... I never would have attempted potty training with Colton when he was this age.  But then again, I had a two month old who I was trying to get to sleep through the night.  I was adjusting to life with two little ones in the house.  It was Christmas time, and let's face it ... who is excited about potty training?  Not this Mom!

Last winter, Colton successfully completed my potty training "course".  It all began when he was 26 months old, and he saw some undies purchased for him by an Aunt (thanks, Brenda) for Christmas sitting on his dresser.  He pointed to them, and he said that he wanted to wear them.  I laughed ... and then quickly realized that he was serious.  So, not wanting to discourage the little guy (even though, I was quite happy changing those yucky diapers ... I feared the unknown!), I told him that if he wanted to wear them, he could only pee in the potty.  He seemed okay with that ... I wasn't too sure he really got what I meant.  It didn't take but a few pee accidents and about a week of my fear that he would pee everywhere in the house and everywhere we went ... when I realized, I think this kid has a handle on this "potty" thing.  Now, poo was a different story.  Colton only did that at nap and bedtime ... and since I wasn't night or sleep training, yet ... I never had to deal with poo ... until I realized, he was never going to poo in the potty, if he could help it!  But last winter, he braved the unknown, and he learned that pooing in the potty wasn't so bad.  Night training was a cinch, and we've been done with his potty training ever since!

I was thrilled and so ready to be done with that.  Then I realized ... I would have to do that again.  Khloe was still pretty young at that point ... only 15 months old.  So, I didn't feel pressure, but I haven't been looking forward to starting her training at all.

Then I got pregnant ... again.  So, I decided I better get a jump on this thing while I still have plenty of time to make sure it sticks!  Sometime ago, maybe last winter or early spring, Khloe grabbed my hand and said, "Potty, potty, potty!" while she dragged to the toilet in the bathroom.  Not too long after that, I bought a potty chair.  Since about late April/May, I have sent Koki into the bathroom to use the potty whenever I change her diaper here at home.  She is excited to go, and uses the potty chair ... but she never had a dry diaper!  She was always using her diaper, as well.  Also, I had my huge 6 week trip this summer, and I wasn't about to do the potty training or go through learning while we were driving so much and at other people's homes for such a long stretch.  I waited until all of that was over.

As I thought more about it, I decided I would wait until she turned two.  Then last week, I started to run out of diapers.  I had only a few left, and I didn't want to make a big SAMs Club run until this coming week.  So ... as I stared down into her drawer where a few diapers lingered next to about twenty pairs of panties, I changed my mind and decided now was as good a time as any to see if she is ready to be potty trained.  22 months ... not exactly when I wanted to begin, but here we are.

So far, it's been 3 1/2 days.  Usually, I would like to stay home for those days.  However, we have gone to a frozen yogurt place, to a restaurant, to church, to a food truck fair, to someone's house for a few hours, to the store several times, and to the park ... she has stayed dry for ALL of those outings.  I was so very nervous on Sabbath when we were at church and she held it for an hour and a half!  (She will not potty in the big toilet.) She has had a couple of potty accidents at home, but a couple isn't half bad.  Absolutely no accidents on Saturday!  I have been very happy with her progress, and even though, it looks like she may turn into Colton with her poo activity ... I'm only worried about her daytime pee progress at this point.  We'll jump into night training later ... when she moves to a big girl bed ... as long as I can hold out!  Ha, ha!

Babies, Babies Everywhere!

I have been the most terrible blogger this summer!  I usually try to do at least one per week to keep my family up-to-date on what we have been doing here in FL.  But this summer, I have FAILED!  It all started when we took our humungous summer trip to the midwest.  I was gone for nearly 6 weeks ... didn't have time to post on the trip ... and now I feel overwhelmed.  While I still need to blog about our adventures, I will skip that for now and blog about something I have needed to write about for a while.

This will be the winter of babies!  My sister-in-law, Brenda, is due with her second baby on January 4, 2014.  She is having a BOY!  Isn't that exciting!?!  Two boys to terrorize and run the household.  She will love it!

Brenda's Announcement ... super cute! :)

I am due on February 7, 2014.  That's right ... number three is around the corner.  I, honestly, don't know what we are thinking, but according to my friends who have three ... the third one is a charm.  I have to hold on to this hope ... as Koki can be a mess and half!  We are very excited but very nervous at the same time.  I know that we will enjoy a larger family, and I know that it's what we have always wanted.  But a new baby means starting all over again!  Not sleeping through the night, feeding them, absolutely zero independence, naps, etc.  The great thing about the two we already have is how independent they are ... it's really a breeze most of the time.  It will throw a kink into our travels to visit family ... as five is a tougher way to fly.  But in the end, I think it's all worth it.  That first year goes so fast ... right? ;)

Our announcement that the third is on the way ... a "Hat Trick"!

And lastly, my sister is due on March 4, 2014.  She will find out what she is having within the next 6 to 8 weeks, so I'll let you all know when I find out.  She has a step-son, Zion, who is 13, and a daughter, Madison, who is 4.  They will have a full house, too!  Both of the kids will be great older brother and sister to the new baby.  I think they are both very excited to have another one in the house.

Madison and Zion will be excited to be a big brother (again) and big sister!

What a fun and exciting time for everyone on both sides of my family!  Grandparents are all smiles!

We'll Miss You, Alice (Aslaug) Jarnes Ellstrom ...

Grandma and (most of) her extended family ... the matriarch of them all!

Yesterday, we got some pretty disheartening news that Grandma Ellstrom has gone to sleep with Jesus. It was a pretty rough evening at the Heinrich house.  Billy and I went for a walk and talked about Grandma, her family, and the life we knew her to have lived.  I have only been in Grandma's life for a little while, but I feel blessed and lucky to have known such a caring, loving, giving, talented woman.

She had 9 children ... that, in and of itself, is pretty amazing!  Having only two at the current moment and thinking about that third one joining the party ... I am in awe and admiration of a woman who raised 9 healthy, well-rounded, kind, and caring children.  (If you are lucky enough to know an Ellstrom, you know what I mean.)

She has 18 grandchildren who love her and respect her with all of their hearts.  And why not!?!  She was so kind and thoughtful.  She made mouthwatering, delicious Norwegian dishes.  She never spoke an angry, unkind word.  She was all love and sweetness--everything a grandchild could want in a grandmother.  (And she was pretty good at Mexican Train!)

She has 20 great-grandchildren ... and I am so thankful that Colton and Khloe were able to be a part of her life and she a part of theirs.

What a grandiose family of which to be the matriarch!  There isn't one who could speak ill of such a woman as Alice Ellstrom.  She was loved by so many, and she will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

See you soon, Grandma!  May the Lord come quickly to take us all home.  

Grandma and Grandpa Ellstrom ... young couple!

Grandma with her girls ... Marlene, Yvonne, and Kathy!

Grandma with all but one of her children.

Grandma with some of her grandkids!

Grandma with some of her great-grandkids!

Christmas time!

The sweet couple, Grandma & Grandpa Ellstrom!

Grandma & Grandpa E with the Heinrich family!