Xander and the Potty

I can't honestly say I had officially begun to potty train Xander. We knew we were going to be traveling over Labor Day weekend, so I knew I didn't really want to start until we were going to be home. Xander seems to have the type of personality were he at least has to think the idea to under take a larger project is partially his idea and lets face it I really needed him to be on board with this one. A few months ago I decided to begin what I lovingly call the "brainwashing" portion of his potty training. I headed to the library to collect any and all books and DVDs they had on making using the potty seem like the best idea ever (which by the way are painful for any adult to watch). We read the books and tried to watch one of the DVDs everyday (brainwashing). We bought a little potty that he liked to sit on, but not use. Than on Monday night while Jason was watching football and I was in the other room on the computer Xander emerged from the bathroom, diaper-less and pant-less, proclaiming he "put his pee pee in the potty". Jason, who was kind of suppose to be the one watching him, says he became increasingly nervous as to what he would find in the bathroom (because if there was pee all over my walls I probably won't have been happy). Nevertheless Xander had apparently made it to the potty, taken off his clothes, and peed all in the potty all by himself!

Fun at the Park

Headed to the park with friends for some summer time fun!

It is always funny what ideas kids come up with that they think are funny. I have entitled this video, "Put Your Bum On It" because that is what Brin and Xander kept saying.

Happy 2nd Birthday Xander!!!

Xander had a great construction themed birthday this year. He really liked helping me get ready for his party. Even though I stuffed the bottom of the truck with towels it still took me two boxes of brownie mixes to achieve my desired look.
Left to Right & Bottom to Top: Claire, Layna, Cooper/ Jack, Xander, Henry/ Brinley







I can't believe my kiddo is 2 already. I know ever parent thinks their kids are the best, but Jason and I often say that we really couldn't ask for a better boy. He defiantly has a personality all his own, but some of the traits we admire the most about him are the ones that drives us the craziest at times. I can't wait to see what the next year brings.

Xander's Birthday Morning Interview

There is no greater thing a parent can do than video your child first thing in the morning on their birthday.

Roller Skating Baby

We were invited to Ashton's 8th birthday party at Skate World. I had Ashton's older brother, Zach, in my class when he was in first grade and became friends with the family. I never had the opportunity to be Ashton's teacher because Xander was born the spring before she entered first grade, but Ashton still loves Xander.

I wasn't really planning on letting Xander skate, but as it turns out he loved it. It took him about a minute to realize he could do it on his own and then he refused to hold my hand anymore. He really loved being out on the real skate floor.

Check out Xander skating:

The Zoo

We headed to the Cincinnati Zoo today with Emily, Mary, Christina, and Courtney (and all subsequent children) for a really fun spring day at the zoo. The weather was perfect and the kids had a great time.

Xander and Henry getting their diapers change (defiantly going in at least one of their high school graduation slide shows).

This is a Penetrometer (it measures the toughness of a leaf). Xander loves anything that looks like a tool.

How many bugs does it take to weigh as much as Brinley, Caden, and Xander?

Watching the Polar Bears Swim

Brinley, Jack, Caden, Henry, Xander (yes he is eating), Layna, and Claire

Fun at the Edem's

Jason and Xander had already been doing this awhile before I took the video. I would also like it noted that Xander is not crying because he got hurt, he is crying because Jason stopped. :)

COSI Video

This was Xander's favorite thing in the kid area. He would run to get the balls and put them on top of the blowers.

Xander and Caden ran in and out of this tent a ton of times. Xander would look at Caden and say, "hey" (translation, "This is fun lets do it again.").

COSI

Some friends and I recently headed to COSI, the children's museum in Columbus, for the day.

Xander playing at the water table.

He really like the wheelbarrows and was finding lots of things to put in it.

This one you could have two balls race each other down, but Xander really just like watching them role down.

Classic Sliding

The small child's area was set up like a little town. He liked flying the helicopter.

Xander, Caden , Jack, & Claire

Xander performing an operation.

Xander playing in a submarine. (I think he liked the buttons.)

In the gadgets area he would fill each hole with a screw. Then after he did that he started moving them over one by one to another rod. He was really interested in what that dad and son behind him were building.

I had to at least get one picture of the two of us.

Because That's A Good Idea...

I find myself thinking and saying it often (and then Jason reminds me that Xander doesn't really grasp sarcasm yet). Xander went to go get his water cup out of his diaper bag in the mudroom. When he didn't return I went looking for him and found this. He had poured some of the water out onto the bench and was lapping it up like a cat (no idea..we don't even have a cat).

Newport Aquarium

Emily & I took the kids to the Newport Aquarium on Friday. We took them in July when our friend Tracy was visiting and decided to buy passes since you could more than make up the cost in 2 visits. The kids loved it, probably Jack the most since he wants to know everything about every type of fish. The tunnel tanks were Xander's favorites. When we went in July Xander really liked the floor tanks, not this time. Check the video out at the end. He would stand at the edge and say, "no no fall down".

The kids also really liked the penguins. The aquarium was not very crowed and all the kids would run along the tank and "chase" the penguins.

Why Did I Buy Him Toys For Christmas???

We moved into our house the day after Christmas. These pictures are how Xander occopied himself while we were unpacking. (He did actually get that hammer or "my boom boom", as he calls it, for Christmas.)