Hoppy Easter 2016

Easter was a bit different this year as mother nature decided to send lots of snow a few days ago. Saturday was the big day where everyone was having Easter egg hunts, but a lot got cancelled or moved inside because of the weather. We found one still going on at a nursery near our house so Carson and I headed there to meet the Easter bunny and collect eggs.

We didn't have any family in town this year so Easter was going to be pretty low key. The Easter bunny came and left the boys baskets and then we headed to brunch at a local brewery. The weather warmed up a bit so we decided to set out for a family hike on a nearby trail. Although it was extremely muddy and a little snowy still, we had a blast and I just love that Carson requests to go hiking now. We had to make up for our Easter egg hike that was cancelled on Saturday.

Happy Easter! "As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth." (Job 19:25)

Toilet Talks with the Toddler

We just recently came up with our plan to start potty training Carson {who will be three at the end of May}. To date we haven't done much at all. We haven't felt he's ready and since he has a mind of his own and we just weren't ready to make potty training another battle in our house. So we've been pretty lax and if he expresses he wants to sit on the potty, we let him sit. He's been in a potty-training class at daycare for about 4 months now and they sit on the potty every two hours. And just last week we got our first WIP (went in potty) note on his daily sheet! Still not ready to dive in to potty training just yet, we did not jump on board with him going at school and make him start at home.

The next day our bedtime routine was going as normal and just as I was about to start brushing his teeth Carson turned to me and said, "I need to pee potty." Alright buddy, so we sat. And then he peed!

"Hey I did it. I need pee more."
"Yeah! I need pee again."
{Clapping} I need pee again."

And the above phrase happened about 20 times  until...

"Actually I need poop. Oh sorry, I just need pee more."
"I hear butt fart. Weiner no fart." (Boys will be boys!)

And then he pooped! I was definitely taken off guard. I've heard so many stories of number 2 taking a while to train. But it seems it is working best for us to wait and let Carson tell us when he's ready. As long as he's potty-trained by kindergarten we're fine, right?! Lol!! And for your entertainment, here's some more "toilet talk with the toddler." Hope your Friday night was as entertaining as mine and yes, there's video for future embarrassment ;)!

"No mommy!" (because I'm dying of laughter and apparently he doesn't approve.
"Mommy, I must get poop out butt."
"Snyder poops outside. I poop in house. Snyder doesn't need poop in potty."

Oh toddlers...

Cooper Thomas: Eight Months

Last month I said you were go-go-go and this month I'm going to update that you're now getting in to EVERYTHING! Your favorite thing to do is pull yourself up to standing which you will do for long periods of time. Anything and everything you can grab to pull up, you will. Your go-to right now is the dog bowls! You were only sitting for a week or two before you started pulling up. It started to the knees and now up to your feet. I've even caught you pulling your leg up to try and climb on things. I'm sure it's only a matter of time! Daddy and I have also caught you crawling but you quickly revert to your belly scoot since you know it works. For the most part you are a pretty happy baby, but do require attention. You keep a close eye on us and we seem to always need to be in your sight. You have also recently developed a fear of strangers. We've been to visit some people you've seen plenty of times and when they want to hold you you're not having it! You can be very vocal at times and daddy always jokes that your throat has to hurt with the noise that comes out of your mouth. Your brother made the same noise and we said then it was like a pterodactyl. It sure makes working with you fun!!

We are trying to get you to eat food but you just don't seem very interested. I've had more success with Baby Led Weaning techniques rather than spoon feeding. You're still pushing most foods out with your tongue but I've had some success with you sucking on a quesadilla, strawberry, banana occasionally, rice cake crackers and cucumbers (@blwideas on Instagram is super helpful). I guess you are just taking your sweet time and just really love the bottle! Your sleep is improving but isn't great. You are down to up once at night unless something is wrong, and last night you slept from 7:15p-6:15a! Don't worry, I'm not jinxing anything because I'm not expecting that to happen again :)

I joke with myself that if you were my first baby I probably wouldn't have had two. You are 100% opposite of your brother (who was so easy which is why he's probably a pain now) that I've having to re-figure everything out. But it's also nice to have an older sibling as a "distraction" that I don't sit around and dwell on everything you are/aren't doing. But despite me having no idea what to do with you most of the time, I love you to pieces and can't wait to see what you'll be up to next month.

Birth: 6lbs 11.1oz and 19.5in

Leaving Hospital: 6lbs 3.9oz

Five Days: 6lbs 10oz

Two Weeks: 7lbs 10.5oz and 20in
One Month: ~9lbs and 21in
Two Months: 11lbs and 23in
Four Months: 13lbs 4oz and 25 1/2in
Six Months: 16lbs and 26 1/2in
Eight Months: 17lbs

And here are some brother comparisons for you...

Carson (left) and Cooper (right)

Carson (left) and Cooper (right)