Kid Stuff

Our Gender Reveal

So I wanted to share with you how we did our gender reveal. It didn't really go as planned...... To say the least, I wish we had done something a little different. But at least the decorations were cute!

Here is what I did to decorate:

Very simple. We had our families over and served lunch. Then we handed everyone a Silly String can, counted to 3, and then started spraying Silly String everywhere!

Problem: The Silly String came out white. Yes, white. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BLUE!!! Nobody knew what to say.... so Kip and I yelled "It's supposed to be a boy!" Fail. At least everyone had fun spraying each other afterwards. And oh boy..... did I have fun cleaning up after that! (That was sarcasm....) I found Silly String on the wall behind our couch months after this reveal party. Crazy.

So I guess if you really want to do Silly String, make sure it will come out the right color. Not white. Lesson learned! :)

Get the Bow or Bowtie Banner here.

Get the Bow or Bowtie Centerpiece here.

Get the Baby Countdown Chalkboard here.

We're Back! Plus 1.....

Okay yes, we have taken a little break from the blog. Ugh..... a LONG break!!! But a lot has happened! So.... we like have a kid now. WHAT?!?! That's right!

Look at this little bean!

And those cheeks! Oh my cuteness.

So those pictures are from when he was born (thank you http://www.poppiesandposiesphotography.com/) Um...........

He is ALMOST 2!!!!!!!!! Talk about taking a break! Geez! (Don't mind the ugly central vacuum thingy he is holding. Just focus on his cute face haha).

Tell this kid to shrink back down to cute little (can't roll, crawl, walk or run anywhere) baby size! I want him to stop growing up!!! The good thing about taking a horribly long blogging break is that now I have TONS of things I can write about. Ah, so many adventures come along with a kid (good and bad!) More to come!

Meet Colton

Meet Colton. The biggest little stinker who has my whole heart:

Let's remember how huge he made me:

Yep. That was 5 days before he came. If that isn't orbiting planet status, that I don't know what is! My little 4'10" body had to expand to hold the 8 lbs 10 oz child in there. I was huge. Here is the quick version of how he came into the world.

I went into labor on my birthday! I think the pedicure I got actually put me into labor.... there are apparently pressure points on your feet and on your calves that can do so! Look at that picture. Beached. Whale.

Let me take a second to tell you what got me through the long night at the hospital before it became time to push. One word. SLURPEES. Yep, that hospital had these AMAZING slurpees that I had unlimited access to. If your hospital doesn't have a slurpee machine, DEMAND that they get one. You'll thank me later ;)

I was in labor for a grand total of 15 hours! Hello epidural! (Ps- I totally don't want an epidural for the next one when that happens. Horrible recovery.) It came time to push and 45 minutes later BAM! Kip and I became parents! 

He was so little!!

Colton needed to be on oxygen when he was born, so we were at the hospital for 3 days. Kip couldn't wait to get out of there, but I didn't want to leave!!!!! How was I supposed to take care of this little child? What was I supposed to do when he cried? What about putting clothes on him? What were those weird noises he was making? (Yeah, they were just baby noises. Totally normal. Duh.) Why couldn't the nurses just come home with me??? Basically I was bawling uncontrollably as we were leaving the hospital. #Hormones

Basically we had no idea what we were doing. And basically we still don't. Either way, we are so grateful to be able to take care of this kid! :) 

Charlie and Colton- Some Tips

Ah, Charlie and Colton.

 Let me tell you the picture I had in my head before Colton was born. Charlie would love Colton. He would lay by him and cuddle him and protect him. Yeah, that was not our reality. Colton was Charlie's top enemy. I mean can you blame him? Charlie started out as an only child who got all the attention and all the cuddles. And then all of the sudden, we bring home this tiny human thing that cries and doesn't sleep at night. All of the sudden mommy and daddy are spending all their time with this tiny person. I'm sure Charlie was thinking "What about me? I'm supposed to be the center of your universe! What happened? The little human must go." 

All of the sudden Charlie started acting out and being SO naughty! He would pick up something that he knew he wasn't supposed to (like a sock, Colton's burp cloths, my nursing pads, underwear, etc.), wait for me to look at him, and then as soon as I did he would bolt out his doggy door. Ugh the stinker! And then if I went out to try to get back whatever he took out, he would run and I would have to chase him around our huge backyard! I can't tell you how many binkies we went through. (Something you should know, if you start to chase your dog when they have something that they shouldn't, they will think of it as a game. So don't chase him!) He started doing those things because he wasn't getting enough attention. When he took things, he got attention. It was negative attention, but it was still something! 

I realized that we needed to do something. Seriously, I didn't know if I could handle Charlie anymore. But the thought of getting rid of him broke my heart. How could I let the cutie go? I mean look at him!

I read some articles that I found on Google and realized that he needed positive attention. So anytime he would do something good (like dropping my slipper and not taking it outside), I would make sure I praised him a lot! We did take him to a one time training class and learned how to clicker train him. That was pretty helpful for sure! 

I was DETERMINED to make Charlie like Colton. So I would purposely lay Colton by Charlie when Charlie was laying down. 

As you can see, in those pictures Charlie has his back to Colton. But I kept doing it! He HAD to learn that Colton wasn't going anywhere. Pretty soon Charlie started laying on Colton's things. Like his blankets and stuff. That made me happy because that meant he was used to Colton's scent! 

And now......

Colton loves Charlie and Charlie at least likes Colton (I would say that he LOVES Colton when it is snack time.....). Sometimes he will tolerate all the hugs Colton likes to give him.

Basically I would say to not give up on your pet. Give them time and positive attention. Also, include them as much as possible. I would have Charlie sit by me while I nursed Colton. I would have him sit on my lap as I read to him. I made sure that we went on walks. And treats always help :) I love those two!