The High's And Low's

We were out in Connecticut last weekend for our MIRACLE nephew Charlie's baby blessing (pictures to follow soon!). While we were out there Gabe was playing with his two cousins Abby and Molly whom he ADORES! Abby is 6 and molly is 3. Gabe couldn't be in better company then he is with these two cousins. I am finally at the point where I don't have to watch him all the time and he can just go and play with them on the swing set outside or in the toy room and he is perfectly content not having me there with him. (finally!)

So, a little background to this story. I have been introducing gabe to the toilet for the past two months casually here and there to get him interested in potty training. We have had some success where he would see Nate or I head to the bathroom and he would come running ahead of us and take the toilet first.

So as we were out in connecticut I was trying to have gabe see that Molly was going on the potty and that she was a big girl doing it all by herself. He started to get the idea of it when one night he didn't want to get in the tub and I couldn't figure out why, until he started to pee all over the floor, that he wanted me to put him on the potty! (language is still an issue in our house with him!)

After we flew home I just decided while his mind was fresh with Molly and Abby, I thought I would start cold turkey and put him in big boy underwear then set a timer for every 15-20 min.

The first day was AMAZING! No accidents, no complaints, only enthusiasm and joy. It was going so well!!!! YIPEE! I couldn't believe it! But then he woke up the next day grumpy......and all went down hill from there. He screamed when we mentioned the potty, he had 3 accidents in his pants that morning and 2 more that afternoon. We had to do all that we could to get him to sit on the potty but he didn't want to go. I know this isn't how we should do it and we were trying desperately to make it fun and exciting for him and not complaining when he peed his pants, but when I am 20 weeks pregnant, patience is something that comes in a limited supply!

So after 3 days of begging and pleeding......we decided to put the diapers back on and see if we can still ask him to go potty on the toilet, but not make it as overwhelming as we did before. It seems to work, he is still going 3-5 times a day on the toilet so we are progressing. Just not in the method I thought!

But it truly helps when I do this:

Gabe can't be "one-upped" by woody! So he always gets on the potty after I give woody all of my praise and adoration for going potty! Hey you do what you have to do right!

So for you mom's out there. Do you have any tidbits on what I can do to help gabe get potty trained? I have 4 months until this baby comes so I wanted to give him a good head start on this so he doesn't regress! Any input would be great!

EASTER

I am a little bit behind on pictures so this week I am going to try to update some fun times we have had this past month! I will start with Easter.

I was a little unsure how gabe would like dying easter eggs but he loved it! Well, he loved sticking his hands in the dye and turning the egg around and around! Thank goodness for plastic table cloths!

As you can see we have already dyed a few eggs at this point and gabe was still going!

Look at those hands! I think more got on him then the eggs!

Easter morning we were able to go up to my in-law's cabin to spend time with them while they were in town. This isn't the best picture of gabe but he had so much fun trying to find the eggs! We mostly have video of easter morning so I might add a fun clip later on this week, but he mostly just picked an egg, sat down to eat it, and then went to find another one. But he was starting to get the concept so that was great!

K stay tuned for some more fun times in the Checketts House hold! Sorry I have been a slacker!

IS HAVING A.......

I completely forgot to post on my blog what I am having! I put it on facebook.....

So, without further adu I am having a.....

girl, no boy, no girl, no boy......

A BOY!

So Gabe will have a little friend to play with!

MODIFICATION

I have been informed that in my last blog post everyone thought that the "person with the most talent" I was referring too was Paul. NOPE! It was PIA! I think I even mentioned in my post that I was watching it on my DVR so I was a week late in watching it and completely forgot that people in the "world" have already seen this next weeks results! OOPS! So I just wanted to make it clear that I was referring to PIA ;-)

OF COURSE!

So, when I lived in Florida I was introduced to American Idol. I instantly fell in love with the show because I love music and I love seeing america showcase their talent! (and I secretly wanted to be on the show....as do so many other americans!) So I have been a religious watcher of that show....until 2 years ago. I stopped, COLD TURKEY. I just didn't feel the vibe of it anymore and so I stopped.

Well, my sister in law and mother in law said that the new judges this year were great and it was really fun to watch...so I have been. It actually hasn't been too bad and I have enjoyed it.

UNTIL LAST WEEK!

Seriously, the only good singer in the competition was eliminated! I am sure people disagree with me, and I would love to hear if you are watching this show and who you do like....but honestly

I am trying to watch it again since I have been recording it and I can't!

Tell me who you like so maybe I can become a fan because as of now I don't like anyone!

Is there some fun shows out there that you guys like to watch because I don't have any! (besides modern family ;-)

WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS.....

Or in other words

"When life gives you snow....

make snowmen!"

It snowed here off an on all weekend, and so Nate and I decided to make a family of snowmen! As you can see, we used up most of the snow that was there, but it was fun! Can you tell who is who?

As sick as I am of the snow, we thought we would make the best of it and have some fun!

10 THINGS I AM GRATEFUL FOR...

This month has been one crazy month for our little family. One night Nate told me that I was looking at all of the negative things that were happening and not focusing on the positive. So I decided to think of one thing I am grateful for a day for this past week to keep my perspective on life! And you know what, it really helped!!! I thought I would share all of the random things that I am grateful for from 10-1.

#10 gabe's toy room

The reason I say this is because there have been numerous occasions that I have put gabe in his toy room while I do "this" or "that" and it truly has been such a life saver! I don't feel guilty for leaving him in there because......well look at it! There are a ton of things for him to do!

#9 Thanksgiving Point

I ABSOLUTELY love living next to thanksgiving point now that I have Gabe! It has been such a fun place for us to go numerous times a week! We love it so much! Every time I put gabe in his car seat he says "MOOOOOOOOO!" and when I pass the street where we would turn to go to the petting zoo he freaks out because he wants to see the cows!

#8 A Great Home

There are so many times over this past almost 2 years that I have been so grateful that we own this amazing home!

#7 Great Neighbors

I don't have pictures of all my neighbors but they are truly amazing! They are always looking out for each other, worried when things are going bad, helpful in watching gabe, and when I go outside it is so much fun to just sit and talk to all of them! You guys are amazing!

#6 My Dayna Time

I am so grateful when I get a second to sit and do something that I want to do! These are some of my most recent frames that I have created...nothing too fancy but still fun! I love to have my time to be creative!

#5 GOOD FOOD!!!!

How can you not put food on your list of favorite things! Especially lately with being pregnant there are just certain foods that hit the spot....and this is one of them! SO YUMMY!

#4 Sunshine and the Outdoors

We were blessed to have a couple days of warm weather this past week and I am so grateful for that! It really helps to get outdoors and have the sun shining on you! I feel like that instantly boosts your spirits and makes anyone feel better!

#3 FAMILY

I am not going to put pictures of my family on here because that would take way too long to get them all (I don't have recent full family shots!) but I am so grateful for the love and support from both sides of my family. They are truly amazing and would do anything and everything for nate and I, and I am so grateful for them!

#2 My Little Buster Brown

We have so much fun together! He truly is such a happy baby (when he has had enough sleep!) and I am so grateful for the smiles and laughter he brings into our home. I have no idea what I would do without my little buster brown! He truly helps me get through those long days when nate is out of town! LOVE YOU BUDDY!

#1 My Best Friend and Hero

I took this picture the other day when Nate was asleep. He told me to wake him up after 45 minutes because he had so much to do....but how can you wake him up like this! Nate is the hardest worker I have ever seen, and he does it with a smile. He is the most positive person I have ever met and he truly is and always will be my better half. He has so many things going on in his life right now but he still takes the time to love me and also be the best father I could ever have imagined. There is no way I can make ANY list of things I am grateful for without him being on the top! I LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART NATE!

I am so grateful for this opportunity I have set for myself to think of positive things daily. You should do it! It is fun!

I am also thankful for all of you for reading my blog. ;-)