hell on wheels

Malcolm is something else nowadays.

At three, he continues to be a dichotomy of opposites.

Yet, sometimes, he is nothing but pure sweetness and light ...

(And a pinch of mischivousness thrown in for good measure.)

Winter coat: Osh Kosh B'gosh (hand-me-down)

Winter hat: Unknown brand (borrowed for the day)

Snow pants: Old Navy (thrifted for $2.00)

Winter boots: Walmart brand (thrifted for $2.00)

Baby four-wheeler: Fisher Price

 

 

While he is definitely pushing his boundaries every day, it is all just a natural part of him growing and changing before my eyes ... 

 

Turning into a full-fledged little boy.

 

A preschooler that has yet to set foot inside his first classroom.

 

A too-rough (but still protective and loving) big brother.

 

It's impossible to imagine my world without him (and his daily shenanigans).

 

I am so lucky that he is mine.

surviving the winter

I feel like I fall into a little writing rut every year at about this same time.

Hopefully a wintery photo from last weekend will suffice until tomorrow ...

snow bunny

Every President's Day weekend, my parents' college friends (who are more like extended family) host a "Big Chill" get-together in Scenery Hill, Pennsylvania.

This being Pearl's first year in attendance (last year, she was still my little passenger), she was a bit too small to partake in the bonfire or sled rides, or even nightly games ...

But she did get to bust out a cozy sweater and dress the part.

Sweater: Circo (thrifted for $1.00)

Long-sleeved onesie: Gerber ($8.00 for pack of three)

Fleece pants: Wonderkids (thrifted for $0.50)

Socks: Old Navy (gift)

 

My little snow bunny.

bundled boy

Since Pearl had her very own photo-inspired Haiku last week, I thought it only fair to give Malcolm the same courtesy ...

Adult ski mask?  Check!
Winter coat, gloves, and boots?  Check!
Eyes for seeing?  Uh ...

pearl: eleven months

So, I realize that this has been a very Pearl-centric week ...  But, it's that time again.

Another month has passed us by!

I know I say pretty much the same thing in every one of these posts, but Pearl's personality is really, really starting to show.  It's like a baby hits that ninth month and BAM! they come into their own.

But, I love getting to see all of her little quirks ...

She is spunky (getting into everything, especially things that aren't hers), and cuddly, and loud.

If you turn your attention away for a second, Girl let's you know about it!

She is also quite the little eater (as evidenced by Monday's post), and is getting to the point where she only wants to have what we're having.  This has led to quite a few interesting meals, but has also shown us just how much she is changing before our eyes.

Stats:

Height: 29 inches

Weight: 18 pounds

My little girl is growing up!

*Pearl's tenth month is here.

sweetie pie

In honor of Valentine's Day, today's post features my newest (and sweetest?) little valentine ...

My girl, Pearl ...

Who, just recently, has started taking to various objects and loving on them.

As you can see, this girl is not a thumb-sucker like her big brother ...  She's a two-finger-sucker. 

I've never seen such a thing before, but it is totally adorable (and who cares if it will mess up her teeth!?).

Tee-shirt: Circo (thrifted for $0.50)

Long-sleeved onesie: Gerber ($8.00 for pack of three)

Pants: Old Navy (gift)

Socks: Old Navy ($6.00 for pack of eight)

Satin Owl Security Blanket: Circo (gift)

Could we have the next "Spot" in the making?

hungry for haiku

And now ...

A haiku inspired by the following picture:

Dinner time with Pearl,
Avocado, and "the bird."
Just your average night.

best friends

It started as an object on my baby registry.

Just a snuggly soft, multi-colored polka dot blanket.

(Can you see it?)

Just a little something I had seen many times during shopping trips to Target.

Cute and unisex.

Perfect for for keeping my firstborn bundle of joy warm and cozy.

But, over time, this simple blanket's role began to change and it became much more than just a blanket ...

It became "Spot."

A security object ...

A companion ...

A travel buddy ...

Today, it is (in Malcolm's words) his "best friend."

And, although I wish he would have picked a less white blanket to drag everywhere with him, I couldn't imagine my days without seeing these two together.

puffed up

When I see a deal on something cute for one of my kids, I jump on it.

At least, that was the case with the (just a tad too large) coat I purchased for Pearl.

Winter coat: Old Navy (on sale for $10.00)

Long-sleeve shirt (unseen): Cherokee (thrifted for $0.50)
Jeans: Old Navy (thrifted for $0.50)

Socks: Old Navy ($6.00 for pack of eight)

Shoes: Gap Kids ($1.00)

The real goal is for her to wear it next winter ...  And, if she stays on the small side, I have a feeling it will all work out.

progress (maybe?)

With the arrival of February came the realization that Malcolm's actually been working at the whole toilet training thing for a full month.

So, although, last time I said I wouldn't talk toilet training around these parts, I feel the need for a brief update.

I think we've made some progress.

Maybe?

Hopefully?

I mean, Malcolm knew what to do from Day 1 on this little adventure ...  It literally only took one accident in his real underpants for him to realize that he needed to let us know when it "was time."

Just one.

So, the kid gets it.

He understands the feeling of having to go.

He knows how to make it to his little potty, pull down his pants, and do it.

He hasn't, to date, had an accident outside of our home.

The (only) issue is whether or not he feels like following through ...  Or cutting his losses and just making a mess of himself.

It's completely up to him.

On his whim.

And it's killing me!

Call me a control freak, but when it comes to loved ones, especially my children, I have an major drive to do whatever it takes to keep those close to me (Malcolm, in this case) happy.

So, when Malcolm was an infant, it meant keeping his belly full and his bottom dry ...

When he became mobile, it meant keeping him safe during his many explorations ...

When he was a toddler, it meant helping him learn to communicate his needs and wants.

And now that he is a three-year-old, it means teaching him the skills he'll need to go off to pre-school on his own (away from me!) this coming fall. 

I always thought that once a child was "trained" and understood the concept of using the toilet (with the exception of regression during times of stress), that the "teaching" part was over. 

Success! 

Job well done!

On to the next milestone!

But, at least for us, this process has been much more than that.

Yes, at its most basic, it's learning to use the toilet ...

But it's also a lesson in trust ... For me and my son.

Me trusting him that he'll let me know when he has to go (and not nagging him constantly throughout the day) ...  And him trusting me that I'll still be there no matter what (even if he does have a messy accident).

So, while I appreciate the conversations where he just chatters on an on while sitting on the toilet, and I like having to fold all the tiny underpants that make it through the wash each week ...  I'm so ready to feel like the "training" portion is over.

I'm not sure when it will hit me that we are done, and he is good to go ...

Maybe when there have been no day time accidents for longer than a month? 

Or two?

After all of this, I truly hope I get a (lengthy) break before Miss Pearl is ready to drop the diapers on her end ...