Going in circles?

We spent the day in the van go nowhere at a very slow rate. We drove the 30 miles to Springfield as normal and it took half and hour. The second 30 miles however took us two hours. We did eventually arrive at our destination but it wasn't a fun trip. Ever since our move the kids aren't fond of car trips. They fear they'll never get out again (or at least not for two days.)

The whole ice storm really messed up Bella's potty training. For two days she just would NOT go on the potty. I bought her a little potty chair because we just needed one for when the bathroom was occupied or we were outside or something and she didn't like it. I think it confused her even more. Then she got sick and was throwing up and that messed things up further. Anyway yesterday she got back in the groove, and despite still not feeling well stayed dry ALL day. I stuck the little potty chair in our closet so she wouldn't see it and get more confused and last night she climbed over junk in our room to get in the closet, open the potty seat sat down and peed in it (through her underwear but who cares.) I was so excited, and shocked. She now loves her potty chair (it plays a musical tune when she goes) and has used it several times today.

She also talking in sentences now. Took her awhile to really get going but she talks constantly now. Well she always jabbered non-stop but it's real words now. She loves to add "too" to the end of things. "Bay-blay (how she says Bella) shower, John-John shower too." She also started calling Corey "Cokey." Her favorite sentence is "Cokey, change John." She also figured out what on and off are and loves to use those.

John's babbling a bit now. Lots of "bababa" but not a lot else. Screaming (like a girl) is still his favorite thing. That boy can really scream and then him and Bella get into screaming matches. It's cute but loud.

Anyway I put up Bella old walking video, just thought it'd be fun to watch since John's was up. I used the same song in John's as hers. I couldn't find anything new and that one just fits. Seems like just yesterday she was learning to walk and now they are both running around. Everyone talks about how kids are so much more work when they learn to walk and I couldn't disagree more. They're already into everything by then anyway and it's easier when they can get around on their own. I was especially ready for Bella to walk since John was there and two that don't walk is a lot of work.

We have power!!!

Finally we have power back after a week and a half. It's so nice to be back home and on my computer. Isabella was sooooo excited to be back to her toys and stuff. John is very confused, this last month has been so stressful on him.

I'm just looking forward to sleeping in my own bed. Tomorrow I've got lots of work to do cleaning up the house.

Ice Sucks!

We got hit by the ice storm big time. We lost power on the 12th and still don't have it back. No power means no water and no heat. Staying in the house like that was not fun to say the least. We had the kids wearing multiple layers of clothing and were cooking cans of soup in the fireplace. Eventually we ran out of soup and firewood though (and water) and went to a hotel. We're about 70 miles from home now (all the hotels close by were full) and hanginging in there.

The kids are doing relatively well. This whole thing is really confusing to them, especially so close to a move. I don't think they even remember what normal is anymore. I'm proud of how well they've been behaving though. Poor Isabella's potty training got totally messed up though with no water and wearing so many clothes. She's still letting me know when she needs to go though and now that we've been at a hotel is almost back to where she was.

No pictures for now since they're all stuck in my camera for now.

Big girl

I decided to start potty training Bella this week since she's been showing that she's ready. I have to admit I wasn't very ready myself, diapers are just so much easier. She's done so well and I'm so proud of her. Monday she had lots of accidents but nothing too bad and today she's stayed dry all day. I really couldn't ask for anything easier.

John's been so curious as to what we're doing in the bathroom though. Everytime I take Bella in he comes walking to the door. I hate to tell him to go away but he really distracts her. Once she gets a routine down though it shouldn't matter much.

So that's been our whole week so far. Boring mostly, Bella has had so much energy left to burn at the end of the day now since we've been pretty much just staying in to go potty. Makes me wonder how she ever lived in that little apartment.

Well things are finally calming down around here. Pappy and Erin have left and it's just us and Nana now in the house. We miss them but it's nice to have things be less crazy. Finally got the house cleaned up today too, it was about time. We do have a kitchen (it was just under all the mess.) And it's a great kitchen, that was the thing I hated most about our apartment the kitchen was just way to small to cook in.

Bella LOVES the trampoline in the back yard. She stands in front of the sliding glass door forever just staring at it saying "bounce." She gets on it and goes crazy and best of all it wears her out. She used to stay up till 11pm or later and now can barely make it past 8pm. She's still up now though so she's slowly adjusting.

John is calming down a bit, or at least as much as John possibly could. He likes Nana a lot more now and loves to walk around the house. Erin spoiled him rotten though, now he wants me to hold him all the time. At least his cuddles are great though so it's not too bad.

We went to St. Louis last Saturday and got to meet a friend from online that lives there. She has a daughter that right between Bella and John age wise so it was fun. Can't wait to get up there again and hang out some more. Of course not too soon as the drive isn't fun. The kids both screamed the entire carride last time (7 hours total.)