We turned 2!

It's a cupcake cake with Thomas!

The big Thomas was grabbed by Corwyn within seconds.

Corwyn had 2, almost 3 of these.

Yes, he really is making a face. But we convinced him to at least taste it first. He did, then spit it out. Oh well.

We had the 'big' party at the beach so all our friends could come. Happily the weather cooperated.

Did I mention that Corwyn loves trains!

This was at home on their actual birthday.

It was a wonderful weekend celebrating. I can't believe they are two. It seems like it was just yesterday that I was sitting in the REs office while he told me that there was less than 1% chance that I could get pregnant. Sometimes it's good to be in the minority.

Wordless Wednesday - You're never too young for shaving (cream)

What would you do?

What would you do?

Please watch this video. It surprised me greatly and moved me even more.

Slippery When Wet

Have toddlers? How often do you get asked ‘so have you started potty training yet?’? I get asked a lot. I understand when other parents in similar situations ask. They are like me, looking for help and support. But I don’t get why others need to know. Anyway. It means I am always thinking about it.


I did some reading up on the variations of the 1/3 day methods. These are the ones that at their basis involve having your toddler run around with no bottoms (no diaper, no underwear) and stay home for 3 days. You get them on a potty or toilet as close to when they start to pee as possible. You offer to let them pee before naps and bedtime (where you put a diaper on them if you are smart). At the end of the 3 days, most kids are around 75% of the way there. You don’t go back to diapers or training pants (except while sleeping) and deal with the misses. They very strongly suggest you have both parents some for the entire 3 days (and if one can’t be there, to get someone else). It’s said this method works best before they are 28 months. I can’t find anyone who’s tried it with twins to see how they did it.

No, we did not potty train this long weekend. But I decided to see how it would be to go diaper and pantless for one day, with only me. Yup, insane, I know. Overall, I think they are close to being ready. They know when they have to pee or poop. They can go 4 or more hours between peeing. They are no longer afraid of their pee.

We started after breakfast (which we had out with friends). The potty’s were in the living room. I picked any stuffed animals and books off the floor (making sure there was nothing that couldn’t be easily washed – I’m a realist after all). The boys love being bottomless so that was no big deal.

I asked regularly if they needed to pee, met with a resounding ‘no’ each time. They like to sit on the potty while I read to them, so we did that for a while. Nothing. Then Corwyn started to pee. I managed to get the potty under a few drops of it and we celebrated. Well, I celebrated and they looked at me like I was insane.

We got to lunch with no more peeing. Nap happens after lunch. I again offered the bathroom (potty or toilet) but no takers. So into a pullup for their nap.

I should have known better. Corwyn woke up a couple hours later. Nathan was still sleeping. I picked him and his monkey up and brought them to the living room. I noticed on the way that he was already bottomless. Uh oh. Monkey was soaked. I had to sneak it away and get it and his blanket washed before bedtime. Luckily, it was just pee.

So, the afternoon went much like the morning for a while. Then I saw Corwyn pee. Unfortunately, Nathan was on my lap and I couldn’t get the potty under him quick enough. He actually slipped and fell into it. So I mopped it up, cleaned him up. Then I went to toss the towel and wet clothes in with the dirty clothes. I came back seconds later to the sound of laughter and splashing. Lots of laughter and lots of splashing. You guessed it. Nathan peed, exactly where Corwyn had and both were having a blast. Sigh. Good thing it was bath night.

So at the end of the day, I learnt a few things. Boys will play with their penis every second of every day if they have access to it. Seriously. You should have at least 2 adults around when potty training this way, well 2 when you are potty training 1 toddler, I have no idea the recommended numbers for twins. My floors are very slippery when wet. The boys are probably at the right stage to start potty training now.

Am I going to try it on my own? Hell yes. I’m going to wait until we get back from our family camp weekend next month. I don’t want to totally mess up their routine that early into it. I don’t want to use the next long weekend to do it because it’s going to be fun. So I’ll take a day off work and make it a long weekend on my own (hopefully the weather sucks and we won’t want to go outside). I’m leaning towards the end of June. Friends will be welcome to come by to help while we’re training. If you don’t want to be there for the actual process, you can come by in the evenings after they are in bed to see if I still have my sanity.

No potty training pictures, but here is a shot from back of Corwyn’s haircut. I removed his Florence Henderson mullet. I still need to trim and even it, but the boy is so active that he’s lucky he has 2 eyes and 2 ears left. He looks so much more boyish. Some pictures from the front to follow.

Hands and Feet

Corwyn is on the left, Nathan the right. Nathan is very sturdy. His bone structure is much thicker than Corwyn's is.

Corwyn on the left again here. There is still less than 1 inch difference in height and they wear the same size of clothes (but clearly not in shoes).

Please vote again today (and tomorrow too). I'm about 10 votes behind #25. So close. http://www.circleofmoms.com/blogger/mommy-makes-three

Circle of Moms

I'm trying to be one of the top 25 single mom blogs on Circle of Moms. I got into the game really late, but since I only need to get to the top 25 and not be number 1, I still have a chance.

Can you please vote for me by going to this link and clicking the Thumbs up button.

And Mommy Makes 3 at Circle of Moms

There is nothing to sign up for. You wont install anything, provide your email address or anything else.

You can vote daily until end of day May 23.

I need about another 50 votes to be in the Top 25. Its not totally out of reach.

Thanks so much!

This Moment Friday

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

From SouleMama

Where's the Beef?

Not here for sure. I usually make a healthy entree type of thing for the boys playtime potlucks. Not this time. I found these and made my own variation cute burger cookies

I couldn't find the chocolate grasshopper things  (mint cookies) they mention, so I took what I found at the grocery store that was small, round and chocolate. I used Thinsations double fudge. They worked fine, although for the next time I make them (and I will make them again) I'm going to take more lead up time and find a chewier center like a chocolate mint or or marshmallow for some texture difference.  I don't think it hurt the taste at all though to use the thinsations.

I let Nathan and Corwyn mix the coconut and food coloring for the lettuce. Nathan got into it and his was quite even. Corwyn almost immediately punctured the bag and spread coconut all over. Needless to say, we used the stuff Nathan mixed.

I heard that they were a big hit at the playtime drop in (I work then, so I don't get to go). Everyone wanted to know how I did them.

I will probably make them for their birthday party next weekend (really? They're almost 2, really, when did that happen?) They are very fast to assemble but look like you spent tons of time.

Wordless Wednesday - Finger Painting

Big Boy Beds

I'm so on the fence with this one. Some days I'm ready to take the plunge, other days I dread the possibility.

This week, we've gotten into making forts before bed. They love it and I can tell when they are getting too tired to continue, but still don't want to go to bed. I think part of it is lack of control about getting out themselves (mixed with part just wanting to have more fun). At times like that, I want to give them the freedom.

Then there are the mornings when they get up way too early and shake the cribs so hard they bang against the wall repeatedly. This wouldn't bother me too much, but I live in an apartment and I have neighbors. Banging isn't good.  But do I really want them to get up that early (or do I really want to get up that early). If they were able to get out and play to amuse themselves, I think it would be okay. But if only one is awake, his brother will wake him up by force. Arggghhh. You see my dilema.

One thing I'm thinking of trying is getting an analog clock for the bedroom like we have in the livingroom. While they can't tell time yet (heck, they cant count past 3), they do know when the clock looks a certain way, specific things happen. They will even point at the clock to tell me its time to watch TV or eat dinner etc. So if I get one for the bedroom and for a bit before I move them to beds, I make a point of showing the time on the clock when they go to bed and when I take them out of bed, they might just get it enough to start. Maybe.

The bedroom is 90% kid proof. The only thing left is the lamp. There is no overhead light so I need a lamp. Nathan has burnt his hand once on the bulb and Corwyn has knocked it over and broken the bulb once. I have to find a wall mounted option before I give them unsupervised free range of the room for longer than a few minutes at a time.

The other thing is the way to restrain them in the room. I dont have doors (long story) and we use curtains for doors. Right now, its a baby gate across the doorway. But my doorways are very crooked (older building) and its so easy for them to just knock the gate over. I have to get that fixed too.

So I guess it wont be tomorrow (which is good, because we dont have beds yet). The list now is clock, lamp, gate, beds. I'll get to work on that.

For those of you who don't use cribs, at what age did you change? How did it go? Would you do it differently if you could?

Cheering for the Hometeam

Well, the picture makes you think I have two big Canucks fans (Vancouver's NHL Team). And while I hope they will be some day, the reality is that right now, they have no clue who they are or why there is such a fuss.

They have started 'playing' floor hockey at the playtime drop ins, but still don't really know what it is. I put the TV on the game for a few minutes at a time last night and talked them through it. They'll get it someday. They may or may not like hockey too. And I'm really fine either way. Personally, I enjoy watching sports on TV very much, although I like going to the occasional game in person.

If I have to pick right now, I'd say Corwyn will be 'more into' sports than Nathan. But thats this week and they are still not even two yet so anything can happen. I'll be happy as long as they are active and fit, whether its organized sports or not (in many ways, the "or not" is so muich easier to coordinate).

How about in your family? How do you balance your childs interest (or lack of it) in things you love and vice versa?

Wordless Wednesday - Snacking

Stained Glass Art - Toddler Style

I've seen some different ways to make art that is like stained glass windows, some with glue and wax paper, some with contact paper, tissue paper for color, nature for decoration etc. I took from assorted ideas and decided to try what I thought would be easiest for us that would still be fun and produce nice results.

Supplies: contact paper, construction paper, tissue paper, glitter and some fun loving toddlers

Get some one who can handle scissors to cut out shapes from the contact paper, 2 for each 'design'. Cut out thin strips of construction paper to use to outline the shape.

Give the toddlers the tissue paper and let them go nuts tearing it apart. Encourage them to tear into small pieces, and if you can, ball some of them up.  Remember, confetti is lots of fun and they will figure out how to play with it this way too. Don't worry, it's only paper.

Once done, peel the backing off one of the contact paper designs and tape it (sticky side up) onto your work surface. You can put the outline on now or later.

Put your toddler in front of it, show him/her how it works and let them go to town (expect more confetti throwing here).

Once done, bored or the paper is all thrown around and none left in the craft area, you can add the glitter (expect more to be thrown around). 

Then you just peel the backing off the the other piece of contact paper and 'seal' your work of art. (note: if you didn't already, put the outline on now)

Tada - wonderful stained glass art pieces

I wanted to take more pictures during the process but we had so much confetti throwing that I didn't get to grab the camera. I loved this. The boys love both the process and the result. We will be doing it again for sure. I suspect by the time fall rolls around we'll also be doing nature inspired stained glass with the colored leaves that fall from the trees.

Bedtime Stories

We read lots, together and on our own. During the day, it's usually one or both on my lap (fighting for the middle). At bedtime, its best that they are in bed when 'we' read. It will be nice to cuddle and read when they move to real bed. I took a video of bedtime story reading the other night and thought I'd share it.

Wordless Wednesday - Chalk