Potty Time!

This year Lana gave me a late Christmas present. Since the morning of Monday, Dec. 28th, my little gal has been accident free! This includes during a shopping trip and a hockey game yesterday night. She is still wearing a pull-up to sleep but during the day she goes on her own if we are home and tells us to take her to the potty if we are out! How fantastic is that?! So long diapers!...At least until the new baby arrives. ;)

I'm not sure what made her "get it" all of a sudden after exactly one week of beginning the potty training process for the 2nd time (we tried a few months ago with no luck at all, just lots of puddles), and I was sure I had messed up by starting during a week when we would be home very little and traveling, but she got it and we are all very proud of her! Now if only we hadn't just spent $30 on diapers and wipes a couple of weeks ago...oh well...they'll be used at some point!



Here's some video of my barely-over-2 years-old big girl "singing the ABC's" for us last week...

ABC By Lana from Melissa Alcorn on Vimeo.

Gooo Lana!

"I'm so proud to know that she is mine!" The Beatles

Christmas 2009

I have finally dug myself out of the mountains of new toys that have taken over my house to make a Christmas post (also took a bit of nagging from Neil as well)! Here goes...be prepared for lots and lots of photos! Side note: I am completely regretting not getting any group photos over the weekend. Not a single one. Can someone please remind me of this next year? On to it...

Christmas Eve began with a drive up to my parents' house for a visit with my immediate family and gift exchange. The kids were both very excited to see the family and of course open the first gifts of Christmas. We had been telling Landen "soon," "soon," for so long I think he had given up all hope of ever opening a present. :)

This photo was taken a second after us saying..."wait not yet!" Notice the looks on their faces while they are trying real hard to be patient.


Baby Ryan is almost 5 months old and almost as big as my 2 year old!

Lana was a ham after she put on her party dress. She knew how good she looked!

After this we headed over to my aunt Patty's house to see more family, exchange gifts, and wish my Mama Tina a happy birthday!

Just a handful of the kids in the family...

Notice how Neil's eyes match my top...

30 weeks pregnant!

How great is this photo of my parents?!



My aunt and I are due within a couple weeks of each other!




Well after midnight and with the kids in their jammies and 2 cups of coffee in our hands, Neil and I braved the roads for the 2 hour drive home. The roads were just about empty so the drive wasn't bad once the kids were asleep. When we got home we put the kids straight to bed and Neil and I got the presents set up for Christmas morning. When we left earlier that day the tree did not have a single present underneath. By the time we were done bringing just our kids presents out their hiding spots, this is what the tree looked like....

My sweet loves were so good this year!

I think Neil had a mini-heart attack right around the time of this photo when seeing the pile of presents for Landen and Lana. But then I gently reminded him of his wife's deal-seeking strategies over the past couple of months and I think he recovered well. :)

So Neil and I finally went to sleep around 4:30AM anxiously awaited the squeals of joy from our babies when the saw the tree Christmas morning. Not exactly what we got from them. I think they were a bit "over" Christmas after having already opened gifts at two places, and they were looking forward to playing with the goodies they got the night before so here were their reactions...

Landen Christmas 2009 from Melissa Alcorn on Vimeo.

Lana Christmas 2009 from Melissa Alcorn on Vimeo.

A television station was awarding prizes to the best video of excited children Christmas morning...I'm thinking I wouldn't even come close to making the cut.

Anyways, after a bit the kids got excited about all of the new presents and dug in!





I know what you're thinking..."Drums for Landen with a new baby on the way?" Well...YES! If you have been to my house and know my children you should also know it is never quiet here. The drums at least give us a beat to move to and the kids love them. And hey, I'm fostering an early love of music. :)

The aftermath of the gift opening...


My family Christmas 2009...

Time for "Thank you" snuggles...


In the evening of Christmas Day we headed over to Neil's sister's house to do Christmas with his side of the family. After a yummy dinner the kids opened even more presents! Again we did not take a single group picture! Here's what we did get though...







Lana and Victoria modeled some of Lana's new princess costumes for us!



The weekend also took us through terrible snow covered roads to Neil's Uncle Steve and Aunt Ruth's house for a Christmas lunch and White Elephant gift exchange (always fun), and then back home for a small get together with our friends and God-daughter.

We kept busy, didn't we? But it was great! Now if only I could find a space for all of these new toys! Come on house...SELL so I can have a playroom!

"Christmas time is here again." The Beatles

Tea for Two

While the boys were out last night at a hockey game, Lana and I had a chance for some one-on-one girlie bonding time. Lana is at this fantastic age of little girl with a bit of baby mixed in and it makes her so fun! While the boys were gone we painted each others nails with this great little girl glittery polish (comes off in the tub!), played with her baby dolls, had a tea party (crowns, jewels, and all), had bath time with some barbies, and watched some Elmo while sharing snacks. Perfect night with my second born.

I was incredibly amused by our very first tea party. You just have to see her to appreciate what a perfect little hostess she was and how much of a natural she was with the whole Tea Party deal...

Tea Party with Lana from Melissa Alcorn on Vimeo.

The jewels and crown were her idea. She even adorned me with them! Lana is definitely a fan of the tea party. It lasted for about a half hour and I think I had about 100 cups of pretend tea in that time (see how fast she was pouring!). I've been looking forward to this type of mommy/daughter time since the day I found out I was pregnant with her. And I couldn't have wished for a more perfect daughter. Lana is the girliest of girls and I love her for it!

"Suddenly someone's there at the turnstyle, the girl with the kaleidoscope eyes..." The Beatles

Truth Be Told...

Truth be told, I got the idea for this from a friend's blog and I'm stealing it.

Truth be told, my pregnancy is going much too quickly and I feel completely unprepared for a newborn.

Truth be told, I'm hoping my house does not sell soon. I like nothing on the market and blame my hormones if you must, but I am very emotionally attached to my home right now and would be sad to let go of it.

Truth be told, I catch myself on the brink of tears when I notice how grown up Landen is these days and how there isn't a trace of baby left in his face.

Truth be told, I know most moms would be concerned at having a 2 year old that weighed in today at 17lbs 14oz, but I secretly love that Lana is taking after her mama, ME!

Truth be told, I'm a teeny bit nervous with the idea of three children. My 2 hands, with 3 children, each with 2 arms of their own, making 6...I'm good at math so I know something isn't balancing out right.

Truth be told, I'm starting to like the extra inches around my hips gifted to me by Inside Baby.

Truth be told, I have not yet sent out my Christmas cards and feel a wave of guilt every time we get another one in the mail.

Truth be told Molly could not have put this better so I'm repeating it..."i truly don't hold a grudge. i just no longer like you once you piss me off. i don't have time or energy to hold onto anything, trust me."

Truth be told, I love watching my children play happily together; Landen leading the way, and Lana trying her hardest to keep up, with many giggles in between. It's my heaven.

Truth be told, this year has taught me that trying to please everyone will most likely please everyone but yourself, so I'm done with that.

Truth be told, Neil is worth his weight in gold and I love him more everyday despite often forgetting to tell him.

Truth be told, I need to go on Price is Right because I caught an episode the other day and was dead-on for almost everything. Guess who does all the shopping in our house?

Truth be told, I can not wait until Christmas morning and watching my children open all of their presents from under our tree, even though it means driving home from Chicago at 1AM. For my kids and their memories I'll do anything. ANYTHING.

Truth be told, I wish I had the power to teleport. Loading and strapping my children into the car, while wearing big winter coats, while it is freezing, and while my tush is hanging outside of the van is my least favorite thing ever.

Truth be told, I'm that mom- drives a minivan, does everything around the children's schedule, always prepared with a snack and a camera, and rocks jeans, flats, and a fitted top like no other...that mom-the soccer mom. And darn proud of it.

Truth be told, I am told daily to "take it easy," "remember how pregnant you are," "you do too much," etc....but I only half listen. These are my babies and remember from above- I'll do anything for my kids.

Truth be told, Lana is stunning and Landen is very handsome and these traits make me fearful of their dating years.

Truth be told, there is a regular size mylar balloon from the week before Halloween floating in our house and the fact that it is still floating and showing no sign of coming down is starting to creep me out.

Truth be told, I know I need to go to sleep earlier but instead choose to stay up chatting and watching reruns with Neil. In order to reconnect with my husband, I'll gladly rely on coffee the next morning.

Truth be told, I could go on and on with these, but I've heard it's always best to leave an air of mystery. ;)

"And what's more, it's true. Yes it is." The Beatles

Party Time!

Lana's 2nd birthday party was Saturday afternoon and it was a success! We opted for a low key family party at our home (Princess fairy themed of course) and I think everyone had a great time! It was definitely a full house with little Lana surrounded by people who love her and she received lots of fun gifts (thanks everyone!). I think she enjoyed her weekend as a birthday princess despite a little runny nose. :) A big thanks to my sis who came a day early to help me prep for the party. Who knew a toddler's party would be so much work?!

Princess Lana and my sister...

The kids' table (missing one little one)...



Just as delicious as it looked!




She blew out that candle like a pro!

Waiting patiently for a piece of cake...

Opening presents...


Barbies from big brother!



Lana loved her Elmo Encore Live and it is just as entertaining to Neil and I as it is to her!

Decorating sugar cookies...I think most of the children ate more sprinkles and frosting than they did cookies. :)


Hope you had fun at your party, pretty girl!

"Help yourself to a bit of what is all around you..." The Beatles