Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Another week down!


Another week of babysitting is done! Only three more to go! This past week went very well. Potty training continued and Madison is still doing wonderfully. Blain is getting ready for class break and is really looking forward to a week of resting! And I am trying to get Madison's scrapbook completely up to date before the baby arrives! It's a big challenge, but I am working hard at it with the supplies I have left.

We had one of the busiest days on Tuesday. I've never been so tired after a day of errands! We were up at 4:30 am to take Blain to school so that I could have the car. We stayed at school with him while he did PT so that we could take him to the gym to get ready for class. Maddy and I were home at 8 am, had breakfast, got dressed and ready and were out the door at 9:30. We ran a few errands, than went to our WIC appointment at 11 am. It went well...they did tell me however that Madison drinks TOO much milk...is that possible? I, personally, am glad she likes drinking milk!

We went from WIC over to a friend's house were Madison had a living room picnic lunch with Julia and Cameron. From lunch, we went to the Commissary and got our grocery shopping done. Madison fell asleep on the way home and so I took her up to bed at 1:45 then I put all the groceries away and had my lunch. Blain called, saying he was getting out of class early, so we had to leave the house at 2:30 to pick him up. That meant no nap for me and only a 45 minute nap for Madison (and remember...both of us have been up since 4:30!). When we got home with Blain, it was back in the car for a Costco run. I was in and out of there in record time...I just wanted to get home! Once back from Costco, I put most of the stuff away, then started dinner, ate dinner, cleaned up dinner, got Madison ready for bed and she and I finally got to just sit and rest on the couch at 6:30 pm! Again...the busiest day I've had in some time! I don't want another day like that anytime soon!

The rest of the week went well. Thursday night, Madison fell asleep at 5:30 pm, in her highchair, while eating dinner! She was very tired! Got her pajamas on and she just wanted to lay on the couch under a blanket until bed. And she slept in the next morning too!

We went to Patterson again this weekend. On Saturday, it rained, so we couldn't do much but play in the house. In the afternoon, we went to a graduation party for a good friend and Madison's former babysitter, Cassie. It was great to see old friends and catch up. We went from the party to family dinner in Tracy. Got back to my parents at 9:30 and it was straight to bed for everyone! On Sunday we went to church (outside at the park) and then over to Hickman for a birthday party for Madison's friend Taylor who just turned 2! Then it was back to Monterey to play with Daddy the rest of the evening! It was a busy week, but lots of fun!

Sunday, May 18, 2008

A few pics from the baby shower...

Sarah (8 months) and Sara (7 months)!
Phil and Sarah!
Sarah and soon to be born Navaeh Marie!

Our week...

A quick recap of this past week...the week was like any other. Babysitting for me and school for Blain. Madison continues to do well with potty training. Her only accidents result from not getting to the potty fast enough, though she regularly goes on her own without needing to be reminded. We've started a new chart and she loves seeing stars being added to it! We've also stopped giving her an M&M for every success and are now giving her one only when she goes into the bathroom and goes without a prompt from mom or dad. It is working well. Our next challenge is to get her comfortable with using the bathroom at other people's houses and in public restrooms.

I had a doctor's appointment on Wednesday. My 7 month checkup! Everything went well. My belly measurment was right on track and though the baby's heartbeat is lower than it has been in previous months (high 150's) it is still a strong 142. The doc has made is first prediction, he thinks the baby is going to be bigger than Madison's 6lbs 15oz. He also told me to continue on my iron medication (for the anemia) until after the baby comes.
Friday night through Sunday afternoon, Madison and I went and spent the weekend with my parents. It's been awhile since I was there and it was so nice to be in my home town. Monterey has had some really incredible weather lately and so I knew Patterson would be hot! But I wasn't expecting it to be 100 degrees when we arrived at 7 pm! And it remained that hot the whole weekend! I spent friday night talking with my mom and sister, then having an ice cream date with my dad (I always look forward to those!). And Saturday morning while my dad was out jet skiing, I got to just lay around and rest! That afternoon, I went to a bbq/baby shower for some dear friends of ours, Phil and Sarah. They are expecting their first baby the first week of July. They are having a girl whom they are going to name Navaeh Marie. It was a fun afternoon and I was so glad to spend time with friends.
Madison with Papa!
Saturday for Blain was spent in Monterey doing a PFT with his platoon. He did very well, knocking a minute off his run time and increasing his pull-ups by 12 points! He continues to work at improving his total PFT score and we couldn't be prouder of him! Keep him in your prayers as he has yet another two day test this week!

Sunday was church and then in the car for home. I was so tired by the time we reached Monterey, that when we came in and unpacked the car, both Madison and I just crashed on the couch. Not very often does she just lay down in the afternoon, but she did today! I could definetly tell she was wiped out! After some playing, laughing, screaming, kissing, flying, and cuddling with her dad, it was off to bed! And now, it's off to bed for me!Madison and her good friend Sara after church on Sunday!

Sunday, May 11, 2008

More photos from the Zoo...






Family Trip to the ZOO!!!

What an amazing weekend! We took Madison to the Zoo for the first time on Saturday.


We arrived in San Francisco a little after noon and went straight to the giraffes, zebras and ostrich. At first Madison referred to the zebra as "horsie" but once we told her what it was, that's what she talked about the rest of the day! After we made our way to the gorillas and smaller monkeys, we stopped, grabbed some lunch, and ate in front of the flamingos.
We continued around the zoo for the rest of the afternoon, Madison enjoying the bears, penguins, and antelopes. The last stop of the day was the Children's Zoo where she was very brave and pet a goat! She was a little weary of the sheep walking toward her, and so she stayed pretty close to Daddy. The true highlight of the trip...she used the big potty, in the public restrooms TWICE! She screamed when I took her in, so nothing happened. But when Daddy took her, she successfully went to the bathroom! Because we didn't have any M&M's with us, she got a few minutes of swing time at the playground for using the potty the first time, and the second time she went, she got to share some cotton candy and icee with us! It was a huge step in potty training and we were so proud of her the rest of the day!


Spending the whole day together as a family was such a treat! The weather was beautiful and we all had such a fun time!



This last week went well too. Potty training is getting better and better, she is now going into the bathroom on her own! She just runs in there, goes potty, then calls me when she's done! I am taking the iron medication and I hope that it starts working soon! I have 5 more weeks of babysitting, then I am done! Once I am done, I plan to nap in the afternoons with Madison, get caught up with scrapbooking and finish the baby's room. Blain has 4 more weeks until he gets his much needed class break. For now, his plan is to stay home, sleep in and not think about Arabic at all! I am really looking forward to having him home for a week, Madison is always in such a better (sometimes silly) mood when her Dad is around!

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Doctor just called...

Good news and bad news. The doctor just called. I passed the gluclose test! My numbers were normal. However, they did find that I am anemic (not sure of the spelling) and that explains why I have not been feeling well and have been so tired lately. Please keep me in your prayers that the iron medication will work and I can start feeling better!

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Let's review the week...SO much has happened!

It was a busy week in the Williams' home.

Madison and Bella on day one of potty training.

Monday: Blain had testing going on all day in class. We officially started full-on, no turning back potty training with Madison. A couple successes and quite a few accidents, including one on the couch!
Tuesday: Blain continues all day testing, but gets home early!!! Madison loved getting the extra time to play with him...there was lots of giggles. Twice as many accidents as Monday and only one success, but the couch was spared. Sara...frusturated and realizing that 4 pairs of panties is not enough, runs to target and buys 9 more!
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: Slowly getting the hang of it. She is starting to understand the potty routine and what happens if she goes in the potty. Lots of "yipee's", clapping, a star on her chart, she gets to flush the toilet and say "bye pee pee", AND she gets one M&M!!! Friday we ended not only with a success, but she initiated it! She came up and quietly said "pee pee mommy" and I asked her if she needed to go potty, she said yes and ran to the bathroom! Very exciting!
Madison's potty chart is in the bathroom, under the light switch, across from her potty so she can see it everytime she goes in there.
A rare photo of Madison looking at me and smiling for the camera! This was right before singing "Happy Birthday" to her friend Cameron.
Saturday and Sunday: Saturday morning I had to go in for a pregnancy gluclose/diabetes test. Blain got Madison up and by the time I got home, she already had 3 successes in the potty! I think having daddy say good job and put the star on her chart was quite a motivator because she had 10 successes total that day! And for one of them, she didn't even say anything, she just pulled down her panties and ran to the bathroom! Also on Saturday, we went to a birthday party for one of Madison's friends. Although the weather wasn't the best, they played and splashed in the water, colored with sidewalk chalk and paint, and ate a wonderful bbq lunch! Sunday was just a day for hanging around the house, especially because it was SO cold out! And to top the week off...only ONE accident on Sunday and it was in her pull-up during nap time! Blain and I are so proud of her and the fact that she has done so well in only a week makes us very happy! It was a busy week, all the focus on potty training but lots of fun!
Cupcake time!