Our hero...

When I was pregnant with Xander everyone told me...

"Oh, a boy! You're so lucky, boys LOVE their moms. Little girls love their dads but nothing compares to the love of a little boy for his mom."
I was so excited, and then quickly realized that the people who told me this were liars. Don't get me wrong, Xander loves me but when it comes to favorites... Zach is it. Xander adores his daddy and wants to be with him as much as possible and just like him in every way.



I'll be honest, there were some times when my feelings were hurt and I was a little jealous, but then I realized who better to idolize and have as a best friend than your dad?

Then came Blayne...
In the beginning it looked like I might actually lay claim to being the "favorite" with him, but as time has gone by it has shown that daddy is the true winner.



Blayne not only adores his daddy like his brother but also seems to respond more easily to daddy's instructions than to mommy's. Case in point...
A few days ago the boys wanted to watch a movie but they had made a large mess in the living room with their toys. I told them "If you would like the privilege of a movie, you need to clean up your mess first." They are usually quite good and don't complain about cleaning up but for some reason Blayne began whining and telling me "No Mommy!! No clean up!" I turned to him and as calmly as I could said "Blayne, you know the rule. If you make a mess, you clean it up. If you don't clean up your mess you will not get to watch the movie." He then turned to me and said:
"I ask Daddy."
To my surprise, he did just that. He walked up to Zach and said "Daddy, mommy say clean up. No clean up." To which Zach responded "Blayne, if mommy asks you to do something you need to do it. You made that mess, and now you need to clean it up." The response he received was "Okay daddy."
WHAT?!? No fussing, no whining, no temper tantrum, just a simple "Okay daddy."? My jaw may have hit the floor with an accompanying eye roll, but I was grateful for his amazing power over the kiddos.
Then last night something miraculous happened and Daddy became, not only my favorite, but my HERO.
For the last 7 months I have been trying to potty train Blayne and he is having none of it. Even my mentioning the word toilet began cries of "No, no toilet! Need diapers!" And the new little training toilet held no appeal. So basically I was resolved that I was going to have two in diapers. Last night as we were sitting around Blayne came and climbed up on the couch next to Zach and I, suddenly... there was a smell.
Just as I was trying to maneuver myself off of the couch Zach said to Blayne "Blayne, when you feel like you need to go potty you need to go to your little toilet, take your pants off, and go potty on your toilet." He got the same response that I always get when I give this same instruction, a quick and non-excited "Okay daddy." He then got off the couch and began walking towards his room, and I followed. As I turned the corner I got quite the surprise....
there was Blayne in the bathroom, pants off, and sitting on the little toilet. I was floored! I quickly walked over to him, praised him for doing exactly what daddy had said and suggested we take his diaper off. He gave me a 'whatever lady' look, and then daddy came and suggested the same thing to which he said "Okay daddy!" To the surprise of both of us he hadn't pooped yet and sat and did his deed on the toilet!!!! After 7 long months my child had finally done his business on the toilet!!! I was more than thrilled I was beyond ecstatic!!! (That was, until I realized that I was going to have to clean up this fun mess *insert dry heaving here*.) All it took was one talk from daddy.


Yep, our daddy is that amazing! Thanks Zach, and good luck with the potty training thing, I hereby relinquish the glorious duty to you.

Snowpocalypse

So lately here in Arkansas the weather has been a little finicky. It is having a hard time deciding what season it wants to be in and is causing some people to.... well, to put it honestly, FREAK OUT. We had seen this type of behavior before in Oklahoma and sometimes it's justified: I.E. Crazy ice storms, and sometimes it's just people overreacting: I.E. Exactly like this:



About a month ago we got a few inches of snow and even though the boys and I were unsuccessful at making a snowman (too powdery to stick), we bundled up and still managed to have a good time. We then came inside, had some hot chocolate and bundled up in some blankets.











Then just a week later the temperatures were in the 60s, we shed our coats, and the boys and I had a picnic outside and ice cream sandwiches for dessert.






Now fast forward to this week..... welcome to our 12-15 inches of snowfall!!










The forecast for this weekend and next week....

HIGHS IN THE 60s.
We'll have to see if that really happens. Oh Mother Nature... you fickle, fickle woman you!

WE LOVE MO!!!

So I had a four day weekend to take in January. It feels like I live at work in the month of December, so I get an extended weekend off in January. Codi and I decided to go do something fun, just the four of us. St Louis, MO. it was.

It is only about 6 hours away. We had to stop in Branson to go to our favorite store. Dicks 5 and Dime.

Then we had to go to Lamberts, the home of the thrown rolls. We saw it on the food network and had to go.

Then, we made it to St Louis. Words cannot explain how much fun we had there. The Arch was fun, but the "elevator" made Xander and prego Codi a little nervous.
We then found this amazing place, called the City Museum. Xander and I both screamed like little girls when we saw this place. The outside looked like this: The outside was full of planes, buses and tubes that led from each plane and bus. Blayne and I were the only ones who were not afraid of heights, and weren't freezing. .
The inside was full of caves, tunnels, and secret hiding places. You would find one hole in the middle of the ground and you would be crawling underground and then you would pop up on the other side of the building. There was a floor that had an aquarium, a floor with a circus, and a 10 story slide. It was too cool.



We then went to a Museum.

And another museum.

St. Louis was really cool.

But the night before we were going to drive home... it began snowing. By morning it had snowed about 8 inches. We stayed in our cabins about 30 min south of St Louis and had to drive on some back roads to get to the major highways. We said a prayer before we began our drive and we were on our way. We had only been driving 45 minutes, and only traveled about 15 miles, because the roads were very windy and VERY slippery. There was a little hill and I, not thinking, applied the gas a little and we began spinning. The car became quiet and we all held on tight while we spinned, thankfully we ended in our lane, facing the right way. I am not good at driving in the snow, so I asked Codi if she wanted to drive. Since she is from Utah, and is more familiar with snow driving so she took over. Too bad this was not snow, IT WAS ICE, and two minutes later we were in the ditch, with no way out. The roads were horrible, and no matter who was driving, they would have ended up in the ditch.

But since we said a prayer that we would be safe, we were okay and Heavenly Father placed us about 40 feet from a towing shop. I walked to the place and asked if they could pull us out. The man backed his vehicle up and attached the chains to our car. He then proceeded to pull our car out, when all of a sudden his big truck started sliding backwards...towards us!!

The man began screaming, saying: "Unhook your car! Unhook your car!" So I slid under the car and unhooked the chains. The truck kept sliding and the man jumped inside the truck and slammed on the brakes and emergency brakes. It stopped about one foot from hitting our car. Thankfully he got the truck stopped or he would have knocked our car on its side and possibly dragged us down the hill.

I asked the guy to hook the car up from behind, and pull us down the mountain. He did (and only charged me $20), and we decided to find another way home. We went about a mile, while searching the GPS for an alternate route, and realized it would take us two hours out of the way. Going up that hill was our only quick way out. While stopped on the side of the road and starting to get really frustrated... along came a sand truck/snow plow out of no where and it was heading the same way we needed to go. We got right behind him and started up the hill.

Earlier, while we were being pulled out of the ditch, there were about six cars waiting to make their way up the hill and by the time we had followed the sand truck/snow plow and made it over the hill, four of those six cars were stuck in the ditch awaiting their turn with the tow truck.

We highly recommend visiting St. Louis, but not when it is snowing.

Thanks for the planning Codi, but most of all... thanks for not freaking out when we experienced the snow hill of death.

ONLY 4?!?

Lately I've been questioning the actual age of my sweet little 4 year old. It just seems unreal to me that he can be so young and so incredibly smart and quick witted. Especially when it comes to matching wits with adults.
Example #1: When he was just 2 Zach's family was visiting for Christmas/Blayne's birth. There were treats galore and Xander definitely had plenty of people around willing to give him a treat with just one puppy dog look from his sweet big eyes. After handfuls had been consumed the mommy in me decided to step in and put the treats up on the kitchen counter. A few minutes went by and Xander made his way over to his Popa and asked him to hold him. He then proceeded to give Popa the biggest, sweetest, longest hug I had ever seen him give anyone. Then I heard a crinkle sound and realized that my little sweetheart was secretly sneaking more treats while hugging Popa. Brilliant.
Example #2: While in the car with my mother, at the end of a wonderful visit, she stopped at an ATM to get some cash. While there she asked if I needed any cash for the plane ride home to get some food/treats. I said that I was fine and thanked her for the thought. Suddenly from the back seat we heard this: "Nana... I need some moneys. Dollars." Wow.

Yesterday was no exception. As many of you know (especially if you read the last post) we are currently in the process of trying to potty train this little nugget:


It is going fabulously and without any difficulties whatsoever. He loves it and wants out of his diapers ASAP!! (*insert large amounts of sarcasm, and an exasperated sigh, here*) Okay, so maybe it's going so horribly that I've actually reverted to bribing him with "candy drops". **For those who are wondering what "candy drops" are... read the last post.**

The only problem with giving him "candy drops" was that Xander became upset and even told me I had hurt his feelings because he wasn't getting any. I explained to him the reasons why and he seemed to accept it, but when talking with my mom about it later she gave a great suggestion. "Why not give Xander some "candy drops"? He could be your teaching assistant and help show Blayne how to go potty on the toilet. Maybe seeing Xander do it, and get a reward would help encourage Blayne to do it as well. Besides, it would be an inexpensive solution." With that I began the next day with......

A POTTY TRAINING ASSISTANT!!!!

Xander was great! He was the perfect model of how to use the potty. He went #1, got 1 candy drop, and Blayne... absolutely refused. So we got into the tub and had a bath. While in the tub Xander asked me for "more candy drops please". I then explained to him that he only got "candy drops" when he was being my potty assistant and only 1 for going #1 and 2 for going #2. He said "Okay, understand.".
When we got out of the tub I asked Blayne if he would like to try going pee pee on the potty. I'm sure you can guess what his answer was. Xander then said "I'll go! Watch Blayne!" He did a tiny tinkle and was rewarded. I went on drying Blayne and explaining to him how he could get his own "candy drops". Then I heard another tinkle and a "See Blayne, it's easy!" he was rewarded once again. This happened one more time where there was a small tinkle followed by a reward and I began thinking to myself "Goodness, I need to cut back on Xander's drink consumption." Blayne did decide he would like to sit on the toilet but after 25 minutes of reading 4 stories, singing songs, and being his own personal cheering squad... he informed us he was done and proceeded to poop in his pull-ups only minutes later.
When nap time came around I again gave Blayne the opportunity to try to go pee pee on the potty, he "politely" refused and Xander quickly stepped up to the plate. It was after the second tiny tinkle that it finally dawned on me.......

I WAS BEING HUSTLED BY MY 4 YEAR OLD!!!!
I had informed him that going pee pee on the potty only gave him one "candy drop" and he had found a way to get numerous "candy drops" by just going #1 in little spurts at a time. I was so distracted and oblivious that it took me a few times to even catch on! I could hardly believe that he could be so smart and so manipulative when it occurred to me that he is "Mini Zach". I'm sure this is exactly the type of thing Zach would have done when he was Xander's age, especially if it meant getting more candy. It appears as though this "inexpensive solution" could actually end up bitting me in the behind one "candy drop" at a time.

The "Blayne" of my existence.

Don't let this adorably, sweet face fool you.
He is out to get me.
Yes, my 2 year old is out to destroy me and all the energy and patience I have stored in this body.
You would think that something so little and so cute wouldn't have the power or knowledge to destroy a grown woman, but he does.
How does he do it?
In the form of..... POTTY TRAINING.
(*See picture above, and notice that he is not wearing pants*)

When this sweetheart turned 20 months I decided I would do what I did with Xander and start doing things to help him get more comfortable and acquainted with the potty. For Xander, it worked like a charm. His interest in the potty grew, and by the time he was 2 and we began potty training he was trained both day and night in a week. I'm not going to give myself a lot of credit in this achievement because, honestly, the kid basically trained himself. Even as a baby he never even peed in his diaper while sleeping through the night.

Blayne however... has been the total opposite.

Maybe he just wants to be different from his brother, maybe he wants attention, or maybe he just really loves seeing the look of bewilderment and torture come across my face. Whatever it is.... he is currently winning.
It amazes me how long the kid can hold any #1 or #2 while sitting on the toilet (at intervals of 30 min.) only to let everything go seconds after I place a pull-up on the child. That is of course if I can even get the child to put on a pull-up. More often than not just the idea of getting a pull-up on causes cries of "NO! NO! Not my diaper! Need diaper!"
Today was by far, his crowning moment.....
He has been showing large interest in wearing underwear, especially Xander's Go Diego underwear. My sister came up with the great idea to let him wear a pair but place a pull-up on top. This way, he gets to wear the underwear and get used to them, while also getting used to the feeling of what happens when he relieves himself in them. The pull-up on top keeps me from having to clean up nasty accidents off of the floor and carpets. BRILLIANT!!
So today we decided to give it a try!
We had already made a handful of bathroom trips without any success, but also without any accidents. While talking on the phone with my parents and discussing the latest "plan of potty action" I mistakingly made this comment out loud...
"Things are going well so far but just watch him go poop in the underwear and not even notice or care. That will be so fun for me, especially the clean up."
My ever intelligent mom responded with "Count on it."
*I mean really?!?! Will I never learn?!? Saying things like that aloud is basically a DOUBLE DARE to young children to do that exact thing.*
I ended my conversation with my parents with this statement "Well, I'd better go. It's been almost 30 min. and I want to keep this no accidents thing going." *Ugh... such a moron.*
As I approached Blayne and said it was potty time again he pulled his hand free, hid himself under a chair, and started making a face that I know all too well. I frantically grabbed his little legs, pulled him out from under the chair, and made a run for the bathroom.
You can guess what awaited me...
Yep, a nice big smudge of #2 all over poor Diego. I still stripped him and made him finish the business on the potty. After a good 10 min. wait to make sure everything was all out... he was cleaned, the pull-up was placed back on, and he was rewarded with a "candy drop" ( an M&M for those who don't speak Blayne) for "going poo poo on the potty". Yes, that was a bribe. I know.
The chaos didn't end there however because sweet little Xander then came up to me with tears in his eyes informing me that I had hurt his feelings because he didn't get a "candy drop". The next 5 min. was spent not only explaining to Xander why Blayne was getting "candy drops" but also trying not to gag while I washed Diego out in the toilet.

*For those concerned with the well being of my little Xander you'll be happy to know that he too was given a "candy drop"*

*Really... could you say no to this face? I didn't think so.*

I placed Diego in the washer, scrubbed my hands clean 3 times and turned around to see a faded picture on the front of Blayne's pull-up. Yep, after sitting on the toilet for a good 10 min. my child had peed in the pull-up only seconds after getting them placed on his body.
GRRR... ARGGG!!! I do not want two children in diapers!!!
I know I still have a few months with this pregnancy, but at this point I can see Blayne putting me through YEARS of Potty Training "Bliss". Such a tease. I will still continue on with this seemingly pointless crusade, but to be honest..... the white flag is looking really good, and is within arms reach.

GIRL?
OR BOY?

I DECIDED TO WEAR THIS TIE TODAY!

Birthdays, Christmas, and 2011!!

Our little nuggets are two years apart and while they're still young we have decided to do a combined birthday party while we still can. This year we decided to cross our fingers, hold our breath, and hope for the best as we took the kids to...

~ the movie Tangled, and.....

~ duhn...duhn...duhn.... CHUCK E. CHEESE.

The movie was cute, but Blayne was having none of it. Zach and I took turns taking him down the stairs and letting him run up and down the walkway off to the side so we could still see the movie. Xander did pretty well, he was contented with eating gobs of popcorn (that I had accidentally doused with too much seasoning salt -bleh!) and downing the large Sprite we had gotten to share.
Then it was off to the place I was dreading.... the place of germs and unsupervised, rowdy children.....
CHUCK E. CHEESE.
To my surprise... it actually wasn't that bad. It helped that this Chuck E. Cheese was brand new, and that there really weren't many other families there. The boys loved it and really enjoyed all the games and rides. I was just glad there weren't many creepy malfunctioning robots on stage.
We then headed home for cake and presents!
One of Zach's employees was sweet enough to make the boys a cute little train cake, they loved it! For those who don't know... the boys are obsessed with trains lately especially the Polar Express train.



I won't bore you with countless birthday videos, but this one is a definite must see.
This is the video of the first presents the boys opened, they were presents from my parents and Zach's reaction is priceless. Please disregard my horrid cackle-laugh, one of my New Year's resolutions is to get rid of it. Without further ado....

The video:




In my mom's defense... she claims that she didn't know the monkey screamed and howled because in the store it didn't make a sound. Zach's still suspicious that this is just a parent's way of getting back at us for what we did to them while we were children. I know that that can't be true because I was an angel.

Speaking of angels.... the kids were actually quite the angels the entire drive to Zach's parents house in Texas for Christmas. We only got to be there for a day and a half but it was nice to spend time with family. Thanks to Santa's little helper (LOVE YOU LINDS!!) Xander got exactly what he asked for.... Chocolate chip cookies. And they were FABULOUS!! In fact, the first thing Xander did when we went into the present room was grab a cookie and then promptly leave. Apparently he was serious when he said that all he wanted was a chocolate chip cookie. He got his cookie and he was set.



We did get him back into the room where he and Blayne proceeded to go to town on the rest of their presents. The biggest hits have been the train set my parents gave them, the cameras Zach's parents gave them, and the movie Despicable Me that Santa gave them. We had a great Christmas and apologize to any friends or family members who felt gypped this year. Zach and I made a promise to each other that this year we were going to stay on a budget, and not go overboard. We're trying to be more responsible with our money and we also decided to be selfish and get each other a really expensive gift.
We're really excited about it, and can't wait to play with it in June......



Yep, looks like the New Year is bringing a new addition to the Beck family. I am officially 18 weeks and almost 1/2 way through. We'll find out in about 2 weeks if we need to be thinking of little girl or little boy names. As far as Xander is concerned if we wanted a baby we just needed to make Blayne a baby again. I'm sure my body would've been just fine with that, the sickness I've had with this baby has been horrible. Oh the joys of pregnancy. Oh well, it's worth it in the end.

Hope you all had a fabulous Christmas, and hope that your New Year brings only the best of tidings your way!!
Love, The Becks