Misc Break Stuff & First Potty!

It was a wonderful break over the Holidays!  This next new year promises to bring many changes.  The first of which is beginning on the journey of potty training.  Since Thanksgiving, Izzy has been pretty interested in the potty.  Dan and I haven't been pushing the issue to much, but we've been talking with her about it.  However over break, Izzy decided that she wanted to sit on the potty.  SO....I sat her on the potty.  We sat several times just to get the 'feel' of it...I guess that's the best way to put it.  Then, out of the blue...she went potty!  Over break she's had successful #1 and #2 sits, but nothing consistent.  It's early though, so we're still not pushing it.  She seems to go through streaks.....her most recent thing is to tell us that she's either going potty or has to go, then when I ask if she wants to sit on the potty she looks at me for a beat and says, 'Noooooo.'  Eh, whatever.  ;)  We'll get her there.  Isabelle is even starting to tell the sitter when she's in process of going....even with all her playmates and distractions around.  Here's hoping that 2010 will see a break in diapers!

The only trouble with the break was a persistent cold that Izzy had pretty much since we came back from Iowa.  Lots of green boogers and Kleenexes.  You know it's bad when your 21 month old comes to you to have you wipe her nose instead of the usual.  The usual of course being Izzy running away from me shrieking with glee when she sees me coming for her with a Kleenex.

Here are some misc pictures from over break.

What you see here is an entire travel pack of Kleenexes that Izzy managed to get her hands on....she used 1/4 of one of them.  The rest?  Yea, perfectly clean...if a little rumpled.

Catching some tube

We were all able to relax with the time off!

First Sledding Outing!

SO!  A sled was a gift from Santa this year.  As soon as it was seen Christmas morning, the need of a sledding outing was on.  A couple of days after Christmas Day we took the plunge.

Isabelle loves being outside, so that wasn't the issue.  One issue was having her keep her mittens on.  Another issue was towing her up the frigging hill!!  We thought this would be a method of getting out some of her energy, which I think was successful....but it kicked the poop out of mom and dad as well.

The hill we went to is maybe 5 minutes from our house.  Izzy was fast asleep by the time we got home, and didn't wake up as I sat her down to take my snow covered boots off before laying her in bed.

I'm looking forward to our next outing!

Dad helping Izzy up the hill after her first round...she'd walk about 1/3 of the way up the hill before becoming disgusted with walking in the snow.  After that she rode in the sled.

Hitching a ride

Mom helping Izzy up the hill

A view of the park where we went - and a feeling of how big the hill actually was!

Dad and Izzy en route

Later, Dudes!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!  I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season!

Isabelle had a wonderful Christmas this year.  She is more aware of what is happening and can talk with us a little about what she thinks and what she does and does not like.  We traveled to IA to have Christmas with both families the weekend before Christmas and were able to have Christmas proper at our house this year.  I can't describe Izzy's reaction to going to bed Christmas night with the tree looking one way and then discovering new presents under the tree the next morning that Santa had left!  She yelled with surprise! 

Dan and I were lucky enough to be able to take some vacation over the holiday season.  How nice it was not to be stressed out about going to work, having to take Izzy to daycare or only having a few minutes to play after work before the supper, clean-up, bath, bed routine!  We played and played over break.  Honestly, we spent a lot of time telling Izzy that Magnum's toys were Magnum's and that he was allowed to play with them when she was upset when he tried to get them from her.  The other times, though they played with his toys together, having a grand old time.  Honestly....why did we buy Izzy kid toys?

Christmas Eve day was busy with making cookies for Santa, making our Holiday supper and then opening presents!  It was a bit much for the Iz-meister, but she thoroughly enjoyed all her presents on Christmas Day....AFTER she exclaimed over what had miraculously appeared under the Christmas tree over night.  Among other things, Izzy received a toddler band set, her very first sled, and a sparkly purse complete with sunglasses, lipstick, nail polish, perfume and cell phone!  It's a good thing that all the items that came with the purse were play things or Magnum would have ended up looking and smelling very pretty indeed.
 

 Izzy hamming it up by the tree

Before the Christmas Eve ravage...

 

Magnum enjoying getting the toys out of his stocking

 

Daddy working to free a toy from it's restraints while Izzy patiently looks on...supervising.

 

Izzy and her purse - trying out the nail polish already!

 

A farm set complete with crops that grow, a tractor and animals that make sounds!

 

Christmas morning...Isabelle exclaiming over her brand new sled!

 

An innovative way of combining the 2 hobbies of bowling and sledding...

 

 Bowling in the kitchen...we have since put the bowling ball up and are using one of Isabelle's less harmful bouncing balls for knocking the pins down.  Izzy thought it was a good idea to THROW the bowling ball instead of roll it.  We will try it with the real ball again in the spring.....OUTSIDE.