NOW we have a fifth member of the family!

Okay, we had a little hiccup, but now we've found our family dog! After seeing the boy's disappointment saying goodbye to their first dog, Chris and I knew we needed to do what it took to invest in the right dog for our family. The right breed and the time and energy needed to raise a puppy to have the traits that match our family.

Meet HERSHEY! A 14 week old purebred standard poodle!! No froo froo tiny dog here, this girl will be able to keep up with the boys in this house.

Named by Pennsylvanian born and bred Chris and voted for by the chocolate loving boys. (They thought my idea of Snickerdoodles was a joke and vetoed it). Hey, at least I got a second girl in the house.

She's soooo soft, like down feathers, and playful, and gentle!

Here are the boys teaching her how to roll down a hill behind our house.

 

 

She thinks Gavin is a puppy from her litter. I constantly remind him to stand up so she doesn't tousle him like a fellow pup.

Bad shot, but here's Gavin with a wastebasket on his head giggling "Tee hee! You can't lick my face now Herseeeee!!"

She cheered up Ethan from his fever today.

Sitting at his feet as he watched Wild Kratts. (I'm not letting her on the couch...yet).

But her puppy friend Gavin happily had the energy to show her around.

Her litter was adorable, so I can see why she that Gavin was one of them ;)

The boys are potty trained and I'm glutton for punishment, so let's house train baby! And we are just starting to sleep through the night around here, so better get a puppy before we are too used to it!

Welcome home Hershey!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View videos, photos, and more on our family blog:www.livingingear.blogspot.com

 

Face palm

We sing a song accompanied by a little dance.

"Gavin's got his poopy n the potty! Gavin's got his poopy in the potty!! Yaaaaaaa!" 

Finish with jazz hands.

I'm feeling pretty great, both of my boys are done with this miserable slog called potty training.

Then Ethan steps up to the plate, er, bowl.

I notice out of the corner of my eye that he overshoots! Half of it has missed the bowl!!

"Ethan! There's a mess of pee on the floor behind the toilet!"

Taken aback at my disgust he reassures me.

"Oh don't worry Mommy. I do that ALL THE TIME."

Science Museum Sillies

Here's some highlights of our visit to the Maryland Science Museum today. We've gotten our money's worth from this (Groupon!) family membership!  Bonuses...No accidents and a quiet car ride home!

Bouncing and bathroom boredom

Today we spent the morning with friends at Bounce U (as did the rest of the county!)  When we weren't there, Gavin and I were in the bathroom reading super hero books, or cleaning up (okay, throwing out) underwear from the number two that has successfully evaded the potty for a week. Friends, I remember you've been there. How did you get your kiddo over the poop in potty mountain?

Where's my baby?!

I don't know where he went because my son Gavin just peed on the potty TWICE today! Who is this big boy that took his place?!

 

He was so proud of himself he wouldn't put his diaper back on and carried the toilet to every room to try again.

 

#1 Reason a Mom of Young Children Shouldn't Be Allowed to Get Sick

Without the power of smell...

you don't know one pooped until you SEE it.

Posted with Blogsy

Facepalm

Win: Actually being able to shower while leaving both boys alone (in separate rooms of course). Came out and found Ethan still sitting on the same spot I left him watching his show just as I instructed.

Fail: Finding his underwear and sofa underneath soaked... With pee.

 

No accompanying photo today!

Posted with Blogsy

#71 and #72 things I forgot about babies

Since having Gavin I've realized all the things I've forgotten about having a newborn in the two and a half years since having one.  How do people recall how it all works when their kids are 10 years apart in age!

Today's edition covers diaper lessons I forgot.  Sorry non-parents, I know this falls under the category of "please keep that to yourself!".

#71 thing I forgot about babies... Our baby boys pee on themselves EVERY single diaper change.  EVERY time.  With Ethan we were so amazed at this ability we asked the pediatrician if she had any magical tips.  She looked at us like we were idiots for asking, that clearly was not part of her medical school's curriculum or residency rounds.  We bought pee-pee tee-pees, hoping they would be more useful than a gag gift.  They are not.  We finally had to resign ourselves to changing the diaper changing pad cover every diaper change and washing the washcloths used to protect our son's (and our own) faces from the splash!  Gavin follows right in his brother's footsteps.  Today, at the pediatrician, I warned the nurse that he pees EVERY time the diaper is removed.  She laughed, showed me her "foolproof trick" of placing a tissue over his manhood to keep it warm and the safety on his trigger per say.  Well let's just say that tissue didn't stay in place... or dry!

#72 thing I forgot about babies... When is the best time for a diaper change?  Breastfed babies poop.  Yes, all babies poop.  But breastmilk is apparently so easily digested it just flows right through them!  And that leaves us with a quandary.  When on earth is he done pooping enough that it's safe for a diaper change?  He poops before eating, while eating, and after eating, and between.  Inevitably when I think he's done, he either poops in the new diaper right in front of me before I close it, or once I button up all of his little footie buttons. 

One thing I do remember about babies is this... they will grow out of this.  And they will grow FAST!  So this time I remember not to bug out about these little details, as they will be over  very soon and he'll be in a new phase before I know it!