Violet has been doing REALLY well the past two weeks with going to the potty. In the last few days she's telling us when she has to go, and most often doesn't 'refuse' to go sit on it when asked, like she had been doing the past couple of weeks. If she doesn't want to go, if you remind about the reward, she often then jumps up and goes, or tries.
She's been waking up from naps with a dry diaper, and coming back home from long outings with a dry diaper.... and sometimes even waking up from overnight dry. Her motivation is "treats". M&M's lately. She's getting "TWOOOO" treats for a peep, and "FIIIVE!!!" treats for a poop, and then comes out and proclaims to us (and everyone who might be here at the time, or on the phone) what she did and how many treats she gets, often times with her pants around her ankles still. She does the "pee-pee on the potty" dance and gives high-fives to our cheers. It's too stinking cute, and we're really, really shocked (and happy!) at how well she's been doing the last few days.
Could we be a 1-diaper kid household by Christmas time?! If things keep going the way they're going, I'd guess yes! Or very close. Very exciting!
Saturday, November 20, 2010
selling streak continues!
We sold the old bath tub today!! Got a little less than what we were hoping, but met our "minimum", I guess. We had it up for $1500, lowered it to $1200, sold it for $800. Awesome! Yes it's worth a few thousand new, but I think that's still pretty good; a nice little bonus for us anyway. They offered $500 which we refused and asked to meet us half way at $800 which they agreed (not quite half-way, but I didn't want to scare them off and go back at $900 or more given they offered only $500).
Anyway, we're super happy that it's gone and that we won't have to store it all winter!
Desmond is a growing chub... he's up to over 12 lbs now, eating and sleeping well. So far so good! I guess I should upload some pics since I haven't in a while and he's looking very different already.
We went to the K-W Santa Clause Parade this morning. It was kind of a bust. There were maybe half the people there than the Thanksgiving parade, which just seems wrong to me, but I think part of the problem is, this one is sponsored by the Lions Club, and the Thanksgiving parade is sponsored by the city. This morning, it was kind of boring, sadly. We had a lot of fun at the other one. Anyway, Violet was happy to see Santa and we had fun as a family regardless. We didn't bring Echo this time.
Anyway, we're super happy that it's gone and that we won't have to store it all winter!
Desmond is a growing chub... he's up to over 12 lbs now, eating and sleeping well. So far so good! I guess I should upload some pics since I haven't in a while and he's looking very different already.
We went to the K-W Santa Clause Parade this morning. It was kind of a bust. There were maybe half the people there than the Thanksgiving parade, which just seems wrong to me, but I think part of the problem is, this one is sponsored by the Lions Club, and the Thanksgiving parade is sponsored by the city. This morning, it was kind of boring, sadly. We had a lot of fun at the other one. Anyway, Violet was happy to see Santa and we had fun as a family regardless. We didn't bring Echo this time.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Kijiji - forgot
Forgot to add one more item that we sold in the last 2 weeks -- the old clothes dryer that was here when we moved in!
So last night the guy and his wife came to look at the car, and were very interested in it, but couldn't get past the rattling noise that it makes. If you've ever been near it, you know the noise.... I told him it's been doing that for the last year or more and has never been a problem and that our mechanic has tried to find what was making it, and couldn't. They drove down from Meaford, which is over 2 hours away to look at it! (Near Collingwood) I thought that was very strange because these Caravans are EVERY WHERE. They couldn't find one closer to them?? Anyway, they wanted it, but they really wanted their mechanic to look at it first to tell them that that noise wasn't going to be a problem like the transmission about to fail. So they asked if they could take it back to Meaford for their mechanic to look.... I was about to let them as I didn't really know how far Meaford was, but when google maps told me it's about 2.5 hours away, I said I didn't feel comfortable with it. Marn didn't either. So I told him I'll have our mechanic have a look to try and determine what the noise is, and while they're at it get an estimate on what it would cost for a safety. He said that was fine, and told me a few times that they ARE buying a van, because they need one, but it's just a matter of who's, but they wanted one soon.
Well, I feel like we maybe missed an opportunity to get rid of the van, but on the other hand, if we lend them it, what happens if they got in an accident? Our insurance would pay, and our rates would go up. Then if they get it up there and don't want it? They've then put on 400+ km's more. Who's to say that their mechanic knows more than ours? What if he's a buddy of theirs and he just says that the transmission is going to go soon to get us to lower the price. The best we can do is either safety it, or get a list of items needed for safety and then go from there. It's kind of silly for the guy to think that his mechanic could tell him that "something" was going to go soon. "soon" could be 1,000 kms, or it could be 10,000 km. No one can tell you that. It's mechanical! You know it's worn out because of the mileage, but no one can predict when something mechanical is going to fail....
So last night the guy and his wife came to look at the car, and were very interested in it, but couldn't get past the rattling noise that it makes. If you've ever been near it, you know the noise.... I told him it's been doing that for the last year or more and has never been a problem and that our mechanic has tried to find what was making it, and couldn't. They drove down from Meaford, which is over 2 hours away to look at it! (Near Collingwood) I thought that was very strange because these Caravans are EVERY WHERE. They couldn't find one closer to them?? Anyway, they wanted it, but they really wanted their mechanic to look at it first to tell them that that noise wasn't going to be a problem like the transmission about to fail. So they asked if they could take it back to Meaford for their mechanic to look.... I was about to let them as I didn't really know how far Meaford was, but when google maps told me it's about 2.5 hours away, I said I didn't feel comfortable with it. Marn didn't either. So I told him I'll have our mechanic have a look to try and determine what the noise is, and while they're at it get an estimate on what it would cost for a safety. He said that was fine, and told me a few times that they ARE buying a van, because they need one, but it's just a matter of who's, but they wanted one soon.
Well, I feel like we maybe missed an opportunity to get rid of the van, but on the other hand, if we lend them it, what happens if they got in an accident? Our insurance would pay, and our rates would go up. Then if they get it up there and don't want it? They've then put on 400+ km's more. Who's to say that their mechanic knows more than ours? What if he's a buddy of theirs and he just says that the transmission is going to go soon to get us to lower the price. The best we can do is either safety it, or get a list of items needed for safety and then go from there. It's kind of silly for the guy to think that his mechanic could tell him that "something" was going to go soon. "soon" could be 1,000 kms, or it could be 10,000 km. No one can tell you that. It's mechanical! You know it's worn out because of the mileage, but no one can predict when something mechanical is going to fail....
Monday, November 15, 2010
Kijiji!
We have a small fascination and addiction to the site www.kijiji.ca. Marn is on it every day, and I often browse it for any deals that we might be looking for. We recently started listing a bunch of stuff that we've had around the house for too long so it's been especially useful to us!
In the last 2 weeks we sold my car, some old floor tiles from the previous house, the old teal silk curtains that were in the house when we moved in, and tonight we're hoping to sell the old mini van, as well as hear back about the walk-in tub! Someone came by on the weekend to take more pictures of the tub as he wanted to buy it for him Mom as a Christmas present, but as his whole family was going in on it, wanted to wait and hear back from them first. We're SOOOO hoping that this sells!! Yesterday someone called about the mini van (not sure the lead came from kijiji) then called back half an hour later and wants to come to see and test drive it tonight.
We recently bought a double Chariot stroller from someone in Hamilton (in pristine, like new condition) and now are trying to sell our Single Chariot to recoup more than half of that money. Marn got a sit and stand stroller for when she's out with the kids, she can strap in the car seat for Desmond, and Violet can either walk, or sit or stand on the back. She's purchased baby wraps, toys, clothes, etc... all for fractions of the price, and often the items are like new. Over the past few years, the best purchases by far have been the double Chariot stroller recently and the Bugaboo Bee stroller that were both Very New, and barely used, for $100's less than new. Last week we also got a solid unfinished pine wardrobe for Desmonds room for $300 since it doesn't currently have a closet. We thought it was ok deal considering we'd have to pay more than that for some cheap ikea thing made from particle board! Staining or painting it is just one more "project" to add to the list though....
Ebay has nothing on this site. It's a lot like craig's list, but for whatever reason, Kijiji seems to be way more popular around here than that. Craig's List seems to be more popular in the larger markets like Toronto and Vancouver - Our office in Vancouver lists job openings on Craig's List all the time and gets 100's of replies and leads.
It's completely free if you want it to be, and there's no commission to pay the website if you sell it.
For the Van, I listed it on Craig's List as well as AutoTrader to try and get rid of it.... hopefully it goes tonight!
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Smart Cutie
Violet is so darn cute these days... it's just too much sometimes. Almost everything out of her mouth is too adorable that we wish we could just bottle up her personality right now.
Last night at dinner, she and I were sitting at the dinner table eating dinner while Marn was in the kitchen just finishing up getting her plate ready. Violet and I had a "quiet moment" just sitting there waiting for Marn when all the sudden Violet says to me, "So, how was your day?" I just melted and laughed. It's funny because it's what Marn asks me almost every night at the table, but since she wasn't there, Violet thought to ask... and even more funny because she started it with, "So"... Not just "how was your day?", "So, how was your day?" as if to break the ice or something.
At night when putting her to bed, we have a bit of a routine; washroom, brushing teeth, washing hands, hug and kiss mom (and now Desmond), to bed with some books, then I lay down with her (snuggles) and talk about her day and how to relax with deep breathing and thoughts of her day, sometimes with some back or tummy tickies, or as Marn would say, tick ticks. So last night (and the last few nights), she was having a hard time going down and when I told her I was leaving, she yells out, "No, I want to talk about your day with me!". So I gave in and went back again, laid with her and she asks me again how my day was and I ask her about her day with mom for a bit. She then says, "in your nose" - takes a deep breath - "and out your mouth" - big exhale... too funny. I try to get her to close her eyes thinking about the day quietly while doing that, and a lot of times it works really well.... her breathing in a matter of minutes (seconds?) gets really deep and rhythmic. When that happens, I can whisper to her good night and she leans over for a kiss and says good night, then rolls over for the night. Sometimes. Sometimes it's a lot in and out getting her to sleep, but it's not usually too bad - or I'm just used to it!
Just before bed last night she was playing in her toy room (sun room). I came in to get her and saw that she had teary eyes and was rubbing them, so I asked what was wrong. She said, "I'm crying". I said that I saw that, but why are you crying? She pronounced to me, "I'm pooing!".
She's also taken to getting out of bed now and coming out to the living room where we are. She sort of sneaks out and then stands there waiting for us to notice. This started about a week or so ago. Before that she would NEVER get out of bed, so I don't know why she's started doing that, but she knows it's wrong, and when I say to her in a stern voice, back to bed! and walk with her, she busts out huge cries and tears... I hate that she's started doing that, but when she comes out, she's so fricken cute just standing there with her shoulders shrugged, head down, and eyes up with a look on her face like "I'm up and I'm innocent!"
Last night at dinner, she and I were sitting at the dinner table eating dinner while Marn was in the kitchen just finishing up getting her plate ready. Violet and I had a "quiet moment" just sitting there waiting for Marn when all the sudden Violet says to me, "So, how was your day?" I just melted and laughed. It's funny because it's what Marn asks me almost every night at the table, but since she wasn't there, Violet thought to ask... and even more funny because she started it with, "So"... Not just "how was your day?", "So, how was your day?" as if to break the ice or something.
At night when putting her to bed, we have a bit of a routine; washroom, brushing teeth, washing hands, hug and kiss mom (and now Desmond), to bed with some books, then I lay down with her (snuggles) and talk about her day and how to relax with deep breathing and thoughts of her day, sometimes with some back or tummy tickies, or as Marn would say, tick ticks. So last night (and the last few nights), she was having a hard time going down and when I told her I was leaving, she yells out, "No, I want to talk about your day with me!". So I gave in and went back again, laid with her and she asks me again how my day was and I ask her about her day with mom for a bit. She then says, "in your nose" - takes a deep breath - "and out your mouth" - big exhale... too funny. I try to get her to close her eyes thinking about the day quietly while doing that, and a lot of times it works really well.... her breathing in a matter of minutes (seconds?) gets really deep and rhythmic. When that happens, I can whisper to her good night and she leans over for a kiss and says good night, then rolls over for the night. Sometimes. Sometimes it's a lot in and out getting her to sleep, but it's not usually too bad - or I'm just used to it!
Just before bed last night she was playing in her toy room (sun room). I came in to get her and saw that she had teary eyes and was rubbing them, so I asked what was wrong. She said, "I'm crying". I said that I saw that, but why are you crying? She pronounced to me, "I'm pooing!".
She's also taken to getting out of bed now and coming out to the living room where we are. She sort of sneaks out and then stands there waiting for us to notice. This started about a week or so ago. Before that she would NEVER get out of bed, so I don't know why she's started doing that, but she knows it's wrong, and when I say to her in a stern voice, back to bed! and walk with her, she busts out huge cries and tears... I hate that she's started doing that, but when she comes out, she's so fricken cute just standing there with her shoulders shrugged, head down, and eyes up with a look on her face like "I'm up and I'm innocent!"
Monday, November 01, 2010
Some pics are up!
The pictures from the photo session are up, and they look so cute!
I'm sure we'll be provided another link at some point to look at the rest, but these are great.
www.edisonphotography.com
I'm sure we'll be provided another link at some point to look at the rest, but these are great.
www.edisonphotography.com
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