Grey is wearing this awesome mustache. I told him how awesome it looks and he says, “Why? You wanna marry me?” Haaaaaa!

Ben’s BFF has a daughter named Petra, who is just over a year younger than Winter. They have hung out a few times recently. When ever I say “Petra” Winter says, “Petra! My friend. Baby friend.” This is so nice to hear because just a few months ago, Winter did not like having friends! She was very protective of her toys and her space, but now she is much better at sharing.

Winter was super excited about the bounce house for her birthday party. It was a castle, and all day she would say, “My castle!” Then it got taken away. “Where’s my house go?” Now every time we go to the backyard she asks, “House? Soon?” I may have to take her to Bounce U soon!

When eating something yummy, she says, “Mmmm, this taste good! Numinuminumi…” This goes for breast milk, and watermelons alike!

Wednesday she decided that when it was time for bed she wanted to sleep in her bed (crib converted to toddler day bed). I left her in there thinking she would get up and want to come to my bed. I checked on her and she was asleep! About an hour later she woke and threw up. Poor baby girl. After cleaning everything and bathing her I brought her to my bed.

about 20 minutes before puke fest

She slept in yesterday and had a nap, which meant late, late bed time. Again, she wanted to lay in her bed, but she kept getting up. Up and down, up and down. Eventually she fell asleep in my arms while I was watching Game of Thrones (you know, totally appropriate toddler TV). I put her down in her bed, where she stayed until 4:30am! Of course, I barely slept and had nightmares about missing toddlers.

Tonight was more of the same, but slightly different. At bed time I told her to lead the way. She went to her own bed. We nursed for a few minutes but she decided she would rather have water. Said goodnight to nursies…but then she wanted to get up again. I decided she needed to stay in bed, just like she does in MY bed when it is sleepy time. After all, it is not as if I was forcing her into her bed. She chose to go there. I don’t want to let her think that her choice means getting up to play when it is bed time.

She was clearly tired, but certainly not happy when I told her she needed to stay in bed. Amazingly though, she didn’t try to get up. She cried. Not a scared cry, but an “I want to get up!” pissed off cry. While crying she was sitting up. So I gently laid her down, letting her know it would be easier to sleep if she laid down. With in minutes she was conked out. As was Grey, who has a crazy knack for falling asleep while Winter is screaming.

Grey was still in our bed full time until he was 3. And then from 3 to 4 and a half we had to lay with him in bed for him to fall asleep. We did have some amazing times in that bed. Especially when I was pregnant with Winter. But we also had some really frustrating times. I am so amazed at Winter making these choices for herself. My strong, independent little lady.

A related story, I woman I went to high school with is a dwarf. She and her husband (who is also a dwarf) have adopted a number of children. She and her family were featured on 20/20 this evening. I mentioned it to Ben. Grey’s little ears perked up. “Wait, what dorf? You know a dorf?!” You just gotta love curious kiddos!

A Bunch of my favourite mama friends started posting manicure photos. I was jealous! My nails looked like they had been chewed up in a factory farming accident. I wanted pretty nails too!

I decided that I would start painting them, even if they were bitten down to the quick. I realized an amazing thing. Even the nubbiest of nails look better with some color! In a matter of weeks I went from owning 1 polish, to over 30. Just this past weekend my husband sent me 50 (FIFTY) nail art polishes for my birthday! When my nails are naked, they just do not feel right. The best part? I no longer bite. I go through more sunflower seeds and altoid mints, but my nails look fabulous!

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At 2 years old WinterRose has turned into the most precious little person. I never would have imagined that watching my second child develop would be as awe inspiring and amazing as it was with the first. She is a girly girl through and through, a trait she did not pick up from me. She loves her dresses and shoes. She is so full of creativity. Making me meals in the play kitchen, making up little stories. She calls the grassy area by the car port her house. She uses blades of grass as the keys to her gate. Unlike her brother, she loves to get wet, and will pour cups of water on her own head in the bath or in the kiddie pool. She has a smile that will light up any room, and a laugh that could make me cry from the sweetness.

She calls cookies, “tookie”. And coffee, “foffee”. She calls Greyson, “brudder”, and dresses are called, “princess”.

She and Grey have a typical sibling relationship. Best friends and worst enemies all in the same minute. Grey was my mellow guy, but Winter has some fire in her. And some lungs too! She can scream like none other and has the Taurus temper to accompany it. She’s a girl that knows what she wants, when she wants it. A trait that I hope will serve her well in life, even if it can be a pain in mommy’s rear sometimes.

WinterRose and I are still nursing. Just a few days ago I decided to try (again!) to night wean. This time, unlike the others, she must have been ready. I know it is just one step toward the end of our nursing relationship, so while I am happy to hopefully gain more sleep, it is also bitter sweet. Luckily, she is still nursing through out the day. I am very proud of our nursing relationship, as it was some we worked really hard to establish. In the beginning I wasn’t sure I would make it two weeks, let alone 2 years. I’ve definitely enjoyed the closeness and snuggles.

I thought having an older child would prepare me for each stage in development, but Winty and Grey are so very different from each other. She surprises me everyday, and I’m excited to see what the next year brings us.

Usually when she sits on the potty and doesn’t actually go pee, she shrugs her shoulders and says, “It’s not working, not working.” Today, she started to tinkle (literally sounds like tinkling) she looked surprised and happy and exclaimed, “It’s working!” so so so cute!

This photo isn’t from today, but it is a potty picture that cracks me up :)

Why don’t I just start with some photos from Easter?

“Asked G what he wanted for his Bday dinner. He said, pepperoni pizza. I asked from Round Table? He said, “No, loooong table!” Hahahaha.”

We had a lovely party with friends and a bounce house.

Grey was also in summer camp as school. He enjoyed his time there, but had some trouble with baseball camp. Older kids were picking on him. Saying poop and fart at him.

In the world of Winter:
Poop = “bap”, Thank you = “gung gung” and I swear she points at my boobs and says, “eat that”. #babywords

In the world of Ben:
The latest All Shall Perish CD was released. As well as a music video.

He was also on the Rockstar Mayhem Tour, Which was a big deal for them. and missing us immensely.

In my world:
I was very motivated to be running. My goal for the month was 40 miles, and i hit that goal.

Some kid quotes and cuteness:

QOTD: “Mom, Have I been to Office Depot?” “I don’t think so…” “I heard a commercial on the radio that said they have a lot of hot backpacks and community things!”

I gave G two choices for dinner, one was pizza. Which he of course wants. Winter heard the word pizza and took off RUNNING with a big smile on her face. I guess she knows the word!

I finally got my hugs. I squeezed while he yelled, “You’re hurting my bones!!!”

Carlos Antagony just came in asking why my IUD was on the ground by my car. Uh???? Yeah, no. It was a Snappi for one of Winter’s cloth diapers. HA!!!!!!!!!

My favourite Grey quotes of today: “Mom, the only song I know is the polka.” and when I asked how his dinner was he said, “Great, better than a giant.”

Nursing Winter on a bench, a homeless lady just told me I look like a gangbanger. Public nursing is so gangsta!

“Mom, remember that guy what swings his bat in circles like his wiener?” “Uhhhh, You mean Aaron Rowand?” “Yeah!” HAAAAAAAA

“daddy was laying down. Eddie was standing up. Horizontal, vertical, opposites!” Complete with arm gestures. :)

“Mommy? Can we snuggle in your bed?” “yes but then you have to go to sleep in your bed.” “but mom, I want to take extra care of you.” #melt

“dying isn’t fun. dying is just dripping blood a lot and not getting a bandaid.”

I love that Grey thinks that all of our friends are HIS friends too, but I feel bad for Fran right now, who is very graciously searching for Waldo.

How about with diet?

Last I wrote, we were dairy free. Being dairy free cured Winter of her runny nose. She was still sleeping terribly, so I decided to cut the Top 8 Allergens (dairy, egg, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish) out of my diet for a few weeks to see if she might have some other sensitivities. She didn’t. But the side effect was that I lost 12 pounds.

Now, my diet is pretty much back to normal. I CAN eat anything I want, but I am trying to not eat dairy so much, and also less grains. You know, because losing weight rocks and because dairy makes me feel bloated and gurgly.

The other big change in my life is that Ben and I have both been making an effort to go to the gym at least 5 days a week. I’ve been utilizing the Couch to 5K running plan and it has been working really well for me. It basically has you doing walk/jog intervals. It starts out as 90 seconds walking, 60 seconds running. The program slowly builds up how much you’re running, while tapering off how much you’re walking. When I started, the full 60 seconds of running made me feel like I am going to die. Now, I can run a full 3 minutes and feel fine.

What I really love at the gym, though, is strength training! This is where I can really feel my body changing. Feel myself getting stronger. I’ve totally turned into a gym rat. If I don’t go for a couple of days I feel terrible.

As my friend Josie says, “LIFE CHANGES!” Wooohoooo!

And since blog posts without photos are boring, here is a recent one of my Baby Bee (ToddlerBee?)