The past few....errr....months

It's been awhile since I've posted what we've been up to. When we got back from Christmas vacation we settled back in and then Caiden got sick for a few weeks then me and Grace got sick...and this sickness stuck around for weeks. We were stuck inside for multiple weeks while we all tried to get better and now we're finally venturing out.

Caiden had his first dentist appointment last month and the cleaning appointment went great. He did so well, was so chill and loved being there because they had Buzz Lightyear wings! He was in heaven and was even excited when he found out he had to go back (because he had two cavities).

I felt like the worse mom ever. They were both very tiny cavities -between his lower back two molars on each side. We brush and floss his teeth twice a day but I was never flossing between those lower back molars because I didn't think they were touching yet...MAJOR FAIL. Needless to say the next appointment was a nightmare. I'm not going to go into detail but I just want to say -BRUSH YOUR KIDS TEETH REALLY, REALLY GOOD. I never want to go through that again...and I'm pretty sure Caiden is traumatized that he doesn't want to ever go to the dentist again either. One positive is that he does let us brush and floss his teeth really good now with no complaining!

The kids took their first bubble bath together -Grace's very first bubble bath ever! I know, so deprived. But seriously...who has time for baths...ever?!?!

We went on our first family bike ride! Caiden did so well on his tricycle and made it all the way around the park. He's finally learning how to steer...it's been a long time coming. Grace was pretty chill on the ride as well. She was not into wearing the helmet at first but thankfully gave in.

We've been to Seaworld a few times and to a few museums. February is museum month so all month long museums are half price. We're trying to fit all the kid friendly ones in! We've done the Birch Aquarium and the Children's Discovery Museum in Escondido.

Marc also went to SuperBowl 50! I was so bummed I didn't get to go but his buddy only had two tickets. I even saw him on TV in the background of the NFL Network. He had a blast and got to check one off on his bucket list!

Grace: 18-months

She has twelve teeth! About a month ago four came in all about the same time and she took it like a champ. I didn't need to pull out the Orajel or Motrin for her.

One minute she can be the sweetest thing ever and the next she's squashing a banana in her hand and throwing it on the floor because she doesn't want it. She does not like to be told no and if she's getting into something she's not supposed to and you add a little harshness to your voice she will start crying and run to you so you will hold her. She has such a different attitude than Caiden and it's really taking some getting used to. I have to remember that they are completely different people and you can't parent them the same way.

She loves to sign 'potty' and say it over and over again if she sees you in the bathroom. And she's even signed 'potty' a couple of times when she has pooped in her diaper and I clearly didn't change it fast enough. I was so amazed. She also signs more, water, milk (even thought she won't drink it), banana, cracker, bird, frog, horse, dog.

She's a pretty good eater but still such a pistol if she doesn't want something. She will shake her head 'no' so hard so that you get the point or she will grab it from you and squeeze it then throw it on the floor if she doesn't want it. It.Drives.Me.Crazy! Caiden would/and still does eat anything we give him and she just has such an opinion about everything. And she refuses to drink milk out of a cup. She was finished with breast milk about 2 months ago so we introduced regular milk in a bottle for a couple months before switching to a sippy cup and now she won't touch it in a cup. She takes one look at it and drops it or shakes her head no. We've tried cups that she can't see through, we've tried about 5 different kinds of cups, some with straws, some without...nothing works. So now I just shove lots of cheese and yogurt in her face so she gets the calcium. Her pediatrician said his daughter was two and a half before she would accept milk from a cup. He said to just give it a rest and try again in a few weeks or a month.

She still is in love with her blankie and will carry it around the house all day long if you let her. She's either holding it right in the crook of her arm or sucking on the tag.

She wakes up at about 6:30 every morning and goes to bed around 7:30. She takes one nap a day at the same time as Caiden. Sometimes she may fall asleep in the car in the morning if we are out running errands but it's usually only 15-20 minutes. She sleeps like a champ and has not woken up once in the past 6 months in the middle of the night...it's so great.

She is talking more and more. She's not as easy to understand as Caiden was and she won't just practice words with you over and over again like Caiden would. She's so stubborn sometimes and will just go mute if you ask her too many times to say something. It's so cute when she say's "Hi" and "Bye" though because she puts so much emphasis behind it and you just want her to say it over and over again.

She LOVES to play with my necklaces and shoes and will run as fast as she can to get her shoes when you tell her it's time to leave the house. She also loves when Marc comes home. She almost trips over her feet because she is running to the door so fast and she just puts her arms out and falls into his. It's the cutest thing ever.

Most of the time she is so, so, cute. Seriously we say she's, "so cute" probably 30 times a day. I don't know if it's a girl thing or what but we never said it that many times a day when Caiden was this age...haha. She loves to be held and resting her head on your chest with her arm wrapped tightly around your neck. She's such a little sweetie. We love, love, love her and just can't get enough of her every single day.

Grace's 18-month check-up

She weighed 22 lbs. 1 oz. (43rd percentile), 30.4 inches long (12th percentile) and her head is in the 37th percentile. She received one shot vaccine.

She was not very happy at this appointment. When I took her out of the stroller to set her down on the exam table she immediately started crying. I picked her up and she clung to me and would not let go or even look at the nurse who was trying to say, "Hi" to her. She screamed as they weighed her and checked her height. She calmed down once the nurse left us alone in the room but when Dr. Roberts walked in she looked at me and started crying and held out her arms for me to pick her up. She calmed down once we were talking but definitely didn't want him looking or talking to her.  This was a first...I'm not sure why she was so freaked out. She has never acted that way before. Thank goodness we don't have to go back until she's two. And because she was so clingy I didn't get many pictures.

New Years in Austin, Texas

Marc and I were due for a vacation without the kids. I didn't really realize how much I needed it until we got back to San Diego. I feel like I was getting into a rut doing the same old thing with the kids every week and now I feel like I got rejuvenated and have some fun new ideas and excitement to bring to them! My parents were so great taking care of them for four days and I only hope they come around to wanting to do it again ;) Thanks, Mom and Dad!

We did a lot of walking around since we were staying downtown -and Austin is so walk-able that there was never a dull moment. We visited the state capitol, went to delicious and relaxing dinners, stayed out waaaaaay too late on New Years Eve and did not have to worry about anyone but ourselves!

On New Years Eve we had dinner at Swift's Attic then went to a bar called the Speakeasy -all on the same block as our hotel. There was a band on the first floor and a DJ on the second floor. We haven't went all out like that in a loooooong time.

Austin is known for their bbq and it did not disappoint. It was melt-in-your mouth...and we only had to wait in line for an hour and a half. A girlfriend from college lives in Austin so her and her boyfriend picked us up on Saturday at 9:15am and they took us to a place where they knew the line wouldn't be too bad -La Barbecue. Even the locals wait in line for this stuff because it's so good -you bring some chairs and drinks and call it a morning.

After lunch Monica and Roberto drove us to a few spots -the University of Texas campus/Longhorns football stadium, the famous graffiti wall and then for some mid-day drinks on Rainey Street, a hipster street where they have turned almost all but one of the houses into bars.

That night Marc and I went down to the "Dirty 6" to see what the famous "6th Street" is all about. 50+ bars in a few blocks -a huge party!

We had such a great time visiting a new city and not having a care in the world. It's amazing how it makes you appreciate everything and everyone so much more when you have a relaxing weekend. Everyone needs these to keep their sanity! Thanks again, Grandma and Grandpa. Caiden is already asking when we're coming back to your house...so be ready!