The Blue Bell Fun Run 2014

Our friends, Russell & Sarah Mariott, invited us to go with them to do the Blue Bell Fun Run in Brenham this year. It is a 5K Walk/Run and a 10K Run held in Brenham and at the end, you get all-you-can-eat Blue Bell Ice Cream bars. The end in itself seemed worth it to us! Vic has also been really working out and running a lot so he was interested in doing the 10K, and I thought the kids and I could walk the 5K in the double stroller. So, we signed up and headed out bright and early on Saturday morning to Brenham. We met up with our friends who were also going to push their kids, Aubrey and Austin and lead their dog on their 5K Run. The weather was overcast, but good and everyone enjoyed the race. Vic was AMAZING, as he ended up in 28th place out of 1,024 runners in the 10K. And, he was 6th in his age group for men. He ran a 7:01 minutes/mile finishing in 43:37. He was pretty excited too, as he didn't know he could do that well. It already makes him want to run some more 5K's and even train for the half marathon in December in College Station. The kids and I were on our own in the race, and I was so proud of them for lasting so long in the stroller and being so well behaved. Atticus and Austin got to chase each other a little bit to run some energy out before the race. And, after seeing Vic off, we lined up on the sideline of the 5K starting line. All of the 5K runners stacked up together and when they finally started the race, Atticus stood on the finish line yelling "go runners!" over and over. Then, the kids and I loaded up and took off as well a few minutes after the 5K. Let me just tell you that my "official time" to complete the 5K was nothing to write home about, but I was so proud to make it through because there were some serious hills along the way and pushing 60 pounds of kids plus the double stroller made me exhausted. It was a lot of fun though and it helped the kids to not get bored because there were so many people to see. Atticus talked a lot, as usual, and kept finding the bluebonnets along the way. Occasionally, Grace would bother him by kicking the back of his seat, but mostly, they were good. And Atticus still yelled "go runners!" when our race met back up with the 10K runners. Also, about the last 50 yards or so, I let Atticus out of the stroller so he could run the rest of the way to the finish line. He was so cute running all that way and smiling! There is a 1 mile kids race that we think we will let him do next year. It would be so fun to watch him run! Then, we crossed the finish line and got our medals. They even gave the kids medals. We found Vic and loaded up on some ice cream bars (I think Atticus had two, but I think Vic might have had three!). Then, we departed our friends and headed home, stopping in Navasota for some Mexican food. It was a really fun family outing and really fun way to spend a Saturday morning. I really hope we have more races like this in our future! Oh and I also want to say that this was the most organized race I have ever seen. There were volunteers everywhere to help you and it was so family friendly. There were over 3,965 participants but it went so smoothly that you would not have thought there to be that many. Such a fun day!

 I find it funny, now, that I have a picture of Vic pushing the kids in the stroller, when I was the one to push them 3.2 miles in it! But, that's what happens when I'm the one taking the pictures and that is ok with me!

 Aubrey, Austin, Grace and Atticus in their strollers for the race!

 This is Vic warming up for his 10K.

 Wonder what these two boys are discussing?

 Our pre-race family picture.

 My sweet Grace and myself. My eye inflammation (seriously, what does that even mean? I paid the eye doctor to tell me it was red and inflamed when I already knew that?) kept me in glasses for a week.

 I have, on video, Atticus yelling "Go Runners!" as the 5K runners took off.

 And, this is where I let Atticus out of the stroller to run the rest of the race by himself. He was so excited!

 Almost to the finish line! I would like to note that my little Seidel team came in 2,191st of 2,436 runners and walkers. That doesn't sound great. But, remember we were walking! haha! And, we actually walked our 3.2 miles in 59:10 (our chip time) instead of what is above. That would be an 18:58 minutes/mile. This is only important because I'm curious how it might change for next year's race!

 My boys and their medals!

 Notice that Grace is missing a shoe? Well, apparently, during the course of the walk, I didn't notice that she took off both shoes and both socks. All but one shoe fell down into the basket under the stroller. The other shoe is forever lost and it's too bad, because I LOVED those shoes.

 Ice cream in warm Texas weather is basically just an excuse to get really mess when you are an almost 3 year old little boy!

 Our family picture post-race.

 The boys and Grace at lunch.

Atticus' Bible Study

In an effort to spend more time studying the Bible, I have been trying to read Jesus Calling daily. My Bible and Jesus Calling book sits out on the table or on the window seat. A few day ago, I didn't make Atticus nap and told him he could help me clean house and play. At one point, as I was sitting at the computer (probably checking email or people.com - sometimes Mama needs a break!), Atticus comes over to me and picks up the Jesus Calling and...

Atticus: "I need to do my Bible Study."
Me: "You do?" I didn't bother to explain he didn't have the real Bible.
Atticus: "What is a Bible Study?"
Me: "Well, we have to read our Bibles and study what God is telling us. It's a time to just talk to God and listen to God."
Atticus: "Can I take your Bible to the couch to do my Bible study?"
Me: "Of course, Atticus."
He gets on the couch and starts looking at the pages as if he is trying to read the book. Being the crazy mom that I am, I quickly grab my camera to snap a picture hoping he doesn't see. He doesn't! I go back to the computer while giving him his space and I hear:

"Be a good boy. I want to be a good boy." At this moment, I realize he is repeating what we say when we pray lately, which is "God, help Atticus to be a good boy." I'm melting inside. Watching this sweet little boy do his "Bible Study" is the most encouraging thing.

It lasts maybe 4 minutes, and he comes to me and says "Lets do our Bible Studies together." At this point, I show him the Bible and do a very short Bible story with him. Then, I tell him to go find a book about God and he brings me his Noah's Ark book that we read together. Then, we pray and we are done.

I cannot explain how wonderful this little event was. It's just so powerful to see God working in our little children. It is also a good reminder that he is watching what Vic and I do and say all the time. We know this because we constantly notice him repeating phrases we say, but who would have known he would have noticed this or heard me say it once or twice? I don't do my Bible Study in front of the kids, because I need peace and quiet. But, he has noticed. And, last night after a church function, when we prayed at dinnertime we included, "thank you for our church family." Today, as I put him down for a nap, I told him we had some people from our church coming over tonight and he immediately said "what will we do with our church family?". He remembers everything. It's just another reminder of how hard parenting is. While we are not perfect, we are helping mold the minds and hearts of little people around us and have to keep showing them how God wants us to act, even when we do not want to act the right way. We have to give them the strongest foundations so they are instinctive with their kindness, thoughtfulness, patience, and love when they leave our little homes to go out into the world on their own. And by on their own, I mean preschool or kindergarten or to a friends house. I must, must, must keep striving to serve the Lord better so that Atticus and Grace will follow suit.

And, while doing that, I will do Bible Studies with Atticus anytime he asks.

We are potty trained!

***warning: lots of "poop" and "tee-tee" talk in this post....it's just our life these days.

So, for Atticus, the 3rd time was the charm. If you remember, we attempted potty training last June and then again sometime in October/November, but it just didn't take. He wouldn't tell me when he would need to potty and then we would just have accidents. While I didn't mind an accident, I decided if he wasn't going to even tell me, there was no point in pushing it over and over. Everyone I talked to told me little boys take longer; they told me that many little boys don't even start training until 3; and they told me that when they were ready, they would just use the potty with no problem. Well, it turns out that those items fit Atticus. I am so proud of him though. He started about 2 months ago and hasn't looked back.

A week after we got back from our craft room renovation weekend, I decided to just put him on the potty to see how that particular Monday would go. I pulled out the Toy Story and Mickey Mouse underwear, his mini potty that fits on the big potty and started talking up potty treats. On the first day, he tee-teed with no accidents! The second day, he did it again! We were so proud. He would tell me he needed to potty and would sit on the potty and go with no problem. The one thing we were concentrating on those two days was also pooping in the potty. He refused. I think he just didn't really know how, but it was not until late Tuesday night that he finally pooped on the potty. We were thrilled and he was too. Even that next day, I started to put a diaper on him to go for a playdate and he told me he wanted underwear. So, that is what he wore. We went to the children's museum and while he didn't make it completely to the bathroom before a teeny tiny accident, that has been the ONLY time we have been out that we have had any kind of accident. He always tells me when he needs to go and if we are driving or somewhere whose potty I don't want to use, I ask him to hold it and he does. Now, he has learned to tee-tee outside and loves to do that at the park. It's not quite as clean, but it does the trick when we don't have access to a potty. Sometime, he prefers that in the backyard as well. But, he has really done a great job. We don't really do potty treats anymore and though we have had accidents at home when he just gets too busy outside playing to tell me he needs to go, they are not normal. We also put him in a diaper at night. I would say 70% of the time he is dry when we change him out of his diaper that next morning. And he may always be dry but sometimes we are just slow to put him in his underwear.

We are just so very proud of him! And I find it so funny that is was very true that when he was ready, that is when potty training finally clicked. So, sometimes there is not a right or wrong way to do something like potty train. We just learn as we go!

While Atticus has learned lots of things about potty parts and potty habits and things we only talk about and do on the potty, we have had a few funny conversations. During the first two days, here were a couple:

Mommy/Daddy (over and over while trying to teach him to poop): "Atticus, you have to focus" (and we would point to our heads. So every time he used the restroom after that for a week or so, he would get a serious look on his face, point to his head, and say "Mommy, Focus". or "Daddy, Focus". We would also tell him we were serious about him using the potty. At one point, he said "I am serious. I need my diaper!"

We are always trying to come up with reasons for why we do certain things, but in one instance on that first day, Atticus beat us to the punch: Atticus: "Mickey will be sad if I poop in my underwear (as he wore his Mickey underwear)."

And the second night of not yet pooping, Atticus was in the bathtub. He was holding his hand on his bottom and looking uncomfortable when Vic asked him, "Atticus, what are you holding?" Atticus replied, "I have to keep my poop safe." Keep it safe? What in the world?

These days, he doesn't have as much to talk about because he just goes to the bathroom and does his thing. He does, occasionally tell us that he needs his privacy so that we will leave him alone. And honestly, that is the best way to get him to go - just leave him alone for a few minutes. He also needs his magazines to read sometimes while sitting on the potty. Typically, they are magazines with either animals or toys in them. He will also make it clear to me that it is ok to toot in his underwear but not poop in it. He also is very excited when he poops and has to point it out to us in the potty. Gross, I know. Boys.

Also, "poop" is the answer he gives me sometimes when I ask him something. "Atticus, what color is this?" "Poop color". "Atticus, what do you want for a snack?" "Poop". "Atticus, what shirt do you want to wear?" "Poop." It's so strange. I mean, he doesn't pick this stuff up from Vic and I because we don't talk like that. He isn't in school, nor do his little friends talk that way when we play. But, he has learned that poop is not appropriate to talk about, so I guess that is why he thinks it is hilarious to answer with "Poop" when we ask him something. Seriously, I hope this is just a little boy thing. I can't imagine my sweet little Grace giving me those answers. Oh and to top it off, one day at Sunday School in the opening which has all the teachers and kids together, everyone had to say something they were thankful for. I was curious what Atticus would say because we talk about what we are thankful for all the time. His turn comes up and what does he say? "Poop." Then he looks at me and grins. What a stinker! #punintended

So, these are the days of potty training. And, this 3rd time has been so much better. I love not having to change his diapers anymore. They were disgusting. I love that he goes to the potty and washes his hands and is so proud to do those things. I'm really hoping that I do not jinx myself by writing this post, but seriously, this is a big feat and we are so happy!

 

Grace's One Year Picture Failure and then SUCCESS!

So, as you know, I have usually had the kids pictures taken at Portrait Innovations in town. It's fast, not expensive, and they give you the pictures the day you take them. We always have good luck with them and for studio pictures, we are always pleased. For Atticus, I took him at 2,3,4,6,8,11, and 12 months to have his picture taken. 1 and 2 were really just practice because he didn't start smiling until 3 months. Then, it seemed like we had lots of holidays that came and we just had to have his picture made (and when I say we, I mean just me - Vic wasn't sold on this necessity). And, this doesn't include the Erwin Family portrait we had made either. Whew - lots of pictures. But, with Grace, I thought I could handle just doing newborn, 3, 6, 9 and 12 month pictures. So, we did all of those. However, we only did 3 and 6 month pictures at Portrait Innovations and she actually did great! So, in Grace's defense for what I am about to tell you, she had little experience. I will take all the blame.

So the week of her birthday, GG and I were excited to take her in for the big one year portraits. And, of course, I was anxiously awaiting to see the results to choose my one year canvas for my house that I want of each of my children! We had decided we would bring three outfits - a sassy one with a feather bow and lots of pearls, a sweet summer one and then her cupcake outfit that GG made for her birthday party. Well, it didn't matter what outfit she had on, she decided not to cooperate. We started with the pearl and pink outfit and actually got about 2 good pictures before she started crying. From that point on, she cried and cried and could not be consoled. We gave her goldfish, we held her, we laughed and jumped and sang to her to try to make her laugh or smile, we gave her breaks, we gave her the paci, we put Atticus in shots with her. Nothing worked. She would NOT settle down and relax. If I held her in my arms, we could have gotten fabulous pictures. But, I didn't want to be in those picture - I just wanted Grace in them of course. Even Atticus tried to make her laugh and actually did a good job which is why we got 2 sweet pictures but then he decided he was bored with that and would rather play the Ipad, so we lost his help rather quickly. It was just not good. So, I decided she must be tired and that maybe if we tried again the next day at a different time of day when I was sure she was not sleepy, we would have better luck. So, we tried again the following day. Still no success. It was better, but not great. She took some okay pictures with Atticus by her side, but still had tears and then when she was on her own, she just stayed unhappy. We got through about 50 shots or so to make the photographer happy and chose a few to bring home, but they weren't great. And we weren't even able to have the two from the day before because they require that they take at least 50 shots to consider it a session. So, those two precious ones were gone. So, instead of getting beautiful professional studio shots, I decided to just take a few of my own. I would have loved to have Mary here to do them for me. But, I got some that will work and I can still have my canvas! You can see below that she started off happy with Atticus and then decided this was terrible and then got semi-content (but with tear stained face) and then just got mad. By the end, they were trying tricks of covering me with a black blanket so I could hold her so maybe she would be happy. Didn't work. But, you can catch a glimpse of the black monster holding her in that last shot. Here are the studio and "outside my house" results:

The Morning After Grace's Party

I just love having pictures of the kids playing with their toys or hanging out with family. This morning was no exception. As our families that were about to leave town sat down to visit, the kids played with Grace's new dollhouse and stroller and other birthday toys. I just needed to document a few of these pics for myself!

Grace's 1st Birthday Party

We decided to throw Grace's first birthday party in College Station and invite some close friends and family. It was a really fun day! I will let the pictures speak for themselves. We had a cupcake themed birthday party with lots of pink, lots of cupcake liner garland, and lots of cupcakes! Those in attendance were GG, Mom, Molly, Janice, Jill, our neighbors Xiaoling, Wei, Patrick and Nini and our friends Katerina, Katie, Kirsten and Jonathan. We ate chicken salad sandwiches, fruit, vegetables, sugar cookies, crackers and dip, pink lemonade and of course, cupcakes! Everyone brought her the sweetest gifts including books, a car for her to ride, adorable swimsuits and clothes, her own toothbrush, her first dollhouse, her first baby stroller, a teapot with cups and pie, and lots of money! Atticus had to help me open the gifts since Grace wasn't so sure about opening gifts. Even Atticus got presents including his own chef hat and embroidered apron from Katie and Kirsten - so cute! My favorite gift was what Vic gave her. I had asked him to just choose something for her - a gift from her daddy. And boy did he find something sweet! He got her an adorable backpack with her name embroidered on it. It is so cute and will be so fun for her to carry. And I got her another doll..I love dolls! And when it came time to eat cake, she became even more unsure. While we expected her to just go after that giant smash cupcake, she was timid and held back. We have decided that Grace doesn't particularly love big crowds and being the center of attention. While Atticus has always LOVED being sung Happy Birthday to, Grace was not nearly as excited. Once everyone went back to eating and doing their own thing, she finally ate and became more relaxed. Oh and of course, Atticus helped her eat every bite he could of that giant cupcake! (have I ever mentioned his love of cake and icing?). We also got to chat with Ana and Charley on Facetime!

We had one slight incident, when Vic went to get Grace out of the high chair, she came crashing down to the floor and bumped her head because she was not strapped in. I think that is the ONLY time she has ever not been strapped in, but of course, that is when she has to fall. I had unstrapped her to take off her adorable outfit before cake got eaten and while I knew she was not strapped in and would have known when I took her out, I failed to mention that to Vic. And I was in another room when it happened. Thankfully, we had friends in the medical field at the party to check her out and tell us what to do. She was fine and stopped crying very soon after. She ended with just a little bruise on her head. But, things like that are scary and it scared Vic to death!

While we loved every minute of the party and the decorations and the food and most importantly having our friends and family there, my favorite moment came that night. She was exhausted and while nursing, she fell asleep. So, I rocked her in my arms and let her sleep for half an hour before putting her to bed. It was so funny to me that she chose that night to let me do that. She only wants to nurse every other day or so and even when she does, she doesn't fall asleep in my arms anymore. So, it was the MOST special time of that day and of course, I cherished it while reminiscing the events of the last year and also of that night when she decided to finally make her debut. Oh my sweet little Grace - I hope we are always close and you will always let me hold you.