Hello 2018!

Hello 2018!  It was hard to say goodbye to 2017 because we had such a great year.  You will probably remember me posting about a year ago that 2016 was a pretty challenging year for me with learning how to navigate two children and our full time jobs while also seeing the health of my grandparents decline so suddenly.  However, I think we bounced back in 2017!  It was a pretty incredible year!! We watched our boys turn 2 (in October) and 4 (in April).... which meant a new dynamic for these brothers.... it has been so much fun to watch them interact and we are starting to see a glimmer of being able to do some things as a family with Maddox's independence and abilities.... we might check out a basketball game or football game or go see a movie at the theaters as a family in 2018.... who knows?!  Things had started to settle down in 2017 with understanding what a family of four is all about and enjoying the time we have as a family even more.  I think 2017 taught me a few things about being "present" over perfect and choosing "people" over paperwork.... I am starting to leave work a little earlier... realizing it will be there the next day and my boys simply matter more!  2017 also taught me a lot about "perspective".... I have watched some close friends have to deal with challenging circumstances which has made me appreciate and realize how blessed we truly are on a daily basis.... Zack and I have started to say we appreciate the "normal" life we have with its ups and downs.  I have found an even greater "contentment" with our everyday lives and the various things we have or don't have.  So as I go into 2018..... I guess I'm taking a few words with me that I learned in the previous year but these words have become so much more important in the recent weeks.....PRESENCE, PEOPLE, PERSPECTIVE and CONTENTMENT!!  I hope 2018 continues to be a time of reflecting on all the many things God has blessed us with and celebrating this life He has provided for me to live!

Now on to our week at home..... I always love having the week between Christmas and New Year's off with my family.  Zack takes a few days off from work and we enjoy a "stay-cation".....we purposely don't put much on the agenda but somehow knock out a few household projects and find a little extra time to relax and sleep (I will be so sad when my boys stop taking an afternoon nap!).... this year I decided I would use the week to potty train Maddox!  He is the exact same age that Zander was when I potty-trained him and since Zander was successful with the three day training.... I figured we should try it with our MadMan!  He proudly came downstairs the first morning in his "big boy" underwear and showed them off to his daddy and brother! The first day he had 8 total accidents (not bad at all considering Zander had 18 the first day and I pump the boys full of fluids the first day so they know the urge to go the bathroom and start to communicate when they need to go!)  Maddox had many successful bathroom experiences the first day and I was very optimistic about our week!

On day two of potty training, Maddox woke up with a 101 fever and generally not feeling good.  I was so thankful we had already done the hardest day (in my opinion) of potty training and since he didn't really want to eat or drink anything, we just cuddled on the couch and made stops to the bathroom every hour... he did a great job with potty training (even though he felt bad).  He only had one accident that day and even told me he needed to pee so it wasn't a full blown accident.... just didn't make it to the potty in time!  Zack took Zander on Day 1 and 2 of potty training to the science center and to the park and to run errands... it was so nice that I could just focus on Maddox while he was potty training and not feeling good.  Zander had a blast with daddy!

By the third morning.... we figured out what it was... he had Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (which he probably got from his cousin, Emmy.... since she is the only one I know that had it that could have come in contact with him).  Apparently you can be contagious for 7-10 days and Christmas Eve fell toward the end of that window!  So..... the rest of our week was spent "hibernating" at our house and trying to keep our germs contained!  Maddox continues to do great with potty training with just an accident (or two) a day...... never before his nap.... usually toward the evening hours.... and typically not a "full" accident.... just not getting to the potty in time for when he says he needs to go.  His blisters on his face are starting to heal.  He also got a rash on his bottom, his hands and legs.  You can even see in the second picture that it got in his eye. :(  So far Zander hasn't gotten it, but we have definitely all been together so it might be only a matter of time.  We have made a few outings..... to the store, out to eat, etc..... Maddox continues to do well with his big boy underwear and I think he is on the mend with his sickness!  He still wears diapers for nap time and bedtime.  I am still so proud of our BIG BOY!

 A few of my favorite pictures from 2017.....

 And for New Year's Eve, we were supposed to have three couples over with their kids to ring in the new year (at approximately 8:00 p.m.! haha)... However, we didn't want to share any of the germs with our friends or their kids..... so we had to cancel our plans which meant we put the boys to bed early, watched the end of the Panthers' game and were in bed around 9:00!  Happy New Year!