The Daily Hailey

I know, its hard to imagine that there is anything too much more exciting than breakfast out with the kids, but today has really been good so far!!

The plan was to go to the city this morning, and on our way there, we hit up the post office (after driving around for fifteen minutes waiting for it to open) to pick up our NEW PHONES!!

I won’t pretend the phones aren’t awesome. They really are. They’re an enormous step up from the 8h 4s we were rocking before. Before anyone judges, no, the issue isn’t that our phones were just old and we wanted new ones. Mine was requiring regular hard shut downs, the screen kept blacking out, apps were glitching constantly, it sucked. We now have fully operational phones, and yes, they are SO pretty. We love them. You can see it in my crazy “cheshire cat” face in the first picture.

We took the kids out to McDonalds for breakfast. When we do a family breakfast out, we usually try to go somewhere a bit nicer, but I realized the other day that the kids have never had breakfast there! I knew they’d like the pancakes, but especially the novelty of eating at a restaurant. We were right. They liked their food, and their chocolate milk. They were really well behaved too, which is always a treat for Brady and I! Once breakfast was done, we ventured over to the mall to find some basic cases for our new phones. We’re waiting for Lifeproof to release their cases for the new 6s so until then, we just both got clear silicone cases to give us at least a little bit of a buffer zone if they’re dropped. I am already considerably less afraid to use my phone, lol!

Our last stop was to Costco. I’ve been complaining recently that our dishwasher is caving and has some serious plug that we cannot find. We have finally come to terms with the fact that the pump is shot, and our dishwasher could overflow at any moment. So to Costco we went to buy the lovely stainless one they have on for such a good price. We were quite a sight, actually. We should have taken pictures. Dekker and Laela were in the cart with me and the rest of the stuff we bought, and Rowan was in his umbrella stroller, parked on top of the orange flat cart things that Brady had loaded up with the dishwasher. So if you can picture it, Ro was between the handle and the dishwasher, just tucked right in there really nicely. It was adorable. We often attract some attention at least, just having three young children. I’m sure it helps that they’re so cute, too. But today, we drew a LOT of attention with Ro like that. But truly, it was our only option, and it worked well.

Conveniently, the people parked beside us in the lot were leaving right as we got to our van, so Brady was able to sort of park the dishwasher in the extra space, so he could load it in the side door. Otherwise he would have had to pull the van out a bit and block traffic for a bit. Not the end of the world, but not a low pressure situation either. So glad it worked out that way!!

We dropped in to say a quick hello to my parents on the drive home, but as soon as we arrived at our house, the kids were ready to help with the dishwasher installation! Well, two out of three. Rowan is asleep. But the others are in there like crazy with their toy tools and the few real we’re comfortable with them playing with. Pleeeaaase kids, don’t scratch the screwdriver along the wall!!

Anytime we go to the city on a Saturday, we get home much later than we expect. Its usually past their bedtime. But today, we were home shortly after 1:00pm!! So there is lots of time left in the day, and I’m excited to fill it with the installation of a dishwasher that FINALLY works well, good food, setting up our phones, and maybe even some Dance Dance Revolution in the evening 🙂 Because we’re cool like that.

Its been such a good Saturday. And theres still lots of Saturday left!

Kim brought her three kids over today to play with me and my three kids. Its always a full but lovely time. Not too many people would believe that, with six kids under the age of five in a small space, but we do great together 🙂 Dekker was super duper social, which was super refreshing, but Laela was super tired very early, so she napped most of the afternoon away. The babies were cute and agreeable, and us mamas were pretty agreeable too, I’d say. I was so pleased to witness such a sweet selfie opportunity…

When they headed for home, I tidied up the dishes and got a few things upstairs organized. Our house is a super mess, so I did my best. When Brady got home, we opted for a supper of easy comfort food, so the kids had cheese pizza and he and I had corn dogs. No judging, unless you’re just jealous. Then I don’t blame you. It was all delicious.

I think tomorrow we’ll go to the city, maybe get breakfast, maybe not, and likely buy a dishwasher. Ours is so very pooched, and its just time. Ugh. Maybe after we put just a liiiiittle bit (and by little I mean a lot) more money into this house, it will finally sell!! But until then, its bath time. Yay for Friday night bubble baths followed up by mad libs. I know. We’re cool.

I really solidly enjoyed today. I am trying really hard to make the best of these early mornings, and running a peaceful day. Its not always especially successful, and potty training has added its own special challenge, but I think we’re succeeding in a few aspects that I’ve very happy with.

This morning, Dekker had stayed nice and dry again. Yay! He and Laela had a really adorable breakfast together, where Dekker constantly told his sister how sweet she was, and he teased her into taking bites when she was getting bored of being in her chair. They did great. After breakfast, they played while we waited for my mom to arrive. They have missed her SO MUCH the last little while!! Its so funny. We’re never this busy, but now, it always seems that the times I’m free, she is busy, or gone, or both. So today, we spent a good few hours just visiting, reading books, celebrating potty successes (lots of them!) and eating lunch together. It was so lovely to finally just be in each others company again without any reason other than just wanting to be together. She’s a special lady.

Shortly after she left, Brady arrived home and we took the kids to the city for the evening. I had carefully put together a LONG list of places we needed to go and what we needed to get. Lots and lots of places!! Luckily, our kids love those days 🙂 It was Dekker’s second outing since potty training, and the first that wasn’t to a friends house, so we were curious to see how it would go. We did Costco without anything crazy happening, and I picked up a mug I had ordered from Indigo. We ducked into Carter but they didn’t have what I was looking for. It was when we stopped at the mall to go to several stores that Dekker decided he had to pee. THANKFULLYYY!!!, they had a family bathroom and it had one of those teeny tiny little toilets!! Dekker was right on board with that, and peed twice while we were at the mall. We had a successful shop there, and we had supper in the food court. Laela had a crazy sauce meltdown on the way out of the mall, but otherwise, it was pretty delightful!

I stopped by a friends house to do a little makeup swap, and upon opening her mailbox to make the switch, I found a whole little treat bag made up for me, with extra products I wasn’t expecting!! It was so sweet, and its all RIGHT up my alley!! Thank you, Steph!! I’m so thrilled to have new products to play with 😀

We did Superstore last, which is always the big ticket item for the kids, because of the cookie in the end. However, poor Laela was struggling SO HARD. Brady said he would just take her and Ro to the van and I could finish the shop with Dekker. I actually tried to switch him out, since he often ends up in the van with the kids while I run in places, but he insisted. So I let him, and I got some very special one on one time with Dekker. Best of all, Dekker seemed so happy to have that time with me too! He was pleasant and engaging, and just talked with me the entire time. We had fun, and no whining or fussing AT ALL. He earned his cookie at the end easily, and asked with his manners, without missing a beat. He even made conversation with the cashier. He was feeling good.

We ran down the ramp leaving Superstore and went back to the van. We made our way home from there, and everyone is tucked away now. It was a FABULOUS evening in the city. Despite Laela being done a little bit sooner than was ideal, I could tell that everyone really enjoyed their time. It was nice to go as a family, too. Its easier, yes, but its so much nicer. I know I have people in our lives that are willing to take the kids so we can shop alone, and its a lovely offer! But I’m very proud of my family, and I like taking them with me!!! Call me crazy, but shopping with three is lovely, and feels much more normal to me than two ever did.

This is good. Today was good.

Today was Dekker’s SECOND day IN A ROW with no accidents! Also, Jerilee was over for a good chunk of the day, and I was curious if that would distract him and bring on accidents, or it would be business as usual. He did FABULOUS!! And it helped that Jerilee is so comfortable, and celebrated the successful trips to the potty with the rest of us.

Before her current teaching job, a while back, she worked in retail. Occasionally, she would come our way on her day off, which we LOVED over here! Her new job is obviously more of a structured schedule, but today, she had the afternoon off, and spent it with us 😀 The kids haven’t had a chance to really play with their auntie in the afternoon in so long, so they got their fill, making her read story after story after story. It was adorable to see them miss her so much tot <3

Our kids go down so beautifully now. Honestly, their schedule is probably the worst it could be for me, but it is PERFECT for them! I loved the novelty that was getting them all to nap at once, and I had it down to a science. I had a lovely long break every single afternoon. It was awesome. Now, we’re getting up as soon as Dekker lulls so he can go to the bathroom, he’s not napping (mostly so that I can keep an eye on him), Laela is napping a bit earlier, and they’re actually going down a bit earlier because of all of these things. And Dekker doesn’t even complain. He is nice and ready for bed when its time. I love that so much.

So they went down without too much fuss (Laela still hasn’t bought into the whole “bedtime is a beautiful thing” belief) and Brady, Jerilee, and I had dessert and coffee. Thank you, Jerilee, for bringing ice cream sandwiches!! I’m sorry we accidentally kept the leftover ones! We’re sealing them up tight and we’ll have them again next time we’re together 😉 Jerilee always brings the yummiest desserts! We watched some trashy tv while we had dessert. It was so nice and comfortable. I love my people. Like a lot.

Tomorrow will be wonderful too! My mom is coming over for the morning, I believe, (come anytime after 8am, mama!) and then we’ll go into the city for a pretty big shop. Groceries, a few clothing things, some gifts, etc. It’ll be one of those shops where we go to lots of places. It will also be Dekkers second outing, and the first where we’re not going to a friends house where he feels a bit more comfortable. Hopefully we’ll be able to convince him to pee in a public toilet!! If not, his bag of emergency stuff is already packed!! Oy! Wish us luck!!

I’m so happy to report than Dekker had a totally successful potty training day!! Saturday was technically his first accident-free day, but he didn’t poop that day either. Today was his first TOTALLY successful, accident free day, including number two!!! He persisted, going to the potty probably three or four times within a ten minute span before he finally got things done, and he was SO proud!! What treat did he request? Banana pudding. Easy to please.

After that specifically, Dekker was in a fabulous mood for the rest of the day. He was proud, and clearly feeling well physically. I left for the evening when Brady got home, and had a lovely send off from the family. Kim and I spent the evening eating pasta, drinking yummy hot Starbucks, and shopping. I did fabulous, in my opinion. I got Laela some cute boots, Dekker his whole Halloween costume, a work shirt for Brady, a dress for me for an upcoming wedding, and a few other things. We grabbed one last snack before taking a backwards way home. It was a really nice date.

I called Brady on the drive home and we just visited about our evenings, as it felt like we’d hardly spoken all day. It was really really nice. He got some jobs done around the house and reported that the kids had been super adorable and cuddly with each other, had tidied toys up well together, and had gone to bed beautifully. And yes, best of all, no accidents!!! I’m JUST about at the point of putting Dekker to bed in underwear rather than pull ups. He knows what he’s doing and is almost always dry in the morning. We’ll see, though. I’m not sure I’m ready for the midnight pee accidents…

This has boiled down to a beautiful day 🙂 And I have so many nice days coming up this week still!! I hope the rest of you had as lovely of a day as I did!

Today I saw a post on Facebook where someone was saying its about to become fall and all women will now stop shaving their legs. This is a true statement. But besides that, it reminded me that September 21st in 2013 was my due date for Laela, and it was right on the line of having a summer baby or a fall baby. For one reason or another, I so badly wanted her to be born in summer. Likely, mostly because I love summer, and Dekker was a summer baby. When her due date came and went, my new “goal” (because us mothers get to have these kinds of goals) was to have the baby in September. October just felt too wintery to me. As things would go, I was induced on September 29th and had her very early the next morning. If you’ve been reading on here for any length of time, I’m sure you know the story. I’ll go more into that as her birthday comes closer.

Because ITS COMING! Just writing this is making me realize how fast her birthday is coming up. She is just about two years old, and while she is still teeny tiny and seems so small, she is SO grown up and mature for her age. Such a beauty for only being two. Not even two!

Just feeling reminiscent today, as her milestone draws near..

Just one year ago <3

Brady went in to church this morning to lead worship while I stayed home with the kids. Rowan is getting up more in the nights than usual, and last night was particularly unpleasant, so those of us who could stay home did.

Its proved to be a fairly difficult day, and for whatever reason, I’m having trouble shaking it off. I’ve felt super selfish and guilty throughout the day, because I don’t like to just let my mood dictate my day the way it has today, but I’m trying to be honest and say that I really have failed in that department today. Some days are just harder than others, and for really no specific reason, today was one of those.

I joked with Brady a few minutes ago that, maybe if I got really loud and had a really bad attitude, maybe I’d get a lecture and be sent to bed for the night. I’m going to give it a go right away here. Or I was, until Brady told me I could go lay in bed for a rest while he got the kids supper. Yes, I know, he’s the best.

Hopefully I can get my attitude together and enjoy the last hour or two of the day before the kidlets go to bed. But before then, I’m going to enjoy my rest. I’ll adult again soon.

Kims middle son, Maddox, turned THREE today!!! I went to Kims to get a few things ready with her, as you know, and today we showed up just a little bit early to lend a hand getting the very last little things together. They didn’t need us, but welcomed us warmly. We had SUCH a fun day, meeting some of their friends and family, and it was a total BLAST to watch our kids having so much fun with the other kids!! I would never have expected both Dekker and Laela to rock the bouncy castle so much!! It was a fabulous party!! Love that family.

But first, Brady and I took the kids out for breakfast to Cora’s. The kids were shockingly well behaved! They ate well, were nice and quiet, and even gave our server a high five on the way out. They did awesome!

They each got a balloon on the way out. I couldn’t get a clear picture because playing is much more important than posing.

Afterwards, we ran a couple of small errands, and headed to the party!! We helped hang up a balloon banner but that was about it. We had thought coming a little bit early would help Dekker settle in a bit first, before the guests started arriving.

Turns out, Dekker didn’t need too much warming up at all! The kids all got along, they played hard in the sun, snacked hard, and played some more. Lots and lots of sweaty kids today.

It was getting to be SUPPER time when we got a pretty clear indication that it was time to leave.

Dead weight, that boy! He was SO sleepy! We left soon thereafter, picked up some food, and went home. The kids all went down beautifully. I’m pleased as punch that Dekker had ZERO accidents on his first outing, and it was ALL DAY! Granted, he didn’t poop today, so without being a downer, that will likely be something I’ll have to deal with tomorrow :/ BUT!!!! No pee accidents! We were ready for them, too. He carried a backpack with pants and underwear and pull ups if I just fully gave up. But it lay by the door and never ever moved from its spot.

BUT! Enough about potty stuff. Today is all about MADDOX!!! Love you, sweetheart!!! I can’t wait to spend more time with you in the years to come.

<3

I spent this evening at Kim’s house, getting ready for her middle sons third birthday. Kim had done most of the more tedious snacky things, but I had offered to come help get some of the bigger last minute things done. Her husband chased after the kids while she and I went to the grocery store and bought some last minute treats to add to the party, and then got to work in the kitchen.

I won’t tell too terribly many details, just because I don’t want to spoil anything for her, but its all going to be so delicious and so uniform and SO his style!! Maddox is going to love his party!!! We made his cake, and blew up a bunch of balloons. We made plans about where all of the food will be laid out, and just generally got excited about it all 🙂 Hopefully we’ll get there a bit early and help put the final touches on everything. I love being part of the prep!

I overstayed, whoops, and left around 9:30pm, I think. When I came home, Brady and I recapped our evenings, and he ran a bath. Coffee and biscotti is waiting. Once the littlest goober goes to bed, anyway. Someone is surely fighting the power tonight!!

** In todays potty news, two accidents. Both poop. He’s got peeing right, but has no desire to poop in the potty. I can’t wait for him to figure that part out. But as it is, only two accidents. Three pairs of underwear. Go Dekker!

So I was asleep last night at 10:00pm. No word of a lie. So. Tired. Good tired, but tired tired. I think the potty training paired with Dekker not napping anymore is just wiping me out. Its all good, but its different.

Also, today was honestly just abnormally busy! I felt dead on my feet very early in the afternoon. I know lots of people find that in motherhood, or just in life in general, but I don’t. This was new for me.

HOWEVER!!!, today was incredibly successful in the potty training department 🙂 We had only ONE accident!!! Two pairs of underwear only! Dekker probably peed on the potty literally 15-20 times, which feels a bit like maybe he’s just doing it for more treats, but I think he’s actually just learning about emptying his bladder. I’m certainly not going to ignore him when he says he has to pee!! It was SUCH a great day for peeing in the potty. We’ve just got to get him to poop on it. *sigh* Not my favourite part of the day, but we survive. I’ve touched poop many many times in the last four years, and likely will for may more still. I can handle his for another few days.

But with all of the success we’ve had over the day, it has completely finished me off. I’m sleepy. But there is an iced coffee for me in the fridge, too. Quandary.