An update...finally

Tonight I decided it was time to update the blog, I knew it had been a while but I didn't realize an entire month had passed since I last logged in...my apologies. So let me give you the highlights of the past month.

Mia is finally completely potty trained!!! YEA! I was working on it with her while I was still pregnant with Alli because I only wanted one little one in diapers...diapers are too expensive to have to buy two sets and who wants to change that many diapers? :o) Anyway, I never got her to the point of wearing panties all of the time before Alli came so I finally felt up to the challenge and Mia did a great job. Plus, she had a brand new, still in the box Cabbage Patch baby on the back of the potty to help motivate her. :o) Another exciting thing that happened this month was that we received a package from Mia's birth family. They sent an adorable photo book with pics of Mia's birth mom and her family and friends...it's PRICELESS! Also, they sent gifts to both Huston and Mia...trainer chopsticks, Legos for Huston, and a teddy bear for Mia. So sweet!

Huston's been doing great and is a great help around the house with his sisters...he LOVES being a big brother. In fact, he placed his order for another baby just the other night, but said that he'd like a boy this time...I think he's feeling out numbered!?! Huston helps a lot with Mia although he also loves to irritate her like all brothers love to do to their sisters. He also helps with Alli, he loves to hold her, get her paci for her, and "watch" her while I do things around the house.

Well, as you can imagine, in a month's time Alli has really grown a lot! I had her weighed this week and she now weighs a whopping 10 lbs. 5 oz. and she's 7 weeks old. That's great when you consider she was 6 lbs. 2 oz. at 1 week. Alli is starting to smile or at least makes a really good effort to, with success every now and then. Now while she's sleeping, she has huge smiles and laughs out loud, too. :o)

As for Rusty and I, we are just enjoying the kids and getting adjusted to being outnumbered. :o) For example, it's amazing how much more challenging running simple errands is with three kids instead of two. Those of you with more than two or three kids are laughing because you know what I'm talking about and those of you with less than that are laughing because you cannot imagine the difference just one extra kid could possibly make. :o) You have to have a strategy for everything, especially "kid placement". Shopping carts were not made for three kids (including one in an infant carrier), and you sure don't want to let the other two have complete freedom in a store! :o) So, I wear Alli in a sling, put Mia in the seat of the cart and Huston either walks or rides in the big part of the cart until he gets "kicked out" by the purchases! :o)

We are still getting ready for Christmas and I'm ashamed to say that I still have some shopping left to do. Normally, I am finished by now but having a new baby so close to the holidays has set me back this year. :o) Huston and Mia are loving the decorations and getting really excited about Santa and opening presents. I know it will be lots of fun watching them this year.

Well, here are some new pics and I promise to update with Christmas pics soon. Have a very Merry Christmas!

Here's a pic of Mia with her potty and her "prize"!

Santa paid a visit to the Discovery School (Mother's Day Out) open house.

Mia was excited about the candy cane Santa gave her

and Santa was concerned that Huston's only gift request was a gun! ;o)

Huston and the gingerbread house he made at school...he is SO proud!
Alli enjoying one of her favorite times of the day...bath time!

Alli's got a hold of Daddy's finger...and his heart! :o)
Checking each other out

Daddy's girl