Happy Halloween!

From our little Mickey Mouse, Happy Halloween everyone! This year I made Sullivan's Halloween costume. It was super easy and pretty cheap. 

Sullivan had a great time at daycare today playing with his friends and having a Halloween party. I picked him up early and we went trick-or-treating on Main Street, then home for some pizza and a little more trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. Although Sullivan was shy and not too into it on Main Street, he really to a liking to ringing people's door bells and "treating!" 

This is Sullivan's third year taking his Halloween picture with our neighbors Don and Sandy. And this year we added in Zoie their Dalmatian puppy.

Pumpkin carving and a future career

Fall is getting colder and colder here in Iowa and soon Winter will be coming. This time of year makes me want to hibernate and eat comfort food. A little hard to do when our son feels like going to bed at 9 and waking up at 5 or sooner!! Yikes, it is a little rough. 

We've been laying low on the weekdays and staying busy on the weekends. This past weekend we went home for one of my best friend's 30th birthday parties. I think everyone invited had a great time. and Sullivan enjoyed an evening with just his grammie and papa.

After painting a couple of pumpkins a week or so ago, last night we decided to carve one. It was a family effort. I cut the top off and scrapped the inside. Sullivan scooped out the seeds and Mike carved out the design, Red Piglet of course. It was so much fun! We haven't carved pumpkins for several years so I think we will be bringing the tradition back. 

Only one more days till Halloween. We been hyping up this holiday to Sullivan and crossing our fingers he wears his costume. And I mean the whole thing, including the tail. The tail is what makes it and that's his least favorite part. I can probably guarantee there will be some bribery and candy eating involved throughout the night. 

Something else going on in the Nelson household is fixing cars. We have had our van at the repair shop for that last couple days due to a pretty bad door ding. Lucky enough for us, the kind person left a note with his name and number on our windshield and he's footing the bill. There are nice and HONEST people in this world. Sullivan has also been working on his car the last two nights and even this morning. Seem to me, judging by the video, that he has some major repairs as well. Maybe a future career??

Brown Bottle & Scratch

Tonight we celebrated a wonderful man, father, husband, son, and brother turning another year old. It was Mike's birthday today and like any adult birthday that falls in the middle of the week it seems like just another day. Sullivan and I did our best tonight to make his birthday extra special. First we picked up one of his favorites for a birthday present, an iTunes gift card. Next we met him at home to head to one of our favorite restaurants, the Brown Bottle rounding out dessert from Scratch. To finish our night we took pictures, sang Happy Birthday and treated our special guy to some relaxation while I took over bath night. 

I am so happy this man walked into my life and am truly blessed to have him as a husband and father to Sullivan. Happy Birthday Michael. We love you!

Well Rounded Weekend

With more great weather and beautiful fall colors, this weekend was picture perfect. We've seemed to balance a little of everything in this weekend. We did oil changes, clean out closets, played in and raked leaves, did some yard work including cutting down a tree, gave the house a good cleaning, took papa lunch while he worked, and Sullivan and I had our very own lunch date. I wish every day was this satisfying and happy. 

We even got some craft time in painting pumpkins and Sullivan made me a fall picture for work. 

Hopefully you all had a great weekend as well. If not, make sure to enjoy the next one. :)

A bundle of happiness

Something about this time of year that makes me happy. Is it the beautiful colors? Is it about all the wonderful holidays approaching? Is it that my boy is getting older and every month, every week, every day is a little bit more fun with all the new things he learns? 

I love this time of year for all the above. And I have a feeling it maybe be Sullivan's as well. He loves the "weaves!" The other night when we got home he spent 30 minutes just running back and forth stomping and crunching on the leaves. Tonight we looked up at two trees in our front yard, one he told me was orange and the other he said was green. You are right my sweet little boy. We talk about pumpkins and the leaves falling, and soon the weather will get cold and snow will fall. Although I'm not ready for all that snow, ice and all that bad weather brings, I am ready for more cozy nights under warm blankets and  hunkering down in our home. I'm ready for life to move a little slower and our little family to hibernate indoors. 

We've had a wonderful summer. Busy with farmer's markets, red piglet, parks, picnics, and making memories. Each year gets better and better. 

This weekend we headed back home for a little family time. It was perfect. My two sisters and niece went shopping on Saturday. When we returned we got all the nephews and niece together to snap some photos followed by Mike and I having a little date night at one of my favorite restaurants back home, The White House. Looking at some of the photos that were taken, I can't help but think where have all the years gone? These kids are growing up way too fast! 

It was the perfect weekend to make my soul happy. We are all back to being healthy in the Nelson household after having a rough week a week ago. Thanking God for this wonderful life and the blessings he's given me.

Potty Training

We've had a potty around the house since Sullivan was around one. I'm talking about the kid training potty. Although we've never put much effort into the process, Sullivan knows the potty, knows what you do with the potty and had used it a couple of times. We would randomly ask Sullivan if he had to go, usually after naps and usually on the weekends when we have more time. 

I always hear you can potty train kids in a weekend, but never thought that would be the case. I had plans to start potty training Sullivan Labor Day weekend but that came and went and found myself nervous to take the plunge. How do you train someone else to go on the potty when all they've known is a diaper? I think this was maybe a bigger hurdle for me than anyone else. Lately anytime we would ask Sullivan if he had to go he would quickly reply "no!" So I left that at that. 

That is until Saturday, September 20th. The morning was usual got up, changed his diaper and then decided to go to the last Cedar Rapids Farmers Market. We got home late morning, ate lunch and Sullivan settled in for his regular afternoon nap. But then something came over me. When Sullivan woke up, I decided to let him run around naked and keep the potty by his side. It's almost like God was telling me this was his time. If you would have asked me that morning if I was going to try and potty train Sullivan I would have said no, not yet. 

So that Saturday afternoon and evening we let him be naked and asked him every 10 minutes. By that night we had only one accident and accomplished going 1 and 2 in the potty. BIG victories in this house. At that moment I decided there was no turning back. Sunday was again the same, naked, potty,  every10 minutes, and M & Ms to reward. Again the only time he didn't pee in the potty was at nap time and right after his nap. That evening we let him go commando under his pajamas. I knew he would pee through the night, but wanted him to feel wet to get his mind prepared for how to know the urge. 

Fast forward to almost two weeks in and things are going great. This week we've battled an illness so it's been hard with not feeling well and going potty. We have had 3 completely dry nights with two being in a row this weekend. We've had minimal accidents at daycare and at home. Sullivan stays dry during nap time and we are working on the communication when out in public. 

I never would have guessed my 2 year 2 month old would be pretty much potty trained. But I'm so glad we are. One more thing off my bucket list!! :)

3 Years

Today Mike and I celebrate 3 years of wedded bliss. Though I'm sure most married couples can say it isn't always wedded bliss, I can say I love Michael more today than I did 3 years ago. We have so much to be thankful for, so much we've learned as parents to our beautiful son Sullivan and so much more we've learned about each other along our journey. Michael is my best friend, my companion, my soul mate. I thank God he gave me a great man, husband and father that puts up with my "cattiness," short patience at times and all my "honey dos." Michael blends so well with my family and is the best father, and I mean the best, to our boy. 

Hunny, I love today, yesterday and tomorrow. I love growing old with you and thank you for all you do. 

Cheers to many more!