Potty Training!!!

Wow...this potty training thing is a whole different ball game!  It's a good thing you don't remember these things...b/c it is one weird change.  Noah has been doing great.  Shortly after the holiday break, we talked to our day care and asked if we could start exploring the idea.  They said to bring in pull-ups and they would begin.  That was the start for us.  Target makes a version of them and off we went!  There are two other boys around Noah's age so the three of them are doing it together.  Not to brag...but Noah is a ROCK STAR!  I don't want to jinx it...but he is really getting it.  We are not expecting this to be done in a weekend...we figure over time he will do it and he has!  We have been wearing big boy underwear to day care as well!  The sticker chart is filling up fast.  He is beginning to figure out when he has to go, which is a big deal (we think...listening to your body and such).  Very proud of our little man! 

Work for me is getting crazy...but in a good way.  I work with such a wonderful team of people...I am so lucky!  Bring on the visitors...last 2 Fridays in February...cross your fingers for HUGE numbers!  Scott is about done refereeing...and it has flown by.  He is playing basketball with some people from DNH and is enjoying it.  He also started his second grad class...sounds like a lot of work, but it was a great financial deal...so we will take it! 

Baby news...hit the 24 week mark.  Starting to feel really preggo...and I know there will be more to come.  Our 24 week appt went well...no more marginal previa, but still a low-lying placenta...so another ultrasound next month.  Not to be gross...but the constipation thing is up and down...lots of fruit and water for this gal:)  Overall...feel pretty good!  With Noah and this one...this is the best time of pregnancy.  I look pregnant (and not just fat!!!) and feel pretty good.  Sleeping in a recliner...but whatever it takes to sleep! 

Fun Noah phrases:

"Are you kidding me?"...not sure where he heard it...but he says it when he is "working"...mostly with his tools.  Always wants to know what to fix!


While eating...we have to start making him take Daddy size bites...otherwise he just wants to play. 

Instead of asking "what happened" it has now become, "why?" and it is funny.  No matter how many times you explain...he still wants to know why! 

Here are some fun pics:

 Block building with Daddy

 Cooking!  Daddy has a cheesy smile...b/c Mommy made him wear it:)

 "working" with Daddy on the trike...had to go the next size up!

 Strong man!!

 Just because flowers from Noah...or Daddy:) 

 About 6 months!  Remember...I have a short torso...no where for this baby to go but out!

 Sledding with Daddy!!!

 Attempting a snow angel...

 1st Kindergym!!  More stories on that next time!

 Ha!  Just like his daddy...reading ESPN going to the bathroom!

We went to the UNI vs. Creighton game for the RA Alumni night...what a great last minute win!!

A quick update...

January has flown by!  I was talking to one of my best friends, Megan, and how normally, January...lasts...forever (to me)...but not this time!  Maybe because the weather was so nice?  Scott is getting back into the refereeing swing so that has kept us busy.  It is good exercise, decent money and he is home at a decent time!  LOVE IT!  Noah has begun the potty training.  It has been an adventure.  He is much better with Scott than me.  This past Saturday, Scott braved it with big boy underwear while I was off to Urgent Care (another story).  Noah did great all morning...and then when he got off the couch...Scott noticed it was wet...and Noah had wet his pants.  Oh well...good try!  Noah likes to "read a magazine" on the toilet.  He is doing very well at daycare...minus yesterday.  Noah fell into the potty...and his whole outfit had to be washed...luckily no scarring as he hopped on again at home!  He wore big boy underwear all day today!  We are not pushing hard core, but we are making progress.  I am getting bigger by the day!  I will post pics next time...next week I will be 24 weeks...6months!  Crazy how much faster this pregnancy is going.  We have another ultrasound next week and we will see how things are going.  I am not sleeping well...Scott moved a recliner upstairs and I am sleeping in it.  I do sleep better there...so I will take it!  He has been a trooper as always:)  We are also working on better budgeting...we do well most of the time...but b/w Thanksgiving and Christmas...we just fall apart...every year.  So back at it.  The idea of 2 in day care and the costs sent me over the edge last week...but one of my best friends, Shannon, got to the root of it...it isn't the money...it is the change to 2 kids.  So...deep breaths and be ready friends and family...we will be asking for help:)  Noah and the baby thing has been funny.  He thinks it is a baby sister since all of the babies at day care are girls...it makes sense.  He also thinks the baby is in my belly button...smart logic for a 2 1/2 year old I think!  That is all for now:)

Fun phrases...

Some favorites of Noah's:


Mommy or Daddy say "I love you"--Noah will say, "Wuv you 2"

We say sweet dreams to each and have since we have gotten married.  Of course we say it to Noah...now he says it first!!!  It is the best.

Noah has trouble saying chocolate...so it comes out "cochate"...so cochate milk anyone???

Anytime he sees the moon..."Daddy...I can get the moon.  I use your ladder?"

Mommy loves to snuggle...and Noah is a toddler...so not much of that happens unless he is sleeping!  So we call our calming down time, "snuggling" and Noah has trouble saying his "s's" so it comes out "nuggling"...it is the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Holiday pics!!

Finishing up the holidays:)  Just put away the tree and holiday decorations.  I always go through a small depression when we put them away...my awesome hubby always puts up with it and lets me keep them up at least till my birthday!!  While our holidays were crazy, we had a great break and full of great memories.  Scott and I went to our 20 week ultrasound this week...incredible what they can see.  We decided to not find out this time...well...I'm not finding out.  Scott did find out but is not telling...so good luck getting it out of him!  Everything looks great...I have to have another ultrasound at our 24 week b/c I have marginal previa which means part of my placenta is over my cervix.  Old anxious Jenny would be freaking out...but so far I am good.  The doctor said the placenta usually moves on it's own and if it doesn't next time then we keep doing ultrasounds until it does...or I have a c-section.  No real restrictions yet...although I am trying not to pick up Noah as much...which kills me!  But...so far he has been a trooper.  Keep you posted on all of that.  Scott has started a weight loss thing of his own (I am not much help) and our new resolution (this will sound funny...) is to eat a veggie and fruit at every meal we have at home.  Seems easy...right?  We have had week one and are on the right track.   Noah went potty at day care which was a huge feat!!  He is also a playing, talking machine.  And with that...normal toddler tantrums...we are in the world of time outs and hugs.  We make him hug and say sorry if he hits or whatever was deserving of a time out.  Keep on trucking with that.  We did tell him that there is a baby in mommy's tummy...b/c he didn't understand why he can't tackle or kick mommy.  It is starting to sink in:)  Off to pics:

 Dadd's new carharts!!

 Hanging out with Aunt Megan and unwrapping...

 Uncle Scott and Alaina:)

 Our Christmas Eve tradition..."The Night before Christmas" and the Polar Exress

 Noah is not as enthused about the Christmas Eve tradition of a stocking to open and pjs

 One of Noah's new presents...UNI hat like Daddy!!

 A new digger from Papa Mike and Nana Julie (you can tell I am tired as I have hardly any pics from this Christmas!!)

 Playing outside the day after Christmas!!

 Loving the park on December 26th!!

 Puzzle time!!!

 The new train table:)

Working on a way to display the holiday pics...note for next year...heavier ribbon...hopefully can show the cards as well!!

Fun pics from Halloween till Christmas:)

 Noah and Jordan playing football in NOVEMBER!!!

 Noah loves chocolate ice cream!!!!

 SAA formal...dressed up and had fun watching the group:)

 Giving Daddy a "haircut"...never sure what will happen!!

 Kindermusik...Noah loves to move to the music!!!

 Noah and Mommy at Kindermusik!!

 Noah and his friend Logan and Jenny and her friend Janelle (Logan's mommy) at UNI bball!!!!

 The pic that ended up as our holiday card b/c the church one didn't work out:)

 Holiday cooking...lots of sprinkles all over!!!

 Noah's Christmas party for day care!!  Noah learned Jingle Bells and Santa Claus is coming to town!!!

 I love naked baby buns!!!  Noah loves the letters!!

 Noah refusing to wear the lamb hat for the Christmas program...tools only!!

Playing at the pool at the Isle:)  Nana and Papa Connolly rented a room!!!

Christmas!!!

Well...it was a whirlwind!  We survived...3 different stops on Saturday and 2 on Sunday (plus our own).  To say we are exhausted is an understatement!!  I could be in bed within the hour:)  The last week seemed to really drag (I love my job and Scott enjoys teaching...but we were really ready for break!!) and I had to say goodbye to our front desk secretary, Deb, who is someone I consider myself very close to!  It made for a long week.  Noah enjoyed the grandparents all week as our day care is closed (good for them!!).  Noah had a riot with his Nana and Papa Connolly on Monday (they rented a room at the Isle Sunday night and Noah and Daddy went swimming) and then my dad the rest of the week.  Everyone is in agreement...Noah is quite the the little boy.  He is stringing sentences and answers questions like a grown up.  Day care had a Christmas program and all the little ones sang (his current favorite songs are, "Santa Clause is coming to Town" and "Jingle Bells" which comes out gingle bells...hilarious!!!).  The week ended with Mommy attempting to make something new in the crock pot...it was gross and we headed out on a gift card to Texas Roadhouse.  It was great on Thursday night...with Noah also having to leave his first restaurant because he stood up and started screaming, "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy"...even though it is a loud restaurant...not cool!!  Noah also made it through his first real movie, the Polar Express (I'm sure it having to do with trains helped!!).  Daddy worked frantically on Thursday afternoon to move things around (Jordan, our cousin, moved home to student teach...so Noah is moving to his big boy room).  Noah stayed in his room Thursday night...still have to decorate...pics to come later!!  Friday we headed out to Scott's parents and stayed.  Noah loves to play with his grandparents...so he had a riot.  I am not sleeping the best so it was a long night (regardless of where we would have stayed!!)...Jake, Megan and Alaina came early Saturday morning and we had Christmas there.  Noah got a train table...beyond excited!!  He is LOVING trains:)  We then headed over to the Great Grandparents--Scott's for Christmas...good food and more presents.  We then stopped at Grandma Kress's (Noah's great-great grandma!!) with lots of people.  Noah had a nap...but at this point was tapped out.  We did do church...Noah touched the candle during Silent Night...scared him more than anything else:)  We had fun doing our tradition of opening your stocking Christmas Eve and Noah wearing Christmas PJs (thanks Nana C) and reading the Night before Christmas and the Polar Express (skimmed it...Noah was tapped out).  We were sleeping in Christmas morning!!  Noah got lots of puzzles and clothes and was spoiled by Santa.  Scott and I decided to buy a new blu-ray for downstairs and move the old ones upstairs...so not much to open for us...which was fine.  Nana and Papa Connolly snuck in some presents from Noah to us...which was cute:)  We were then off to my grandparents for another round.  We did more snacks and such...and BINGO!  My family is a good size and a lot to buy for (and we are old enough...you need something...go buy it)...so we shop year round for cheap (under $5) BINGO prizes...it is a riot.  Lots of fun cheap stuff (car kits, card games, etc.).   We then headed to my parents for Christmas with them.  Noah did a great job...but by the end of this was done.  He had a hoot with my brother and his Aunt Jenna and my parents.  Lots of fun presents.  He then slept all night in his own bed!!  Daddy got him to sleep:)  I will put up pictures later this week...off to play!   Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

And the holidays are around the corner!!

Well...it's been a month...whoops!  Just a few updates...hopefully this weekend I can put up some pictures!
Thanksgiving was great with Scott's family...yummy food and just hanging out.  Scott braved the crowds with my parents at midnight...our holiday shopping is about done!!  Saturday was the annual Connolly Christmas (Scott's dad has a TON of brothers and sisters...so it is a lot of people).  Noah did great.  Then...Mommy got the flu...what a great way to end the break.  I guess this is as good of place to announce...we are expecting #2!   Not putting it out on Facebook and most who read this probably know:)  But...b/c of the flu...Noah went with my parents for the day and Scott and I went to Covenant to get fluids:(  Ugg...what a weekend!  Thank goodness for family.  I have been feeling much better...it was a rough fall with Scott coaching and me in the first trimester...pretty tired Connolly family!  I am about 17 weeks and our ultrasound will be in January...pray for good news! 

Noah has been a playing fool!  We LOVE watching him and interacting with him as he creates new things.  He still loves cooking and fixing.  Scott couldn't pass up a cool tool set (and thanks cousin Jordan) and Noah is OBSESSED with fixing every night:)  He repeats a lot of what you say...so he "go to work, Mommmy" and "I fix this, Daddy" it is great!  The timeouts are becoming routine...not in a bad way...he just knows what to do when we needs to go to a timeout!  We are hoping to work on the sleep thing and potty training thing over break...cross your fingers for progress!  Noah is doing well with potty training...not afraid of the potty (which is great)...just have to be consistent!  There is a little guy at day care who is older and they are hoping Noah and "H" potty train together!  Hope to post pics later!!!!!