Week 2: Spouse / Significant Other

I am beyond thrilled to talk about this subject. #hearteyes

Here's a little of our back story:

My husband and I met almost exactly 7 years ago (on the 28th to be exact) on a dating website (I know right?). We met at a little Beef O' Brady's in between our two cities. We ate, and when the check came, he asked me to draw a picture for him on the receipt. I drew a picture of Mary Poppins, which he still keeps in his wallet today! *heart flutter*

If I'm being completely honest, the day I met him I knew he was the one. He took some persuading though, not a lot, but some.

Babies. 2010.

I am such a lucky lady to have this man to share my life with. He's 100% the ying to my yang, the peanut butter to my jelly, the sunshine on a rainy day. And more corny relativities. All of them.

He works all the time to make sure we have everything we need and want. Long, hard days. He's a crane operator for an electric company in Tampa, but does everything from digging holes to sitting in his crane doing intense pole positioning. He's up and out of the house, most days, by 5am, and doesn't get home until around 430-5.

I've never seen a greater dad. I'm not sure what I was expecting when we got pregnant, but he's beyond every expectation I ever had. Which made me fall even deeper in love with him. He lives for his girls, and it's the cutest thing ever! He's going to be the fun dad with all of their girlfriends, and the super scary dad to any "boyfriends" we have beating down our doors for our girls.

Having a partner in life the way I have him is the greatest thing I've ever experienced. We've been through a lot of trials and tribulations, but we have always kept each other the priority.

"I wish I could explain your eyes, and how the sound of your voice gives me butterflies. How your smile makes my heart skip a beat and how everytime I'm with you I feel so complete"

XOXO

Caitie B

Week 1: Why Start This Challenge?

Hello you guys!

I sure hope the beginning of 2017 has been wonderful for you. I can't believe it's already been 4 days. I'm not sure if it's the whole being an adult, being a parent, or being a living individual these days that makes it seem like time is just speeding by. I plan on trying to post every Wednesday on these weekly challenge topics. Thankfully I can get it done this week because I'm super duper busy this weekend, I have 8 people, 3 different places, 2 services, 1 day, and about 3 hours of travel between all of it. NUTS!

So, let's get to it.

The reason I'm doing this challenge is, in fact, to challenge myself to post more and to also be more grateful for the things I have and the things I can attain.

I'm starting this challenge because I feel like I have stuff to share with people. I have dreams I want to achieve. I have stories to tell, friends to make, a family to make proud, business to do, happiness to spread, more mommy moments to laugh at.. You name it.

I'm starting the challenge to be purposeful with my time and to share things I am currently doing/have done/will be doing. Whether it be family adventures, decorating, bragging on my sweet husband, cheering on my friends, interesting new purchases.. I never know what I'm going to be getting into from week to week, so I'm sure it'll be interesting to see the progression at the end of the year!

I love my life and the people around me. I want to be able to spread all the positivity I can! I have found what works for me to keep a positive mind set and I also have found how much it has helped me in my life and I'd love to share those things with you. Little tid bits of information or suggestions to help you stay positive.

In the past few sentences I have said "I" way too much for my liking, haha. In all honesty, I don't like talking about myself too much. I love telling stories, laughing, enjoying life, etc.

Here's to 2017!

XOXO
Caitie B

2017 Weekly Blog Challenge and Resolutions

Hi again you guys

So, this is something I have been wanting to do to up my blogging game. And since my amazing husband gave me a new laptop for Christmas I will be able to do more blogging once the girls go to bed, because I like to go to my room once they go to bed since I don't get a lot of alone time with two littles running around.

So, searching around Pinterest and found this sweet challenge.

I'm going to be attempting to do one of these a week along with other cool tips, tricks, life stories, and stuff going on in my life. Which I'm going to go ahead and assume isn't much.

2017 is going to be great. I cannot wait until the new year.

Its always so fun and refreshing to me. I hope I can hold to my resolutions this year!

My resolution last year was to have more "me" time. And that happened like 4 times, maybe. Haha, but that's okay. I think I want me time but I end up just missing my kids and husband. Silly right?

2017 New Years Resolutions:

Lose 80 pounds.

May sound a bit extreme and probably insane to some people, but I would like to lose at least that much before we decide to start trying for a third baby. I really think if I put my nose to the pavement I can do it! And trust me when I say, I do have that much to lose, if not more.

Grow My Business.

Some of you may or may not know that I have a mobile hair and makeup business. I mostly do brides hair and makeup for their wedding day at their venue so that they don't have to travel around before one of the most important days of their life. If you want to follow my Instagram it's @ido_hairandmakeup or you can check out our Facebook!

Blog More!

I would love to be able to post weekly and that's why I would like to do the 52 week challenge. But maybe (hopefully) post even more than that!

These are all going to be challenging and, along with 2 little girlies and regular wife and mommy duties, will keep me very busy. I hope that I can keep up with everything. Should be interesting to see!

Follow along and see what else my sweet family has coming up in 2017.

I pray for all of you to have a wonderful New Years!

XOXO

Caitie B.

(Potty) Training the Beast!

Every child is different.

And I think it's important to remember that when you go into attempting to potty train.

I am, by no means, a professional! This is my first time potty training, just want to share the way we're doing it so maybe it'll help someone else.

(By the way, guys. Tomorrow is Halloween and I'm listening to Christmas music while writing this. #noshame)

So, Harper (my oldest) has been going to the potty on and off for like 6 months. Never #2, only #1. She turned 2 in October and quite honestly, I was running low on her diapers, so I said let's do this thing. We had been trying her going potty in the big potty with the little seat on the toilet, but found that she was more comfortable with the training potty. Hers is Minnie Mouse and makes a clapping/celebration noise when you "flush", so she's all about it.

We hunkered down in the house for 3-5 days, I made sure our schedule allowed that. She wouldn't wear any undies or diaper or PullUp, just a t-shirt, and let her run around like she went about her day as she normally would. Lots of Monsters, Inc. and Disney. We would only put a diaper or PullUp on her when she would go to sleep, naps and bedtime.

The first day was rough, not gonna lie. But, I kept telling myself that she's learning what the feelings were and that it meant she needed to head to the potty. Our biggest challenge was going poo poo. She did not get it, luckily I knew around what time she went #2 and kept her on the toilet until she went. So there were no #2 accidents on any floor, but plenty of #1 - thank God for Swiffer Wet Jets! I only diapered or PullUp'ped her when she went to sleep, and as soon as she woke up I took her immediately to the potty and that was successful.

Day 2 went amazingly better. She woke up, sent her to the potty, she went pee pee. "High five! Knucks! You go girl!!" She thought she was Queen Bee! Accidents decreased immensely. She maybe had 1! It was amazing. But this day I thought I would leave her pajama pants on her because it was a little chilly. Well, joke was on me, she went #2 in her pants. *face palm* She had a freak out about that, though. She didn't like it in her pants. But, I guess having it in a diaper is okay? Meh, whatevs. Rest of the day went well. This time I decide pad to not put a PullUp in her for her nap. And unfortunately, that was unsuccessful. The rest of the day went great, no accidents! PullUp for bedtime. And mommy got to do laundry and some floor cleaning. (What's new, amirite?)

Third day was insane. Woke up in the morning with a dry PullUp and went potty immediately. Oh yeah, go Harper!! I found myself not having to ask her as often if she needed to go to the potty, and she would run in and go when she needed to. #2 in the potty! Poo poo dance! No PullUp for nap time; woke up dry! Wait.. Is this the same kid who pooped in her pants and peed on the floor not 2 days ago?! Oh yeah, it is. Honestly, I'm feeling like boss ass potty trainer.

I bought her Frozen panties as an incentive, we've bribed her with chocolate or "fries" aka Cheetos. But, quite honestly, the biggest help and motivator has been making a big deal out of her going in her potty! She gets a high five and "knucks" when she pee pees, and when she goes poo poo we do a big, fun, crazy, silly "poo poo dance"! She loves it!! She'll be mid-poop and say "POO POO DANCE!?" It's super cute. We still do PullUp or a diaper when we go out. So, I need to get more confidence in doing out of the house potty trips.

I'm sure there will be more accidents across the next few years. But, I'm very happy with this success!

Do you have anything that has worked for you while potty training your kid? Any advice on what NOT to do? (That can be almost as important as the good advice, I've learned)