Potty Champ!!

Corey is continuing to be such a big boy! He has potty training down for the most part! I am SO surprised.

1. He is a boy and everyone says that they are harder to train.
2. He is only 2 1/2.

They started working with him this fall at day care and in February he started wearing pull ups all day long and staying dry except for poop accidents and nap and night time. On Leap Day his teacher asked me to start sending him in underwear. I was not sure this was the best time since I had this on my "Summer To Do List" but she assured me he was ready. "If you will wash the clothes, I will change them" was her plan. So he started doing great with pee in the potty but #2 has taken some time. So far Corey is just not as scared and doesn't fight it as much as Carley did. He is doing great and we are so proud and ready to check this off the list of milestones!!

We cut his hair on Saturday ourselves. It is a lot shorter than we intended, but he looks cute and ready for the hot weather this week! Once again, this baby is turning into a big boy before my eyes!

Easter Pics 2012

Happy Easter 2012! We had the kids pictures made over Spring Break. I thought they turned out so cute! Carley is 6 and Corey is 2 1/2. They really are such joy, but sometimes look too big in these pictures! I just want to pause time and enjoy these moments more!

Even Nana had to step in and help!

The Help

It is hard to get housework done with these two superhero helpers. This is what they came out with when I sent them to pick up the TV room.

A little egg in the eye

On Saturday we had planned to do the kids Easter pictures at 10:00. About 7:30 I was cooking eggs. Corey came to "help" me. He is so crazy! He grabbed a raw egg and busted it open with his hands. I grabbed a paper towel and wiped his hands and my feet and legs. Before I could do anything else, he rubbed his eye with his hand. I washed his hands and didn't think much of it. about 5 minutes later he had an allergic reaction in the eye to the egg yolk and his eye began swelling shut and the white of his eyes began bubbling out. Cody flushed it and we gave him benadryl, but it is was too late and his eye was swollen all day. Pictures postponed! That little guy is crazy!

March

I wish I could give some great reason that I have dropped off the blogging world for a couple of weeks, but seriously, I am just tired! We have been busy!

March started off with my birthday! The big 3-4! Cody made it very special for me. He gave me a gift certificate for a pedi and a massage and he gave me flowers. He and the kids also gave me a new pair of tennis shoes and Nike sandals. We went to the drive in to see the Lorax and had sonic. I am so thankful for my little family of 4!

That weekend we went out with all 19 Spanns! That number even had 2 missing! That family is so very sweet and generous. We have had a great time being around them all lately!

The following Monday my parents returned from a 3 1/s week trip to AUSTRALIA! They had such a wonderful time, but MAN did we miss them both so much! I am so thankful for my parents and how involved they are in my kids lives. It was so good to see them.

Tuesday night Carley (and Cody) started softball. So far she LOVES it!

That Thursday was the Texas-themed Mother/Daughter tea at school. Carley had a cute little program and was dressed up super cute in her pink and denim. She has had such a wonderful year!

Then Friday we got out for Spring Break! I am SO excited to have some down time. We have done lots of family things and some honey-dos around the house.

Yesterday was our 8 year Anniversary! WOW! Cody and I went to the movies, to dinner, at Shogun, and to Barnes and Noble. We have such a good time together. This is such a stressful and hard time around the Nelson home. Cody is studying for the promotional exam for Driver and I am the testing coordinator at work with a new test (STAAR). Seriously, work is draining us both. It was nice to have some down time.

Then today I got to use my gift certificate for my massage and pedicure. I also got my nails done, hair cut, eye brows waxed, and a break! It was wonderful! Lauren and Camryn are here so my kids were busy and happy. I am so thankful for this little week and hope it recharges all of our batteries!

Can't forget

This was my facebook status this morning:

"3 years ago today we were dismissed form our infertility doctor, Dr. Jennifer Phy, because we were finally 12 weeks along with a healthy baby boy, our little Corey. That journey shaped us both in so many ways and changed our faith, prayer life, and reliance on God and our community of faith. To others this may not seem like a big deal, but to us it is monumental. For those that joined us on that journey, please stop and say a prayer of thanksgiving to the Creator who gave us Corey. And also thank you so much to Dr. Phy and her team who did the Lord's work on our behalf. We are so thankful for you!"

I feel weird in someways focusing on that journey and acknowledging the little milestones. However, in Biblical times when God did a miracle, they laid a stone or large rock or something to mark the place so when people passed, they knew God did a miracle there. I feel the same way about Corey. All children are such gifts and I am so very thankful for the way Carley entered our world. She is a miracle too. With Corey he just just took so much longer and we had miscarriages on the way and it just made us rely on God in a different level.

I am just thankful, humbled, and honored beyond words that God chose me to be the mother for Carley and Corey. My heart just overflows with joy and thankfulness.

An Update on My Corey Boy

The little guy is growing up really fast. I cannot believe he is almost 2 1/2! GULP! I feel like I do not blog enough about his growing body and all the new things he does. Part of that is because life is just busier with 2 kids and part of that is that he is BUSY! :) But, OH he is adorable and melts this Mommy's heart every single day!

- Corey LOVES to play pretend instruments. Every pot, bat, stick, and brush is a guitar. Every table, bed, bench, and fireplace is a piano. AND EVERYTHING is a drum! The funny thing about his drum sets is that he likes to put 3 or 4 things together and make a multilevel drum, like a drum set and goes to town on it.

- Corey is VERY protective of me. It really is the sweetest thing. If Cody is teasing me, tickling me, messing with me, etc, Corey will run in and stand between us and face his daddy, wrap his arms around me from behind and say, "No Dad! NO! You okay, Momma? You okay?" I love my little knight in shining armor.

- Corey throws loud, long, intense, and full out fits. When he is mad, there is NO question about it. This was where he ended up last night at Dairy Queen, and usually a couple of times a week. He ends up in a corner, somewhere, with his nose to the wall, screaming his head off. When he is done, he is very sorry and very sweet.

- Corey is a very smart cookie. People always tell us how amazed they are with his verbal ability or what he knows. He can say and sign anything. He knows his shapes, colors, and about half of his letters. He is really good with his songs and can sing them well. He also loves books and loves to memorize them!

-His favorite Bible story is when God talks to Samuel when Samuel is a little boy and Samuel thinks it is Eli. Corey always looks for this story and holds his little hand up to his hear and says, "Listen".

- Corey eats out of spite. He is not a great eater but if you threaten to eat his food to someone else or eat it your self he gets angry and stares you down while he eats. It is hysterical.

- I love this little guy wrapped in his towel. - Corey stays dry most of the time and only has to wear a pull up really because he does not like to poop in the potty. Some times he does okay, but others he does not had has no desire. I will probably tackle this really hard during Spring Break and get him in underwear all the time, but for now, I am pleased where he is at in his progress.

We love you, little man! You were worth the wait in every single way!

More Valentines

The Nelsons had a great Valentine's date. On the Friday before Cody and I took off work and went to Carley's party then to lunch at Cheddars and to the movie The Vow. On Valentine's night we cooked out steaks and had salad and mashed potatoes. We also exchanged gifts. We gave Corey a baseball, baseball glove, and 10 Commandments book. Carley got softball cleats, softball practice shirt and shorts, and a Fancy Nancy Valentines Book. Cody got a new pair of boots and I got 3 new charms for my bracelet, one for each of my Valentines. Mostly I had a wonderful night with those I love the most.

Stitches!

Carley fell on a 2 inch bolt at church on Sunday and it went into her knee. Cody and I (and Corey) immediately took her to the ER with a quick stop at the first aid station at church for Cody to do a pressure wrap first. We got there and they took her back immediately. Luckily it missed her tendons and she just needed stitches. Poor girl was HURTING! So far she is doing well as long as I keep the Motrin and other medicine coming! She just has to avoid PE and dance for 2 weeks. Luckily today was a snow day so I have been able to keep her home with me and keep her off of it. Sweet girl!

Before stitches. Still bleeding. This picture does not do it justice.

After stitches. Much better.

The next day. You can see some bruising but seems to be on track to heal well!

Cinderella Ball

Carley had her Valentine/Cinderella Ball at school today. It was insane and precious. The moms (not me) worked so hard on it and it really was cute. The girls had to ask a boy to the ball and then the boys had to ask their date to dance. Carley was with her super cute friend, Blake M. They had such a good time. Then they had the Mom/Son and Daddy/Daughter dance to "Cinderella" and I have to say that watching Cody and Carley made me cry. Man, time is flying with our Cinderella. It really does take my breath away.

Then the kids did the Cha Cha Slide and the Chicken Dance. Afterwards they had a pizza party and exchanged Valentines. Seriously, how cute is her Valentine Card holder?

Mom/Daughter Date Night

Friday night Carley and I went on a date. She had a perfect attendance card for a free meal and dessert at Outback and then I bought tickets for her and me to go to Masterfollies at LCU. I just loved the night with my girl. She got so excited, put on a new dress, and wanted to wear make up.

At dinner she made friends with the waitress and the waitress let Carley go in the KITCHEN with her and help make her sundae! Carley was so excited and her dessert was HUGE!

She was WAY excited for the show!

And she fell asleep on the way home. Love my sweet girl!