PITTSBURGH'S GOIN' TO THE SUPERBOWL!!!

And we are stoked! Most people who read this know me well enough to know I grew up in western Pennsylvania just north of Pittsburgh...so I bleed black and gold. And luckily when I married Travis, he had always liked the Pittsburgh Steelers...so we root for them every year. They are the only team I care about and don't pay too much attention to football other wise. The last time they went to the superbowl was when I was pregnant with Riley 3 years ago and they won :) And we are hoping for another win this year!! Here we go, Steelers! Here we go!!!!!!!!

Potty training update...

Monday was day one...I considered it to be pretty successful for starting out. I was gung-ho and very into it, setting Riley on the potty every 45 minutes. And even asking her in between if she had to go and occasionally she would say yes, and do it! Yesterday (day two) was a lot less promising...but Riley still did use the potty twice I think. I caught Isabelle waking up from her nap again so I put her straight on the potty chair and she not only peed...but pooped too. That's the way to show Riley how it's done! But Riley seems quite unimpressed. She thinks anyone and everyone can use the potty or not, whichever they prefer...and so since diapers are easy, she is fine with it. UGH.
Today, Day 3, I woke at 4 am to the sound of Isabelle fussing. This is normal at least once a night. (In fact, only once a night is a treat!) We have rare nights where she will sleep through the night...but those are few and far between. So at 4 am I went to the kitchen to get Isabelle a bottle to settle her back into slumber. Well I get to the room and she is out cold. Soothed herself somehow...but Riley's eyes popped wide open and she jumped up like it was time to start the day. So I sat and talked to her for a few minutes, hoping I could settle her back in and then she said "potty". She peed...and I gave her a water cup and she fell asleep almost immediately. Well...while I was up I figured I may as well wake and change Isabelle and give her the bottle I had prepared. So I woke her, set her on the potty, and she peed. Nicely done! Then she went right back to sleep as planned. I crawled back into bed at 4:30 feeling quite un-annoyed (amazingly) since both girls had peed in the potty, being up for that half hour was worth it. Izzy hasn't had anymore success yet today...but she is napping, so you can bet I am anxiously listening for her to wake up and go. Riley used the potty to pee as soon as she woke up this morning...but only because I forced her...she didn't ask to go. But a little while ago she said "potty" and so I ran for it. By the time she and the potty were face to face (or something like that...), I could tell she had peed a little in her diaper already...and she was kicking and screaming when I took it off to set her on the seat...but she had asked for it, so I insisted she try. I walked away and less than a minute later...she had pooped! YAY!! Is it normal for me to be so excited?? Doesn't matter...if it's normal or not, I am super happy that we have made as much progress as we have. Unfortunately I am gone from about 6:45 pm-10 so there are a couple hours in there where potty time may be more inconsistent...and I can't blame Travis...it IS sort of a hassle and can be gross, messy, etc. But I want to get at least Riley out of diapers before the end of this month. So I have a little over two weeks. Isabelle could be in diapers another 6-12 months and that would be fine....but it is time for Riley. Any one have tips on how they trained their children? Anything that helped? What didn't help? I am open to suggestions!

Just a post...

...to help me remember a milestone...

Keep in mind, my blog is sort of my journal...so I get on here to make notes to myself that I want to be able to come back and remind myself of some day.

Isabelle did something genius today....(not really...but I think so!)

To set up the story: I am trying to potty train Riley. For real this time (I hope!!!)

Riley used the potty last night for #1.

So this morning when she woke up I sat her down again and she did a #1...

I put a Dora pull up on her and a little while later she went #2 (on the potty!!)

She has sat on the potty probably 8 times today. Not bad, considering it's not even 2 pm. I want her trained so badly! She did pee once in her pull up....but I was in the shower. So it wasn't her fault, I don't think. Then she told me she needed to go, so I set her on it and she was just playing...and I was frustrated. Isabelle was just waking up from a nap so I ran in, grabbed Isabelle, told Riley to get off the potty...and Set Izzy down. Not 30 seconds later...Isabelle had peed in the potty!!! YAY Izzy! Way to show big sissy how it is done! I have no intention of training Izzy right now...but should she show interest in using it again, that's great. I just needed to record she actually used the potty at 13 months and two days of age. Riley's first pee in the potty was 13 months 2 weeks and 6 days old. (Oct. 13, 2007) So we will see how they compare in the future...not that it matters. It's not really to compare them, but to record milestones in their lives :)

Travis, my other half :)

Darcy tagged me so here goes....

1. Where did you meet your husband?
We met outside of Autumn Winds, my apartment complex in Rexburg, Idaho, in September of 2004. I was friends with a couple of his roommates and a group of people were heading to Mill Hollow for some ice cream and other stuff...and Travis came along and rode in my car.

2. How long did you date before you got married?
We started dating towards the end of October 2004, just before Trav's 23rd birthday. We got engaged at Christmas and then were married on February 18th, 2005...so 4 months we dated. Yep, that's all! I put a down payment on my wedding dress the first week of November. We weren't even engaged, we had been dating maybe 2.5 weeks, but I knew!

3. How long have you been married?
Almost 4 wonderful years. 3 years, 10 months, 2 weeks, and 6 days to be exact!

4. What does he do to surprise you?
He is full of surprises. I don't even know...occasionally he has brought flowers home for me, not just any flowers, my favorite--Gerber Daisies! and he has been very helpful around the house in the evenings. It is always a nice surprise to get home from class and see things picked up/cleaned up/etc. Thanks, babe!!!

5. What is your favorite feature of his?
His eyes! And his long, dark eyelashes. And I love his smile. He is a stud...what isn't a good feature? This may be TMI for some but I think his butt looks amazing in jeans! Sorry if that embarrasses you, babe.

6.What is your favorite quality?
Probably his sense of humor. I don't always appreciate it but it is such a good thing! And he is pretty laid back...which can be not so great at times...but he is like the Yin to my Yang. I am anything but laid back about some things so I need his balance in my life!

7. Does he have a nickname for you?
You mean does he have 20 nicknames for me? Yes....I don't even think I could start to list them all...but here are a couple: Babuushk, Shmeling (or Schmeling-a-loo), Chi Chu. Don't ask where these come from or how he comes up with them. I don't remember where they came from.

8. What is his favorite food?
I'm not sure about his very, most favorite thing. I could tell you restaurants though. But even then, there are a few. Texas Road House, Bajio, Tepanyaki, those Brazilian steakhouse places that bring the meat around on skewers and slice it off for you, I could list more. But you get the point and I'm making myself hungry :)

9. What is his favorite sport?
Soccer!! But he likes to play or watch basketball...and he likes to watch football. And he likes to snowboard. But soccer is the definite favorite.

10. When and where did you first kiss?
On the couch in my Autumn Winds apartment. It was the best kiss I had ever had. I hope I never forget it! He had wanted to kiss me the night before it happened....but I made him wait just a little bit longer. ;) And I think it was worth it!

11. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple?
We just like to get out together, without kids, anywhere. We like watching movies, cuddling up together, that kind of thing.

12. Do you have children?
We do! Riley Paige is 2 years and 4 months old and Isabelle Jane is 13 months old. And....someday we will have a couple more...but not anytime soon.

13. Does he have any hidden talents?
Sure... Most people might not know he plays the guitar and sings. I love to hear him sing. He can talk like Donald Duck and Kermit the Frog. And he is pretty good at solving a Rubik's cube

14. How old is he?
Travis turned 27 this past October.

15. Who said I love you first?
I THINK he did. And of course I said it right back. I wrote about it in my journal after he left that night. Oh it is HILARIOUS to go back and read that stuff!

16. What is his favorite music?
He likes different types. Not sure which genre is his favorite, but his favorite band is Collective Soul.

17. What do you admire most about him?
That he is a good dad. And that he provides for our family's needs. I think the responsibility of providing for a family has to be a lot of pressure sometimes.

18. What is his favorite color?
Blue, I think?? Sad that I don't KNOW, isn't it. He likes to wear white T-shirts though.

19. Will he read this?
Yes, most definitely. I hope I did okay!

20. People I tag...
Amanda Hadfield, Aunt Dot, Crystal Taylor, Kim Odasso, Jen Burrup, Bree Johnson and Adrienne Odasso

They went to the temple and got married!

In case you didn't know: My brother and his adorable wife Kim were sealed in the Las Vegas LDS temple on Saturday! And I wanted to get on here and post some pictures :) Kim's mom made our girls adorable dresses that matched Kim's two nieces, Jordan and Avery.




There are about a hundred pics of Kim with the little girls...but it was hard to narrow the selection down...of course my girls were not as cooperative as I would have hoped...but they sat there for quite awhile!











Family picture. We got only ONE shot...and then Riley had a fit. So that is it...could have been better if it wasn't so cold! It was FREEZING in Vegas on Saturday evening!!!!!!!

Riley had so much fun seeing Grandma Debbie and Grandpa Gary. She wishes she could see you guys more. Hint, hint. And She might be forgetting her other grandparents completely. COME VISIT US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You know you miss this face! She was really into something on television.

The following video is of Riley singing in the van during our weekend away. I am easily entertained with her.

Better late than never..

Happy belated birthday, Randee. We love you and hope you come down to BYU in the fall. That would be awesome!! I recorded this video for you the day before your birthday...but didn't have a chance to post it until now because on your actual birthday I was busy packing for our Vegas trip (I will post about it soon)....and then we were driving to Vegas that night...and then we had no internet in our hotel all weekend. But as promised, here it is...

Probably not her best performance, but how cooperative are most two year olds when you want them to be???

Christmas was wonderful!

Just thought I would get on here and give a little update about our holiday. We stayed at home and had no visitors but it was really relaxing...aside from the fact that Isabelle was sick (translation: vomiting and runny diapers) for over a week and now has a cold. We all felt a little down at some point for a day or two. But it was still so nice to be home! I almost wish we could do it every year and have grandparents come here...but I don't think people are ready for that idea. We did miss all the Simon family fun and getting to see granny and papa and being with other family members...but relaxing was what we needed. I missed my family, too...but I will always maintain it is easier for any of them to come here than to bring us to them wherever that may be. COME VISIT!!!!

Our girls got spoiled, For being so young though, they didn't need half of what they got. Thanks to the grandparents for the entire new wardrobes! I know the girls don't find clothes that exciting, but I appreciate it more than you can even know!

Santa Claus came...which we had been telling Riley he wouldn't if she didn't start obeying. Oh the two's are fun!!!!!!!!!!!! Riley got Mickey Mouse's Clubhouse and The Little Einsteins figures that ride in Rocket. She is thrilled. The new toys have kept them happy and busy thus far. I wonder how long until they get "old". I actually think they will play with them for a long time. Isabelle got her own little car to ride around because they were always fighting over Riley's Winnie the Pooh one. And she also got a Mickey Mouse keyboard. They of course got lots of other small things, some DVDs, new earrings, socks, Riley got Elmo underpants which she BEGS to wear....but she is still not wanting to learn to use the potty 100% of the time so no luck.....YET. I made a promise to myself that if it isn't happening by February, I am going to put my foot down, grit my teeth, and force it upon her. I know she can do it. She has the communication skills, can pull her pants on and off, and tells us when she needs changed most of the time.
I bought Travis a set of new scriptures that he wanted and seasons 1-4 of THE OFFICE. and he got me a PINK iPod nano and had it customized on the back with a neat design and it says, "Jenna my wife who rocks my life" I love it! He also bought me the game Apples to Apples which I had wanted for a long time! Thanks babe!

Anyway, here are some photos to go along with our Christmas...

This first one of Riley...I cannot believe how much she reminds me of Travis in this picture. Although normally I see more of Travis in Isabelle.
She can't get enough of herself when she gets to be in the mirror

I just love Riley's long, silky hair!!! It is so pretty


On Christmas eve the girls exchanged gifts from each other. Riley bought Isabelle stacking bowls that you can put together to make balls or stack to make a tower and Isabelle got Riley a leotard and a purple Tutu.
Christmas morning. Presents are hidden behind couch arms in this picture though. And Trav and my gifts are way back under the tree in the corner
Riley in her own world opening gifts from Santa
Opening clothes from grandma Barb on Christmas morning while grandma watched via webcam
Sisters with popsicle sticks
MmmmMmmm 'Sicle!
Isabelle having her first popsicle (feeding herself a popsicle for the first time, really) She did really well. We were desperate to get her to eat anything since she was sick.

Isabelle on her new princess car
Riley with Rocket and the other Little Einsteins characters. Except Leo is not in his seat. And if you asked Travis, Qunico is missing too. He made up a fake character named Quinco (a combination of Quincy and Leo and just about had Riley convinced that Qunico was a real character....)

Mickey's Clubhouse!
Sweet girls playing together in matching outfits from our friends Marie and Tyler.

Here is Isabelle in an adorable new outfit courtesy of Grandma Debbie. Thanks! I love pink and brown combinations!
And now for some videos that I promised Sky when he called us on Christmas. Thanks for calling us, Sky! Your last three months will fly by! We can't wait to see you! Keep working hard!

I have to say I am sad to see Christmas is over. Riley LOVES Christmas music, and as you can see Jingle bells was a favorite. But she also liked ANY Christmas music. As soon as she would hear it she would run into the room and pause...or dance/sing along. She also had an advent calendar with chocolates. Everyday she asked for her "Santa Chocolate" and we explained when she ate the last one, Santa would come. I worried she would ask for them even after Santa came but she hasn't, not even once! So I guess she understood the whole concept after all! I think I will try to spend this afternoon putting away Christmas decor since we will be in Las Vegas this weekend for my brother and Kim's wedding! And then Monday I go back to school...wow. This break went too fast!

One last thing, Travis bought me a boom box speaker/dock for my iPod for my birthday yesterday and I love it! He also bought me Taylor Swift's new CD and had our friends Megan and Matt watch the girls so we could go out to dinner. Thanks for everything you do for me, Travis. And thanks to Megan and Matt for being great friends and always being willing to watch the kids so we can get out!