Well check updates...

*I didn't want a pictureless post, so I figured I'd plug this in :).*

We have had so many pediatricians since Tatum was first born. We started off at a place out at 40th st and Bell (the doctor whom I loved that the kids I nannied for went to). I went once and decided it was crazy for us to drive from 125th ave all the way to him. So we found Desert Valley Pediatrics and fell in love with Dr. Calhoun. The problem with that office was that it was very hard to make an appointment there and when I was there, there were tons of sick kids all around (even though there was a separate sick and well side) and would wait in the waiting room for an hour. So we switched to La Loma Internal and Pediatrics 4 mins away from me. There was never a wait and they never put you on hold there. We stayed there for a while, but then I talked with my sister-in-law about how much she loved her pediatricians office (about 25 mins away from me) and decided to change since I really wanted a "real" pediatricians office. So that was for Corbin's 2 year well check. Neither one of them had shots at that one and now that they are 3 and 5 (and about to go off of our insurance due to Daryl's job situation), I needed to get in. Before I made an appointment, I called both La Loma and the one on Cactus and they both gave me the song and dance about mercury not causing problems and they chose not to have them taken out of their shots since there was no proof. I was outraged and decided I was done with them. So I called Desert Valley Peds and they said they did not use Mercury in theirs. So I took both my kids there and they got their shots. I went back and fourth with the MMR with Corbin, but after seeing an episode of Private Practice, I decided I was going to since it didn't have Mercury and he is three now..why risk it. So Tatum is done with shots until 11 (she was thrilled). She weighs 40 lbs and is 42.5 inches tall (50% for both). Corbin is 36 inches tall and 28 lbs (20% for both). They are both doing well and looked healthy. They both had coughs that had lasted a while at that point, so I got a bunch of albuterol for the nebulizer to tie me over until we got insurance again. We've decided when Corbin hits the 40 inch mark, we'll go back to Disneyland so he can ride all the rides with us (depending on the job and financial situation of course) :).

Super cute pics I wanted to share from the other party.

Everett's Two Now!

The kids and I went and celebrated Everett's 2nd birthday party. It was extremely laid back (unlike a typical party at the Atkinson household..which was quite refreshing) complete with a water balloon fight for the kids. It was good to see the cousins and for the kids to play. We had another party to attend to later that day so we had to cut it short, but were so glad we could make it (Daryl has been battling a horrible cold for a few weeks now and couldn't make it). My niece should be here in the next few weeks. We are super excited to meet her!!

Time-Outs are just part of growing up.

DARYL HELP!

You may want to not be eating anything before you decide to view this next post...
*to answer many of your questions..it slid down his leg..he wasn't stepping on it lol*






























He has not pooped in his diaper since he first started going on the potty. So this is the first time he's done this and of course it was at nap time, so he must have decided to have at it.

Need I say more.

Fun Times with the McWilliam's Family

*I took this picture from Angie's blog haha. They passed on the bike that Grant learned how to not use training wheels on. It so reminds me of my old pink banana bike from way back..*

The other day, we had Angie and Frank over for lunch to see their new baby girl, Taylor. One nice thing about Daryl's time off is not having to wait for the weekend to plan things with him. We both went to high school with them and our kids get along so well. Here's a few pictures of our fun day :)).

Sweet Boy of Mine

Three is going to be a good year for Corbin! First off, he started pooping on the potty about a week before he turned three and hasn't pooped in his diaper since. He goes about once or twice a day on the potty (although if I just slide down his pants/diaper/pull-up he will dip his tush down into the water as he goes which is really disgusting, so it's much easier to let him strip completely (he will leave his shirt on..he was getting ready for a bath in this picture). He goes pee on the potty all of the time too, but he will still occasionally go in his diaper. I'm just really not ready to put him in big boy underwear just yet. I tried a while back and he really wasn't ready yet. Maybe I'll try in a week or two, but I just can't stand the idea of letting him do it in the house...maybe we'll start outside for a trial run.
Preschool has also been really good for him so far. He will occasionally say, "Mom, I no school", and then he'll say, "I want sheshe school" (sissy's school). When he does see his teacher, he is always happy to see him. I'm so thankful for his therapies he's receiving as well at school. One of his latest phrases is, "Mom, I hode you" (mom, will you hold me). It's a really good thing and I've been enjoying the snuggly phase since he's just now starting to do this and before too long, he won't want to anymore. Many of you remember when he was a baby how unsnuggly he was and how breastfeeding was like a torture session from him since he wanted his own space lol. He is really starting to turn into a mama's boy and I am truly relishing in it :))).

Marley May is 6 months!

All I have to say is this is the last time I ever want a puppy again (she literally was the size of a puppy for about a week and a half). I really didn't want a puppy in the first place, but Daryl was pretty persistent that we get one so we can "mold" her from the beginning. She is probably the most stubborn dog yet, but we still love her. I think she might finally be somewhat potty trained. I haven't caught her peeing on our carpet in about 2 wks (although she is pretty supervised). She does still get pretty rough with the kids and still likes to chew our things (like Tatum's bed skirt and the roman shade in our kitchen above her dog door..what a mess). We have the buzz collar from our last dog (we actually paid $1k for dog training and that is the only thing we got from it). It does seem to help (although it sounds inhumane). I just can't wait for the day she can just come and go in her dog door and we won't have to think twice about leaving her in our house while we are gone (ahh, the days of Bailey Sue). Right now she gets the dog run and a small section (that is gated off) in our kitchen with her bed and food/water so she can come in when she doesn't want to be outside and still be apart of the family when we have people over. She's already 50 lbs and I'm sure she'll probably gain another 10-15 at least before she's done. I need to take her to get spayed since we don't plan on breeding her. I'm just dreading the cone and the dog door..that won't be any fun haha, but I need to get it done before she starts her period..that is SO much worse than the dreaded cone.

So I finally gave in...

I have been cutting Tatum's hair myself since she was about 1 1/2. So all in all, she's probably had her hair cut about 10-12 times in her life (her hair grows really fast and I cut it about every 3-4 months). I have been taking Corbin to get his hair cut since he's been one as well, but cutting boy hair vs. girl hair is something I will just leave up to the professionals. I take Corbin to a really inexpensive salon up the street (well for kids cuts) and they even have a playroom for siblings. So while Corbin was at school, we took her to get it professionally done for the first time. Little did I know that that inexpensive price goes up about $5 when they turn 5. I'm sure within a couple of months, it will grow back to where it was and I will probably continue to cut it myself since I honestly could have done it just as good (and have). I was just sick of the tangles and I'm sure she was as well. I'm just not allowed to cut it short or give her bangs..but we can do long trims. :))

Corbin's Big (Birth)Day Out!

We called up Uncle Dan, Aunt Theresa and Everett yesterday (on a whim) and had them meet us at the Camelback Park-N-Ride to take the Light Rail downtown at 10:30 (kind of a neat idea since Daryl has been an inspector for the Light Rail project for a few years now..this was our first time on it and Daryl's 10,000th lol). We were headed to the Phoenix Children's Museum....

But got out a little bit before to go for a nice walk downtown and take in the sites and stop at a coffee shop. We walked over to Pizza Bianco (voted the best pizza in Arizona..it was on Oprah...and we still need to go back for that). Of course it was closed until 4pm :(.

Then we "finally" (as Tatum would put it) made it to our destination. It was Daryl's first time and my 2nd time back since I had gone months ago with Jenn and her kids. They added a few more things and I think it was definitely more appealing this time around. Corbin didn't throw a single tantrum this time and the extra activities were fun for the kids (I noticed on the directory they still have plans for more activities there). Daryl originally wanted to take the kids to Castles-N-Coasters, but I quickly discouraged him based on Corbin's height and since this was his 3rd birthday day...Needless to say, he was extremely impressed with everything. It was fun hanging out with my brother and his family as well (baby Helena will be here in about 5 or 6 wks!).

Okay, I seriously am going to buy this for the kids (or should I say for myself and the kids lol). Because the tree out back really does grow money you know ;P. You don't even wanna know how much these babies cost...

They didn't have the noodle farm last time I was there. This was AWESOME! There are SO MANY noodles! The moment I went in running after my kids with my camera yelling and pleading (a.k.a. mammarazzi) with them to stop and pose (yeah right lol), I felt like I was young again and almost a little terrified of the noodles for a split second wondered if I would ever get out (Tatum definitely takes after me, although she definitely had no fear of the noodle farm).


Afterwards, we walked some more downtown and they had a supercross dealy going on, so we walked through that, then ended up at the Hard Rock Cafe. Corbin loved that we got to sit in front of a motorcycle. The waiter brought him out a sundae for his birthday too.

As you can see (and am sure are wondering), we did not throw a birthday party for Corbin this year. But this is the year that I bought cakes for my kids instead of making them one. He has finally switched gears from balls (he still loves them) to flashlights and cars/trains. So of course, that is what he got. I ordered the smallest cake I could and just bought the toys to add to it since the lady at the counter told me they wouldn't fit and she couldn't put them on. Well I made it work :). I ordered whipped instead of butter cream and really am second guessing that decision because I keep going by the refrigerator and slicing off another piece of it (I HATE butter cream).

Damn red frosting!
This year, instead of getting him one or two big things and calling it good. I decided to buy a bunch of little things he could open and that I know he would love. He got cheapy flashlights, light up swords/laser guns, speed racer stuff, race tracks...Instead of giving him everything at once. I let him open one at a time all day long. So for instance he got one toy before his birthday breakfast and one after, then when we got home he got another and then 20-30 mins later, another and so on. That way he would take the time to enjoy each one and it made it last really long. I found some really good deals and still ended up spending less than $40 for everything (well not including our day out of course).

I cannot believe he is three now! He is going poop on the potty on a daily basis now. He still pees in his diaper/pull-up, but immediately tells me he needs a new diaper because he wants to be dry. He pees on the potty for his teachers and for me on command. He's loving his school and is turning into such a sweet boy. I definitely think he enjoyed his special day much more than a crazy party (and so did mommy and daddy).