I must say this Christmas was much better than last! Last year we spent the holiday passing a stomach bug between the 4 of us, which was definitely no fun. It was a little weird to spend the day without any extended family, but we still had a great day.
On Christmas Eve, Troy and Reef got Santa's snack ready-lamingtons and milk. Reef was very concerned that he was not going to get a lamington.






We kicked off Christmas morning with some monkey bread and fruit before diving into the presents. We got these light up Santa hats from Rachel, and Reef LOVES his. He wore it all day!

Jonas was not that thrilled with his and immediately took it off.

Before opening presents, Reef checked on Santa's plate to make sure he ate his snack and drank all his milk. Then he asked again when he could have a lamington. We opened the big train table first because we couldn't keep them away from it. What a hit that was! To see their faces made staying up late putting it together worth it! Thanks Oma and Opa! It took awhile before either one was interested in other gifts, but finally Jonas got interested. He ran off after taking the first thing out of the stocking though! So easy to please!


Reef checking out his new tractor.

Jonas ripping into his stacking cups. These have been a surprisingly big hit!

Back to the train table. They can't stay away from it for more than half an hour or so. It's great to see them play together.

Jonas' favorite part is this tunnel.

The only shot of both boys looking at the camera.

After nap time, Reef finally got a taste of that lamington he was dying to have! Doesn't he look excited!

Jonas didn't really like the lamington but posed for the camera anyway.


Since the weather was nice, we played outside after our snack. Reef has almost mastered the pedals on his new bike. Then we had a quiet dinner and a bath with our new bath crayons. Finally it was off to bed for the boys, and Troy and I got to watch a movie!

Overall a great day!

Potty training update

I know you've all been anxiously awaiting an update on the potty situation. If you're not at all interested in matters concerning the potty, you probably want to stop reading now...
We decided that Friday would be the big day that Reef graduated to the big boy underwear. I picked Friday because it gave us several days at home for him to get the hang of things and I have Troy around to help me.
On Thursday I took Reef to Target to pick out his underwear. He was very excited to bring home a pack of Cars and a pack of Handy Manny ones and couldn't wait to start wearing them!
Friday was challenging but pretty successful. I moved the potty to the living room, so that we didn't have as far to go, and I wouldn't have to worry about Jonas while I was in the other room. Well, before noon we had 2 poop and 1 pee accident. I wasn't surprised by the poop since Reef had never been on the potty for that. Of course, in addition to those, Jonas dumped the potty out on the floor once before I had a chance to clean it! Then when I picked it up, I spilled the rest in Melynda's shoe! I was about ready to throw in the towel!
Saturday was much better with only 1 pee and a 1/2 poop accident. He even went poop in the potty once on his own!
Monday was our best day yet, with no accidents! Unfortunately, Reef is now having a fear of pooping in the potty. Everytime he sits down to go, he starts crying about it being a "brown one". Troy and I don't know what happened since Sunday went so well.
Today was a setback with 1 pee accident and a poop in his diaper during naptime. I'm getting a little frustrated but now I need to be patient with him and stick with it. Our goal is to be accident free before he goes back to preschool.
Wish us luck!

Christmas with Gigi and random bathtime shots

It's been an eventful last few days at the Gibbins house. On Saturday, my mom and Mr. Don came to spend an early Christmas with us. The boys were very excited about their gifts from Gigi.


We tried to get Reef to open his first, but he was being shy. After seeing what Jonas got, though, he was in a big hurry to see what was in his red sack!


He's been talking about this bike for months! He told his Gigi that he loved it but had told Santa he wanted a green one!


Jonas is definitely convinced this is a tricycle built for 2. When we took it outside, he rode on the back and dragged his feet behind. Definitely made pushing harder for Mommy!

The first spin outside. I can't wait for his to learn to pedal himself.

Jonas was more interested in the dirt by the mailbox than his "bus"

On Sunday, Troy arranged a surprise shopping trip with my friend Misty to spend some of my gift card (Thanks Lloyd and Francie!). While we were gone, the boys decided the wetbar cabinet was their new favorite place to hang out! We emptied it out last week to store toys in there, but now we have to take the toys out daily so that the boys can fit in there!

I finally got some pics of our bathtimes together. The boys are so funny some times and really get each other laughing.

As far as the pregnancy goes, things are going well. I'm 7 weeks and 1 day and feeling pretty good. I had one really bad day of morning sickness on Friday but have been much better since then. Thankfully Melynda had already planned to come visit with Jude that day, so the boys were entertained while I didn't feel good. My only symptoms really are extreme tiredness and a major craving for junk food! Troy and I went for our first sonogram yesterday and got to see our little "peanut". The heartbeat was strong at 125 beats per minute, much lower than either of the boys ever were. I go back to the doctor in 2 weeks.

SURPRISE!

We are pleased (and very very surprised) to report that we are expecting baby #3!!! The baby is due August 10, and we have our first sonogram on Monday.
To answer many of your questions, this baby was definitely a shock! I was a little worried about telling Troy since we weren't planning on having a baby this soon, but his response was perfect. He was very happy and excited right away, even more than me. The idea of being pregnant again was a little scary for me, and I wanted to wait to tell people but Troy was too excited! I was worried about telling people because I didn't want to get the "You're pregnant again!" response. Luckily, our parents and friends have been very supportive and excited.
So far, I've felt pretty good, but the morning sickness is starting to set in. Oh, how this is not my favorite part!
Please keep us in your prayers since the first trimester is always a little scary.

Still no new pictures of the boys. I never have the camera at the right time!

Pictures...Finally!

Here are some pictures from Thanksgiving and Breakfast with Santa.

Reef was not sure about the whole Santa thing. He got close enough to take that candy cane but never made it to his lap. Jonas didn't want anything to do with him either, so that's why there aren't any pics of him.

Reef and Jayden after seeing Santa. Reef is wondering why she gets to eat her candy cane but he can't have his.

Reef making his reindeer craft.

and decorating his Christmas bag.

Reef and Jayden in their tanning glasses.

I realize there aren't many pictures of Jonas. He stayed home for a nap for the first part of breakfast with Santa and didn't get to do the crafts. I'll have to do better getting some shots of him. He's very animated these days.

The Potty Train is in the station!

Reef decided last weekend that it was time to start potty training. We haven't been pushing him much because he was NOT interested. Then, Friday night (at 3am unfortunately) he started crying in his room. We thought he had a bad dream and told him to go back to sleep. He screamed every 10 minutes for the next 2 hours. We tried giving him Tylenol, changing his diaper (which was totally dry), changing his PJ's, and taking him to our bed. Finally, at the end of our rope, Troy tried putting Reef on the potty, and he filled it up! He was crying because he'd been holding it in all night! I couldn't believe it.
He's doing really well at night and will use the potty before bed and then in the early morning. Then he'll go back to bed for another hour or 2. During the day, he goes occasionally but is usually to busy to stop and go. This is totally backwards from the way all of his friends have done it! He's even tried at preschool on the big potty! This apparently started a "potty train" of all the boys wanting to go to the potty with Reef. We reward him with 1 M&M every time he goes, so hopefully he'll start being more consistent.
He's doing so great! Hopefully over Christmas we'll complete the process.

I love you's

Reef has really become such a sweet boy this week. Randomly throughout the day he will say, "I love you, Mommy." It just melts my heart every time!
He's also being really sweet with Jonas, saying "That's my brother, Jonas" and "Are you okay Jonas?" I'm so glad to see them getting along!

What a month!

I can't believe how fast time is flying by! It's been a whole month since I last posted! It seems like life has been crazy in the Gibbins house, but now I can't remember all that's been going on. I guess that momnesia is kicking in again!
We spent Thanksgiving with my family in Conroe this year. It was good to see the cousins and aunts and uncles since we missed them last year, but it was also hard since I'm the only one with kids and the boys had a lot of strangers to adjust to. Other highlights of the trip were seeing both of my sisters, baby Jacob, and my dad.
Reef and Jonas have been fighting illness for the last month too. Yuck! Reef's has just been viral and allergies, but poor Jonas has had allergies, sinus infection, strep throat, and now an ear infection. No wonder he's been so moodly lately! My poor boy!
Because of all the busy-ness, no pics this month. Hopefully I'll do better in December!