Sweet L Designs

I just thought I would share that I have started a business named Sweet L (for Sweet Loralai), and started a shop on etsy.com. My shop specializes in accessories and home decor wreaths, I still have lots of items to list and lots of creative ideas still to create, but stop by and take a look! (I tried to upload a link but it would not work, I will keep trying)

My goal is to be a vendor at craft shows this year! I love creating and thought why not share my work with others so they can also enjoy them!

It is just too bad that Loralai cannot stand having her hair brushed never mind having a pony tail or any clips :( My only hope is that she will learn to enjoy it as she gets older! lol.

Here are a couple of picture of some of the items you should expect to see at my shop:

Yummy Donut!

Tonight after we had dinner with Grandma and Grandpa we decided to get Tim Horton's for dessert, and boy oh boy did Loralai love her big donut! She has had Timbits before but never a big donut with lots and lots of sprinkles and she was in heaven! lol.

Of course there were sprinkles everywhere but it was funny to see her try and pick them all up off of the table, and lick them all off her hands. She actually spent more time licking her hands then she did taking any bites. Just thought I would share a few photos of her big donut experience!

Potty Training

So lately I have been contemplating the fact if Loralai maybe ready to start with the beginning stages of potty training. I want to make sure that I tackle this process in a way that is stress free for her, and to try and make it fun experience.

She has started when she wants to be changed to say "bum" go and get her wipes and a diaper, then lay down on the ground. She also knows that the toilet is where you go "pee pee". So because of these two reasons I thought that I would get a potty and place it into the bathroom, and let her sit on it, and see where it goes from there.

I am not sure if I am behind on this process of purchasing a potty for this reason, and I also know that she is not really ready to start the training part, but I thought this would be a step she is ready for.

So I have been sourcing potty's and chatting with others that have been through the process to get their take on which one worked for them. I have decided not to get one with flashy add on's like music or funny noises, but going with a simple alternative and then letting her add stickers or something to make it her own.

I am also going to start reading her some using the potty books, my cousin Carrie and I actually found a really great potty training book from Scholastic specific for girls the other night, and she said that she was going to get it for Loralai so I am looking forward to reading it to her.

I am not ready for her to be grown up nor do I want to push the process, but since she has shown some interest I thought it might be a good thing just to throw out there and let her try it. If she likes it then wonderful, if not then I will put it away and try again another time! I will let Loralai run the shots on this one.

My Blog Was Published!

Ok ok I used the online publisher Blurb and paid for it, but I really wanted to make the blog a book for Loralai! My plan is to break down the books into years, so this book titled "Life with Loralai The First Year", holds all the information from when I was pregnant up until her first birthday! We had this book printed before Christmas but Grandma Maggie in Florida just got her's so we waited to post as to not ruin her surprise!

Blurb is such a fantastic site, their quality is amazing, and their prices are affordable!!

I hope the following link works:

http://www.blurb.com/books/1045032

If not here is a couple of photo's, sorry that there is not very many but my camera is doing weird things and will not allow me to upload all the pictures, but I will add them when I get it to work:

19 Months!!

So Loralai is now 19 months and a smart little turkey!

The other day when Loralai was at daycare (Loralai's sitter is her godmother and my cousin Carrie) she rounded up all the play plates, cups, and utensils and started setting the place settings for the kids table! Now keep in mind at our house we never set the table, we normally just put all the plates and utensils in a pile and just help yourself, so I am not even sure where she got the idea to do this from! Carrie said that she placed every spot (unaccompanied) with a plate, cup, and utensils! I was in astonishment and of course proud!

Loralai Fun Facts:

Loralai is just under 25 lbs
and is wearing size 18 months clothes and size 5 diapers.

She LOVES mint chocolate chip ice cream. I mean sit there in total silence for 20 mintues until it is all gone kinda love! For a busy 19 month old it must be good!

If you ask her after is she is finished eating at the table to 'clear her spot', she will take all of her dishes into the kitchen!

Loralai is totally mesmerized with her cousin Brandon (10), when he walks in the room her face just lights up, she will wait by the door everyday at lunch for him to come home, happily sit right next to him while is watching TV with a huge smile on her face, and even when we are at home and I guess being boring parents she will call his name! lol it is adorable! I hope she is not becoming boy crazy already! lol.

She feeds her baby a bottle, tries to change her diaper with a real diaper, and pushes her around in the stroller.

This is hilarious to watch and I have been trying to get a video, but she uses the toilet paper holder in the bathroom which looks kinda like a mircophone on a stand, and sings and dances like a rockstar!!

She has just started to point to the tv and say "my show" wanting Mommy to put her show on for her, which is normally the Wiggles or Thomas the Train!

Swimming Lesson Update

So far Loralai has had two swimming lessons and she LOVES it!
They have them kicking their legs, jumping off the side, sliding down the slide, singing songs, and we are finally at her nose for dunking her under; Loralai very much dislikes having water over her head, bath time is pleasant until I have to wash the soap out of her hair and then she screams! Hopefully eventually when we finally start dunking her, bath time will also get less tramatic!

The water is also so warm, it is definitely like being in a warm bath which is prefect for parents and baby, so shock to the system! The class is only a half an hour and getting Loralai out is a struggle! lol. I am glad that we have finally started, I feel that swimming is such a good life skill that could be a lifesaver!

Swimming Lessons

Loralai starts swimming lessons on Saturday! The program is called Splashers and is the very first in the programs series at the YMCA. The class will teach basic water skills, entering and exiting the water, blowing bubbles, and floating.

I have taken her to a much less formal swimming class before when she was 6 months old at a local salt water pool. The program only lasted 4 weeks and we missed 2 because Loralai got an ear infection one week, and then we went to Florida the next.

When we were in Niagara Falls at Christmas time Loralai loved being in the pool, so I am hoping she really enjoys her swimming class. Of course parent participation is a must, so Todd and I have decided to alternate weeks so that we can both share in this experience along with her!

Below is a picture of Loralai's very first swimming lesson when she was 6 months, and of course her now at 18 months showing off her new cool swim lesson gear that Mommy just bought for her!! Does she not look so grown up now? My little lady :)