Potty trained

Hudson got potty trained this fall. It was a long time coming. We tried earlier in the year, failed, tried again in the summer, failed, and then tried again this fall (after starting preschool). I think preschool was the tipping point after he saw all his little buddies going potty. Peer pressure is real, people. He became more interested and willing to go potty, so I let him. I had gotten frustrated with the previous times we had tried to do potty training and it not working, so this third time we tried I was pretty skeptical -- but it happened! Hallelujah!

He would go a few times a day in the potty (while wearing pull-ups) and then finally after a few days I told him it was time to wear underwear. I told him he was ready. He kind of protested, but I was firm and told him there were no more diapers/pull-ups anymore (true story -- we ran out). He had a few accidents the first few days (once at preschool), but by the end of the week he was doing it!! I was so impressed and RELIEVED! He wears pull-ups at night, but for the most part he stays dry then too and will occasionally get up in the middle of the night to go pee. So proud of this kid!

I took him to celebrate being potty trained with a day at Monkey Joe's (kids inflatable place complete with arcade area). One of his favorite places. It was so fun getting to do that with him and celebrate a new milestone! He even hit the jackpot (see picture below). He is getting so big!

I kind of wish they would give tickets out in arcades like they use to when I was growing up.

Now it's a card that you swipe at the counter that shows the amount to claim your prize. Kind of anti-climatic, in my opinion, but this boy didn't know any different so it was still awesome! 

Fall happenings

We did a bunch of stuff in the Fall (from September and October) that I wanted to document. I'm just going to let the pictures do the talking...

Apple picking at Carrigan Farms -- it was actually a pretty warm September day (hence the shorts)

We also picked out pumpkins after apple picking.

 This is our beautiful street.

 I love running on this road during the early Fall mornings. 

Family hike at Crowder Mountain State Park.

These two. I love this picture because this is so them right now. I love seeing them become each other's best friend. This is Freedom Park. The kids were so excited to be there and started walking/running ahead of me. 

Charlotte had it's very own BBQ Championship. Pretty fun event. 

A highlight from the Fall was getting to the Balloon Festival. I had heard about this event from a friend (Kim) while we were living in Raleigh. When we moved to Charlotte, I knew this would be a family event especially with it being only an hour from us. We tried to go with our Raleigh friends, but it just didn't work out for them or us. We invited some friends from our new ward instead, and went with them. It was a gorgeous night (minus the wind -- which is why we didn't get to see the balloons go up). It was still very fun to be there and get to see the Balloon Glow.

So pretty to see over 30 + hot air balloons being lit. 

Probably one of our favorite spots in the Charlotte area -- Downtown Belmont

We have had a few playgroups here. It is such a quaint little town with a fun playground and soda shop.

boys being boys and playing in the dirt

Some of our new "little" friends we are making here in Charlotte. So fun! 

Watching General Conference as best we can with two little kiddos

Smoothies. Lots of smoothies. Logan got a Ninja blender for graduation, so we were using that all summer and fall. We also tried doing whole30 in October, but that was a fail. We lasted 10 days. I was dying (not really, but it was hard). Everyone knows I love my sugary cereal for breakfast and a bowl of ice cream once the kids are in bed occasionally. Cutting sugar out was killing me. I think next time we will try planning out meals better and figure out how to control this sweets loving girl. 

We went to the park a lot during the Fall. This girl loves to swing!

Favorite kid game? Don't Break the Ice! Lots of fun!

Logan's family came down from VA for the Tough Mudder Race.

I love this picture of Amelia and Grammy!

Yes, you saw that picture right! 

Best father/son team ever. For Father's Day, Logan gifted his dad a Tough Mudder race. This was Logan's third one (he's obsessed) and John's first. They did great! 

Start line -- Team Corbett can do hard things!

We all stayed and watched the whole thing. So grateful for these guys and helping me push a stroller (through the woods at one point). Long morning, but very entertaining to watch Logan and John. 

smiling through it all

Logan is in the middle.

John is in the yellow shorts. 

Finished!! 

My parents came down for a weekend. My mom and I took the kids to a little farm to get more pumpkins and see animals while my dad stayed back to fix our car. They are great! 

Pumpkin painting

pumpkins

carving pumpkins in the driveway

pumpkins and babies

Halloween Krispy Kreme donuts

I made this girl's Halloween costume -- tutu and everything.

We love our Mia Bee! She's as sweet as honey!

This boy wanted to be a lizard, so I made him this chameleon costume using green footie pajamas. 

I thought he was so cute in it. Everyone kept saying he was a dinosaur, but he quickly corrected most people, "I'm a chameleon!!! I have curly tail!!!" Love my crazy about animals kid!

Here we are about to go trick or treating. So fun!

first soccer session

I signed Hudson up for his first season of soccer. He's only 3, but I have been waiting for THE day he was old enough to sign him right up. This fall seemed like the perfect time. Starting preschool and starting a fun, new activity -- soccer! I signed him up with a program called Soccer Shots here in Charlotte with sessions once a week (Saturday mornings). His first session was awful. He sat in the grass with us and cried every time we asked him to go and play. He wanted to leave and wasn't having any of it. I was pretty bummed, but didn't show it (okay, maybe a little). I had been waiting for this day thinking he would LOVE it because my whole family loves soccer. Nope. This kid, my kid did not want to play (even with his grandparents in town cheering him on). Sad day. 

Luckily, after maybe two or three sessions, he warmed up and started to participate more but we could tell it wasn't his favorite thing in the world. I also think he is still really young, but having a little exposure to it this fall was a good start. We will try again in the spring, or maybe pick up another activity for him to try out. 

Good experience for him, and for me too -- I learned that I can't control what my kid likes. He is who he is, but man could he at least like one thing I like? He looks like me, but he is a kid after his daddy's heart -- animal/insect lover, nature enthusiast, dinosaur know-it-all, book loving boy. I guess the book loving comes from both parents, but still. I guess I have two years and then I can see what Amelia thinks about soccer. ;) 

Video: Hud scores a goal (albeit using his hands) 

Video: Hud participates in a running drill

Video: This is the funniest. He hated wearing the jersey for game time. There are two colors -- orange for the tigers and grey for the sharks. Apparently the grey jersey was not the right color for a shark. So particular this kid is sometimes. He wouldn't wear it and his coach finally asked him to put on his jersey so he could do the kick off and get a treat at the end. He put it on out of protest and for the kick off he took the ball and well....chucked it. What a kid. 

Amelia = 1

Only a few months late, but here is Amelia's 1 year post...

Our sweet angel baby turned 1 years old on September 25th. I still remember her "birth" day and holding her for the first time. She was such a chub from the get-go (not so much anymore). A pretty big baby (8 lbs 2 oz and 20 1/2 in) for a petite person like me. I remember my midwife saying that if I had made it to my due date (she came two weeks early) that she could have easily been 9 pounds. Oh man. I sure am glad she came early, even though I was kind of hoping for an October baby. Too many September birthdays in the Corbett family (Logan's parents, Logan's sister, and myself), but such is life and she made her debut in September too -- coming the same day that her Aunt Kate left on her mission.

I can't even believe that she is a year old already. It's been quite the year juggling two kids, but Amelia has been an angel baby since day 1 -- great eater, great sleeper, no fuss baby. Seriously.


12 month old stats:
Weight: 17 pounds and 13 1/2 ounces (18%)
Height: 28 1/2 inches (21%)

A few things about Amelia...

• We like to call her Mia. I didn't always love this nickname. I really wanted everyone to call her Amelia, but then I realized pretty early on that Hudson couldn't say it so I told him to just call her Mia (my fault, I guess). Now it just sticks and I think she responds to that more than her actual name. Crazy. Hudson likes to call her Mia Bia or Mia Bee, and we do it too. 

• She loves to eat. She will eat just about anything you put in front of her. Her favorite foods are Cherrios, carrots, rice, pasta noodles, green beans, applesauce, pita chips, and most fruits. She's more of my fruit and veggie kid, not like Hudson (who is my meat eating kid).

• She is a great sleeper. I mean, she let me swaddle her until she was 10 months. I'm serious. She is just now getting into sleep training (at 14 months) and we let her cry-it-out, but lucky us she doesn't cry for more than 15 minutes. Oh, and always needs her "binks" or binky to sleep. 

• She is her brother's shadow. She will watch him play and then try to copy what he does. 

• She gets into EVERYTHING. every. single. thing. One time she got a hold of dog food at my in-laws house and ate some (so gross). Another time she found my necklace and ran away from me when I asked for it back. Silly girl. 

• Her favorite book is Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss. She will pick it out from the bookcase and carry it around with her until someone will read it to her. 

• She still takes two naps (morning and afternoon), but is slowly transitioning to one. 

• She can hold her own. When Hudson takes a toy from her, she screams and tries to get it back from him. She also does this finger point thing or hold our hands to get to something she wants. She's a smart, feisty little thing.

• She can fold her arms for prayer and can play peek a boo. She doesn't know much sign language (we weren't consistent with it like we did for Hudson), but I think we can "read" her pretty well. Her favorite words are "dad" and "bobba (milk)." 

Happy 1st Birthday, Amelia Linh! We love you!

 She was a little sick for her actual birthday, but we managed to get a few smiles out of her.

 We made a giant birthday cookie for Hudson's first birthday, so we thought it was only fitting to do the same for Amelia. Don't worry, we didn't eat it all in one night. 

These are the bee cupcakes we made for her little birthday party a few days later. She is our cute Mia Bee after all. 

Birthday letter below (I write letters to the kids every year on their birthday -- I'll give it to them when they are older).

Dear Amelia,

We sure love you! Thanks for being such an angel baby this year. Really. You made this first year so easy, minus that little ER trip that scared us half to death (don't do that again, please). You are such a sweet girl. It's amazing to look back at pictures and see how much you have grown.

We love your little personality already -- curious, happy, determined, and sweet. You make us laugh every day with your hilarious facial expressions; they are so great! We also like to watch how you play with your brother -- always watching him and then trying to copy what he does. You are his little shadow. You are such a bright spot. Everyone who knows you absolutely loves you! It's because you are such a light. You really are, baby girl. You brought so much joy when you came into this world, and we feel so lucky that we get to witness that joy (YOU) every single day.

Happy Birthday, sweet girl. We love you to the moon and back.

Love,
Mom and Dad