Globe-trotting Grovers: Big Boy Alert

our story

It all began on the evening of Nov 29th 2003, at former Chat Noir French Restaurant in Costa Mesa, CA. Brad approached me [Jana] and we instantly connected; it was love at first sight. The next 4 years that followed were a whirlwind of romance, growing pains, and adventures. We circled the globe, traveling to South America, Europe, and Asia. Then one night, Brad surprised me with a romantic beachside proposal. We made it official on August 23rd 2008 with an intimate wedding at a hip art gallery in Laguna Beach. A year later we finished redesigning our home in the beach village of Corona del Mar.

On May 18th, 2010, we were blessed with a sweet little miracle of our own, our baby boy Taj Leon. He stole our hearts and took our breath away! Then, 19 months later, his incredible little brother, Jax Franz, arrived on Christmas morning (December 25th) 2011. What an amazing gift we received! In an effort to slow down the clock and enjoy our beautiful family, in Spring of 2012, we sold our CA seaside home and moved across the country to our dream lake house in Brad's hometown of Bemus Point, a resort village on Chautauqua Lake in Western New York! Even though we are living a more slow paced life, we are living a life far from ordinary!

From the West Coast to the East Coast, our Grover family adventures continue! So won't you come along and join us on this journey of love, family, and travel we like to call our La Vida Grover!

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Big Boy Alert

Somebody graduated to a big boy "toddler" bed this summer, and his name starts with a J!!!

Jax also learned to use the potty this summer, and wears skivvies! The 2 1/2 year mark has been our magic number for potty training our boys, and they have done exceptional. We started a consistent routine when they turned 2, and then took the day diapers/pull offs away at the 2 1/2 year mark, enforcing and rewarding potty time. Cannot believe what a big boy Jax is! He uses the big toilet, and even tries to stand up-pee like his big bro. I love how now we go places with the 2 of them diaper-free, and they both tell us when they have to go pee or poop. What a huge accomplishment for us as parents to be done with poopy diapers! Ah, I do not miss those even for a second! Jax still wears a pull-up during naps and overnight, but is amazingly staying dry all night! The brothers have completely opposite bladders….. and thus, we had to put Taj back on overnight pull-ups bc when he is in his deep sleep he still wets the bed (even with a drink cut-off time in the evenings, and him getting up to pee several times before he falls asleep!) After the off and on phase (which began in the Spring), and after several nights in a row of changing wet sheets etc in the wee ours of the night, Brad and I need our sleep so I made the ultimate decision to go back to overnight pull-ups for our 4 year old! Its only temporary until he can control his bladder during sleep, and hold it until the morning.

In other news, Taj graduated to a real big boy bed and mattress…. actually a bunk bed! Yes, its a real cool bunk bed with its own stairs and a trundle bed. Think of all the fun sleepovers he and Jax, or he and his friends, will have! He also picked out dinosaur and surfer sheets for his new beds! Our boys are sure growing up!