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Wednesday, January 30, 2008

OPERATION: Potty Train Jack


And so we begin.....
Yes it's true. Jack is almost 3 1/2 years old and isn't fully potty trained. He has got to be the most stubborn child when he comes to using the toilet and has just made hurdling this developmental milestone the HARDEST thing as a parents Tim and I have had to endure (beyond having sick children and not being able to help them).

Jack has been using the toilet at school to tinkle for MONTHS and does it very willingly. At home, it's like pulling teeth but he does it begrudgingly eventually. We tried to entice him with Pull-ups but he just treats them like diapers and tinkles anyway.

Last night, I picked up the boys at school and Jack's teacher, Miss Meredith, was there (she's normally gone by the time I get there at night). She told me how good he was doing and what did I think about sending him to school with underwear to try and see how he does. My response to her "What ever it takes to get him to go, I'm all game!" So she told me to send him with lots of undies and extra pants and that Yes, there would be accidents but that we'd give it a go.

So........we hooped it up with Jack and I unpacked all of the big boy underpants that he had picked out (another ploy that we used to get him more interested in potty training) and sent him off this morning with EIGHT PAIRS of underwear (Thomas, Cars and Spiderman designs) and FOUR extra pants (just in case).

At lunch today, my cell phone rings and it's KinderCare. Everytime I hear my special ring for KinderCare my heart just sinks and I think to myself Who's hurt? Who's sick? What's wrong? and it was Miss Meredith calling to tell me that as of lunch time Jack had had NO ACCIDENTS and had used the potty 2 times already today!


Hip Hip Hooray! I'm not going to get overly excited because I know this is only the beginning and that we will have set backs but it's a start.

Guess I'm off to Target tonight to get MORE underwear so we can keep this going.

UPDATE: Well....Day 1 passed with only ONE accident in big boy pants. We had given Jack some laxative yesterday morning because he was fighting through another one of his wonderful constipation bouts due to what the Pediatrician referred to as "Stool holding" and it kicked in while he was at school and he pooped in his Spiderman undies. He was very distraught over it and I just had to keep telling him that accidents happen and that it was okay. Potty treats (aka Hershey's kisses) are acting as a good incentive for him at home and we had two successful trips to the bathroom last night while we were home before bedtime.

Day 2 - he went to school with Spiderman undies on this morning and stayed dry (in a diaper) all night long. Hopefully hopefully this is a good sign. Picked him up at school tonight and his teacher said he had an accident during naptime because the covering teacher didn't know to put him in a pullup for his nap. Had a small accident at home but I think it was more intentional in order to put on a pair of his new Diego Undies but I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt and calling it an accident.

Monday, January 28, 2008

Caroline Is Coming, Caroline Is Coming!!!


Caroline (far right) with my niece, Sarah (center),
and nephews Peter (far left) & Jack (front)

We've been trying since last summer to get my youngest niece, Caroline, here to St. Louis from New Jersey for a visit and it's FINALLY going to happen!!! I'm so excited!!! We haven't seen her since Tim and I got married in 2002 and she's NEVER met Jack and Mason. She will be staying with us for a few days and then with Hank and Tricia (my brother and SIL) during the week because of a business trip that I have to go on (unfortunately).


Hip Hip Hooray, Ro, we can't wait to see you!!!
Sarah and Peter - you two are welcome to visit anytime as well - just say the word!!!

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

"Project Redo" has begun

Here we go!

Phase one - Day one - the wall between what is now the family room (New Kitchen Area) and the living room (New Family Room Area) is coming down today. I'm excited but nervous at the same time.

This is a HUGE project that Tim is undertaking for us - I have all the confidence in the world that he will make it beautiful when all is said and done but I've never been on the CUSTOMER end of his work. I'm not sure how well I am going to handle the chaos of it all.

We shall see......so check back often as I post pictures of the progress of "Project Redo".

Monday, January 21, 2008

He's 21!!!


21 Months that is! Where is the time going!?!? Seems like just yesterday I was miserably large and couldn't wait for him to be out of me & now look at him. He's not a baby any more!

Sometimes I wish that I could turn back the hands of time to when my boys were soft little babies that I could fit in the crook of my arm and snuggle with them and fall asleep with them on my chest. Now they are two VERY ACTIVE little boys who rarely slow down and will sit for only minutes at a time to snuggle with me. Someday they are going to be taller than me and have busy lives that will include sports, friends, and much to my dismay....girls!!!

Oh well................guess this is just all a part of being a Mom. They have to grow up sometime.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Enjoy Your Coffee



Nothing major going on in our lives right now - just the standard winter colds and what not so I thought I'd share this bit of inspiration with you.

- Enjoy!

A group of alumni, all highly established in their respective careers, got together for a visit with their old university professor. The conversation soon turned to complaints about the endless stress of work and life in general. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went into the kitchen and soon returned with a large pot of coffee and an eclectic assortment of cups: porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal - some plain, some expensive, some quite exquisite. Quietly he told them to help
themselves to some fresh coffee.

When each of his former students had a cup of coffee in hand, the old professor quietly cleared his throat and began to patiently address the small gathering. 'You may have noticed that all of the nicer looking cups were taken up first, leaving behind the plainer and cheaper ones. While it is only natural for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is actually the source of much of your stress-related problems.'

He continued, 'Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In fact, the cup merely disguises or dresses up what we drink. What each of you really wanted was coffee, not a cup, but you instinctively went for the best cups. Then you began eyeing each other's cups. Now consider this: Life is coffee. Jobs, money, and position in society are merely cups They are just tools to shape and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not truly define nor change the quality of the Life we live. Often, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee that God has provided us. God brews the coffee, but he does not supply the cups. Enjoy your coffee!'

The happiest people don't have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have. So please remember: Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak
kindly. Leave the rest to God. And remember - the richest person is not the one who has the most, but the one who needs the least.

During the year, we are thankful for the special flavor everyone in our lives add to our coffee.

Monday, January 7, 2008

Happy Birthday, Bear!

Jack has a special Happy Birthday wish for his Bear!


Sunday, January 6, 2008

"At Least He Didn't Turn On The Water Yet!"

Ugh! Jack was never quite as adventurous as Mason is. Sometimes you can't take your eyes off of him for not knowing what he'll get himself into. The other night he had babypowder spread all over one side of their room, others, he'll just ransack the bookshelf and pull all the puzzles and books off and sit in the middle of them and read.

Well....this morning, Tim and I were both in our room getting dressed. Jack was watching TV and Mason was floating back and forth between the family room and our bedroom. He left our room and a few minutes later we hear this "Bang Bang Bang" coming from somewhere other than our room. As Tim went to investigate where the noise was coming from I hear a laugh and then a "Lib.....come here please!" and this is what we had found.....


Gotta Love It!

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Happy New Year!

Tim, Jack, Mason and I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year. We didn't do anything special to ring in 2008 - in fact we were all in bed asleep (which is a GOOD thing in our house) when the clock struck midnight.

We hope that the new year brings our family and friends much happiness and good health.

We love you all!