Potty Training Part 2 & Other Things

So potty training isn't all it's cracked up to be - not that I've really ever heard any glamorous stories about it. It's going fairly well. Ted can pee on command. The hard part is when he's somewhere he doesn't want to be (ie: childcare at the Y while I work out) where he's upset to be there so going to the potty is the last thing on his mind. But we're getting there. My Mom finally got him to eat some of those dried prunes that I tried to pass off as Barney fruit snacks. Now he calls them "pumes." I think I'm just going to try to keep things a little loose. Today we actually had to take some action . . . but I'll just leave it at that.

So, Ben is doing this 2 part sermon series about called "Moments." It's all about those times that God reveals Himself to us and we either see and catch a glimpse of Him, or we're too busy to notice. The past year has been a hard one for me spiritually for too many reasons to name. But I have recently realized that, no matter how much I neglect my relationship with God, He doesn't neglect me. Why He would do that is beyond my comprehension. I think the place that I see God the most is in my children. The way they can make you feel like a crazy person one moment and then melt your heart the next. A lot of it is through their actions and the way they love and forgive in such a pure and gracefilled way. But the other part is how they view the world. Sophie just wants her basic needs to be filled. She wants to snuggle up and be quiet and peaceful. Ted wants to experience life and see and do all that he possibly can. That's what life is about. Living life to the full like Ted, but also being able to slow down and snuggle up to God at the beginning, middle, and end of my day.

Tonight they both had baths. Sophie and I snuggled and watched the news. Ted and I talked about our busy day of going to the potty, and playing with Ben Santen at the Y and the Clay Center. They both smelled so good. And they both gave me their time and their love. This is the life . . .

Zoo

Our last stop on vacation was the Pittsburgh Zoo. Ted loves animals and we've been wanting to take him for so long. Ben's brother, Andy, and his wife, Courtney, met us there. We had such a great time. Ted loved all the animals - the penguins, elephant, polar bears and rhinocerous were amoung his favorites. Sophie slept most of the time that we were there - surprise! There was a baby elephant just a month of two old. It was one of the cutest things I've ever seen. It still couldn't walk very well and would run around kind of sideways. Ted loved the slides and the little jeep ride. It was such a fun day!




Breaking out the double stroller for the big day.


The best view in the house.


The baby elephant - it seems so little but it really is big!


Uncle Andy and Aunt Courtney showing Ted all the sights.


Ted and the sea lions.

"Vacation"

We went on "vacation" at the beginning of August. I wouldn't really call it a vacation with a 2 year old and 2 month old. My uncle has a cottage on the Allegheny River. I spent a lot of time there as a kid and always love when we get to spend time there. My parents always take their camper, Ben took our tent, and I was planning on sleeping in the house with Sophie. Ben wanted Ted to camp out with him in the tent. Ted is in "ask a million questions" stage so all of the outside noises were a little bit much for him. So Ted, Sophie and I ended up sharing a room. We were up each morning at 6:00 am.

It was the week in August that was really cool, so there wasn't much swimming. But we did take Ted on a boat ride. He got to drive and saw lots of turtles, a heron, and the bald eagle that lives nearby. He had a great time.




Sophie keeping warm on the cool mornings.



Ted trying to figure out all the noises in the tent.



Ted driving the boat.

Sophie at 12 weeks

Sophie is such a joy! She is the most content, happy, laid back baby. I really feel so blessed by her. She started smiling at 5 weeks sleeping through the night around 8 weeks. She smiles and laughs a lot and is starting to makes those fun cooing sounds. She is currently finding her two middle fingers to suck on and seems to enjoy them quite a bit. She isn't much for pacifiers. She loves sitting in her bouncy seat. She kicks and swats at the little animals and sits there for long periods of time so quietly. Sometimes I forget that she's there. She is a great snuggler and I very much enjoy our time together in that way. She LOVES to be swaddled. I found these swaddle things that velcro so she can't kick of it. She sleeps so well in it. Some people say she looks like a little enchillada. Some people compare it to a straight jacket! Whatever helps her sleep well!!

She's growing and changing so quickly. At her 2 month check up she was 11 pounds (a 4 pound weight gain). It seemed like Ted took forever to do everything so I didn't feel like I was missing anything. But Sophie is growing and changing daily. Ted does great with her. He has recently asked to hold her more. He didn't really care before. He is so sweet b/c he shares his blankies (a most valued possession) with her whenever she has fussy. We have only had a couple of not so hot episodes - mostly in the van. They are in entirely too close proximity. But at the moment there's not a lot I can do about it.

This is the picture I used on her birth announcement. She was two months old in the picture . . .

Potty Training

Potty trianing has been in the back of our minds for quite sometime. Mid-July, we decided that Ted would go to PreSchool at the YMCA (MCIA as he calls it)! But the biggest criteria is that he has to be completely potty trained. So, throughout the summer, we've tried here and there, but nothing major on our part.

On Monday, I mentioned in passing that Ted could have a new toy if he pooped on the potty. About 10 minutes later, he arrived at my side to announce that he had something to show me. And, by golly, there it was - the potty full of poop. Who knew you could ever be so excited about something. So after his nap, we took a family trip to Toys R Us where he promptly picked out a Diego toy. I was quite thankful that he knew what he wanted and we didn't have to wander around the store all afternoon. It took us all of 10 minutes.

So, we're spending time close to home. Still no more pooping in the potty - or anywhere else for that matter which I guess is better than pooping in his pull-ups when we're out. I tried to pass off dried prunes as "Barney fruit snacks." But he didn't fall for that. So I've been giving him striaght up apple juice to help move things along a bit.

If potty training continues this well, he'll be starting preschool after Labor Day. I'll keep you posted . . .