Potty training 101.

Well, I finally bit the bullet and did it. I kind of had no choice. Sam had made our whole lives miserable with his constant asking to be changed, telling us he wanted to go on the toilet only to sit there and not go, demanding a diaper, throwing fits when he went because he had to be changed RIGHT THAT SECOND, and so on. In other words, he was beyond ready. I told him his diapers were almost gone and he would have to start wearing underwear soon. 

I was scared for the process. As a first time mom and a researcher at heart, I naturally had read a lot to prepare myself. It was a bit of a mistake (though I'd probably still do it if I went back) because HOLY information overload!! Everything contradicts and everyone is sure their way is right. Here is what I learned after my extensive research:

Wait until they're ready. 

No, just pick a time and do it. You could think they're ready but you might be wrong.

Accidents are good, but too many mean they aren't ready. Actually, accidents mean they are learning.

Put them in underwear. 

No, just leave them naked.

Pull ups are from Satan.

Take them to the toilet every 30 minutes, no ever hour, no every two hours. 

Don't pester them, just gently remind them. No, don't even remind them just let them have accidents it's how they learn, NO remind them, but only for the first few days. NO, "remind" them just by asking if they're dry. But not too often. 

Get a toddler sized potty. No, those are gross, just get them used to the big toilet right away. But those are super intimidating, maybe get a little potty. 

Do nights at the same time. No, just do diapers at night at first. 

Really, just wait until they're at least 3. No, don't wait or they'll have physical and psychological hang ups. 

It's easier to train them when they're younger. No, it's easier to train them when they're older. 

Any bumps in the road means they aren't ready so just try again in a few months. No dont give up, be consistent and persistent, they'll get it. 

And there you have it. Hours worth of research right at your fingertips. You're welcome. Is your head exploding? Mine was. 

We are a week in. He's got #1 down. #2... Not so much. I don't even really know what we did. We decided no more diapers no matter what except at night. It really only took a couple of days to get the peeing thing down. Hopefully the big duece will follow and we'll be done. 

Really though, my advice 

(Because you know, there's a real shortage of advice on this subject. Also, I'm a real expert. My kid has peed on the toilet for like 4 days in a row so you should really listen to me) 

is to just pick what makes sense to you and what you think will work for your kid and go for it. Don't over think it. They'll get it eventually.

Or they'll just be like Sam and stand in front of the toilet and poop on the floor. Forever. 

But he does look pretty cute in undies. 

I suck at blogging.

I had good intentions when I started this back up, honestly I did. But it's been like a month and the crickets are chirping over here. Sorry. 

Since I've last posted, Luke has become mobile, eats like a horse, and started sleeping through the night. Boom. Mama likes. Sam has learned how to swing a hockey stick and plays pass with Mike, consistently eats his food with a fork (I thought he'd shovel stuff in with his hands in kindergarten), and says his abc's when he feels like it. 

I've joined a few women's groups at church and am loving the feeling of being more involved in it, something I always said I would do but never actually have. Done and done. 

We attempted potty training Sam. It was a fail. I'm lazy about it. We decided to give it another go when the frigid weather goes away. I'm not really sure why warm weather will help with potty training but I'm going with it. 

I'm planning a baby shower for my sweet cousin/long time BFF from a different state. It's kind of hard and I'm feeling what I like to call "Pinterest pressure" about it. My own taste is simple and understated, but I'm just as prone to "ooo and ahhh" over all the awesome Pinterest-y type stuff as the next girl. Must everyone be so creative? You're making me look bad :/ 

Our new dairy/house plans are still delicately on hold. Mike and I had such a wonderful talk about it. It's fully in Gods hands. His hands are more capable than ours, and no one on this earth, even the most difficult people, can stand in His way. Feels good to quit biting my nails over it wondering if we'll ever get where we want to be. We are relinquishing the control that we never really had in the first place. 

That's it for now. My next post is going to be thoughtful and fun and not a "catch up" type post at all. Promise. 

Life lately

2013 has come and gone, and 2014 has taken off. Having kids really makes the time go by so much faster, I cannot believe the Christmas season escaped me so quickly. 

My Christmas was nice, except some bad news from an old friend. A girl I have been friends with since high school lost her four month old baby boy, Grant, on December 16. He died during a fairly routine surgery - it was a huge shock to everyone from the parents to the doctors to distant friends. He had a condition that caused the sutures in his skull to close prematurely, not allowing room for his brain to grow. It was caught early, which was said to be a great thing because they could correct it with a surgery at a mere four months old, which despite being so young, was the optimal time. My friend and her husband were anxious, of course, but were given every reason to believe all would work out well. The surgeon, a top neurosurgeon in southern California, had performed over 400 of these surgeries and had never seen a death from it. Everything started great. Two hours in they were told Grant was stable and the riskiest part of the surgery was done. Right as they were about to close him up, baby Grant began bleeding. Despite the surgeons best efforts, the simply couldn't stop it. He went into cardiac arrest from massive blood lost and died right there on the operating table. 

My heart is so heavy for my friend. Despite being as crushed as I can only imagine, she is fortunate to have such a strong faith in Jesus that she was able to stand at her own baby's memorial service and say, "blessed be the name of The Lord." She is clinging tightly to His promises. 

This is her with Grant just before the surgery: 

Doesn't the picture just break your heart? There is nothing like a mothers love. Being a mom myself and having a baby just a few months older, it physically hurts me to think about. Please keep Rob and Cindy in your prayers.

Hearing this news changed all my Christmas plans. In a flurry of quick decisions I decided to hop on a plane a few days earlier than expected so I could make it to the baby's memorial service. I simply couldn't miss it. I flew out early with Luke, and Mike and Sam flew out the Monday before Christmas as preciously planned. Three days is so long  to not see my Sam! I missed him so. Monday was a sweet reunion! 

The next few days were a blur of family, food, gifts, and plane rides. In some ways I dislike traveling over the holidays. It makes me wish I lived close by everyone so we wouldn't have to deal with the stress of travel. But ultimately I am so very blessed. We spent our Christmas surrounded by our families. We are healthy. And I am more certain than ever that we live where we do because God wants us to be there. So if that means we have to travel to spend holidays with our family, then so be it. I'll do it with a smile. 

I'm a New Years Resolution type of a person, so I've thought of some goals for 2014. My goals kind of center around the idea of stepping out of my comfort zone more. As a stay at home mom, it's tempting to keep ourselves in our bubble. I want to get out, help others, say yes, figure out a way. Even if I'm nervous about it. 

Annnnd there's Luke waking up. So here is a few latest pictures. Happy 2014 to you and yours! 

Latest in the life of Sam

This kid!! So much is changing in this little ones life lately that I know I need to write it down. Document it before I blink and it's changed again. Blink again and he's different. Blink some more and I barely remember the sweet things that are making my heart smile today. 

The way he talks and the things he says just kill me. He has his pronouns confused right now, but he kinda knows it. He'll bring me a book and say, "momma read to you?" And then shake his head and correct himself, "Momma read to ME." It's so sweet. And who can resist reading the same book 14 times when he says, "Do it again, momma, pwease?" It's so hard to say no to pwease. Speaking of please, he's also become pretty good at "thank you," except he kind of thinks its a magical phrase that can get him out of doing anything he doesn't want to do. 

Time to come inside? "No bank you." Stop climbing on the couch? "No bank you." Time to change your diaper? "No bank you." 

At least he's polite. Kind of. 

He's also mastering the unprompted, "I love you," which is easily my favorite thing he's ever said, duh. I love asking him who he loves. He gets a big cheesy grin and starts listing people. I've never really prompted him to say certain people, I kind of just listen for his answer. Momma and Dada are always listed, sometimes grandparents, sometimes Mickey Mouse, etc. The other day, he listed "baby Wuke" and I about died. He is so sweet to his brother. 

However, we have seen a few moments of jealousy, which is actually a new thing for him. Mike was laying on the ground holding baby Luke, and Sam wanted to wrestle. He realized Luke was getting in the way of this, and he wasn't happy about it. He tried to push him over and said, "No baby Wuke, baby Wuke lay down." Lol. I wonder how he'll do with Luke getting older and actually doing more besides just sitting there not getting in the way of his fun? Guess we'll find out :) 

I was looking at pictures from 4 and 5 months ago and amazed at how different he looks and acts from then. Such recent pictures, and he's already a different kid. One day I might forget that he skips 5,6, and 7 when he counts to fifteen. Or the sweet way he says "momma kiss" when he gets hurt. Or the little song he sings for Baxter (digga digga digga digga Dax!). Or that he sings the Happy Birthday song every time he sees any kind of fire. 

I hate how quickly things change and fade. While I'm looking forward to watching him change and fade into a pre schooler, a 1st grader, a high schooler, etc, I just don't want it to go too quickly. I don't want to forget the little toddler he is today. I know it's so cliche for a parent to say they want to freeze time or for time to slow down, but it's so true! 

He amazes me daily. I love him and his baby brother beyond what I ever knew was possible. 

I hope I am spending enough time soaking it all in. 

Luke Jeffrey.

How can my boy be 6 months old already? I JUST had him. Right?! But the joyous holiday that was Thanksgiving 2013 almost over shadowed my little sweeties half birthday. 

He rolls all around, gets up on all fours and tries desperately to crawl, sleeps anywhere from 6-10 hours at night, sits up on his own, and has a smile that melts everyone's heart. His dr appt isn't until December 4 so I don't know his weight yet but I'm excited to find out. He is such a joy, even on his fussy days. His giant smile just makes my heart burst - I cannot get enough of him. I am so thankful God chose me as his mama; I often wonder why He decided I was worthy. 

Thankful.

I'm sitting here basking in the glow of a holiday done well. 

My youngest brother, his wife, their 4 kids, my parents, and my oldest brothers son all made the 15 hour drive from Southern California to east New Mexico (basically west Texas) to spend the week with us. It was pretty much everything I hoped it would be. The kids had an absolute blast. They left behind the beautiful but busy California streets for the wide open spaces of farm life. They were greeted with crisp air and snow on the ground. To a California kid, snow is like gold; they could hardly get their coats and boots on fast enough to get out and play in it. The adults drank coffee and relaxed and held babies (my brothers youngest is only a couple months behind Luke) and the kids ran wild all over. Everyone got to shoot guns, both real and BB, get a tour of the dairy, take tractor rides, and even milk a cow. The weather was just chilly enough to be festive, but not enough to ruin the fun. We ate until we felt sick on Thanksgiving, and Sam has been asking for pumpkin pie every other second since Thursday. 

It was really a wonderful holiday, and it highlighted all of the many things I have to be thankful for. 

Vince and Luke, 4 months and 6 months

Dairy tours

Making the stuffing with grandma

Thanksgiving festivities

All of us minus a napping Luke

My own little family. Don't mind the naked baby and our sweats. It was after a very large dinner.

My heart is full. 

What's good enough for Jesus...

Is more than good enough for me. 

I was feeling discouraged today. Nothing earth shattering, just life and little things adding up. I read an ig post about Luke 5:16 that says, "so Jesus often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed." It really got to me. Even Jesus himself often had to escape from it all, head off into the great outdoors and just pray. 

How often are my prayers interrupted. I pray here and there all day, but sometimes what God really wants is a good heart to heart, off by ourselves, with no distractions. How healing it is to just go off by yourself and pray. Be still. Pray. Listen. We have not because we ask not. 

Thankfully our God can use even Instagram to remind us where we need to be looking when we are discouraged.