Potty training reminising

Good-bye Thomas the Tank Engine and hello Go Diego Go. The other day I purchased some new undies for H and he's thrilled with them - in fact I think he'd like to change his undies a few times a day if I'd let him.

While he's thrilled, I have to say that I feel a little sad - the Thomas undies were part of his potty training and I can still remember his excitement over his first pair of big boy underwear. I very vividly remember MY fear of potty-training. I would have loved to avoid the whole experience all together for fear that I was going to start too early, do it too late, do it wrong. I guess it worked - seems to with all the other kids I know too! Those itty-bitty undies will get packed away and come out again another day . . . this time with hopefully more confidence.

Mom spit

We've all either been smothered in it or applied it ourselves at some point . . . mom spit. The classic clean all, cure all when on the go. The other day I was administering some to little E when he very kindly licked his hand and rubbed my face back. Must have been some left-over peanut butter on my face too. Cheers!

Forest green earmuffs

Tonight EH is at a function for work so the boys and I had planned a movie night. We snuggled up on my old sleeping bag, under our sheet fort and munched on organic gummy bears (thanks to Ga for recently restocking our fun snack selection!) and watched a Baby Einstein movie (H's choice and a very nice one I might add since little E also enjoyed it). We had a great time and by the end of the movie of course the fort was half demolished.

The odd part of our night was that H wore earmuffs through the movie. Let me explain. EH and I have been trying to instill the seriousness of not hitting a little brother on the head (with hands, drum sticks, pillows or electrical cords!) H with all his excitable energy has a hard time remembering this. Tonight it was the electrical cord with plug . . . I sent H up to his room so that the fumes coming out my ears could simmer down a bit and breathed a prayer for wisdom. Little E got away relatively unscathed and was happily babbling over a toy so I didn't think this warranted a spanking but I wanted to get H's attention.

I'm pretty sure I didn't read this in a parenting book . . . I happened to think of an old winter ear band with fuzzy round spots where the ears go that I wore honestly about 15 years ago. How could this possibly be seen as punishment? I determined that it's all in the presentation, and boy did the presentation work. One hour of wearing the earmuffs (which in hinds sight might have been a little long) was the declared punishment . . . and boy were there tears of protest. (Like he hadn't just worn them around the house for the fun of it just a couple of months ago!) He succeeded a full hour in the end and he even remembered what the lesson to be learned was. I think I'll have to hang those lovely forest green earmuffs up somewhere so that I can point to them as a reminder . . . then again here's to hoping something was driven home tonight.

My boys

Dwelling on the goodness of life . . .



The way little e walks around the house with his shoulders thrown back and his chest puffed out I think he's a football player in the making. I can't say I've ever really been a fan of football (especially the thought of my own child getting knocked around) so I'll just hope he takes a liking to soccer or maybe even golf . . .

E has really been tearing up the floor running these days - usually at the sight of papa as he comes in the door after work, or at the sound of the gum container being opened. The bummer is that he generally ends up in a pile on the floor. He scrunches up his shoulders and holds his hands upright in front of him with this sad look that says "what did I do wrong?" If he's a bit tired after a long day, watch out. He's a little pin ball who can't walk straight for anything, he just bounces off of one piece of furniture or toy to another.

For about the past month or two, little e has picked up some attitude.
If the sweet little kiddo doesn't get what he wants, he simply stomps backwards . . . and backwards . . . and backwards . . . usually into a wall. Once he ended up down a flight of stairs. Not all is lost, he has become very good at signing "please". The sign for "please" is to make a circular motion with your hand flat in front of your chest. If it's something he really wants, he just about rubs his whole body down in his excitement. Frequently I hear him say "pleee" along with the sign.

H has been practicing his jokes lately. Most of his knock-knock jokes end up in an uproar of weird, loud noises along with the wild rotating of his head and his tongue sticking out of his mouth. Hmmmm . . . maybe I should take him to the doctor . . . though I have a feeling they would tell me it's an epidemic among boys his age.



Yesterday, H was busy reenacting an episode of the Backyardigans that he really enjoyed. In the show the keepers of the largest snowball ever set up booby traps for protection against those who would dare to steal such a wonder. So, H got to work setting up what he heard to be "movie traps" to protect his snowball (a pillow) on top of his mountain (couch with the cushions piled in a great stack). "Movie traps" was too cute to correct, so if you should you ever have the opportunity to discuss traps with him - just know that it's a "movie trap" not "booby trap". . . for now.

And finally not a boy but a man, my EH. I don't think it's possible to feel more cared for than I do right now. EH your acts of love and kindness for me this past week have made me to feel chosen and cherished. There's no one I'd rather carry this burden of grief with, have walk in the door at night, or park a pillow by than you. You are a good provider, loving father, and my beloved husband. I admire and love you completely.

Mood

Gray day . . . gray mood.

Descriptive

H and little E are both coping with colds right now. H in his frustration yesterday, cried out "Mom, there's too much booger water in my nose!" (AKA: a runny stuffed up nose) I just love the way kids make up words for things. It just makes sense, booger water.

. . . somehow life just goes on . .

Give thanks

"We ought to give thanks for all fortune: If it is 'good' because it is good, if 'bad' because it works in us patience, humility and the contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country."
-C.S.Lewis

Sweet Babe of our hearts

We went to the doc today for our first (finally made through the first trimester) doctor appointment where we would get to hear the baby's heartbeat. Only . . . there was no heartbeat to be heard. A ultrasound confirmed that our babe is no longer here with us but safely tucked in Heaven. I will always remember staring at that ultrasound screen, wanting to breath the words "Move, just move! Show us you're alive." We're a little unsure how this grief process goes . . . but for now, though our hearts are so heavy and a bit unsure, we have every confidence that God is a loving God and that He is in control. A member of our family awaits us in Heaven.


We can't wait to meet you sweet babe of our hearts.
Love,
Mama & Papa

Stereotypes

Sunday night we shared our baby news with H "officially". He didn't seem too dazzled by the news but at bedtime as we were praying he broke into the prayer saying "But MOM! What are we going to name the baby? We'd better work on that!"

At lunch today, H was busy explaining to EH that if the baby is a boy that he would grow to be as big as little E, then himself, then as big as EH. He then looked at me and said, "and mom, if it's a girl . . . do you want help with all your work?" Gee thanks . . . I think.

Let's plan

Today while folding clothes, H was making small talk with me and said "So Mom, let's plan for the baby. I'll plan the furniture and you plan the clothes. It will need a crib, changing table . . ." Hmmm I think his little ears have picked up more than I thought they were. We have been planning to tell him about the babe in a few weeks before he goes with us to the first doc appointment to hear the heartbeat. They're always listening. . . .

Puppy in the house!

We seem to have recently acquired a puppy in the house. The creature has an extreme attraction to chewing on shoes, loves playing chase with his big brother, and delivering sloppy wet open-mouthed kisses. All this chewing may have been helpful - I think that bottom tooth that he's been working on for the past FIVE months has FINALLY broken through (I know that I've said "it's here!" before but I think I was deceived as the tooth seemed to recede back under the gum!) It looks as if it's going to stay this time. Hooray for little E, our sweet slobbery puppy!