Potty Training

So I have a night all to myself tonight- B is at a poker game tonight, and I'm blogging. I'm behind, I do enjoy it, but it does seem a little weird. I think I need a new book. . .I talk all the time about women finding things just for them and I love to read, but need books I can really get into! I started Emma for the 3rd time, but I'm not feeling it yet.

We started potty training last weekend. I have been afraid to blog about it, as it is a bit of a "hot topic" in a sense. Plus with BJ being 27 months old, we keep hearing he's too young. It has definitely been a rocky week, full of doubts and concerns, and prayers, but each day does seem to be getting better. We did "How to Potty Train in Less than a Day" which so far is 1 week +. I didn't quite expect that the less than a day would totally work out, so it doesn't surprise me that we are still learning. Although, I would like to get a little better so we can get on with fun activities instead of staying in the house all the time for fear of accidents :) The first day we had 5 successes, and 6 accidents- (four of which happened in the morning just at the beginning). Then we had some days with less success and even no successes. We have tried not to be too insistent with him, but also didn't want to quit prematurely, leaving him with a sense of being able to crab his way out of things or that we didn't have confidence in him. The last few days though, it has been much better, with yesterday being the first day without accidents!! Yay! He has however, exerted his independence over this area, many times crying "Potty" only to shoo us out of the bathroom "Mommy OUT!" and to have him do the whole process himself. This seems to be his favorite method to the madness. Last night, we pulled over at a gas station as he said he had to go- for a false alarm, but were told 4 min from home he really did have to go. We asked him to "hold it" and he did until B got him to the potty (and then B was informed "Daddy OUT")! What a big boy! (He also likes the phrase "BJ do it"). We have yet to have any real successes with sitters or friends, but I think that will come with time. So I'll have to keep you updated in the process, as I'm sure it will continue to be process.

Practicing with our many "potties"

Telling everyone he knows about what a big boy he is in BIG BOY underwear!

Behind on posts. . .Christmas pictures

I love to read blogs- seriously, love it! I have quite a few that I follow which is why it is so depressing I'm not better on posting for my "followers." So sorry. Long overdue- pics from Christmas- I really didn't take a lot when we got to Omaha- I think too busy, but here are a few.

"Helping" Daddy put up the tree

Mortified at his first Christmas program!
Hamming it up in front of the tree
At Winter Wonderlights:
The fam at Winter Wonderlights!

Traveling is rough

Testing out the new trailer- Thanks Papa!

Thoughts. . .

There has been a lot on my mind lately. I'll blog about all that I can tonight before Brandon gets back with my dinner.

- We are celebrating- I am officially board certified in family medicine!! Yay! Another milestone in my journey that now will just be working as a family physician- which I love.

-Wednesday was a hard day for my Alma mater Millard South High School. As I'm sure many of you have already heard, a high school senior shot both the Principal and Vice Principal after being suspended for driving on the football field. The student later drove a couple blocks from my parents house and shot himself. The Vice Principal was Brandon and my 10th grade English teacher. She was a great teacher and administrator and will be horribly missed. It has been very strange, watching, feeling this from afar. My heart breaks for all involved- the pain- even for the shooter and his family. And as a parent, I view it so much differently than I did with the Columbine shooting which occurred when we were Seniors in high school. Then I was saddened and a bit freaked out at the possibility that something so terrible could happen. Now, I'm freaked out at the possibility that something so terrible could happen to my son. I worry, if my amazing high school in Omaha, NE isn't safe, where is? How can I send my son into a world that is so corrupted with hate and violence? How can I keep him safe and yet teach him? How can I best support him so that he always understands he can talk to me and there is NO situation dire enough to kill someone else or yourself? How do I teach him to be a friend who reaches out to the outcasts? It is heartbreaking and a daunting task. I pray almost everyday that God would bring amazing Godly friends into his life and that he would be a man of integrity to point others to Christ. I think that is the best thing I can do given our world.

-In lighter news- I do need to post about Christmas- which was really fun this year. BJ was so excited to play with his extended family members and open and play with new gifts. Here are some of the highlights of funny stories over the last little bit.

BJ followed my parents up to their closet to change clothes after church. My mom explained they needed to change clothes so Anson (BJ's cousin- younger by 5 months) could take a nap. BJ ran out to the top of the stairs and yelled, ANSON, NAP! Too bad BJ had to take a nap shortly after that. :)

We drove to Creston to visit Brandon's grandpa. It is a 2 hour drive but we were a little concerned given BJ vomited 3 times in 4 hours on the way to Omaha and only stopped after giving him the "good" medicine mom wrote for at Walmart. He did fine out to Creston and on the way back really needed a nap. We were listening to a book on tape but told him to take a nap and we wouldn't give him any toys. So he decided to talk, loudly for the first hour. Finally, Brandon turned off the book and said, "It's quiet time now." BJ stopped talking and within 5 minutes collapsed forward fast asleep!

BJ and Anson got many of the same toys and presents from my parents on Christmas day. They are close in age and both into cars and trains. Toward the end of the day however, we were getting to the end of the gifts and BJ really didn't need anymore toys- he has plenty, whereas Anson has had minimal in the toy department for some time now. Anson opened his gift- another truck, while BJ could barely wait to open his gift next. He finally was given the okay and pulled the tissue paper out of the bag, took a look inside and in all seriousness and disappointment yelled "AH, shoes?!? (pointing in the bag), TRUCK! (pointing at Anson's truck)" He eventually decided the shoes were pretty cool but was very aware that Anson had just one upped him in present count!

That's enough thoughts for now, hoping my dinner will be here soon! Pics to be posted later :)