Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Potty Training #6


He mislead me. He spent one whole day going to stores, sitting in his car seat, sitting in my lap, and he never had an accident. I thought to myself, "Wow, this is going to be one of the easy ones." Then there is today.

He has new undies, stickers for the potty chart, and M&M's for the poopy reward. This is exciting stuff. At least it should be.

I on the other hand am not excited about the things that go along with a potty trained toddler. Things such as public restrooms that are infested with germs. I took him to the potty at Walmart, and they have self flushing POWER toilets. It almost sucked him in. If I wouldn't have been holding on to his hands to try to keep him from touching everything in sight he would be gone. I loath public restroom, thankful for them, but loath them for their germs.

And then there is the baby factor. He tells me he wants a diaper because he wants to be a baby. He has a cup that he wants because he says it is a baby cup. He is rebelling against the system.

He is being a booger. But, I am a successful potty trainer. Just ask my teenagers. They would tell you I have done a fine job in this area. So, I will press on and try not to gag at the obvious mishaps of potty training a stubborn little boy.
Here are the boys. Ian has to have some kind of number on his shirt everyday. He gets up at the same time everyday, gets dressed in matching clothes before he comes downstairs, puts on his soccer stuff, and plays outside most of the day. I wonder if wearing soccer cleats everyday, most of the day, can deform your feet. I guess time will tell.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa George

Happy Birthday to a man who inspires me and makes me laugh, even though I don't know what he is talking about half of the time.

To the most amazing engineer I know...well the only engineer I know. I am blessed to have you as a father-in-law, George.

Friday, May 25, 2007

The Little Bundle At The Lincoln Memorial

I still remember that little bundle sitting in my great aunt's arms while we were sitting on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. That is my first memory of her. Then they start to come to mind much easier. Dropping the bundle on her head because we wanted her to be our dolly, eating liver snaps at the fence with her when the neighbors walked by~yum, sliding down hills and building tepees out of long sticks we found on one of our outings. Playing and surviving on the river. Too many to count. Most good, some regretful, but always unquestionably filled with unconditional love.

She is one of my best friends, one of my closest listeners, someone who can make me laugh until my blood vessels in my face break. She's my little sister, and I am so thankful that God saw that it would be good to make us family.

Happy Birthday, Stephy.

I love you.

Sunday, May 20, 2007

The Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe, I Mean A Two-Story House

"I want you to give me a spanking."

"You want me to give you a spanking?"

"Yes, give me a spanking, not a big spanking, a little spanking."

(Lite swat)

"That was a good spanking. It was just a little spanking."

I stand and watch him climb the stairs in amazement.

Last night the almost three year old asked me to spank him. In my nineteen years of parenting I don't think I have encountered this particular request, not that I can remember these types of things after nursing six kids. This was like most of my experiences with Evan. He had crept out of bed, and this was his response to me telling him to get his little bottom back up the stairs.

Often in my parenting I have remembered the old woman who lived in a shoe. You know the woman. She is in the nursery rhyme that makes you shiver as a small child. I have thought frequently about this poor woman whom we read about in this terrifying childhood tale. I thought she was evil, impatient, unkind and every other judgmental thought I could muster up. Of course all these thoughts were formed in my head while I was still the perfect parent. You know, 19 1/2 years ago, before I had children.

Then one day my thoughts changed. It was horrifying at first to think such things. The thoughts that now run through my mind are probably not what one would expect. My thoughts are that of an exhausted mother who can't get her children to stay in bed because she made them take a nap to ward off insanity. I think to myself, "This would save so much time. If I just spanked them before I put them in bed then I wouldn't have to go back upstairs." I am sure you are in shock and have never thought such a thought.

Chuckle

Chuckle

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Safety Pants

Ian: "Dad, what is Evan wearing to bed?" He was referring to his undergarments.

Dad: "He is going to wear a diaper."

Ian: "Don't worry, Evan. They are just safety pants."

Where does he come up with this stuff? He makes me laugh.

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

One of Those Days

For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end!

Today is one of those days when my heart is being pierced with pain for my children. But this, the word of my God, brought me comfort. No matter what my family faces in this life, the truth is this, the simple truth.

Saturday, May 05, 2007

Happy Anniversary To Me

One year ago today I posted my first blog entry right here on "Hiccups", my very own blog. I hardly knew what a blog was. So, happy anniversary to me. I have stuck this adventure out for one year! To those of you who actually come here to read about my crazy world, thank you. That is very nice of you. It makes me feel important. :-)

I also hit 2000 visitors today! Did you see that? Wow, I bet you are impressed aren't you? I am...