A Puppy or a Preston?

This past week was another frustrating week for potty-training at our house! Friday morning, I was ready to give up. Preston sat and sat on the little potty chair, to no avail. I knew he had to go #2, but he didn't have any luck there. I answered a phonecall (my mistake) and told Preston he could get up. After he got up (and before I put his diaper back on) is when the ACTION happened. I felt like I had an untrained puppy. There was poo on the bathroom floor, and again in the hallway. (GASP, carpet!!) As I was approaching Preston, he stepped back (onto the poo) and smooshed it into the carpet. YIKES. I lysol wiped/windexed/baby-wiped the carpet until I felt it had been sufficiently cleaned.

Ew.

This morning, at 5:45 am - I tried to move my legs, and couldn't. It felt like there was a lead weight on me. I sat up, to see Preston laying on top of the covers, at my feet. I'm not sure how long he'd been up - but the kitchen light was on (so he'd prowled the house...) and ended up at the foot of my bed. I pulled him up to snuggle with me, and then ended up putting him back in his bed shortly after 6am, where he did go back to sleep! Kinda felt again like I owned a puppy. :) 

Potty-training is going much better, and hopefully we'll make great strides this week. A relative had jokingly suggested using a laxative to help him 'go'...but, it was a much needed idea! Preston was in PAIN over the weekend...but just couldn't have success going #2 on the potty. He'd tell me he had to go, and we would sit and sit in the bathroom...no luck! Almost an hour spend trying Saturday night, Sunday morning about 30 min. more, and much crying for Preston - but the children's laxative I'd given him Saturday night HELPED!! Sunday around noon he had great success! I'm hoping that will be encouragement for him, now that he can see he's such a 'big-boy'...(and because he earned quite the jackpot of mini-m&m's.)

Sorry for all the 'potty-talk' but that's about the extent of the excitement around here. :) Besides, what is a blog for, if you can't tell it like it is? HaPpY MoNdAy!!! 

2009 Aspirations

Some of my blogging friends have posted 2009 Goals and this has made me ponder...what do I really consider important for this new year? Well, there are some highlights, here goes:

1) I want to grow in my relationship with Christ. This means more time in Bible study and prayer, and sharing my faith with others...I'm excited to see how the Lord will work in our lives this year.

2) Nurture my relationships with friends/family. Whatever it takes-cards/email/etc. These people are important to me, and they need to know it!

3) Watch my WORDS. My mouth gets me into trouble-alot. I want to work hard at not letting my attitude and emotions take control! That's what happens when I blurt out hurtful words. I love Ephesians 4:29, and need to apply it to my life! Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 

4) Read more books. I have SO many that I want to read-and several that are already started, I just need to finish! Books on Christian growth, parenting, fiction books, marriage, etc! I want to spend more time reading, and less watching T.V...(should be easier now that our downstairs T.V. is broken!)

5) Lose weight. Ah, this is most always on 'the list' I suppose. It's frustrating to me that I worked SO hard to lose the weight (and then some) after Preston was born, and now some has crept back on again! For me, staying 'fit' will most likely be a constant battle! Time to become GOOD friends again with the elliptical! :)

That's all for now! Hope everyone had a safe and happy New Year's!!!

Merry Christmas!!

It is COLD and snowing and blowing, and I'm glad for now that we're cozy in our little home. I don't want to go out! Joel doesn't want me to go out alone, either-could this be because I got stuck in our driveway last night?! Because it's less than ideal conditions, he's taking me out this afternoon to get some necessary groceries for company that is coming for lunch tomorrow! His sister and her husband are bringing my new niece from Florida, and their flight comes in tomorrow morning...IF this weather cooperates.

Joel and I are celebrating our 5th Anniversary today! WHY did we get married in December? I wonder that too. :) Instead of getting to go out, we will most likely spend the evening 'trapped' in our basement. It's ok though-because there's no one else I'd rather be snowed in with. (aww...:)

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

Milestones

We have a 3-year-old! It seems like the past 3 years have zoomed by-I can't believe Preston is no longer a baby!! To prove it, he's been sleeping in a toddler bed for the past few weeks. What a big change for him! I still think he slept sounder in his crib...and he does seem a little afraid of the dark now. He sometimes wants to sleep with his lamp on. I'm looking at getting him Twilight Turtle for Christmas. Anyone seen this great invention? It's a plush turtle that kids sleep with, and it puts little stars on the ceiling, making the room 'less scary'. I'm thinking that it's worth the $25 or so, if it means P will sleep longer and sounder because he'll hopefully feel safe in his room!

Here's some pics of his new bed:

Monday night, we had a small party for P's Birthday. It featured chicken (his most favorite food) and side dishes, and of course chocolate cake-with Cars on it...what more could you want? :) 

Heres some photos of the excitement:

In other exciting news, my new nephew has arrived! Nathan Mark Coates was born on 12/7, weighing in at 8 pounds, 7 ounces! Congratulations to Seth and JoAnn!! I think Luke & Andrew will make great big brothers. Here's a glimpse of the happy family:

What a good-looking clan, eh? 

Well, I hope everyone is enjoying this busy Holiday Season, as you get ready to celebrate Christ's Birth! I believe I'm about halfway done with my Christmas shopping, and hope to accomplish a bit more-today. We've also been enjoying the advent calendar that Joel's Mom made us. Although Preston doesn't really get it yet-and has put several pieces of felt animals/angels/etc. up while I've been on the phone...it's great to reflect on the true meaning of this Season! 

The Sound of Music...

I love singing. Not in front of people. Ew. But, I sing in the car, around the house, at church, etc. Unfortunately, Preston does NOT enjoy the sound of my singing. He yells, 'Stop singing, Mom!' when I'm trying to carry a tune. I always thought he was just being funny, and I'd say-'I can sing if I want to-it's my house!' Well, yesterday morning in church, we were singing a hymn-and I looked down and noticed that Preston, who was on my lap-had both ears covered. Ouch.

I'm posting some of the pics that Julie took of our family. She's an amazing photographer that has extreme patience with kids. She bribed Preston with Thomas the Train engines-genius! At least she got him to cooperate, I was impressed!!! Maybe I'll try train bribery with Preston as I try to potty train him. So far, the Hot Wheels I've been trying to persuade him with have not been enough...but consistence on my part would count for alot, too! I never thought I'd be one of those Moms that bribed their child...but, Preston will be 3 in December, and I'm ready for him to be out of diapers. ;) We'll see!

I have the Mums!

No, not a disease. This Spring I planted many beautiful flowers, but I was disappointed at the plants I thought would be pretty...instead they turned out to be huge green 'bushes'. Sometime in the last couple weeks, these bushes have flowered, and turned into beautiful deep purple and yellow MUMS. :) My In-Laws informed me that these Mums will return each season...oh, happy day! Low maintenance gardening is my idea of FUN. Apparently, I don't actually have a green thumb. Anyhow, I'm enjoying my beautiful Mums, and am reminded of the verse, Ecclesiastes 3:11a, "He hath made everything beautiful in his time..." I'd like to post a photo of these fancy Mums, but it is cold and rainy today, so that's not going to happen.

I will, however post a photo that I do have, and it is of course, little P. 

The last few weeks of Summer...

We've been enjoying our last few official weeks of Summer. Even though school has already started - that doesn't really affect us yet.:) 

It looks like Noelle's and my business will be called Two Girlz Design. I like it. Kinda catchy.:) Speaking of Noelle, have I mentioned we're GLAD her and Clifton moved to Omaha? They've had us over twice for dinner (NOT the only reason we're glad they're here:) and my word! They are gourmet cooks! The first time we went over on 

Labor Day - and she had cooked amazing thick, juicy steaks with blue cheese on the top, an amazing salad, baked potato and smoked cheese casserole, fresh veggies, and hot apple-cobbler with vanilla ice-cream for dessert!! Wow. I think I should get on the elliptical now.

After Noelle moved into her new place, we had Joel's Grandparents come and stay with us for a night, and then his Aunt and Uncle and adorable baby cousin came to stay for Labor Day weekend. It was fun having them here. That Saturday they were visiting, we headed over to Iowa, and about 3 1/2 hours later, arrived at a cabin on the lake, to celebrate Joel's Great-Aunt/Uncle's 50th wedding anniversary. It was a fun day. And Preston caught his first fish!! Joel's Uncle Andy helped P catch it - and I'm glad Joel got a picture, because I didn't see it first hand, as I was locked in the upstairs bathroom. Don't ask. That's another post. :) 

Today has been a dreary and rainy day, but it's ok - because we took a nice long walk yesterday, enjoying this fabulous 'Fall-feeling' weather! We saw bugs outside of course, and P sure has been excited at them lately. He exclaims 'Crick-Crick!' when he sees what he thinks is a cricket. Cracks me up. That, and today when he called Joel's lunchbox 'Daddy's purse'...Ah, this kid keeps me most entertained.