Potty Part 2

Here are a few more pictures from our potty party yesterday!

This one is my favorite-don't they just look SO pleased with themselves???

Potty training continues to go well...so why are Jaxon and I so emotionally drained??? We were BOTH in melt-down mode when Dave got home last night...so he quickly excused me to go shopping, to get a pedicure, to the library, to get dinner, whatever I wanted. All I wanted was a bath and some peace and quiet...so I went upstairs!

This morning I didn't pump Jaxon full of liquids because we HAD to go to the gym for me to teach. I took him before kidsclub, and asked the gym ladies to take him every 15 minutes (They are really wonderful!!) but right before I got back (like 2 minutes before) he had a little accident. I was prepared with new clothes so no problem. We went to the ranch market, tried using the bathroom 4 times, but each time, "Oh. I just can't do it right now."

Anyway...he went several times after that successfully in different toilets, and even told me during swim lessons when he needed to go, and got to go on the "pee tree" twice! Boy was that exciting!

After we got home he said he needed to go so he stripped down and plopped down on his potty chair. He didn't hop right off as usual, so I just made his lunch. He still hadn't gone so I told him to get his unders on for lunch. He said, "I CAN'T! I'm NOT done yet!" So I pulled his play table over and he ate lunch while sitting on the potty! While in the kitchen cleaning I heard his chair start to play music and went to tell him good job, when what did I find?? It was NOT URINE! Hurray! Stinkers in the potty is a BIG deal, and he was really excited! I cleaned out the chair, and told him to get his unders, but he said he wasn't done. He sat right now, and did more! That happened one more time, and boy was he pleased! Now that we have passed that milestone, we are going to Chucky Cheese with all his cousins this Saturday!!

I AM SO EXCITED!!! Hopefully this means WAAAAAAAY less stinky diapers to change on my horizon!

Potty Party 2009 = SUCCESS!!!

HURRAY!!! Jaxon is now well on his way to being potty trained! He is 3 and and half exactly, and for some time now we have been trying to encourage and excite him about potty training. We have practically promised him the moon, which has made him very excited, but unfortunatly also very anxious about PT. He knows exactly when he is going to go, and he hides. Then he is embarrassed about it, but still refused to sit on our cute elmo seat that we got to go on top of the toilet. While we were in Utah, his cousin Oakley (8 months younger) pretty much got potty trained, and I was getting very frustrated. My sister Amber (Oakley's mom) is a certifiable genius, and invited us over today for a Potty Party to get Jaxon excited and ready and DOING IT! So, 7:50 this morning we showed up with a potty chair to match Oakley's (That plays music when something goes in...) several drinks, and a change of clothes! Amber gave Jaxon some of Oakleys Unders, just so he could wear them around his ankles while they sat and watched a movie and DRANK AND DRANK AND DRANK! (the unders around the ankles actually made him very excited!) So, after an hour, and SEVERAL cups of juice, soda, and punch....still no tinkles...not even from Oakley, who does this all the time now. Jaxon started crying that he was done and wanted to get off the potty pronto, which to me was the cue that he really had to go, and was holding it, becuase he was worried about going on the potty. Right then Oakley let loose! The potty played music, and we all danced, cheered, clapped, laughed, etc! Well, Jaxon thought that was pretty cool, so about 2 minutes later his eyes got big and he said, " MOM! I GOTTA GO TOO!!!" and sure enough...a few tiny sprinkles came out! Of course we did the dance/cheer/clap/ high five/hurray routine all over again, and then off to the kitchen for their reward- ice cream! Well, not 2 minutes later, with his underwear on, he says, "MOM! I gotta go again!!!" We ran him over, and this time, he let loose!

Really? It's that easy? He goes one time and now he can tell me??? Over the course of the next hour at Amber's house, he went at least 10 more times...each time telling me it was urgent, and each time just tinkling a few drops!

After leaving Amber's, we went to Walmart to pick up some "big boy underwear." Now I totally understand why moms who are potty training DON'T LEAVE THE HOUSE!! We didn't have any accidents, but we used the Walmart bathroom 12 times while we were there. Each time he squeezed out a drop or two, and I wasn't about to tell him to get a grip, so we actually went to the bathroom 3 times before we even made it to the underwear aisle! We then met back up with Amber and my SIL Emily, and all this time he was in underwear, and no accidents! We ate lunch together, he used the potty twice while at lunch, drove home, and still no accidents! He sat on the potty one more time before nap time, and now he is sleeping in a diaper! When he wakes up he is very excited to pick one of his new pairs of underwear to wear. YAHOO!!!!

I AM SO EXCITED!

************************************************************************************

On a much sadder note...while emptying the kiddie swimming pool in Amber's backyard, my phone met another wattery grave. It is currently drying out in a bowl or rice, but I'll be honest...I don't have high hopes for it. So if you call, leave a message, or call the home phone.

A Day in the Life...

Jaxon in Utah: Picture Edition

1. Jaxon and Gordon, playing nicely, with nice big rocks. (really, right there I shoulda known better...)

Gordon throws his rock to the ground...
Jaxon considers throwing his rock to the ground...

But instead throws it on Gordon's finger.

*******(not pictured...Gordon's finger is cut and gushes blood. Jaxon is spanked.)*******

Jaxon cries because he hurt Gordon, got spanked, and Mommy "squeezed his wrist too tight"

Jaxon in timeout in the wilderness (come on...this is kinda cute!)


"Jaxon, show me your happy face and we will go find Gordon."

Another reason to love Utah...

I met up with these lovely ladies, (and photographed some of their beautiful boys). These were (and still are) some of my favorite people that I met throughout my college career. Being with these girls is always the same- complete comfort, laughing A LOT, and the ability to talk about ANYTHING and everything. Collectively we've been through a lot, and they are a wealth of information and understanding...I LOVE YOU GUYS!

I also got to meet up with Lindsay...who I'm sure Heavenly Father meant for me to meet SEVERAL different ways at BYU, but it never quite happened. We lived one apartment away from each other, one semester apart, we had SEVERAL mutual friends from several different places, and we both went through the education program. we ended up meeting in my ward here in AZ, and she has been a dear friend ever since. She is now back in the motherland, but luckily still just a phone call away! Love you too Linds!

(She does not know I took this picture while we were trying to shoot our boys in a wheat field..)

Revitalized!

That's how I feel post vacation.

I am determined to get my priorities in order and start feeling a little inner peace. Family, the house, and making dinner are going to be #1 on my list...while working, and worrying are moving on DOWN.

Today I have---

~Spent time with Jaxon, albeit...not all of it pleasant...

~Cleaned the downstairs...mostly

~Put dinner in the crockpot...Dave's favorite...Porcupine meatballs

~Returned/made about 100 phone calls

~edited 2 photo shoots

~taught one class with one more to go (can't quit ALL the working...)

And wonder of all wonders...Jaxon's nap is currently 10 minutes short of 3 HOURS..and going strong!!! That never NEVER happens!

Thank you Heavenly Father for giving me time to get my priorities straight!

A few of my favorites from this weekend-

Jaxon jumping for Joy over the fireworks Dave was lighting-

And the best 4th of July-esque picture I could get of him...why is it the ONE time you drive by a gorgeous wheat field, your child is uncooperative? Oh yes...because when it comes to pictures...he is ALWAYS uncooperative!

I LOVE being a parent

You know, you always love your child. But there times when parenthood is tough, and then there are times like this week, where I am absolutely loving it. This is what it's all about! Seeing life through Jaxon's eyes...it's reminding me of our trip to Disneyland last December.

On thursday we went to campus. On the way up, Jaxon and I were singing the BYU fight song, which he knows, but needed a little refreshing. I also pointed out the "Y" on the mountain and told him that is stands for "B-Y-U COUGARS!!!" So, as we were walking aruond the bookstore he was seeing the "Y" everywhere, so he kept shouting, "B-Y-U- COUGARS" To which everyone in earshot would cheer and clap. That was all the incentive Jaxon needed to keep going, so all throughout campus we were surrounded my cheering and clapping. SO FUN!

***********************************************************************************

My comentary on BYU. I went there, and I love it. I know it's not for everyone, I totally get it, but when you go on campus, there is definately an upbeat, positive feeling. Everyone smiles, chats, is polite, and is modestly dressed. You don't see anyone that looks too scary.

***********************************************************************************

We went to 7-peaks on Friday, and Jaxon could have stayed ALL DAY. He loved the kids area and the lazy river, but once we took him down the big slides on our laps, we couldn't talk him into anything else. We went OVER AND OVER AND OVER! He only wanted to go down on Dave's lap, which was fine with me because 1. Dave's stronger and a better swimmer than me, and 2. Jaxon always picks me to do things with him, and it made Dave feel really good to be the go-to guy. Jax especially loved the innertube rides and we ended up staying until almost 8pm!!

**************************************************************************************

Commentary on 7-Peaks...I already did a post on this, but I will just say, being anywhere pool/water/heat related with a son and husband, it's really nice not to be surrounded by bare skin and bikinis. I really appreciated it, and didn't see one suit/person that I was absolutely shocked about, and would have been sad for Dave and Jax to have to see. When I was young and leaders would say to the girls, "Dress modestly to help the boys out" That always made me a little mad thinking, "Let the boys take a little responsibilty and help themselves!" Now I get it, they are responsible for their thoughts, but others (girls) can take responsibility for what the boys have to see. Getting off my soapbox now...

****************************************************************************************

Saturday morning I already blogged about the crazy paraders- my commentary on that is just that sometimes Mormons are wacky, but usually there is a good reason hidden under there somewhere!

Saturday afternoon we met up with one of Dave's sisters, her hubby and her kids. We hadn't seen then in a long time, and it was awesome! They are such a fun laid back family, and their little boy (who is just 6 months younger than Jaxon) and Jax became BFF's and could have played together until eternity with no thought to the rest of us! We went to the provo Malt Shop and had yummy shakes and burgers. Can't wait to see them again at the big camping trip in a month! (that is NOT to say in ANY WAY that I am looking forward to camping...)

Saturday night we put Jax down at 7 and woke him up at 9:45 for the big show. My dad had nailed down a tarp in prime position on the lawn right across from the stadium, and Jaxon had just as much fun watching all the kids around us lighting off fireworks as watching the big show. Fire works are fun!! The Stadium Of Fire fireworks DID NOT disappoint, they were awesome! (Also for any fans out there...I got to hear the Jonas Brothers do a few of their closing songs!)

Now it's Sunday and Dave has to head home....boooo. Jaxon and I will be joining him tomorrow.....boooo. This is definately the place to be on the 4th of July!

Second post for the 4th of July- Dave's lost his mind!

(Scroll down if you want to read the first 4th of July post...)

I just looked over to see Dave, (enjoying cable at my parents condo since we don't have it at home) arms up in the air, pumping his fists yelling, "GO JOEY!!! GO!!!!!" What is he doing you ask?

Watching the Competative Hotdog Eating Championship.

He then said, "YES!!!! Joey Chestnut Just beat the world Record! And he beat Kobiashi by 4 hotdogs!!!"

Oh Dave. I love you.