"Does he have to SAY 'poopy diapers'?"

(If you don't want to read about the bathroom habits of three-year-olds, then skip the first paragraph.)

Jack has been a really tough little guy to potty train. Mainly because he is WAY too busy to use the bathroom. It's kind of funny thinking of him being "too busy" to stop to go to the bathroom. I mean, what if an adult said that. "You know, I really just don't have time to go to the bathroom. I have to just go in my pants and deal with it later." Well, as you all probably know, I am due with baby number three in a couple of weeks. Changing three sets of diapers is not really something I am interested in. Especially with children that are so "regular" as my kids. I often change six poopy diapers in one day. Yeah. So, I was really ready for Jack to be ready. We have been trying on and off for a good while, but I knew he was never ready. Well, a month or so ago, he got to where he would pee in the toilet. He still won't tell us when he needs to go, but if we take him in there, he is very good to do it, and also he goes for long periods of time with a dry diaper. (I'm pausing now and thinking "really, does anyone need or want to hear this?" Surely the answer is "no", but I am so exhausted that I have decided not to care.) OK, so to the point... he was always afraid to poop in the toilet. This is a pretty common thing among toddlers, but it always seemed weird to me. I'd tell him to sit on the toilet and he would immediately get up and run out of the room. Well, a week or so ago he started pooping in the toilet (oh my gosh, am I still talking about poop?) Then after a few days he just stopped doing it. Well, the other day I had an idea. I grabbed his bath frog (a safety device that doesn't fit on our new bathtub, so he just keeps watch on the sidelines):



and started talking to Jack with "Mr. Frog" in a funny voice. I said "hey, Jack! What are you doing?! Are you going to poop?!! Wow! That's amazing!" Jack got really excited and decided he wanted to impress Mr. Frog, so he tried really hard and, sure enough, he did it! He has been pooping for Mr. Frog for a week now. But he mostly only poops if Mr. Frog is encouraging him. He always says "can you do Mr. Frog?" when he sits down to poop.

Well, Evie has a new obsession: toilets. I have really been having a hard time keeping her away from them. There have been several times in the past couple of days where she got into the toilet, even when I thought I had locked the bathroom door. Well, generally she just likes to put things in there. Toys, toilet paper... her hands. Well, yesterday she dunked this little penguin in the toilet.



Fortunately I had my phone with me. I very casually took a picture of her so she wouldn't think that I thought it was funny. Well, this morning I was in the living room with Jack. I hadn't heard from Evie in a while and I hadn't checked on her because I thought I had locked the bathroom door and there is really nothing for her to get into on that side of the house. Well, finally I heard her crying. She didn't sound frantic-- it was more like a "help, please!" cry. Well, I start looking in all the rooms, and I realize that she sounded far away. I go into the bathroom and Evie is sitting IN the toilet. I mean, she has the toilet seat down and she is just stuck in the toilet, only her torso and head sticking out. Oh man, I wanted to laugh, I wanted to run and get my camera, but I knew I needed to get her out and tell her that THAT is something that we just don't do. Well, that really amused me so I thought I would blog about it. That is all.

Cute things Jack has said recently:

"Mommy, I like your forehead."
"Evie, where's my kiss?!"
"Hey, what's the big idea?!"

OK, well I am extremely tired so I'm going to go to bed. You might be glad to know that I have done a lot in getting ready for the baby and what not. I feel much better. I have a doctor's appointment on Tuesday, so I am hoping that I am not further dilated, because that could really mess up our holiday plans. "Go ahead and keep cookin' little fella."

Tidings of Comfort and Joy

When sitting here thinking about what to type, the first thing that comes to mind is "oh my goodness."

I feel overwhelmed when I try to think of all the things that should be included in this blog. But really, I just feel overwhelmed in general. Our life has been a crazy train this past month. We have moved away from Wyoming and are now somewhat settled in our new house in Bossier City, Louisiana. The settling process is quite slow going as I am so busy with Jack and Evie and I am very waddly and tired. Jeremy has also been very busy and tired (not so waddly.) He very often wakes up at 3 or so in the morning to go on jobs and usually gets home around 5:30. This usually means that he and I are very ready to go to bed at 9.

So the baby's due date is January 9th. I feel as though I'm going to just go into labor one day and not know what the heck is going on. I have not done anything in preparation for the baby being here. And I'm not just saying that. I've yet to retrieve his clothes from my sister, so of course I haven't washed them. I don't have his little bassinet set up, I don't have any diapers bought (well, I have PLENTY of diapers, just none of them are his size. At least I pray that he won't be born wearing a size 3.) I went to my doctor's appointment the other day and was alarmed when they told me I was actually dilated a little already. That's not what I was expecting to hear and although I was very happy when they told me, I later realized that that only meant that I was more likely to have him before his due date. Based on my other deliveries, I really was counting on him being late. I guess I should get on the ball. Maybe all the house decorating/organizing and the Christmas present shopping/wrapping will just have to wait this week. Maybe I should focus on the little guy that is presently jolting my stomach around quite violently.

All of this and I feel as though I am only talking about how overwhelmed I am. But really what I have been feeling more than that is overjoyed. We have already had several opportunities to see our family and friends. I have always been blessed with wonderful families, but now I am even more blessed to get to seem them virtually whenever I want. It's so wonderful that I can't express how happy I am, but that's mainly because I can't believe it. After having lived away from home and feeling so lonely on so many occasions, and having the kids being so far away from all of our family....oh. It's just too much to express, so I won't try.

I have many other things to say, but I am uncomfortable and tired and I gotta pee.