Guess who is wearing underwear?

           This guy....
So after a couple of months of using the potty pretty well I knew it was time to REALLY potty train (out of diapers and in underwear) Maddox. The tricky part was - the typical tricky part with everything these days - scheduling the best time to do it amongst the juggling act that is our lives right now.

 I felt like if we had a week at home we could do it...again the tricky part.  With the end of the school year approaching, all of our activities were coming to an end - story time, music class, etc. - so we finally had a week with nothing much on the calendar.  I also knew we had to do it BEFORE Brady & Evan were done with school.  The distraction of them at home would be too much to be successful.  Last week was our week!  I ended up subbing at Prince of Peace's MDO program on Tuesday so we had a partial week to try it.  We stayed home all day Wednesday and Thursday and wore underwear.  I tried the same tactic with him that I tried with his brothers.  With underwear that brandishes their favorite characters, I teach them that they do not want to pee or poop on their friends...that it is gross.  So we wore Thomas underwear.  We wore Toy Story underwear.  He peed in his underwear a few times the first couple of days.  I started wondering if maybe he wasn't ready yet.  Maybe I was forgetting how to do this....amazing how long ago two years seems in these moments.  Friday we had to leave the house so I could teach my class at the gym.  I put a pull on diaper on Maddox since we would not be home for about an hour and a half.  It had Tigger on it so we had the "Do not pee on Tigger, he is our friend" talk.  He kept Tigger dry at the gym.  We went home so we could put underwear on and continue the process....he stayed dry all day.  I was so excited.  Day three and he was dry all day....would it be that easy?

Saturday we left the house for a Kentucky Derby party and he kept the Tigger pull on diaper dry.  Two days dry...YEA!! Sunday we left for church in the morning and small group in the evening and he stayed dry in his pull on diaper.  On Monday we stayed home all day in underwear and he did great....not a single accident. 

The BIG test was upon us...leaving the house in underwear.  On Tuesday we left for MOPS and Maddox did great.  He stayed dry all day.  Wednesday I subbed at Prince of Peace's MDO again and Maddox wore underwear there and....yes....he STAYED DRY!!!  So he just is wearing underwear everywhere he goes now and is doing fine!  I am very excited and I pray it lasts.  Of course, this also means another step toward "no more babies". 

I sure do love my little man in underwear!

The Silver Lining

We had a first tonight in our house. Our little caboose, Maddox, threw up. It was so sad seeing someone so little hurting and heaving. As firsts go, I had to document this of course. However, the truly noteworthy part, the silver lining, is his incredible Daddy. How many Daddies would drop everything and hold their sweet pukey baby in their arms?

Green with Envy

Penis envy anyone? I know a shocking statement for most but there is nothing shocking about it at my house. With three boys and a husband, penises and talks about them, abound. Most of my humorous penis journaling has been in regard to the funny things that Evan has said so it is no surprise that he has continued to amuse me with his comments.

His latest:

While I was getting ready to get in the shower recently, Evan fell and punctured his lip with his tooth. I had to run out of the bathroom naked to tend to Evan. When I finally got him calmed down and the bleeding to stop, he looked at me with true concern and said "Mommy without a penis, you dead. You need a penis." WOW! That definitely puts quite an exclamation point on the notion of men loving their man parts - without one, is death.

Then while playing in the yard with our neighbor's dog, River, Evan noticed River's penis. He said "Mommy, look, he has one." I said "Yes, he has one of the balls (because they were playing ball in the yard)." Evan said: "No, Mommy, he has a penis." I said: "Of course he has a penis, Evan, he is a boy." To which Evan replied, "But it is not a very good one. It is not too long." Seriously?!?

Hi Cootie

My favorite salutation as of late. I have been saying "Hi cutie." to my little Maddox for quite some time. A couple of weeks ago my little man said it back to me for the first time. I melted as his little face lit up and he said, in his sweet little voice, "Hi cootie." Perfection!

Princesses are for Girls!

Evan has clearly defined lines for boys and girls. One of which is that girls like princesses. A couple of weeks ago he stated that when it was my birthday, I would have a princess cake. I said "Oh yeah, a princess cake?" I was amused by his declaration seeing that I never discuss princesses. He said "of course, Mommy, you like princesses because you are a grirl (girl). Right, mommy?" "Sure, buddy, I like princesses." He was so proud of his knowledge how could I say otherwise 😀

A week or so after that, while at the gym, he colored a picture out of a coloring book of a princess for me. When I picked him up after my class he was very excited to give me his princess picture. "Look Mommy, a princess for you."

My very own Prince Charming...I am so blessed!

YESSSS

Maddox used to say "yeah" for the affirmative. Recently he started saying "YESSSS", very clearly annunciating it with quite a bit of emphasis and drag on the "s". It is awesome in his cute little voice. I love it!!

TWOriffic!

My dear baby...my youngest, the caboose is two now!  In honor of my little man, Maddox, turning two I thought I would journal about my two favorite things about him:

1.  His smile - sounds so simple, so trite, but it is true. It lights up an entire room - and definitely warms my soul.

2.  His cuddles - I love how he immediately lays his head on my shoulder and begins nuzzling into my neck when I hold him to pray before nap time and bed time.  He is such a passionate, sweet, snuggler and I.Love.It. 

My sweet snuggler snuggling with his Uncle Rich - September 2012