Pictures and news

So here's some pics to accompany my last post about Christmas!

Here were the yummy desserts I made for Christmas! Oreo Truffles, peppermint candy cane brownies, and Crumb-topped pumpkin cheesecakes (if you click on the last two--you can get the recipes. The brownies especially were a huge hit! Thanks Sara for the recipe and online help as I made them!)

Also, news about Grant! He was 5 mo. old on Christmas day. He finally got his 1st tooth around New Year's, can sit up like a pro (and scoots on his bottom), and is allergic to sweet potatoes! He broke out in a rash on his neck, chest, back and hands after trying some for the 1st time.

(this pic was from X-mas Eve--so he's improved since then!)

Ethan is taking a swim class again--but it hasn't started off well. The 1st 2 classes he screamed and cried as soon as we got there (I think he's been lacking in sleep and our mornings have been a struggle w/ breakfast/getting dressed, etc) and he didn't want to get in the water at all! At the 2nd class he finally got in the water the last couple of minutes--and enjoyed it. And luckily at Wed's lesson he went right in and splashed around and had a good time.

Jon celebrated his 31st birthday last week! We had a fun evening of bowling with his family!

Potty Training Day 80 something...

Yes, this post is all about one of the highlights of Motherhood--potty-training! I love not dealing with diapers--but this has been one of the biggest headaches of my life! If only kids were born toilet trained!

We decided to dive into potty-training full-on after Ethan's 3rd b-day in Oct. We had been talking it up for weeks/months, had a small potty he had used a couple of times, we bought the "cool, big-boy" undies, had a chart to put stickers on when he had success, bribed him with small prizes of candies and bigger ones like ice cream cones or Happy Meals...and even a really BIG prize for being totally potty trained--a Cranky the Crane to go with his Thomas the Train wooden train set.

I'm happy to say that we have made progress from Oct! He had soooo many accidents when we first started and didn't even mind being wet or messy (we have kept him in undies or naked pretty much every day--except when he's having an upset tummy day--he had some type of stomache bug for the longest time). Now he can go for fairly long stretches without needing to go--which makes outings easier. And if we sit him down on the toilet, he goes. But we have to keep a close eye on him (for the potty dance) and if we get too distracted and forget to take him potty--then he has an accident. Because only rarely does he initiate a trip to the toilet!

So yes, I still wouldn't classify him as "trained." We have had a few accident free days!! And every so often (more frequently lately) he's started telling me he needs to go! But other days I'm cleaning up wet and/or messy undies all day long!! So it's made for a cranky/frustrated mommy--which I'm sure is not helping the process!

I just keep thinking why is it taking so long? And what am I doing wrong? I know part of it is just Ethan's stubborn/independent nature. But then I'm sure part of it is me...I'm not sure if my approach was right or at least the way I have dealt with it. As long as he can do it by himself by Aug. when preschool starts!! Until then I guess I just have to be patient--and keep praying he'll figure it out!

Catch Up

I've had blog post ideas floating in my head for days/weeks...so it must be time to share!

We hope everyone had a great Christmas. We've enjoyed spending time with family, shopping, playing games and relaxing at home. We got a chance to talk to my missionary brother (Jackson) in Florida--who will be home in May and my soldier brother (Jacob) in Afghanistan on Christmas. Jon took off from work between Christmas and New Year's...so it's been fun to have him home. Monday will be hard for him to get up early and head off to work!

We got exciting news that our 2nd niece/nephew is on the way!! Jon' s older brother and his wife are expecting their 1st baby in June! We are both so excited for them--we love being an aunt and uncle, love babies and love that our children have cousins close in age.

We made a paper chain to read each night up to Christmas with scripture verses about Christ's birth and life. One night we were reading from the Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi ch. 2, verse 7 : "Behold he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit." After reading, we would to reveiw to see if Ethan was listening and understands, so I tell Ethan that Jesus wants us to have a broken heart and contrite spirit. Ethan says: "But not me. I don't want a broken heart," as he's touching his chest. Then we had to explain to him that it doesn't really mean broken (as in a broken toy or bone) but it means we are humble and do those things Jesus wants us to do.

My car keys were finally found! I put on a jacket of mine (that I only wear occasionally) and low and behold...what is in my pocket--my keys! So yes, I misplaced my own keys...and then blamed my husband!

I got out Ethan's fishing pole to make our Christmas I-Spy letter...and discovered that he calls it a "fishing crane!"

The boys and I were at the post office before Christmas and this sweet older lady was talking to Ethan, asking him his name and age, making small talk. Then she asked him about his baby brother. When we said his name was Grant--she said, that's a nice name too (she had said that about Ethan), it sounds like the name of a senator. So maybe there's a future politician in the family!

I got my haircut! I love the way a fresh haircut feels--and getting rid of all that excess hair-weight! Here's how it looks now: