Finally!!

He's by no means fully potty trained *sigh* but at least he'll finally go standing up...and even outside! This is what my life has come down to-getting my son to potty outside!!! :)

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New Technique?

Evidently Papa & Binga have learned a new potty training technique...

What a MAN!!! ;)

Papa & Jacob made it home this evening!! Anna was SO EXCITED to see her brother! And he was equally excited. Then he came inside and just ran around with glee!
They're in bed and Jacob is testing his boundaries in his "big boy" bed (I took the front rail off his crib and lowered the mattress). I think it's also tempting for him to get up when Anna is right there (one time he was IN her bed with her!) and there are toys and books to play with as well! I've been in there at least 6 times. I'm not sure I believe Papa & Binga when they said two times the first night and that was it!! We'll see how the night goes :) I think once he goes to sleep he'll stay there. But he is awfully excited to see his sister again...

Really?

It's official...my parents are crazy (or saints....whichever you prefer). Not only did they switch Jacob to a toddler bed, they decided to start potty training (neither of which I asked them to do, but I'll certainly not complain about them doing either!!!)! Mom said today was the first day with no diapers, but he's gone on the toilet several times in the last 2 days. Including #2!!! She hasn't changed a dirty diaper since I left. Lots of wetting, though. She figures he'll do it backwards (why not...he's done everything else in his own time/way!)...poopy will be done before potty!

Uhhh, Binga? These pants feel kinda funny...don't you think you should put one of these diapers on me???

Okay then...I'll just put it on myself!

Here ya go Honey...

Aaron casually mentioned that I hadn't posted for a while and asked why not. I'm still amazed that our tiny, little house can become such a wreck in such a short amount of time. I guess up in Iowa, even though there were more kids, there were more adults too, so cleaning up happened a bit easier! :) So since Aaron asked...here are some pictures.

Oh alright. You caught me. I'm just procrastinating the inevitable late night cleaning session!!!! *sigh*

This is just for you Jeremy! It's all Papa's fault. He's the one that dressed Bryce!

Neither Papa nor Bryce seemed to notice (or care) that the poor child's pants were hiked up to kingdom come!

I got a few pics from the water park this time. Jacob had lots more fun this time, too. He wouldn't go very far into the water, but he LOVED the fountains! Here he was standing there waiting for the water to shoot up. Right on the back!

I was so proud of Kaedyn! She went and bought some lemonade all by herself (well, Anna walked over there with her). Mom, Cara, and I had 5 kids there, so we were outnumbered. Even though the concession stand was only about 30 yards away, I had to stay close to the pool to keep an eye on Jacob (Cara had Bryce and Anna, Mom was with Mia on the slides). Kaedyn really didn't want to walk over there by herself (which surprised me since she's so outgoing and doesn't seem to shy away from anything!) She would walk about 5 chairs down, then turn around and shake her head. Anna wandered over and said she'd go with her. I could see them the whole time from where I was sitting watching Jacob. I told Kaedyn what to say and here she came with her very own lemonade! :)

Oh Bryce! This just makes me laugh. Wanna know what else makes me laugh? This is a good one...

I was sitting in the kiddie pool/fountain area keeping an eye on Jacob and Bryce. Bryce is around water a lot so he's not timid like Jacob. I was watching Jacob do something and then scanned around for Bryce. I saw him on the cement by the fountains. He was bent over looking at something. I watched him for a minute, wondering what on earth could be so captivating. Then I looked to the ground between his legs. I saw something round...and dark. Oh no he didn't!!

Mind you, this boy hadn't had an accident in days! I had forgotten to bring swim diapers and just happened to have one in the van. But since Bryce had been doing SO GOOD, we didn't think it'd be a big deal. Obviously Jacob couldn't be without one!

I hurry over and sure enough, he'd pooped on the sidewalk!!!!!!!! I couldn't leave b/c I had Jacob, too so I yelled at Mom. She brought a towel and picked it up. The wonderful people at the park were so great...she said "You'd be surprised how often that happens!" They cleaned up the sidewalk (luckily it wasn't messy!!) and we paid $2.50 for ONE swim diaper!!!!! The lesson?

Entrance to water park: $40

Bottle of lemonade: $2

ONE swim diaper: $2.50

Seeing my nephew poop on the sidewalk: PRICELESS!

Getting ready to go to the VBS program and watch "da guhls" :) Everyone there thought they were brothers. So handsome!

Here's the video of Bryce getting on the toilet. Have you EVER seen a kid do it like this?! I can't believe he hasn't fallen in more (I think he's only done it once)! Sorry for the little flash at the end...

I've noticed...

...the more kids there are, the more pictures I take!! :) It's been a really fun week up here with all the kids. Bryce is now pretty well potty trained during the day (still diapers during sleep times). I don't think he's had an accident in a couple days. And he'll even go to the bathroom all by himself! I have to post the video of him getting on the big potty. I've never seen a kid do it like he does!! Anyway, with budget strings tightening in our house, I thought I'd start on Jacob. He's gone a couple times and he seemed really interested in it seeing Bryce do it (and see all the praise he got for doing it!). So one evening after he pottied a couple times in the potty chair, I decided to put him in "big boy pants" and see how it went...

Uhhh, maybe he doesn't quite get the concept yet! haha

There we go! Big boys!!
Well, he would potty and then have an accident almost right away. I know, that's how it goes the first few days. But I decided I didn't have the energy or the attention to give it right now with all these kids around and being so busy. So maybe I'll start when we get home. I'm just so tired of spending money on diapers!!!



Crazy kids playing in the tent. CRAZY!

Puh-leeeze Anna! Bryce weighs like 10 lbs...buck up!!! ;)

I love this picture. Bryce is such a sweet boy. Aunt Jenni loves this little guy!

This just makes me laugh!

I mentioned Jacob had some tummy troubles. Well, they're still not over. He feels fine but his diapers...well, they're not pretty. And for several nights in a row, he would dirty them either right before he fell asleep or after he was asleep. I would go in and check on the kids (Anna, Kaedyn and Jacob share a room) and it would just reek in there. I'd check and sure enough, YUCK! Here's the crazy thing...he didn't wake up!!! I'm talking massive proportions, 6 wipe jobs and he snoozed right through the changing.

Blue-eyed cowboy :)

Jacob doesn't have the coordination to pedal yet, but he sure enjoys pushing the combine around!

I love this picture of Anna. It's just so Anna!

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Tomorrow we're headed to the water park now that VBS is over and well, let's be honest...we're hoping to wear them out good for the long trip home Saturday! Papa & Binga are driving the Floridians home and Aunt Cara and I will head home, too. It's been such a fun week! We miss Daddy though!!!!

They're Growing Up Too Fast!

My babies aren't babies anymore! :( Time just flies by so quickly.

For the last couple weeks, I've been putting Jacob on the potty chair before bath time. Until tonight, nothing has come of it (except some hilarious rounds of Patty Cake!). Tonight, I put him on the big potty with the little seat on top. That seemed to work better for him. Anyway, I went out to get something from the living room, and when I got back I saw the evidence of his accomplishment!! :) I ran (literally!) to get my camera (duh!) and...what else? Skittles! If you're worried about my child starving, just look at the last post! haha

Yea for Jacob! (You see the gap btw the little seat and the big one? Bad spot for a gap!!) I don't think he really knew what he did, but oh well. It's a start. Summer is a great time to potty train!

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This week is VBS at our church. I volunteered for the nursery. Turns out it was just Jacob and the other Anna and our neighbor girl! 3 hours in a very small nursery with three 2 year olds is WAY.TOO.LONG! So I asked the other mamas if they minded me keeping the little tykes at my house for the morning (our church is about 8 mi. outside of town). This morning went MUCH better than yesterday morning! The kids had lots more room to roam and lots more to distract them from missing their mommy! It was a rough start, but it got better quickly and we had lots of fun.


Jacob: Mom, are you serious? Aren't there any BOYS we can have over to play?!
Girls: Hehehe........

My girl is getting so big!!! She's going to VBS this week and is SO.EXCITED!!!!!!! She's having so much fun and just can't wait to go every morning. Last night at supper, she realized she would be going every day. She got so excited!

You mean I get to go EVERY SINGLE DAY?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

This pic is from her first day. Too soon I'll be taking her "first day of kindergarten" picture!