Boy's Room: In Case You Were Wondering

We got the decals for the wall from Amazon. (Hat tip to our friend John for the Amazon gift card for Christmas! We also bought a new kitchen food scale to help us with our weight management. Thanks!)

They stick very well, even though our house has textured walls.

We bought the paint from Walmart for $7.99. I didn't even know walmart had their own line of paint, but they do! I read some reviews on it and, admittedly, it doesn't have the highest quality. It is manufactured under the ColorPlace label for Walmart by Sherwin Williams. Most reviews say that if you are willing to do a couple coats it will do just fine for you. We did 2 coats of the "Spring Garden" color. 

I think I spent $18 total for the letters & brown paint for their names (and Lauren's initials for her room.) 

So all in all, it was a pretty inexpensive way to jazz up the boys' space. We decided to go for it before we moved them together to try and make Ian feel excited about the move. New paint, wall decals, his name on the wall... all ways to show him he wasn't moving into Aaron's Room, but into a completely new room for both of them. Due to illnesses and baby-fussies, it ended up taking us a month to finish the project. I actually think that was really good, though, because it allowed the boys/all of us to get used to the changes gradually. We finished the painting over last weekend. The decals arrived yesterday (& I bought & painted the brown letters yesterday, too) so we pulled it all together before dinner last night with a big, exciting finish! Ian & Aaron helped move Ian's things (bed, dresser, books, etc.) over & it all went great!

They are both over the moon about the new space. For less than $50, I'd say that's a major win. 

New Boys' Room

**UPDATE**
They slept all night. Somehow, Ian went to bed without his blankie and raggie, though, so when he heard Roger leaving this morning, he realize he didn't have them and came out to get them. It was too late by the time I caught up with him... Aaron was awake too. So we got up at 6:00. I know that's not horrible, but it is a full hour earlier than we usually get up. So today is going to be a long day. Now to figure out how naptime is going to work...

**UPDATEI** 
Roger put the boys to bed at 9:30. At 10:15 he emailed me from the bedroom, where the monitor is, to tell me there nothing but silence. Too sleeping tots up in there! I know it will not always go so well, but  the first bedtime together was a success! Praise the Lord!

At some point, I will hopefully replace these pictures with non-phone-camera pictures. It cost us a grand total of $33 for the paint & decals. The walls are green, though you can't really tell in the pictures. When Ian is ready for a bigger bed, we'll probably do bunk beds and change it up a little again, but right now, the boys are pretty excited about their new digs.

Since tonight's the night, though, I figured I'd put the photos up to commemorate the occasion... hopefully it isn't a disaster.

What are we going to do when...

Lauren is old enough to want to play the iPhone too?

Ian's Despicable Me Moves

Ian learned these dance moves from the movie Despicable Me... and then there's Aaron, who needs some new moves, but is obviously feeling pretty good these days. We took this video before bath 2 nights ago. So funny.

Ian's Preschool Progress Report

I know it's kinda hard to read, but our big preschooler got his mid-year progress report from his teachers. He's doing well, as you can see. :-)

Magic Soup

On the downhill slide to four years old, Ian has become much more difficult at the dinner table. Don't get me wrong, I have been blessed with two of the best eaters I have even seen! I believe children all reach a point when eating good food that is good for them is not a fun thing to do...so what's a parent to do? (Take them to Mickey-D's for some nuggets? NO!)

I can't speak for what works in every house, but Roger and I have learned that sometimes getting our kids to eat the food I made for dinner is all about creativity and spin. (and positive attitudes! Trust me, there are lots of nights when all we want to do is yell and give time outs and take away dinner, which always comes back to bite us in the rumps!)

I really should start keeping track of our ideas because nearly all of them are successful tactics for us, we just have to use them sparingly. We've done "dinner winner," where the best eater of dinner gets a special treat like a popsicle or "your choice" from the candy bucket. Or just dessert in general since we don't eat dessert every night. We encourage them to line up their peas on the plate, if that's what makes the peas interesting enough to eat.  We may have even discussed how much broccoli you'd have to eat in order to turn green like Luigi. We have a rule (as of a few months ago) that even if you don't want what we are having, you have to eat as many bites as you are old.  Most of the time, once the actual eating begins there is no more argument or mention of not liking or wanting dinner.

Tonight, I think was one of my most creative, successful moments yet! (I do say so myself...)

Tonight, we were having Italian Beef Soup for dinner. It's a tomato-beef soup that I made up many moons ago. It's a family favorite. We have it for dinner all.the.time. With the exception of the potatoes, Ian loves it. The potatoes are another story... he doesn't like potatoes in boiled, braised, baked or mashed form, but will eat them as wedges or fries. Eh. Not a battle I care to fight. He doesn't need the potatoes anyway if he's filling up on tomato soup broth and veggies. He'll come around someday.

So anyway, back to tonight. Ian was the first at the table after the dinner bell rang. He even said, "Wahoo!" after I told him what we were having, but as soon as his bowl was placed in front of him he exclaimed, "I don't wan't that! Mommy! Get me peanut butter and jelly!"

Ahem. "First of all, that's not how you ask for something. Second of all, you can have peanut butter and jelly after you eat your 3 bites."

The scoffing continued.

Then he said, "Mommy? How do they make Buzz Lightyear?"

And in my stroke of pure parenting genius (haha) I said what popped into my mind, "Start eating your soup and I'll tell you. It's magic soup. It makes mommy and daddy tell stories."

He picked up his spoon and started eating. As I told him how they make Buzz Lightyears in a silly story, he kept eating. By the time I was done he was done. But he was not finished...

"Mommy? How do they make Barbies?"

"Do you want more magic soup while I tell you?"

"uh-huh!"

Bumpadabum! He ate all of his dinner. And seconds.

Creativity and spin. It's the key to parenting at the dinner table. It also has a lot of other applications when you have 3 under 4...but that's a story for another day.

Christmas Eve

A "Church Clothes" photo & A "new jammie" photo. Stockings hanging, cookies out...  And the rest has yet to be revealed.

This was actually after we got home from church, our first "successful" Christmas Eve service
since 2006
...nobody crying, mama didn't have to leave the sanctuary, etc! Lovely!

we only had 4 hooks, so Roger's and mine are on the same one.

Stockings knitted for us by my "Aunt" Peggy Groover. 

Ian's Turn at the Allergist

Ian's allergic to nothing! Unfortunately that means there's no apparent cause (other than the cold weather) for his rampant eczema. So onward we go trying to find a cream (or combo of creams) to help relieve his itchy legs. (He is currently 34.8 pounds (57th percentile) and 40 inches tall (60th percentile)).

And this is Lauren looking all... Rawr!

more coming

 

I didn't help him paint this!

A new naptime ritual & some smiles

I got the camera today so I could capture a quick shot of the newest heart-melting naptime ritual.  Ian already has such a deep love for his sister.

Lauren smiling at mommy 9/23/10

Aaron playing legos with Ian & daddy

Woody/Aaron laughing at daddy after bath

So sweet

Lauren at 2 months

Ian at 2 Months

Aaron at 2 months

Occasionally, we have a sweet time.

I just got done reading Ian stories for naptime.  Aaron already had his stories & was in his crib.  Lauren, who was in her crib, was fussing so I went and got her before going to Ian's room to read.  We read stories & I said,

"Tell Ian night night, Lauren.  Tell Lauren night night, Ian."

And he asked if Lauren could lay with him.  So I laid her down (awake) next to him in bed (next to the bed rail so she could not fall out) and went to the living room to get Ian his water cup. I returned to fin him laying on his side looking at her, her eyes closed.  It was so sweet.  I wish I had the camera. (it is in the car still from our zoo trip yesterday and would've caused too much commotion anyway.)


It almost makes up for the ridiculous trouble Ian gave me while trying to get out the door to school this morning.  I swear, that kid is so.... three.

Cool Fall Days

Make me feel like baking bread.

It isn't relaxing when you have little fingers helping you.

It is kinda silly (and gross?) when you turn around and find them licking and tasting everything...

But it is nice to see the delight on your child's face when he's so proud of what he's doing.

Don't let me forget to take a photo of Ian's first loaf of bread after we're done. (It's rising now.)

**Update**

And homemade strawberry jam on our bread for breakfast. Yum.

A New School Year

Today was Ian's Offiicial first day of preschool.  He's in the two-days-a-week 3 year old class.  This morning was 1/2 the class & parents, so Thursday is the big day! He'll go all by himself with the whole class.  Lauren came with mommy to Ian's class.  She was quiet as a mouse in her Moby wrap. 

Something dawned on me this morning... my kids are going to learn patience one way or another... Ian was called last twice today because his last name begins with V.  There aren't any kids with WXY or Z last names in his class...

He was his spirited self & had most of the parents smiling & chuckling.  The teachers too.  And Mrs. K even said, "I have a feeling you are going to have us laughing a lot in here, Ian." 

Oh My.

Ian cried when it was time to go.

Aaron went to Kids Day Out this morning & he was fine.  Never batted an eyelash at me going was happy to see me when I came back, but sad to have to leave. 

I'd call this morning a wild success.  Lets pray for continued love for school & happy mornings!

Pee-update

It has been 14 days since Ian ditched daytime diapers.  We've had a LOT of success! He has only had pull-ups (at naptime) and diapers at bedtime since then and probably fewer accidents than I can count on my fingers. 

He is getting much  better about staying dry while leaving the house and agreeing to use the potty while we are out. 

He still tries to "get away" with wearing a diaper/pull-up... for instance, we had to be out of the house earlier than usual yesterday morning & in my rush to get everyone washed & dressed & out the door, I didn't immediately take Ian's night diaper off.  He pooped in it while I was in the shower. :-(  The other day, without thinking, Roger put a diaper on him while getting ready for our morning outing and Ian took full advantage of it, peeing several times before we remembered & had the opportunity to take it off. 

But the conclusion among all involved is that we are NOT going back to diapers with him.  Accidents or not, he's officially a big boy now. 

Interesting tidbit:  He refuses to use the little potty in the living room now. He decided early on in this attempt he was only using the big potty in mommy's bathroom.  He gets on it by climbing on a little chair & he is so proud to do his business there. 

We tried for awhile to do a potty chart where he checked off spaces & got prizes from a prize basket and for awhile it worked, but after several weeks of that he lost sight of the goal and we couldn't take the multiple daily tantrums about not getting prizes every time.  We finally gave it up.  Now we randomly reward him with bigger prizes and he gets a hershey kiss for poops... and sometimes pee if he asks for it.  He got a real soccer ball for being 1-week diaper free.  He'll get another something (like another ball or something else in the $7-10 range that we've been thinking of getting him) for 2-weeks dry.  Perhaps we'll keep the weekly prize up until 1-month, then we'll wait until he's day AND  night trained for the big reward that we've been telling him about:  a bike.

Anyway, that's where Ian stands on the potty training.

Day 5 of 21 is more than half over!

Ian and Lauren on August 14th

The "experts" say it takes 21 days to form a new habit.  We are currently trying to change Ian's poop and pee habits.  We are on day 5 of 21. 

Ian had a poop accident at the playground this morning, but before and after he's done fine.  He didn't even pee in his pants at the same time as the poopcident, so that's good.  I think we really are making progress.

Ian hasn't worn diapers except at night since last Wednesday. 

Potty Talk (II)

Remember last March?  When Ian was daytime potty trained? 

I never updated again.  Perhaps because I was so annoyed and frustrated by the situation. 

Just after I wrote that post, Ian got a stomach bug and had diarrhea.  No, it isn't a pretty subject, but in order to understand where we stand today, you have to know.  He got sick and didn't want to wear underpants.  We couldn't blame him.  It was dis-gust-ing to have a just-barely-potty-trained 3 year old, who struggles to successfully get his pants off in time to sit on the potty, have diarrhea. I'm sure you're getting the idea.  It was a mess. To say the least. 

So Ian was asking to wear diapers again and we let him... we didn't want to be cleaning up that mess either. 

But after he started feeling better, he decided he was not going in the potty any more.  He just refused.  And the one thing we've learned from others' experience is the bigger an issue you make of it and the more you "force" them, the harder it is to train in the long run.  So we didn't force him.  And he was back to wearing diapers full time. 

It wasn't really a problem until yesterday.  We happened into Ian's old school (because he's signed up at a different preschool this year... because he wasn't potty trained) to sign Aaron up for Kids Day Out.  Miss Kelly, the preschool director, said, "oh how funny that you're here!  I was just about to call you.  There's a spot for Ian this fall for preschool." 

Dun dun dunnnnnnnnnn.


Ian *has* to be potty trained to go to preschool there.  (You don't have to be PT'd to go to Kids Day Out, you do have to be PT'd to go to preschool.)  They kick kids out for not being potty trained.  That's why a spot has opened up for Ian. 

So now the crunch is on.  Can we get him to do it?  Can we get him to CHOOSE to go in the potty so he can go to school at the place he loves (& is already familiar with and is SO convenient for ME?!) 

If you could pray for Ian and his potty situation, we'd really appreciate it.  Ian knows how to go in the potty and how to not pee/poop his underpants.  He was fully daytime trained just a few months ago.  He is being defiant and stubborn about using the potty.  We need that to change.  We need him to choose to go on the potty... for good. 

Hanging in the park on a Saturday Evening

A smile