Vote For Senator Lee and Mary Richards

Big sigh of relief my passport came!!!   What have I learned from this experience?

1.  Don't believe the Government when they say it takes 4-6 weeks. 
2.  Law abiding mothers and Speech Therapists that have never traveled out of the country must be terrorists.  Apparently I triggered an alert with the passport people that I may be unsafe to travel out of the country yet the government thinks it's totally safe that I work with their disadvantaged children. hmmm......
3. It pays to have an awesome Sister in Law Mary who has connections with the Senator's secretary.
4.  Senator Lee or at least his secretary can make things happen quickly and are willing to do it just so one voter can go to the Carribean.  I called the passport agency many times gave them tons of extra money to expedite the process just to hear there are no guarantee that you will get your passport in time.  After the Senator's secretary got involved it came the next day!!!

I can't tell you how excited all of us are to be vacationing with the whole Richards family.    I had convinced myself I would be sending my little family without me.  I was even telling myself that I could have a nice vacation here alone.  I could clean my house and it would stay clean.  I could eat cereal 3 times a day and maybe even have time to read a good book.  Still I told Bart if I wasn't able to go I knew I would be crying at the airport.  Thank Heaven's for my girls prayers that my passport would come and for Mary, after all God helps those who help themselves or at least have a sister in law who helps them out right? 

This is how he rolls

Aaron's preference when getting ready for the day.   Sometimes I'm really nice and just roll with it. 

Told you Raquel comfy shorts are BAD NEWS!    That's all he wants to wear now.  It helps a little that he usually picks out his Jordan Jersey to go with it. 

When I grow up I want to be......

Jane had career day in her kindergarten class.  She came home with a note that explained that each student needed to bring one item that represented what they wanted to be when they grew up.  I asked Jane what she wanted to be.  Here's how the conversation went.

Collette:  Jane what do you think you want to be when you grow up
Jane:  A Doctor like Ally
Collette:  Yeah I like that idea and you could bring the toy doctor kit to show your class.
Jane:  Actually I think I really want to be a mom.
Collette:  Oh Jane that's wonderful.  That is the most important thing you could ever be.
Jane:  hmmm actually maybe a bus driver!!!!

I'm a big kid now

Around the middle of the summer I noticed I was spending so much time chasing around a naked Aaron.  He was done with his diaper and let me know by constantly taking it off.    I knew it was time to potty train this kid.     It stayed in the back of my mind as we were coming and going and wondered when I'd find the time.  Whenever it came to the forefront I would also think he's only 22 months this is going to be rough but believe me worrying about him being naked with no bladder or bowel control was rough as well.  I'd also heard that boys are harder to train than girls and some recommend waiting until they turn 3.    I debated it for a few weeks knowing if I don't do it now it would have to wait until next summer when I was home and not working and I feared by then he would be too stuck in his "poop" ways.  Allyson recommended an article called "The 3 day potty training guide"  In the article it mentions that the best time to potty train is 22-23 months, encouraging.    It is also a power free way to potty train and I like the idea of not forcing him to sit until something came out.   I have bad memories of that with both Jane and Emily.    Anyway I found myself one Sunday afternoon looking at my empty calendar for the week and I knew it was now or next year.    That following morning it was so long all diapers and hello "3 days of hell".    The premise of the advice is to keep your child within arms reach at all times, look for signs that they are about to do go and rush them as fast as you can to the potty.  If anything gets in the toilet  you are to celebrate like your favorite team just made a goal and bring out the reinforcers.  It's all about positive reinforcement instead of coercion.  Yeah that sounds like no big deal but when you have an awesome independent kid who is used to going about his business while a busy mom goes about hers it gets tough to keep him close by and I  basically did nothing but watch to see if he is about to go.  The first day there was pee everywhere and occasionally he'd get a little in the toliet.  The second day there was pee everywhere and occasionally he'd get a little in the toliet.  On the 3rd day I realized we needed to be right by the toilet, holding the pee or poop even a few steps was not happening. So I set up my camping chair next to the toilet with a bunch of toys and we stayed there almost all day.  Do you know how miserable that is for this mom.  He did better only because he was steps away from the toilet.  By the end of the night I took a small break to make dinner and he was standing steps away from me and peed a river right on the floor.  I was so done at that point. I strapped a diaper to him and put him to bed that way.  The next morning I woke up resigned to the fact I was so quiting this potty training thing and that he was going to be 4 or 5 before I train him again.  Aaron then called out he was ready to wake up.  I got him out of his crib and he promptly walked to the bathroom took off his diaper and peep right in his toilet.  In an unbelievable shock I cheered so loudly that Emi and Jane came a running and then they all got a treat.  Oh how proud he was!!   I couldn't give up after that. The next few days were a little better.  Gradually he became "parent trained" meaning if  the tank wasn't empty and I remembered to take him, he would pee on command.  Yet the poop thing was not going well.   I feel if you ever want to feel totally humbled in life potty training a kid will do it to you.  A week or so after I started we were at Artic Circle and Aaron came running out of the play area grabbing his bum saying poop.  We rushed in the the bathroom and just clockwork he went.  I was feeling like the greatest parent who had done such a good job potty training this not even 2 year old boy!  The next day I was having a primary meeting at my house with the presidency and all their kids.  As we were in the middle of discussing something Aaron came over and handed me his clean underwear.  I mindlessly took them still concentrating on the discussion and he ran off.  A while later Jane came downstairs and said "Mom come quick, Aaron pooped upstairs and it's all over the place"   Sure enough it was all over the place and it brought me back down to my knees feeling like a complete failure as a parent.
    As the days went by he got really good at staying pee dry and I resigned to thinking that his underwear really isn't different than a cloth diaper that has to be rinsed out and washed after the daily bowel movement.   What really kept be persevering was the thought of starting over and hanging out in hell. I mean sitting in the camp chair next to the toilet again all day.    While we were at California however something seemed to click in Aaron's brain and just like that he started telling me he needed to pee or poop and only had a couple of, we weren't close by a toilet, accidents.  Since then he's been in charge telling me when he needs to go and doing it.  It's been so amazing and I know it took a lot longer that I hoped for to get this barely 2 year old potty trained but cross my fingers, I think he's got it!!!!!  My testimony...... A almost 2 year old boy can be potty trained.  It will however probably take more than 3 days. 

P.S.  This is Aaron in his underwear.  He wears just them most days when we are hanging out around the house.  He usually has a capri sun in hand and alternated between these funny frog shoes, his blue cowboy boots or if his Nike Jordan's.  It's been so rewarding to see him so proud of himself that he is a big boy who wears underwear and not a baby anymore!!

A Pooh-tastic Birthday

Aaron giggles and says "Pooh" when he sees anything with Winnie the Pooh on it.   He even convinced Bart to turn off a football game to watch the cartoon of Winnie the Pooh.   This being said it was a no brainer about what Aaron's Theme would be for his 2 year old party.  Originally I wanted to have a chill day at Lagoon with the family but then the rain started and continued all day Saturday so instead we did Sunday Dinner at our house and had cake and presents.    Aaron loved every single thing he got and classic Aaron he jumped around and gave everyone a hug!!

A few days ago Bart came home from work a little depressed because one of his favorite guys he worked with quit.  In classic Aaron style he quietly snuggled into his dad and in a style of his own had Bart feeling better in just a short time.  I'm truly grateful Heavenly Father sent this special boy to our family.   He's like the glue that keeps us all together.  After a few days in California I was talking to the girls one night listening as they told me about the day.  At the end of the conversation Emily says Mom when are you coming home I miss Aaron so much.   Bart and the girls commonly refer to Aaron as Buddy.  Most of the time it doesn't phase me but once in a while I think there's got to be a better nickname, what are we "Honey boo boo's relatives" but then I realize that Aaron is the ultimate "buddy" to all of us and we wouldn't have it any other way. 

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Boot Camp 101

 

 After Ally's new baby Hazel was born I wanted to come down and help a postpartum Ally adjust to life with "children"   Luckily Alaska airlines had a cheaper flight and since Aaron was still considered a "lap infant" for a few more days and we headed down to Carlsbad.   When I got there a 3 week postpartum Allyson up and at it and needed no help at all.  I did her dishes everyday for her anyway though.  Way better than I was after my second.  The first afternoon when the boys were asleep I sat on the couch with a treat and Ally looked at me and said "What are you doing eating that".  This isn't vacation time this is boot camp.  Man was she right.

Saturday morning after breakfast I told Ally that I thought Aaron would like to go to the beach.  Ally said OK but the only way we are going is by foot.  The 1.5 mile walk down was a piece of cake and we had a fabulous time playing in the sand and watching Matt Surf for a bit.  The walk back was a beast but it was the best thing for me.  After being out of shape for so long it was so rejuvenating to know my body is capable and feels good when I exercise.   The remainder of the time Ally had me eating well going on more walks to the park and beach!  Man was it nice to feel like I was taking care of myself again instead of everyone else!!!  The boys had a blast together too!!   I texted Bart that I think we would both love living in San Diego.  Bart's response "Your right but I'm not an accountant and your not a doctor."  He's right but at least it was fun to dream for a minute about living next to one of my sisters and going on walks everyday in a place with nice weather all year long. 

Sweet baby Hazel.  So calm, loves to cuddle and loveable.  I miss her already

 

Aaron loving the beach.

 

1st Dentist Appointment

Aaron visited the Dentist for the first time!!!  As he sat in the big chair so eager to open his mouth for the examination I looked at him and wondered how the heck are you only 23 months?  He's amazing I tell you

Where did my little boy go?