Sharing

Moments like these get me pretty emotional.

BEEEEEP...BEEEEEEP...BEEEEEEP

We interrupt this potty training saga for a cute brothers video-we realize this may only be cute to out family-and to us-however, some of us are needing a break from the potty training saga. Keep chanting, "Its' only been two days. It's only been two days." BEEEEEP....BEEP.....

The Score So Far......

Abram has gone the potty 4 times and had 2 accidents-which I think were my fault. You see I have been having him "try" every 30 minutes. Both accidents were at the 27 and 28 minute mark, I should have been paying more attention. How did I get him to do it? (This is awful, repeat this is awful-however, Kris had to go in to work today, so what are you gonna do, judge me? Fine-judge me, just know that karma will get you for that.) The only way he would sit on the potty is when I moved the potty in the living room-you guessed it, and he got to watch TV. Baby steps, right? He was hating his underwear, then loving them-and crying when I put a diaper on for his nap just now. I promised "underwear when you wake up".

So far, Potty-4 Accidents-2

I am not loving this people.......I am not loving this at all. It's a good thing I have.....I mean-he gets M&M's (if there are any left).

Cold Turkey

So we are going to go for it, this weekend, yep that's right. What better to do on a long weekend than just enjoy it and have fun? POTTY TRAINING!!! I would be lying if I said that I am not totally dreading this. In fact, I know that this is going to be hard, and awful, and that Kris and I will be at our wits end and want to take it out on each other-but this must be done. And he is ready, or at least he was until we started talking about it. Yep, as soon as we started talking about it, he runs away screaming "NOOOOOO, NEVER!!!"

Awesome.

I have heard tons of ways to do this, the thing that is hard is that every child is different. Ugh. I helped potty train twin boys I nannied for. I took them every 30 minutes, and practically did cartwheels when they were successful, those were the longest days ever-I mean seriously, 2 boys at one time, the whole week I was in the bathroom with them. I can do this, I can do this....must keep telling myself. The thing I am scared about is Abram would tell me when he was or had "pooped" until we started talking about going to the potty to do the deed, now he keeps it secret until the smell lingers, or I catch that look on his face.

So a couple of nights ago I bought the underwear, the m&m's, the suckers, tonight I will make a potty chart for stickers. I think we are going to do this..........



That's right folks. No pull ups, just the old fashioned underwear way. I am afraid, very afraid of the laundry I will have to do, but I know I can do this. I figure the "cold turkey" method worked for the pacifier, worked for the move from the crib-we talk about it, then just do it. SO here was the weekend plan-stay home. Now, we are going to a church picnic tomorrow-that Kris was asked to come early to help cook-which means that I am left without my partner, which means we are going to have to find a potty at the park (grose) or flash everyone (as of now, I am voting for the flashing).

So, I want suggestions HELP ME PEOPLE!!!! Tell me what worked for you

BUT

please do not write comments telling me that you had no problems, or that it was so easy, or to let him run naked outside (we have a chain linked fence and lots o' neighbors we don't know). I am creative, I am enthusiastic, I am inventive, I am MAMA, HEAR ME ROAR!! SO help a sista out and give me the inside scoop. For it is going to be a VERY VERY VERY LONG weekend at the Raisor household!!!!!!!

A Present....

I know it may sound cheesy, but I don't care. I know that my boys names are meant to be. With Abram I knew it was meant to be. I saw the name and just obsessed over it. No matter what anyone said, I had a REALLY good feeling about it.

But that is a story for a different time.

This is about my little Reese. Kris and I always really liked that name. Then we started talking about it for real. After we had pretty much decided that was his name, I started to see it everywhere. We met some people in Alabaster with the last name Reese, and they were awesome. I saw a Reese Cup machine (like a soda machine-bizarre, but awesome right?) when I was shopping at 3 in the morning the day after Thanksgiving, when we moved here to Calhoun-one of the first people I met had the last name of Reese, etc etc. Just meant to be. When Reese was a week old, our friends (the ones with the last name Reese) came and brought us dinner, along with some presents for Reese (and Abram) among the gifts was this:


I must admit, I was a little fumbled over words when I saw this stuffed guinea pig. until I looked at the name:

Evidence

So remember when I was rambling about my guilty mother feelings? Kris calls me as I was going to pick up dinner and says, "Guess what your son just did?" (Keep in mind that Kris hasn't picked up on the way you use "your son" when he does something bad- In this particular instance he was doing something very smart-my son, naturally) "What did he do?" I replied. "He just counted to 10 in Spanish." "Did you teach him? (Kris is fluent for those who didn't know)" "No, I guess Dora did."

Cuties and Confessions.......

I hate that Abram is watching more TV than usual. Normally we don't watch that much, because it stresses me out when he gets zoned out and won't hear anything else kinda thing. And when I say TV, I mean we have been watching a lot of Dora and Diego.

But on the other hand, when I hear him speaking Spanish when he is playing with his dump truck, or talking about pygmy marmosets, I tell myself to relax.

Modesty

I have always been a pretty modest person, and yet, over the years it seems as though I have been having reoccurring moments where people that I don't know very well, are getting all too familiar with me. This keeps happening, on all different levels. Just when I think I am safe, something new happens. I am not sure how I feel about this......

When you are getting married, you try on wedding dresses-this is when you go to a shop and heaven forbid that you try on the dresses alone, or with someone important to you. You must have a person from the dress shop walk in on you 75 times to "check and make sure you are all right". I flashed that woman more times than I can count, she always seemed to get me at just the right moment, stupid woman.

Then you decide to have a baby-the OBGYN-we won't go there-but you know what I'm sayin'. THEN a ton of doctors/nurses/interns etc. get to see you in all of your glory. If you have a c-section, they even get to see your insides-yikes.

Then the lactation consultant-wow, they aren't shy at all, and that's all I have to say about that.

Once you think you are in the clear, you decide to have your second child. Who happens to be a snuggler-as in he always want to be held, as in you are about to pee your pants and cannot put the child down. As in, you have to take the child with you for fear of what the 2 1/2 year old when do to the new baby when not in eyeshot. But then again, according to the 2 1/2 year old, you can't take in the baby without his company as well. So there you are, doin your business while holding your baby, and entertaining your toddler as he gives a play by play of what you are doing, while you are TRYING to be modest so that you can avoid "certain conversations" as long as possible.

I can't wait to see what's next.......

Locke has "Lost" His Mind........

Locke has always been Kris's favorite-personally he got on my nerves. But I must say-whatever this phase that he is going through, is really making me laugh. Maybe it's because I can't stand Ben, and Locke is being really provocative. I mean seriously, I love how Locke is not a wuss anymore and he is being so inciting towards Ben. I can't get over how this shows stumps you EVERY week!! Will the twists and the feeling of being left hanging ever end? Hopefully not, by the way, I totally called Whitmore being Daniel's father-but who is Penny's mother? Eloise? I don't know. Still so many questions.....

P.S. Don't brag that your baby is so awesome and sleeps so well at night, and is the easiest baby ever.......it will bite you that very night, dang it.

Bias

.......maybe a little. But how can you not admit they're the cutest boys E-VER!!!!

Grateful

This may be the longest post ever.....

I have been overwhelmed lately with feelings of gratitude. Having Reese has been a really big transition in our lives, and could not have gone any smoother. This is all because of the help we ave received from our family and friends. Every time I think about it- the "ugly cry" makes it's appearance, stupid hormones. My mom and sister were first to arrive before Reese got here.

The support, along with watching Abram, cooking and cleaning eliminated a huge amount of stress and worry. Kris was supposed to have the week off from work, however, he had to go into work almost every day for a couple of hours-as is with construction I guess. Thankfully, my mom stayed until the weekend and one of my dearest friends "Aunt Terri" came to the rescue for the rest of the week. Abram loved every second of it. And I feel sure that my mom and Aunt Terri took a very long nap when they got home because of all of the running, playing play-doh, playing trains, and jumping on the bed that was going on. They will never know how grateful I am.


THEN, Grandma Raisor arrived on Saturday, and the spoiling continued with the hugs, kisses, singing, and trains.


And if THAT wasn't enough-my really awesome friends Tab and Windy from Alabama came to see me!!!! They drove up to just spend the day, and they brought Abram's best friend Grayson. At first it was a little awkward for the boys because it had been a while since they had seen each other, but before you knew it-they were back to having fun. The exception this time is that Abram talks a lot more, so their conversations were hilarious. I swear, two peas I a pod!!! I miss them so much, who would have ever thought I would miss Alabama?? Tab took some pictures-which I am so excited about I can't stand it, so hopefully I can show you soon, right Tab? :)






I was trying to get the boys to take a picture and was having a difficult time getting them to look at the same time and smile, until I asked them to say "booger" instead of "cheese"........


I am so blessed with the most awesome family and friends. These past 2 weeks have been a little crazy, and I am not sure what I will do when everyone leaves and it's just us. I am sure we'll figure it out....unless anyone else wants to come visit??