Potty Training

We recently started what we like to call 'Potty Training Boot Camp', a three-day, throw-away-all-the-diapers, slap-on-the-underwear, watch- 'em-like-a-hawk, never-leave-their-side-day-or-night approach that went very well. I'm not saying we weren't all crying at some point, or that my usually clingy son didn't wonder why Mama wouldn't just leave him alone, but it was a success. Levi hasn't worn a diaper in two weeks and apart from a few accidents, tells us when he needs to use the potty: "I pee pee poo pah-ee" (his words, not mine). Our proudest moment: Levi made it through a 14-hour car trip without any accidents on the fifth day after we started training, and he even told us when he needed us to pull over.

I have three favorite moments from the last two weeks. The first happened on Day 1 when we were introducing Levi to the concept of 'big boy underwear'. We took off his diaper, handed him his brand new white grippies, and explained that "big boys don't wear diapers...they wear underwear". Levi took the underwear from my hand and tried to put them on his head. I have it on video, and his fiancee will see it one day.

My second favorite moment also occurred on Day 1; Levi used the potty successfully and we were doing everything we could to celebrate the fact. Flushing the potty was almost all the reward he ever needed...kids love to flush the potty! As the toilet flushed, he waved and said, "Bye bye, poo poo!" Nice.

But my absolute favorite moment came at bedtime. As he no longer sleeps in a crib, Levi used his newfound potty skills as a reason to get out of bed at least ten times a night. We'd put him to bed, wash the dishes, and settle in to reading a book or watching a TV show when we heard the telltale rattle of the door handle. Levi would appear, blinking in the bright light and wearing a sheepish smile. The smile was always a giveaway. "Ummm...pee pee poo pah-ee." Afraid to call his bluff, we'd go to the bathroom to be rewarded by little to no product. [Grrrr.] After two nights like this, I emailed the (wonderful) woman who authored the training method. She explained that when Levi's bathroom trips became unproductive, we could just 'put potty to bed'.

Putting potty to bed goes like this:

rattle, rattle, creak [door handle]

Us: What's up, buddy?

Levi: Ummmm...pee pee poo pah-ee.

Us: You need to potty?

Levi: Ummmm...yathhs. [I love how he says 'yes']

Us: Levi, your pants are on fire.

Levi: Huh?

Us: Nevermind...let's go!

[Attempt to potty, nothing happens, wash hands]

Us: Okay, Levi, it's time to go back to bed. And you know what? Potty is going to bed, too! He's had a long day and he's tired.

[Lay a hand towel over the toilet lid, pat the towel softly]

Us: Tell Potty good night, Levi.

Levi: [whispers] Nigh nigh, Potty.

We've put Potty to bed at least three nights now, and it always works. The potty training lady is a genius.

Night night, everyone. [And nigh nigh, Potty.]

Lynda

Like Father, Like Son

Do you think these two are related?

I'd say so...

Lynda

Happy Birthday, Levi!

You came to us two short years ago, and now we can't imagine our lives without you. You are a joy and a blessing to us. You make us laugh daily, and we look forward to seeing you each morning. You are our precious boy.




We hope you have a wonderful birthday, full of all the snacks, basketball, and Elmo you can handle.

Love,

Mama and Daddy

Levi's Oatmeal Has The Measles

Levi eats oatmeal every morning, just like Rob. Unlike Rob, Levi needs constant coaching to finish his breakfast. I should say, he used to need coaching...

I do not eat oatmeal in the morning. I was proudly raised on Malt-o-Meal, thankyouverymuch, and I have no use for oatmeal. But Malt-o-Meal requires more time than I usually have, so I typically eat raisin bran in the morning. Levi always prefers what everyone else is having to what's in front of him, and he's fairly persistent. About a week ago, I realized that a few well-placed bran flakes accomplished what a half hour of coaching could not: a finished bowl of oatmeal. So, we have a new routine around here, and I like it. It works.

Lynda

The Cox Family Adoption Fundraisers

Summer Cox is a good friend of mine, a wife and the mother of two precious boys. From the earliest days of their marriage, Summer and her husband, Jason, knew that they wanted to adopt a child some day. That day has come; they have been approved by an agency to adopt a little girl from Ethiopa, and recently celebrated three months on the waiting list - each day on the list brings them closer to meeting their little girl.

If you've ever adopted a child, or know someone who has, you know that it is expensive. Summer and Jason have a couple of fundraisers going on, and I want to help get the word out*:

For the month of October, they are partnering with an organization that sells T-shirts to help adopting families raise funds. The proceeds from each T-shirt sale from now until October 31st go to Summer and Jason's adoption fund. To check out and purchase shirts, visit www.goseeklove.com. The shirts are pretty snazzy (yes, I said snazzy). I recently ordered one for each of us. On the site, can also learn more about The Cox family and their desire to adopt.

If T-shirts aren't your thing and coffee is, the Cox family is partnering with another organization that helps adopting families raise funds through coffee sales. Each bag of coffee that you purchase raises $5 for the Cox's adoption. Each of the coffees for sale are either fair trade or direct trade; most are organic. The coffee website is www.justlovecoffee.com/CoxRagamuffins.

Whether or not you make a purchase, please pray for the Cox family: that God will continue to provide funds for their adoption, that they will move up the waiting list quickly, and that God will sustain them as they wait and are challenged by the adoption process. This is a sweet family, dedicated to doing God's will. If you're interested in knowing more about them, you can read their blog at www.coxragamuffins.blogspot.com.

*Full disclosure: You'll see on the Cox's blog that they are offering giveaways this month to anyone that purchases T-shirts and/or puts the word out on their blog or Facebook pages. Be sure to leave a comment on their site if you make a purchase and want to enter for a giveaway. I wanted to get the word out, but I'm not entering for a giveaway. I just felt like I should put that out there. Over and out.

Lynda

Game Day

This is the day of the year we are most happy that we don't have cable - the day OSU and A&M meet on the football field. It all goes back to the Fall of 2007, the first match-up after our marriage. We met Rob's family in College Station to attend the game at Kyle Field. We tailgated with other fans, we watched the Corps of Cadets and band march in, and then we filed into the stadium and took our seats. It got ugly fast. There was shouting, shoving, and intimidating looks, and not just on the field...most of it was between us. We didn't talk to each other for at least an hour after the game, and when we did talk, we decided we'd never again watch another Aggies/Cowboys game. And so we busy ourselves each year when the game rolls around. We track other games, we go on outings, we do anything to distract ourselves until the game is over then check the final score. The winner offers
condolences, trying not to appear too pleased. The loser tries not to appear too upset. It's how we handle it now, and it's working out all right.

We may not watch the game anymore, but we don't have to pretend that it's not happening...

This is my boy. He's rooting for OSU. I told him to put on his game face for the picture....close enough. Go Pokes!

This is my girl. She's rooting for A&M, and she's very happy about it. Gig 'em, Aggies!

And here they are together, as happy and innocent as their parents were before their first matchup. Poor kids, they don't know what's coming...

Or maybe they do...Levi's invaded her space a little too long, Wren's a little distressed...

Now he's really squeezing too hard, and Wren's had enough. Gosh! He's just like his....mother. Oh, didn't I mention that I'm the one who pushed and shoved at that first ill-fated matchup? No? Oh, I guess it slipped my mind...

May the best team win! And may we not get bent out of shape about it!

Lynda

Rome Was Built In Two Days

When Levi was about three months old, we started 'sleep training', which means that over time, he learned to put himself to sleep for naps and at bedtime. We could put a sleepy Levi in his crib and walk away; no swinging, swaying, shushing, desperate praying, or jumping through other hoops to get him to sleep. We learned about sleep training from a great book: Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Wiessbluth. It has been indespensible to us. If you know of anyone expecting a baby, or someone whose child is struggling with sleep, tell them about this book! It was so helpful to us, and paid off; Levi is and always has been a great sleeper.


Wren has been a different story...until today, she's been rocked (more accurately, bounced) to sleep at almost every naptime and bedtime for the last 3 1/2 months. It's exhausting! I began to realize last week that although I love my newfound muscle tone, I don't love having to whisk Wren off to a quiet room for 10-20 minutes of bouncing - while Levi gets into and climbs onto everything I don't normally allow him to get into or climb.

So...Wren's sleep training commenced yesterday. She cried for 20 minutes when I laid her down for her morning nap. I gave in and bounced her to sleep. Her internal clock went off exactly 40 minutes later. She nursed to sleep for the rest of the day, so she didn't get any more 'practice' falling asleep on her own. "No problem," I told myself. "Rome wasn't built in a day."

I wasn't looking forward to this morning's nap. I gave myself a pep talk that went something like this: "It's only 20 minutes of crying. You can handle it, and she won't remember it later. When she's in therapy later in life, it won't be because of the sleep training." So, I laid her down sleepy, but awake, as the book says to do. I closed the door and went off to iron some clothes to keep my mind occupied. Minutes later, I check the clock. Yep, five minutes later and she's still screaming. I tell myself to tune her out and get back to ironing. Ironing is a favorite chore, and I quickly lose awareness of everything around me. When I finish the next shirt, I listen for Wren and hear only silence. I look at the clock and see that it's been only ten minutes since I laid her down. It can't be that easy! Fearing that something terrible has happened to her, I open the bedroom door and peek in. There she is, sleeping serenely, her little hands up over her head. I'm so excited that I close the door and tell Levi (who doesn't care), and head out the door to find Rob and crow about our success.

Wren has had two naps since, and she cried no more than five minutes before soothing herself to sleep each time. Weissbluth says that children who are able to soothe themselves to sleep generally have longer, more quality sleep episodes. Each of Wren's three naps went significantly longer than her naps leading up today. Seriously, if you know of anyone expecting a baby, skip all the other things on their registry and buy them this book!

I'm excited about reclaiming the time usually spent on bouncing. I'm not excited about my arms returning to their pre-Wren state. I guess I have time for push-ups...

Lynda