Zero

Two more days. Several outings. ZERO accidents.
Lots of treats. Even more praise.

I still can't get over how he came over DURING baseball class to tell me he had to go. SAME THING today at Going Bonkers.

As a bonus, M&M Mars has been a great tool for learning colors.
As we're walking to get our m&m for going in the potty, we say excitedly, 'I wonder what color it's going to be?"
Orange is his official first color. He knows brown as well.
When it's green, he says 'like the grass', but not consistent with the names of that one or the others.

Zero is my new favorite number.

3 Silly Sluggers

Our 3rd week in at Lil Sluggers and we finally got all 3 boys at the same time. Coach Matt is pretty great w/ the boys, and calls them silly a lot. I do too, as it's a good diffuser. Reece has says things are silly a lot, and last night laughed a loud at a stand-up comic on tv, calling him silly.

Ready

Well, I guess Reece is ready. We've been doing underwear time in the evenings to practice (and even took a week off of that while Reece was sick), but I didn't expect this today. This morning when I went to change his diaper, he asked for big boy underwear.

(short version: Reece wore big boy underwear all day today.)

We were headed to the library (indoors, lots of kids, very embarrassing if any accidents happened), but let's go for it. I was feeling a little anxious about the morning, also b/c my tummy wasn't feeling so great. He ate breakfast and played some before it was time to go. Did great. He went first thing this morning but didn't want to go potty before we left and I was a little worried.

He remained dry through the car ride and ALL through storytime. WAY TO GO, Reece! Poor guy, I must have asked him 20 times if he needed to go.
Then we headed to the playground, but had to stop in the library potty first.
This was going to be big. It was a big bathroom and a big potty. He said he didn't want to (acted a little nervous but not upset about it), so we talked about playing w/ Grayson, getting a treat, and eventually getting a big boy bed when he learns how. And, he did it!

Went to the playground (so convenient to have a playground at the library!). After a while of playing, Reece grabbed his shorts, ran to me, and said he needed to go. We stopped playing, walked inside, and went again in the library bathroom. I was SOOOOO PROUD of him. Heck, I don't even like stopping what I'm doing to go. He got a fresh pair of just undees (have to spell it like that b/c of my name), b/c he leaked a tiny little bit.

Played a little more, then came back home where the Gman joined us for lunch. The boys hardly ate, but played soooo well together today. Reece went twice while Grayson was here, and Grayson tried on the potty too. Good encouragement, Reece!
It was a big day around here.

Grayson left and it was time for nap. Reece wanted to wear his underwear during his nap today, and again, I was a little worried that he'd wake up wet, be really upset about it, and not want to continue. Nevertheless, with the ultimate crib sheet securely in place, I decided to go for it.

He woke up dry! He went pee and then we continued talking about going #2. It seems to be a little scary to him. A lot of moms have told me that #2 is a big turd-le hurdle, and sometimes makes then regress. I decided to get him a more comfortable seat, and we talked about that. I asked him he wanted to the store to get a new toilet seat, b/c it will be more comfortable and easier to go poo. He liked the idea. So when daddy got home, we all went.

I got a little distracted in the grocery section and Reece had an accident. None got on the floor, but it did leak through to his shorts. He was a little upset, but we talked about how accidents happen, even Elmo says so. He was ok.
We went quickly to the check-out. D checked out while we changed in the car.

I had my sights on another seat, but we ended up with none other than...KaCHOW!And after being a little afraid and asking for a diaper, we talked positively about our new seat and went in there to try it out.
HE DID IT! He went poo poo TWICE in the potty last night. This is the first time since over a year that he had gone #2. ALL 3 of us were soooo proud!

I know I didn't push him into this. He initiated it all by himself (which he says properly now), and wow, what a monumental day in the life of diaperville. I NEVER expected this. I'll try to keep my expectations low. But, clearly he's ready.

if we had planned it

We said Happy Birthday to Tara on Monday with a breakfast at Cafe Brazil. While that gorgeous gal is now holding on to her twenties, I'm doing the same in my thirties. That decade doesn't keep us from being super tight gfs, though. Maybe somehow she keeps me young. Uh, but not at all sure what I do for her. ; )

Since we all nearly rolled out of bed to get there, I didn't take any pics of us today. But, we had such a nice morning, which couldn't have gone smoother with 4 1/2 kids if we had planned it. From Cafe Brazil, we scooted across the parking lot to McD's, where there was a perfect play area for the kids.I snapped this one from on the bench, and then Caleb mimicked me.
Sooooo, THIS is what I look like, eh Caleb?I think he's much cuter.Kennedy such a happy girl in her exersaucer.Headed back to Lindsey's for more play time and a little neck work on my crick. Helps to have a physical therapist as a friend. ; )

(Quirky Sundee side note: Every time I see the word therapist, I see two words together. The first word is 'the'. Yeah, I know! Let's just call her a pt.)

Happy, Happy Birthday, Tara!
You're gorgeous, hilarious, so real, and my favorite person to talk to on the phone while I'm peeing. ; )

Saturday Mow

Drawer full

Thursday at Bailey's new place was nice. A drawer full of hair clips was a source of great and sweet entertainment. They picked them up and poured them out, and giggled and giggled. My favorite is Reece putting one in Bailey's hair.They had their moments too. Reece had 'bedroom time' a few times while we were there. And Bailey's friend WILL showed up toward the end of our visit. He sure is strong. ; )Oh that puppy was one of WILL's big issues...
but I sure love that beautiful girl.I love Bailey's smile that's so big her eyes squint.
Missed me some Tara time. Girl, I love your new place. Even more, I love how God provided this house for you in His timing. What seemed like missing out on the original house you wanted, was instead Him first placing a very dear friend just a stone's throw away. He rocks. (pun intended)

A push and a slug

Story time at the library on Wednesday morning followed by 'Chicken Play' with Desi and Anne. Reece pushed Paul and we left early (so sad), although he still got to go to baseball class.

I thought we may be slugging it solo this week w/ the Gman on vaca.
But, we after the warm-up, we met a new friend.

Still Mega

Reece no longer calls his grandmother Megamaw anymore. Tuesday we came over to Grandmama's side of the world for a visit. I'd say she's still mega.

We ran some errands together and had lunch at Celebrity Bakery. Headed back home for a LATE nap in Grandmama and PapaBen's BIG bed. Grandmama read books to Reece. Will be so sweet to read books to my boy one day soon, snuggled together in his big boy bed.The house was pretty noisy with radiant barrier installers. It took a while, but he did it!After he got up, we ate some dinner, which Grandmama whipped up in 30 minutes easily. (BTW, I am a huge new fan of large lima beans. I know, but SERIOUSLY, they were awesome.)
Then, took a walk around the lake and back again.Reece was wiped out on the walk back. All 3 of us were HOT and tired. Headed back to Dallas. We were pooped.Thanks for the mega Tuesday, Grandmama!

Me too

Scottie left his phone in D's car, so Reece and I delivered it today.
Frankly, I was thankful to have an excuse to get up and out of the house for a change.

Before we left, Reece said "I like Scottie." Me too, sweetie.
A minute later he said, "I love Reece". Me too!
(No self confidence issues, I see.)

Nice

(Backblogging.)
Grandmama came over Saturday morning. She was on call as we weren't sure when I'd be back home from photographing sweet Caroline's birth. What a treat!

Got home at 5:15am. D headed out of town a little while later and Grandmama came for a visit anyway. It was nice that she did.

Bugs in my tummy

Turns out Reece has a little tummy bug. It's been a long, slow week.Every time I thought he was over it, he'd toss it again. He's actually only thrown up a handful (or should I say bucket full) of times.
Just as we'd survived nearly a full day or even >24 hours after the last, another one came. Yesterday, he didn't get sick all day long. But then tonight at dinner...at Ball's...with the neighbors...he did. I'm soooo sorry everyone.

D and I did get down a yummy, yummy burger though. And, Ball's after 22 years is having to close. Evidently the owners are planning a Dunkin' Donuts in the space. That makes ME sick to my stomach. ; )

I think I would have preferred the 24 hour bug instead, more potent but over quickly. One of the hardest parts is the whining and crying about what he can't eat and drink. I remind him that he's sick, and tonight I told him he had a tummy bug.
He confirmed, "I have bugs in my tummy?" Hopefully they'll leave soon, sweetie.

Lil slugger

The dude wants to play baseball all the time. Tuesday night I thought about Lil Sluggers again. I liked the idea of a structured class for a few weeks on a topic he adores. So, I called around 7pm, surprisingly someone answered the phone, found out the next session started tomorrow, called Kir, and signed up.

The day was a rough one for me. I was tired and frustrated in general, Reece was not minding, and then threw up ALL over the car in the Whole Foods parking lot. He was crying b/c we left, b/c he wasn't minding, and b/c he thought we weren't going to baseball class. I think the last made him most upset. So, when he threw up, I assumed it was from getting sooooo worked up. I mean, that's only happened fifty times or so in his lifetime. Stripped him down, cleaned it up, and swung by home to pick up a fresh set of clothes for class.

It was clear to Kirsten I wasn't having a super duper day. However, within 2 minutes of the class starting, my frown turned upside down. The other boy didn't show and it was a class for our two boys. They were PRECIOUS with Coach Matt and had the best time. I understand why they save batting for last...clearly the favorite.Started with a good warm-up. ; )Learned about alligator hands for catching.Worked on movement with the hula hoop.Learned to run the bases. No pic, but Reece struggled a bit with running the bases. Instead, he'd just run around out there. We told him to go catch Grayson (or something like that), as Grayson was running the bases correctly. Uh, Reece caught him alright...right down to the ground. Aw man, you guys were having so much fun.

Clearly, it was time for batting, which made everything ok again.Coach Matt noted that Reece bats really well for his age.
He really does....it's weird, but that's his thing. Somehow he learns from the batters on tv and knows how to release the bat with one hand while allowing his other arm to extend with great follow-through. Nothing we've taught. He struck it well, and hit the back wall several times.Ran to pick up his balls and was back to batting again.Played home run derby. Each boy got to bat as the other played the field. It included a full run of the bases, without the catcher threat at home plate.

The only bad part was that it was over too soon for these boys. You'll have to wait until next week, my little slugger.

Bottoms on top

Had dinner with neighbor Aidan and his dear folks on Sunday night. So neat.
Monday afternoon (in his big boy underwear) Reece said,
"I like Aidan's big boy bed." I told him he could have one once he learned how to go on the potty.

I had no idea how motivated he would be. He immediately said he wanted to go potty and tried so hard to go. After he went (just tt), he asked for a big boy bed. So cute. I explained, and yet he wasn't discouraged. Later he had an accident, but he caught himself and called for me quickly. It was manageable, but needed a solid cleaning.

I only had 3 pair, now all dirty, so he spent the rest of the evening bare-bottomed. Took a pretty cute picture of his little bum sticking out from under his t-shirt, baseball bat in hand.

We clearly needed more big boy underwear.
So, Tuesday morning we set out.
He proudly carried the package around the store, opening it up once we got in the car. "Look at me, momma." is what I heard from the back seat. And what I saw...

In bulk

Ok, mom, I'm fully converted. No longer will I buy the convenient pre-sliced shrooms in the styrofoam containers, even if they are in environmentally-friendly containers (thanks, Whole Foods).

Bulk shrooms are bright, white, and HUGE. They are so fresh; the difference in incomparable. And, they don't require any packaging to throw away or recycle. From now on, I'm buying in bulk.

How we roll

Drove around the lake together after church Sunday. I was searching for a good spot for a scheduled WM photo shoot that afternoon.

Reece saw some people on roller blades and was very inquisitive. When I told him that we had some at home, he was VERY excited. Uh...not sure how that's going to work.

After naps, he asked about them immediately. We found the blades, took a lap around the house, then took it outside. Momma showed him how it's done (D was impressed), then we assisted him up and down the sidewalk. That's just how we roll.

Orange you glad

(Reece and his mommy are eating lunch at table when Reece starts chatting...)

R - "That, that is orange."
Me - "YES, sweetie! That IS orange!" (I'm really thinking he's catching on)
R - "Orange like Elmo."
Me - "No, sweetie, Elmo isn't orange, he's red, remember?" (slightly dejected)
R - "Orange like a Tiger."
Me - (excited again) "YES! Orange like a Tiger! Tigers ARE orange, too."
R - "And elephants!" (he says sooo excitedly)
Me - (slapping my hand against my forehead) "No, sweetie, elephants aren't orange."

This was such a cute exchange and one that just tickled me pink...I mean, Elmo...I mean orange. Orange you glad I shared? ; )

Curly toes

So behind in recording this. It was tempting to call this post Ballerina Boy, but I'm sticking with curly toes. My hub will appreciate that.

Reece walks on his toes, A LOT. People comment on it. But, when they see his 'special' way of walking on his toes, they are nearly grossed out. Some think I should enroll him in ballet classes immediately. That's funny.

I do think it's an interesting skill, which certainly has to help his balance and coordination somehow. And he will do it on command, given an available soft cushy surface. I give you Mr. Curly Toes:

Sharing waffles