Making Progress

I expected today to not even be a "potty training" day due to school and Nolan's lack of interest. Hmmm ... well he stayed dry all day at school and even sat on their big potty a couple of times! (nothing came out but at least he tried). He did let it all out in his pull up shortly after Mark picked him up, but anyway. He asked for a milkshake after school and although we don't normally stop for anything I decided sure! He deserved a special treat for what he did at school. When we got home, he wanted to sit on the potty while watching an Elmo on the Potty video we started watching yesterday. He stayed dry through his nap and then sat on the potty with results! He did that twice throughout the evening. Mark had the idea today to just let him be free from the waist down since he does like to be dry when he's naked. That's what I did and he did great! We'll see how tomorrow goes :) I'm so proud of my little man.

Cayenne Pepper or Paprika??

OK, so last night I made one of our favorites: blackened catfish. It is covered in paprika, cayenne pepper, oregano, salt, and pepper. Well the paprika is 2 tbsp for all the fish and cayenne pepper is only 1/4 tsp..... While I was cooking the fish on the stovetop, I kept coughing from the seasoning (should have been clue #1). I started to put the delicious looking fish on Nolan's plate and I decided to take a little bite to see how it came out and my mouth was on FIRE!!!! I accidently switched the paprika for the cayenne :((((( so sad. I was starving, it looked sooooo good, and we had to pitch it! This is such an amateur mistake and the funny thing is I did it once before when Mark and I had just started dating. I was reminding him that he absolutely insisted that I not throw his away and he painstakingly scraped off the offending spice of fire while eating it and sweating! I remember thinking that was so sweet but I couldn't believe he did that. When I reminded him of it, he was like, "WHAT WAS I THINKING??" I don't know honey, but you were adorable. Now, 8 years later, let's throw it away and make an omelette!

p.s. Nolan is not doing any better today with potty training even though I started a sticker chart that he squealed about and was quickly over. What do you do with a stubborn little guy who is easy going enough to not be duped by bribery????

Potty training continues

Nolan is very hit or miss as to his compliance with sitting on the potty. He starts out the day pretty good but then gets bored with it - I guess once he gets enough treats he's sort of done. Ahhh, I trying to be easy going about this! He also is really afraid to poop in the potty and I'm not sure how to combat this one. He's really excited about his super special treat (7 up soda) but then gets scared. I can tell at times that he's trying but I guess it feels altogether different sitting down. If any of you have any tips please let me know!

Potty Training.... again

We have begun potty training again, sigh. I'm really trying to have a good perspective, though. This is a normal phase of a child's life and if this is the worst situation we have to ever deal with Nolan, hurray! Trying to be low stress. Today after Nolan's nap he said he wanted plastic pants on so I put on one of those really cool all in one training pants of thick underwear that is plasticized (really a word?) on the outside. I gave him a Junior mint every time I would check and he was dry - that camel held his pee for almost 3 hours until after his bath he told me he needed to pee so off we went to his little potty in the living room and after a story I read he finally peed a little so he got another Junior mint! Yay Nolan! For a while recently, I was really wanting him to try to use the "big" potty because that's what they have everywhere but he really wanted the little potty and was thrilled about the idea of it being in the living room where he sat for a whole episode of Sesame Street and when he played afterward was dancing around it like it was a campfire and he was wishing for rain, so I finally eased up and realized that he is the type of little guy who needs to take baby steps to get to the final result. Hey, we've been through much worse in our lives and so I'm just trying to be positive for him! Next thing you know, he'll be driving (Dad can teach him that one).

We had a wonderful Christmas! Christmas eve we had a ham and cheese souffle with my Mom and Dad before going to Christmas Eve service at church. Mark did a great church in the round with the congregation gathering literally around the piano and praise team.

Christmas morning we enjoyed opening gifts with Nolan's Memaw and Pa (my parents). Nolan loved all his books and cars and I'm loving my little ipod shuffle - it's great for the gym and for the treks through Wally World (when I'm not with Nolan of course ;).

We had our annual prime rib dinner and my brother and his wife joined us. We ended with the movie Cars (of course!).

We went to NJ and PA for 10 days after that and thoroughly enjoyed our relaxing time with Mark's family. We were all sick in succession of course but that didn't stop us from riding a sled and Mark hunting (don't ask him about it) and of course eating until our pants don't fit! I know, I know. I am aware of what my profession is and I'm working on it now! We hope you all had a blessed birthday party for Jesus! He's great isn't He??