State of the Bladder

Lately, I've been feeling a little like I'm pregnant again.

Well, that is to say, I can now report on the location, quality, and cleanliness of the restroom facilities in many stores in our area. Since Everett is out of diapers (aside from during sleep) now, errands are a bit more of an experience. When I strap him in his car seat, I give him the same talk I always do.

"Everett, we're going to ride in the car for a while. You CANNOT go potty in the car. You must wait until we get into the store and I will find a toilet for you to use. Do you pee in your underpants? (no, he says) Do you poop in your underpants? (no, he says) That's right. What happens if you go in your underpants? (no prize tonight, he iterates)"

He nods agreeably through my mini-lecture and understands exactly what I expect of him. So far, we've had no accidents in the car, and I'm hoping this trend will continue.

Our process when we go in the store is a little complicated. I have him use the bathroom in each store we go to, mostly for my peace of mind and less for the comfort of his bladder. Telling a teenage employee at Wal-Mart that there is a "spill" in aisle 7 for him to attend to is not high on my to-do list.

However, Everett's reserved nature extends to unfamiliar bathrooms. This necessitates an introductory trip when we enter the store, in which I show him the facilities and maybe even use them myself. . . and in which he nervously clings to me. If I take him in my arms and tell him he doesn't have to use it now, he is fine. If he thinks he has to use it, his pulse pounds, he dissolves into tears, and is inconsolable until we exit the bathroom.

Before we end our shopping trip, I have to take him back in the bathroom for one last visit, which usually happens as uneventfully as can be expected when I cram myself, a walking one-year-old, and a toddler who has to strip halfway down, into a stall the size of a refrigerator.

So far, no public accidents. I'm counting my blessings.

Today, he napped without a diaper and without an accident. I hope he will continue to have this much bladder control, because I have no idea how we're going to night train him. Any ideas?

Things Everet Has Discovered This Week

Driving the car. The kids were recently babysat by someone in our complex, and so when we came to pick them up, we just decided to park by their building. We live just a couple of buildings away, so Joel let Everett sit on his lap and drive to our building. He was completely awestruck, and when Joel told him to make a left turn, he did it all by himself! I tried to make it clear that this is a one-time thing and that he can only do this when Papa helps him, and he hasn't asked since.




Everett also discovered that he can make an airplane out of his blocks. He was exceptionally proud and immediately requested that we take a picture.




He had to get one with all of his favorite things, too, including the tower he made.





We haven't been very good about getting books from the library. We went last week and Everett has been loving having some new books around here to read. I admit, I have been too!





One day I heard some funny noises and saw Everett, all stripped down and sitting in the dryer with his trucks neatly lined up. He thought he was hysterical and could not stop laughing.





He also discovered the joys of shadow fingers and making your face glow red with a flashlight. It was his prize for staying dry today, and he has been beyond excited for it.




We checked out a pop-up book about sea creatures. They are very life-like and Everett has loved it, except for the shark page. He was scared of it at first, but was also morbidly curious--he asked for this book over and over. In case anyone has nothing else to do today, here is a video of some of his antics.

Amateur

Everett continues his love of taking pictures. I don't necessarily think he is a budding photographer, although if I agree with John Locke and his tabula rasa theory, I'd say we could make him into one :). I think he would have a long way to go, but he definitely has "point and shoot" down pat.

We look kind of funny, but I like this picture because I'm on my tiptoes and Joel is schlumping over. . .so I look taller. Yes, I've always wanted to be a little taller. Yes, I know this is never going to happen. No, this doesn't keep me awake at night.

I think I married a pretty great guy. If I want his help with housework, I only ever have to ask him once and he does it without complaint. I just need to get better at asking rather than simmering about it. If I tell him I want to do something together, he finds a book for us to read (The Outliers by Malcom Gladwell--so far, very good). A couple of weeks ago, he woke up early on a Saturday morning and disappeared. Where was he? In the garden, tackling all 200 sq. feet of our "weed disaster zone" that was supposed to be a thriving garden. He did it just to surprise me, even though I told him in no uncertain terms that he didn't have to lift a finger in the garden. Now that, people, is romance.

He is understanding of me. He is always telling me "thank you" or complimenting me in some way, and he is always saying to Everett, "Isn't Mama so good to us?" or "Go give your Mama a hug."

I admit, I don't get tired of any of it.

F-U-N

Today I looked over at the couch and saw Ashley sitting there with a washcloth on her head. She had such a pleased look on her face that I burst out laughing, and of course Everett had to climb up there and put one on his head too.

However, he thought it was much more fun to whip it off his head as fast as he could, getting Ashley to laugh.






But I think he was the one who was laughing the most.

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Potty Training Status:

Trained! Well, mostly. We've had only a handful of accidents, and generally those have happened when Joel and I didn't take him to the bathroom often enough.

I have been too nervous to take him on errands in underpants, so he now knows that when he is wearing a diaper, he must still use the toilet. So far he has not had a wet diaper at all except for at night. One day he held it for four hours while we were out.

He doesn't volunteer to go to the bathroom much, but he is willing to do it if we ask him to. When I take him in I try to make silly noises when he goes so he still thinks it's entertaining. So far, so good.

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Ashley had her 12 month check-up today, which was great because she was very sick over the weekend. I almost took her to an Urgent Care clinic, but I didn't. Come to find out, she had/has the remnants of a raging ear infection! Poor girl. We have some numbing drops now, but she has been almost back to normal today.

Here are her stats this month, if anyone wants to know:

Height: 27 inches/20th percentile
Weight: 18 lbs, 10 oz/12th percentile
Head: 47 cm/95th percentile

Crazy! I don't know how, but her head has really grown. Also, I've been so excited to be able to turn her car seat around, but we have to wait. I don't know how long it will take her to get to 20 pounds, but whenever it happens, she'll be happy to be looking out the front of the car.

Independence Day

We had some fun this Fourth of July, even though we are far away from family. We began the day with whole wheat pancakes and homemade strawberry jam. . .which I think Everett and I liked better than Joel. Oh well. Can't have french toast all the time.

Then, just in time for a rainstorm, we had a barbecue/potluck with other members of the Village. They had a little bike parade planned, but we decorated the kids and let them walk around the community center instead. The biggest bummer due to rain was that we didn't get to have our bonfire and s'mores, but there wasn't much we could do about it. We'll do it sometime during the next couple of weeks.

The Fire Department came with a fire truck and a department golf cart. The best part was that they gave all the kids fire hats, which Everett, of course, loved.

We woke Everett up at about 10:30pm to go do fireworks. Even though he didn't know what they were, he jumped right out of bed and ran outside. Our friends had some that shot up in the air, which were Everett's favorite. We had a few little ones that were fun, but Everett kept asking why they didn't go up in the sky.

We were rewarded with lots of excitement and lots of good facial expressions from Everett. Fireworks are the most fun with kids who are thrilled by them.




But my favorite, by far, was watching his reaction to the "sky" fireworks, as Everett labels them.

Classic.





I was pretty nervous to let him try a sparkler, since they are such a burn hazard, but I am pleased to say that he handled them very delicately.

He also enjoyed the little poppers (snaps? What do you call them), but mostly liked to just step on them. After a few of those he was ready to go inside, and best of all, he went to bed without a fuss. Thank heavens!

What a fun day! I admit, on this day I do not think enough about the freedoms we have been given by our ancestors, many who paid for it with their lives. Whether we're happy with the economy, the government, or what Ashton Kutcher is twittering about, we live in a nation that believes in freedom, a nation that is filled with moral people, and a nation where we don't all feel the effects of war in our day-to-day lives.

And that, I think, is a pretty good thing.

Like Magic

Last week I was playing around with a pencil and broke it. Everett thought it was hysterical and kept re-enacting the breakage, which evolved into his first magic trick. He couldn't get through it without giggling at what was to happen, but he enjoyed doing it several times. And yes, because I always have the camera, we have it on video.

If you feel like watching the little Wizard, here you go.

FYIs:
His "mahs" are actually a mimick of when I was doing the trick and singing a little "bum, bum, bum" tune.

His "ayck" is break.

Going Strong (also, TMI again)

Underpants: Dinosaur

Hours worn today: Two and a Half, from the time we bought them to the time Everett went to bed.

Trips to the potty: Four (all successful)

Accidents: None

Tantrums thrown: Only when a certain someone discovered that he couldn't wear the underpants to bed. This is day one, people. I have no idea what kind of bladder control he has. Plus, I was kind of hoping he would be sad to take them off. This is going to be the motivation for staying dry.

Interest: Strong. After turning Everett backwards on the toilet, he was able to see the waterworks in action and had a major giggle-fest.

Hopes: High, but not too high. Tomorrow will be our biggest test. Also, whenever the moment happens that going to the bathroom stops being fun--that will also be a test.