First Day of Twos

James had his first day of twos preschool today.  He grins ear to ear when we talk about all the “big kid” things he’ll get to do at school this year.  Like drinking out of “big kid cups” {aka dixie cups},  walking in a line with his class, and joining a class with friends that are also using the potty!

Taking pictures before we got in the car was about the only thing I managed to get done for school.  We’ve been in Florida for a week, which means I hadn’t given school a thought until last night.

We missed the chance to meet our teacher at the class drop-in last week.  I haven’t had time to buy his school supplies yet.  And James is in dire need of a haircut.  While watching Mickey Mouse last night, I {for the first time, and probably the last} gave James a little haircut of my own.  Poor kid.  Can’t pick your mom.

I was nervous about how he would adjust to a new room, new class and new teacher.  Especially after missing the drop-in and having such a long week.  He ran right in, gave his teacher a high-five, said “it’s Mommy’s biwfday!” then, started playing.

My baby is growing up so fast.  It seems like just yesterday I was dropping him off for his very first day of school.

Ms Emily  said he had a great morning!  She gave us the go-ahead on wearing underwear to school so, goodbye pull-ups, we are officially done!  ..Gulp..

James and his best bud Connor on their first day of Twos.

James, you are such a big boy, and I am so very proud of you.  Here’s to another great year at our wonderful school!

James’ prayer

A couple of weeks ago, James and I were talking about school during lunch.  He he put his hands to together and said this prayer:

God is great.  God is good.  Let us thank him for all this food.  Amen.

It was so sweet that I actually started crying.  I didn’t even know he was learning a prayer at school.  Just one more reason why I love his school!  I got it on tape yesterday.  I love how he says “God is grape.”

Potty Training

Long detailed blog mainly for my records…

In March, our pediatrician said James was ready for potty training.  He was telling us when he’d go #2 or when he was “all wet”, he’s a great talker, and he was loving his diaperless afternoons outside.

The Easter Bunny brought potties and potty books.  I didn’t think James was quite ready, and he doesn’t like anything if it’s forced so, we decided to take it really slowly.  Starting with sitting on the potty with clothes.  Key words: “Only if you want to.”  And he did.

Our doc said to sit him on the potty when the bath is running.  So we did for the first time Easter night… for about one second.  James said, “I no yike it.”

We read potty books and talked about the potty.  Then, we dropped the subject.  This child doesn’t like anything that he has to do.

With all the naked time outside , James quickly became aware of going #1.

He was very cautious of anything dripping down his legs…  Even while wearing a swim diaper.

He had all the signs of being ready so, we gave it a shot.  I’ve had some people ask me my ‘potty training secret.’  It’s time.  I’m a stay at home mom of just one little rascal, and we did this at a time when there really wasn’t much going on.  So at the end of April, we sat

and sat

and sat.

Each time he went, he was rewarded.  {Reward is my other secret.}  We did little presents at first.  And boy did he catch on quickly.

Nothing cost more than a couple of dollars, and we also did stuff that he needed anyways.  Like underwear, a pillow, summer water toys, movies that we already owned and books.  But after about a week, the presents were a little much.

But mission accomplished; he had no problem using the potty.  Number one and number two.  We had also switched to the big toilet, because cleaning the little potty is way worse than changing diapers.

James was using the potty five to seven times a day.  We did M&Ms now and then, but mostly he was just so proud of himself.  He still claps each time and says “Mommy’s so pwoud of me!” 

He wore underwear here and there, but it really didn’t bother him to wear diapers.

I had a kid that could easily use the potty, but only cared to do so on his terms.  Resistant to stop playing or interrupt a TV show.  I even let his diapers get fuller and fuller just to feel uncomfortable.  He didn’t care.  When I said “do you need to use the potty?”  He said “no.”

So finally I put an end to a two year old calling the shots.  We said goodbye to the diapers, and we started to wear underwear all the time.  The first hour of the day was great.  Then the accidents began.

We either ran to the potty or cleaned up accidents every 30 minutes.  We covered the couches with blankets,

and we went through eight pairs of underwear the first day.

Day two, we only used two pairs of underwear.  He continued to do great as long as I reminded him.  We weren’t doing much of a reward system.  Just a coin for his piggy bank every now and then.

We started leaving the house without diapers and using public potties.  James LOVES the adventure of using public bathrooms.  I’m relieved he’s not scared of them, glad that he complies while we’re out, and completely repulsed at it all at the same time.

Then two molars started coming in.  James had trained himself to hold his pee for a couple of hours, and I thought he should be telling me when he needed to go.  He had a fever, no appetite, and completely regressed with potty training.  I was convinced he had a Urinary Tract Infection at this very moment...

I bribed him with candy at the doctor’s office to pee in a cup.  Not a proud parenting moment, but it worked.  No UTI.  Just one stubborn little boy {who had other pains on his mind}.  The doc said don’t go back to diapers after two weeks under our belt.  If he’s smart enough to use the potty on his own terms, he can learn to do it all the time.  And to keep reminding him.  And use rewards again.

One balloon,

one sticker chart,

and one “I know you don’t want to use the potty, but you’re a big boy now...” talk, and we are officially… not potty trained.  But we are very close to it. :)  We are officially, what I like to call, Diaperless!  James is in the summer program at his preschool.  He is even diaperless and using the potty at school.  Three and a half weeks of no diapers {except during sleep time}!  James, Mommy is soooo proud of you!

If you are still reading this forever long blog, here is a short video that pretty much sums up our life right now. :)

Dying our eggs {first time}

Anytime I do anything holiday related as a family or with my baby, it makes me feel sentimental.  The fact that this is James’ THIRD Easter makes me feel really sentimental in itself.  Although, in dire need of yet another haircut, I declare James Wallace mature enough to dye Easter Eggs.

In the backyard, of course. :)  Looking at these pictures, I’m sure Daddy would point out that James is left handed.  And Mommy is proud that James has officially learned his colors.

The first thing James did was squish the eggs.  Once we got past that, I considered these eggs nothing more than a toddler sensory project.  Well, and an Easter memory.

James had an Easter Egg Hunt at school last week.  We opened all the eggs on Friday to get his goodies.  When he opened a real egg, he was not happy to get yolk instead of jelly beans.

He almost started crying.

I love that James has a favorite color.  For as long as he has known what colors are, green has been his favorite.  His teacher always has him do green projects at school, and I love it. :)

This is his latest school project, and it’s one of my favorite things in the whole world.

When James concentrates so deeply it’s hard to get a smile out of him.  I could hardly get him to look up, but I was determined to get something.

After all the playing outside, we decided to wash up and take a break.  Missing a few spots.

I don’t know how I will ever throw these away.  They’ll probably stink my whole house up before I finally let go. :)

Happy Easter!

James’ First School Picture

I’m new to this whole preschool thing so, I’m not sure if they take a real school picture.  “Real” meaning parents are notified, I pick out an outfit, do a better job combing his hair, and he sits on a stool in front of a backdrop.  And we get to buy tons of copies to hand out to all family members.

This is the picture that is now posted on the board outside of his room amongst all of his classmates’ pictures.

Notice they had to crop out some his hair in the picture?  Time for another haircut.  Sheesh.  He’s like a chia pet.  But oh so cute.  I would be his friend if I were in his class.  Wouldn’t you?

James’ first day of preschool

Pre-parenthood, I never thought my child would start preschool at just one year old.  Until I had this child.  And realized how important structure is for him.  And how important it is for him to learn to trust other adults than just Mommy and Daddy.  I remember discussing it with Justin when James was about eight months old.  We both had given it a lot of thought that our little baby {and the strong-willed, often dependent personality that he has} would benefit from a part time preschool program at our church.

Monday, August 8, 2011, we wake up.

It’s just like any other morning, except that I start to feel a little sentimental.  Therefore, the TV’s on and a raisin snack is served 15 minutes after breakfast.  I want my baby to be happy and meltdown free before his first day of school.

James slept in a bit so, before I know it we have to get dressed for school.  {And I’m wishing I already had my camera ready to take pictures!}  We comb our teeth and brush our hair.

We love to brush our teeth.  We’re feeling very big boyish today.

While brushing our teeth, we try to start a tradition of taking a picture each year on the first day of school.  In front of the {gated} mantle or in front of the house.

The mantle pose lasted 1.5 seconds.

We kiss our puppy goodbye, because we know we’re going somewhere in the car.

And we do a little dance on the couch.  Just cause.

We get in the car and point out every “tra-truck” and “car”.

I quickly drop off my crying baby.  When I come back three hours later, all the kids are sitting at the table listening to the teachers sing The Wheels on the Bus.  I look around for my baby, and he is the only child being held.  It’s hard to recognize him behind all of his tears and snot.  The teacher said, he was “off and on”, and I replied, “It’ll get better. Thank you.”  His daily report card said he was tired.  I know he wasn’t tired, but they don’t quite know him yet, and maybe “tired” is a euphemism for “horrified”.

When we got in the car, I heard his happy little voice saying “whish whish whish”  with his right arm waving back and forth.  He was singing The Wheels on the Bus “the windshield wipers go swish, swish, swish.  swish, swish, swish.”  I was amazed to hear him sing a song he learned on just the first day of school.

And here’s the kicker.  Other than “off and on tired” and “whish, whish, whish” I have absolutely no idea how his first day of school was.  He was doing a hand motion later in the day with a new word, and I don’t know what in the world It means.  If I could be a fly on any wall, it would be the walls of my child’s preschool.  I trust him completely in the hands of our church.  I couldn’t be more pleased with his new school, classroom, and teacher.  All I’m saying is, his teacher better be prepared for our first parent/teacher conference, because I’ll have some questions!

Baby James, you’ve made us proud once again.  You are one loved little student.  We love you so much.