Taylor Swift’s song, “22,” completely reminds me of myself at 22. It’s fun, flirty and carefree. But the reason I even watched this video {at the age of 31} is because of 22’s parody – “32.” Here are the two video’s. I laugh out loud every time I watch the parody. Enjoy. ;)
The days of James repeating everything he hears has begun. Here’s what he said on the way to the grocery store today.
“This is the deal, Mommy. We gonna go to Publix, and when it’s time to leave, I want you to be a good listener. And don’t cry. Just be a big boy.”
By the way, I have never told him that crying doesn’t equate to being a big boy. There’s just no telling what will come out of his mouth these days. Then again, I’m sure he’s heard it somewhere.
I’ve been dying to hear James say the pledge ever since I heard that they say it at school. Today he pretended to be the flag holder, the most sought-after job at school, and started singing “I am proud to be an American” and saying the Pledge. I am so proud, but almost burst out laughing every time he says “republic.” For some reason he says that word in a southern slow motion. I love my little American.
If you have seen the Elf on the Shelf movie, An Elf Story, then you probably know the Extravaganzalorious song. Well, James has had the movie for a week and is already on his way to Broadway. It is so hard not to burst out laughing when he tries to do this choreographed dance. And although he is extremely athletic, he also loves music and clearly loves to dance.
It started too abruptly to turn lights on. It was too cute not to video. And it was too fast for me to keep up with after a 13 hour day together.
I could watch James read and talk about the Bible all day. He read through the Bible saying “This is the Bible, God’s written word” for about an hour. It absolutely melted my heart.
He talks mostly about Jesus and Moses. In this next one, he says “Moses eating an ice cream cone.” We still have much to learn about our Bible stories, but I’m proud of my baby for loving and caring for the Bible at such a young age!
While transferring my iPhone pics to my computer, I couldn’t help but notice quite a few pictures of James and Papa watching Lady and the Tramp. It’s not that they sit around watching movies all day, rather they have one scene they like to watch together… over and over again.
We all know James LOVES his Papa.
He kinda wants to be just like him.
He looks just like Papa.
What’s not to love?
Well, Papa and Mammy babysat on my birthday so, Justin and I could vacation to our favorite place on Earth: Charleston, SC.
We were gone two days, and we came back James and Papa had to “watch da hound dog” on Lady and the Tramp. They would go through the scene selection together, as James would point {with his finger touching the TV} to the correct scene. It’s the very end of the movie, I think scene 23? Anyways, that in itself is a treat, because I have a ‘no rewind over and over again rule’, because at one point scene selection spun out of control in the Helfer household. I understand some rules don’t apply to grandparents, though.
I’m sure Mammy would want me to mention that they kept their grandson very busy. Playing outside, family visits, wagon rides, and even the zoo! James and Mammy accidentally dressed as twins for the zoo!
But their down time was with the hound dog. Tramp gets taken by the dogcatcher so, his doggy friends find their scent and bark until the horses fall! All so that Tramp can escape. Just then, Lady arrives with Jim Dear to rescue Tramp.
James: “He’s sniffin’! Do you yike this park?” {He has to ask Papa if he likes this part, because James is a little unsure of all the drama.} But Papa always says: “Yeah, I like this part.” James, knowing the answer to his questions: “What makes that soooouuund?” and “What’s that noise?” Papa: “That’s the hound dog!” James and Papa: “Here goes!” James ALWAYS says “Here comes Wady! Here comes Wady!” as Lady arrives. At the very end, the brave old hound dog breaks his leg. We see in the next scene that he’s okay, but sometimes it’s just a little too much to watch a dog get hurt.
This has become such a precious memory for us. James’ enthusiasm is already fading for the hound dog, and it won’t be long before Lady is back on the shelf with Buzz Lightyear. Sad, but true. He seems to have a favorite movie and then, one day wants nothing to do with it. However, Buzz just got back in rotation. So, Lady, we will see you before we know it!
As for you, Papa, James isn’t letting you go anywhere.
It’s safe to say, the feeling is mutual.
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.”
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. :)
James’ very favorite song is If you’re happy and you know it, but The Little Green Frog is a close second.
Justin tried to record us singing it until James noticed, and they literally fought over the phone. :)
James has really grown to love the Bible. I got his little southern accent saying ‘Bible’ on video.
We read him books every day. He LOVES reading, but for some reason he has fixated on holding the Bible all by himself. He wants to read it. And he wants to flip through the pages. All. By. Himself. When Callie came over to play today, James actually let her hold the Bible and read to him. It was surprising and sweet.
I love this picture… I’m starting a collection of all the pictures where James is staring at Callie.
I took a video when James and I were playing today. I thought it was so cute that he was calling his harmonica a “mont-ka” so, that’s why I started taping. But he picked up his Bible and started talking about “Bible stories about Jesus” and “Let’s seeeee… Noah’s big boat and the rain” and “the lamb and the mouse” and “Jonah and the whale” and “let’s see…see, see, see” and so on. He usually talks this much, but I don’t usually get it on video. It’s a four minute video, but too precious to trim. You have to really love him to watch the whole thing. And my favorite part is that he started reading it like they do at school with the book facing out.
As much as James loves music, he has never attempted to sing the ABCs. We sing songs all the time, and he listens and motions along. Monday while I was fixing his lunch. He stood there and sang the entire ABCs. I was shocked! I tried to get it on video the second or third time, but couldn’t seem to start it up before “T.” Here are my attempts.
