July Update

Father's Day 2015

July 4th Bike Parade followed by swimming at the neighborhood pool

Bryson conquered potty-training! I needed to wait till preschool was over before I could fully concentrate on it. So after our vacation in the beginning of June, it was time to make some progress. We were already at the point where if I left Bryson naked all day, he would go in the potty just fine. It was time to take it to the next level where he could wear clothing and still go in the potty. That took a few weeks to master. Then it was a matter of having him tell me while we were out running errands as well as be able to tell someone other than his parents (babysitter, nursery leaders, extended family). He did 5 days in a row perfectly, and I thought we were there. Then when we were at someone else's house, he had a poopy accident. Ironically, I had just written in his journal the day before that throughout all the potty-training saga he had never had a poopy accident in his underwear! Another week without accidents and him being able to tell his nursery leaders at church when he needed to go potty, and I feel like we're there. It feels quite liberating not to have to change diapers for a few more months! He's 2 years and 8 months, so later than my other boys. Bryson was very interesting in the fact that he didn't like having a potty seat on the toilet. He loved to climb on all by himself.

Occasionally Bryson will go on the potty like this. It's too funny!

This boy is slow in the losing teeth department. He just lost his 4th tooth (almost 8 years old)! He's been working on it for several days.

Also, I started teaching piano lessons this summer. There are three teachers in this area who moved, and it has left a lot of people in need of a teacher. After several approaches, I decided to commit to 5 students (including Carter) for up to the next year (my year off of teaching preschool) while they try to get in with other teachers. There's also the factor of a new baby end of Aug./beginning of Sept.--I'll take a month off after he's born and see how things go with teaching piano with a newborn!

It's Official

Checking it off the list:

Potty Training!!!

Because going #1 in the potty came so easily (within a few weeks of starting the process), it was hard to be patient when going #2 didn't click as easily. It just took catching it one time and letting Caleb open up one of the presents we bought him as motivation, and then he gradually became less and less scared about going on the potty. We have very few accidents these days, and we no longer have to tote around his potty seat when we run errands (we only had to do that for about 2 weeks). He wakes up dry every time after a nap, and he wakes up dry almost every morning. One big step to being a big boy!

A Day in the Life of Caleb

So this post has been a long time in the making simply because I had to remember to have a camera near me during all our activities. It has been so fun taking pictures of everything Caleb does during a typical day. So here goes:

A Day in the Life of Caleb...

Caleb wakes up around 6:30 to 7 am. One of the first things we do after he wakes up is eat breakfast. Bananas are what he usually prefers, but he'll also eat adult oatmeal (as opposed to the baby cereal), yogurt, or some Cheerios.
Then we get ready for Mommy's morning jogs where I meet my running partners at 8 am. We'll still run if it's in the upper 50s and higher, but lately in the morning it is a lot colder than that, so we have started doing workout videos inside. Since my running buddies each have one kid, all the kids love playing together, but it makes for constant stops during our workout. This picture is of Caleb decked out on a colder day. You can see his enthusiasm clearly on his face.

Once a week, Caleb, Aunt Ariane, and Cousin Dallin and I all go to the library for Mother Goose storytime. We sing songs and say rhymes. "Mother Goose" tells a story. There are bubbles and other fun things like jingle bells. Caleb typically is pretty shy and stays close to Mommy, but a few times he has ventured out in the middle of the circle of mommies and babies and done his little dance. Caleb's little dance involves putting his right hand up in the air and running in place. It's adorable.

Mid-morning, we'll usually go out in the backyard while Mommy waters flowers or weeds. Caleb loves playing on his Little Tykes play gym.

Around noon is lunch time--either a peanut butter sandwich, grilled cheese, or a quesadilla and fruit--and by 1:00 Caleb is napping. He has finally taken to a "comfort item," this little bear, which has made nap time and bed time at night SOOO much easier! He wakes up less often now and needs Mommy less. His naps are usually 2 hours if I'm lucky. On the rare occasion he will sleep closer to 3. On those days I'm in a really good mood because I had more time to be productive!

From the hours of about 4:00 pm on, Caleb is extremely fussy. (This is doubly difficult when I try to start preparing dinner by 5:30.) We go to the park at least 3 times a week during this time because Caleb loves to go outside so much! Here are a few pictures of what he loves to do at the park.

Lately it's been too cold and windy for the park outside, so we'll take a trip to The Woodlands' Mall and I'll let Caleb play at 'The Tree'. He loves it, and there are lots of kids to interact with.

On the days when we don't go to the park, a sure trick during Caleb's fussy time (where nothing makes him happy inside!) is pushing the lawn mower outside. We probably look pretty silly pushing that lawn mower up and down the sidewalk, but Caleb is happy :o) He is so good at pushing it by himself except when it gets stuck in the grass.

A few times a week, Caleb and I will take a walk to get the mail.

The best time, for Mommy and Caleb, is when Daddy gets home from work. Daddy does cool stuff like throw me up in the air...

and read me stories.

We eat dinner around 6:30. Caleb will eat with us, whatever we're having, although sometimes he can't wait that long and I'll feed him earlier. After dinner, Caleb loves to help Mommy and Daddy do the dishes!

Once a day, we practice going potty. It's usually before his bath, but sometimes I'll do it around the times he usually has a BM. We've been successful going potty in the toilet maybe once a week, but I always make a big deal about it whenever he does. I think he's started associating the potty with storytime, because while we "wait" I'll read him several stories. It has become his "learning time" too because we'll practice pointing to facial features and his belly button (which he's really good at) as well as me just singing learning songs to him. He doesn't quite get what the potty is for yet, but hopefully it will come with time because I'm tired of the expense of diapers and just diapers in general! Caleb is really good at flushing the toilet afterwards though.

Lastly in our day, Caleb takes a bath. His bedtime is 8:00.