the stuff that goes on while stuff is going on

I posted about our goings on, but this is what has been really going on.

About two weeks ago, I was really frustrated with the lack of potty training progress. Mostly I was feeling like a failure parent about not being able to help Em with her "pooping" issues. Robert and I talked and we decided to up the ante. We went full out, 1 capful of Mirolax per day and no diapers except overnight, all of this with the idea of getting her to poop in the toilet at least once/day. Monday and Tuesday were a complete struggle, Emily is really stubborn, everyone says it is that red hair. Wednesday we sort of turned the corner. And I am scared to say it a loud because I don't want to jinx it, but this week she tells me she has to poop, we go, and she poops. This week we have started decreasing the Mirolax, so lets pray that we don't do it to abruptly and she still gets the hang of it with less. We have had one pee accident during nap in the last 13 days, previously I always let her wear a diaper to nap. I think we will stick with the diaper overnight for a while, with how full it is in the morning I don't think she quite has the control. In summary, I am thrilled, YEAH!
She is becoming such a little lady, she says little grown up things, talks all the time about turning three and getting to eat a chocolate cake. We have been talking about giving up the "ba ba" or paci when she turns three.

Dallas is also keeping up with his sister. He has tried and liked all of the following, avocado, pears, peaches, green beans, and prunes. He has liked all but peas, but I wonder if the texture was a little to thick, I don't think I pureed them well enough. He sits up really well and only topples over once or twice a day, especially after I tell people he is sitting up. He really loves to bounce in his exersaucer, Emily will bounce towards him, and he will bounce and giggle along with her.
He is still taking three naps a day. He wakes in between 6:00 and 7:00 nurses, has breakfast of oatmeal and something with Em around 8:00, he usually naps from 9:00 to 10:00, another 12:00-2:00, and then a third hour long nap before dinner. He usually has a little bit of whatever puree he is trying for dinner. He likes to sit at the table with us, he smiles a ton when we sing our prayer. It seems like 2 hours is about the max he likes to be awake. I am still wishing for him to sleep through the night, I would love to get more than 4 hours of sleep in a row.
Bo is doing well, he doesn't like the hot weather that much. His favorite temperature seems to be about 30 degrees, he is shedding everywhere. That has reminded me that I still haven't purchased a vacuum yet!
We have trim around our new windows as of Wednesday. I am blogging now, waiting for my nail putty fill to dry so I can go prime the wood next. Dallas is back in the guest room while I get this finished up and Robert hangs the blinds again.
I have also started to tackle our room. I am stripping wallpaper from our bathroom, I painted the vanity cabinet white, and trying to pick new bedding so I can get a paint color for the walls in the bedroom and bathroom. It seems that everyone says it is easier to find bedding you like and pick a color from there, than find a wall color and then find matching bedding.

hope you enjoyed my novella

My husband is 34

Wow we are getting old, I have known my husband for longer than 10 years! We had a great celebration on Wednesday for his birthday. I asked if he wanted another treat, as I had made peanut butter ice cream pie for his birthday on Monday to have at our bible study. He said that didn't count(1), so Wednesday morning I went to the Internet. I don't know if it is awesome or incredibly sad that I had enough stuff in the house to make this cake (it called for three different kinds of chocolate), you decided. It was super yummy, even better cold from the fridge. It is Thursday afternoon and it is half gone!

We got the birthday boy a new football, he loves it.

We went to see the new Transformers movie after dinner. Ike, Robert's now retired co-worker asked me a couple of weeks ago if we would like him to babysit so we could see a movie on his birthday. Of course we said yes. Ike did a great job, he said the kiddo's were perfect, Dallas went right to bed for him too, I am so glad I don't want to scare off those free babysitters. Ike is going to make a great grand-dad as soon as his kids give him some!
(1) Robert wanted me to correct this, he didn't say it didn't count, he said he would be up for a cake as well, since it was his birthday

saying Goodbye

Emma and Emily at pool party this week

I never thought my little Emily would have such a good friend at the age of almost three, but our dear Emma is moving to the Quad Cities on Friday. We hope to visit soon, but I think it is safe to say she will be missed quite a bit, plus I don't know how to explain "moving" to Emily. We pray for her safe travels and for settlement into her new surroundings.

Visitng friends... and Father's Day

We hosted our good friends Tim (shag) and Dana plus their new arrival Abagail. Abby was born the beginning of Feb, and this was the

first time we were able to meet her, we wish she didn't live in Delaware! Being only two months apart, Dallas sure does tower over Abby, I am pretty sure he has a solid 5 pounds on her! They got to spend all weekend with us, and helped us celebrate Father's day too, Tim's first.

We went to the zoo on Sat, before the Burkharts came to Ames, we had tons of fun, but forgot the camera at home. Just imagine...

Sunday I made orange rolls for breakfast (Rob's fav) and we gave him his gift. I made him a motivational poster, only it was personalize, with his own photo and funny saying. I will have to ask him if he wants it posted. You can do the same by going to bighugelabs.com

Rob and the kids on Father's Day

Rob headed off to Newton to watch the Indy race and the Burkharts went to meet up with their Family reunion, the kids and I went to church, we all meet for dinner out in Ames. Sadly we had to say goodbye Monday morning as they drove off to see more family.

Ames Municipal Band

Em and I enjoying the concert
Dallas and Robert watching the music

Thursday is a great day in Ames for free, fun family events. We took advantage of a tiny part of that last week. We went down to Band Shell Park to see a friends Steel Drum band which was the pre-show for the Ames city band. It also happened to be the same night that Simon Estes was singing with the band, and you simple cannot pass up his "Old Man River". It was City Council night as well which means we got free cookies and water too(1).


(1.) Robert says: they are not really free, we as tax payers provided the music and the cookies...

Another week has gone by without any postings, that can only mean...
-work is being done in and around the house
-guests stayed over
-concerts were experienced
-Fathers were celebrated
-birthday cake was made and then eaten
-pictures were taken
-and dear friends were hugged before moving

I hope to recap all

The Blank Park Zoo with Aunt Chelsey

Emily's first french braids, this happened on Sunday the day before the zoo.

We meet Chelsey at the zoo on Monday. It was a great weather day, not to hot, mostly overcast (big surprise lately) and not to humid. I actually put a sweatshirt on Em after lunch. The big fun was the peacocks that were just roaming around. We ate lunch next to one, and this other one seemed to be guarding the exit, as to beg us not to leave, or perhaps he was just admiring himself in the glass reflection.

Watching the Giraffes eat
Peacock at the exit of the zoo

Emily and Chelsey, I think they were watching the fish and ducks

Dallas enjoyed the zoo from the stroller, I took the double stroller just in case, I think Emily was in it long enough to eat her snack (which was my requirement).