Seeing the light

The last YEAR or so has been CRAZY. We've been trying to get Ethan Potty Trained. We started last year. Right about the beginning of the year. We read books, I read articles, bought stickers, treats, prizes, the whole shebang. I had everyone telling me how to proceed. Try this.... Try the potty training in 3 days, try that..... He was excited about it at first. He loved wearing the Big Boy underpants. It was all new and exciting. But that did not last very long. Thankfully he caught right on and started doing the #2 in the toilet every time. He kept having accidents so we decided to put him into pull ups. Now a year later and since I quit my job I have been determined to get him trained. We tried everything. The pulls ups that get cold when wet - don't really work at all, the pull ups that have the image that fades away when wet. He was always excited to see that the image was always on the next pull up. We spent the entire day in the kitchen (No carpet) making cookies, drinking juice boxes. We tried everything. My last attempt was this. I went to the store, bought Potty Treats of ALLL kinds, Angry Bird Stickers and bought Puss In Boots when it was released.

I taped Puss in Boots and his Potty Chart on the wall. If he was still dry after going potty he got a smily face and a sticker on his Potty Chart and two potty treats of his choice. If he went Three days without an accident he could watch Puss In Boots. We did a bunch of Potty dancing, emergency stops for the potty when away from the house. Finally, we watched Puss In Boots tonight. Now he has to go 5 more days without an accident to go fishing with Daddy. And the incentives go on from there. I am FINALLY starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Potty Training has been my LEAST favorite, Hardest part of being a mom.

I just hope I'm not jinxing myself.

Three Hundred Ninety One

I've never been one of those people who make a list of New Year Resolutions. However, This year I've made a Resolution of my own. Not necessarily a New Years Resolution, but one that ends with me turning 30. Yes..... 30. AHHHHHH!!!! A lot of people I know have made goals like By my 30th birthday I'm going to be a millionaire. Man, I wish I would have been one of those.... :) So my goal is to be thirty, Flirty and Thriving by the day I turn the big 30. I've got a little count down timer on my desktop that reminds me now much closer I am to that day. 391 today, tomorrow 390........ So, I've already started my efforts. I signed up for the community workout program. Pumped on Monday, Zumba Tuesday (which I can't always attend due to YW responsibilities), Ripped Wednesday and Zumba again on Thursday. My motivation quotes are: Everyday is one day closer to a skinnier me, Pain is weakness leaving the body, and the usual No Pain, No Gain. I've really enjoyed the classes. Pumped and Ripped are defiantly kicking my butt, but that's what it's all about. This is definantly how I feel about Zumba

Good Mornings

There are many mornings when we get a phone call around 8:30 or 9:00 and sometimes 10:00, the one on the phone asks "Did I wake you up?" Often the answer is "Yes" or "No, we're just lying in bed." The Fact is that yes we like to sleep in. Especially now that we have a few long nights. :) And when we do wake up.... We snuggle. Sometimes for a cartoon or two. That's just how we roll. :)

You're Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile

Todd gave me his FIRST OFFICIAL SMILE on January 9th. I was changing his diaper and he looked right at me and smiled. Todd smiles more and more everyday.

At Home Again :)

It's official. I'm a 100% Stay At Home Mom again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Last year I got a job working at the school Brett teaches cleaning classrooms. It was the perfect job for me. I took Ethan to Brett, they went home and I worked about two hours and was home in time to make dinner. It was just the right amount of time for me to have some time to myself. It was also the right amount of time for Brett and Ethan to get some good bonding time. Since Todd came, it has been harder and harder for me to go to work and leave his sweet face. Brett and I talked about it and decided that he could make more money working in the shop than what I could make working. So..... It was an easy decision.

Three of the classrooms that I cleaned were Bretts. I had his wood shop, wood shop classroom and his technology classroom. He defiantly learned to appreciate what the "Sweepers" do. On my last day Brett surprised me with this candy bar poster.

It says

Wow. It's no trick there is no need to snicker it is beyond reason that you have done a wonderful job. You're the best Mom and it will be wonderful to have you home again for various reasons.

Isn't he sweet

I recently read this article. I loved and agreed with every part of it. So if you are in the mood for a little reading.....

A Parent's View: Why I am a stay-at-home mom

By Erin Stewart, ksl.com Contributor

January 18th, 2012 @ 7:34pmSALT LAKE CITY — When I was eight months pregnant, I announced to my bosses that I would not be returning to full-time work after my first baby was born. One of my male bosses simply looked at me, winked, and said, “Yeah, we’ll see you in six months.”

I remember thinking two things at that moment: 1. Is 8 a.m. too early for a philly cheesesteak? (Hey, I was eight months pregnant. My first thought was always about food.) and 2. He just doesn’t get it.

This boss acted like my being a stay-at-home mom was a whim — something I was going to give my best shot but ultimately would come crawling back for a job and a life outside of diapers and breastfeeding. Maybe he thought I would find motherhood too hard, or mind-numbing or unrewarding.

Related:

Stay-at-home moms: Homemaking in the 21st century

For all that women were promised a choice in their careers and lifestyles, the one that we took for granted, homemaking, is the one that is no longer offered as a viable option. But people still choose it.

Being a stay-at-home mom was not a haphazard choice. It was something I wanted for me and for my children, not something I thought might be fun. For me, it was all part of the package of motherhood.

I realize that by extolling the virtues of stay-at-home moms, I open myself up to the scorn of the mommy blogosphere. So let me add that my choices are just that — mine. I don’t judge others for their choice to stay at home or to work because they have to or choose to or want to.

But often I find myself downplaying my decision to be a stay-at-home mom because I don’t want to seem like I think I’m hot stuff, or like I am more selfless or dedicated than working moms. I’m not. Every mother I know would readily give up everything for her child and none — working or not — would act against her child’s best interest.

Being a stay-at-home mom is the best choice for me and my children, and here’s why:

.Sometimes it is about quantity — Not every moment of motherhood is a picture-perfect picnic in a meadow. In fact, those are pretty rare. The real moments of motherhood for me are the day-in and day-out of being with my children while accomplishing the mundane tasks of life. This could be going for a swing in a sheet fresh from the dryer or tasting samples at Costco. Sometimes motherhood is about quality — those fun- filled moments that sear into your memory forever. But as a stay-at-home mom, I’m glad I’m there for all the other moments, too. They may not mean much individually, but they add up to a shared history with my kids.

.I want to raise my kids — I did not want someone else influencing my young children on a daily basis. I want to mess them up in my own unique way. But seriously, I am responsible for my children and want to share my values with them during this critical period of development.

.I am selfish — some of my decision to stay home with my kids is that I didn’t want to miss anything. I didn’t want someone else witnessing first steps or telling me about first words. I want to be the mom and get all the perks that come with it.

.I am at the crossroads — this is the biggest reason why I stay home with my kids, and it comes from one of my favorite talks by former LDS Church President Ezra Taft Benson. He encouraged mothers to “take time to always be at the crossroads when your children are either coming or going — when they leave and return from school, when they leave and return from dates, when they bring friends home. Be there at the crossroads whether your children are 6 or 16.”

So I’m there. I’m there for those few precious moments after preschool when my daughter will tell me about her day. I’m there for morning pancakes and bedtime kisses and everything else in between.

In some ways, my boss was right. I did return to work part time, cramming in writing and teaching whenever my children are asleep. But I’ve stayed true to my goal of being a stay-at-home mom.

And yes, some days of motherhood are too hard, too mind- numbing and too unrewarding. But five years into motherhood, I believe more than ever in my choice to be a stay-at-home mom.

Erin Stewart is a regular blogger for the Deseret News. From stretch marks to the latest news for moms, Stewart discusses it all while her 4-year-old daughter crams Mr. Potato Head pieces in her little sister's nose.

Reminiscing

Last weekend, We (Brett and I) were headed to our first play at Hale Center Theater. We got talking and realized that it was 10 years ago, give or take day or two, that Brett Proposed to me. We thought it was funny that we are still driving the same car. It is a little bit messier than it was ten years ago on that night.

Ten Years ago I was getting ready for a date with Brett. I remember my Mom telling me to not wear that outfit and to wear this one, add more mascara, and have fun tonight. I just kind of brushed it off. Didn't think anything of it. He took me to dinner at Romano's Macaroni Grill. One of our favorite restaurants. During dinner I noticed that he was fidgety. After dinner we went and saw a movie Oceans Eleven. After the movie we went for a walk around the Shops at Riverwoods. The fidgeting got worse and worse. Then he kept checking his phone. I started to worry that he was going to break up with me. After our walk we got back into his car. We were driving down University Avenue and He kept checking his phone. I wondered Who does he need to talk to right now??????? Then all the sudden he said loudly "We are going to Cold Stone!" I have the biggest sweet tooth for Ice Cream and am defiantly a fan of the Founders Favorite at cold stone. I thought Great! What is a date without ice cream? After we enjoyed our treat I thought he was taking me home and then all the sudden he took a left turn and headed for the Provo LDS Temple. At this point I have no clue what is going on. It was freezing that night. After he parked the car, he kind of bolted towards the sidewalk. I thought "Can't he wait two seconds for me to zip up my coat?" I caught up to him and we took a walk around to the back side to the Temple. During our walk i noticed a person in a hooded jacket walking towards us. Then turned around and headed the other way. It was kind of weird. Again, I brushed it off. When we got to the back of the Temple. There on one of the benches was a dozen roses, a candle and the ring. Then it hit me. How did I not have a clue. We had been ring shopping a few weeks before. All the signs were pointing that way. He got down on his knee and proposed to me. It was perfect.

Then he started to tell me what had happened that night. The person in the hooded jacket was his sister Joda who was guarding the ring. When Brett got out of the car and rushed to the sidewalk it was because he realized that he parked right next to Joda's car filled with her entire family and did not want me to notice. Brett had been trying to reach Joda all night and that is why he kept checking his phone.

We are right ABOUT smack dab where we had hoped to be in ten years.

Ethan is growing up a lot faster now that he is a Big Brother. He loves showing Todd how to do things. We also started a Chore Chart for him and I'm so proud of the things he has learned how to do.

One new thing that was added to his daily chores was make his bed. He does such a great job.

Todd is so much fun. We love snuggling with him. He is now TWO MONTHS OLD. I hate how fast time goes by. He gave me his first official smile the other day. I was changing his diaper and he just looked right at me and smiled. He smiles more and more each day. Just haven't been lucky enough to get a smile on the camera yet.

Things with finalization are moving right along. His Birth Mom had 60 days to change her mind and that time is up. Now we have a few post placement visits to prove that we are fit parents. We should finalize in May. We are so looking forward to finalization and being able to do all the fun stuff that follows just a few days after that. :)