Sunday, February 26, 2006

He pee-peed in the big potty standing up! Yippee! While that might not sound like a big deal to those of you who don't have a little one, it's HUGE! Not only is he ready to really make the effort to go in the potty more often, but he is doing it like the big boys do! Potty training is such an interesting process. I believe that you should offer guidance as he shows signs that he is ready but don't force it. We've been praising him every time he goes. No award like M&Ms or stickers but good old-fashioned high-fives and hugs. Telling him we are proud of him always gets a sweet smile. So, we've been "going in the potty" on and off since last summer. But lately, he's been even more interested. He's excited about the prospect of being able to wear Buzz or Thomas underwear, which has been promised if he goes two days without peeing in his diaper. We're a long ways from that but the goal keeps him motivated. Dr. Sears, one of my favorite child rearing advisors, has some great tips on potty training. http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/t106600.asp Here's to more pee-pee in the potty!!

Sunday, February 19, 2006

Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.- Elizabeth Stone

How true this statement is. I want to hold him close, protect him. He is my heart, my pulse, my innermost being, a permanent part of my soul. How do you let something that treasured go out into the world without you standing right beside him, holding his hand? How do you let someone you don't know influence his every day thoughts and actions? How do you expose him to people who don't get it? Who don't understand what a precious gift he is? Who don't know what you've done to get him to this point? How do you let that little life spend day after day away from his cornerstone, his rock, his mother? How do you go out into the world and "work" only to come home to someone who needs you beyond explanation, who has had to survive the day without your loving arms and your grace? How do you give up being a part of those tender first years of growing and learning? How do you take a piece of yourself, just as much a piece as an arm, and walk away from it every morning only to feel it ripped from you? My answer is that you don't - no matter what the cost. Because the alternative is the great cost of his future.

Saturday, February 11, 2006


Playing "Pin the Hat on Sir Topham Hatt"

Mmmmm! Yummy cake!

Self Portrait

Taking a bite out of the camera!

I'm two today!






Jacob turned two last week. What a strange and wonderful milestone. Strange because that means he's been with us for 2 years now, changing every aspect of our life. Wonderful because...well it's wonderful. As he officially becomes a "toddler", I find myself sometimes expecting different things - big boy things. Then I remind myself that he is still mostly baby, with baby needs that he will hold on to for a long time coming. So we stand on this see-saw of toddler and baby, trying to balance opening our arms so he can reach out to big boy things and opening our arms so he can come back for a newborn-like snuggle when he needs it. Now when we leave the house, he tells me things like "bright momma, me sunglasses" or "coollddd momma" or "rain momma, hood up". When did he become so observant? Sometimes he puts on his snowboots and announces that it's time to "play snow outside". When did he get so self-sufficient? Sometimes he crawls up on the living room chair with a book. When did he become so self-reliant? Sometimes he asks to nurse when I'm the one that needs to stop doing things and sit down for a minute. How did he get so intuitive? Sometimes he pets the kitties in such a soft, gentle way, cooing to them. How did he get so loving? It all seems to have happened overnight. But it didn't. It's every moment of every day. Trips to the library, visiting friends, going to Grammie and PopPop's for dinner, trying out yoga, exercising with mommy, reading books, playing puzzles, emptying the kitchen cupboards, going to see Daddy play hockey, napping, playing with playdoh, crawling through tunnels, playing basketball with Daddy every day, eating Mexican, Chinese, pizza and fries, drawing with markers, chasing the cats....these are his every day moments that help him to learn and grow. Every day with him is a present to us - full of surprise and delight. May all of our days continue to feel like birthdays.