My AWOL Excuse

I think this is by far the longest I have ever gone between blog posts. I feel horrible. I have so much to tell and so many cute pictures to share and no lap top to do so (thanks leaky sippy cup of apple juice in my bag), so I am now on our desktop and because I can't remember all the really cute things that have been going on lately, I leave you with this lame update.

Here is what came of mine and Bo's flowers this summer:

June

July

August

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We were having the hardest time getting Bo the slightest bit interested in potty training until we found out while camping July 4th that he really really wanted his own 4-wheeler. Ah-ha! As soon as we told him that 4-wheelers were for big boys and big boys wear underwear, he was all over it. Finally a reward worth wearing underwear for. Success! We were stoked.

The original plan was to wait until he was completely potty trained before giving it to him, but summer is running out and we wanted him to get some enjoyment out of the deal, so about 4 weeks ago his dream came true.

It is old, has been ridden hard, and doesn't have brakes but it is PERFECT. He loves loves loves it! And now, even though he is not 100% potty trained (he's about 98% during the day, and 0% at night), we still use it as bargaining power. "No accidents today or you won't be able to ride your 4-wheeler." or "Do you want us to take your 4-wheeler away?" . . . works every time.

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And the latest Bo-ism:
Wes: Bo, do you want to wear pajamas or a t-shirt to bed?
Bo: I want to wear a t-shirt and t-pants.

Stripping It Down Cave Man Style

Bo is finally starting to catch on to the whole potty training thing, but only when he's either naked or just not wearing any pants. Lovely thought, I know, but it works. Any time he has dropped trou and needs to pee, he runs in the bathroom, sits on his musical potty and does his thing all on his own. But anytime he's wearing a diaper, I can't even bribe him to sit on the potty. It's like pulling teeth. And the boy refuses to wear underwear. Absolutely refuses.

So, what, I ask you do I do? Do I just let him run free-ballin around the house all day or what? And what is his phobia of underwear? Seriously. They're just underwear. I don't get it.

But what I do get is that I can't afford to give him a new matchbox car every time he pees in the potty anymore so he and I made a new potty reward chart today. He was all excited about it and helped me decorate it. He also helped me decide on the rewards he will get (new car, new airplane, trip to McDonald's, new car).

So now, after he goes 4 times he gets a reward, instead of every 1. I hope it works.

He already went twice today

And in unrelated news, Bo cut one of his own binkies today. I told him I was going to cut it and then asked if he wanted to do it. He got all excited to use his scissors and chopped away. I still don't think he realizes that the supply is about out (I think we're down to 2), but I guess he will soon enough.

Another Poop Story

Bo likes his privacy when he is on the potty so I left him in the bathroom as usual this afternoon to take care of his business. A few minutes later he came running out to tell me he pooped and was so excited to show me.

We ran in to the bathroom, he stood there buck naked, pointed down at his poop, and with ear to ear pride said, "like a hot dog!"

It doesn't get much cuter than that, but I really might think twice next time I am offered one.

Not Quite Getting It

Bo pooped in the potty for the first time today. He came running out of the bathroom. "Poop, Mommy. Poop!" I was so excited. He was catching on. (Or so it seemed.)

Like we have been doing with every potty success, I carried the bowl over to the real potty for him to flush it and what did the little booger do? He stood there along side the toilet and peed on the floor. Come on! Seriously? And then to make things worse, he stepped in it while trying to reach the flusher.

One would think it would be difficult to celebrate using the potty when you're standing in your own pee, but apparently not when you're 2. All you care about is getting your wet socks off and picking out a new car that will match your gray shirt.

Making Progress

Potty Training:
Bo has had absolutely no interest whatsoever in potty training so I decided to capitalize on his innate love of all things loud and annoying and bought him a musical potty. Now this is not your average, every day musical potty, mind you (if there is such a thing). This one sings, talks, makes noises, lights up. You name it, it does it. It has pressure sensors to detect when you're sitting on it, when you get up, or when something lands in the bowl. With the first two, it sings a song or makes a comment, and with the latter, it congratulates you. It's crazy, but Bo loves it.

He spent over an hour in the bathroom yesterday with his diaper off just playing with the potty, sitting on it, dancing around to the songs, reading books, putting toilet paper on the seat ("like mommy"), trying to go pee-pee. It also helped that I told him he would get a new car (mini hot-wheels car) if he did. There were a few times I tried to get him to come out of the bathroom and put a diaper on but he refused because he wanted the new car. And low and behold . . . he did it. He was so proud of himself. He came running out of the bathroom, "I did it, mommy! I did it!"

We have tried again a few times but nothing. He played in there for about 45 minutes today but the only thing that came of it was an entire roll of toilet paper getting shoved down the real toilet and him trying to fish it out with his hands. Ewwww. Needless to say, that was the end of that.

We will keep trying but I am not pushing the issue. I just want him to start getting interested in the idea and if he catches on, then great, if not, I'm sure he will someday. Otherwise he's going to be a 30 year old who talks in third person and wears a diaper.

Bottle Feeding:
This weekend I started to freak out some more about Sam refusing to take a bottle and the fact that I have no freedom whatsoever. If I ever want to go out for more than 2 hours alone, or go to the Nebraska game when we are home for Thanksgiving, I need to figure this out.

I bought some new bottles with smaller nipples and introduced Sam to formula for the first time on Saturday. He actually didn't fuss as much as I thought he might. The smaller nipples really helped and apparently the formula didn't taste too overly canned. Don't get me wrong, he only drank about 1 oz from me, twice, but it's a start and I am hopeful. My plan is to offer it to him every day this week and see where that gets me.

Keep your fingers crossed because by golly, I need some alone time.

Medicine Giving:
Ok, so this should probably be in a different post because there really isn't any progress being made in this area. Sam hates it and more ends up all over him than in him. His poor little cheeks are stained pink, as is my left index finger from trying to scoop the overflow back in to his mouth. We're turning in to the pink version of the Smurfs. That doesn't even make any sense, but you understand what I'm getting at. Right?

Anyhoo - we only have 3 more days left of the antibiotic to go so I think we're going to make it. I jut hope he's getting enough down to make a difference. The last thing I want is for his sinus infection to come back or never leave in the first place.