We're Down One This Week

2 days.

2 days until Sam gets back from his first ever vacation away from us. (He's in Pennsylvania with Pop-Pop and Nana, visiting Bob's grandparents).

I'll tell you what, I miss that little guy. I've been trying not to focus on it too much because I get a little teared up every time we even get off the phone. Sad. I know he's going to seem like a 15 year-old when he gets home. I've kinda gotten used to the almost-three-year-old being the "big kid."

Grey, Bo, and I have been thoroughly enjoying each other this week though. I do appreciate all the one-on-one time I've gotten to have with each of them, especially thanks to my sis, Julie (AJ), our live-in for a couple months. Well I should say I've been enjoying it, who knows what they really think. Every time Grey chooses to misbehave and in turn, chooses a little discipline, he cries for Ebee, or Ya-Ya. I keep assuring him they want him to learn to obey too. I don't think he's buyin' it.

He is so thoughtful though. He asks all the time if Charley is kicking. And the other day he asked me when he's going to heaven. After I gave that explanation my best shot, he asked very sweetly, "are you gunna go wit me?" Ugh, precious.

Bo's busting out with some crazy talk too. That little guy asked me tonight, "is baby Charley kicking?" As in, a 4 word sentence from our almost 19 month-old. Craziness. By the way, there's a lot of talk about the baby kicking around here...obv.

While I've been getting some more concentrated time with the two younger guys, Sam has been having a blast. We're talking ice cream, popsicles, shave ice, tons of fruit snacks, and visits to the pool in the backyard almost every day. He has told me multiple times that he's having so much more fun than me. Probably true.

 

So Sam, I'm incredibly proud of you. I'm choosing to be proud that you haven't gotten homesick ONE time, that I know of...instead of sad that you haven't gotten homesick ONE time :/. I'm proud of the reports of good manners and good behavior. I'm proud of all the cool stuff you're building with racetrack and tiny legos (that we don't play with much at home since a certain two people I know can't keep those little pieces out of their tummies).

I'm thankful you're getting to spend so much time with Pop-Pop and Nana, that you're creating fun memories with them, as well as with Grammy and Pop-Pop, just like Dad used to do. I'm enjoying hearing you ask to talk to your brothers and carry on phone conversations with them, telling them you miss and love them. I'm enjoying hearing them ask about you and saying they miss and love you too.

We're all really ready for you to get home so hurry up and ride safely!

For My Bottom-Line Husband

And the father of my children...

You are an amazing dad.

You set a great example by realizing God is our authority, having a desire to know Him more, having integrity, a hard work ethic, a wonderful marriage, a desire to make peace, and a good sense of humor.

You love well by playing, hugging, kissing, seeing the big picture, wrestling, throwing, saying "I love you", encouraging, including, and speaking gently.

Our boys will be better men because you are their father. No doubt in my mind about that.

Nevermind that none of them are looking at the camera (it's the TV they see) but they ARE smiling.

I love you for all this and so much more.

Happy Father's Day!

It's a Free Show

When the grass needs to be cut during the week, you can usually find our children clamoring at the window to watch Bob. This week I decided to go ahead and feed the kids while Bob was cutting so I just set them up by the window.

Waiting...



And here comes the main event.





I'm so glad these boys love their Dad so much. I'm even more glad he's such an awesome dad!

He, Quite Literally, Has Some Big Shoes to Fill

Poop Goes in the Potty - Take 2

Get ready for some fast forward.

Saturday - packed up and drove to the beach. 4 1/2 hour drive. We stopped 5 times between Sam and me and he kept his diaper dry.

Sunday - Started underwear only, no diapers even at night. Lots of poop accidents, lots of tee-tee in the potty. Quite a bit of resistance from Sam too. Dry after nap (2 1/2 hours).

Monday-Wednesday - Pretty much the same. We watched him like a hawk, scooped him up and put him on the toilet when we saw an accident happening. Some tee-tee on the floor, a little bit in the underwear, lots in the toilet. He seemed to be getting the hang of that. One poop in the potty which resulted in this.



Next time, we will not reward so quickly, but heck, we were desperate. Ya feel me?
At some point during these three days, Sam went to the bathroom 10 times while we were trying to eat lunch. Ten.times. And something came out every time. To answer what you must be thinking, we couldn't get him to stay on the toilet and empty all the way out....so, we I took him...10 times. (Again, dry after nap).

Thursday - Melt down. Apparently he wanted to stand up like Daddy but couldn't communicate that in the heat of the moment (the melt down) so there was lots of poop in the underwear, pee on the floor of the bathroom, lots of screaming and crying, lots of Bob looking at me and me looking at Bob with the "what the heck do we do with this?" look. (Dry after nap).

A couple times this week, Bob took Sam in the bathroom with him to show him how all aspects of going to the bathroom.
Two of Sam's most repeatable responses were...
1 - Loooook, it's a baby and its momma!!!
2 - Oh, that's a BIG ol' poop!

Friday - We eased off a little, things went better. I don't think we had any tee-tee accidents. (Dry after nap).

Saturday - Headed home. Made lots of stops with the Lightning potty. Had a little bit of tee-tee in the underwear but it was the kind where he started, realized it and stopped.

And then we entered the pit of hell.
Take 3 will be up tomorrow.

Dads

These dads wrestle and hug.
They teach and instruct.

These dads give fives and "pounds".
They give spankings and time-outs, too.

These dads work hard...really, really hard.
They also slow down and observe.

These dads know about cars, home improvement, finances, electronics, and building stuff.
They know about honesty, integrity, loyalty, sacrifice, and family.
They know how to be men.

These dads have made me who I am...then bettered that person.
These dads are molding and shaping my children.
They're leading my family.

These dads love.

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Happy Father's Day to the dads in my life. You may never realize the impact you've had and are having on me and my family.

Thank you for all the things you think go unnoticed.

Wordless Wednesday