Potty Trained!

Check out these cute buns:

How cute are they?  I don't think that I have ever been so proud to see a little boy in underwear, but I am.  Potty training was the hardest thing I've had to do yet.

Round 3 of trying was the winner.  Round 1 was in July, Round 2 was middle of November when he woke up and said "I all wet, not wear diaper anymore" It only lasted a couple days.  Round 3 was the Monday after Thanksgiving.   He had gotten another bad rash, and he is getting so strong that I can't hold him and clean him at the same time and he just bawls, which breaks my heart so much that, I almost cry too.   I finally put down an ultimatum.  We started the Monday after Thanksgiving and he had a few days notice.

Dexter had a sticker chart he had to complete to get a new toy that he picked out.  It was designed to only take 2 weeks, but it lasted for 4 1/2.   Each time he went potty, he got a sticker and each time he completed a row, he got a treat.  He also got little frogs and dinosaurs for the first few times he went in the potty to entice him to go.  Well, he had peeing down pat after a couple days, but pooping was another story.  I had to reserve the last line just for that.  He was terrified to go, but eventually he figured it out, and got the courage to go.  When he finally did, he got a new book, a frog, a candy bar, and ice cream.  (we tried so hard to get him to go.  That was all he was promised he'd get if he went.)  Needless to say, it was a joyous, celebratory day at our house.

Finally, a couple days before Christmas, he completed his chart.   I think it was Heavenly Father's way of saying Merry Christmas, it's done.  Honestly, I can't think of a better Christmas gift than that this year.  He has done really well.  He has only had a couple of accidents; one when he was at a babysitters, and one other time at home, but he is doing really well.  He especially likes going potty at all the different places we go.  I have a feeling, we are going to get to know just about every public restroom in the city of Council Bluffs.  :)

Here is my big boy with his sticker chart and new toy. 

 He is really into tunnels for his trains and he had had so much fun with it.  He worked so hard to get it.

(this picture reminds me of the song that says, "heaven, I'm in heaven")

Congratulations my dear little Dexter.  You earned it.

Bear Hunt

 Dex and I had another fun adventure with a book.  We borrowed "We're Going On a Bear Hunt"  from our friends the Bournes.  Here is our rendition of the story...

We're going on a bear hunt, we're going to catch a big one, we're not scared.

Look!  A forest a big dark forest!  We can't go over it, we can't go under it, we've got to go through it.  Stumble trip, stumble trip, stumble trip.

We're going on a bear hunt, we're going to catch a big one, we're not scared!

Look!  A cave!  A big dark cave!  We can't go over it, we can't go under it, we've got to go through it.  Tiptoe, tiptoe, tiptoe.

WHAT'S THAT?

One shiny wet nose!  Two big furry ears!  Two big goggly eyes!

IT'S A BEAR!!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Run back through the cave.  

Tiptoe, tiptoe.

Run back through the forest. 

Stumble trip, stumble trip.

Get home.  Run up the stairs.  

Into the bedroom.  Onto the bed, and under the covers.

WE'RE NOT GOING ON A BEAR HUNT AGAIN!!!

(but we did anyway)

4th Month

Juliette is 4 months old.  While I was pregnant, I remember how excited I was for Christmas to come because she would be 4 months old and starting to be so much fun.  And now it is here.  

Jules went in for her 4 month appointment and did so great. Here are her stats:

Weight:  14 pounds  4 ounces  (60%)

Length:  25 inches (74%)

She is doing just great.  She has amazing and precise coordination with her hands.  She picks up what she wants and doesn't fumble around, and things go straight to her mouth instead of to the side or smacking her face.  She has the best munchable cheeks and loves it when they are munched.  She constantly needs to be held, adores her brother and her dad, and finally uses her legs.  She loves blankets and hands.  When she fusses in the night, if I pick her up to rock her to sleep she stays awake and wants to play, but if I put my hand in her crib so she can hold it, she gently rubs it on her face and then falls asleep, holding onto my fingers.  And she does a cute little dance when she sees you looking at her.  She is quite the listener.  If you are talking, she stops what she is doing and watches and listens intently until you are done.

We just love having her in our family!

Dexterisms

Dexter: What is that? (pointing to a boy in a book)
Mom:  It's a boy.
Dexter:  What is that? (pointing to a girl in a book)
Mom:  It's a girl.

Mom:  Dexter, are you a boy or a girl?
Dex:  I a boy.
Mom:  Is Juliette a boy or a girl?
Dex:  JJ's a girl.

Mom:  Is mommy a boy or a girl?

-pause for thinking-

Dex:  a mommy.
Mom:  Is daddy a boy or a girl?
Dex:  a daddy.

Beauty Queen

Dexter got into my makeup a while ago.

I was surprised that he even got some mascara on his eyelashes.  This has happened twice.  These are pictures from the first time.  The second time was right as we were about to leave for church.  I caught him before he broke into my powder.   He is such an observant stinker!

O Christmas Tree

Dexter helped me decorate our Christmas Tree this year.

This was all his idea.
I actually kinda love it.
It also changes daily.  

3rd Month

This sweet little bundle...

...is 3 months old.

Dexter and I had fun doing a photo shoot with her.

Baby girl, we just love having you in our family.  You make everybody so happy.  You are a very strong baby.  You've rolled from your tummy to back many times, and you get onto your side from your back  easily.  You are a social bug and you save your best conversations for Daddy.  We love you so much and can't imagine what we did without you!

Family and Guys Nights Out

We got a couple of those daily deal coupons for some hockey games here in Omaha last month. The first game was a UNO game, so no fights, and the home team one. We had a good time, made it through the 2nd period, and Dexter got a new hat out of the deal.

The next week Dexter and I left the girls at home and had a guy's night. We went to the Omaha Lancers game which was a lot of fun. They won in a shootout after overtime, and there was a lot of fighting. Dexter loved their mascot (a bird), the mascot had a football and skated around playing catch with the crowd. His favorite parts were the Zamboni, which he can pronounce perfectly, and dancing to all the music.

Temple Builder

Dexter loves temples.  He is always asking to go to the temple and he can even name a few from just looking at their picture. St. George (I think that one stuck because of Curious George), Idaho Falls (Grandma/Grandpa Loveless' temple), and Jordan River (Mommy/Daddy's temple).  He loves having his own temple picture in his room, too.

The other day, I went up stairs to check on him and he immediately showed me this;

He exclaimed, "I build a temple!"  

That you did sweet little boy, that you did.

Here is the architect proudly showing his masterpiece.  He told me that the "sun" block was in his words "Angee Mononi".  Such a sweety.

"Off to Neverland" for Halloween 2011

This year we had a fun Halloween.  Ashton was off of work for the ward Trunk or Treat, so we did a family themed costume party.  I made all of them except my night gown.  I found it at Salvation army for $2.50.  We went with a Peter Pan theme.  Ashton was John, the brother with the top hat and umbrella, I was Wendy, Dexter was Peter Pan and Juliette was Tinker Bell.  I just love how well everything turned out.  We got Peter Pan from netflix so Dexter would know who he was, and I tried on his pants I made while watching  the movie and after I took them off, he jumped down, ran around the room, and said "I can fly!!!!"  

I wasn't thinking very well and didn't take very detailed pictures of anything.  Sorry.  I made Dexter's hat, belt, dagger, and pants and just cut up a shirt to make it have jagged edges.  Jules, well, I made it up as I went, and it turned out very cute.  I loved every minute making those costumes.  Ashton's I made up too.  It was a night shirt out of a sheet I found at the Salvation Army.  

We had a good time at the ward trunk or treat.  Dexter got loaded up.  Halloween night, I took him over to a family in our ward's house who lives in our Apartment complex.  On the way to and from, we trick or treated at some obvious homes welcoming trick or treaters.  Then we stayed home, light our pumpkins, and waited for our 1 trick or treater to come.  Dex enjoyed the whole night!  

Tinker Bell

Peter Pan and Tinker Bell

John (missing his umbrella), Wendy, Peter Pan, and Tinker Bell at the ward trunk or treat

Tinker Bell's Wings

The Sunday before Halloween, we had a pumpkin carving party at one of Ashton's classmates house.  We had a fun time with everyone.  We dressed the kiddos up again so that everyone could see them.  They enjoyed it.

Our Pumpkins we carved at Julie's house

These are from Facebook that Julie took:

All the pharmacy students

 The 3 pharmacy boys

Me deciding what and where to carve

All the girls there.  Dex kept running in front.

Dex playing at Julies house

 And well, Jules basically stole the show and was loved on by just about everybody

She was in heaven being held all night!

2011 Family Pictures

 One of Ashton's classmates took some family pictures for us yesterday.  We had a fun time, and I think they turned out great! Here are a few of our favorites:

Thanks Ashlee!