You wouldn't believe this!

Okay, so here's the deal. I found this book for potty training online from www.thepottytrainer.com. It was just a downloadable book by this chick who's potty trained over 300 kids, literally (she works in a day care), including her own. So, for $7 I downloaded it. All the testimonials on the site were just fabulous, so I figured I'd try it for that price. Here's what's happened since.

Yesterday was day one. In the morning I took off the diaper and said "okay, no more diapers. You're a big boy now." I set timers for every 20 or so minutes and put him on the toilet. He didn't pee the first couple of times. The first time he DID pee, it was not in the toilet, but he freaked out immediately, knowing that's not what he was supposed to do, and stopped the stream...impressive huh? So, I moved him to the toilet and he finished his pee. Anyway, to make a long story short, basically the whole morning went that way. It was awful. Just when I thought I would go seriously crazy, around 4:00 he emptied his bladder for the first time in the toilet. A REAL pee. It was awesome, and he was so happy! Between 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm, he did that 3 times!

Day two: He woke up this morning and I took his diaper off, and put his underwear on him. He had a couple accidents early on, but he always stopped mis-stream when he realized what he was doing, and he'd finish on the toilet. We put him down for a nap in a diaper, but when he woke up 2 hours later it was completely dry, and I put him on the toilet immediately and he emptied his bladder. Since about 10:00 he hasn't had one single accident! That includes a trip we took to Rexburg to go to Wal-Mart! He's so pleased with himself every time. He shouts "I did it!" with a big smile. (Paul heard him from outside the women's bathroom at Wal-Mart, lol). It's now after 5:00 on Day 2, and he hasn't had an accident since early this morning. It's AMAZING! I think he's going to be the easiest child to potty train ever! How did I get so lucky?

I've been tagged

Here's how to play: List 3 joys, 3 of your fears, 3 of your goals, 3 current obsessions/collections and 3 random, surprising facts about yourself. At the end of your post, tag 5 more people.


3 Joys:
1. Lazy Sunday afternoons after Church. They're always so relaxing and we have a great time just being together, maybe taking a walk by the river, or baking something yummy, where there are no school or work pressures. I love Sundays.
2. Taking a nice hike through the mountains or camping. The mountains are so peaceful and beautiful that it's hard not to see God's hand when you spend some time in the great outdoors. I also love to eat outside.
3. Feeling the baby move inside me. There is something so magical and reassuring about knowing that there's a little life inside you, and they're moving and well.


3 Fears:
1. I have an irrational and random fear of contracting cancer - specifically breast cancer. Although skin cancer is a definite possibility in my family (my maternal grandpa is constantly having little things removed), no one (immediate anyway), that I know of, on either side of my family has ever had breast cancer, and yet it hovers in my subconscious as a distinct possibility.
2. Going hand in hand with that, dying before I get to see my children grow up. Although, I know there are worse things, and I'm not scared of death itself, I wish to be part of their growing up lives.
3. Losing my musical talent because I haven't kept up with it, or haven't found an opportunity to use it, especially my trumpet playing. I will be the mom that "used to play the trumpet"

3 Goals:
1. To graduate college! it's not really something that is driving my crazy, and I feel there are other things more important right now, but until I actually have a degree it will always be hovering in the back of my mind as something left unfinished that needs to be done.
2. To eventually be in a place financially that we can serve a church mission when we're older, and also to be able to loan money to friends and family members that are in need. To be able to take care of our families. In other words, to be able to be as generous in deed as we are in thought right now.
3. To raise happy, healthy, spiritually knowledgeable children who desire to serve the Lord.


3 Current obsessions/collections:
1. Reading all I can about pregnancy, and VBACs. I hate feeling ignorant about things that are happening or are going to happen to me. I also know that VBACs aren't all that popular with doctors, and I don't want to be pushed because of ignorance on my part. I will not be uninformed!
2. The Jonas Brothers. I know, funny right. And yet, I can't help but be in awe of their talent and ability to put on a show. I admire their well-roundedness (from what I see) and any family with that amount of talent is fun to watch. They write their own songs and seem to be really down-to- earth about all their fame.
3. Taking better care of myself than I did with my last pregnancy. So far, since I've been making a serious effort, it's gone well, but I know it needs my full attention and perseverance for the duration of the pregnancy. I've been trying to exercise every day and eat better. I've even lost a little weight! I want to be in good shape!


3 Random/surprising things about yourself:
1. I LOVE to bake. I don't much because I hate to have the food in my house, especially with just the 3 of us. So when things like a potluck or a donation to an item are needed it's the perfect opportunity for me to make something and give away. I find it relaxing and enjoyable. I can go at my own pace, and I like that food makes people happy.
2. Walking in the cold. I hate being cold, but I love being all bundled up in nice warm pants, and a warm coat and possibly gloves, all the way up to my neck and feeling the cold air on my face. And then the feeling of my cheeks warming up when I go inside to someplace nice and toasty.
3. The older I get the more issues I have with germs. I hate touching raw meat and will get Paul to do it whenever possible. I don't know that I'll ever be a germ-a-phobe per say, and I certainly don't have issues with eating something that fell on the grass outside while we're having a picnic or something, but things that never used to bug me make my cringe now.

Well, that was long and much more difficult than I expected to be, and I don't have anyone to tag since everyone I know on blogger was tagged by Becky, and that's not even 5 people total! So, I guess that's it.

Doctors, Temples, and School

So, I went to the doctor today for my second checkup. Paul had class from 9-10, so Keith and I just went to Rexburg with him and went to the park while he was in class. My last appointment Paul came in with me because he knew they were going to do a vaginal ultrasound and he wanted to see. I figured this was just going to be a normal checkup so this time I left him and Keith in the waiting room. While I was in the exam room he was trying to hear the baby's heartbeat with the Doppler thing, but couldn't find it, so we scooted over to the room with the ultrasound machine and checked it out there. We were only looking at it for maybe one full minute...maybe less, but after he was done he said "Do you want to know what it is?"

I said "No."

"Okay, then I won't tell you."

Then, I realized what he'd implied and I said "Wait, you saw it just now?"

And he said "Yeah...but before you start assuming (or something...I can't remember his exact words) or guessing at what that means, know that I can tell just as easily with a boy or a girl", which I knew because I've looked at a lot of ultrasound photos from other people, and some were unmistakably girls!

Totally cool though, even though I don't know. At least someone does! lol. So, I went back out to the waiting room and told Paul "The doctor knows what it is. Haha, and you didn't get to find out!" He really wants to know (mostly because he's impatient), and I really want it to be a surprise. He thinks he can keep it a secret, but anyone who knows Paul very well knows he's not very good at keeping big secrets! I'm so afraid he'll spill it on accident. I'm still trying to convince him that it would be best if he waited with me. I think I'm almost there now! They're doing another one in about 5 weeks, when I'm over 20 weeks, and I think I've convinced Paul that he doesn't need to know! It'll be more fun to wait for the moment in the hospital!

Anyway, on a different note. I get to go to the temple with the youth tonight to do baptisms. I haven't don't that since the time I was in YSA (very briefly), so I'm pretty excited. Paul actually gets off early tonight and they're going to a late session. It worked out nicely. Although we got to go through the open house with Liss & Nate, I haven't gotten to do any actual work in the temple yet. It's so beautiful.

And just because I'm excited: Paul has officially 8 weeks of school left! WOOHOO!!! Counting down.........

Lots and lots of pictures!

I thought I'd share some photos with you just for fun:

These are from Keith's birthday, a few weeks ago, but they're fun so I thought I'd share.






Having fun at the park in town. He LOVED playing in the water. The fact that it was 50* didn't seem to bother him at ALL! And after my feet stopped hurting, it didn't bother me either, lol.




Okay, this is what the river looks like now. Usually the water's on the OTHER side of those trees right there. We went to the park Saturday and I was standing in that spot. On Monday, we came back and it was all underwater by several feet. Crazy huh! I couldn't even take Keith back down to the spot where we were playing in the water at. There is NO MORE bank beach right now. Just the grass bank that you can see right there, then a few feet drop off.

Giving In, I Suppose

Well, I guess I'm giving in to the blog pressure. I still don't think that I'll probably have much to write, as most of the things that would be interesting are things I generally would not share with the general public, but there are other things sometimes too, so I guess I'll give in to the pressure and, well...here's my first official blog.

It's fun for me to read what's going on in my family members' lives, so maybe someone else will be interested in the mundane things going on in my life...maybe not. Who knows? But, since I can't find my journal right now, I figure at least I'll have something written down maybe to print out later, so at least they will be written down.

For instance, very funny story. Paul and I and Keith, of course, went to Target to look for some much needed jeans for Paul and maybe some shorts for me. Since it has been so long since Paul has bought any new jeans, I made him take in 3 different pairs to see what I liked on him. When he came out with one pair on, Keith, who was standing on the shopping cart pointed at him and said "Turn. Turn." And of course, Paul obliged, turning around to the back, then back around to the front. When he was finished Keith said "Cute!" It was the funniest thing. It's interesting to hear what comes out of your children's mouths when they start talking. There are many phrases or words I didn't realize I used as much as I do until they started coming out of Keith's mouth. He says "Bless you" when you sneeze OR cough. He says "s'cuse me", he says "please" and "thank you" a lot which makes me look great in front of strangers, haha. But, it's also good to realize I've been setting a good example. He's just started saying "welcome" and "sorry" a lot too. It's awesome!

Anyway, I won't make this one super long. I will come back soon and post pictures. I need to download a bunch off the camera. The river in town is in danger of flooding due to higher-than-average temperatures right now, combined with a ridiculous amount of snow this year. Everyday it's noticeably higher than the day before. Fortunately, we live all the way across town! But, before it got too high, Keith played in the water for a good half hour on Saturday. The fact that it's snow run-off didn't bother him at all!