He's Got One

It took us 8 months and 18 days, but Cooper FINALLY has his first tooth. A sharp, little, bottom tooth that we can finally see and feel. You'd think he won the Nobel Prize or Best Actor Emmy with how excited we were when it finally popped through. Now the other bottom one just needs to work its way though the skin too and we'll be all set.

I am hoping to get a picture of it when he is sleeping today, but we'll have to see if I can actually get it....stay tuned ;)

One Proud Mama...my baby is growing up

This morning Trevor was sitting in his room looking at books while I as hanging up clean clothes. I asked him which book he wanted me to read to him when I was finished with the clothes and he said he didn't want me to read to him. He promptly started reading a book to himself. And not just a picture book. He started reading the full, long version of Go Dogs Go. He read and read and read. A little help on some of the tricky words like 'there' or 'again', but read almost the whole thing!

I'm so very proud of you Trevor! I can't wait to see you grow and blossom in your reading skills...it's so fun to see the excitement in your face as you figure out that the letters you have been learning for so long now make up so many different and fun words!

Our First REAL food - YUM

Cooper had his first bit of "hard & real" food today.  He was done eating his cereal, green beans and peaches and I was picking up the kitchen from earlier in the day.  I had a box of graham crackers in my hand and decided that he should try one today.  Oh man... he was like a kid in a candy store! 

He just played with it for awhile and didn't realize that he could put it in his mouth without me saying, "Yucky, Cooper.  No.  No."  But once he finally did and saw me looking at him with a smile on my face rather than the scolding look, it was game over!  He gnawed on it.  He broke pieces off of it and chewed them up.  He loved it.  He pounded it on the tray - making a crumby mess, of course.  But he loved it!  He even looked for the piece that he dropped and when he found it, immediately put it in his mouth.

Good job little man... your eating world is going to start changing again.  Get ready.. it'll be a fun time! (and hold on, Dad, it's going to get a wee-bit messier, too!)

These Days...

This is what we get to see these days from the youngest....and of course, he was doing this to his oldest brother...not for mom and dad ;o)

Daddy from a Different Aspect

(catch up post #2)

On July 31st, Cooper got to see Daddy from a different angle. 

It was one that he liked very much and did very well with...

His very first bottle

The big brothers thought it was so cool that Cooper could eat from a bottle like they've seen so many other babies do.  They were right in his face almost the entire time. ;o) 

Sorry, Cooper, no relaxing meal for you!

(I love how Cooper is looking right up at Trevor in the bottom left picture... as if to say, "What do you want, man??  Can't you see I'm eating here?")

Feeling Better Now

Cooper is finally rid of his umbilical cord and his circumcision had healed enough and he was ready for his first official bath last night.   It was a family affair.  In the bathroom we had the star of the show, Cooper.  The one administering the bath, me.  Two big brothers, Ethan and Trevor, that wanted to see what it was all about, and one proud grandma, Grandma Diener, who just wanted to see her newest grand-baby during his first bath.

He did great.  Cried a bit at the end, but that was because the mean administrator poured water over his eyes when rinsing his hair.  Oops.  Other than that, he did fantastic!

Wonderful Sound...

Saturday Rick and I heard a wonderful "new" sound. 

It was a sound of very quick tempo. 

So quick it was hard to keep up. 

According to the "metronome" that was used it was 178 beats per minute. 

Can you imagine that? 

Not quite sure how we're going to keep up with that one,

but I think it'll slow down a just a bit over the next few months...

just like I will.

Another Potty Training Update

(This is a current update (I know, can you believe it? It's been awhile since I've done a "happening now" update), but be aware that I will be catching up with posts that happened before this one... check back and scroll down to get updates of our trip to WI and other random updates from November)

The last time we "spoke" of Trevor's potty training we were just turning the corner after some rough days following our trip home in October. Well, we turned that corner and he was doing great. Telling us (most of the time) when he had to go potty or "poop" as he fondly calls it. He was in big boy undies during the day, pull-ups during nap time and a regular diaper at night. I was quite excited about his progress, but knew that we had another trip home during the Thanksgiving holiday that could make him go backwards again. I was bracing myself for a trip that was just like the one in October and was fully prepared to start at square one again when we returned to Missouri. How did it go, you ask....

Well, I will tell you this. I am not frustrated. I am not crabby at potty training. I am NOT at square one! Trevor did an amazing job this time around. In preparing for our trip home I was determined to make sure that everything was as similar as possible to home so that he wouldn't get scared and take 500 steps backward in the potty training war. I brought his potty seat (just an insert to put on the bigger toilet seat) complete with plastic bag so that it could go into and out of any establishment we might visit. I brought his potty chart and his stamps/stickers to put on that potty chart when he went like a big boy. And we brought plenty of positive words and actions to let him know he was on his way to being a big boy. And... IT WORKED!!!!

On the way to Wisconsin, he went in his pull-up one time and to his defense it was during nap time and we're not really working on nap/night time wetting yet. He went potty at 2 of our stops on the way and had no other accidents. Then, we get to Wisconsin, visit everyone and anyone and what does he do?? He tells us when he has to go potty and poop!! And he tells us again. And again. And again! It was amazing and totally different than our last trip home. It didn't matter where we were - he didn't get "stage freight" at all. Talk about success. I'm not sure what could be better than what he accomplished already. But I learned very quickly what could be better. Trevor telling us when he had to go on the trip home. Out of the blue while he's watching a movie in the car, "Daddy, I have to go potty." Our response.... push the accelerator down a little bit more in order to get to the next exit as quickly as possible! Did we make it? We SURE DID. We were so excited! He did great and it has continued through the weekend since we've been home.

Now, I am elated that he did so well on the trip and we didn't go backwards, but what can be EVEN better???? No way... nothing can be better than what you just heard about. But I tell you, there is something! What is it?

It's telling a person, other than mom or dad, that you have to go potty. Trevor went to school today and for the first time ever, he told one of his teachers that he had to go! That has NEVER happened before. He would either hold it through the 3 hours he was there or have an "accident" in his Pull-up. But not today. I was feeling brave (and maybe a bit confident) and sent him to school in big boy undies (along with 2 extra pair, a Pull-up, and 2 extra pair of pants. Ok, so maybe I wasn't feeling so confident based on all that I sent in his bag.) But in the end there were NO accidents and he came home in the same clothes and undies that he went in! YIIIIIIIIIIPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

We are so proud of him and so excited at his recent successes! Now we just need to start working on the nap time/nighttime wetting. It will be a bit of a challenge, but we're up for it!

Another Step Towards Independence

It's fun to watch Ethan (or any child for that matter) learn to do things that they "NEVER" thought they'd be able to do. Ethan's recent accomplishment is tying his own shoes. And not just flipping the Velcro over far enough to make the shoes tight... actually tying his laced shoes. All. By. Himself. He's been trying for quite some time and for some reason it just clicked and all came together yesterday. And the smile on his face the first time he came out of the attempt with two loops that stayed together was --- PRICELESS!

Here's a video of his tying attempt the day after he figured it all out the first time. After watching this, I honestly have NO idea how he came out of it with a tied shoe. But he's getting better with each attempt so I'm sure he'll get faster, and hopefully a bit more efficient, as he keeps practicing.

Potty Training Update

It's been awhile since I've talked about Trevor's battle with potty training... Yes, that's what it's been. A Battle! He was doing great before we ventured home to WI for Rick's grandpa's funeral. The key word there is BEFORE! We came back and it was like Trevor has never seen a toilet, had never heard of the words, "let's go potty" nor did he know that he could go potty/poop in some place other than his diaper! UGH. It was frustrating.

We struggled through it though and we are finally on the uphill. It took a couple days of being in "big boy undies" and getting wet to convince Trev that he didn't like that feeling. Had one instance at the park. Full emptying of the bladder and he had to ride home in the wetness of it! One instance of bladder emptying in the sun room while playing. I was helping Ethan with a project at the time so Trevor had to stand in the bathroom in his wet pants and wait for me. By the time I got back to him (not even 5 minutes later), he was already trying to take his pants and undies off! He didn't like it! Not ONE BIT!!

But that was a good thing.... since then we have had 2 accident-free days (during the day). I can only hope that we've turned a corner and it will continue in this fashion. Keep your fingers crossed that his success continues especially with our journey home again coming up soon!

Potty Training Update

So it's been a couple days since we started potty training with Trevor. Started Wednesday, that post's below, Thursday was kind of a half and half day. He had school in the morning and being only the 2nd day of training, I didn't want to send a "disaster waiting to happen" to his teachers. He went to school in diapers. But when he got home, we went right into training mode again. He had a Pull-up on and was playing nicely. Daddy came home for lunch and amidst our conversations, Trevor said, "Mama, I don't want to go potty." I didn't think anything of it and 2 seconds later his Wheels were gone on the Pull-up. Dang it! That's one signal I now know.

Last evening went awesome. Trevor woke up from nap (wet in his diaper), but we put a Pull-up on until we got back from getting Ethan from school. After school pick-up (3:00pm) the undies went back on. I set the timer in 20 minute intervals (assuming that he was going to need to go)and we sat on the toilet each time to make sure he didn't have to go. 3:20 - dry & didn't have to go. 3:50 - dry & didn't have to go. 4:20 - dry. 4:50 - dry. 5:20 - dry & still didn't go. Mom's getting worried now. Mom moves the timer to every 10 minutes. 5:30. DRY. 5:50. DRY. Mom's REALLY worried. Now it's time for dinner. It'd be our luck that we have a full blown accident at dinner time. But we go with it and hope for the best. No-peek pork chops, carrots, milk. Still dry. 10 minutes after dinner Rick took Trevor to the bathroom and he went!!!!!!!! Yeah!

I couldn't believe he held it that long. But today, I started to believe it a bit more. We got up this morning and did our normal breakfast, get dressed, take Ethan to school routine. When getting dressed we put on a diaper being that we were going to play at the gym after dropping Ethan off. We left the house at 7:45am and didn't get back until close to 10am. Trevor's still dry! On went the underwear and the timer was set. Every 20 minutes or so and I let him tell me whether or not he had to go when the timer went off. It wasn't until 11am when he finally went. Another 3 hour interval without going potty! OH MY... I am shocked. And so unbelievably excited.

With his spina bifida, potty training is our last major hurdle. And with wearing diapers, we never knew if he was "dribbling" a little bit throughout the day between the larger voids or if he was going as any other "normal" kid does. But with wearing underwear, I can tell that he is NOT leaking/dribbling and is truly holding it!! Yet another miracle for this child.

Now, I know potty training is not going to go this smoothly all the time. I'm not that naive. However, I am having fun these first couple of days. He gets to put a stamp on his Sticker/Stamp chart when he goes. And if I am feeling really nice, he get an M&M or two, or a little toy (left overs from random shopping trips in Utah), but most times, the excitement of just going and the Elmo/Cookie Monster stamps are enough for him.

Keep it up little man! You're doing a great job!

Wish Me Luck

Ok - so this is not an "old" post like many of them are going to be while I catch up. This is 100% real time! Like took the picture 2 minutes ago and it's now going on the blog. I need all the well wishes and prayers that you can give RIGHT AWAY so I could not delay telling you about this.

I decided that this morning was the morning that we were going to move to Pull-ups. My Little Man, Trevor, has decided this afternoon that he wanted to move to Big Boy Undies! So, I'm going to run with it, hope he doesn't freak out when they get wet, and pray to God that he doesn't want to go back to diapers when the pee starts running down his leg the first time he goes in them and they absorb nothing! I am so very glad that I have moved the basketball hoop into the sun room where there is tile.... no carpet! And hopefully he'll want to play in there the rest of the night. And tomorrow. And the next day.

Update #1: 4:15pm. It's 45 minutes later. Trevor stayed dry (amidst me asking him every 2 minutes if he had to go) and I just put him on the toilet and he went potty!!!!! Timer set for another 30 minutes... and away we go!

Update #2: 5:00pm. I knew it was too good to be true. I went to put Trevor back on the toilet and he had just had an accident while he was playing in the bathroom... undies wet and I stepped in a wet spot on the rug. Now, I'm doing a load of wash 8-( We try again.

Trevor's 1st Day of School

Today was a big day! It was Trevor's first day of his school. On Wednesday night we went to meet his teachers which he was very excited about. He jumped right in and was playing with all the other kids that were there to meet the teachers. Now, I do have to clarify, it's not really "school", but to Trevor it is and that is all that counts. It's the ECE (Early Childhood Education) program at the Methodist Church (right across the street from our church). It's not a faith based program so anyone can participate which makes it nice because you meet others that you might not otherwise. It is from 8:30 - 11:30am on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the school year for ages 2, 3 and 4. The younger kids do do some learning with shapes, colors, etc, but it's not a formal preschool program. Just a fun time for the kids to socialize, eat snacks, do crafts and play!

Since Trevor has been old enough to understand that Ethan always got to go someplace (and stay there) he has asked, "Me go to school?" Up until this point, I always had to say no, but not today!! He was excited, but a bit hesitant at the same time. In the morning as they were watching a little cartoon before school, he asked Ethan, "Essan, you stay with me at school?" It broke my heart! He wanted his big brother to stay with him. I was so proud when Ethan responded (in the most sincere and soft voice ever), "No, Trevor, I have to go to my school, but I will be right across the street from you! And you get to have fun at your school!" Trevor was a-ok with that answer and responded with a smile!

Here's my baby on his first day of school...Now he's acting silly in typical Trevor-fashion They thought it was cool they were BOTH going to school.
Trevor showing me his name tag from the table
Class is starting... "Let's lace Froot Loops on the pipe cleaner, kids!"

He had a great day and when I picked him up he came running with open arms saying, "Hi, Mama!!" He knew how to make a lonely mom feel wanted!! It was a good, but lonely 3 hours for me. I got a work out in (which was long over due), laundry done, and the bathroom cleaned, but it was so quiet around the house! It made my day when he came running and then the first thing he told me was, "Mama, I didn't even cry!" That's my big boy...

1st Day of School & Soccer

On Tuesday, Aug 18th, we had a huge day! After being in our new house for less than 24 hours, Ethan attended his first day of Pre-K (or 4K, as it is called some places), at his new school, Holy Rosary. He is attending our church's school and is LOVING it! He is beat by the end of the day after going to school from 8am - 3pm. He could take a nap during their quiet time; however, he likes to opt out of falling asleep most days.

Upon going to school that first day, he was very excited yet a bit more quiet than usual. I started walking him into school and realized I was the worst mom ever and picked a great time to forget my camera. Can you believe it?? His first day of real school and I forget my camera. What kind of mom am I?? I saw all these other parents taking pictures of their kids on the steps going into school and I felt like such a putz... how could I forget a camera on this day? But, then I realized that Ethan really could have cared less that I didn't have a camera and was not traumatized by my lack of picture taking at all! However, I made sure that after school we got a picture!
As if going to a new school ALL day long isn't hard enough when moving to a new place, Ethan, came home to a house full of boxes that weren't there when he left in the morning. And Tuesday night brought about yet another activity for Ethan. He had his first soccer practice with his team. And it wasn't a silly little practice either. It was 45 minutes, they ran cone drills, passing drills, ran to and from certain points on the field, and played hard! Seriously, could anything else happen in this first full day of being in our new house?? I just wanted to unpack and have some outside fun with the boys. But Ethan was equally excited about soccer as he was school and never put up a fuss. That is, until it was time for us to leave the soccer field. A great sign that he was having fun and I guess that's the main thing! Home we went and then it was off to bed after a very long day!

Training Wheels - Who Needs 'Em?

During a recent visit to the Villa's house Ethan figured out how to ride Dante's little 12-inch bike without training wheels. Not only did he figure out how to ride it, he was going up and down hills, turning corners and he and Dante were having a blast riding the bikes around the entire yard.

This is something we hadn't seen at our house yet. Ethan tried one time to take the training wheels off his bike, but after a day of trying to ride with Rick's help, there was little success, and he asked Rick to put them back on. But this time, he want them off because he was convinced he could ride without them like he did at Dante's. I was a bit skeptical because he was SO unsteady with his bike last time we tried, but we didn't want to tell him he couldn't try. So, off the training wheels came for the second time. Much to our surprise, he did it! He had that look of "I told you so" on his face when he had accomplished the feat. It took a couple times to figure out how to slow down and stop nicely, but he did it! Oh boy... here we go. How many bumps, scrapes and bruises will this bring to Ethan?

Way to go Ethan. You're cruisin' now!

Big Boy Bed

We weren't quite ready to take Trevor out of his crib yet, but lately, all he has been asking for is a big bed like Ethan's. So, after thinking long and hard about it, why not switch him over to a big boy bed while he WANTS to. It might make the transition easier if he's wanting to do it on his own, right!?! So, we started out by getting new beds for both boys. We decided to get bunk beds (which means Ethan gets a new bed too)rather than just another twin bed for Trevor.  That way, should we ever want to bunk them and put them in the same room, we can. But for now they are going to stay in their own rooms.

Once we had the bed we figured we should let him sleep on the mattress a couple times before taking his crib down - just to give him some "getting used to it" time instead of taking it away cold turkey. Did it work? Yep.... he did a great job on it (and so did Kelty).

We had a couple rough naps, but bedtime went pretty well. I think the fact that Ethan was using a new bed made it a bit enticing as well.

(and I hate to admit it, but the "getting used to it time" was also for me. We have not had a crib-free house since mid-2004, before Ethan was born. I was not ready to have everyone in the house "all grown up". I liked having to go in to get him out of bed as he was standing there smiling. I liked looking over the rail before I went to bed to see him safely tucked in - in his crib. It was hard to let go of that stage when Ethan moved to a big boy bed, but just 1 month later, Trevor filled up the crib and things just felt right. Now, I am going to take Trevor out of it and not have someone waiting to fill it. It is going to be taken apart and put in a box for some later time (maybe). Ok - so it's really my issues that caused so much havoc in our house during the change over. Not that Trevor wasn't ready. I wasn't ready. Whew... there it is. I admit it. The first step to overcoming the problem !)

Now that we knew he was doing ok on the mattress, it was time for the real bed. Ethan and Trevor both helped Daddy put it together.

We had both crib and bed in Trevor's room for a couple days and then the crib came down, too. It was a sad day, but Trevor was so excited to have his very own Big Boy Bed.