This video is cute, but I'm mostly posting it for Lilly, James' other rock star friend!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Being 3 years old is funny
I haven't blogged in the longest time, and I totally blame it on Facebook. Ok, so I don't post that often over there either, but I spend the time that I would normally spend blogging. I keep forgetting that I am blogging not only to keep the family and friends in the know, but also as our family journal.
Ok, so James was a great 2 year old; 3 is not as peaceful. He enjoys doing the opposite of what we say just to see what will happen. He's been quite vocal about what choices we give him. We hear this alot:
"THOSE ARE NOT MY CHOICES!"
"I DON'T LIKE THOSE OPTIONS!"
He's been so funny, but I've been forgetting to take note. I can't forget what happened the other day though. My parents and Ben and I took him to see "UP". He was really scared about being at the movie because "Monsters vs Aliens" ended up being too scary for him back in April. (I took him out of the theater that day and walked around the mall with him.) Anyway, he kept hiding his eyes and staring down at his legs during the commercials BEFORE the previews because he was that nervous. He started to cry a little bit, so I told my mom to say some happy things to him.
Granny: This is sooo fun! We're having a great time!
James: (Staring down at his legs) (cry) yes (cry) we (cry) sure (cry) are! (cry)
We were all laughing so hard that it made him forget he was scared. At least until the previews came on. He finally relaxed after I 1) bought him a bag of skittles 2) He sat on my lap for the whole movie. Ugh, that was not comfortable.
He's in swim lessons at the university this summer and he has been enjoying himself. He's not daring at all, but he's having a good time. The teachers have been taking all the kids down to the 13' side of the pool at the end of class to give them each a chance to jump off the high board, low board or starting blocks. He just sits on the side of the pool and keeps telling his teacher that he'll try to do it "tomorrow". (whenever that is!)
And last but not least, here is an entertaining video of him dancing. I have no idea what gets into this kid sometimes! (and it is entertaining to hear my cackle laugh and my parents singing "shake your booty".)
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
James' Ears
First, some gratuitous cuteness: Here's my guys making a treat from the Cheerios Cookbook. Thanks, Grandma!
Oh, and for those of you who wanted to know what the receipt was actually for in the last post, it was some kind of water hose repair kit. Ha!
As cute as James' ears are, they are causing us more grief than I bargained for. For the first 2 years of his life he had a ton of ear infections. He got tubes put in right around his 2nd birthday--and that day was a nightmare. When the tube in his left ear fell out a few months ago, the hole remained. The ENT has been watching it since January, but it never closed. It was time to finally do something about it and today James had a "procedure". (Procedure doesn't seem like right word when they take your baby away on a gurney in a hospital gown and put him under anesthesia to fix his ear.)
James had a "paper patch" put in to fix his ear. Basically the dr goes in, scrapes the ear drum up to irritate it and places a tiny piece of rice paper over the newly irritated hole so that the skin is "encouraged to grow". We are hoping and praying this works, because if it doesn't, the next procedure is more like a major ear surgery. Sigh.
Anyway, things went really well this morning and the only things we have to worry about are 1) Not letting James blow his nose and 2) Not changing altitudes for a couple of weeks. We can handle that!
Oh, and for those of you who wanted to know what the receipt was actually for in the last post, it was some kind of water hose repair kit. Ha!
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Aah, Walmart
I was going through our receipts tonight and found this gem. If I had known that it was that cheap, I would have got me some of that a long time ago! I hope they sell it at your local walmart. Ben even bought it for himself!
Monday, May 04, 2009
Heaven Help Us
Earlier this evening:
Ben: Let's get ready to go to Albertsons. James, do you want to wear your Star Wars shirt?
James: (Starts crying) No! I don't want to wear that one!
Me: James, what's wrong with your Star Wars shirt?
James: (Still crying) The girls at Albertsons won't like that shirt! Waaaaaahh!
(Ben and Carolyn try, oh we try, to contain the hysteria of his crying and our laughter. James chooses his Bob the Builder shirt.)
20 Mins later at Albertsons:
Female Employee: Hi James!
(I am not kidding: James sticks out his chest and pulls out the corners of his shirt so that she can fully see his shirt.)
Female Employee: Oooh, I like that shirt!
James smiles and gets all shy.
Yeah, heaven help us.
Ben: Let's get ready to go to Albertsons. James, do you want to wear your Star Wars shirt?
James: (Starts crying) No! I don't want to wear that one!
Me: James, what's wrong with your Star Wars shirt?
James: (Still crying) The girls at Albertsons won't like that shirt! Waaaaaahh!
(Ben and Carolyn try, oh we try, to contain the hysteria of his crying and our laughter. James chooses his Bob the Builder shirt.)
20 Mins later at Albertsons:
Female Employee: Hi James!
(I am not kidding: James sticks out his chest and pulls out the corners of his shirt so that she can fully see his shirt.)
Female Employee: Oooh, I like that shirt!
James smiles and gets all shy.
Yeah, heaven help us.
Friday, May 01, 2009
Potty Training Update
Well, It's May 1st and we started potty training on April 1st. It hasn't been that bad, though I can't say that we're done by any stretch of the imagination.
Some of the highlights:
*Missionaries came over for dinner on day 1. As we were eating, James kept telling them about the Potty Party, Pee, Poop, all of his new underwear, etc. As they tried to share a message with us, James kept interjecting potty talk, potty humor and he would dash off to bring in some of his new underwear and wave it in the Elders' faces. Yeah, thank heavens it was new underwear.
* Has to be nakey from waist down to do his business. Not so convenient in public restrooms, you know.
* As we were falling asleep one night, I told Ben if he could get James to poop on the potty the next morning I would pay him $20. I still owe him that.
* Every one of the songs he knows now has the word "poop" inserted in it somewhere.
We are DEFINITELY still working on the whole poop thing. He's not a big fan of doing it in the right place. However, I think we are progressing...Happy Meals are a powerful bribe.
I don't know what to do (or if something needs to be done) about the whole pee thing. It's been 30 days, and he's only had 10 accidents, total. (yeah, I keep a calendar and make tally marks.) Most of those were in the first week. But, and here's the big but, he's never, not once, told us that he needs to go pee. We've just increased the time between potty breaks every week and now we're taking him every 2 1/2 hours or so. Do we need to try to get him to tell us when he actually needs to go? Or do we just leave it alone and keep taking him according to our schedule?
Some of the highlights:
*Missionaries came over for dinner on day 1. As we were eating, James kept telling them about the Potty Party, Pee, Poop, all of his new underwear, etc. As they tried to share a message with us, James kept interjecting potty talk, potty humor and he would dash off to bring in some of his new underwear and wave it in the Elders' faces. Yeah, thank heavens it was new underwear.
* Has to be nakey from waist down to do his business. Not so convenient in public restrooms, you know.
* As we were falling asleep one night, I told Ben if he could get James to poop on the potty the next morning I would pay him $20. I still owe him that.
* Every one of the songs he knows now has the word "poop" inserted in it somewhere.
We are DEFINITELY still working on the whole poop thing. He's not a big fan of doing it in the right place. However, I think we are progressing...Happy Meals are a powerful bribe.
I don't know what to do (or if something needs to be done) about the whole pee thing. It's been 30 days, and he's only had 10 accidents, total. (yeah, I keep a calendar and make tally marks.) Most of those were in the first week. But, and here's the big but, he's never, not once, told us that he needs to go pee. We've just increased the time between potty breaks every week and now we're taking him every 2 1/2 hours or so. Do we need to try to get him to tell us when he actually needs to go? Or do we just leave it alone and keep taking him according to our schedule?
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Family Birthday
(If someone can tell me how to rearrange pics in the order I want them after I've uploaded them to Blogger, do be a dear and TELL ME! )
Granny covering James' eyes to hide the surprises.
Opening something.
Sitting proudly on his Birthday Bicycle. It's the last time he's been on it. He's way afraid of it :(
Cheesy family time.
Cheesy James time.
Blowing out the candles
Other cheesy people.
James with one of his favorite presents. It's a giant 24 piece puzzle.
Granny covering James' eyes to hide the surprises.
Opening something.
Sitting proudly on his Birthday Bicycle. It's the last time he's been on it. He's way afraid of it :(
Cheesy family time.
Cheesy James time.
Blowing out the candles
Other cheesy people.
James with one of his favorite presents. It's a giant 24 piece puzzle.
The Latest
We went over to walk around the mall this evening.
James: What does that sign say?
Me: Barnes and Noble Booksellers
James: That's a NAUGHTY word!
Me: What word?
James: BOOKSELLERS!
Me: Um, are you sure?
James: Yeah, trust me.
*******
Later, inside the mall
Me: Ooh, I like this***. Tell Daddy to buy it for me for Mother's Day.
James: But when is James' Day?
Me: Every day is James' Day.
James: Yeah, I like that.
***Is something I want, which Ben will have to drag James around the mall in hopes of finding with a 3 year old's description. Hee hee hee!
****************
Tonight, around the dinner table.
Everyone: chat chat chat chat chat
James: Barack Obama came to my nursery yesterday.
Me: Oh really? What did he do?
James: He talked.
Me: What else did he do?
James: He sang the "lead me guide me walk beside me" song.
Me: Uncontrollable laughter
Ben: You better go put that on the Blog. Your parents are gonna LOVE that.
James: What does that sign say?
Me: Barnes and Noble Booksellers
James: That's a NAUGHTY word!
Me: What word?
James: BOOKSELLERS!
Me: Um, are you sure?
James: Yeah, trust me.
*******
Later, inside the mall
Me: Ooh, I like this***. Tell Daddy to buy it for me for Mother's Day.
James: But when is James' Day?
Me: Every day is James' Day.
James: Yeah, I like that.
***Is something I want, which Ben will have to drag James around the mall in hopes of finding with a 3 year old's description. Hee hee hee!
****************
Tonight, around the dinner table.
Everyone: chat chat chat chat chat
James: Barack Obama came to my nursery yesterday.
Me: Oh really? What did he do?
James: He talked.
Me: What else did he do?
James: He sang the "lead me guide me walk beside me" song.
Me: Uncontrollable laughter
Ben: You better go put that on the Blog. Your parents are gonna LOVE that.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Grandparent love!
During Spring Break, we traveled to Kansas to visit Ben's parents and after the break my parents came here to visit us. A good time was had by all!
This is what happens after my mom and James hit the bottle. (Ok, Dad. I want my $20.)
Before the drinking.
This is what happens after my mom and James hit the bottle. (Ok, Dad. I want my $20.)
Before the drinking.
Granpa Swan, Ben and James playing Candyland!
Grandma Swan and James cheesing for the camera.
Paw Paw obliging James' request to "draw my feet."
Grandma Swan and James cheesing for the camera.
Paw Paw obliging James' request to "draw my feet."
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Our little boy just turned 3!!!!! Here are some of my not-so-lovely pics from the party at the park that we had for him. He chose "Bob the Builder" this year.
Bob is just like one of the family now.
We couldn't light any candles at the park because of the hurricane type winds we were experiencing. I told him we'd have real candles on his real birthday. He wasn't amused.
The stupid wind was blowing so hard that it knocked over every kid's cup of water, half of their food plates, an industrial size garbage can, and the cake. (It blew the last 1/3 of the cake off the table once we had cut it and passed it out. The box saved it-well kind of.) The table cloth below kept taking flight.
Some of James' friends and mamas.
Bob is just like one of the family now.
We couldn't light any candles at the park because of the hurricane type winds we were experiencing. I told him we'd have real candles on his real birthday. He wasn't amused.
The stupid wind was blowing so hard that it knocked over every kid's cup of water, half of their food plates, an industrial size garbage can, and the cake. (It blew the last 1/3 of the cake off the table once we had cut it and passed it out. The box saved it-well kind of.) The table cloth below kept taking flight.
Some of James' friends and mamas.
James taking his turn at whacking Bob.
James' initial reaction to the Bob pinata. I felt that way too as I was sawing into him the night before to fill him. It was stuffed with newspapers from Juarez and I was sure that a kilo of some illegal substance was going to come pouring out. Add that to last year's mari*juana in the garden scare...
The cake that I DID'T make, but should have.
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Overheard
(Ben takes James into the bathroom for potty time.)
Ben: Wow, James, that's a lot of pee! Where did all that pee come from?
James: Albuquerque.
(I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried.)
Ben: Wow, James, that's a lot of pee! Where did all that pee come from?
James: Albuquerque.
(I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried.)
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
If you don't care about potty training, then skip this post.
Well, seven days of potty training done here. No poops in the potty yet. He was doing well with pee until today. We hadn't had a pee accident since last Thursday, and then he had 3 today. Is that normal?
One of the pee incidents today was funny--but we didn't treat it as funny here-I don't want a repeat.
James had been playing with his big Aquadoodle mat and dumping the water from his pens onto it. Next thing I know, I walk into the room and he is standing on it, peeing, watching his pee hit the mat. I say, "JAMES! What are you doing?" His answer, "It turns blue like the water, mommy, see!" Good grief.
Well, seven days of potty training done here. No poops in the potty yet. He was doing well with pee until today. We hadn't had a pee accident since last Thursday, and then he had 3 today. Is that normal?
One of the pee incidents today was funny--but we didn't treat it as funny here-I don't want a repeat.
James had been playing with his big Aquadoodle mat and dumping the water from his pens onto it. Next thing I know, I walk into the room and he is standing on it, peeing, watching his pee hit the mat. I say, "JAMES! What are you doing?" His answer, "It turns blue like the water, mommy, see!" Good grief.
Thursday, April 02, 2009
We're at the end of the second day of potty training. Can I quit yet?
Well, I guess I won't quit, yet. I've got the timer set for 30 minute increments and I'm hoping to lengthen the time soon. I'm worn out from:
1) Being really excited and enthusiastic about pee.
2) Being really casual and nonchalant about accidents and the subsequent clean up (we've had 3 each day.)
3) Hefting him onto and off of the toilet every 30 minutes or so.
4) Thinking about doing this for the rest of forever.
5) Thinking about what will happen when I actually let him leave the house.
He already told us, "I don't want to be a big boy anymore, give me back my diapers." I wanted to agree, but then I remembered that we'd most likely have to move on to Depends.
Oh well, tomorrow is another day. I wonder what would happen if he peed on the floor at Sam's Club.
On a non-potty related topic...
How do I know what size bicycle to buy for James? We want to get him a bike with training wheels for his birthday next week, but I don't know how to buy a bike. Somebody, anybody, help with this, please?
Well, I guess I won't quit, yet. I've got the timer set for 30 minute increments and I'm hoping to lengthen the time soon. I'm worn out from:
1) Being really excited and enthusiastic about pee.
2) Being really casual and nonchalant about accidents and the subsequent clean up (we've had 3 each day.)
3) Hefting him onto and off of the toilet every 30 minutes or so.
4) Thinking about doing this for the rest of forever.
5) Thinking about what will happen when I actually let him leave the house.
He already told us, "I don't want to be a big boy anymore, give me back my diapers." I wanted to agree, but then I remembered that we'd most likely have to move on to Depends.
Oh well, tomorrow is another day. I wonder what would happen if he peed on the floor at Sam's Club.
On a non-potty related topic...
How do I know what size bicycle to buy for James? We want to get him a bike with training wheels for his birthday next week, but I don't know how to buy a bike. Somebody, anybody, help with this, please?
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Family Night
Most of Family Night was normalish ...but here's how it went down when we went to have lesson time:
Ben: Tonight's lesson is on...
James: No! I want to be the lesson tonight!
Ben: Ok, teach us a lesson.
James: Wait a minute, I'm thinking......(30 seconds later) Tonight the lesson is about going to the Mall. First, we go to the mall. Then we eat at Chick fil A. Then we get a balloon. Then I need ice cream. And that's how you go to the mall. (Disclaimer: we go to the mall MAYBE once a month to walk around and while it does usually lead to Chick Fil A, the other parts I have no idea what he is making up.)
(Ben and Carolyn praise James and try their very hardest not to rupture internal organs from holding in laughter.)
James: Ok, Daddy, now it's your turn to teach us a lesson.
Ben: Ok, tonight's lesson is on the Priesthood. (Teaches a short and simple lesson, highlights blessings for when you are sick... follows up with a few questions.) So James, what can Daddy do to help you when you are not feeling well?
James: You can give me Jelly Beans.
(Ben and Carolyn smile again, sigh, and reteach.)
James: Mommy, now it's your turn to teach us a lesson.
Carolyn: Ok, um, tonight's lesson is on...
James: BAPTISM!
Carolyn: Ok, sure, Baptism is when .....(teach previous lesson on Baptism. Then I decided to expand a bit...) After you are baptized, you will also get a very special blessing so that you can have the Holy Ghost be with you all the time...Then
James: (Crying) I don't want a ghost! I don't want a Ghost! I'm scared!
Carolyn: It's not a scary ghost, it's actually a help...
James: No ghosts at all! I don't want any help! (Crying goes to wailing.)
Ben: It's a good thing, James, it's more like a spirit...
James: NO! I don't want it! (Wailing)
Carolyn: Ok, who wants treats?
Yeah, that stopped the mayhem.
And that, my friends, is a model Family Night. (Snort) They're probably going to ask us to do videos for the church and everything. (Crying from so much laughing) The only thing missing was Jello.
Ben: Tonight's lesson is on...
James: No! I want to be the lesson tonight!
Ben: Ok, teach us a lesson.
James: Wait a minute, I'm thinking......(30 seconds later) Tonight the lesson is about going to the Mall. First, we go to the mall. Then we eat at Chick fil A. Then we get a balloon. Then I need ice cream. And that's how you go to the mall. (Disclaimer: we go to the mall MAYBE once a month to walk around and while it does usually lead to Chick Fil A, the other parts I have no idea what he is making up.)
(Ben and Carolyn praise James and try their very hardest not to rupture internal organs from holding in laughter.)
James: Ok, Daddy, now it's your turn to teach us a lesson.
Ben: Ok, tonight's lesson is on the Priesthood. (Teaches a short and simple lesson, highlights blessings for when you are sick... follows up with a few questions.) So James, what can Daddy do to help you when you are not feeling well?
James: You can give me Jelly Beans.
(Ben and Carolyn smile again, sigh, and reteach.)
James: Mommy, now it's your turn to teach us a lesson.
Carolyn: Ok, um, tonight's lesson is on...
James: BAPTISM!
Carolyn: Ok, sure, Baptism is when .....(teach previous lesson on Baptism. Then I decided to expand a bit...) After you are baptized, you will also get a very special blessing so that you can have the Holy Ghost be with you all the time...Then
James: (Crying) I don't want a ghost! I don't want a Ghost! I'm scared!
Carolyn: It's not a scary ghost, it's actually a help...
James: No ghosts at all! I don't want any help! (Crying goes to wailing.)
Ben: It's a good thing, James, it's more like a spirit...
James: NO! I don't want it! (Wailing)
Carolyn: Ok, who wants treats?
Yeah, that stopped the mayhem.
And that, my friends, is a model Family Night. (Snort) They're probably going to ask us to do videos for the church and everything. (Crying from so much laughing) The only thing missing was Jello.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Advice
Do you ever have the irresistible urge to give advice to someone, even when they haven't asked for it? Well, I'm actually asking everyone to open up and spew forth their comments. Tell me anything and everything you've ever wanted to tell someone about Potty Training.
We're going to start potty training James for real after our long road trip. We're kinda practicing right now, but want to do it for real after we get back. Please, pretty please, tell me what I should know!
Let me give you a few particulars...
*He is TOO BIG for a potty chair (already tried that out) so we have to do it on the toilet.
*We have a cushy seat to put on top of the toilet to make it smaller for him, and he is NOT afraid of the flushing.
* I have no problem bribing/rewarding with candy, stickers, larger rewards after a while, whatever.
*I will have 2 weeks off after our road trip is done.
* If we put him on the toilet and tell him to pee, he can pretty much do it on demand.
* I've never read any books on the subject, so if there's something I should know, or something that worked great for you, PLEASE TELL ME!
We're going to start potty training James for real after our long road trip. We're kinda practicing right now, but want to do it for real after we get back. Please, pretty please, tell me what I should know!
Let me give you a few particulars...
*He is TOO BIG for a potty chair (already tried that out) so we have to do it on the toilet.
*We have a cushy seat to put on top of the toilet to make it smaller for him, and he is NOT afraid of the flushing.
* I have no problem bribing/rewarding with candy, stickers, larger rewards after a while, whatever.
*I will have 2 weeks off after our road trip is done.
* If we put him on the toilet and tell him to pee, he can pretty much do it on demand.
* I've never read any books on the subject, so if there's something I should know, or something that worked great for you, PLEASE TELL ME!
This kid is funny
I know I haven't posted pics in a million years, but we haven't taken any. So there. I do have to write down the funny things he says, though.
He helped himself to a fun size bag of skittles from the office at Church. I told him to hurry up and get in his car seat so we could leave and THEN I would open the candy for him. I got him buckled in, opened the pack, and then he popped one in his mouth. He says, "Mmm, I can taste the rainbow!" (Seriously, do they still do those ads? I don't think I've seen one for years. Where did he get that from?)
He has added a new phrase when he has to wait for something. "Oh, now I'll never get to..." Seriously cracks me up everytime. As in, "oh, now I'll never get to go to Walmart." or "Oh, now I'll never get to have dinner." All said very dramatically. Would make a teenage girl proud.
This afternoon we were playing on the wii and he did something really well. I told him, "Way to go, Schmoo!" (Our nickname for him.) He looks at me quite seriously and says, "You don't call me Schmoo, you call me James."
He helped himself to a fun size bag of skittles from the office at Church. I told him to hurry up and get in his car seat so we could leave and THEN I would open the candy for him. I got him buckled in, opened the pack, and then he popped one in his mouth. He says, "Mmm, I can taste the rainbow!" (Seriously, do they still do those ads? I don't think I've seen one for years. Where did he get that from?)
He has added a new phrase when he has to wait for something. "Oh, now I'll never get to..." Seriously cracks me up everytime. As in, "oh, now I'll never get to go to Walmart." or "Oh, now I'll never get to have dinner." All said very dramatically. Would make a teenage girl proud.
This afternoon we were playing on the wii and he did something really well. I told him, "Way to go, Schmoo!" (Our nickname for him.) He looks at me quite seriously and says, "You don't call me Schmoo, you call me James."
Thursday, March 05, 2009
First Five Friends Fabulous Freebies!
The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me for you!
This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1. I make no guarantees that you will love what I make!
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It’ll be done sometime this calendar year.
4. You have no clue what it’s going to be … it's a complete surprise.
5. You must offer the same deal on your blog to the first 5 people to comment on your "First Five" post. (If you don't have a blog, you must make something for someone after you receive my gift!)
I'll ask for addresses later if I don't have them! Good luck!
This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1. I make no guarantees that you will love what I make!
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It’ll be done sometime this calendar year.
4. You have no clue what it’s going to be … it's a complete surprise.
5. You must offer the same deal on your blog to the first 5 people to comment on your "First Five" post. (If you don't have a blog, you must make something for someone after you receive my gift!)
I'll ask for addresses later if I don't have them! Good luck!
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