Synchronized Potty Training

This one is gonna be gross. I hope you're ready for really, really gross.

Silas has decided she is way too big for diapers. This came as a pretty big shock for me because she is only 20 months old. I really thought we had another year or so before we even thought about potty training. But, hey, I'm all for it. If I never have to buy another box of diapers it will be too soon.

When she needs to go, she usually pulls her pants down around her ankles and begins yelling, "Potty! Potty!," and running for the bathroom. I'm hoping I can change that before she needs to go while we're at the grocery store. Or at church.

So, Nicole's son Dexter is potty training too. Dex is at our house pretty often right now while Nicole earns her nursing degree. Dex is doing very well in the number 1 department. Number 2 is another story.

This afternoon I had just returned from a trip to the bathroom with Silas and was helping Cody and Carson with their piano lesson when Dex came running in ecstatic. "Megan, Megan! I went poo-poo in the potty! I did it!"

I replied, "Yay! Great job Dex! Give me five!" And we high fived a lot.

Then Dex went on... "Yep I just put that poo-poo right in the potty."

Hmmm....put?

"Dex, I better look to make sure you wiped well." And that was the end of the celebration. And the beginning of the confession. "Yep, I just went poo-poo and then I put it in the potty and the first one was a big huge rectangle and the next one looked like a ball!"

Oh, please help.

So the cleanup begins. And right smack in the middle of cleanup, in that moment when it's too late too stop but the job is not quite done yet...I see a little streaker out of the corner of my eye and hear the telltale, "Potty! Potty!"

*sigh*

Worm Art

Today we did worm art. That's not a typo. Carson's science lessons lately have centered around soil and how it has everything that plants need to grow. The suggested art project for yesterday was to put a blob of paint onto a piece of construction paper and then to drop a worm into the paint. The purpose was to illustrate the tunnels that a worm makes in soil.

The worms are supposed to inch along the paper dragging the paint with them. This happens when the worms you choose are young and spry and not deprived of oxygen. I am obviously not someone who cares for worms on a regular basis because I didn't think twice about keeping them stored with their tub inside a plastic bag. Worms have to breathe too ya know.

Of course, I knew the more kids we had grossing out over the worms, the better, so I invited Nicole and her kids to share in our fun. She was very grateful. I believe her exact words were, "What if the boys eat the worms?" A valid point.

So, this morning we set seven kids at the table and we had a total of eight worms that survived. A couple of them even squirmed in the paint a little. Overall though, the worms were a flop.

Carson livened things up when she shouted, "Mom! I need a new worm because I broke mine." Sure enough, she had two pieces of worm. Nice. That coupled with Claire feeling the need to toss her dead worm's carcass from hand to hand and give everyone else an extreme close-up of the corpse, really made this project less disgusting. Needless to say, no worm autopsies were performed. Cause of death: oxygen deprivation followed by drowning via paint.

From The Mouths and Fingers of Babes

I suppose some of you have come over from Nicole's blog after reading about my darling Carson's plans for the future. She apparently has become quite the little eavesdropper. And, in Brad's defense, his recovery has been somewhat slowed by the unrelenting activity of Memphis.

But, I will go ahead and take this opportunity to share a little conversation between Carson and Claire. Probably Claire's attempt to retain her throne of things that make people die laughing.

Nicole and I took all of the kids to Krispy Kreme (they should be paying me for all this advertising) for a tour of the place. It's actually pretty neat and it's short enough to hold the kids' attention. And you get a dozen FREE donuts. Can't beat that.

When I picked them up from VBS, Carson and Claire informed me that they had donuts as part of their dinner there. I remarked on how they must be getting sick of donuts by now and then:

Claire: "If you eat too many donuts, you get sick."

Carson: "They didn't make me sick, but if you eat your boogers then you get sick."

Claire: "Well, I don't get sick when I eat my boogers!"

Of course not! It is possible that Carson's nasal excretions hold more infectious material than Claire's.

And I have one last little morsel of profane humor for you today. I have a sweet, wonderful, innocent baby girl who, apparently, had been pushed too far on this particular day.

Ok, I'll stop taking your picture for Pete's sake. No need to get hostile.

A Good Day

My friends and family conspired together to give me a much needed day off today. My mom, the saint, watched the little kids this morning while Nicole treated me to a pedicure. Then we went to Red Lobster for lunch WITHOUT KIDS. We talked like real adults and ate our meal without having to stop for bathroom breaks or drink spills or un-restaurant-like behavior. And Nicole didn't even ask me to cut up her food. I do not know how to behave when I don't have to cut up anyone's food.

Then my wonderful husband took his shift with the kiddos while Nicole and I shopped like mad women. We were all over the place. I picked up some much needed post-pregnancy clothes and I can't wait to try them on.

During this time when my sanity is on the brink, it is incredibly comforting to know that I have such amazing family and friends who can recognize that I need them and somehow know exactly what it will take to help me. It has not just been the events of today, although it was extremely refreshing to get away. They have listened to my ranting, offered their shoulders and do-it-yourself induction ideas, and, in Brad's case, faced the rage that I feel toward my doctor.

And guess what? They're still here! Coaxing the baby out alongside me everyday. It is because of them that, here on the eve of my original induction date, I can say that I feel as peaceful as I can feel at 38 weeks pregnant. I can't tell you that I'm not still a little resentful that I'm not packing my bags and setting my alarm, but I do feel much better than I did last week. I can finally see the end of this thing and I know that everything will work out ok even if the circumstances aren't as ideal as they would have been.

Am I still anxious? Absolutely. Is my body still ready to be all mine again? Without a doubt. Am I ready to meet my child? Could not be more so.

I bet you all are ready to read about something else, and that will happen soon, I promise. But first I had to say thank you to all of you who have stepped up instead of backing off. Thank you for loving me when I'm unlovable and irrational and unreasonable. Thank you for letting me vent. Again, and again, and again. Thank you for just being there. Thank God that pregnancy is temporary. I'm sure we can all agree upon that.

Technology Taken Too Far

Brad and I sometimes find it hard to snag a few minutes away from all of the kids to just talk about nothing and, being newlyweds, we need time to talk about nothing. For some reason, if we get into a lighthearted conversation in front of the kids, they decide that it is the perfect time to lick each other on the face or kamikaze off the back of the couch or run around screaming gibberish or shout incoherent phrases containing the words "ice cream truck."

So, in order to get around this we sometimes IM each other from one room to the other. It's sad, I know. But, for some reason if the kids don't know we're trying to communicate with one another, their behavior is much better. Go figure.

Anyway, we found out today that we will be closing on our new house in one week and we could not be more ecstatic. We are reeling at the thought of finally owning our own home. It's inconceivable, really. So, here is our discussion tonight that started out being about the closing on our home:

brad: Should we see if someone can watch them for the closing?
me: yes, definitely
i bet nicole would if we give her ourcar
brad: It takes about 1 1/2 hour and is a lot of tedious paper sighning
GIVE our car?
me: yes...away...forever
brad:
me: we could get horses and a buggy
brad: And wear black and white?
me: and little bonnets
brad: I'd grow a beard (no mustache)
me: not sure we would still be permitted to IM
brad: We' start our own amish internet group!
me: bet that'd catch on quick
brad: get a chicken coup
Help our neighbors build barns
me: when chickens attack
you did mean coop, right?
brad: Junah wouldn't be much help
Yeah
me: no, she wouldn't
brad: No I meant a mustang coupe
dressed like a chicken
me: isn't coup pronounced "coo" and used to describe a mutiny?
brad: Our house?
at bedtime
me: yes,like that

See, it gets out of hand really quickly. Maybe we should stick to the face to face kind of talking.

Oh, and by the way Nicole, can you watch the kids for us if we give you our car?

Brown Chalk?

In celebration of Carson's birthday we are having a slumber party. Nicole's daughters, Emma and Claire, are over and we made one huge sleeping bag on the living room floor where they are currently scarfing down popcorn and watching Lady and the Tramp. This is an example of one of the quiet times we have had this evening.

Earlier they were all playing out in the backyard. I checked on them periodically and they were just very busy playing and having fun. Then......I happened to glance out the back door while I was walking by and noticed that Cody was coloring with what appeared to be chalk. No big deal, wait...we don't have any chalk.

My double take revealed that the chalk was brown. You know what's coming, don't you? Oh yes, she was coloring with Junah's leftovers.

She then informed me that "everybody had been doing it." Great.

Then began the hand washing, lots and lots of hand washing.

Success?

Well, nobody almost died. Although, at one point Nicole looked like she wanted to. She and Karin spent the first day or so not really feeling very well. Other than that, the trip went pretty smoothly and it was so good for the three of us to get to hang out together again. We miss you already Karin! :(

Things here at home did not go quite as smoothly. Cody and Memphis spent the long weekend trading fevers and I'm pretty sure that Memphis lost that little bit of extra weight he had put on in the last couple of weeks and then some. I think he may have rotovirus because of all the diarrhea, vomiting and refusal of pediasure or anything else to eat or drink. That's right, he's refusing his addiction. That's how I know he really doesn't feel well.

Overall, I guess the kids did pretty well otherwise and I arrived home last night to a freshly cleaned house. The fact that three husbands did so well with nine children while the three of us and a baby had relatively few problems is actually pretty amazing so I'm labeling our vacation a success. Yes, Josh, Jared, and Brad, you guys did so well that we think we may just decide to do this again sometime. You guys are great! Thank you!

One more day!!! One more day!!!

I go on vacation in one more day!!! I'll bet you think I'm excited.

I probably won't be posting over this weekend, unless something extraordinarily funny happens. Which is likely, but it's also likely that the story can wait to be told until my return.

My two best friends and I are going to Dallas this weekend. Yay! Among us we have ten children (in utero child excluded) and somehow (by the grace of God I'm sure) we are getting away with only bringing one. And he is only four months old, therefore much less work than the others. Woo Hoo!! What are we going to do with ourselves? Well...since my friends share my love of Ikea, I'm sure we'll be spending plenty of time there.

The last time the three of us got together, we had to manage three children, terrible airline issues, and a man who almost died. I'm confident that this time will be much less problematic. I'd settle for no almost dying people.

Anyway, Thursday morning will not come quickly enough. Don't get me wrong, I love my family endlessly, but I will be a better mother and wife after a much needed breather.

So...Karin, Nicole? Are you guys ready?!?!

WARNING!!! Barrage of photos ahead...

This...

is why we went on vacation.

This...

is Bond, Jared Bond. The man who loves his wife so much, he flew me out on his dime.

This...

is the lovely Karin who is busy feeding her unborn child some really good chocolate cake.

This...

is what happens when Jared makes a smart alec comment.

This...

and this...well...I'm not sure what these are.

This...

is what a hero looks like.

This...

is the baby that nobody knew was on the plane. Yes, it was a miracle.

This...

is the little girl who is going to be an amazing big sister.

This...
is the "pretty bridge." Named by the amazing big sister.

This...
is what happens when you spend all day shopping.


This...

is a face I miss everyday.


This...
is a face that haunts my dreams. Just kidding Jared, but this isn't near as bad as the picture I'll post if you don't bring Karin back to us!

This...

is the baby that Jared watched for 3 days! Yes, he is a saint.

This...

is what happens when you shop for 4 days and then try to cram everything into 3 suitcases.

This...

and this...

and this...

are what amazing friendships look like.

I may live to regret it, but...

We have a houseguest this evening. He is cute and sweet and he will be spending the night. Did I mention he only weighs about 12 pounds or so? It is his parents anniversary and they would like to be alone for the evening. Of course, like any other man he requires feeding, cleaning, and constant supervision. For the most part, he has been remarkably good. I am writing this into history tonight because who knows how I'll feel about this kid in the morning...;)

At first, he was a little worried...

Then he began to admire Memphis' hair.

Then he began to yearn for his own hair.

Then he decided to be really cute...

Don't worry mom, he did miss you a little.

But, then he felt better again.

Right now, his mother is thinking, "Why are you blogging about my child instead of watching him you crazy, crazy woman?"

Well, he's sleeping now. I would take a picture so you could see what a cute sleeper he is, but I'm afraid that he would no longer be a cute sleeper if I did. You'll just have to imagine it.

Friends

There are many things that make a friend a friend. There are several people whom I consider friends, but just a few that I consider best friends. You know, those people who will make a permanent mark on your life. They become more like your family. They are the people who when it has been more than a day or two and you haven't spoken to them, you start to miss them.

Friends make you laugh...

...until you cry.

Friends share everything...

beds,

chairs,

elephants, fish,

and food, among other things.

Friends know when to back off,

and when to be silly.

Friends always watch over one another.

And, friends always have lots of pictures.






We really miss you, Karin and Taylor!