Diaper Liberation Part 2

For the first time in over a month, our little family has nothing of life-altering significance to post on our blog! We truly are savoring the blessings of our family and the opportunity we have to be here in Laramie at this very minute. We have seen so many instances where we have learned the things we have learned because of the special and extraordinary moments of our lives. I am so glad that the Lord has these special plans for us.
On a lighter note, in an effort to encourage Ikie's diaper liberation, I have recently resorted to "new lows..." I know, my educational "expertise is in Child Psychology, but really... I'm feeling the desperation setting in! So, Isaac has been going on the potty for several months now, for me only, but over Christmas break he decided that was overrated (sometimes in the middle of the night, I wish I could wear a diaper too, don't get me wrong)! Anyway, so this week I decided to resort to Nerds candy (just a few...) So, it really has worked, actually, but along with is has come a game for the car, or any other seemingly boring moment in our day... Isaac will ask "Momma, what I get when I sit on da potty?" To which he will reply "A new toy? Nooo; A new truck? Nooo; New shoes? Nooo; Shrimpies (his very favorite food) Noooo." This can go on for an hour, as it did today in the car! Pretty funny, but in reality, he gets about 6 nerds or what he calls "special candy." Does this make me a bad mom? I would argue desperate and successful, but not "bad..." right??
Beyond the potty, Ikie has made some major breakthroughs in child psychology and dealing with his feelings in a productive, though not necessarily successful way. One of the boys he plays with in the mornings has come upon a "mean streak" of taking toys, grabbing faces and generally hurting kids feelings. One day this week when I went to pick up Ike, this little boy took the "froggy" Ike was playing with, to which my ever so vocally active child replied, "No (boy's name) I'm not done playing with that but, you can play with it in a minute" Then Isaac, who is a year older, took the toy back and the little boy looked at him, confused (he doesn't speak yet), and walked away. I'm sure he was thinking, whatever buddy! Then, that night as we were reading scriptures, Ikie kept replaying the whole scenario and repeating over and over what the little boy did and what Ikie said to him (for about 45 minutes)! He actually put himself to sleep in his bed talking over the scenario over and over. I was so proud! He's using his words for power, rather than screaming, physical violence, etc... Now Ben's new worry... will he get beat up?? Just kidding! This new little sibling (and his cousins) will help him out in the toughness department, we're sure! I tried to get it on video, but will try again. It really was precious!
We were also blessed this weekend with weather in the 50s and low 60s-- it was awesome! Ikie and I went jogging outside on Friday to two different parks, that's how excited we were to get the nice weather! I think I would've jogged all day, had the sun not started to go down--brr! Then on Saturday we "dug down" to our Cowboy roots and went to the National Western Stockshow in Denver. It was fun, and as my friend Jamie put it, "we've never seen such pretty cows in all our lives!" We also watched my brother play basketball and found a new, expensive addiction for Isaac-- shrimp, and lots of it! This kid really is a bottomless pit, which would be much better if so satisfied with bread or water:)
This week marks another week in pregnancy history. Though I haven't started wearing maternity clothes yet (except to a Board meeting for my school in which I wanted to gain sympathy-- it worked)! I am 21 weeks and will have my ultrasound this week. We're pretty excited or "estited" as Ikie says (at least he's not "fwustwated" anymore:) So, we'll keep you all posted... For some reason, I've been having this "panics" like what if there are twins or something and I just don't know yet-- b/c I'm starting to feel huge-- even though I know I've got a long way to go and that that's not the case:) Wish us luck!!