summer Goals

I had Summer Goals set for TRevor this summer....let's see how we did

1)potty train!!! YES accomplished that in a little less than 3 weeks
2) put clothes on/off (including some shoes) - We are about 90% with this. Shirts are still causing some trouble but we def have shorts and most shoes!
3) write letter R and V: He currently writes his name THROR
4) sleep in his bed all night!!!!! --- we have yet to accomplish this one...wanted to start school and get through potty training before we threw this one in his boat! I think this one will be the toughest for all of us! I secretly LOVE snuggling with him each night...but every inch of room in my bed helps me sleep oh so much better. It will be a bittersweet victory when it it happens.

So....any tips out there folks?!?! I am leaning towards the whole closed door approach, but hopes that i can stick out the baby whisper method!

So about 3 out of 4 wouldn't you say!? Not bad!

updates

So it has been a bit since my last blog effort. I was getting ery frustrated and hve been boycotting my blog. I am not able to upload the 2 videos I want to share: one of revor swimming and the othe singing. Then to add to matters I have tried numerous times t add photos to the last blog to no avail. Needless to say I am bummed with my blog.... but time has passd and I felt I needed to upate you all.

School is in full swing for both Tevor and I. He is doing well - a few potty accidents here or there and a few non-listening moments :( but other than that he amazes many and shows off to all! He loves his friends, class and teacher. He truly enjoys going to school and I just LOVE that!!! It totally makes my heart swell. Work is work for me...keeps me busy!

Justin has finally gotten some help at work - his partner had left and they had been looking to hire someone for almost 3 weeks now! Needless to say Justin had been coming home exhausted - doing much of the land clearing himself. He even worked his "tri-atholon" boss into dehydration!!!! So --- how does he repay Justin???? With a raise of course and a promotion. He will now be the crew leader and eventually have a temporary crew of 3-4! Oh yeah --- his benenfits kicked in earlier than we thought and the company pays for most of it!!! His newest crew member...his brother Matt. So he is loving his job even more now!

We have been busy here and there. Went to the opening UT game against Rice in Houston at the Reliant Stadium. Awesome!!! Trevor wasn't too into it - but he did great! Horns won of course! \m/ We've been swimming and taking lessons with Trevor's dear friend Saia as well. We also took a nice trp to Surfside with the Denton's again. Trevor loved the beach and the ocean!! Next thing...celebrate my (gulp) 32nd birthday!

Lots of pic posted on my picasaweb page. ttyl

RockStar in the making

Trevor is way into music - if you didn't already know! He can hear a song once or twice and get the beat and chorus almost immediately! He loves to dance and has perfected this bounce he does with his hand twisted out.

So when my hubby said he "went to town dancing and singing" the other night to music - we just had to get it on film. Well of course he didn't let loose as well as before (perhaps the 3 sets of eyes watching hindered him?!) But I did manage to catch a few pics!

and you know he's been hanging out with the guys too much when he tells his uncle matt that a 7up is his beer! ooooppsssss - guess we need to limit "guy time?" lol

When i figure out how to upload videos I'll be posting one of his songs (as well as a swimming one I have been working on!)

Rock on!!! \m/

potty update

So.... we are about one month in full potty training mode. Trevor has been baring it all at home in our efforts to get him to use the potty. He has been about 90% successful with peeing in the potty 0% with pooping. He began school again just 3 days ago..and was slow going there with his peeing in the potty. I feel bad that at 3 and in preschool he wasn't already out of diapers (hey I know how it is...no changing table and 3 year olds poop is not any easier to change) We are firm believers in NO PULL-UPS! I mean seriously WHY teach a child that it's ok to go in them but not underwear??? Aren't they pratically the same?!?!? Why bother - especially when they cost so much more for so many less than pampers!!!

SO ...also in our efforts to potty train (and by no means is this the "right way" or "wrong way" to potty train per ECE) - it's just our way that works for Trevor....he earns money for every pee and gets immediate toy for poop! So far he has earned 2 trips to the store (which he gets to do when he earns atleast $5).

Well today he finally did it...as I sat on FB playing Family Feud and my hubby sat watching TV - Trevor announced "I have to pee again momma!" I say " GO ahead!" (he had just peed and I had not yet cleaned out the potty chair) "Pee on top of the other pee" I said as he was saying something about the potty being dirty. I asked Justin to go in and help him as I couldn't hear what all he was saying. NExt thing I heard was "Trevor...that's not where it goes." (Bless my hubby's heart - he didn't quite see that Trevor had done an incredible feat not a "no-no") I walked in thinking oh no...he pooped all over the floor. I was wrong. There was a nice little pile of poop right there ON his potty. Not quite in, but ON the lid of his potty chair. Trevor was crying as he knew that wasn't quite where it went! But I took that moment to Congratulate him...what a feat! He put poop on potty - just not in the bucket for easy disposal!

I tried to console him with proudness, Justin followed as well! Needless to say -Trevor pooped on the potty (Literally!!!) So later we will head to HEB (town as he just informed me) to snag up a special Potty toy!!! I wanted to photograph this significant event but Trevor said no! I think I have enough "embarassing" moments as it is! I will post a pic of his toy asap!!!

Let's just hope that next time.....it goes IN the potty!

Potty Training Blues

So...at about 2 years of age Trevor showed a deep interest in the potty! I got so excited thinking WOW at 2 he'll be potty trained! Unlike many boys I knew -- he would do it early!! We went out and bought a potty chair and all. He sat down one time and that was it! It disgustingly sat in our bathroom like a house decoration!

Gathering dust and dirt the potty chair was used here and there - for a chair or a quick attempt with no success! He just had no desire to put peepee in the potty. He would go to the bathroom a few times at school - sporatic - and a few times out in the yard! We even tried the infamous Once upon a Potty video... :( He would tell me "I can't want to watch that potty movie Momma!"

I became more and more frustrated...the educator in me was SHOUTING---- STOP PUSHING!!! When he is ready he'll let you know. And when that happens he'll just do it! But the Mom in me was crying --- PLEASE use the potty - save mommy some money so I don't have to buy diapers and people won't snicker when I say my almost 3 year old still isn't potty trained. I really tried to give my child choices in his life so that when he chose to "take control"of something (as many 2-3 year olds do) I was hoping it wouldn't be the potty! Go figure -- guess that's where sometimes education just doesn't always apply in parenting?!?!!?

So still struggling with my alter egos and trying to exlain to my hubby that we can't push this - I finally decided to just see how Trevor would do with going bare. He had no desire to wear any of the cute underwear Momo (his grandma; my mom) had bought him....no under wear then nothing! He had resisted nakedness before so I wasn't sure this method would fly with him...but it has. Once we got home from school I would strip him down and let hm be naked around the house. After a few pee's on the floor, a poop on our patio and some stern " We don't put peepee on the floor - we put it in the what? yes potty!" He would finally come screaming "I need a pamper!!" Which was his code for "I need to potty!" So I sat him down on the little potty and there he went!!!! YEAH!!!! We had a huge party - he got to call whomever he wanted to share in the celebration. Of course it was Daddy, Momo and Cici! Day 2 - same thing! I was getting hopeful - but the next day was a full school day and being naked at school is just not kosher! I know --- surprise surprise!!!

But it has been 2 weeks now and for the most part he is gradually going to the potty for peeing everytime. My mom wasn't too happy that she got to help in potty training. I know she secretly hoped that he would be potty trained by the time he came for his visit...sorry MOM!! But she has done a great job and keeping it going! He still has to let go of pooping in the potty (he still uses his pamper for that!) But we are getting there. Slowly but surely!

The Mom in me wants it to be faster, but the edcuator knows that this is great progress and he shouldn't feel pressured. We'll just have to wait and see. He still rarely wears undies, may be he'll just be a "free-baller!"

Trevor turns 3!!!

So 7-7-10 came and went! Seaworld was fun and all but now it is time for the party!!

Trevor LOVES Diego and so we had a Diego party! I was really impressed with HEB as they did the cake again this year (each year I am usually a bit bummed). It looked good and the cupcakes were great too!

Trevor had many guests and was spoiled rotten! We arranged for a huge slip n slide so that everyone could enjoy and stay cool -- as a July Saturday is not the coolest day of the year! My tip of the party was having numerous "cooling stations" good for each age group! Slip n slide for the adventurous, our "redneck pool" for the older more calm and the baby pool for the lil ones or people's feet!!!

It was so nice to see everyone who came! Trevor was excited about a few of his school friends making it over and quickly made up lost time with them. He actually let us light candles on his cake this year -- years before he freaked out about fire! At one point - after the pinata and a fw guests had gone-- he said to me "Momma, let's get in the car!" WHY I asked? "I want to find a new house!" Perhaps that was my cue that he was done partying?!?!?

Thank Goodness for my Aunt Trish-- she was the "party photographer" and did an awesome job capturing the moments! If you attended the party and want to see some pics - email me and I'll send you the link!

We had so much fun that day - we had to save the presents for the morning after! Needless to say he was overwhelmed and over stimulated with all his goodies - but he did love them all!! I probably could've saved a few for Christmas and he would've never known!!! But sincerely, a HUGE THANK YOU to all of you for making it out for our lil man's special day and for helping us all celebrate!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TREVOR!!! WE LOVE YOU!

Dolphins, Seals and Orcas OH MY!!!

So for Trevor's inevitable 3rd birthday I decided that he should get to go to Seaworld San Antone since he has this fascination and love of all things sea life! So he was all prepped and proceeds to inform anyone and everyone that he "will turn 3 at Seaworld!" We jumped on the $5 child ticket and brought my nephew as well - thinking Trevor would fair better during an 'all day in the heat park' with someone else along for the ride!

Dinner the night before at Joe's Crab Shack (it was across from the hotel--btw Thanks DAD!!!!) we were inormed that Trevor would be "getting his party started at Seaworld!!" hmmmm...wonder where that phrase came from!? Before hitting the bed for the night - in preps for a long day - we hit the pool. Trevor made friends (as he does anywhere he goes..sound familiar....Justin!!!!!) and learned by a sweet 9 year old (or so) how to "dive!" So after that late night swim he returns to the room to say (word for word) "Shoot that was a good swim!" Justin, Klay and I about died laughing!

Seaworld lived up to its hype and actually amazed us in the waterpark department! That could totally have been a whole day adventure itself! At 2 pm we were thinking WHY had we waited so long to hit this area of the park!?? Trevor LOVED the wave pool if you can believe it! plus the lazy river was nice! We of course saw like every show they had...Shamu rocked and we got to see the new baby Orca! Azul wasn't very good:( But Trevor LOVED feeding the dolphins and trying to "pet" them! I think Klay had a good time as well and he was so well behaved! I thought for sure I was crazy thinking I could do this with 2 kids...but they amazed me! Thank God Justin took off and came with me --- not sure I could've done it by myself!

Needless to say the boys and I had a blast and what a memory for Trevor! He passed out about 10 minutes after stopping to grab McD's with apples and dip in hand! Luckily his 7-7-07 luck was with us--as we got pulled over on the way back in Dripping - WARNING only but still!!!

WHAT A DAY!!!! I only hope that Trevor treasures this memory some time in his life - as I will treasure it always!