Toilet Training Christmas Highlight

Still toilet training, or really doing it this time.  I finally pulled the diapers, Sam can wear them at night only.  It's been a long week of bathroom trips but he is finally coming around, or at least peeing in the toilet with minimal accidents.  Pooping is another story.

Christmas we literally spent running back and forth from the toilet every time we spotted the "poop-face."  He would then sit on the toilet and freeze.  At my parents' house, several trips (maybe fifteen?) and several pairs of underwear later, I sat him down on the toilet and went back down to Christmas dinner to find a book to read him and my glass of wine.  I wheeled an office chair into the bathroom and settled in for the long haul.  He looked up at me like I was crazy, "what are you doing?"
"We're going to read a book and wait for your poop."
"It came."
We peered into the toilet and sure enough, he had produced.  I cleaned him up and he asked if he could tell Nana, as she had a toy waiting for this miraculous moment.
I was washing my hands and told him "yes," then started to tell him that was a private conversation when he raced out of the bathroom.  He got midway down the stairs which lead into the dining room, where about 10 extended family members were enjoying their dinner, calling, "Nana, Nana!"
I heard the dinnertime conversation cease, "yes?"
"I pooped in the toilet, and it was ENORMOUS."
Still in the bathroom, I dropped my head into my hands.
A beat of silence from downstairs and then a rousing round of applause.  Luckily we had an understanding audience of relatives.

Christmas 2013

Sam and Vivian on Christmas Eve

                                                            Vivian with Uncle Mou

Vivian with her new ride on toy from Santa

Sam's anatomically correct Gingerbread man label

Christmas Ride On Presents

When Three Year Olds Decorate Christmas Trees

Dear Santa

We were trying to avoid Christmas lists this year and the whole idea of asking for things, but then Sam saw it in a Curious George movie.  I let him watch an inordinate amount of TV while we were laid up with the stomach bug, so I fully take blame for that. The premise of the Curious George movie was that he drew pictures for his list and no one could decipher what he wanted and had to guess at what to buy him.  That apparently went straight over Sam's head as his first idea is that he would draw pictures of what he wanted.  We compromised and Chris and I wrote and drew pictures of each object.  And then Sam helpfully dictated Vivi's innermost desires for toys, which sounded suspiciously similar to his own tastes...

When Vivian is Feeling Better

After being sick with a fever and having no appetite, I could tell Vivian was on the mend.  Sam and I were trying to do a project and found her enjoying the houseplant.

Thanksgiving Family Photo

Trying to take a photo with Nana and GrandJoe on Thanksgiving.  This is just the last 30 seconds of it. Nana is trying to pacify the babies and Sam is practicing his smile.

Gingerbread House 2013

Sam and his gingerbread house.  I got smart and bought a kit this year, which was still difficult enough to execute with Vivian crawling around and needing to be picked up, but at least it was organized and thought out.

This is also Sam smiling his photo smile that we can't seem to get him to drop.  Not sure where he learned it.  Christmas photos are going to be pretty special this year!

Baby Trade In

Sam was watching his baby cousin walk around over the Thanksgiving break.
"Mom."
"Yes?"
"She walks."
"Yes, she does."
"My baby (Vivian) doesn't walk."
"Nope, not yet."
"We need a baby that walks.  We should get a different one."

He's since recanted that statement, he decided Vivian might be a keeper.  Lucky we didn't upgrade.