Big Boy Underwear

Potty training has been tough. Our problem has been being consistent. I decided we were going to really buckle down and try harder to be consistent with potty training Ryland after we got back from our trip to Oregon. That was over 3 weeks ago.

Ryland loves wearing "big boy underwear." He actually insists on wearing it most of the time. He won't poop in his "BBU," but peeing he'll pretty much do anywhere anytime. Two weeks ago I started bringing him to daycare in his "BBU." He had 3 accidents the first day, but that's ok, it was expected and I armed daycare with extra "BBUs" and shorts. The next day, no accidents!! He came home with a paper cut-out of a trophy with the words, "I used the potty!" handprinted on it. I was so proud! I told him then that we should use the potty again before having dinner. He looked at me with a "omg mom" look on his face and said, "mommy, I pee-pee in the potty at daycare. I don't pee-pee in the potty at home!" As if it was ridiculous for me to even think he would dare use the potty at home. Great... He had 3 accidents before bedtime and it's been that way every day until... today.

Today is a glorious day!! Today, my son, my Ryland, for the very first time ever, pee-pee in the potty at HOME!! I couldn't contain myself and I started to cry for joy. My little boy is growing up so fast and I know I'm still in store for more accidents, but for today, today is the best day ever. I'm so proud of my boy.

Stupid Penny

So it's Friday night, I just finished brushing Ryland's teeth and am now brushing my own.  Ryland's standing next to me.  He tugs my shirt and I look down to see him sticking out his tongue to show me the shiny penny he just placed on it.  He laughs, still sticking out his tongue.  I tell him, "take that out.  It's disgusting and you might choke."  He proceeds to retrieve the penny with his fingers and instantly his gag reflex is triggered and down goes the penny in one clean gulp.  He looks surprised, then sticks out his tongue again.  " It's all gone Mommy!"  "Oh my god Ryland...  You swallowed the penny?"  "Yeah, Mommy it's all gone!"  Thinking...  thinking...  thinking...  what do I do?  This has never happened to any one I could think of.  Will it "pass?"  Are his intestines big enough for that?  Should I have him throw it up?  No, he might choke...  what should I do?  Call nurse connection.  So, apparently this happens quite often.  The nurse chuckles after going through the gamut of questions to finally determine that Ryland's air-ways, drink-ways and food-ways are all clear.  Perfect!  Then she tells me, he'll probably pass it within the next day or two and that I will need to check his poop for it and if it doesn't appear after 3 days that I should probably get him x-rayed.  Oh great...  I get to check poop for the next 2 or 3 days.

The next day, the family is getting ready to go to my parents house to finish picking up all the stuff we left there from the party the week before.  After my parents, we have a birthday party to go to, then my aunt's for the Pacquiao fight, so I'm trying to get all the kids stuff together for a long day/night out.  Ryan's already outside with Joss waiting for me and Ryland.  I'm running around trying to hurry up and I see Ryland from the corner of my eye start to take off his clothes.  I tell him, "Ryland, stop we're leaving now."  Then I smell it.  Great.  He's about ready to take off his diaper and I sternly tell him, "do NOT take off your diaper!  Mommy will do it because you're going to make a mess."  Of course, he doesn't listen.  I turn around for one quick second and now he's buck naked and the diaper's on the floor.  URGH!  "Why don't you listen to Mommy?  I told you not to take off your diaper!  Don't touch anything and come here!"  I lead him to the downstairs bathroom with the diaper in hand ready to search for that stupid penny.  I tell Ryland again, "don't touch anything.  Mommy needs to clean you up."  I place the diaper on top of the step stool that we keep there for Ryland to reach the sink.  As I'm kneeling in front of the step stool, manipulating the diaper so that I can smear the poop and what appears to be the skins of grapes he ate just that morning trying to find that stupid penny, I suddenly feel tiny fingers wiping down the middle of my back.  I immediately stop.  "RYLAND!  I told you not to touch anything!  Urgh!"  I take a deep breath to control my temper and me from screaming at him.  I turn around and see him holding up his poopie hands.  I grab his shoulders with my two hands and look him square in the eye.  "Ryland, you make Mommy so mad!"  I picked him up under his pits, holding him at arms length and take him to the upstairs bathtub to wash him down.  Once I had him cleaned, diapered and dressed, I sent him outside to wait with Ryan and Joss so that I could wash myself down and change my clothes.  Needless to say, that stupid penny didn't show up until his 3rd poop the next day.  **grrrrr**  Boys!  I swear, they're trouble with a capital "T."

Jacob & Joss

"You are my life now. I will protect you."

What was he dreaming...

We're still having bed issues with Ryland.  He'll start off in his bed, but will usually end up in ours around 2am or if we're lucky around 6am.  Last night was no different.  He comes into our room around 2-ish and I'm feeding Joss (she's off her schedule for some reason).  Ryland climbs into our bed and finds "his" pillow which is actually Ryan's pillow and quickly falls asleep.  Joss finishes up, I burp her and put her back in her crib.  It takes me a while to fall asleep and no sooner was I asleep that I feel Ryland crawling to get out of bed.  I open one eye and see that it's 4am.  Then I hear his feet go pitter-patter as he runs down the hall.  I'm thinking, what in the world is that kid doing?  He runs back into our room and to my side of the bed and says, "mommy, the monsters coming!"  

I tell him, "be quiet and go back to bed."  

His response, "I need my sword!  The monsters coming!"  He turns to face the door and is holding up this imaginary sword.

I tell him, "sweetie, there's no monsters.  Go back to bed."

His response, "ok mommy."  

Then he climbs back into bed, finds "his" pillow and falls back asleep.  Me on the other hand, can't fall back asleep for another hour.  =/  What in the world was he dreaming about?

My Halloween vs Her Halloween

My Halloween is...  

...dressing Ryland up as "Diego," his all-time favorite show right now and Josselyn up as a "chicken" because Ryland was a chicken last year and momma's too broke to buy her a new costume.

...taking our annual October trip to Disneyland and taking kids to Mickey's Trick-or-Treat Party at California Adventure.

...taking kids trick-or-treating around the neighborhood.

... and passing out candy from home.

Last night, Ryan and I had one of our (seldom ever) nights on the town and saw "Her Halloween."

Her Halloween is...

...dressing up as "Sluty Snow White."

...dressing up as a "sluty chef."

...dressing up as a "sluty boy scout."

...dressing up as a stripper WITH her own portable POLE!!

...and my favorite, having your boyfriend dress as Diego and you dress as "sluty Dora."  

If you wanna dress like a slut for Halloween, who knew you can make anything sluty??  You're not limited to just dressing up as a stripper.  BUT, if you're gonna be a stripper, ya better bring your own pole because then you're just not trying hard enough.