Three Tall Trees

The highlight of the K5 year is the performance of Three Tall Trees, a story of three trees that each have grand aspirations but are claimed by woodcutters and their fortunes are changed forever.  I went to Lifeway today to get the book, but they were sold out, so looks like I'll be ordering online tomorrow.  Perfect Easter gift for kids his age.

Today was the dress rehearsal so we could take pictures and video if we wanted.  Jack has been talking about this play since he saw it last year.  Of course, after today, I understand why since he is very obviously coveting the Roman soldier costumes that his buddies Reeves and Reece are wearing. If you watch, around 3:30 into the video the soldiers are leading Jesus onto the stage as he carries the cross and Jack's eyes never leave them for the full minute as they round the other side of the stage behind him.

Early on he realizes I'm no longer sitting with his Dad and starts searching the audience for me with no luck.  Finally shortly after he loses interest in the Roman soldiers, he mouths to his father "Where's mom?" I laughed when I watched my video and caught it.  And even laughed more when he finally caught my eye near the end and gave me his half smile.

It was truly so sweet.  I pieced together a few of the songs I was able to video before the card ran out of memory.  And a few pics with his buddies Reeves and Reece are below too.  I'm going to order a copy of the professionally done DVD they offer when it's finished.

So proud of these kids!  They've been working on this play for months - and Duke will be ahead of the game, because he pretty much knows all the songs at this point from practice in the car!

Kids Say the Darndest Things...

It's nearing the end of the school year at our daycare which means year end parties and collections of art projects handed over.

Yesterday was Jack's which is bittersweet because 2 weeks from today we will be off to "big school" starting our journey through education at Briarwood Chrisitan School in the 4K program. sniff.

Last night I sifted through the many glittered fish, pasted bunnies, handprint turkeys and construction paper wonders and came upon a section bound together of art pieces created by Jack with his descriptions of said pieces included. Items such as these fall into the PRICELESS ART GALLERY in my home. Here's a sampling of my two favorites.

The obsession continues.

See, even my 4 1/2 year old gets it...notice the resemblance to Yoda.

Thank you Ms. Catherine and Ms. Jodie for an amazing year and an amazing pack of memories that will be looked at many years from now with a smile!

My Mother - by Jack Rath

Today's guest post sponsored by Odyssey Early School Mother's Day Project 2011


MY MOTHER
by Jack Rath, K4B

My mother is 15 years old.

My mother is 15 feet tall.

My mother weighs 2 pounds.  (Fist pump from Mommy!)

My mother's favorite thing to do is cook dinner.

My mother always tells me to go to Mommy's Room.*



And there we have it. 
*Mommy's Room = Where we go when we aren't listening to Mommy.

He Got a Sad Face, I've Never Been More Proud!

It was inevitable.  At least one of my kids would be...me.  Well, me before I knew better.

I can't help it, I'm a perfectionist who expects the same from everyone around me.  That is, until I grew wise in my old age and realized I can't change everyone around me, I can only emulate examples to those around me, which I still stink at much of the time. So now I just refuse to ever make a mistake.  Ask my colleague Bill, I think it makes him happy when I actually fail at something. At least he tells everyone about it when it happens.

So everytime Jack flips out because he didn't do something exactly perfect, or makes any tiny error of any kind I shrink back into myself cringing, wondering how in only 4 1/2 years I have managed to scar my child with the curse I lived with each and everyday of expecting so much of myself.  Or at least expecting so much of myself that I worried it will affect how others thought of me.  Approval, it was a strong, strong need in me in my younger years.  After my early thirties it turned into someone else's problem.  My mid life crisis/awakening came earlier than most but later than I wish it had, much later. 

It's not that the child never gets in trouble or never throws an all out major fit that both his father and I want to go back to our DINK days and rethink the whole "maybe our careers aren't the only thing in life".  Trust me, in this household, Jack is King of the Fit.  It's just that his fits are more in the category of discipline for self control, not discipline for outright naughty behavior.  In my opinion it's harder to discipline a child who is flipping out because he didn't get his arms in his shirt exactly right when he's trying to do it to please you, vs. a kid who's flipping out because he's smacking the living daylights out of his brother.  Both require discipline, but oh the nuances.  Let's just say the words Self Control are used often on Sterling Creek Ranch.

When I picked up Jack today I was warned that #1 he didn't nap, and #2 that he was pretty "active" all day long.  Hmm, the napping thing, no great suprise or concern as he doesn't at home on the weekend, though it is rare he wouldn't at school.  Secretly, I was ecstatic because it means he'll be asleep before 9pm tonight.  However, #3 was that he received a Sad Face on his work today because...

It was his first Sad Face.  The first time I can remember that he has ever been called out by a teacher for not following directions.  Not that he hasn't done it, but that it was worthy enough to note to me at pick up.  And it was notable that when he brought me the paper from his cubby, he just handed it over and didn't show it to me, didn't want to call it out in any way and followed it up with several other creations making sure to point out how he is "doing better at his "K"'s in his name".  I didn't acknowledge anything otherwise, no calling out of the Sad Face, no asking about the other papers he brought me.  We just went on our merry way, though he was a bit more defiant in the departure than usual, he eventually came along and off we went, to get Duke and to the car on our merry way home.

It wasn't until middle of supper he asked the question I knew was coming.  "Can we play the George game?"  We recently began allowing 30 minutes of computer time with our friends over at PBS kids and Curious George and their games.  Great for lots of reasons, and it's a really special, BIG KID activity.  I knew this was my moment to make it or break it.  Tell a child who is already over concerned with not making mistakes, that there is a consequence for the Sad Face.  I knew it was important not to focus on the Sad Face, but focus on the behavior that caused the Sad Face. 

And so when he asked I explained that today, there would be no PBSKids, no George game.  That today because we didn't listen to our teachers and follow directions during activity time, we would have to wait until another day to play the George game.  Nothing more, nothing less.

As expected, the roof came crashing down, as if I had told him he would never again in his lifetime, play the George game.   I remained calm, no explanation, waiting to see where it would lead.  And it came around on it's own to the inevitable, "I didn't mean to have a Sad Face" or something similiar and finally it was my turn to show what I have learned from all the books, magazines, blogs, friends and especially family examples before me.  

"Jack, getting a Sad Face once in a while happens.  I don't expect there never to be a Sad Face.  But I expect you to follow directions and listen to your teachers and that is the reason that you will not be able to play the George game.  I love you and I know you can do better.  Tomorrow work hard to do better and if you do, you will be able to play the George game again."

I don't know if I explained it all perfectly or in the right words or too many words, but in my heart I knew I did the two things I wanted him to be sure to know.  That there are consequences for the Sad Faces, but that it's the actions that matter to me most not the Sad Faces he gets.

And in my heart, I'm jumping with joy for the Sad Face that finally gets me the chance to discipline my kid for doing something wrong instead of trying too hard to be right.   

Patriots

You know those times when you don't realize how much your kids are really learning and it blows you away?  I had one of those moments this weekend when I discovered that not just Jack but Duke knows the entire Pledge of Allegiance, by heart.  Jack has never in 4 years mentioned it or demonstrated it.  Something on Sunday on our way home from the park sparked an impromtu serenede from the back of the car and so I figured I'd share it.  Because it's the only way you can really appreciate the effort.



Was that "to the Republic for which it stands" or "to the real Publix"?  I can't quite tell.  But maybe we are going to the grocery store just a bit too much as a threesome lately.

And yes, that's me in the backround cracking up when I hear Duke's "shun shiny faces" I thought they were done with "justice for all". The rest was all new to me last night.

Welcome to the 4's!

Another birthday came and went...well that's what Cory and I will be saying about this year's festivities for us.  Jack had a great one as he rolled into his 4's.  It was a mixed theme - Starwars and Pirates.

We celebrated simply this year after last year's big joint Jack/Duke birthday bash.  Just a cake at school and presents at home.  But simple it was not apparently.

I need to just get it into my head that Jack really needs major advance preparation and reminders for any event that is outside the typical normal day.  I mean why do I torture myself thinking this is going to be the last exhibition of a being overwhelmed by attention moment he will have.  He's the one on the right by the way.  On the left - his completely opposite tempered brother.  I should have reminded his teachers to warn him when leaving the playgound, he's only been in the room a couple of weeks, they wouldn't have had any chance at knowing what result would come of him walking into his classroom to find me and his father with a the big pirate birthday cake he has been drooling over at the Publix bakery every week for nearly a year and all the tables decorated with pirate plates and hats ready to sing him a great big Happy Birthday song!

Instead, upon entering the room and surveying the scene, a crumpled mess he became on the floor and I spent about 15 minutes trying to console him and calm him down while assuring his teachers it was ok to let the other kids share in the cake and not to worry, that this was "normal" for us.  Let's face it, although he is a sweet, kind, wonderful, curteous, happy child 90% of the time, it's the 10% of instantaneously being overwhelmed by too many people, too different a situation that I struggle to figure out.

Ahhhh hindsight, 20/20.

A much better moment came at 5:45am - guess he's a morning person like his parents.

The best part of the day was waking him up in bed, along with Daddy who had been gone a full week, with his birthday cupcake lit up with a candle in the dark.  Something I started last year and which I cannot wait to repeat in 3 months for Duke for his 3rd birthday.  Alongside the cupcake, some small seemingly insignificant trinket or figure, but one that has been so wanted for so long that you would think I was handing a 16 year old keys to his first car.  Last year it was Guido and Luigi from Pixar's Cars.  This year, the Battleship Droid Commander.

We did make it through the party at school and returned home to a quiet night of opening and playing with our fantastic presents (I still have lots of thank you's to send out!).  He was a trooper even insisting Duke open some of his presents for him and they've been sharing them ever since.  I just hope we see the same generosity in a couple months.

Best line of the week came yesterday when out of the clear blue Jack pipes up from the back seat, "Hey Mommy!  Hey, I'm 4 now!!!!"

Congratulations your photo has been selected...

Well friends and family.  Just for fun about 2 weeks ago I posted 6 pics to Parents.com for the 2010 Cover Contest of Jack.  I told no one (those of you that know me know I like to remain behind the scenes :)  I even meant to get Duke some pics posted this weekend but never found the time.  Given that there were 85,000+ people posting, I figured it would just be for fun. 

Turns out, Jack's got a following (766 votes for him, and I don't even know those people).   I got this email today.  So at this point, what the heck - how about clicking the link below and Vote for my little guy's photo.  I could use a trip to NYC!

Click Vote for Me under his pic and type out the phrase that appears as it instructs...so many steps I hate to ask, but what the heck!

Sarah

Update:  Here's a direct link to Jack's pic to vote
 http://photos.parents.com/category/vote/photo/355379



----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Parents.com <newsletters@emails.parents.com>
To: sarah.rath@yahoo.com
Sent: Tue, June 22, 2010 11:25:09 AM
Subject: Congratulations your photo has been selected...

Vote Today! Congratulations! Thank you for entering the Parents Magazine Cover Contest! Your photo is currently in the running to become one of our weekly Reader's Choice finalists! The photo with the most votes this week will go into our semi-final Reader's Choice round for a chance to travel to New York City for the Parents Cover Contest Photo Shoot. Official Rules. Come back daily! Voting ends 6/27/2010. Get your friends and family to vote too! Just forward this email to them or share the link. http://photos.parents.com/category/vote/photo/355379 Kids In Hats Photo Contest: Share photos of your adorable child in a hat and you could be our $250 weekly winner! Click here to enter! Official Rules Photo Faves Email Preferences | Other Email Preferences | Update E-Mail Address Meredith Corporation, 1716 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309 © Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved |Privacy Policy| By using this site you agree to our Terms of Service. facebook Twitter

That Little Thing Called Life

Life, that's what's been happening people.  I know you've been checking in daily to find out what the latest excitement has been in our little corner of the world only to be sorely dissapointed to find out that for another day you will have to live in the suspense of not knowing.  Well, now you know, it was life that was happening.

That's right, and for once I just put the computer down and lived it.  (Well, maybe not down, maybe just didn't type http://www.coryandsarahrath.blogspot.com/ into my browser when it was in my lap.)

Ah but all that has changed, and here I am.  And to fill you in, here are just a few highlights of the past 45 days (for your enjoyment and my attempt to update this, my electronic diary of the life of the Rath's).

I ran in a 5K and finished (and not on my hands and knees, although I will have the foresight next time to actually take the inhaler an hour before exercise like my doctor suggested so I can avoid the final 1/3 mile of wheezing from the exhaust of the idling police vehicles designed to help aid the runners in their quest to finish).  And I'm happy to report that although due to the rest of the events that follow, I had taken a slight reduction in my training schedule, I have in fact ramped it up again and am working toward consistenly hitting the track for 15 miles per week minimum.

My Dad visited for a long weekend and we planted all my landscape for this year...it's looking mighty lovely now and although we didn't really plan it out to be, we picked the perfect weekend for him to come as it was the Birmingham Botanical Gardens Annual Plant Sale so we got some great specimens at amazing prices. I'm so looking forward to marking that weekend as his annual trip - although since the size of the wine glasses I have vs. the ones Dad is accustomed to are significantly larger I will be sure to be the one pouring the wine when we have the neighbors over for dinner and a visit during next year's trip.

We said goodbye to our very best friend in the whole world - Payton - and her Mommy Leslie, who have moved on to bigger and better things in Gaithersburg, MD.  Payton and Jack spent every weekday together at Odyssey Early School since they were just a few months old.  Leslie and I have become close friends in that time through many a parenting moment.  We miss them terribly, but know we will visit them one day without a doubt.  And we are so excited for them to also be bringing a new sister for Payton into the world this fall - maybe a little unexpected excitement given all the other craziness in their lives, but a blessed one nonetheless and one that's been much wanted for a long time.

 

I was able to attend 3 different meetings with the Children's Hospital Auxiliary Board and continue to stay involved in helping to formulate plans for the future of the hospital volunteer arm as they embark on the upcoming multi million dollar expansion.

Mother's Day - I got sheets.

We finished up our small group semester at church, having taken the Growing Kids God's Way parenting course and boy, did that transition our household.  Both Cory and I felt for the first time we both had a plan of action in raising our kids that not only made sense, but that we believed in and that WORKED!  We've both adopted a much calmer demeanor in handling trying moments and have honestly, lightened up in how we were managing our day to day lives.  Not sure that makes sense, but maybe I can translate that to we've taken the pressure off - of ourselves and thus off our kids.  I think we both are such perfectionists in many ways and expect so much of ourselves (and by default of others) that we had to step back and really take a look at the road we could have headed down with our kids.  Everything in context, but with the understanding there is one main rule right now in this household - Listen to Mommy & Daddy.  And when it works.  WOW.  Our kids are happier, we are happier, there is less yelling, more listening, and even GASP - obeying without being asked!  I know, shock, I'm still kind of in it.

We went on our first family vacation and not to visit family! (No offense to any of you of course, WE  LOVE TO VISIT YOU)  We spent 4 days and 4 nights in beautiful Destin, Florida at the Sandestin Hilton Resort where we laid on the beach, swam at the pool, ate out a few times and basically did nothing for the entire trip but enjoy the kids having their first experience at "the ocean!"  Absolutely the most enjoyable trip we have ever embarked on with the kids.  I actually looked over at Cory sometime during Day 2 and asked him who the kids were that were with us, because they weren't the same ones we had at home (see above paragraph, I was still in denial at the time that we actually had turned the corner in our household in the land of behavior) .  I absolutely cannot wait to go again, but alas, we may be waiting a while it seems by the looks of the oil spill and how it will affect our sugar sand shores of Alabama and Florida (no further discussion to be had here).

During all of this, I also organized our Teacher Appreciation Week at the boy's daycare.  With 50 teachers to honor and about 175 families to coordinate, I had my work cut out for me.  It was a lot of work, but I had a great group of parents that stepped up to help and it was worth every bit of extra time and effort to see the reaction of the teachers to their well deserved week of special events.  Lots of parents thought I was crazy to undertake such a mission, but that's my spiritual gift - organizing and pulling it all together - and I can't think of a better group of women (and man) to reap the benefit.

My Birthday - as of this posting I have 355 days left.

Finally, we held our 3rd Annual Memorial Day Bash at self named Sterling Creek Ranch.  Again this year, storms were part of the party, but we had about 50 people make it out and enjoy a full day of sun, storms, water, food and fun times.  Nothing makes us happier than being able to share this place we call home with friends.

So, that was what was happening this last 45 days, just life, and so glad to have lived it.

Long Week Almost Over

Unfortunately, our week of looking foward to a night away on Thursday for Mom & Dad, no kids, to Memphis for the George Strait-Reba-LeeAnn Womack concert (front row/backstage FREE) did not materialize.  We had our trusty "Aunt" Kay from Odyssey that was all set to take the kids after school to our place, stay the night and take them back for Friday school where we would pick them up, but with Jack starting out on Wednesday with a 101.5 temp, and then finding out from the doctor it wasn't an ear infection but a cold virus...pretty much sealed our fate to cancel.

Quite the bummer, but I prayed that Thursday morning we had a clear sign on what to do, and he woke up at 102, so that was pretty clear.  Fever means no school.

His fever finally broke yesterday afternoon, so he is on the mend and now we are just praying Duke doesn't fall prey to the same.  (Though he's looking to start another round of antibiotics for yet another sinus infection - at least I have to assume that's what all the green snot for the past 2 weeks is about). 

I stayed home on Wednesday with him (Cory got back that evening), then Daddy kept Jack on Thursday and Friday so I could be at work, on the assumption that while he is out of town this coming week it is likely I will be home with Duke. 

On our day home, we colored, read books, played quietly by ourself...actually a relatively quiet day.  Thursday apparently was 8 hours of TV (can't place blame, he had a lot of work to catch up on and 1 day won't cause the child to be a junkie).  But Friday...well they had some man time.

Daddy took Jack on an errand to pick up some samples at a local dealer and just happened to find the perfect kid's fishing pole and above is the result.  Pretty happy sick day for both of them.

Light Speed

So, no one shared with me that the "I can do it!" 2's are nothing like the "I do it by myself!" 3's.  Hello!!  I thought it was all the same thing.  A clue in from the Mom Squad would have been nice.  I've got one of each right now and both are going at full speed ahead.

It's not so much me missing them needing me.  It's more me managing to let each of them do things by themselves simultaneously with neither of them (or me) needing a trip to the emergency room (or psych ward) because I can't keep them from going above and beyond what they are capable of.  We haven't quite hit that level yet, but it's just peeking up from the horizon.  I can see all the pretty colors, pinks, oranges, golden yellows, then POW, noon day sunlight in July in Alabama.

Duke is simply in the "I do it, I do it!" stage.  He can do lots of things, take off his shoes, put them in the basket by the back door, bring me his coat, zip it up once it's on.  But there's still that need for a reminder of the next step in the process, the boost into the car, the reminder to sit in the seat, not stand up facing the rear of the car jumping up and down.

Jack however, does NOT want to be reminded at all of what he needs to do next.  He wants to anticipate and perform.

Let me tell you - my brain is like spaghetti trying to manage their development needs right now.  Because God help me if I tell Jack to do something that he already knows he needs to do or move Duke along a little quicker than he's taking at whatever task is at hand.

Tonite was actually an experiment in what life is likely headed to be in another few months on a regular basis.  When we got home, Jack went into the bathroom to potty to remove his pants and underpants that he had tee tee'd in just a bit (that's a whole other subject I would rather not get into here) and then put a new pair on and his jeans, all by himself CORRECTLY.  Later, at bathtime, Jack needed an extra "nudge" to get in and start brushing his teeth.  That's when I realized his toothbrush was still in the bathroom off his room and not in the one we take bath in.  So, to avoid the whining, I suggested he go in that bathroom to get his toothbrush.  Simple task...I thought, come back with it and we will go through the rest of the motions we have been doing for the past oh, 9 months or so. Plus bonus, something he was doing by himself.

After a few minutes, I realized that would not be the case.

Nope, he decided to brush his teeth himself in that bathroom, ok, works for me, he even put the correct amount of toothpaste on the brush.  I had to pressure him a bit to let me do a second swipe at them, but we worked it out.  All the while Duke is flushing the potty over and over again, "I did it! I did it".  So after wrangling Duke into the tub, I returned to Jack's bathroom and instructed him to finish up the brushing and come to get in the tub by himself. 

Duke at this point is well into bath, close to being out.  Jack, not appearing.

I investigate.  He's in the chair in his room, reading himself a book.  Ok, nothing bad about that other than bedtime is approaching.  So I suggest he get a move on and put himself in the tub while I put Duke to bed (which takes all of about 10 seconds, so Mother do not freak out, Jack did not rush into the bathroom, tear his clothes off, jump into the tub and drown in that amount of time).  This he actually does, but experienced Mom of tub poopers, I notice he needs a little baby wipe bottom swipe before getting in the tub to avoid any little "floater flakes" while he's in there.  I quickly do it, avoiding to appear as if I'm doing anything for him and disappear for the 10 second Duke bedtime routine.

Upon my return, Jack is in the bathtub, his clothes in the hamper and all is well in my world again.

My brain is still spaghetti, but I'm seeing those pinks, oranges and golden yellows on the horizon and hoping I can enjoy them just a bit longer.

Another Pooping Post

Let's just remind everyone, I have a 2 year old and a 3 year old.  Bodily functions are still a mainstay of our weekend lives as we navigate the potty training YEARS.  (Those people that tell you that their daycare trained their kids are full of what they are trying to get their kids to do in the potty.)

Jack's pretty good, but lately he and I have been in a power struggle.  He wants to be the one to tell me he needs to go, if I let him do that he will inevitably be distracted by whatever he is playing with and have an accident and it's another load of laundry for me. 

We made some strides last weekend and this weekend. 

Last weekend, he actually had a regular time with it and we had no accidents.  WOW in my book.

This weekend, he took it up a notch and during his quiet time on Saturday went # 2 by himself in his potty, calling for us after the deed was done.  BIG WOW in my book.  Today, we may have gone a little too far.

Again during quiet time, he went by himself and called for me.  Very proud of him, and he was of course very proud of himself.  Nearing the end of quiet time, I heard him shout out something, but didn't quite make it out.  I waited a minute, and hearing silence, decided to investigate.

What I found - him, naked from the waist down, underwear and jeans on the floor, baby wipes in hand in the bathroom,

"Mommy I pooped in the potty and cleaned it all up by MYSELF!"

That's when I noticed the faint brownish spot on the white bathroom throw rug, streaks on the toilet seat and bathroom foot stool and a very proud 3 year old. 

I quickly pictured the scene a minute earlier, told him how very proud I was with him for cleaning it all up by himself and scrubbed him up with as much soap as humanly possiby in a sink (since God knows how he picked up whatever was on the carpet at some point) and sent him off to play.  Then turned to the lysol wipes and made over the bathroom, put the rugs in the wash and took a deep breath.

Independance, it's a wonderful thing...yep, sure it is.

Independence, Finally, um really?

6:50am Wednesday, January 20^th, Odyssey Early School Birmingham, AL – Pre-K Room

“I don’t have to go tee tee this morning at school, you go Mommy.” – Jack, 3

 “Uh, ok, so I just give you a kiss and you go play, ok…”  Kiss “Love you” – Mommy, 38

 Jack runs over to the tables and his friends.  Mommy walks down the hallway to the exit, in shock.

That was my morning goodbye. 

After nearly a year of the following 10+ minute routine when dropping him off in the morning

(absolutely always in the same order or meltdown is imminent!)

-          Walk into K3B Room to Jack’s cubby

-          Wait patiently as he takes off his coat, hangs it and his backpack in the cubby

-          Walk across the hall to the Pre-K Room with Ms. Griselle (where he is until his teacher arrives around 7am)

-          Wait for him as he goes into the potty, etc.

-          Remind him to wash his hands (with soap) and dry them

-          Kiss each hand, fist pumps, tell him to have a good day and leave.

I can barely believe it happened.  Duke is a 5 second, “bye, love you, kiss kiss” and he’s off playing and so this extended drop off with Jack has always been a little on the frustrating side for me since I like to be up and out and into the day. 

But now, I’m not sure what to do. 

Celebrate that he’s telling me he’s ready to do more on his own, or cry because he doesn’t need me as much anymore.

Maybe it's finally the Independent 3's setting in, maybe it's the competitiveness in him seeing Duke tell me often "I did it by myself!" with that excited SELF! at the end of the sentence.  Either way, something was in the air this morning.

Ah, wait he can’t quite reach the snacks in the cupboard yet.  I guess I’m still good for something J

I'm Three!

Happy Birthday to my big boy Jack. I can't believe just 3 years ago I was laying in a hospital bed holding a tiny, (and at just 6lbs he was TINY!) baby boy. That was truly my last real vacation, HA! But by all means, a wonderful memory for me of just how precious he is to me and how fast time passes. Why just this morning when he woke up at 6am he announced he was "Almost 3"...which was actually true, since he didn't really enter the world until about 9:15. By the time we got to school however, he was announcing to everyone we ran into that it was his birthday and he was 3.



We had a great time this weekend in Tennessee with Grandma and Grandpa (with the exception of the stomach bug that hitched a ride with us and bit Jack on Saturday afternoon). But we were recovered enough to partake in the Lightning McQueen cake which Grandma made and enjoy all the neat Cars presents she got us. We had to break out the pajamas the night before, after messing up our last clean pair on the last bout of bug. Bleccchhh!



And to celebrate at home Cory and I walked into his room this morning with a cupcake lit with 3 candles singing Happy Birthday, he was VERY EXCITED. Especially when he saw the cupcake was adorned with Luigi and Guido, from yes, CARS. (Aunt Lisa, feel free to just wrap whatever you have in hand for Christmas, no need to buy the boys gifts, used CARS paraphanelia will be just fine!)



And more cupcakes at school along with a birthday crown and an entire room of 2-3 year olds singing a resounding "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" to him. Again on the way out, everyone we ran into was presented with Luigi and Guido to view.



And finally, here we sit, watching CARS for oh, maybe the 10th time since last weekend, and playing with Mack, Frank the Combine, all three Lighting McQueen's, Luigi, Guido and occaissionally pre-empting the punch lines "Boy, You're in a HEAP of Trouble".



Here a few pics from the past few days.


Happy Birthday Jack. Even though you prefer CARS over the ever cute Curious George movie (or maybe I just like the variety a little and listening to Jack Johnson over Rascal Flatts), I will continue to play Upside Down on my iPod whenever possible and believe that someday the words will truly describe you, my big boy. (If I knew how to add music to my blog it'd be playing right now!)

YEA JACK!

Just logged into the daycare "Watch your kid while you are at work" webcam, which I rarely do anymore. But, as you can read in previous posts, we have been on the potty train this week. We have been in pullups all week, but have stayed dry every day with the exception of a few instances of #2 (blech!) And so I have been telling him that he's doing great and soon he will get to wear a pair of big boy underpants, of which we currently have an assortment on display in a basket in his bathroom to entice him, including Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Grover, Ernie, Thomas the Train and his favorite - 3 pairs showcasing the Pixar film - Cars. Last night as he made the last trip into the bathroom for the night, he picked up his favorite pair of underpants - featuring the ever cool Lightning McQueen, laid them on the bathroom floor, smoothed them out and bent over and kissed them. Lightning has a power in our house that is unsurpassed by anything.

So, I had to check to see if he's still in the same shorts I sent him in to school today because as we were getting dressed today he picked up his Lightning McQueen big boy underpants and held them out, looking at me with those big blue eyes as if to say,

"Mommy I can do it, I promise...please can I wear them?"

And so off to school he went.

And he's still in those same shorts and it's 3:15pm.

My little man is, as he says, "getting BIGGER!"

Ah the power of Cars continues to dominate the Rath household.

Progress

If I'd written this post on Friday, the title would have been something like "Looks Like We'll Wait a While" or "Regress" but alas, just when you think you know what the heck is going on as a parent, BAM! New day.



So, last week Jack was on the rollercoaster of potty training. Went to school in big boy underpants everyday and stayed dry all the way ...not a small feat when you consider we have about a 45 minute drive, and one day it was more like an hour. However, once there, although he would wake up from nap and RAN to the potty and made it, for the most part the days were filled with "accidents", sometimes in the middle of the room and sometimes standing right in front of the potty.



On Wednesday, the day of his graduation party, I dreaded thinking how he would likely have an accident, especially with all the extra parents and siblings in the room. And although I initially wasn't planning on going, the teachers convinced me to change my mind since they had a short program planned with a song and a little ceremony where each child was given a small construction paper medal to wear around their neck with a "best" moniker...Jack Rath - "Best Nature Lover". (I'm told he likes to lay on his cot at nap and look out the windows into the woods behind the center and watch for deer - go figure.) Cute moment, eh?






Not so cute moment - as the class sat in a circle ready to sing the song they likely practiced for months, my child turns facing me and all the other parents (instead of his friends) and says "I don't want Mommy be here!" Fabulous, and I was fighting the guilt the whole day that I had sacrificed being there later in the week for Duke's party. I'm thinking now I should have stuck with the 20 month old celebrations.


He did have an accident, 30 seconds after both his teacher and I asked him if he needed to sit on the potty. So by Friday when I picked up and learned that he'd had several accidents that morning and was in a pull up, I was fully prepared to go right back to the safety of his Cars pull-ups to try again in another month.



But that's just when BAM! shows up.



Saturday were a day of firsts:
First time tells me on his own that he needs to sit on the potty.
First time he makes it nearly an entire day dry between trips to the potty.
First time he calls me back to his room (by the way he is now in a "big boy" bed") so he can sit on the potty because he has more "pee pee coming out" and actually makes it to the toilet.



So, how about that! We are still relying on the pull ups rather than big boy underpants, mainly because he transitions to a new room at daycare Thursday and I really don't want to dump on the teachers a child who will likely be more interested in his new surroundings than keeping track of his body telling him when "it's coming!"



Of course, might be the cool new Melissa and Doug stamp kit his Mommy bought him on Friday to use as a reward if he actually puts his pee pee in the potty.



Either way, on we go.

Potty Training...I Think We Started?

in March...we started wearing Pull Ups that month. My mistake, if I had any idea how this was supposed to work I would not have been paying through my nose to only frustrate myself for nearly 6 months knowing that eventually the kid might actually tell me when he's ready.

I have not pushed, in fact I would like them both to be in diapers/pull ups for as long as possible because then I don't have to repeat myself 20 times an hour "Jack? Are you still dry?" "Jack? Do you need to sit on the potty?" "Jack, tell Mommy if you need to tee tee." Or worry on our 45 minute commute if my car is going to smell like pee for the rest of the time I own it.

Usually I am ignored when I question him. This weekend I got a new response, "Don't talk." or "Stop Talking Mommy!"

Hmmmm...do I read this as progress?

The girls at daycare assure me it is. He pleaded to wear "the highway ones" (Cars underpants) today and I let him. And he went through all 3 pairs of extra shorts and Elmo underpants I left at school with him. But I am told that's normal.

Let's hope so.

Duke isn't far behind.

And based on my level of stress with it, I may hire someone to deal with the second round.

Sweet Silence!

I am jinxing myself...I just know it!

As mentioned, I stepped up the discipline (and no - I am not "popping his bottom" every chance I get)...but have been conscious to be even more consistent and patient (and strangely calm in te past week) in my dealings with Jack's uprisings. Could it be the recent breaks I've gotten traveling to California and Missouri, my birthday? Could it be watching Crystal give him a 7 minute timeout on Sunday when he was acting up while the Schober's were over and it working and me realizing he actually can follow instruction better than I give him credit for? Whatever it is, I've been rewarded...

Barely a peep at bedtime with our new routine.

Clare - you almost called it. I didn't give him a "pass" to call me back, but I did institute a 5-10 minute reading time in his bed after lights out, and I come back to rub his back for a couple minutes and then I'm gone, completely, not going back. And it's working. 20 minutes of crying last night...2 min. tonite tops!

I can hardly believe it.
Sleep training miracle? Leaving the terrible two's behind? Finally wore the little bugger down?

We'll see how tomorrow goes...

Oh, did I mention Duke now responds, Yes Ma'am, when I ask, "Do you understand?"
2nd shot at this might last a bit shorter. (I know, now I AM jinxing myself!)

When You Know What to Do, But Then Blow It

That seems to be the theme for the past several weeks. And although it has run through more than one aspect of my life lately, I will only write about a single topic that it seems to be pervasive with, the discipline machine and Jack.

Before all of my supportive friends and family start giving sweet "hang in there", "it's just a phase" and "it gets easier" comments; let me just say...don't want to hear them. I already know. I repeat these mantras to myself daily, actually, hourly. Unfortunately, it's the actual "hanging in there" I am having an issue with.

I have seemed to make a small breakthrough with the child and a bit of headway. He is acting upon my direction more quickly. I'm more patient in letting him get to the ultimate conclusion that I want him to make instead of speeding him toward what I want him to do. This avoids the formerly inevitable meltdown followed by demon possession that we had been experiencing. Hooray for me, right? Well, I got there by way of a method I had hoped to avoid - "popping his bottom". And up until tonite, it was used sparingly, because after the first two episodes, all I had to do was tell him if he didn't do what I'd asked he would get his bottom popped. And it actually worked. Unfortunately, when you make a slight change in that methodology it can back fire on you. Badly.

Tonight, another round of bedtime battles. Things on the weekend are relatively easy, the kid is exhausted after playing outside all day and I keep his nap short. But during the week, he naps or has quiet time for 2 hours and the activity level isn't quite that high. So although he needs to be in bed and asleep by 8pm, in my opinion, he is just restless. And it's not that he's overtired, honestly, he just hasn't gotten to the point of sleepy yet. However, this mama is ready for no kid time at 8pm and so there's got to be a compromise.

Back to tonite, he's in bed at 8pm, lights out and told I will check on him in 5 minutes. New attempt at avoiding the screaming fest that happens whenever I leave his room. That works...and I wait, a bit longer than 5 minutes, but I have to go back in or I'm toast with my promise. So I do, and he seems fine, until I leave. Then it's an hour long screaming, throwing, crying, attempting to negotiate, mess. And after being in and out of the room several times, loosing my patience and close to my sanity, I do the unthinkable...I ASK him if he wants his bottom popped. And he says Yes. Brilliant move.

Well, he got it popped, I felt horrible (and still do) and he wins tonite's round. I went back in 15 minutes later and picked him up and sat in the chair with him until he was nearly asleep and the feelings of being the worst mother in the world abated for the time being.

I believe future popping will be left to Daddy. Mommy just can't manage the guilt.

YaYa's Visit

After listening for the past 4 months of all the extras my Dad has been able to do to help my sisters in their daily lives since semi-retiring, I decided it was my turn and flew him down to Birmingham for 5 days to experience this phenomenon. I may claim swine flu status and move his flight home back about 2 weeks!

Since his arrival on Wednesday night, he's helped me complete this year's round of landscaping, stained two end tables that I've wanted done for at least 5 years, got a few holes drilled in my redwing crocks and spent an entire day at the zoo with me and the boys (drenching rain at the start and all!). It has been an absolutely fantastic time having him here...and he even gets to have his own "man cave" at night in our office which doubles as our guest suite. I don't think it could have resulted in any more perfect a trip (other than of course his staying over for about two weeks!)

Here are some photos of the weekend so far. Tomorrow we have church, followed by a little more landscaping and probably capped off by another cookout with the neighbors and some time in the lake, this time in the form of a leisurely dip rather than a sudden drenching (Dad got a bit too close to the edge of the dock while helping Cory put the new water trampoline in on Friday!).

It's not going to be easy putting him back on a plane on Monday. Hmmmm, Clare and Ali, maybe you need to start bribing me now. I've got LOTS of frequent flyer miles still saved up!

Small Moments in a LONG Week

I may have finally worn him down. Jack that is, and the bedtime struggle. The last three nights it's been between 1-2 hours of crying, screaming, throwing, you name it. The poor kid is hoarse from all of it, his little voice is all crackly. But tonite, 20 minutes into it and he's settled down with only an occaisional peep. Probably predicated on his being outside from the minute we got home until bath, but either way, works for me.



So, Daddy gets home later (much later, probably midnight according to his call at 6pm) and I have just a bit of time to wrap up the week. And what better way to do it then share a pic of the other kid. You know, the one that sleeps all night, seems happy, most of the time at least, and is genuinely still in the pre-terrible 2's. He has his moments mind you, man can he get MAD!, but overall, sweet kid, just happy to be here.



I put him in the tub tonite, and prayed for no pooping, I felt I was in the clear, but then again, who wouldn't have thought that after the third time on Wednesday. The affected toys, etc. were still in a bucket on the floor, which I didn't particularly think about when I put him in the tub and when I came back in after having gone into the other room for some reason, I found this

But thankfully, this was among the items I had bleached and rinsed after the mess and no, it had not been used since. Little stinker had reached out and grabbed it up. But priceless for the photo op.

Jack's teeth are seemingly fine, nothing loose, nothing swollen and nothing turning weird colors. So maybe all will be fine when we go for xrays week after next. I've asked him several times if they hurt and he tells me, no...and in this case I think he means it instead of the random NO!

And looks like my weekend is already looking up. Daddy just called (it's 9pm) and said he is actually only 45 minutes away! (Helps that NASCAR is at Talladega this weekend so all the fans are exhibiting their speed on the interstate) And not a peep in 10 minutes...I might just enjoy the silence for a little while.

Thanks all for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers...looks like they worked :)