Tonight He Became a Man

Little J lost his first tooth... What'd you think I was talking about?!?


He was really excited about the prospect of the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny running into each other. Or, I think his exact words were, "Maybe they'll FIGHT!"

Little Man Update

I thought I would update on the potty situation at our house. Exciting, I know. As you may recall, Little Man decided a week ago today that he was done with diapers. Since that time, he has had exactly 6 accidents - all pee -half of which were that first day, and all but 2 in the bathroom trying to get his pants down. He has not had one since Monday night - not even a close call. And after waking up dry for several days, he has even slept in underwear since Tuesday night and has stayed dry and clean.

I am still amazed at this. It is so foreign to me. He doesn't even want me to help him in the bathroom anymore unless I need to wipe his bum. I will ask him occassionally if he needs to go, but he just takes himself most of the time. I don't know why we were given this blessing, but, hey, I'll take it!

In other news, I went to the dr. on Friday, a day before my official 30 week mark, and I was measuring 34 weeks. I told you I was HUGE and that proves it! My dates aren't wrong, I'm just ginormous. The most I've measured big with my other kids is 3 weeks bigger with Little Man, but then he kind of evened out and I only measured one or two weeks bigger after that. She wanted me to do another ultrasound sometime soon, but after talking to her, we decided it could wait since there isn’t anything she can do about it now anyway (and since we are paying all this out-of-pocket, I wasn't too anxious to pay for a fourth ultrasound).

She brought up the possibility of having a c-section because I have had large babies in the past and if this one is already measuring so big she said it could easily be 10 ½ pounds! I don’t want that, but I know I do not want a c-section, either. Mostly, because they scare me. Plus, Little Man was my biggest at 9 lbs. 4 oz., but his labor, delivery, and recovery was my easiest. Also, I somehow have not gotten stretch marks on my stomach after 4 pregnancies and I would hate to have to get a scar on this last one. I know that's a dumb, superficial reason, but it is the truth. I might go for it if she threw in some free liposuction while she was at it, but otherwise I'm not a big fan. Besides, how in the heck do they think I would not be able to pick up things or drive or not do anything for 6 - 8 weeks or whatever the recovery time is? That's just impractical at my house. I’m thinking that I can just be induced early like I was with all the others and everything will be fine. Right?

Long overdue critique

So I've held off making any type of American Idol commentary this season, mainly because, well, frankly, I haven't been too invested in it and it will probably be the last time I watch it. I spend most of my DVR viewing of it fast-forwarding through it because I just don't really care that much and most of the contestants bore me to tears. That being said, here is my rundown of the contestants that are left:

1. Lil Rounds - She has a good voice, but not the awesome voice I think the judges would want you to believe she has. Most of her performances seem gimmicky to me and more like top-notch karaoke than anything else.

2. Scott MacIntyre - zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Oh, I'm sorry, what was I saying? Holy snoozefest.

3. Matt Giraud - The guy can sing. There's just something about him I don't like. I think it's his tight pants and fetish with fedoras.

4. Kris Allen - I like him, although he is a mite too boy-bandish to me, minus the cheesy dancing. To me, he has one of the least grating and most consistant voices.

5. Danny Gokey - His voice makes me think of Michael Bolton, except with a lot more slobber. Have you ever noticed how much he spits when he sings or talks? I don't know. I know the judges want to adopt him or something, but there is just something about him and his Sally Jesse Raphael glasses that gets on my nerves.

6. Adam Lambert - I like Adam. At least he is interesting each week. I think he is one of the only true "artists" among the contestants and he's got a range that doesn't quit. If he just didn't creep me out so much, I think I could really like him. I am just waiting for him to come crawling across the stage through a thick fog and lick the microphone stand.

7. Anoop Desai - I can't help thinking of a young Ralph Macchio when I look at him. I like his voice, but the only time he seemed like he had a personality was when he sang "My Prerogative" ages ago.

8. Allison Iraheta - She has to be my favorite. I like her spunk and I like her voice. Again, one of the only interesting ones to listen to and watch. I'm sad she keeps ending up in the bottom three each week, because I think she is really talented. But I guess I can't complain, since I never vote.

So there you have it. Who are your favorites?

Whaaat's haaappenninnnggg? *Edited with updates

***2000 points to whoever can tell me what movie that's from. 1000 extra points if you can tell me who said it. (Sister, if you don't get this, I will be sorely disappointed and will take over the title of Movie Quote Queen from you, effective immediately).

Saturday, Little Man turned exactly 2 1/2. Also, Saturday, while getting dressed, Little Man decided he didn't want to wear diapers anymore. He went to the drawer that has had big boy underwear in it for about 4 months and put it on. And wore it all day. And only had 2 accidents. And peed standing up like his brothers. And woke up the next morning with a dry diaper, said, "No more diaper," and peed in the toilet.

This may not be the most exciting news to anyone but me, but considering my other children who are now potty trained were not so until they were 3 - 3 1/2, this is awesome!!! Considering I had one child who couldn't care less if he was sitting in his mess, big boy underwear or not, this is incredible!!! The fact that he even wants to do this now is mind-blowing!!! Ok, enough adjectives.

But seriously, we are on day 3 now, and I think this is the real thing. He hasn't gone #2 in the toilet yet (but not in his underwear, either), but he has woken up 2 mornings dry and today so far has had no accidents at all and has initiated all his bathroom trips himself. I almost dare to hope this time around will be this easy....

Please send all good big-boy potty thoughts this way. Thanks!

*Edited at 3:15 p.m. As of now he is still accident free, including during a 2-hour errand run, and also pooped in the potty. Yay!

**Day #4 update - 5:30 p.m. - I think this is the real deal. He's doing awesome!! No accidents today. Another poop success. We're on a roll!

Happy Birthday, Dad!!!!!

Today is my dad's birthday. I have learned so much from my dad and am so happy to have him as a father. I will share just three random memories I have of growing up with my dad.

One, is that I remember him always teaching me and practicing with me sports. I still remember how he would explain certain skills or moves in a way that made it easy for me to understand and implement. I have found myself saying almost verbatim the same explanations to my own kids. He put a lot of time into working with us on the sports we loved. I remember many times him coming home from work still in his suit pants and button-down shirt and catching for me in the hot sun while I practiced pitching. I remember all the drives to and from sports camps and games. And I remember the many, many games and events of different sorts that he was always at. Always.

Another memory, that kind of goes along with the practicing sports, is that I remember one time playing catch with my dad when I was pretty young (probably 8 or so would be my guess) and he threw it a little high and I had to jump up to catch it. I barely caught it and made a comment like, "Geez, Dad, who do you think I am? Kareem Abdul Jabbar?!" I don't know if he thought it was funny I knew who that was or if it was just a funny comment, or if it was the way I said it, but he totally cracked up laughing at it. It's pretty random I would remember that, but for some reason it made me feel good that my dad thought I was funny!

Another random memory I have is in 7th grade we were assigned a project to build a rat trap car. Basically, we had to have a car powered by a rat trap. Kids in my class had all these elaborate plans. I was good to just snap the trap and let it propel one of my little brother's trucks (which technically met the requirements, it was just super lame), but unknown to me, my dad stayed up late into the night trying to figure out a better way to make this car. I still did my idea, but obviously it touched me that I remember him being worried about it enough to stay up late fiddling around with it.

There are more, but I'll just sum it up by saying my dad is great and I love him a lot and I hope he has a great birthday!

One Year Older

Last week, my cute Little J had his 6th birthday! On his actual birthday, he had a cookie cake in his class at school and we went out to dinner to the restaurant of his choice. Then on Saturday, he had his birthday bash. This year, he wanted to have an Indiana Jones birthday party. Which is funny, because he's never even seen any of the movies. He just knows about it because of his Lego Indiana Jones Xbox game and Lego sets, and of course all the commercialism of it. But an Indiana Jones party it was!

I made simple but cute invitations that looked like old leather journals that you open up and there was a picture of Indiana Jones with Little J's faced photoshopped on and then the invitation part that looked all burned and old around the edges inviting them to join him on his "birthday quest." I wanted to do the party in the back yard, but the weather is so unpredictable this time of year, I couldn't plan on having it outside, so we had to do it inside which limited things a bit. So I did my best to decorate the inside to look like a jungle with green crepe paper as vines and snakes and bugs, etc., so they could have their adventures.

As people arrived, they got to make their own Indiana Jones whip. I just bought some backer rod (I think that's what it's called - I happened across it at Home Depot when I was there to buy some paint) and then black duct tape for the handles. Then they had to prove they were brave enough to go on the quest by jumping over the "snake pit." I had ordered these big plush snakes that they eventually got to take home as part of their party favors to use in the pit. We kept moving out the perimeters of the pit further and further with each round. And since it was a group of extremely excited and rowdy boys, of course they had to do things like fall into the pit and scream and writhe like snakes were attacking them, use the snakes as whips, etc.

Then it was time for the quest to find the hidden treasure. I gave each boy a map I had made from brown paper grocery bags and they had to work together in a group to find the treasure. It was a scavenger hunt around the main floor of the house, with clues on the map as well as clues they found that would lead them to the next clue. Since they were all kindergartners, the clue on the map gave them the first letter of the next place to look, while the clue they found was a "sounds like" clue. For example, the clue on the map may say Ch_ _ _ and the clue they found that coincided with it was the picture of an ear for "sounds like" and a picture of a bear. So putting the two together, they knew the next clue was hidden under a chair. Get it? Anyway, they had fun doing that, but I thought the end was hilarious. I thought the last clue would be the easiest. It was "T. __." for the location and the sounds like clue was a picture of a bee. They were like, "Uh, tea? Tree? Pee?" Finally, they figured out "T.V." and ran downstairs to the TV and totally don't even notice the big treasure chest sitting on a gold table cloth right in front of it!!! They were looking all around the TV for the next clue! So funny!

I had spray painted a small styrofoam ice chest gold and put inside it individual little linen pouches marked with their name on it. The pouches were filled with Hershey's Nuggets chocolate candy, fake gold coins, and fake "jewels" which were really just clear and red decorative rocks that looked like diamonds and rubies. The funniest quote of the day has to be the little boy that grabbed his pouch and goes, "Yeah! We got power ups!!!" I don't have any pictures of the treasure hunt to share, though, because we realized afterward that we had only gotten video of it. I guess I could get some stills off of the video, but I'm not that ambitious when it comes to blog posts.

After that, it was time for presents and cake. I loved the cake this year. I'm a big fan of doing cupcakes at birthday parties because it makes things so simple and easy, but I couldn't think of anything good for a topper that would go with Indiana Jones, so I ordered a cake (which actually the store had to special order). It turned out so cute with Indiana Jones running from the big boulder on it.
After that, I sent them out back for the remaining 15 minutes until parents picked up and just let them chase each other around with their whips and do whatever boys do. And then I took an Excedrin and had a strong drink...(jk on that last part, but I could have used it!) I think it turned out to be a fun party and now my Little J is six. I love that creative, funny, insightful little guy!

I'm Famous!

Not really, but I appear 2 times for about 1/4 of a second in the below-mentioned Inside Edition spot. I don't even have a real link to it yet, but here is a recording of the TV off of Darci's sister's blog here.

I appear at about 5 seconds walking into the party (red shirt behind lady in black and green) and then again at about 2:06 sitting on the couch. The only reason I'm in that shot is because I kind of lean in or something and you happen to be able to see that it is me. Oh, and the really tall blond lady in the very back of all the kitchen scenes wearing a white shirt and black cardigan - yeah, I'm talking to her, but you can't see me because I'm too short.

I'll be waiting for the talent agents to call....