Asher will want to disown me after even repeating this story. Ever.
We were at a play date yesterday and he had to take a potty break. It was more than just a tinkle. You probably catch my drift.
After he was done he looked at me so excited and said...
"I wonder if it is yellow!?!?"
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
3 AM Scream Alarm
Asher has been a sleeper since day one. Well really since about day 42 or so but I would say he did pretty well. Nearing his third birthday he is apparently wanting to reminicse a few things from when he was a newborn. Like waking up in the middle of the night and occasionally not wanting to go to bed at all.
I wrote awhile ago about his wanting to cuddle every night and will beg me continuously until I give in. It usually doesn't take much begging with his big brown eyes but even still. There has been a night or two, or alot lately, that he has gotten up over and over and over again. And over again. It can get a little tiring putting him back over and over again. One night I stopped fighting it and just put him in bed when we went around 11pm. I don't give in to much usually but after putting him back to bed at least 15 times, I did give in. And if he doesn't come out he lays down with his blanket with the door cracked and his face in the light from the hallway. Doesn't seem very comfortable to me, but what do I know?
But worse than that over the last couple weeks since he has been potty trained he has woke up in the middle of the night screaming. Not crying, but screaming at the top of his lungs as loud as he can with nothing to console him. My first thought was night terrors, and it could still very well be that, but he doesn't seem afraid of anything. He has told me that he was mad because he went potty in his pullup and he wasn't happy. Last night he screamed for an hour. I couldn't do anything to help him until I finally asked him if he just wanted to wear a diaper to bed.
I am going to try to put diapers on him for awhile at night to see if it helps. I am so worried that this will undo him being potty trained, but I value sleep. Alot.
I wrote awhile ago about his wanting to cuddle every night and will beg me continuously until I give in. It usually doesn't take much begging with his big brown eyes but even still. There has been a night or two, or alot lately, that he has gotten up over and over and over again. And over again. It can get a little tiring putting him back over and over again. One night I stopped fighting it and just put him in bed when we went around 11pm. I don't give in to much usually but after putting him back to bed at least 15 times, I did give in. And if he doesn't come out he lays down with his blanket with the door cracked and his face in the light from the hallway. Doesn't seem very comfortable to me, but what do I know?
But worse than that over the last couple weeks since he has been potty trained he has woke up in the middle of the night screaming. Not crying, but screaming at the top of his lungs as loud as he can with nothing to console him. My first thought was night terrors, and it could still very well be that, but he doesn't seem afraid of anything. He has told me that he was mad because he went potty in his pullup and he wasn't happy. Last night he screamed for an hour. I couldn't do anything to help him until I finally asked him if he just wanted to wear a diaper to bed.
I am going to try to put diapers on him for awhile at night to see if it helps. I am so worried that this will undo him being potty trained, but I value sleep. Alot.
Monday, February 24, 2014
That Was A Long Talk
Tonight when tucking Jaxson into bed we started talking about all sorts of things. Sometimes a conversation with your five year old is more important than bedtime.
He asked me how a sculpture or art can make you have feelings. I told him a photo of him makes me feel happy and proud. He said at school he has to draw or make a sculpture that shows feelings so he will make tall buildings to show happy and then next to it broken buildings to show sad.
He had a dentist appointment today and we talked about how important his teeth were. Then he said if he had no teeth he would only be able to eat applesauce and that since he really likes pizza he is giong to take care of his teeth. This moved the conversation to if only eating one thing was healthy for your body. He is quite concerned with his health lately. We talked about all the different things that are important and how you can get them in all different types of foods.
He jumped to babies. He recently asked me how babies get out. And I told him. He was a little surprised but I am always as honest as possible. It will be easier to explain things later if I don't have to undo lies I suppose. He told me he knows how the tummies get so big, because it was filled with air. I corrected him by telling him babies are surrounded in a bubble of water. He was curious how they ate so I showed him his belly button and explained how we were connected.
He told me he knows just how mom's make milk, that it drips out of their boobs. And they can put bottles and it will fill up. He saw me use my pump a time or two. I told him that is where milk is made and that mommy's have to be really careful to only eat healthy food since we give our babies food from when they are in our tummies and all the way until we make milk.
The conversation ended with me telling him that girls have superpowers to grow babies and make milk for them. He quickly said, "Well you know what boys can do?!"
He had to think for a minute. Then he had the perfect superpower.
Boys can stand up to pee.
At the end I told him he better get to sleep so he isn't tired tomorrow. He said that was a long talk... with a smile.
He asked me how a sculpture or art can make you have feelings. I told him a photo of him makes me feel happy and proud. He said at school he has to draw or make a sculpture that shows feelings so he will make tall buildings to show happy and then next to it broken buildings to show sad.
He had a dentist appointment today and we talked about how important his teeth were. Then he said if he had no teeth he would only be able to eat applesauce and that since he really likes pizza he is giong to take care of his teeth. This moved the conversation to if only eating one thing was healthy for your body. He is quite concerned with his health lately. We talked about all the different things that are important and how you can get them in all different types of foods.
He jumped to babies. He recently asked me how babies get out. And I told him. He was a little surprised but I am always as honest as possible. It will be easier to explain things later if I don't have to undo lies I suppose. He told me he knows how the tummies get so big, because it was filled with air. I corrected him by telling him babies are surrounded in a bubble of water. He was curious how they ate so I showed him his belly button and explained how we were connected.
He told me he knows just how mom's make milk, that it drips out of their boobs. And they can put bottles and it will fill up. He saw me use my pump a time or two. I told him that is where milk is made and that mommy's have to be really careful to only eat healthy food since we give our babies food from when they are in our tummies and all the way until we make milk.
The conversation ended with me telling him that girls have superpowers to grow babies and make milk for them. He quickly said, "Well you know what boys can do?!"
He had to think for a minute. Then he had the perfect superpower.
Boys can stand up to pee.
At the end I told him he better get to sleep so he isn't tired tomorrow. He said that was a long talk... with a smile.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
A Star Is Born
Every week in Jaxson's class they have a student be the star. The class gets to learn about them, they bring a toy each day to share with the class, and each student draws them a picture and writes them a little note about why they like them. Most of them just said "I like Jaxson" since that is they all really know how to write at this point.
He had to make a poster about himself with photos to go along with it. She said to choose 8 pictures. That was a challenge. I printed 20 or so and he had to really narrow it down. I think we got it down to 10. I thought that was pretty good. Dave's contribution to the poster was helping Jaxson draw a perfect Iowa tigerhawk right in the middle.
Also since he was star of the week I surprised him with Panera for lunch at school. Asher and I waited in the lunch room until his class was released and he was pretty shocked to see us. He had his special lunch with us and told me he wants us to do it again... and again... and again. I will definitely find another day or two maybe during this school year to surprise him but if I went as much as he wants me to I think his teacher would get a little annoyed since I know I was a pretty big distraction to the other kids.
He had to make a poster about himself with photos to go along with it. She said to choose 8 pictures. That was a challenge. I printed 20 or so and he had to really narrow it down. I think we got it down to 10. I thought that was pretty good. Dave's contribution to the poster was helping Jaxson draw a perfect Iowa tigerhawk right in the middle.
You Cuddle Me?
Lately Asher has been snuggly and wants to cuddle before falling asleep. And he prefers mommy to daddy when cuddling since you must put both of your feet in bed with him and Dave is just a tad big to really do it right. ;) I have to admit that I don't mind him wanting me to hold him just like I did when he was a baby. And I will also admit that some nights after doing teeth brushing, pjs, bathroom breaks, stories, tucking in, another bathroom break, putting back in bed...... I don't really want to cuddle. But then I have to remind myself that this moment is fleeting and he won't want me to cuddle soon enough so I should soak it up while it lasts. And really who could say no to this face???
Or even this face....
P.S. If you ever wanted an example as to why one of the rules of photography is "don't shoot up the nose" here is a great one...
Sleepy Head
My Jaxson boy is the most precious sleeper. When I go to a newborn session I actually attempt to get babies to sweetly lay their hands just as Jaxson does every night as he sleeps.
This particular sleep session was after getting in an argument with his brother about a monster truck and he stomped off to his bedroom and threw himself on his bed in anger. I went to check on him after giving him a few minutes to cool off and found him sound asleep. When any of my babies are sleeping so sweet I always take a picture.
This particular sleep session was after getting in an argument with his brother about a monster truck and he stomped off to his bedroom and threw himself on his bed in anger. I went to check on him after giving him a few minutes to cool off and found him sound asleep. When any of my babies are sleeping so sweet I always take a picture.
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
First Book
He wanted to practice reading he said so I let him go for it. He read the whole thing to Asher. I helped with some of the words but he worked hard at sounding them out and besides some that were tricky he did such a great job! I am so glad I will have this to look back on to remember the first book he read. :)
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Jump Jump
I feel like winter hasn't been too bad on our kiddos since we have been to plenty of fun places to get out as much as energy as possible. One of their favorites is Skyzone indoor trampoline park. They have toddler time on thursdays where all the little kids get free reign of the place. Asher and Paisley got right to work jumping and playing with all the balls. The giant foam pit is always fun and a definite workout to climb out of that one!
Livie has the socks but still wasn't allowed to jump. They said something about safety concerns or something..... :)
Saturday, February 1, 2014
The First Wedding
It was about a year ago, give or take, my friend Jennie and I decided
to photograph weddings together. It was during some conversation and
one thing led to another until last weekend came along and we were
together photographing an awesome couples wedding day. It was all kind
of a whirlwind.
We each have photographed a wedding separately and knew it was a huge undertaking but we knew that together we were better than alone and we would be prepared as we could be. We rented the best equipment if we didn't own it and we really had a game plan of what we wanted, how we wanted it, and how we would get it. Off to Dubuque we went.
During the day there really was no downtime at all. We kept going and taking pictures all day and in the end on the drive home we were pretty exhausted but feeling good about what were able to capture. Most I knew what she was thinking and where she was throughout the day. I am not sure if it was the planning or just that we work that well together. I am sure it was somewhat of both and as we continue to work together it will get even more seamless.
There was a storm coming so I decided to drive home to Des Moines that evening to avoid being stuck in Eastern Iowa for a couple days. Despite the fact that I was much too tired to be driving it was the right decision and I missed a crazy storm that came that night. The worst part of that decision was that I didn't get to sort through and discuss the photos together. She has had the job of sorting, editing, and sending them to me constantly. I am much much much worse than any anxious bride. Photographers are not good at waiting to see the photos. Really.
In the end I think we learned alot and would do some things differently and learned that some things we did just right and will want to do them exactly the same way next time. Mostly we realized we should have started working together a long time ago. Our FB page for Vantage is https://www.facebook.com/VantageNine19 and we have a couple images from our wedding posted!
We each have photographed a wedding separately and knew it was a huge undertaking but we knew that together we were better than alone and we would be prepared as we could be. We rented the best equipment if we didn't own it and we really had a game plan of what we wanted, how we wanted it, and how we would get it. Off to Dubuque we went.
During the day there really was no downtime at all. We kept going and taking pictures all day and in the end on the drive home we were pretty exhausted but feeling good about what were able to capture. Most I knew what she was thinking and where she was throughout the day. I am not sure if it was the planning or just that we work that well together. I am sure it was somewhat of both and as we continue to work together it will get even more seamless.
There was a storm coming so I decided to drive home to Des Moines that evening to avoid being stuck in Eastern Iowa for a couple days. Despite the fact that I was much too tired to be driving it was the right decision and I missed a crazy storm that came that night. The worst part of that decision was that I didn't get to sort through and discuss the photos together. She has had the job of sorting, editing, and sending them to me constantly. I am much much much worse than any anxious bride. Photographers are not good at waiting to see the photos. Really.
In the end I think we learned alot and would do some things differently and learned that some things we did just right and will want to do them exactly the same way next time. Mostly we realized we should have started working together a long time ago. Our FB page for Vantage is https://www.facebook.com/VantageNine19 and we have a couple images from our wedding posted!
Underwear Days
This was three and half weeks ago. Since then we have had some good days and some bad but we have been in underwear (besides night and nap) 100% of the time. We tried pullups on our first couple outings and he quickly got the idea he could 'just go' in those so we had to ditch them.
We can finally say that he is potty trained! He isn't perfect but that isn't expected but I don't have to chase him around shouting the "Do you have to go pee?" question over and over and over. My nerves taking him out and about have calmed. The best part is I haven't had to buy any diapers is over a month! I am sure I can find plenty of other things to buy at target with that $25! :D
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