Extreme Parenting

Some might find this offensive. I almost died laughing...

Potty training?

As I was sitting on my bathroom floor this morning nursing Milly (I know, yuck) while cheering Otis on for going on the potty and trying to prevent him from reaching in to touch his poop, I thought to myself,

“I need a raise.”

Otis has decided in the last few weeks that he doesn’t want to wear diapers anymore. He loves going on the toilet. We have spent more time in the bathroom in the last week than I think I have in my whole life. I had no desire to potty train right now, but decided to just let him go on the potty whenever he asks…which has turned out to be alot more often than I bargained for.

He makes it to the toilet on time alot of the time. But also at least 10 times a day he will tell me frantically that he has to go, only to go in there and have him squeeze out a tiny drop and say he needs a potty treat. Or if we are out or at a store he'll tell me he needs to go then we go find a bathroom and he'll just want to play with the hand dryer, toilet paper, flusher (yuck again, I hate public bathrooms). I am so exasperated by it all. So maybe this is just a phase and we’ll go back to diapers? Or maybe he will get it one of these days?

Until then, you can find me on the bathroom floor cheering, wiping, cleaning... and nursing.

LOTOJA 2010

Ty did the 206 mile bike ride from Logan to Jackson a few weeks ago. I am so proud of him for doing it. He trained so hard all summer. He sacrificed alot of sleep for training, I don't know how he did it every morning. It felt like the middle of the night to me sometimes when I would hear him leaving to go for a ride.

At the FINISH!! He finished in 12 hours and 6 minutes- when I saw him at the finish I secretly thought to myself, "whoa, I haven't noticed that pot belly before", but it was just so distended from all the food and water he drank during the ride. funny. or not really,

Waiting at the finish line. My dad drove up with me the and kids. I think he should win Grandpa of the Year award for his performance on the drive up. I was really sick and had lost my voice so he entertained Otis for the whole drive. I would guess that he sang "Happy Birthday" to Otis at least 50 times.

He started riding in the dark and freezing cold

Tyler's mom was his support car and did such an amazing job! He couldn't have done it without her. She was so prepared with anything and everything that he needed during the long ride. He was so grateful for her help.

I'm two!

Sept 11, 2010

Dear Otis,

Today you are 2 years old. When I went to get you out of bed this morning, you were already singing, “Happy Birthday to Otie-man”. I love spending every waking moment with you. And with you, there is never a dull moment. You are all boy. You love to play in the mud, sand and water- you love to be dirty. Every day we go through at least 2 outfits because one is either covered in mud or soaking wet. And you LOVE to be naked. Just the other day I looked outside and you had taken all your clothes and diaper off and were riding your scooter around naked with only your helmet.

You have such a strong will and insist on doing everything by yourself. You love keys and will beg anyone with keys to let you drive. You also love waterbottles and will steal any that you can get your hands on. We went to the beach a few months ago and you still ask us every day if we had fun surfing.

Your memory for people’s names is better than mine. You know everyone’s name at church and now you like to ask strangers what their name is and if they are chewing gum. Your memory for songs is also impressive. The other day I was singing the “ABC song” and got distracted and stopped and then you just started where I left off and finished the song. I didn’t know you knew any of it! And you have been singing “Happy Birthday” since July. You love music and LOVE to dance.

You don’t have many signs of baby left in you. You like to play with the big kids. But sometimes you still ask me to hold you and “Rock-a-bye” you. And at night you always have to make sure your “toesie-wosies” are covered. You are the best big brother. You are getting better at being soft with your sister and whenever she cries you run over to her and ry to put her binki in and say, “It’s ok Mill, don’t be sad”. You are so social and LOVE to talk. You ask me a million times a day, “what are you doing? Where are we going? Where is grandma? When is daddy coming home?”

I always say that I love you so much I think it might make my heart explode. But the last few days I also say that I can’t go one more second without getting a lock on the fridge because you like to open it and take things out and dump them out. I’ve tried 2 locks and you have broken through them both. You are definitely a naughty little 2 year old and most days by the time you go to bed, I feel like I’m about ready to pass out- but you are also the sweetest. Whenever I cough or hurt myself you ask if I’m ok and insist on kissing my “owies”.

I love you and can’t wait to see what this next year brings with you.

Happy Birthday.

Love,

Mom

Random summer pics

Loved the pony ride at the State Fair

This slide was totally over-priced but totally awesome

the pigs are always my favorite

Otie had to touch every animal

I've been putting Milly in a bouncer on the counter to keep her safe from Otie's "hugs", but he's outsmarting me now using a chair and the garbage can.

Oliver wasn't cooperating when Otie wanted a ride

Fun in Midway with cousins

We bought this scooter for Otis in London because all of the kids there loved them. This is up at Silver Lake- he insists on taking it everywhere.

Ty attempted camping out in the backyard with Otis. They eventually had to come in because Otis wouldn't go to bed, he just wanted to talk.

Hiking with Grandma up to Catherine's Pass.

We made it to the top! Otis hiked most of the way up.

Here is a little movie of Otie riding his scooter up at Silver Lake

Milly's blessing

Tyler gave Milly a blessing on July 11th, the same day as Betsy's farewell. It was such a great day.

The wonderful Wendy Morgan recorded it- this is a picture of the short hand. Doesn't it just look like scribbles?

Some of my favorite parts of the blessing were that she was blessed to have a special relationship with Otis, that they would love and care for one another and be best friends. Also that she would take time to stop and appreciate the small things in life and have an appreciation for the things of this earth.

And here she is today:

This smiley little lady is already 3 months

Milly's first trip to the beach

We went to Southern California with alot of Ty's family and had the best time. Milly loved the beach almost as much as Otie. The combination of the cool breeze and ocean waves lulled her into a deep sleep the whole time at the beach. That plus lots of family to watch the kids made for some fun long surf sessions!

Uncle of the year award might have to go to "Winsty Winst" (as Otis has decided to call him)

Otie's favorite part of the trip was probably loading and unloading the surf boards because he would finally get his turn driving- this obsession of his is getting out of control

Milly's goofy smile with her tongue out

We brought the ergo for Milly, but Otis wanted to get some rides too.