Potty Potty Potty!

Helping Mom Chop Nuts

"Potty" I hate that word-I always have. I just think UG just call it going to the bathroom-but that doesn't roll off my tongue to my toddler so hate it or not...it's my llife! I'm now one of those people who uses that stupid "potty" word.... Hmm I think you call us "moms!" And lets not kid ourselves about who is getting trained here! Its the mom!
Anyway, before I get into the story (well stories) first other news, our friends moved :( such a bummer!! Henry on Monday, Asher tomorrow. Poor little Cannon is going to be lost in nursery, and without playgroup, and me too. I mean I could take over as the organizer but really what are the chances of that? Janene (headed it up) and Laura were always there and we had so much fun. I have made great friends here, that has been a blessing, and I'm thankful, but there they go...one to California, one to Pennsylvania. Isaac was commenting on how exciting it was for them to be moving. My guts started to twist and turn in knot as I remember how devastated and heartbroken I was to move here, and how excited he was about the next adventure. If we are any indication at all-its true-opposites attract. I'm sure more friends will come but its definitely sad to see such good ones go.

Playing with Asher and Brice when we went to say "Goodbye"

Ok, on to this potty stuff that has literally consumed my life this last week. I wasn't going to tackle this project before we went to Utah, but last week when Cannon was in the tub and told me "I'm peeing" I realized here's my window. I better take it! (An advantage of being the last one of my siblings to have kids-I've seen how long it takes if you miss the window and I don't have any idea how long those "windows" last) So we've taken the plunge.
Saturday I might have been the worlds biggest fan of diapers, they are so easy, change'm when they need it, the end. It was a lot of trying and failing. I mean we had one little taste of success when I let him sit on the potty for an HOUR with the tablet... not very impressive.

At first it was a toss up as to which one of us was most miserable...but he got to where he was pretty happy rock'n the boxer briefs around the house

Sunday night we did have a success along with a couple of messes.

Monday first thing Cannon was hunting for the tablet (its normal, he knows all of our hiding places too) Isaac was going to let him watch it but I felt his diaper and it was still dry from all night (rare). I said "Over my dead body is he watching that thing unless its sitting on the pot!!" They both complied and we totally started the morning out with a success. I swear I was getting just enough "success" to keep me plugging along at this project. And my 2 big motivators are the thought of buying diapers for 2 kids, no thanks, and as daunting as its seems the thought of doing it with a newborn around seems way worse. So I keep plugging away. Anyway. Cannon is such a smart little boy, one of the things I think that helped a ton was him listening to me vent my frustration to my mom, I was explaining that he knows when he's peeing he just doesn't know when he's going to start, or how to start, he just holds it then unloads...and seriously since that conversation he's done so much better. Its like he listened and thought-Yes I do know mom, I can do it, I'll show you. And so he has. He's done a really good job.

Tuesday was a lot of success (thanks to the bribe of the tablet -free- and a handful of those matchbox 60th anniversary cars that are 60 cents, Cannon's figuring out the world of prizes Bribes Bribes Bribes) anyway we really made it all day (just the day) without any accidents, after we went out and about for and hour and a half or so and came home and he was still dry and went right in and peed I was feeling really good about things! ...I -not necessarily Cannon- was feeling pretty potty trained...then later that night I decided to make dinner, whoops, totally should have fed Isaac cold cereal. As soon as it wasn't my 100% focus the accidents came pouring (or peeing) in. UG. After so much success I was a little discouraged again.

As Wednesday started out the poor kid couldn't hardly breath with out me asking he had to use the bathroom or making him go in and sit on the pot to try. But I loosened up and actually we did have some success then even independent success. Yeah for progress!!! I need to keep things in perspective he really is doing SO good in a really short time (it just feels like forever for me) He even wanted to nap in his undies...I decided the worst that could happen was I'd have to wash he sheets I should have washed this week anyway so what the heck? But he woke up dry :) and it was a LONG NAP. The missionaries (sisters) came over. He said the prayer but couldn't be bothered with eating with us so he was just playing on the couch, I was getting nervous and nagging him like crazy but eventually he went running in the bathroom on his own. (Then came streaking out and said "Missionaries! I Peed!!!!" I was embarrassed but Oh well, it wasn't a big deal, he's 2 and it is the excitement around her these days."
We are by no means out of the woods yet, we started out this morning with "Mom, I pee chair!" (Sigh.) Oh well at least its easy to clean up off the chair, but he's doing good. I have to remind myself that every time its a mess. I think that soccer ball potty was the possibly the best $10 bucks I've ever spent.  Mr. independent likes to dump it in the big potty by himself and flush it. We have had one wreck with that, it resulted in a re-bath for the night. But mostly I'm just so proud of him. He's watched a lot of tablet but I just set the timer for 10 minutes -he stretches that 10 min as long as he can every time but- that's the reward most of the time (his choice)

I'm thankful for technology...my mom gets an ongoing dialogue of the progress-she offered him a dollar to go #2 in the potty.

And now its on the blog for all he world to see/read. Poor kid. Well, I document his every other move (at least for 2 more months) why would this be any different?

We hang out inside as much as possible...and Cannon just loves to tear the couch apart. This video is long for what I usually post but really short compared to how much time he spends playing with the couch cushions. 

Isaac's work sent me flowers  that said "Thanks for being part of our team" That was random but super nice and thoughtful, I was impressed! And I really liked the flowers!

And Cannon and I talked Isaac into going swimming with us before work yesterday :) it was really fun. 

But by the end of the day Cannon wasn't feeling too great. That was a bummer, I hope its just because he's cutting more of those 2 year molars.

What's the name of the black guy that's blind and plays the piano? I thought this pic Sunday morning looked just like that guy on the old Diet Pepsi commercials... The kid always has me smiling about something!

It seems like I've been complaining (or kind of complaining) about uneventful weeks. When I should have been being thankful! Fathers day was pretty good, I got up and made cinnamon rolls for Isaac-scratch that- I made them for me. When am I going to learn? He doesn't care for that kind of stuff, A: Sweets B: He says "Thanks" and "they smell good" but after he says "It just seems like a lot of work." And that I should just stay in bed. Oh well. I ended up taking them to my SS class too, they liked them. Cannon and I got him some new Ties, that are Extra Long.

Of Course Cannon helped him open them.

Not that exciting but all he wears these days besides work clothes and he's been wanting some of the longer ones for a while (I usually just buy the cheap ones at Ross) We went visiting-hey it was Isaac's day and that's totally his thing- the neighbors across from the church, and we gave them a Book of Mormon, and a ward member in the hospital. We had great visits both places! After that we called home, we missed Grampa Great but my mom took a video for us and he askes if Cannon is a big boy now? Cannon watches it over and over and and answers "YES" every time, then gets ready to give him knuckles. Its so stink'n cute.

We also found out while on the phone that Grama Cottam was in the hospital in Japan ...supposedly no big deal...
On to Monday...
I had a LONG Dr. appt. I'm just so impatient with that kind of stuff, I know he's busy so I think just send me on my way, I don't need to see him. I should just be thankful I have a good Dr. here. Anyway I was complaining to my mom via text when I got a text back to not complain about minor inconvenience like prenatal care. Turns out Grama was in ICU in Japan! (She's out of the hospital now and doing better but can't fly home yet) Then, the crazy things you hear about in this world, they are awful, but they are usually distant. An Oregon man kills his neighbors and burns their house down, then kills his own wife and starts his house on fire. My mom's cousin Renae and his wife were the neighbors that were killed. I never met his wife but he was such a nice guy. Cottam to the core! It's gut wrenching. Renae wasn't a member of the LDS church but he was totally and asset, such an avid genealogist and so willing to share his findings. I'm not a facebooker but I did log on and read several of the nice comments his students (he was a former teacher) had written. But there was also a post from him back in May about putting flowers on his mom's grave at mothers day, it was the first mothers day since she had passed away, I'm sure regardless of the circumstances of his and his wife's awful death there were joyous reunions on the other side! I'm very thankful for my knowledge and understanding of life after death...I don't know everything, but I know enough!
For the most part (so far anyway) I've had smooth pregnancies, Monday night however (after complaining about having to wait at the Dr. ...serves me right) not so much. Tuesday I laid pretty low and did alright but Tuesday night I was back to miserable. So I made a deal with myself in the middle of the night that I would at least call the Dr. office the next day. I did and am so happy I did-I hesitate too much on that kind of stuff-  I seem to have found a miracle cure, more water!!! I'll take it! So happy to being feeling good again. Cannon and I went out shopping for clothes for family pictures we will be taking in July with the whole Ison crew while we are there for the home coming/farewell stuff. -I know they aren't called that anymore but it gets the point across- Shopping was fun, I do love and excuse to shop! I don't know why but I love it. I ended up with a couple new dresses out of the deal. Totally not for family pictures, Isaac is cool with me doing stuff like that but I have so much...??? is guilt the right word? in the middle of me explaining how much I love it? he's bust'n his tail working this summer and I'm looking at dresses (that were only 10 bucks and cute and modest....all of this rationalization, little wonder they end up in my cart :))
Thursday I took Cannon to the Braves game, he was so excited there were even crane trucks and other equipment across the street and he was not impressed he just keep saying "Mom Baseball Game" I was trying to keep him busy for an HOUR because I didn't read the schedule and showed up way too early.

 

We had fun, we watched a little infield as soon as they would let us in the gate, but encouraging him to run around and then wanting him to sit and watch the game with me once it started and hour later didn't really work out for me.  Oh well he had fun running around and making friends. Actually he calls all other little kids "Friends" and get so excited when they are around. This morning some of Isaac's customers had a kid playing little league so we got to go to another baseball game. Cannon was in tall cotton. They were pretty darn good little 7 years olds too, it was fun. 
Cannon's been into saying "Good Job Cann Man" (or rather "Dood Job Tan Man") a ton this week...truthfully he gives out a lot of "Good Job" compliments to anybody and anything, its cute but he gets the most of his own praises. I've realized how much I call him Cann Man instead of  Cannon too. But I like nicknames so I'm good with it. He's also getting pretty quick with "Sorry Mom"...maybe a little too quick. And Isaac usually always kisses me goodbye before he walks out the door but Cannon gets pretty bent out of shape if he gets left out. "I didn't Tiss Daddy" he whines in his ultra pathetic feelings hurt voice, so I track Isaac down before he gets too far and he has to come back in and give Cannon a little kiss on the forehead before he can really leave. Its cute. I love these 2 boys!
I think that's about it. I know I have a video or two I want to add, we'll see if I get it done.

Well another week gone by. Isaac's 1/2 way done with work this summer, that's pretty exciting. The weeks just fly by though, we don't really look fwd to weekends, just try to catch our breath on Sunday. Since I posted last I did get my craft on for fathers day :) I love that...

We made a tractor shirt for "Poppa" and hats for Poppa Great, Poppa, and Cann Man. I asked Cannon if he wanted to make Poppa a twin hat as him for fathers day and he said "Poppa, Feed Yard, Tractor, Cannon Big Helper" Done buddy, thanks for the idea! We made tractor shirts for all the (little) grandkids too. If only I had such crafty ideas for Isaac...hmm. I have 2 more days though and I don't have to get that one in the mail. Cannon and I searched high and low for a kid hat (just a baseball cap-I didn't think it was going to be hard but I just needed a simple one and I didn't want those stupid flat bill ones or too funky of colors but seriously at least 6 stores, Cann was so funny we'd go in looking for a "tid hat" and he'd say "Mom, ask'm" trying to get me to ask the workers if they had one, but there's not much  k sound when he says it.) ANYWAY, we finally found one at TJMaxx and we also stumbled onto a Soccer ball potty for only ten bucks. I would like him to just use the big pot but its a no go, so far, so it was worth the gamble. Cannon wanted to sit on it right away! Great news. He's yet to use it but its totally progress for us for him to even sit there so I'll take it. (And I confess I haven't been fully committed to the potty training thing but we're getting closer) Thursday he was out in the sandbox in his Jamas and covered in sand so when I hauled him in, stripped him down, washed him off and he needed a new diaper anyway I asked him if he would sit on it and he was all about it, I took a picture cuz it was so cute, but, even though its decent, its from the side so you can see the cool soccer potty,  its still a nudy pic and I'm NOT into those so no pics!
Which means...the only other pics I have for this week are from Cannon wearing his friends goggles at playgroup.

I wish I would have taken more pictures. Cannon had so much fun with Asher! We did it at our pool and really only my one friend came with her kids but it was a blast, so fun to visit, I'm sad they are moving. She is awesome. I will say that we have really great friends here...and Isaac's sure as they go more will come, I need to do a better job of making friends with people who are staying though.
That's about it. Nothing too exciting, its "hot" here but its not temperature hot-probably only 90-its nasty step outside and be covered in sweat head to toe kind of "hot." Just different. Often times we just stay inside to hide in the AC, makes for boring weeks, and boring blog posts, but its just sweaty and gross. I am sometimes motivated to go to the pool...but that's about it, even the tan seems different here, not to mention that tan on a fat pregnant lady is less than exciting! Oh well.
I better quit, the Cann Man is waiting for me to come color with him!

Hmm the week seems pretty uneventful. We like to go swimming when we can. Cannon's pretty into taking the couch apart (maybe I shouldn't have showed him where/how we look for the lost crayons) he loves it though and it doesn't hurt anything.

 

By uneventful I guess I meant void of any good news. Isaac chased by a dog one day (at least he wasn't the one that got bit on the butt...he came home with that story for me) then the next day the cops stopped him and told him his company's licensing was out of date. And it was pouring rain a few of the evenings, so that slows him down. So in someways its been a pretty long week, he's been working on little green in his "Spare" time, he's always calling his dad for help on such projects so I really liked this picture:

 

 -and of course he has a big helper!-

When we're swimming, Cannon doesn't really get the hold your breath under water thing, yet, I was trying to get him to and plug his nose.  I'd plug mine and say "1,2,3" Then go under water for a second. So Cannon started holding his nose and counting...clear to 15. Not about to go under water though. Funny kid.

The only other thing I can really think of his Cannon's manners. Oh, I love this little guy! We work on manners and we're trying...so the other day I was in the kitchen and I heard "Scuse Me Greatest" (Excuse me then one of his books is call The Greatest) anyway he went down the list of every book he'd left on the couch as one by one he threw them on the floor,  "Scuse me Greatest... Scuse me Cat Hat...Scuse me Ralph...Scuse me Dogs...." and so on until he had the couch (his track for his motorcycle) clear and proceeded to drive it all over the cushions. You can tell by the throwing them on the floor I'm having a little more luck with in the manners department than the clean up department. Oh well.

Its crazy because I always look so forward to blogging but today I just can't get to excited about it. It was a pretty uneventful week though, two or three days we didn't even leave the house (thank goodness for the sandbox) and then we try to be creative and made a slide out of the crib mattress...but it didn't work very well. Sunday was ward conference, I wish the stake leaders came to my Sunday School class every week, their presence, spirit, and comments, make a difference-a very welcome one!
One of the guys Isaac home teaches needed some help mowing his lawn, my boys were all over that one morning before work :) Cannon keeps wanting to go back (plus they had  a dog) After this week Cannon also prefers the Flowood Walmart and wants to go back there since there is cool equipment to watch right next to the parking lot. I hear a fair amount of "Walmart, back ha hoe."

Loved that he couldn't be bothered with turning his head for a picture. Duh mom!
And when Little Ceasars A: Cooks dinner then B: gives us a balloon. We put it to good use. We definitely have some form issues to work on with that swing. I don't know why but he loves to be cross handed, or have them stacked on top of each other and dipping that back shoulder already :( I've got my work cut out for me. But we had fun, and that's what counts!!!

Oh and one more thing, I swear I've read it before, but I ended up starting to read Elder Hafen's book "Covenant Hearts" this week. I've definitely been enjoying my re-read. Its solid! We have our days of wedded bliss around here-but-here in the real world- we also have our days of, well,  not so much. Maybe I'll end up reading the whole thing, maybe not, but I think I'd recommend at least the first part of it to pretty much anybody (with the catch or suggestion that when he starts getting to too deep-or the Shakespeare quote is much too long for my liking- I just skip a few paragraphs and then start reading again) But, its good, and I'm confident that it was no accident that I picked it off the bookshelf :) I am grateful for the perspective adjustment, it not like things were way bad, but I needed a little re-alignment.

Bout it, I guess, unless I get ambitious and edit this post later.

Well it turns out its probably a good thing I didn’t get to the blog yesterday, it was pretty much a bummer day.  30 or so texts to Grama is nice and all but it’s just not the same as being able to talk to her in a face to face conversation. But today we had a fantastic Home Depot birthday party that was so fun. We (I) needed a little post-grama’s visit fun! (I know its 3 weeks late but we had a hard time coordinating schedules for when our favorite Home Depot worker was working so we went with it.)  It was a blast and it turns out Memorial day weekend was the BEST time to have it. Besides the party they had free snow cones, hot dogs, and ice cream. It was great! I’ll get back to that but I’ll start with the week: words, pictures, even videos can’t do justice to how much fun we had with Grama here. (but I’ll try)

A little History:

When I was in high school my mom gave me a picture that hung it my room that said “A daughter is a little girl that grows up to be a best friend.” SO TRUE!

When we were going to move here I cared if I got to go home and visit but I didn’t really care if my mom (or dad or anybody) ever came here. What on earth would you ever want to go to Mississippi for? But that was one of the first best things. It was just really…comforting? For lack of a better word… to know my mom knows where we live! She was so good about finding positive things about Mississippi too. Even though it turned pretty hot and nasty humid around here for her visit-UG, it hadn’t been like that yet and they say we’re just getting started. It's gross. OH and it really was the first time we’ve had to have our air conditioner on but it blew none stop for 2 days-no cool air. Welcome to Mississippi grama, again Sweaty and YUCK, but Monday morning the maintenance guys came and recharged it, so I hope that means we’re good to go for the summer because seriously-unbearable without AC.

Saturday we went to Vicksburg, it was pretty cool because it was the 150th anniversary of that battle. There was extra hoopla stuff, which we missed but still it was pretty cool. Cannon had a blast on the Cannons.

Sunday was church and we had some of the people Isaac works with over for dinner.  Pretty much every day my mom did something to fix up our apt. She was going to surprise me and come back in March, when we moved into our new place to help us get all settled in, but it didn’t work out. But that was still kind of her excuse-or reason-or whatever for coming. OH MAN, a week later there is evidence of her touch everywhere, it’s awesome.  It makes me happy, it makes me smile, but it also makes me sad, and long to live closer to family again.

We have pictures up, (and a sweet new pic of Pine Valley -bottom left on collage- Ky took it, she gave us the canvas print) we have hooks in the bathrooms, and for the keys, we have a place to put our knives, we have flowers, we have a mock head board (our real one is storage in Utah-thank heaven for my brother's garage...a lot of our furniture is there) we have a new patio chair (and Cann has one too)…and so on. My mom is a doer! She just does things that need to be done. Like if the dryer buzzes, she goes and folds the clothes right then…I should be better about things like that. Our little apt stayed so tidy while she was here, it was great. I need to do better. Other things like the mud hole just off our patio-she went to home depot and bought "pavers" she called them, so we have a little place to step. They weren’t expensive, they aren’t fancy but they make it SO MUCH BETTER. Oh and she even cleaned out my nasty vacuum, it sounds So much better now-apparently there’s more to cleaning those than just the brush…at least every 5 years or so-my goal is one year for the next go around (don’t hold your breath). Just lots of stuff! But we definitely played hard too.

Oh and we toured the hospital where little brother will be born too, that was a good thing. With all the little projects and fixing things up we taught Grama how we roll with 3 trips to Walmart a day :) Some days, its just what we do to get out of the house.  I don’t know if it was the funnest vacation ever for my mom, but lets go with yes because it was for Cannon and I. We miss her.

Known fact!: I have major separation issues. Dang. I miss her (I’m missing those 2 extra hands for everything too)

Then there's the Birthday party stuff. I thought I would just tell the story with pics...I was so happy with everything I might like Home Depot as much as Cannon does!

And a movie...

Of course he and Henry were racing after they finished their projects, the probably went around and around that table for the better part of twenty minutes. I don't know about Henry but Cannon had a great nap!

In other news...Cannon's 2 year molars peaking though-oh and speaking of teeth 5 penny’s for his piggy bank is totally worth no fight on brushing his teeth at night. The kid is very bribe-able.

When Cann starts eating the sand in the sandbox-we have to go in. Gross. The pool opened Friday, Cann was slow to warm up to it but then loved jumping in. And of course a few pictures of daddy time.

 I'll try again later on the Vicksburg pics-and then just a couple movies from the week:

One of Cannon's favorite things to do is look at pictures or watch videos of himself. We've done it enough this week he knows which ones are there and asks for them. I can get him to do anything on video (this week anyway) as long as he's sure he's going to get to see it right after.

Little Mr. Independent is into "NO, mom!" Its what I hear if I try to help him with some missing letters in the alphabet or read the story when he wants to read it himself or a long list of other things. As much as I wanted him to be a charming little 2 year old...they call them "terrible twos" for a reason. Oh man it seems like he's always on one. But we have good times too, I wish I could remember some of the dialogue between us that is random throughout the days, even if he's on one a lot, he sure makes me smile a lot too. Of course in the moment I think of course I'll remember that one for the blog, but I don't. The only one I can remember is at dinner he putting his hands over his eyes and then shouting "WHOA!! Dark!" just for fun.

He's also been scrunching up his face saying "I go to Grama's House."(in the whiniest voice possible) Its cute/pathetic/sad... I say sorry its going to be a while but Grama is coming here!!!! (Today) and then he pretty much has a list "Poppa Chip?...Sugar?... Poppa Great?" He just thinks everyone should come to him if he can't go there. But then he still just wants to go, he'll remind me "Me poppa play hard."

Mothers Day my mom made sure I didn't have to cook. That was a nice treat. Here's my flowers. I am a sucker for flowers even though I know they are just a waste of money and they just die, I still just like them!

Truthfully, the day was not the best day, but oh well it happens. Later in the week I read the blog of a friend from back in the singles ward and thought...oh yeah, that did suck, I have a lot to be grateful for even if they day was less than perfect. The cute and fun part was a whole week of Cannon just randomly singing to me "Happy Birthday to Mom...Happy Mothers Day!" Isaac got me a maternity swimming suit for the long hot Mississippi summer. (something I never thought I would want but I did) My mom was so impressed that he thought of it. HA HA, yeah right! I totally told him what I wanted and that I was going to order it myself :) That's just how we roll. He does a lot better in the gift department since I figured that out  ;)
Thursday we got to go to the Saints Unified Voices presentation, which is the choir directed by Gladys Knight. It was Awesome! And I think even better because we are in the South. I expected something completely different but it was really good. She and her husband both bore powerful testimony and talked about how they were raised and the culture and all the the rich heritage that it brings as they joined the church and (he especially) addressed a lot of concerns that a lot of Southerns, and specifically African Americans have. It was so so SO well done.  Our biggest regret was that we didn't find a way actually escort the some of the people we had invited to it. Blake had invited a couple of he and Isaac's professors and Isaac looked and looked for them there but didn't see them. There were a ton of people there though, it was cool.

For all the picture overload last week I sure didn't take very many this week. (Just a ton of video that we usually just watch and delete.) But here's Cannon in the sandbox, they built him a headless horse.  I'm sure we'll have lots of fun pics from our week with Grama  next week though.