Potty Training Success Stories

He appreciates good reading material when he's spending time on the toilet. Yes, that's a dolphin tattoo. I love how white trash my little guy can look. =)

I have been super lackadaisical about potty training Israel (much to my mother-in-law's dismay). My own mother has horror stories about trying to potty train Adam and is certain she scarred him for life with the technique she used. I decided not to stress Israel or myself out over it. I figured when he was ready I would know and we would take it pretty nonchalantly. For the past couple months, he has known when he was poopy, and he would come back up to me to let me know. This was a good indication that he was almost ready. I ordered him a super cool potty seat. I wanted one that would help him be comfortable and safe on the "big" toilet, not one I would have to clean and have to transition him out of at some point anyway. I love this seat. I made a big deal about it when it came getting him excited about his own potty chair. I let him sit on a few times. Nothing happened, but I didn't really care. Sometimes for days it would go unused at all. I'm happy to announce now, though, that he has done "peeps" in the toilet several times (after he comes and tells me he wants to do them), and this morning he did his first "poops." This is very encouraging and exciting to me. I do want him to be potty trained so I can enroll him in preschool when he turns three and stop buying him diapers, but I want it to be a natural and comfortable change for us. So far, so good!

Night before last was a late one for us. We finally had both boys down (we thought) at about 10:00 and were going to bed ourselves when Israel came barging in excitedly. "Wake up! Wake up! House! Copter!" Occasionally we can hear when someone is care-flighted into the Lovelock Hospital. Israel thought it was the coolest thing to hear a helicopter fly right over the house. It was as good as Christmas morning. Cute kid.

Brigham 6 Mos & Turkey Cupcakes

Brigham had his first half birthday yesterday. I can't believe how much he has grown. What a wonderful little chunk he has become! I love this kid more than I can say. He is just sweet, sweet, sweet. And, except for the fact that he must sleep with me and nurse all night, easy, easy, easy. He likes to be held, which makes a lot of things more difficult to do, but as long as he's being held, he's super chill. I noticed a tiny tooth this past week, but only because he grabbed my finger and started chewing on it--not because of any grumpiness. Sweet boy, I love you so much and am so grateful to have you as part of our family.

I wanted to give the kids something on my first Sunday in the primary presidency, and since we will have stake conference next week, I thought turkey cupcakes in honor of Thanksgiving would be fun. They were a lot of work but a big hit, so totally worth it.

This is the Place...For Us and Bighorn Roundup

Well, it's official-- we're Lovelockers. After a very transient (albeit exciting, satisfying, fulfilling, and wonderful) first six years of marriage, we have finally "settled down." And Lovelock is the place. I am really excited about it.

I LOVE Lovelock. All I needed to be truly happy living here was some indication that this was where we were "supposed" to be. Recent events have demonstrated to me that that is the case. For one thing, Hiram has applied for and been offered a very desirable job here working at the natural gas plant, and I know that was part of God's great plan (that's a story for another time, though). Also, this past week I was called to be the second counselor in the primary presidency. If I'd had any doubts after the job deal (which I didn't), this would have put an end to them.

The past two Sundays, the Bishop was very interested in our plans, wanting to know if we were going to be hanging around or what. The reason was that a sister in the ward I don't know that well was called as president of the primary and asked to choose a couple counselors. Mine was the name that kept coming to her for the position of second counselor. I guess they didn't want to call someone who would be heading off on new adventures after a few weeks, but when we gave the news that we had gotten a job and would be sticking around, I got the call.

I'm excited and grateful to Heavenly Father for all my blessings but particularly at this time for His answers to prayers and for this calling that will help me feel a real part of the ward, instead of just a visitor. I'm also grateful that I'll have an opportunity to get to know this woman and to work with her and my mother-in-law (who is the new first counselor, btw), and I know I'll enjoy spending time with the kids in primary (quite a few of whom I know and really like from a brief stint as primary teacher).

I would now like to give you a glimpse of the "Lovelock Life." These pictures were taken yesterday at the Bighorn roundup we went to. A friend of Hiram's who works for the Nevada Department of Wildlife (Big Game Division) invited us, and though we had to wake up at 4:20 and endure some really cold weather and one horribly whiney son, it was well worth it.

Brigham

Israel

Rodney

Those are sheep just dangling there. First they're shot from the helicopter with nets. Then this.

Hiram