Mr. Independent

I have to dedicate this blog post to my Eric.  This kid has been cracking me up and amazing me so much lately. 

Only a few hours old

Little Gym Graduation

For a few weeks now, Eric is determined to do everything by himself.  The words I hear the most during the day are "I DO IT!" "NO HELP" "I GOT IT"...well, you get it.  This whole thing started with wanting to buckle himself  into the car seat, I let him do the top one and that kept him satisfied for a few days.  Next we move on to washing himself in the tub, getting his own snack, brushing his teeth, washing his face, reaching a toy...etc, etc.  Finally, last week, I think Monday he told me "I have to go potty."  Being a mother of two children and having spent over 10 months potty training my other kid I leaped at this comment.  Eric then proceeded to the bathroom, pulled out the potty seat that has been living under the sink for almost a year, and went in the potty!  Happy dancing Mommy and some M&M's later I am sure that this was a one time thing and it wont happen again.  WRONG!  This kid is potty training himself!  On that Friday, while at Wal-Mart he asked me for some underwear...how could I deny such a cute request!?!  As of today he averages an accident a day, but I am not complaining.  I finally convinced him to wear a pull-up while we are out since he is a bit nervous about the big potty.  The only way he bought into the whole "big boy diaper" (he calls it that) was because they have Toy Story characters on them (Thank you Huggies Pull Ups).  This week he also graduated from his first semester at The Little Gym.  He is moving up to the next level with a big smile and some new skills.  I love having the special Mommy-Eric time we share each week during Tumbling and I have watched him develop a lot of confidence.  This has been so much fun to watch, but a bit heart wrenching as I start to realize that in a few months my Alex will be FIVE and Eric will be potty trained!  I can't imagine a diaper free house and no diaper bag being lugged around, but I guess that this is the season of my life I am entering.  I am losing my babies and getting big boys.  I love them so much and I am enjoying watching their personalities mature and develop.  I am the mother of two very different kids that are still a lot alike in many ways.  I am so blessed and as I look over and watch Alex play with his trains and Eric rest on the couch I can only think of how much joy they bring to my life and I can't imagine it any other way.  I am gonna go give the a squeeze, so until next time...

2011-A Year of Change

I cannot help but smirk a bit as I put the title on this.  I got so tired of hearing the word "Change" during the Obama campaign, and yet here I am using it.  As a family, we have sat down and talked about our goals for this year.  We don't like to call the resolutions because a resolution just asks to be forgotten and broken, so we call them goals.  This year we have decided to move from our home.  I am not positive where we will end up or the logistics of everything, but I do know that Heavenly Father knows what is best for us and as long as we follow his counsel and do what we are supposed to be doing, we will be blessed.  I do not want to spend next Christmas in the home we are currently in, and that is incentive enough for me.  Another goal we have set is that we will continue on our path to self-reliance.  Last year was a big leap for us as we were determined to get our finances and priorities in order so that we could move forward in the Lord's work.  This year is sure to bring excitement for our family.  Our doctor has told us that if we aren't pregnant by March/April, then we might want to "consider other options".  James and I have discussed this a lot...a whole lot!  We have prayed and for the time being we are saying that we will continue to do everything we can to prepare ourselves to welcome another spirit into our homes and if my body cannot and will not support this, then we will look further in to adoption.  This at times is easier said than done.  I never imagined that at 25 my body would decide to call it quits in the baby department...but that's what I get for making a plan.  I daily pray that we will have another and some days are harder than others, but I continue to work on my testimony and being the best me that I can be.  I have found that my focus has changed and has been turned a bit inward.  I am usually trying to change things around me, but I have come to understand that the only thing I can change is myself and my focus.  I am determined to be better and to continue to grow and to try my hardest not to let things of the world weaken my testimony and will.  Every day is a new day that i am determined to be excited about.  I don't want this year to go by in a blur like last year did.  I am keeping a family journal and I am trying to enjoy my boys as much as possible.  I am so blessed and at times I do have the "woe is me" syndrome, but I want to work on keeping an uplifting attitude and to help others feel that they are loved just by being around me.  I love how much I feel my Savior's love.  he has held me very tight these last few months and dried my tears and I think he is ready to let me stand back up again and I want to prove that I can do great things with the body he has blessed me with.  I am excited for this new year and I am thrilled that I have this day to live.  So until next time...