Some Updates

I've realized I haven't done some updates to previous posts in quite a while. So, here we go...

1. Joshua was day potty trained within three days and night potty trained within a month. We do still have the rare accident, but that is bound to happen. Also, many moms have told me that the potty training process is not complete until the child can pull down and up his/her pants...well, Joshua can do this and quite well. Also, he is now pretty much standing to do his peeing so no need to take his pants off completely so he can straddle the toilet. I am so proud of him and how quickly he did it. Especially since I didn't wait around until HE was ready...I did it when I was ready. He was almost 2.5yrs old at the time and I was tired of changing his diapers. He did it and never looked back.
2. We have gone two days straight of Joshua sleeping the entire night in his bed. I mean the entire night...does not come to our bedroom at two in the morning...he sleeps in his bed all night. When I asked him why he was such a big boy yesterday at breakfast he said, "I'm a big boy because I slept in my bed all night long!"
3. "The Wildest Colts Make the Best Horses" by John Breeding is now becoming my latest book to be read. A sister in the hall mentioned it to me and suggested I read it. She said her oldest was a crazy child (very much as I feel Joshua is...his name is also Joshua) and she said it puts a lot of things into perspective for you and helps you to handle your "wild colt". Because let's face it, not all of us have perfectly docile children to contend with so I am hoping that my "wild colt" will grow to be a "wonderful horse".

Letters

I finally got around to doing Joshua's letters. I painted them when he was 3mths old and had little animals attached to them. This time around I removed the animals and decopauged the letters with Scrapbook paper that was wester/farm themed. They look really cute and can't wait to get the painting done in the room so it will look more complete.

Before

After

My Little Gardner

Joshua is going to be quite a little gardner. We bought these little pots at Lowe's and Joshua picked out a Pumpkin and a Watermelon. He planted the seeds and about two weeks later the Pumpkin had really grown.

He's holding the Pumpkin after having it growing for three weeks. He loves his SpongeBob gloves.

Some Answers

At Matthew's pediatric appointment today I managed to ask the doctor about Joshua. He wouldn't sit still and was running all over the exam room and just going crazy. I asked him if this was normal behavior for a three year old since the only experience I have with other three year olds (or close there of) is with children that are clingy, whiny, aren't adventurous, or willing to be further than three feet from his/her parents. Joshua on the other hand is wild...he will not stay near me for the most part and will take off to sites unseen on a whim. He is not afraid of anything and has absolutely no fear. We've also had serious sleep issues since he was an infant. Well, the pediatrician looked at me and said...there are two types of three year olds...those that don't require much because their energy level is lower and then there are those that require a lot because they have an over abundance of energy. His advice...have him do jumping jacks, lunges, squats, walk four miles a day (not in a stroller...him walking), until he's ready to just about puke. Sounds harsh, right? Well, I have a child with an over abundance of energy. It can be 10pm and he is still going strong and will be awake at 5:30am ready to face the day. He is always on the go, so I figure we will be hitting either the back acres or when the weather really gets nice...the park after Daddy gets home and I'll have him walk/run the track with me...maybe he can start doing the jumping jacks, squats, and lunges with me for my morning workouts. Maybe then our bedtime routine will start working and he'll fall asleep at a decent hour and in his own bed. I think I will start tomorrow...it's the 1st of February and I will do it for a month and see how he changes over time with the activity that will wear him out as the pediatrician advised. Mind you...if your child is one with an abundance of energy...ask your pediatrician before doing this. Each child is different and may require something else. Everyone always mentioned ADD and that he probably needs meds...when it very well could be just way more activity so lets start there and see what the pediatrician says when I take Matthew back in April. I can let him know if anything has changed with Joshua.