Potty Trained? Check.

Alder is officially potty trained. After only a few poopy pants and one peepee accident, we have success. He wears "underwears" all day and even when we go out to run errands. He tells me every time he needs to go and has great pride in his new accomplishment. I am so very proud of my Mr. Man.  

Lights, Teddy, and Toilet Time?

I laugh when I find things like this around the house. It really makes my day. Let me explain. 

Alder has an OBSESSION with all things mechanical. He loves light switches, outlets, plugs, calulators, thermostats, ac/heating vents, etc. Clearly he found this boppy pillow in a closet and thought,"hey, this may be just what I need to help me reach that light switch in the bathroom." Who knows what he was thinking, but I figure that it didn't do the job since he just left it there.

Alder also has a deep love for his "Teddy". He feeds Teddy, talks to Teddy, and I have even caught him laughing at Teddy as if Teddy had just told a funny joke or something. Who knows, maybe he did. Recently Teddy joined us for lunch and wowed all of us with his quiet presence at the table and perfect manners. 

And finally, Alder woke up on Saturday wanting to poop in the potty. So he did and he did again on Sunday, and has tried again all day today. He pees in the potty like a pro and has only had ONE accident so far. He has told us each time he needs to go or will go every time I take him. He loves his big boy underwear and is fascinated with, well....how easily he can "access" his manly parts. Oh, boys! I assure you though that I am one of those that would rather just change a poopy diaper and put another one because of the convienence. But instilling disciple and being a intentional/good parent is not about whether it is convienent or easy, right? I actually had not planned on potty training him until the weather was warmer and I could just let him run around in his "nunee" (as he and his Dada call it) and just hose him off after an accident. Clearly that plan has been foiled. So I push ahead with it all, socks, pants, and shirts. Laundry, here we come. 

Heartbreak, Hot Tea, and Brothers at Play

Today marks the 7th day that Kingston Settle has not nursed. He has not latched on nor has he even had just one tiny drop of milk from me. I have been heartbroken. I think it started 10 days ago when he bit a hole in my...well, nipple (sorry if this evokes a bad visual) and then he bit me again the next day and I scolded him with a flick on the check. As well as, throw in some strep throat, fever, and a runny nose and we have a full out nursing strike. I was not familiar with this term until last week and I have been working to end it ever since. I am on the phone with lactation consultants in Birmingham daily, dancing a jig to entice the little feller, coating myself with icing, syrup, etc., and pumping 4 times a day. He is drinking my milk ONLY from this cup and has done so rather unenthusiastically. I can become quite earth mama-ish when it comes to nursing and had planned on nursing Kingston for several more months and even well past the 12 month mark. I am so saddened. The lactation consultants say that they have seen this so many times and that some nursing strikes last 2 days and some can last 2 weeks. I trudge along and continue to shed many tears. I miss this time with Kingston and it is clear that his fussiness at our normal nursing times show that he misses it as well. I just wish he would try a little harder,be more patient, and SUCK. 

Moving on from my broken heart. Our church had their 24th Annual Missions Conference. The keynote speaker is a dear friend of Jared's through his time at Oxford and longtime relationship with RZIM ministries. Stuart McAllister came to rural Alabama (yes, I cannot believe it either (that is if you know who he is)) and spoke 3 different times. It was wonderful to spend time with someone so dynamic and someone who is successfully poking holes into this dark, dark world with Truth. We had a lot of time to talk and fellowship with him and his ubber talented traveling assistant (Jeff is a singer/songwriter who divides his time between Nashville and his ranch). I guess over the course of the weekend, Alder picked up on the fact that Stuart enjoyed several cups of hot tea while being at our house. Now Alder wants hot tea and I love fixing it for him. He drinks the fruit teas with honey in it and thinks he is just so BIG. I just never thought I would serve proper hot tea to my 2 year old. I had to join in and I am thinking I may try to drink less coffee and more hot tea. I quite enjoy it.

 And finally, brotherly love. Alder is getting more annoyed with Kingston as the days go on and Kingston is getting more and more mobile=more capability of annoying his brother by touching his books, puzzles, block towers, and so on. It is really sweet because I see Kingston constantly watching Alder and trying so hard to "keep up". Kingston is so gentle and laid back that his intensely observant behavior goes unnoticed. He soaks it all in though and has resorted to most recently "reading books" like his older brother. I did find Alder the other day "reading" a whole book to Kingston. It was a touch and feel first words book and Alder was "reading" every word on the page, pointing to the picture, and then turning the page and "reading" the next page. I thought my heart was going to melt. Alder in general is not a snuggly, cuddly, or huggy/kissy boy. He just never has been. Alder has a very large personal space and Jared and I are the only ones ever welcomed inside that space. So, I wish Kingston got more kisses and hugs from Alder, but God made all of us different. I did laugh hard though when Alder wanted to put Kingston in the shopping cart and take him "shopping" around the house. I obliged and grabbed my camera. 

In the above picture, notice how Kingston is trying to hold on for dear life. Poor King King.

And because shopping can wear you out, what is better than a bag of pretend chips for a snack?