The new Family Dollar

I've always been one to give people the benefit of the doubt. Everyone was complaining about how cheap the new FD in Woodruff looked. It was a big metal eyesore to the home town feel of Woodruff. But, I thought it might be nice having a store like that on main street to get all of those little things that you might need. Also, the new FD was advertising that they were going "green."
So, the boys and I went there today.

The first thing I noticed was about 4 empty spots near the front of the store. I thought, oh that's nice, maybe they have a mother's with children parking spot or at least a pregnant parking spot. Nope. There were two spots for "alternative fuel vehicles" and then two spots for "carpool vehicles." Why do people who just happen to have enough money to buy an "alternative fuel" vehicle need to be closer to a dollar store? Soooooo, me and my two toddlers parked waaaaaaay behind the building and made the trek to the store.
Next, we got in a buggy and made our way to the door. It was not automatic. This makes it really difficult for those in wheelchairs, or with small children. Once we got in, I felt like I was in the Dollar General right down the road. They didn't seem to have anything more than the DG, and might have even had less. I will say that the employees were nice, if not very knowledgeable.

Ugh!!!!! I will not be returning!!

Ten on Tuesday

I stole these questions from another friends blog, and I thought it would be an easy way for me to get started blogging again.

1. Growing up, what was one favorite item that you had to have with you at all times?
I did have a blanket that I carried around until Patrick was born and Mom let me choose another one so i would give it up. (I believe it was in scraps at that time.) But, I think my favorite item was my thumb. Yes, I was a thumb-sucker.

2. Being an adult, what is one favorite item that you have to have with you at all times, and what happens if you do not have it with you? Do you lose your sanity or just go back home to get it?
My cell phone, because I like having the ability to get in touch with people at any second. If I forget it, it's usually too much trouble to go back and get it unless I'm still sitting in the driveway when I remember. I'm also pretty lost (literally) without my GPS. My sense of direction is horrible.

3. Where is your favorite place to be to just hide away from everything and breathe for a moment?
If I'm being truthful, I think that I "hide away" on the computer, either on facebook, or watching something on hulu. I was going to say the bathtub, but I haven't had a lot of time to do that lately, and then of course, I would need to clean it, which would defeat the purpose.

4. What is your favorite thing about your partner? (If you don’t have a partner, then someone who is very close and will always be in your life.)
I love the way he is with the boys and seeing how much they adore him.

5. What is your favorite thing about your job? (If you don’t have a job, then what is your favorite thing that you do during your day?)
My job is taking care of and teaching my children. I am so lucky. I know I complain alot about how tired I am and how I long for adult companionship, but I wouldn't want it any other way. I love watching my children learn something new. I love it when they spontaneously hug or kiss me. I don't love all of the cleaning and stuff that comes with it :-)

6. What is your favorite lesson that your parents taught you growing up? Looking back, is it something that you want to use to teach your children when they reach that age?
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, your soul and your mind. And, love your neighbor as yourself."
I will absolutely teach it to my children.

7. What is your favorite song, that will always bring a smile to your face and make you think of something happy?
I can't pick. Maybe, "I Have Confidence" from "The Sound of Music." It's loads of fun to sing in the car at the top of your lungs!

8. What is your favorite thing about being an American? (If you are not American, what are you proud of in regards to your country?)
I think that freedom is the best thing about our country, but I know that I do not appreciate freedom like so many families that have lost loved ones in recent years, or that have given up family members for extended periods of time to serve our country. I am very grateful, though, for those that have fought in the war to make our lives here what they are. (Okay, I stole this answer directly Rhonda's blog, but I liked it.)

9. What is your favorite meal that reminds you of being a child?
Pizza Inn!! Yum!

10. Name 3 things that other people would say are their favorite thing about you.
I don't know. Maybe my friends that read this blog could help me out with this question.

The Ward boys

Aren't my boys the most beautiful boys in the whole world?!!? Well, I think so!

A Visit With Will

Will -2 Harrison-1 David-almost3

When did David become a boy and not a baby?!?

He's doing it! David is pee peeing in the potty! I never would have believed it. He still needs to be reminded or he forgets. And, we're having some nap issues (that include poop). But, go David!! I'm so proud of you!

Guess what!?1?

We've had a break-through!! David has discovered how to pee in the potty!! He's only had one or two pee accidents in the past few days! Poop seems to be another story all together. He has pooped in the potty a few times, but he still forgets that he needs to sit on the potty to go until afterwards. I'm so proud of him, and so is he!! We're still not sure how to go without getting pee all over both of us, though. ....baby steps!!!
More to come.

Walking and Peeing

Here's an update on how things are going here.

David is still potty learning. I think that he knows how to hold his pee now. He does not, however, know how to release it when he sits on the potty. Our floors have been well christened. I need to hear lots of potty training success stories so that I don't just put him back in diapers. He's not frustrated, but I sure am. David is becoming quite a little boy. He is very pensive. He notices everything and remembers most things. He sings all of the time!! (Except at storytime when he refuses to do anything. It's the introvert in him, I guess.)

Harrison's walking!!! He's not walking well yet, but he does it often. Hopefully, I'll be able to put a video of it on here. Harrison has also learned to wave, clap his hands, and pick his nose. We're more proud of some of those things than others. :-)

Both boys have colds. Yuck!! I hope they don't lead to infections and antibiotics, but they always have in the past. Here's a video that has David singing and Harrison walking and waving.

This was about 2 months ago. It's my favorite.

Harrison - about 8 months

Fishy Fishy

I love watching my boys grow and learn. Harrison is progressing so fast. I forgot how much they learn in a day when they're that age!! He walked last night. John figured out that he needs a "launching pad" to start from. It won't be long before he's doing it all the time. He stood up all by himself this morning. (Without pulling up on anything.) Now, he's cruising around, babbling, and playing peekaboo with a blanket. I'm hopeful that David will get this potty learning thing. He's excited about getting to wear the underwear. He told me this morning, "I don't get pee pee on Percy." No pee yet this morning, but his underwear is still dry, so that's something.
I really need new pictures, but my camera needs new batteries. I just said, "Hey, Harrison," and he waved at me. It's so cute. I need to get it on video.
I was doing a finger puppet show of "The Three Little Pigs" yesterday before John came home. I really need to do more "play" with them. They both really love it, even though Harrison mostly wanted to eat the little pig. I'm going to go see if I have any videos I can put on.

Potty Training: Day two

I'm going to start on a happy note. I was looking at a picture of David at 10 months, and I thought it looked alot like that picture of Harrison from almost 10 months. What do you think?

Potty training is not fun. I need to make it more fun. Learning should be fun, and he is learning something new!!!!

Good things: David is learning to pull up and pull down his underwear. I need to see that as success!!!

Bad things: Maybe I shouldn't dwell. Tomorrow is another day. Let's just say it was really messy.

On another note, I think Harrison has a cold. He is coughing in his crib. He has his well baby visit tomorrow. Ironic, huh. I think he's always sick during his well baby visits. I wonder if they'll give him his shots or not.

Told you I was a horrible blogger!!

Okay, so it's been 6 months since I wrote a blog. But, I watched "Julie and Julia" yesterday, so I'm reinspired to try again. Here goes.

Last week or so when I opened David's pack of diapers, I vowed that it would be our last pack (not including pull-ups). So, everytime I put a clean diaper on him, I told him, "When all these diapers are gone, we're going to wear underwear." He would say, "I don't want to wear underwear. I want to wear a diaper." And I would say, "That's okay, but that's what's going to happen." On Saturday when they ran out, we put on underwear, and he was okay with it.

So, here we go. He has peed in the potty a few times when I've taken him to go, but he hasn't figured out the asking to go thing yet. Pray that I have patience with him and that he has patience with me.

Harrison is growing up so fast. He isn't a baby anymore, I think he's pretty much a toddler now. He's almost gotten all 4 top teeth at once. He's got one left to break through the gums. Poor baby!! He had a three day low grade fever when they first started coming in. I know the doctors say that fevers don't come from teething, but that was his only symptom. He's trying his best to learn to walk. He cruises everywhere, and he can take a few steps.

Here's hoping I'll do better at this. But, I'm no good at getting the pictures to go where I want them to go. So, please help me with that if you're good at it. Thanks!