Another milestone

Braden has had a big week! Potty training himself, and now tonight is his first night in his big boy bed! We finally got the mattresses picked up, and figured tonight is as good as any. He told me he would rather sleep in his crib. (Avery told him we needed to put it in the shed in case we had another baby--but that's a whole other train of thought...)

I asked him why he wanted to sleep in his crib, and he said he was scared because his big boy bed was too big for him. I put his bumpers on either side of him so he could snuggle up like he normally does in his crib. (And so he would have less of a chance to roll off the bed.)

We did our nightly bedtime ritual, but instead of all getting in Avery's bed to sing and pray, we moved the party to Braden's bed. Avery was the most excited I think.

When we left the room, my little man's tiny body was tucked into what seemed like a massive bed.

Add another *sniff* here.

(Pictures still to come...)

Braden's potty training

Yesterday Braden decided he wanted to start going potty. I've never pushed it with my kids. I've always felt that when it's time, they know it, so why mess with the accidents and such until necessary. (With Avery, I waited and it only took a few days for her to catch on.)

Apparently Braden decided yesterday was the day. We have been talking about it in passing, and if he sees someone else going potty, he will try. He's never had success until yesterday.

Right before bed, he asked if he could go, and he went. Avery was there the whole time encouraging him. She ran out and told Kenny. We all applauded and shared M&Ms.

Well, today when Braden woke up he was dry, so I asked if he wanted to go potty again. He said yes, and tried, but had no success. We tried big boy underwear for a bit, but then I had the other kids' schooling going on and didn't really have time to clean up a mess. At one point, he had on a pull up and asked if that would leak. Before I realized what he meant, he shivered...I did know what that meant! After a while, I thought I'd try the no pants at all method. It worked most of the morning.

Later, while I was fixing lunch, I heard him screaming my name. I ran in and he was sitting at the table. He had an accident and didn't really know what was happening. I felt so bad because he was so scared. We got him cleaned up and diapered up.

Fast forward to after my games tonight. He spent the afternoon and evening with his Nonna. When I met up with them at Kenny's football game, Braden asked me, "is this going to leak?" So I asked if he needed to go potty. He said yes! So off we went, and went he did! His diaper was dry at that point.

We finished watching the game, came home, and were getting ready for baths. I took his diaper off and it was still dry. He always knows Avery goes potty before getting in the tub. As I was filling up the tub, I turned around to find him going potty without being asked!

My little man is catching on!

Braden's Big Boy Bed

We just bought Braden his big boy bed. ~Sniff~

I've kept him in his crib for so long because he really does love it. Also for selfish reasons because it keeps him trapped a little longer in the mornings while I stretch and try to roll out of bed on those mornings where he deems it necessary to wake up before the booty crack of dawn.

We've been on the lookout for just the right one for a while now. I knew we were inheriting Kirk's mattresses when he went off to college, and I figured that would be a good time to make the switch. Well, the time has come; Kirk left yesterday, leaving his mattresses for the taking.

I'm not exactly sure how I feel about this new turned-over-leaf. Thankful that he's growing into such a healthy, sweet, big boy, but saddened because he's my baby. Seeing him go to sleep at night in a big boy bed is just one step closer to the he will be the one moving to college.

Avery's switch seemed more natural because we were moving to a new house, and since we were expecting Braden's arrival in a few months, we just set up her big girl room when we moved in.

So this is where I am now. Avery gave up her crib for Braden. Who is Braden giving up his crib for? Kenny said, "let's get to work!" I'm not sure it's that easy. I'm still on the fencepost about a third child. That doesn't have to be decided now, but that in itself makes me sad. Am I closed for business? I feel like our family is complete, but don't really want to be. Weird. Thoughts. Swirling. in this now tangent paragraph.

At any rate, Braden is completely thrilled, as am I because we found the PERFECT bed! I just thought I had found the perfect bed a few weeks ago, and was watching and waiting because the price seemed to keep falling from week to week. Good thing I did because the one we ended up with is ten times better for crazy cheap!

I want to show a sneak peak, but his room is a mess now, with the treasure of a dresser I found a few weeks ago for super duper cheap, a new trunk to hold his toys that won't fit in the storage under his completely awesome new bed, the bed itself in pieces, plus the crib, changing table and rocking chair still in tact from before...oh and the futon. Can we say crowded? Plus, the icing on the cake (the bedding) is still in the process of being shipped. So, if anyone does care to see pictures, they'll just have to wait for the reveal that will come once it's all put together. Which will probably be soon because Braden is just as excited as I am, so I will be working hard to get it pulled together as quickly as possible.

This is the teaser blog...and a little journal for myself.

Hide and Seek

The kids and Kenny are playing hide and seek. Avery and Braden keep hiding together.

When Kenny comes into a room, he asks, "are they behind the (insert object here)?"

Braden answers with a muffled, "No. We are behind the curtains (or other object)!" Suprisingly, Avery has not gotten frustrated with him yet.