"BOB!"

Last week, Clayton(20 months) started to show a lot of interest in the potty. He loves his "Bob the Builder" potty ring and actually had success going potty a few times on Thursday evening. He was so happy and proud. Mommy, Blake, and Daddy made a very big deal about his success. Friday morning he decided he was no longer interested in diapers. Although I wasn't planning on or expecting to potty-train that day, I followed his lead and we've spent most of the last 4 days in and around the bathroom. Clayton has caught up on a lot of his reading with Blake and me, waiting for the magic to happen. His current favorite songs are Old MacDonald had a farm, Popcorn Popping, and Bubble-bubble POP! It makes me so happy to see Blake's joy at Clayton's success. He is usually in charge of helping Clayton get a sticker for his Bob the builder sticker chart.

Clayton has improved so much over the last few days that I no longer have to follow him everywhere watching for signs. Now he'll usually come find me and say, "BOB!" when I need to run him in there. He's really only had a couple accidents. He is so smart that he already learned how to get out of his crib at bed time by yelling, "BOB!" He knows I come running and he gets a few more minutes of books and interaction with mom. I have learned that this little boy is incredibly determined. He set his mind to be like his big brother and he has been working so hard. I think we have had so much success because HE is the instigator and I am merely the facilitator.

Scenes like this have been happening more and more around my house...Snuggling brothers! I love it! I had to hurry and grab my camera because Clayton was actually sharing his precious blanket with Blake. That is true love.

After a particularly trying and stressful week, I realized that for a few days in a row I had been waking up grumpy and feeling down. A few things hadn't turned out exactly how I'd planned and I spent a lot of time and energy frustrated and stressed about them. A short time later, I looked at my fridge. It was covered with beautiful little marker valentines with wiggly letters and stickers all around them. The handle and sides were smeared with sticky residue. The fridge lock was hanging on by a thread, ready to be glued on again to keep Clayton out. It was such a simple observation, but I couldn't help but feel full of gratitude for these little ones. I can't express how much I truly love them and the fact that I get to be home every day to raise them. No matter my trials, I am so blessed. Even though the immediate future for us is still full of question marks, I find peace in knowing that what I am doing right now is the most important and everything else will have to fall into place somehow.