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Wednesday, July 26, 2006

potty talk

Just when I was going to blog I thought we had turned the corner on potty training, Spencer had two accidents yesterday. He only had one all of last week, and it was during naptime (yes, we are diaper-less for naps now - scary.) And then two in one day. Sigh. I don't think 'turned the corner' is even the right term, as this is a gradual process, but after two and a half months we have certainly come around the bend. Over the weekend he started announcing in advance that he needed to use the potty, without us having to constantly ask him. And another big plus was learning to pee standing up! Whoo hoo! I am hoping this will make it easier in public too.

On the subject of pee and poop and potties, I am completed addicted to the new show Dirty Jobs. I think I've seen five episodes (read: fifteen icky jobs) in the past 24 hours, during which I have never been so thankful there is no smell on television, or laughed so hard as Mike tries to crack jokes with folks who sometimes don't find humor in the situtation. Like asking the ancient Maryland crab fisherman about using chicken necks as bait, "don't those crabs wonder what a land-walking creature like a chicken is doing under the sea?" And received the flat response, "oh no, those crabs have never seen a chicken before." Or watching him try to keep a straight face as the young exterminator in Louisiana explains the natural balance of religion and nature and pests as he proudly holds up a huge dead mouse snapped in a trap.

Sunday, July 23, 2006

curse the automatic flushing potties!

(Knock on wood) we're doing pretty well using the potty, but we have had some inssues when out in public. While Spencer initially thought it was great fun to use different potties, and he was intrigued with the ones that flush automatically, but a few too many flushed while he was still sitting on them. Now we've reached the point where he is absolutely terrified to use a potty in public when he doesn't see a handle for flushing. He litterally screams and cries and absolutely refuses to pee. Yesterday afternoon he held it for for two and a half hours until we returned home! While I was impressed at his ability to do that, this is not good.

Friday, July 14, 2006

water, water everywhere

A few months ago Spencer became fixated on fire hydrants. And suddenly, he noticed them EVERYWHERE as we drove around and pointed out every one in sight. He is still not entirely clear as to what they do - first he told us that "they have fire AND water inside!" and more recently he repeats our corrected statement "there is water in there for the fire," but I'm not sure he really understands what the means. Last week the focus shifted to water towers - when driving to Splashtown and taking the ramp from beltway to 45 way up high in the air Spencer's head was on a swivel and he was delighted to be able to see at least a dozen at the same time!

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

potty training update

While things have been going quite well (defined: 3 or 4 accidents a week) we hit a new low yesterday with a poo poo accident at school that yielded unsalvageable underwear. That was a first. And, Spencer's mood was genuinely off for the rest of the night because he was upset he had an accident. Poor guy.

Monday, July 10, 2006

back in TX

It was a fun time in NY for the week of the 4th. Spencer got to go back to the Burns Center a few times to see his favorite sculpture, mom went kayaking with Spencer on the lake, grandma got to show off Spencer to all of her friends during lunchtime, and Jim & I escaped to Karl & Heather's house for a few days to relax. Here are a couple of pictures in the kayak.

Our return to Houston brought us right back into some favorites - much to Spencer's delight - a birthday party on Saturday and Splashtown on Sunday.

Some of our recent laughs from Spencer have been when he thinks we're pulling his leg and just smiles and says, "no, that's not right! you're teasing me!"

And Spencer's teacher confided in us on Friday afternoon that his favorite little girlfriend M seems to have found a new pal to replace Spencer. :( Maybe she felt abandonded while we were away so long. We'll see if they reconnect this week, or if Spencer sets his sights somewhere else.