Missy's baby belly

Senate and Mommy's bellies at 29 weeks. Only a few more months to go!

The Saga of Potty Training

Senate has been using the potty since like February I would say. We would just put him on it if/when he ever seemed interested in it and he would usually go. We tried to seriously start potty training in August however, and it went well for two days and then we took a trip to MN and spent an entire day at the zoo, so potty training kind of took the back burner. Then we started up again, as well as switching him over from the nursery to his new "big boy" room and he started to stutter with some of his words. I worried it may have been because of too much change/stress going on for him, so we backed off on potty training for awhile. We started up again the last few weeks and things were going ok, but he had a hit and miss interest in going on the potty. He was getting candy for going potty and matchbox cars or motorcycles as poopy prizes. He got two poopy prizes right away the first day, but it wasn't intentional. I just think he wasn't sure how to squeeze the right way to go potty, but in any event he was using it, so we'll take what we can get. One night, he put the potty ring on his head and it got stuck. Senate got scared and Ben had to pull it off. He lost interest for awhile and was even resistant to using the potty after that (who wouldn't be). I feel like many of the trials and errors have been my fault for not being consistent and persistent, so this most recent attempt, we've been persistent and kept on even when he resisted. It was a battle for about a week, but the last few days he has been going willingly without a fight. He even told me he had to go poopy for the first time ever last night. He still doesn't tell us when he has to go potty, but he goes when we put him on it, and he keeps his pull-up dry 3/4 of the time. It has been a long road, and we still have a ways to go, but at least its been humorous at times. I think with the next kid I'll hire someone to potty train. :)

Senate's Beloved Dinosaur Park

Ziegler Park is just a quick walk from our house thanks to the finishing of Sand Drive/Indiana Ave and the walking path they converted from the railroad tracks. We refer to it as the Dinosaur Park and it is one of Senate's favorite places to go. These are the stairs to get up to the play equipment.

Senate just perfected the art of climbing up the slide the "wrong" way.

Have you figured out yet why we call it the dinosaur park??

His favorite way to slide down the tube slide is feet first on his belly and he likes to say "bye Mom" or sometimes "whee" on his way down.

Big Brother practice

He is getting to be such a big boy. He has really developed a sense of humor these last few weeks-he changes the words to songs to make them silly (ex: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, How I wonder what you are, up above the world so high, like a diamond in the basketti OR E-I-E-I-Pig) then he smiles a huge smile, so his adorable dimple shows.

I was watching my best friend's daughter, Emma, and she was a little crabby from being tired. When she started to fuss, Senate started singing to her and she stopped fussing and looked right at him content as ever.

Here he is in the process of singing to her. I really think he is going to be a great big brother. He takes a real interest in babies, he is very compassionate and kind, he gives my belly hugs and shares a corner of his blankey with my belly button. He talks to the baby and is very careful with me. This morning he wanted to jump over me while I lay in bed and he asked me, "I jump over you but be careful for your belly?" I just love him so much.

Pumpkin Farm Fun

You want me to pick up what? Are you serious?

With cousins Delanie, Mackenzie and Benjamin.

We went to the pumpkin farm with as many of the Schmidts and Heinens as we could assemble. Senate really did enjoy himself more than these pictures show, but we did go during his naptime, so he was a little crabby.