Our "Staycation" with Grammy

While Dad's finding out if his body can handle reliving his glory years with old friends in New Mexico, we've been creating wholesome memories at home with Grammy.  This past week has been filled with play dates, serious brownie-baking and visits to Super Frank's and the Round Table buffet!

Sweeter Than Words

Notice the string of drool in this next one:

Hallelujah!

Since bringing Ronin home and quickly becoming accustomed to changing cute, little newborn diapers, cleaning Reid's man-poop has become less and less tolerable to both Colby and me. After months of coaxing, bribing, rewarding, and encouraging, Reid has finally graduated from pull-up diapers to underoos! With the many different methods and conflicting advice, potty training has been the one department I've felt completely lost in, so you can imagine my elation when Reid made his breakthrough, and decided it was just time!

Reid had been going on his potty chair maybe once or twice a day before Ronin came along. My pediatrician told me not to bother with potty training at that time because I would fail with the timing of the baby coming. Sure enough, even before his little brother came, he had lost interest and completely resisted the idea of even sitting on his potty chair.

Lately, I've been able to prompt him to go on his chair once or twice and very occasionally he would even tell me he had to go, although it was usually just to procrastinate nap or bed time. Last Wednesday I decided to introduce big boy underoos. We shopped for them together and picked out a two-pack of Star Wars boxer briefs (so cute!). I think Colby was jealous and wanted some in his size. Anyway, once I convinced him (Reid, not Colby) that the new Star Wars boxers were totally cool he put them on and used the potty chair every time he had to go (half of the time I prompted him and half the time he told me he had to go!)



I was so proud of him that I threw him a Potty Party in his room upstairs. I had an inexpensive boombox I'd been holding for this momentous occasion, along with a c.d. with a playlist I compiled just for him consisting of songs from his favorite Pixar movies, classic rock hits from his guitar toy, and scores from the Star Wars orchestral soundtrack. I loved seeing his expression light up with recognition as each new song came on. We listened and danced together and then I brought him a grilled ham and cheese sandwich and juice for a picnic in his room. =)



Here are some highlights from his CD...



Soon after, I made a trip to Target exclusively to splurge on underoos with every character he liked on them, including Lightening McQueen, Incredible Hulk, Transformers, and of course more Star Wars. Since then he's been spending all day, except nap time in them. He's even gone out to restaurants in them and used our travel potty in their restrooms (although, that sometimes meant a few false alarms and a cold dinner, but what evs!). Here he is picking out his undies for the day:

Look Who's Smiling!

Ronin's been smiling over the past week or so, and not just gassy smiles, but in response to familiar faces and voices. I've read that this is a display of early socialization skills. I think it's a display of super-cuteness.

A Freezer Full of Freedom

This is a blessed moment... Our first and successful attempt at feeding Ronin a bottle.


Since then we've had the ability to celebrate a few birthdays with friends (happy b-day, Rach, Rebs & Jenn!), including Colby's 33rd yesterday. We spent the day wine-tasting around Livermore in celebration of our friend, Rebecca who shares Colby's birthday and in the evening some friends joined us for a deranged musical production of the 80's/early 90's horror cult classic movies, "Evil Dead" and "Army of Darkness". Bruce Campbell, anyone?? We sat in the "splatter zone" (ewe). Good fun!

They ARE Ours!

Colby and I have a difficult time seeing any stark resemblance of ourselves in our boys, so we were pretty excited when we came across these baby pics of ourselves that reminded us of specific stages in Reid/Ronin's lives.

Baby Kristen & Baby Reid

Colby & Reid

Baby Colby & Baby Ronin

Deja Vu

This was taken of Ronin last February 1st at 6 weeks old.

This was taken of Reid on August 28th, 2006 at 8 days old.