Adoption Update

So... updates.  The adoption isn't going to happen now.  Not for a long time, maybe not ever.  We got the money for the deposit and went crazy with a ton of the paperwork, doctor appointments, we even got our finger printing done.  We called up the LDS family services office to verify where to mail the check and paperwork and they told us as of March 1st, we are out of their jurisdiction.  We now have to do our home study with another agency before we can go back to them.  Well, one agency quoted us $5,000.00 for the home study.  We had everything dated the 5th of March.  So, I am sad to say that it isn't going to happen now.  I feel weirdly calm about it.  Don't get me wrong, that first day was really hard.  I felt like I was going to explode with all the emotions that I experienced.  I do have a lot less stress on my shoulders now though.  No worrying about the future and being able to enjoy the here and now much more.  I am still sad, but there is a weird detachment to it.  I am not sure if I am at peace, or just have no more fight in me.  It is kind of a nice change though, the last several months have felt like a raw sore that just wouldn't heal.
As for the spiritual inspiration aspect, I am not sure what I feel anymore.  A part of me really hopes that this was an Isaac and Abraham situation.  God was just testing me to see how far I would go, and now we can get pregnant naturally.  I know, it makes me laugh too.  One thing is for sure, I don't know that I will ever trust what I think is inspiration anymore.  I hope this doesn't come across as depressed, I really have no feelings about this anymore, and I have to say, after the months of feeling WAY TOO MUCH, I'll take the numbness.

HORN!

Yesterday we were at Home Depot getting some peat moss when a little remote control airplane flew over the building.    Landon saw it and then that was all he wanted to do, watch the airplane, except he called it a "horn".  It was really loud for such a little thing (actually, it was probably a pretty big thing for how big it looked from the ground).  Anyways, by the time we got to the car, the guy flying it must have packed up and left.  Landon was so  determined to find the "horn".  We went to the grocery store next door and when we left, Landon wanted to look for the horn.  I said, "let's be very quiet so that we can hear the horn"  so Landon turned around and told the man behind us to, "shhh!".   Then someone closed their car door and Landon shushed them too.
We only got him into the car to leave by saying that we were going to drive and look for it.  When we pulled into the garage, Landon was devastated (of course James and I had forgotten all about it).  James had to take Landon back outside to look for it while I put the food away and made dinner.  I think he finally forgot about it when our Home Teachers came over and he was excited to play with them.

Bike riding as a family

I found a inexpensive bike trailer on Craig's list and James and I got our bikes all fixed up and ready to take Landon out for a ride.  I don't know what I was thinking.  I thought the road I picked had little hills.  Well, it was a pretty good workout.  Lots of hills, some of them not so little.  I was proud of myself.  We rode for 3 miles and then decided to hike a little.  Landon had so much fun, he was in Heaven.  He loves the outdoors so much.

Landon playing in the garage while we get the bikes ready to go.

 Getting strapped in.

 Not knowing exactly what to think about all of this.

 Let's go!

  Mom is waiting for us.

What a fun day!

Random summer stuff

Landon loves his home teachers.  

 One morning we woke up and there was a family of deer in our front yard.

 These two were by the front door.

 These two were a little farther over in the yard.

 I made a birthday cake for a friend and couldn't help but take a picture.  It was a chocolate cake with oreo cream cheese frosting.  YUMMY!

 I recovered the dinning room chairs.  Off white was not the best choice for a family dinning set that is used all the time.  I found some duck canvas on sale for $3.99 a yard and got to work.  I am in love with the new fabric.

 Landon tried on my shoes one day after church.  It was pretty funny.

 Sitting on the potty and watching tv.  You gotta start somewhere, right?

 Making cookies with Dad.

 This is how I found his turtle one day.  I guess that is what he thinks of potty training...

Potty Training successes

Okay, I had to take a break from updating before I forget.  So, I couldn't bring myself to buy another huge box of pull-up training pants.  He is so close to doing it on his own.  So I found a tutorial on Pinterest (if you haven't heard of this yet, you have to get on there!) and made him some cloth training pants using his underwear.  I made six of them.  The first day, he wet his pants three times.  By the third time, I could tell he was not liking this getting all wet and yucky after peeing.  Then that night, he peed all over his bed.  He was so upset (it was pretty traumatic, it took an hour to get him to calm down and go back to sleep) that he hasn't had an accident since!  It has been a little over three days!  YIPPEE!!! He has even run to me a few times to tell me he had to go potty.  Once he said toilet, the second time was a pretty urgent potty dance and today he told me potty.  I am so proud of him!  I am so glad I was determined enough to make the training underwear.  I might do cloth diapers for the next baby.  I am seriously thinking about it.
Landon is now so tall that he can turn on and off the light switches on his tip toes.  Wow.

4th of July 2011

Yes, it is that time again.  The longer I wait to do this, the more pictures keep piling up!  Okay, while we were in Texas, we tie dyed some t-shirts.  I wanted to be creative and do a flag tie dye for Landon to wear on 4th of July.  It turned out great except one of the red stars bled through to the back.  Dang it!  Or...maybe not...
I put a bunch of yellow red and blue spots on the back and then after I washed and dried it, I took a black fabric marker and drew fire work explosions in the middle of each dot.

 Below is a pic of the back of his shirt

 This pic has the star and stripes.

It was a really fun shirt to wear and he wore it all summer!

Potty Training Chuckles

I can't remember if I posted about Landon's traumatizing potty experience (probably because I have been so bad at blogging this last year or so).  Not long after he turned two, we got out the potty, got the "Potty Time with Elmo" video and the Pull-Ups.  I was ready.  Landon was maybe ready.  And of course, his first poop in the potty, was a constipated poop.  I, of course, was oblivious until it was just about to come out and it was too late to put the diaper on.  Poor kid.  When it came out, we both cried a little.  Him, from the pain, me from the Mommy guilt.
Well, after that, we decided to take a break from potty training.  In fact, in a not so smart move on my part, the potty became helpful in discipline.  "Landon, I asked you not to do that, do you need to go sit on the potty?"  I quick "NO!"  and better behavior followed.  I know, this was not the smartest way to go, but it was effective.
We have been trying to cut costs everywhere possible to get ourselves in a good financial way to adopt.  What better way than to save without the cost of diapers?!
So, we started training again.  I bought the toilet tissue (not a necessary product, by the way) and got rid of the little potty.  (this boy is so big, there is no reason for it anymore)  The first day, I set the kitchen timer for 15 minutes.  He got to do whatever he wanted for 15 minutes.  Then the timer went off, I set it for 5 minutes, and we would go into the bathroom.  I have been working on getting him to pull on and off his clothes as well, so that takes up a good chunk of 5 minutes.  I have a few books in there for him to read while we wait.  (I spy books are great for him.  He gets so into looking at everything, he doesn't even realize he is pooping) That first day was exhausting.  I could see why some children don't get potty trained until they are older, it is a lot of work.  But you know what?  Landon pooped that first day!  He was off that toilet right as that poop hit the water.  His reaction was pretty funny.  He seemed like he couldn't believe that it happened.  The next few days James was home and he ran off and pooped in the bathroom hiding behind the door.  Smart kid.
That weekend, I was at my Sister in Laws house and I put him on her toilet about three times.  He pooped at her house that day, and has gone poop every day since!  Tonight he peed for the first time without pooping.  I am excited, but anxious to see if it keeps going well.  I would love not to have to buy anymore Pull-ups.
Okay, so getting to our potty training chuckles:
Ever since that first potty training time, I have been kind of clueless as to how to get them to understand what to do on the potty.  So I would just say, "Puuush!"  Well, that caught on.  We have Landon come with us to the bathroom, so he can see that we all have the same body urges.  He loves to tell us to Puuuush!  It is so funny.
He likes to tell me what his poop looks like.  After the first few poops, they all seem to look like sharks.
He loves to flush the toilet and say, "Buy poop!  Buy trash!"  (the trash being the toilet paper)
This week, since he has pooped in the potty everyday, I got the Elmo video back out.  He had no interest in this video the first time we tried.  Well, now, he can't seem to get enough.  He loves the songs and the part in the video where all the kids say what words they use for poo and pee.
I grew up feeling very private about my bathroom matters, but I tell you what, having a kid changes everything!  And I mean everything!!!