Almost three week from the time we started getting Dallas to the potty and now he seems to have it down. For the first week he wouldn't go poo in the toilet and THAT was annoying. But on day 10 he did it and it seemed to "click" that he didn't need to be afraid/worried/anxious (or whatever the problem was) anymore. I think I can say he is potty trained. He also filled up his "potty chart" and now we have to go to the Bouncy Place sometime soon. We are very proud of him. He even uses public toilets. What a guy!
I am still frantically applying for jobs in Utah, however the frequency of job postings are lower now. I have one school that wants to interview so Cam, me, and the kiddos are taking a mini-vacation to Utah in June (between Cam's quarters) to do the interview and have a little relaxing time before finishing school and moving. Hopefully another school (or two) will want to interview me and someone will hire me.
Cam will graduate with his Associates in Arts degree in August right before we move and he starts school again at Weber State University. He has already registered for his classes and we have put a deposit on housing. We are keeping a little busy (as you can tell :)
As for Chelane, she sits around and looks cute.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
New Tricks
Dallas' preferred method of communication was signing until September-ish of last year. Since then his speech has exploded with full sentences and some fun quirks. We haven't hit the how-do-we-get-him-to-stop-talking yet and still really enjoy hearing him express himself verbally.
Last night he sang "Happy Birthday" to his Grandpa almost completely by himself. He can count to 10 at high speed (we are working on getting through those pesky teen numbers). He doesn't just say "no" but "no no no no no ..." usually with a sing-song tune. But we were really floored last night when, after discussing who was to say the family prayer, Dallas pulled out a "Dear Heavenly Father, Thankee for this day. Thankee for Mom, Ch'ane, (his version of 'Chelane' pronouned 'Shane'), Larryboy (not sure why Larryboy from Veggie Tales was wiggling his way into Dallas' prayers, but Dallas does love watching Larryboy). Thankee for Grampa, Jadon (his 12 year old uncle). Thankee for this day. Thankee play. Thankee Dad, Larryboy, Jadon. Name Jesus Christ, Amen." With no help, no prompting, nothing. Cam and I were very impressed.
Chelane is also learning some new tricks. The most prominent one lately is following his her daddy's footsteps to earn the family name of 'Mooch' by walking up to anyone with food, saying, "bite" and opening her mouth with an "ah, ah, ah" until the bite is given.
Last night he sang "Happy Birthday" to his Grandpa almost completely by himself. He can count to 10 at high speed (we are working on getting through those pesky teen numbers). He doesn't just say "no" but "no no no no no ..." usually with a sing-song tune. But we were really floored last night when, after discussing who was to say the family prayer, Dallas pulled out a "Dear Heavenly Father, Thankee for this day. Thankee for Mom, Ch'ane, (his version of 'Chelane' pronouned 'Shane'), Larryboy (not sure why Larryboy from Veggie Tales was wiggling his way into Dallas' prayers, but Dallas does love watching Larryboy). Thankee for Grampa, Jadon (his 12 year old uncle). Thankee for this day. Thankee play. Thankee Dad, Larryboy, Jadon. Name Jesus Christ, Amen." With no help, no prompting, nothing. Cam and I were very impressed.
Chelane is also learning some new tricks. The most prominent one lately is following his her daddy's footsteps to earn the family name of 'Mooch' by walking up to anyone with food, saying, "bite" and opening her mouth with an "ah, ah, ah" until the bite is given.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
PT: Day One
Cam and I decided to take the plunge this weekend (well I guess I more decided and then dragged Cameron off the cliff with me) and potty train Dallas.
I know, I know. Many people are probably aghast that he is almost three and-a-half and we never bothered trying, but don't worry, Cam and I haven't died yet from changing diapers. We also don't feel like any less of a parent for not trying to potty train Dallas earlier (regardless of comments from others since he was about twenty months regarding us toilet training him).
Anyway, justification aside, Dallas is doing very well. We put the underwear on after breakfast (about 9am) and had a talk about the toilet (he already knew what it was, but a reminder always helps), keeping the underwear dry, and letting Mom or Dad know when he needed to go potty. He did wet himself a little (no where near a full release) about 10:30am. Then around 11:30 he was holding himself and dancing around so I insisted he needed to go. I got him on the pot, turned the faucet on a little, and went to get him a drink of water (I was trying to encourage him all I could; when I came back he was going in the potty and it was a FULL bladder release.
He has not peed anywhere but the toilet since. Many time he tells us he needs to go and then takes himself. It is so nice doing this when he can get himself on and off the toilet.
He did have a little bowel movement in his underwear and seems to resist doing those on the toilet and I am keeping my fingers crossed about not wetting the bed tonight. he do still have a few hurdles to jump but the prognostic so far is looking just fine and dandy. We are SOO happy he didn't decide to dig his very opinionated, three year-old heels in about it (knock on wood).
Hopefully after this weekend, we will have a completely toilet trained toddler.
I know, I know. Many people are probably aghast that he is almost three and-a-half and we never bothered trying, but don't worry, Cam and I haven't died yet from changing diapers. We also don't feel like any less of a parent for not trying to potty train Dallas earlier (regardless of comments from others since he was about twenty months regarding us toilet training him).
Anyway, justification aside, Dallas is doing very well. We put the underwear on after breakfast (about 9am) and had a talk about the toilet (he already knew what it was, but a reminder always helps), keeping the underwear dry, and letting Mom or Dad know when he needed to go potty. He did wet himself a little (no where near a full release) about 10:30am. Then around 11:30 he was holding himself and dancing around so I insisted he needed to go. I got him on the pot, turned the faucet on a little, and went to get him a drink of water (I was trying to encourage him all I could; when I came back he was going in the potty and it was a FULL bladder release.
He has not peed anywhere but the toilet since. Many time he tells us he needs to go and then takes himself. It is so nice doing this when he can get himself on and off the toilet.
He did have a little bowel movement in his underwear and seems to resist doing those on the toilet and I am keeping my fingers crossed about not wetting the bed tonight. he do still have a few hurdles to jump but the prognostic so far is looking just fine and dandy. We are SOO happy he didn't decide to dig his very opinionated, three year-old heels in about it (knock on wood).
Hopefully after this weekend, we will have a completely toilet trained toddler.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The Hair Cut From... You Know
The words "hair cut" sends Dallas into a frenzy.
See, the game plan the first time I cut Dallas' hair (back before he turned one) was me holding him down while my sister ran the clippers over his head. There was lots of screaming and crying... and not just by Dallas... After that I cut his hair with scissors and it took a long time. So we started moving back to the clippers, but decided to have someone else do it. That didn't work so well either. Now he associated "hair cut" with pin-downed-while-a-vibrating-horror-moves-across-my-head.
Two days ago he got gum in his hair. He really likes to chew and normally he is very good with keeping the gum where it should be, just not that day. Luckily it was on the back of his neck so I just cut it out with scissors; but I decided to do the rest to match. Dallas screamed and cried when I said "hair cut" and strapped him into a booster seat in front of the TV. He cried when I sprayed his hair down. He kept crying as I started combing and cutting his hair.
By the time I finished the back of his head he had calmed down and had no problem with me finishing. He said "Mom all done!" in a very happy voice prematurely a half dozen times so he is obviously not completely OK with hair cutting, but I think I may be moving back to comb and scissor cuts to reduce the trauma on that poor boy...
See, the game plan the first time I cut Dallas' hair (back before he turned one) was me holding him down while my sister ran the clippers over his head. There was lots of screaming and crying... and not just by Dallas... After that I cut his hair with scissors and it took a long time. So we started moving back to the clippers, but decided to have someone else do it. That didn't work so well either. Now he associated "hair cut" with pin-downed-while-a-vibrating-horror-moves-across-my-head.
Two days ago he got gum in his hair. He really likes to chew and normally he is very good with keeping the gum where it should be, just not that day. Luckily it was on the back of his neck so I just cut it out with scissors; but I decided to do the rest to match. Dallas screamed and cried when I said "hair cut" and strapped him into a booster seat in front of the TV. He cried when I sprayed his hair down. He kept crying as I started combing and cutting his hair.
By the time I finished the back of his head he had calmed down and had no problem with me finishing. He said "Mom all done!" in a very happy voice prematurely a half dozen times so he is obviously not completely OK with hair cutting, but I think I may be moving back to comb and scissor cuts to reduce the trauma on that poor boy...
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
It Is All Worth It
Have you ever heard something like, "Yeah so-and-so wanted to major in such-and-such, but I talked them out of it. It just doesn't make enough money."? Too many people shy away from what they are passionate in, in search of a more lucrative career.
And some people do just the opposite. I had been majoring in electrical engineering when I first started at BYU. After a year I changed to math education. I really like teaching and tutoring; and I loved math. Now-a-days I sometimes wonder why I did that. Ok, so the circuits class gave my panic attacks whenever I thought about re-taking it, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't have gotten over it. And now instead of making money I am in a field that (in this area) recently rifted a chunk of their new employees due to budget cuts. Now I am tutoring on a fairly small hourly wage.
Often I don't have time to bemoan my fate, I am just having too much fun. I love going to a job where I often look at the clock and say, "Wow, I can't have been here for 3 hours already!" Or have the occasional student prefer to sit with me or even volunteer, "You are my favorite tutor." You never know how to take that from a student in elementary or secondary school. After comments like that, I have to re-evaluate myself: are they working harder with me than with any other tutor? am I challenging them enough? or do they like me because I am a push-over with them?
With adult students, it is different. I was tutoring someone back in December who was starting the 2nd part of calculus in January. He had taken the first part of calculus over four years ago and needed a crash-course refresher. After working with him the first day I was overwhelmed at all the calculus I didn't remember. I pulled out my old calculus book, and searched the internet re-learning many concepts so I could explain them to him. He was sharp and a hard worker. Unlike some high school students who bring the work to you without trying it on their own and expect you to give them all the answers; he had tried and brought very specific questions.
I only tutored him for a month, but I thought about him as his quarter progressed, hoping he was doing ok. The quarter ended last week and yesterday he came back to thank me for all I had done. He insisted he learned more from me in those few weeks than from his professor during the quarter. He appreciated my passion for math and teaching and that I was the reason he passed the course. I wished he could write me a letter of recommendation!
I guess teachers teach for moments like that. I may not be making lots of money, but I feel like I am making a difference.
And some people do just the opposite. I had been majoring in electrical engineering when I first started at BYU. After a year I changed to math education. I really like teaching and tutoring; and I loved math. Now-a-days I sometimes wonder why I did that. Ok, so the circuits class gave my panic attacks whenever I thought about re-taking it, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't have gotten over it. And now instead of making money I am in a field that (in this area) recently rifted a chunk of their new employees due to budget cuts. Now I am tutoring on a fairly small hourly wage.
Often I don't have time to bemoan my fate, I am just having too much fun. I love going to a job where I often look at the clock and say, "Wow, I can't have been here for 3 hours already!" Or have the occasional student prefer to sit with me or even volunteer, "You are my favorite tutor." You never know how to take that from a student in elementary or secondary school. After comments like that, I have to re-evaluate myself: are they working harder with me than with any other tutor? am I challenging them enough? or do they like me because I am a push-over with them?
With adult students, it is different. I was tutoring someone back in December who was starting the 2nd part of calculus in January. He had taken the first part of calculus over four years ago and needed a crash-course refresher. After working with him the first day I was overwhelmed at all the calculus I didn't remember. I pulled out my old calculus book, and searched the internet re-learning many concepts so I could explain them to him. He was sharp and a hard worker. Unlike some high school students who bring the work to you without trying it on their own and expect you to give them all the answers; he had tried and brought very specific questions.
I only tutored him for a month, but I thought about him as his quarter progressed, hoping he was doing ok. The quarter ended last week and yesterday he came back to thank me for all I had done. He insisted he learned more from me in those few weeks than from his professor during the quarter. He appreciated my passion for math and teaching and that I was the reason he passed the course. I wished he could write me a letter of recommendation!
I guess teachers teach for moments like that. I may not be making lots of money, but I feel like I am making a difference.
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