Little Rock Weekend

On Friday night, Ryan and I drove to Little Rock for a weekend away together. We stayed w/ our friends Eugene and Darcy. On Saturday, we drove to War Memorial for some tailgating w/ Ryan's dad. We had a great time! On Saturday night, after Arkansas STOMPED LSU, our friends Mark and Stacey (who were in town from Dallas!) came over for an AMAZING Indian dinner from Chef Eugene and some board games! Great weekend!!!

Ryan and his dad


w/ Debbie


Darcy is 28 weeks pregnant w/ their first baby girl. So excited!

I forgot my red, so the scarf had to work. Go Hogs!


She's so cute! :)


Absolutely love these guys. Thanks for the awesome weekend!

Thanksgiving 2010

For Thanksgiving this year, we drove to my aunt's house in Kingston. Jackson was only on Day 5 of potty training so we were very interested in seeing how he did and he did perfect!!! Ethan was also the star of the show since many of my family members hadn't seen him yet! When we first got there, Ethan got a little overwhelmed with all the noise and people gawking at him... so he got a little fussy. I had to take him in the other room to calm him down. He is used to noise - he is used to his brother banging around everywhere but for some reason, all those people really freaked him out. Jackson, however, had a BLAST playing with his cousins Brookelyn and Mason.


Me and my baby brother... :)

Love my boys!!! I like Ethan's expression in this picture... funny!


I do definitely see a resemblance in Ethan and Ryan these days... Handsome like daddy. :)

4 Mos Old Today!

My sweet baby boy is 4 mos old today! So crazy! Time goes by too fast!!!! We have his 4 mos appt this week, so I'll update stats then. :)




Ethan, you are such an incredible, amazing addition to our family. I can't remember life before you. You make me smile and beam with pride! I love you so much it hurts!!! I can't wait to watch you grow! Happy 4mo birthday!

Over the river and through the woods...

Yesterday was yet another milestone in Jackson's potty-skills development - in more ways than one!

1) Keisha, Jackson, Ethan and I made our annual trek to Kingston, AR to have Thanksgiving dinner at Keisha's Aunt Becky's house - that meant Jackson had to do without his potty-training-wheels for his first road trip since he has been out of diapers. I am very happy to report that he made it both there and back without incident!! It's about an hour and a half each way, which is a reasonable test even for the most seasoned potty users. Naturally, we were prepared for anything that may have come up. We threw Jackson's potty chair in the trunk and brought a healthy stash of treats just in case the need arose on the road, but we didn't have to break either of them out.

2) Jackson's 2nd accomplishment yesterday, and in my opinion the more significant one, actually spilled over into this morning. As I was tucking Jackson in bed last night (after bath, after brushing teeth, and after reading the same book 4 times), J-man told me that he needed to go potty. I was convinced that he was only stalling his bed time, but I honored his request regardless. It's a good thing I did too, because he wasn't kidding! This would have made the kind of mess that you don't want to be greeted with in the middle of the night, if you catch my drift...

Jackson woke up around 12:30am asking for juice, so I headed up to check it out. Much of our success to this point can been attributed to effective fluid management, so I was reluctant to give him a big glass of liquid only to have him lay back down for 6 hours... That being said, I know what it's like to need a drink at night so there was no way I was going to deny him the relief.

At about 6:30am while I was still laying in bed downstairs I heard the unmistakable sound of little feet hitting the floor in Jackson's room above me. Then a sweet little voice piped up - "daddy, I need to go pee pee!" Jackson had gotten out of bed, gone to his door, and yelled for help downstairs! I ran upstairs and showed him to the bathroom, and everything went off without a hitch. Jackson struggled more with adjusting to the bathroom light (after all night in the dark) than he did with using the toilet! To this day, Jackson has not had any accidents in his bed - whether overnight or during nap time.

Please knock on your screen for me - Thank you.

Ethan Rolls Over!

So the first time Ethan rolled over was 11/2 - but only Jackson was there to witness it! So I was trying and trying to get him to do it again since then to show Daddy but he just wouldn't do it again! Then, on Saturday Nov 20 - he rolled over about 10 times for Daddy! We caught 3 of them on video! Not bad for 3 1/2 mos old!

Potty TRAINED - Day 4:

When searching for the words to sum up the activities of the day today, I realized that there is no need to reinvent the wheel. The good folks at Alka Seltzer took the 10 words right out of my mouth when they coined the iconic phrase:

"Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is!!"

Jackson made it through the day without ONE SINGLE accident today!! Let me put that another way - if going to the bathroom was a game of baseball, and proper disposal of bodily waste was a line drive double to the gap, Jackson batted 1.000 today! I couldn't be more proud of my little boy!

Despite the fact that many of our friends told us the 3-day method really does work, I went to bed last night pretty disappointed. I kept hoping that it would 'click' at some point yesterday, but it never did - at least not before he went to bed.

Today started just like the last 3 mornings. I went up to Jackson's room bright and early (6:30am) to survey any potential damages from the night, but to my delight I once again found a bright eyed, bushy tailed toddler sitting up in a sea of totally parched blankets. I took him into the bathroom, but just like the day before nothing happened.

About an hour later, while we were playing with his trains, I began observing the unmistakable motions of the "pee-pee dance". I kept on reminding him to let me know when he needed to go to the bathroom, just like I have been doing over the past 3 days, but this time it worked! He was fending off his bladder like a prize fighter - bobbing a weaving all over the ring - until it finally landed a haymaker. He gazed at me with a look of desperation of said "I need to pee-pee!!" Unlike the days before, he hadn't started peeing yet!! I scooped him up, sprinted to the bathroom, sat him on the toilet, and waited. That's when he dropped his signature phrase yet again - "Here it comes!" AND IT DID!!

Once again I heaped praise on him and made a huge deal out of his accomplishment. I also rewarded him with more candy and another Thomas the Train character, Harold the helicopter. I figured that his first pee experience was also worth something a little more memorable!

Jackson never looked back today. As I mentioned earlier, he went 6 for 6 today in the bathroom and it really seems to be clicking with him now. I know that there will still be accidents, but my hope is that they are much fewer and further between. Tomorrow will be another big test as we are trekking about an hour and a half each way to Keisha's Aunt's house for Thanksgiving dinner, so needless to say I am anxious to see how he will do.

We are proof that the 3-day method really does work!!!

Potty Training - Day 3:

Well, Day 3 has come and gone and I can safely say that my son, Jackson Andrew Stearle, is officially NOT potty trained. Although it is with a heavy heart that I typed that last sentence, today was not completely in vain. We had, without a doubt, our biggest WIN of this whole process today!!

If you have been keeping up with this blog, you are aware that Jackson's hind-quarters have been quiet for the past two days. Knowing this, I had prepared myself both mentally and physically for my inevitable encounter with an incident so heinous one would think it was torn straight from the pages of National Geographic.

The stage was set. I woke Jackson from his bed (completely dry for the 2nd straight night!) and took him directly to the bathroom, but nothing happened. We then moved to the play room where he very articulately delivered me my marching orders:

1. "Watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse."
2. "Lemonade juice in orange cup."
3. "Pop Tart... strawberry."

I sat in awe as he devoured his breakfast knowing that it had nowhere to go once it hit his stomach. To be honest, he was coming off of two of his best eating days in recent memory. Each delicious pop tart bite only added fuel to what had to be a raging digestive inferno already burning out of control in the deepest, darkest parts of his system. I cringed at the thought.

I stuck to the script all morning. "Look at my big boy!" "I'm so proud that your pants are dry!" "Tell daddy if you have to go potty, OK?" I must have said each phrase a hundred times. He usually responded with a mischievous grin and slow, deliberate head nod - he's no dummy, he knew what was coming just like I did.

Imagine my surprise when I heard his little voice say "Daddy, I need to go pee pee." I wasn't prepared for this kind of head's up! Out of instinct I snatched him up and sprinted for the bathroom. He did this two or three times, but each time we made it to the bathroom nothing happened. On the 4th time however, things went a little differently...

After doing the pee-pee dance for about 15 minutes, Jackson looked at me and informed me that he had to go to the bathroom. Just like before, I scooped him up, sprinted him to the bathroom, and sat him on the toilet. That's when it happened. At 11:43am on Tuesday, November 23rd 2010, Jackson said (and I quote) "Here it comes!" AND IT DID!! THE WHOLE THING!!! The scene was so beautiful that I couldn't tell if the tears in my eyes were out of pride for my baby boy or merely a reaction to the stench. He sat patiently and finished all his business, then he casually got up and disposed of the evidence. The whole event could not have gone more smoothly - it was almost as if he had been doing that his whole life. Keisha and I covered him with praise and adoration and rewarded him with candy and the object of his affection for the past month - Hiro the train.


Sadly, this has been his only successful campaign of this 3-day battle we find ourselves in, excluding the fact that he has made it through both of the nights completely dry. His warning that he needs to pee usually comes at the exact moment of release, and he is usually all finished by the time we make it to the bathroom. Keisha keeps reminding me that the simple fact that he is telling us what is going on is progress, and she's right. Tomorrow is another day, and I am going to stick to the plan. We made a decision that we aren't turning back, so one way or another we are going to get through this!

More updates to come....

Potty training - Day 2.

Day 2 came and went, and unfortunately we only observed marginal improvement. Everything I have read about this process tells me that we are right on track, but based on what I am seeing with my own two eyes it may be July before we get this figured out!

Yesterday, Jackson did a much better job of telling me that he had to pee, but it usually came at the exact moment that he actually started peeing. I would snatch him up and make the hike all the way across our house to his bathroom and put him on the toilet, only to find that more often than not the majority of his payload had already been deposited in a speckled trail all along the way. His one breakthrough came in the morning when he actually managed to get some in the toilet - he looked up with a big smile and said "I pee just like daddy!" I thought right then and there that my work was done, but after about 10 more accidents I realized that we appear to be right back where we started.

Once again, all of our 'accidents' to this point have been of the '1st' variety, which means that he must be cooking up one heck of a surprise for Day 3. I feel bad for Jackson because it is obvious that he is holding stuff in and is most likely uncomfortable - but in the epic battle of mind vs. bowel, very rarely does the former come out victorious.

If you're looking for a sliver lining to this process so far (which I'm sure you are...), look no further! The money that we give to some lucky carpet cleaning outfit when this is all said and done will ensure that the local economy here in NW Arkansas continues to forge ahead!

I am optimistic that at some point today (Day 3) the 'light will go on' and he will have a pee-pee-epiphany!

More updates to come...

Potty training - Day 1.

It is 8:21pm on the eve of the 1st day of Jackson's 3-day potty training event, and it feels like it is about 3:30am to me. It has been one of the longest days in recent memory!!

Jackson is 2 1/2 (almost to the day) at this point, and most of his friends have conquered potty training - at least to some extent. This is why we decided to go ahead and let him take the plunge into the grown-up potty lifestyle - something that took me the better part of 28 years to master =)

Since Jackson and I have the same plumbing, and I was looking for a reason to take some time off work anyway, Keisha and I decided that I would lead the charge. We are following a 3-day potty training manual that is basically common sense. Here are key points to the process:

1. Throw away all of the diapers that he has left over. I had Jackson help me do this too, so maybe it would sink in with him a little more. This is also for the parents' benefit - it's a way of saying that this is a one-shot deal and it is going to work.
   
2. Put him in just a t-shirt and a pair of underwear.
3. Stay right by his side - literally - ALL DAY LONG! This is so that when he starts to go, I can snatch him up right away and run him to the bathroom.
4. Heap praise upon him for being a "Big Boy".
   
5. CONSTANTLY remind him that when he needs to go potty that he should tell me ahead of time (which hasn't worked yet, by the way...).

That is basically it - not rocket science. We are also doing the obligatory 'reward' thing if/when he ever actually goes in the toilet. We have amassed an arsenal of toys, trinkets, trains, and candy that we can dip into whenever he starts to get the process down. He didn't get any of those things today, but I have a feeling that we may start to crack the code tomorrow...

Jackson did as well as could be expected today. He had 7 'accidents', all of the #1 persuasion, which means the stage is set tomorrow for an epic, messy blowout that promises to be a party! He seemed to understand that he was going to the bathroom, but I don't think that it is quite sinking in yet where he should be handling his business. The main issue today: no nap. Jackson's attitude toward the world, like his mama, rises and sets on how much sleep he gets. Every time I tried to lay him down for a nap today, he would shoot up out of bed and tell me he had to go to the potty - which he never did. Since we are 'in training' though, I felt that I couldn't ignore him when he said it just in case there actually was some truth to it. The evidence of his 12-hour stretch of no sleep came when I was getting him out of the bath tub tonight. Keisha made mention of a particular Thomas the Train character (Hiro) that we have promised him he can have when he finally goes to the bathroom in the potty, and this sent him absolutely ballistic. It was truly a sight to behold. He launched into an hour an a half of what can only be described as the most intense tempter tantrum ever witnessed this side of the Mississippi. It was so bad that Keisha and I had to handle it in shifts!! I started with him - then when I felt my frustration level rising I tagged Keisha in - then she returned the favor about 30 minutes later!

I'm headed to bed now myself because I have a feeling it is going to be a long night. We did not put an overnight diaper on him, so I will most likely be changing some sheets tonight. We figured that if we were going to kick this diaper thing, we are going to do it all in one shot to get it over with. More updates to come!

Emergency Room 101

Tonight was an interesting night. In the tub tonight, Jackson fell hard on his chin and Ryan and I had to make a quick decision... To us, it was deep and wide open. We had already put Ethan to bed, so Ryan was going to have to take him w/o me. Fortunately, there's a hospital not far from us... I grabbed some fruit snacks, juice and one of Jackson's little Christmas presents that I had put away.... and off they went.

This is before they left....



Tiny baby boy in a big mean hospital bed. This picture makes me tear up looking at it and he isn't even really hurt that bad!



Ryan took video while they were waiting. I have the best sweetest cutest boy in the world. He is such a blessing. I'm so thankful that he's ok w/ just some glue (no stitches) on that cut and back home safe and sound.

Ethan Chase, 16 weeks old.

I haven't updated on Ethan in a little while.... He's 16 weeks old today and about as sweet and precious as they come! I've recently become very interested in astrology and have discovered that my little Leo fits his description perfectly. He is amazing, to say the least. His reflux is getting more and more under control every day. He still takes Prevacid, but we are now giving him twice a day since the mornings seem to be tough. We went through about a week where his symptoms seemed to go away! I was afraid to type it because I didn't want to jinx it but then on Thursday, he started heavily arching his back while taking his bottles again so I guess it comes and goes sporadically. He hasn't been throwing up as often, but spitting up a little more. He is eating about 5 times a day now - anywhere from 2 1/2 oz at a feeding to 5 oz at a feeding... you just never know. He ONLY likes Similac Sensitive and he ONLY likes BeechNut rice cereal. He's getting pretty darn cranky around 630p at night now. So we've recently started putting him down around 700p - 730p at night for bed. He is still a super amazing sleeper! He naps several times a day and sleeps SO great at night. For about a week and a half now, he's slept from the time we put him down, all night - til 630am or 700am! The only time he wakes up is if he gets out of his swaddle. He will only sleep like that if he's swaddled! He loves to be held and loves when I put him in the Moby wrap. He prefers to always be on his back when he's just chilling out. He hates tummy time w/ a passion! And he doesn't like when I prop him in a sitting position... or when I put him in his bumbo. Usually I have about 2 minutes before the screaming begins. He seems to, however, LOVE his exersaucer. He is still discovering the strength of his legs so he usually just sits chilling in it but sometimes if I help him, he'll stand in it and look around like he's mister tough guy! Recently, he's started grabbing his toys! So exciting! We're practicing this more and more because once he gets some more control over those arms and hands, I'm going to attempt to put him down for sleep w/o the swaddle. He has a super adorable beautiful smile and loves when you give him attention. If I just sit and talk to him, he will talk (goo goo) back to me and sometimes I get a really cool story! :) On the flip side, when he isn't happy, he will break glass with that scream! He has his momma's temper, without a doubt - or maybe I should say a LEO temper! He can start that scream with no notice whatsoever and then when he's done, it's over and he can be found sound asleep or smiling cuz he just got his way. His features: his hair is still brownish - reddish. His eyes are a big question mark - they are a light brown, greenish blueish color. Ryan said it best by saying they're almost a greyish - charcoal color. I don't know if they will change or stay that gorgeous color. He has super long eyelashes like his brother does and the sweetest puckery lips! He has his the longest pinky toes that I have ever seen in my life - until I saw his grandma's! Ryan's mom definitely passed along this feature to her grandson! He has a birthmark on his tummy that just suddenly "appeared" around 6 weeks of age! He LOVES his big brother and can't stop staring at him when he's in the room! He will only eat if he's entertained so I am thankful for a baby shower gift I got when a moving image projects on the ceiling and plays sweet lullabies! He wears 3-6 mos clothes right now but is growing so fast! It seems he's going to be a bit curvier than jackson! He wears clothes a little differently - like he's a little more "filled out" so I'm hopeful he'll take after Ryan and be strong and stout! He must be teething early because he's a drool factory! I have to have a bib on him all the time because he can soak his shirt w/ drool! He has very very strong legs and loves to stand up while you balance him. He's laughing a lot now which is so fun! He laughs the most when I look at him and gasp! He really thinks that's funny! He is extremely ticklish on his tummy... Right now, he's a bit of a momma's boy and I'm hoping that it will stay that way! Let's face it, Jackson is all Daddy's boy so I want Ethan to be MY boy!! :)






He is truly perfect in every way. God's incredible blessing to us!

Baby Jackson?

It appears that my sweet 2 1/2 year old has been reminiscing his baby years! Granted, all of these things were once his, I thought he graduated from them.

Playing with Ethan's playmat....

Sitting in Ethan's bumbo seat...

Investigating Ethan's exersaucer....

And jumping in Ethan's crib!!

Don't worry Jackson, you will always and forever be MY baby!

Chef Jackson

Jackson and I decided to make homemade pizza on Sunday... what a fun fun activity for us to do! I had no idea that he was going to enjoy it that much or I would have done it a long time ago!

The directions state to make the dough into a ball and let it sit for 5 minutes. Jackson wanted to keep playing with the ball until it wasn't a ball anymore...

Putting ingredients together ...
I think Jackson's favorite part of all of this was standing on the stool!

Turkey Pepperoni, yum!

Time to flatten the ball!

And roll it...

Still eating the turkey pepperoni!

Adding more toppings!

Now, the best part - CHEESE!!

Jackson decided he wanted lots and lots of cheese!

Which was funny, of course!

Pizza done!!!

And in case you were wondering, this is what Ethan was doing
while Jackson and I were making pizzas!