Roberts Family Blog

And 2010 is here with a bang!  Ok...that was a small fib.  After a giant dinner of crab legs and filet, along with plenty of champagne, I actually slept through our transition into the new year, and the first two days of January have been decidedly uneventful.  But I'm not going to let those small facts detract from my excitement that a new year is upon us, one that will surely be filled with challenges and adventures!!

On New Year's Eve, Nathan and I were discussing our penchant for taking on a lot of changes at once, in light of some decisions we've made recently.  We just do NOT like to sit still!  In the three short years that we have been married, we have had two children, moved across the country, bought our first home, and started a business.  Every time things seem to be smoothing out and calming down, we throw another iron in the fire, or make a big change in our life.  I suppose no one likes to be stagnant, or boring, but Nate and I take this motto to a whole new level I think.  And this year is no exception.

The most obvious challenge currently facing us is the starting of our business, Cross Timbers Property Solutions.  Things couldn't be going better (knock on wood), thanks in no small part to my husband being inventive and seeking out opportunities in places that many people would not.  I'm so proud of him for creating his own special niche and making our first profits this month!  I think 2010 will only bring more good things where our business is concerned.  We've also made some decisions regarding our family, and whether or not we want to continue to expand, and although I'm going to stay quiet for now until things become a little clearer, we know that there is an adventure in our future and I can't wait for it!

Ok, onto the more mundane details of 2010   I haven't mentioned potty training during my past few posts, so I suppose I'll update here (because of course you are all dying to know right?).  Hayden hasn't had a wet accident in weeks!  He totally has it down - he tells me when he needs to go, jumps up on the big toilet, does his thing, washes his hands, and meets me in the kitchen for a marshmallow.  Now....the other function is not going so well.  He is absolutely terrified to poop on the toilet.  I have no idea where this fear comes from, but it's pretty powerful and pitiful.  Hayden's comprehension of what potty training is is complete.  He 100% understands that poop goes in the potty, and he will regularly tell me that.  However, when he needs to go, he'll tell me to put a diaper on him, and then tells me he wants to hide.  I've taken this cue before and just plopped him on the toilet instead of honoring his wish for a diaper, and boy have we both been sorry.  It's a kicking, sobbing, screaming nightmare.  So....after doing some research on this, and finding out that it's not really that uncommon, I've decided to listen to him, honor his wish for a pull-up, and encourage him to at least "hide" in the bathroom.  That worked like a charm today, and then we empty the "contents" of the pull-up into the toilet so he understands where it belongs.  We'll gradually move in the right direction I think, but I just cannot force this child to do something he is so obviously terrified of.  And the good news is that he is not having accidents, but rather warning me and asking for a diaper.  So I still feel like we are on a good path.  I'm very proud of him.

Pierce is still doing great!  He has moved on to eating all sorts of fun finger foods lately, which is great, and he is a pro at the sippy cup.  He is also starting to move around a lot better through a combination of rolling and backwards crawling.  Also, the other day Nate and I were talking while he played with some toys next to us, and all of a sudden I looked and he had pulled himself up to standing at the train table!  Shocking.  And in sadder news (for me), I have fully weaned Pierce.  I just felt like he wasn't eating enough when nursing.  Mr. Curiousity was constantly looking around and being nosy instead of taking the time to eat!  I finally decided to try a day with just bottles, and he was SO much more content, and he also started sleeping longer stretches at night.  I finally realized that I was hanging onto this notion of nursing him until he was one because I wanted to do the same thing I had done with Hayden.  It was making me feel guilty to quit earlier.  But what I've come to realize is that Pierce is not the same child that Hayden was, and it's clearly been good for him to switch to the bottle, and I just need to let go of the guilt.  I don't actually miss the act of nursing, because Pierce is just so cuddly while taking a bottle.  It's still a very intimate time, and actually Nathan has really bonded with PJ by taking on some middle of the night bottles, and sharing those moments with him.  It's been fabulous for all of us.

Well tomorrow we are heading out to Dinosaur Valley SP in Glen Rose, Texas.  A little family road trip - dogs included!  Can't wait   I'm sure we'll have lots of fun stories after that adventure!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!