Mortimer Moments: Update through Pictures

An update through pictures!

This was the first day of Hughes getting potty trained! The boys, Hughes and Wiley, took Mommy on a lunch date after Hughes ear tube check up! At the table, Hughes said, "Mommy. I need to go to the potty." Well, that's strange you have on a diaper. What am I going to do with Wiley in these disgusting, filthy, public restrooms? Since I was in NO RUSH for this potty training business...

(because I think children will let you know when they are ready. I saw NO since in rushing the issue, in my opinion. Tee Tee all over our furniture, floors, clothes, car seats, and so much more is just well, unsanitary. We have a hard enough time keeping the boys well and healthy. Added tee tee and woopsy daisies WILL not help me keep our house clean and sanitary. Don't get me wrong, potty training will have it's messes, yet they will be tons fewer if the boys are actually READY for this huge milestone! I can't throw them in big boy underwear and call them potty trained, if they are messing up their pants EVERY TIME or every other time they go to the bathroom. I would be fooling myself and setting them up for failure if they are not truly ready.)

...any way. Back to the story. Me: "Hughes can you wait just a bit." Hughes shook his head yes and stuffed yet another nacho chip in his mouth. Next stop, Shoe Choo Train. When we arrived, I had to go the restroom. On the way through the millions of shoes, Hughes said, "Mommy, I need to go potty too." Perfect! We started running down the aisles of shoes. (I knew this bathroom was clean, spacious enough for Wiley in his car seat, diaper changing station and good hand washing!) Hughes jerked off his diaper and sat on the potty with my help...after the birds nest was made, of course. He WENT to the restroom! He had held it from the restaurant, through lunch, during road time and to the store. Yes, I bought the hat as his prize. No shame. I will bribe for accomplishments! :) I immediately knew Hughes had become ready to handle this big responsibility on his own. He sleeps through the night in underwear also. I am a all or nothing person. I didn't want to start the whole pull-up thing at night to have to quit that down the road too! Over this 2-3 week period, Hughes has had around 10 accidents. We are hoping those will stop soon and we will be COMPLETELY potty trained. I do not consider him potty trained just yet. We are still "potty training". But life is good and we are soooo very proud of our big boy!

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Harlan and Francie came over to play one day!

Tangled, Tents and pop corn with Juice were just the ticket!

We can't wait for Wiley and Baby Tagert coming in April to fill up our forts in the near future!

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This is how Hughes fell asleep one night. We have been having trouble with him wanting to sleep in his room. When Kent and I go to bed, we place him back in his bed. Little pumpkin finally gave it up.

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Hughes, Wiley and I had another lunch date at Lenny's one day in Madison!

We took a small break from packing up Aunt Ruby's Christmas tree ornaments!

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The fire I started by myself!

Impressive huh?

Except it ended in smoke without heat!

I am going to master this fire making thing if I have to take a boy scout class to do it!

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Kent and I at the stroke of midnight. The perfect night started with dinner at Mortons with the family.

Round table conversation in the hotel with Mary Love and Mike until the clock struck twelve. Asleep by 12:10! Bring it on 2012! We are ready!

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Aunt Laura, Alise and John Mark came to stay with us! Kent and John Mark played video games into the night!

Alise and Aunt Laura came with me to Zumba Fitness at 5:30 a.m.

They shot a few hoops before we got started! We had the best visit with them!

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Wiley and Hughes at bath time one night!

On the nights I teach Zumba Fitness, Kent keeps the boys. While I am gone he feeds them, bathes them and gets their pajamas on. They have a good time playing and bonding and the rest of the night is set aside for putting the boys to bed. Then Kent and I can catch up on the day over dinner!

Thank you Niki, Brian, Brock, Reid, Jace and Hudson for the Toy Story truck!

Hughes has to have it every night!

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Kent, the boys and I took off to Jackson on his holiday day off a few weeks ago.

This is how we found them about 20 minutes into the car ride! :)

Lunch at Peppers is always a safe bet for us. Kid friendly, good food, good location!

We were in town awaiting the arrival of McKay Choate!

She was a beautiful baby. Seriously, beautiful!

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Hughes getting another hair cut!

He sat so still while Pam trimmed his ends.

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Wiley rocking it! He is pulling up on EVERY THING. He is crawling everywhere. ... at a rapid pace! Hughes was REALLY rocking it! :) We dance together at LEAST once a day!

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