Ten on Tuesday

1. The exciting news from this week is that Zane has only had one potty accident this week and it was at daycare, where I had expected accidents to be happening. His prizes these days are mostly new underwear to replace all the super hero undies lost during his many poop accidents. He has also earned some new potty time books, which have really helped, and a little batman figure for his big prize. He is currently working towards the little batman car, which has been ordered and is on its way. Here is hoping this trend continues.

 Spiderman mask/underwear

2. This week Zane started trying to "play" with Rowan. He helped Rowan play his matching game, which included him putting cards in Rowan's hands. Later that day he "played catch" with him as well. This was very entertaining. Zane would pry his little hand open, put his small bouncy ball in it, then "helped" him throw it. The best part was when this was all done Zane would say, "good job Ro." In the cutest baby talk voice. Here they are playing together, Rowan completely oblivious to all things happening around him.

Rowan, hanging out, with his two match game cards.

 Zane helping Rowan hold his little ball. 

3. As a follow up to number two, yes, Zane was playing a memory game. No, he wasn't playing it in it's intended design, flipping cards over and trying to find their match, but instead laying out all the cards and finding two of a kind. This is a grueling lesson in focus. He is psychically incapable of doing this by himself, but with lots of help, lots of redirecting him to what we are doing, he is able to focus and find all the pairs. I'm hoping things like this can help him focus on something for more than two seconds. The clean up process with this game is also a huge test in patience, but again a lesson in focusing. He failed this lesson today, but did better a few days ago.

4. The basement still has a stream running through it. There is a drain already built in, so it is draining out of the house, but still oozing up from the ground below. Soooo frustrating. On a positive note, since we had to take down both beds in the guest bedroom there is now a bat cave made out of mattresses, which Zane loves! It's a house, it's a bat cave, it's a bedroom, the possibilities are endless!!!!

5. Here is an update on little Ro Ro. He is adorable, obviously. He has officially found his hands, which he finds when he is sleepy. He puts himself to sleep beautifully, laying in bed with his blanket and binki. I adore his little giggles and smiles and hate the thought of him going to daycare next week. I probably should be putting him in tummy time more, but I'm not. He is loving his gym more, even tolerating the lights and music being on for short periods of time.

He loves trying to sit up, like a big boy, on the couch. 

 Nothing like a sleeping baby boy!!! Love him so much!

He wore Zane's tiny stripped overalls today. These are just the first of many overalls in his future.

6. While in SEMO last weekend Zach helped his mom clean out his spice cabinet so she could order new, amazing Savory Spices!! We took the old spices home with us for play cooking. Yesterday we put them to good use. On the menu for this cooking session, flour, water, sand, Italian seasoning, steak seasoning, thyme, fresh herbs from our garden, beans, and a few random leaves from our yard as well. Zane loved it, with the quote of the day being "Ooohh mamma, it smells delicious."

 7. After our meal was done it was time to build a house. Zane loves playing house and the sides from our old raised bed were perfect for making a new little hiding place. Zane loved it and couldn't wait to show daddy. However, as soon as daddy came home he took the boards down to put a roof on the play equipment in the yard. Maybe he didn't love it as much as I had originally thought, but these pictures are pretty priceless.

8. Working out is coming along slowly and never coincides with eating great. This is why  I always fail at the weight loss journey. I am taking walks with the boys and walking/jogging on the treadmill down stairs. I am lacking in motivation, but trying to force myself to do at least thirty minutes of something 3-5 times a week. The eating is harder to be successful at since I love food and since my two year old eats constantly it's hard to convince myself that I really don't need to be eating with him. We are trying more healthy snacks, which he has always loved, they just aren't as easy as gold fish crackers or cheese. Trying not to feel defeated and not weighing myself yet are my other strategies for success.

9.  Today we went on a picnic with Daddy at the park by his work. It was finally a beautiful day so Zane was able to play on the playground while we ate. He terrified the little girls playing with him. All they wanted to do was play princess in the tall part of the playground equipment, but Zane quickly proclaimed that the tower was on fire, but don't worry  he was coming to the rescue. The girls were then slightly terrified. The oldest one warmed up to him slightly, but the littlest one was done. Oh how fun it would be to calmly play princesses sometimes.

10. This is an add on to my snapshot of Zane post from a few days ago. Zane's newest thing is when he is getting in trouble he comes and pats my face, saying, "it otay, it otay, it otay mamma, shh shh, be quiet." In the same voice he talks to Rowan in. Nine times out of ten it is NOT otay. He has nearly stepped on his brother, utterly ignored me, or something else equally as frustrating. Perfect example was this evening when we were outside and he completely randomly started peeing in a bucket in our back yard. "Zane stop, you can't just pee in random buckets." Zane's response, " I just peeing in it. It otay, it otay, shh shh." Nothing about that situation was ok, but slightly entertaining looking back on it.

Bonus:

11. I finally broke down and bought some clippers to cut Zane's hair with. I had been doing it with just scissors, but figured it was time to invest in the real deal now that I have two boys. The hair cut looks much better than previous ones. The actual act of getting his hair cut was a disaster. He freaked out about the sound of the clippers and they possibly pulled on his hair, but no actual injuries. Long story short the event ended with the screen of my iPad cracked and now has to be taken to the shop to be fixed. The iPad had proven to be a perfect distraction for his past 50 hair cuts, not so much this time.  Sigh...