Crazy or Cool?

I checked a book out of the library called Infant Potty Training by Laurie Boucke. It is also know as elimination communication, you can see Wikipedia's definition here. Basically you take your baby to the bathroom or use some kind of receptacle as early as from birth on. (At this point I could support Colin on a tiny potty seat or sit on the toilet with him.) You look for cues from baby and start training them to respond to cues from you, whether you make a certain noise or take them to a certain place (like the bathroom). Yes, I know it sounds weird, (I thought so too, when I first heard of it when Gavin was a baby), but then I started reading this book (for curiosity's sake) and the author of the book used her own children as examples. Her first two children did traditional western potty training, starting at 15 and 18 months. They were dry during the day at 3 1/4 years and 3 1/2 years. They had accidents at night until they were about 10 years old. Her third child she began at 3 months using this method and was COMPLETELY potty trained by 25 months! I know it would take a lot more work earlier on to use this method, but after struggling with potty training Gavin (and him REALLY not caring) the idea of more work now for sooner results sounds WONDERFUL!!! The author says that it could take up to 2 years to complete, but that's still a sooner age than Gavin will be completely done.

Tell me what you think! I'm really considering it to save on diapers (either cloth or otherwise) and to get Colin totally trained MUCH SOONER!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Gavin! (And well check info, too)

Aunt Staci and family gave Gavin his birthday present early so he could wear this cute outfit! We put it on for pictures and we plan to have him wear it at his party (whenever that is, that is another story).





We tried a cupcake store nearby for a special treat. I wasn't impressed. We bought them right after dinner (probably around 5:45 pm) and you could tell they had been sitting there all day. The outside of the frosting was kind of hard and the cookie from on top of the cookies 'n' cream one we got was soft. They would probably be better earlier in the day.



He LOVES chocolate!



Gavin got cards from a few of his girl cousins. Thanks for all the hard work and love put into each of them.

This extremely detailed train was carefully constructed by Libby. She loves to craft!



This cute Thomas card was made by Sage.





This one was from Brooke. It included a Thomas for Gavin to color. So neat!





Gavin loves to play at their house. He even likes this princess toy.



He tries to brush her (extremely tangled) hair and put on her crown. So cute that he knows what to do!



Thanks for letting us stop by!

Gavin had his well check Friday, May 21. It turned out to be a sick check as well. He had a low grade fever of 100.1 (I knew he felt hot, but since I had the well check I figured I'd let them take his temp), an ear infection, and fluid in one ear.

Height and weight was done as usual. He was 32 pounds: 50th percentile and 41 inches: off the charts, but officially 97th percentile. He is a string bean! This is why I LOVE adjustable waist pants now!

Gavin's Saturday birthday party is canceled due to Gavin being sick. Friday night a few of his cousins: Ben, Michael, and Jill brought him a cupcake complete with a candle that they had Philip light. How sweet is that?! Thanks so much!!!

Rub a Dub Dub...

...two men in a tub. And a tiny tub at that.

Philip took these pictures. I guess he thought it was cute that they were taking a bath together. We do it quite often, even though together they are almost too big for the little tub.

Giving Sally a Ride

I thought it was cute that Gavin was giving her a ride. He is in ostrich mode again.

More Yummy!

Sweet potatoes, yum! So far he has tried rice, oatmeal, and mixed grain cereals, peas, green beans, sweet potatoes, carrots, and bananas. He eats them all. Aunt Staci thinks he is probably going to be all about the food! That's fine with me!




Love the chubba face.



Gavin wanted to get in on the action, too.



Here is the ham in action!

Brotherly Love

I just love seeing my two boys interact with one another. It's great to see the adoring looks Colin gives his brother and it's fun to see what cute things Gavin does to play with or "help" his brother.

Gavin shared his train cars with Colin.



Gavin wanted Colin to play with his foam axe that he had gotten from a play date with his cousin, Josh.



Gavin thought that Colin needed to being wearing socks and shoes like him. He went to his room and got the biggest pair of his socks and tried to put them on Colin himself.



I was making dinner and I heard Colin screaming. I came to see what all the fuss was about. Gavin had Colin in his lap and was trying to entertain him with an age appropriate toy (for once). So sweet.



Gavin made a cereal necklace at school and insisted on sharing it with Colin.



They are so cute together. Gavin wanted Colin to lay down in his bed after nap. He even covered Colin up and then himself. Gavin is doing his ostrich impression that I mentioned in an earlier post.





Gavin also shared a car with Colin.



Gavin even shared his Happy Birthday crown with Colin!

School Picture Time!

Gavin took school pictures last week! Here is a small version of the pictures, but I bought the high res digital files. Let me know if you want a copy, I think his individual shot turned out great!

Haircut Time!

Gavin's hair was getting really unruly and long (just check the previous entry if you don't remember) so we thought it would be a good time to get his hair cut since preschool pictures were scheduled.

We decided it would be fun to take him to a kids' hair cutting place. He got to sit in a boat! He REALLY didn't want to wear the coverup, but after some convincing, he put it on.



She was good at cutting the hair of an unwilling customer, and Gavin even got to play with a big basket of toys and the steering wheel of the ship.



Not happy, but cooperating.





She even used the clippers on him around the back and ears! Wow!

There was also a bunch of toys in the waiting area. He played there while I paid. He also got to pick a treat to eat, ranging from a big marshmallow to a graham cracker to smarties. He picked smarties-that's the treat they get in the nursery at church each week and he loves them!



Tearing into his treat like he does every Sunday after church. This is one thing he doesn't ask for help on getting open!



Philip wanted a better "after" shot of Gavin's hair. He was being a ham here. These days he's either a ham or an ostrich (he hides his face).



Now zoning on the show. Looking good, Gavin!

Swingin' Fun!

I thought it would be fun to put Colin in the baby swing for the first time!



Gavin wanted to join him on the swings!



Gavin wanted to try hanging upside down, or at least that's what we thought he was asking, but he balked when Philip tried to help him do it.



Always fun to ride on someone's lap!





I decided to show Gavin how to hang upside down. I used to love to hang upside when I was a kid, but it made me feel old how my body didn't move the way it used to. I was afraid to let go! Philip had to help me sit up, too, hehehe!



More swinging fun! Gavin likes to ride on his tummy now. He can be independent then.



It's great to have Philip to play with the boys and help out more now that he's not so busy with work!

Your Turn, Baby Colin

I don't know why, but it always cracks me up when Gavin thinks that Colin can do what he can do and even helps him do it. I think it's so sweet that Gavin wants to play with Colin and I hope that he will want to even when Colin can talk back to him. (Whether that talking is good or bad, I guess we'll wait and see. Despite whatever fighting the future has to hold, I hope they are best friends!)