We have had a few setbacks with bowel movements in the big boy potty. You are so devastated whenever you have an accident but it's been four times now that you haven't told us. Hopefully, you catch on soon because it really breaks your heart when you "poopie in your pants." 

We are currently listening to you potty train your ninja turtles!  So adorable!!!!! You told "Mikey" that he needs to set on the pot and not poop in your pants because that is nasty!!!! :) 

It does not seem like that long a go that Mama was holding you and cuddling you every free second of the day. You were so small and could not even support your own little head up - I would cradle your head and just breathe you in. Such a sweet baby smell. I just can not believe we are now potty training you - my heart slightly hurts at the thought. I don't mind changing your diapers, I don't mind being able to be there for all of your needs... You're growing up so fast and you don't need Mama as much as you used to.  I know that's a crazy Mom thought - we all want our children to grow up and thrive - become independent, be able to do things on their own. I want all of those things for you (of course!!) but I just am not ready for them yet. I still miss Ma so much ; she used to tell me how fast we grew up on her, I just laughed at my over protective mom... Goodness; how badly I wish I could tell her how right she was.  How badly I wish I could ask her if what we are doing is right - I googled potty training on the internet ... I just want to do things right, I want to be the best Mama possible for you - sometimes I just feel lost without my Mama though. You'll learn someday...mothers truly do know best. ;). 

You did have an accident today at Poppy's house - you peed in the potty but pooped in your big boy pants. Poppy said you were pretty devastated ; you cried and cried about it. He explained to you that accidents happen and it'll be fine. Besides for that one little goofup, you have done fantastic with potty training!!! I know there will plenty more "oopsies," but for now...I'm just so proud of your progress! 

We started a Tiny Athletes class yesterday - the focus of this class was soccer. The teacher asked if we gave you Mountain Dew for dinner ; oh lathan, you just never slow down!!! We just said nope! This is our boy...all day, every day!!! I never really think you are too wild and crazy until other people bring it to our attention about your energy level - it's never anything negative, just that you don't really slow down much.  Haha, you just love to ruuuuun. On a not so cherry note- You didn't really listen in class - which is frustrating - the "Coach" was trying to get you to kick the ball and you completely ignored him. You were too interested in doing "tricks" rather than doing what everyone else in the class was doing. Your tricks were mighty cool, but still. I am hoping that with time, you can learn to follow directions a little better... I don't really know how to enforce it except making you leave? Ugh, parenting isn't all kisses and cuddles sometimes!! 

You were upset with Kambree and said "Kambree Rush!!!!!" (Someone must hear Lathan Rush a lot) ;). Your vocabulary is so grown up,.. You crack us up. Grandpa Bye got the biggest kick out of you last week when we were visiting - she just kept talking about how smart you are and how impressed she was with you. Yup! Baby Genius!!!! 

Potty Training

This weekend has been dedicated to POTTY TRAINING!!!! Yesterday, we woke up and headed right to the store for you to choose your big boy underwear!  You chose a package of super heroes, Lightning McQueen, Thomas the Train, Mickey Mouse, and Ninja turtles! You were so excited about all of your new underwear and you were even more excited to run around the house wearing those without pants. Within about ten minutes, we were cleaning up Lathan pee off the carpet. You did not like how your big boy pants felt while they were wet - you grabbed another pair and said "change me!"  We took you to the potty every thirty minutes - you hesitated at first, but eventually you went in your Lightning McQueen potty! Daddy and I made one heck of a celebration out of it - we screamed and hollered, threw you in the air, told you how proud of you we were, and rewarded you with candy. The look on your face was priceless - you were so excited and so proud of yourself!! We called everyone and you very proudly told them that you went potty in the toilet!!! You had one more accident yesterday, but that has been it! The first time you "poopied" in the toilet sent you into a panic - you started to shake and said "I poopied in my toilet, oh no! I poopied! That's gross! Clean it!" You must have thought that you weren't supposed to do that or something because you were very upset that there was poopoo in there. Mama kept telling you that you were supposed to do that and that we would just clean it up - then you were fine!  Today, you have told us every single time that you had to potty; you have done absolutely fantastic!  We are so incredibly proud of you and how quickly you have caught on to it - I know that you will probably have accidents again, but this potty training weekend has been a total SUCCESS! 

You came home from daycare the other day and told us that you went potty at Nancy's house in the blue potty. Of course we didn't believe you. "Uh huh! Yes I did!" So mama called nancy and sure enough... She said you've used the potty a few times at her house. I acted happy and excited on the phone and then hung up and burst into tears - I wasn't there the first time my baby used the big boy potty. It literally broke my heart and I was pretty down most of the night. You have no idea how badly I would love to be home with you ...Mama doesn't choose to go to work, Mama HAS to go to work.  I hate that you spend your days with other people - I want to be the one that cuddles you and takes care of you 24/7. A mama can dream, I suppose.  I always try and make our weekends memorable though - even if it's just something at home like reading or having a picnic in your clubhouse...I want to do things with you that you'll remember and enjoy. 

You start a Tiny Athlete's class next week - you will focus on different sports. You really enjoy soccer, baseball, and basketball so I think a variety class will be perfect for you! Hopefully you behave a little better than the days of tumbling. Yikes. 

Your movie of the week is "Puss in Boots."  An animated movie about an outlaw turned hero Hispanic cat - you love to quote it. Hearing you attempt a Mexican accent could possibly be the cutest thing I have ever heard in my life!! You also have a new fascination with the Ninja Turtles - Michaelango is your favorite. In fact, you told me you wanted to be "Mikey" for Halloween... So I'm currently trying to find the cutest costume I can find. You have also mentioned SuperMan and Lightning McQueen so we will actually see what you end up being. (I do know you're having a McQueen birthday party though this year - the planning has started!!) 

You counted to eleven!!!! 

We work so hard on counting, but you just say 123,123,123. You won't go any higher than that!  You're so smart and have such a fantastic memory...but you're stubborn. You typically refuse to count higher. Well last night, you were counting your cars and went all the way to to 8!  I looked at your daddy and said "what in the world just happened??" Then you wouldn't do it again! You little stinker!!! 

We had a wedding to attend last night, so we dressed you and you ran to the mirror and said "ow ow!  I'm a nice looking guy!!" Confidence is not something that you lack! 

Summer is coming to an end - the days are still steamy but the nights are getting cooler. It's getting darker a little earlier, and I know our days of long sunshine are limited. You are such an outdoor boy! You have gotten really great at driving your jeep - you jump in there and take off!  You can steer and get around the neighborhood streets really well; of course, we are walking beside you, but it is obvious you feel really independent in your little jeep ;). Daddy worked really hard and got your swing set done in a few days - you're in love with it. The look on your face when you saw it was absolutely priceless - poppy helped daddy so the three of us covered your eyess and showed you your big surprise. When we leave for Nancy's, you say "Bye swingset!"  ;) 

We still have you in our bed and we still change your diapers. Those are two big changes that I know we need to address very soon.  Life is just passing by so quickly...you're growing up way too fast. You don't like to be held or carried as much as you used to, you talk in full sentences, you won't sit in a high chair or booster seat, and you call yourself a "big boy."  It makes Mama so sad. I just want to slow down the time.  

We were outside playing the other day while Daddy was mowing and you wanted to do every thing he was doing. You drove along side of him in your jeep while he rode the yard tractor the entire time. He stopped to work on his mower, so you ran and got screw drivers and "worked on your jeep."  He stopped and put his hand on your hip, so you jumped up and mimicked him - you did every thing he did...it was stinking cute. 

You are pretty indecisive right now - I do not know if this is part of your age right now, or what's going on. For example, Daddy was going to get gas tonight, you said you wanted to go with him...so I walked you over...you started screaming that you wanted to stay home. So lame e went to leave, so you screamed you wanted to go... It went on like that for several minutes. Obviously it's not just a game you're playing because you get really really upset...but we just don't know what you want? I hate making you upset, but at that point I don't think abything would make you happy. You were fine a few minutes after he left though but the whole thing just confuses me. 

You love The Lion King!  You sing the songs and get quite a kick out of Pumba. I always fast forward the sad scary part though - you're too young to see that violence! You still love the jungle book, Cars, and Disney's Lucky Duck! (A short movie about a Rubber Duckie that doesn't squeak and is actually extremely unlucky!) We went to Huff and Puff this weekend (a hot air balloon rally at shawnee lake) and you had your face painted like Lucky Duck. I have never seen a cuter face!! Aunt Sheena's mom had a face painting booth out there and you were fantastic while turning into Lucky Duck! You sat on mama' slap perfectly still.  You really enjoyed seeing all the balloons - we watched them

Full up with air and then take off. You waved at all of them and just ran through the rally quacking and flapping your duckt wings. It was such a cute night. We spent the rest of the weekend visiting uncle Dave and Sheena - they don't get to come to town very often with his school schedule so we take advantage of any time we can get with them.

Kambree is your current little BFF...but you two are quite the duo. I just know that you'll be quite the ornery pair over the next few years. You're little rascals :) of course you love all of your girls, but as Kambree gets older...you two love to play together. You actually torment her...haha, but she tolerates it.  They love their little Lathan...everyone does! :)