Tuesday, December 29, 2009

A Christmas Miracle!

OK, maybe it's not a miracle, but it's close in my book...Tyson is full on potty training!! It happened Christmas night! It was amazing...to me anyway! It all started Christmas Eve after Tyson opened all of his presents. He received another one of the engines he's been collecting that go with his Thomas trackmaster set. In the new box came a little booklet of other engines and Thomas items you can buy. Well, Tyson saw James, the shiny red engine and he asked and asked for it! Grandma Cindy decided to tell Tyson that if he starts going potty on the big boy potty all the time she will buy him James! Tyson was excited very excited but he didn't want to try to go when asked.
Christmas night when I was getting Tyson ready for his bath he was standing in the buff and I could tell he needed to go so I asked him if he wanted to try and stand and go and he said he wanted to sit on the big boy potty (we have a seat that goes on our toilet). So of course I said he could and plopped him on there and he went! I was happy but this has happened before-he will go potty once and refuse to go again, so I wasn't getting my hopes up. I was, however very happy that he asked to go and seemed interested. In the past when I've even suggested he try to go it turned into WW3 with him acting like I was sitting him on hot lava when I put him on the toilet.
So anyway, after his bath he asked to try and go again! So of course I said yes and he went! I asked him if he would like to wear big boy underwear and he wanted to! "Could this be it?" I asked myself! Still not trying to get my hopes up I put him in some undies and set the timer so we could remember to take him every so often! I am happy to report that in the 2 hours he was in his big boy undies he had no accidents! We of course did a diaper for bedtime.
So the next morning mom let me sleep in and she put Tyson in his undies right away. He had only one accident in 3 hours, which to me was very impressive! Since then he's been in big boy undies as long as we are at home! He's started to tell us when he needs to go to the bathroom and we don't have to set the timer anymore!! I'll spare you the details on when he needs to 'go #2' but we're still working on that. The only time during the day I've put a diaper on him is so he can do that since he refuses to do it on the big boy potty. We making great progress though and as many of you know potty training has been a source of stress for me the older Tyson gets! I know he just turned 3 but I've been so ready for him to be out of diapers!! I'm so happy he's finally on his way to being potty trained but it also makes me a little sad ..I feel like he's not my baby anymore! It's weird how something like this can make me happy and sad at the same time!
So that's my Christmas miracle! For those who have known how the last 6 months have gone when it comes to potty training, I think you'll think it's close to a miracle as well!!

Sunday, December 27, 2009

I Guess the Snow is Good for Something!

We received about 6-8 inches of snow from Christmas Eve day thru the day after Christmas! Needless to say Tyson was ready to get out of the house and play in the snow! On Christmas morning when he looked out the window he exlaimed, "MOM! There's snow!! After I eat my breakfast, I go out and play in the snow!!" Well, it wasn't that day he got to go out but today!! He was very excited! He helped Grandpa scoop the driveway, played with Buddy and went down his slide!!



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Friday, December 25, 2009

A few random Christmas pictures


Tyson getting the carrots and cookies ready for Santa!

Everything is ready!!

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Christmas Morning 2009

Here is a short video of Tyson Christmas morning! It's so fun to be able to capture his excitment and reactions on video!! Merry Christmas everyone!


Thursday, December 24, 2009

United Through Reading



When Derick was in Dallas waiting to fly out he stopped by the USO and was able to make another video of himself reading a book to Tyson. Derick picked out Tyson's all time favorite movie/book 'The Polar Express'. He also sent along 'Glory' the Beanie Bear. Through the USO, there is a program called United Through Reading that allows the service member to send the books and video to their 'little heroes'. It's a really neat program and this is the second book Derick was able to send to Tyson. Tyson was SO excited when he opened it and he watched the video of Daddy reading to him! It was a great way to start our Christmas Eve!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

We went to Derick's parents this weekend for an early Christmas with his family. Friday night some friends came out to their house and we hung out. It was a great weekend and a great ending to Derick's leave. Derick left this morning around 8:15. I hate seeing him go but we are on a downhill slide from here on out. He is scheduled to leave Afghanistan March 10th and should be back to us by the end of the month!
Tyson with his BFF Evelyn

Me and Derick at his parents

Tyson was in fact being forced to be in the picture, I'm sure you can tell by the look on his face.

Oscar Peters waiting for dinner to be served.

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Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Derick and Tyson riding the "carouself" at the mall

Derick and me at our friend JR's wedding

Us at the rehearsal dinner.

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Derick ordering our lunch at Fritz's. Tyson was hungry and grouchy...

The trains that drop off the food at the tables!

Tyson's sweet hat!

Tyson watching for the train to come by the window

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Me and T at Science City

Derick and T in front of a train at Union Station

Tyson wasn't in the mood for pictures...

Tyson waiting very patiently to get into Fritz's for lunch!

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Tyson and Daddy building a Gingerbread Train

The finished masterpiece!

T watching the trains at Union Station

Digging for dinosaur bones at Science City

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Saturday, December 5, 2009

Tyson and Daddy decorating Christmas cookies!

T wearing Daddy's hat.

Not the best picture...

"I covering your eyes so you can't see da camera daddy!!!"

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Our little family ready to watch the Huskers play tonight!

Mom, T and me putting the ornaments on the tree!

How many people does it take to put the lights on a Christmas tree???

Daddy and T putting the tree up!

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Friday, December 4, 2009

He's Here!

Tyson waiting for Daddy get off the plane!



Derick arrived in KC this morning about 10:50!! Tyson ran right up to him and gave him a hug! It's SO good to have him home.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Guy's Night Out


Tyson and I went up to Derick's parents house Thursday evening thru Saturday afternoon. Derick's brother Sean, his wife Missy and their 2 boys-Braxton and Carson were there as well. Sean, B and C were going to go to Missy's brother Mike's cabin in KS about 10 miles west of Topeka for the night and Tyson was invited to go along. It would be 3 adult males (Uncle Sean, Mike and Missy's other brother Russ) with FIVE boys ages 3-6! I was hesitant to let Tyson go along since I've become VERY protective of him since Derick left. Anyway, Tyson was so excited when they asked him! He came up to me saying "Pweeease mommy! Pweeease can I go wif dem???" It was hard for me to resist that little face and voice! I made sure I explained to him several times that they would be spending the night and that I would NOT be there! He said, "OK mom!!" and was out the door! He looked SO happy in the back on the truck buckled in his car seat between his cousins!!

I gave Uncle Sean STRICT orders to text me when they arrived and send me updates throughout the day! I've left Tyson before overnight, but not in a situation like this! Sean text me and said Tyson has been playing outside, throwing rocks in the lake and SHOT A GUN! I couldn't believe it! But I'm sure he was having a blast! He needed some quality 'guy time' since he's with me all the time!!

When they returned safe and sound Saturday late morning all of the boys were in the clothes they went in the day before, they were dirty and smelled! Tyson was eating chips so I asked him if he'd like some macaroni and cheese to which he replied, "I want a donut, pwease." I said what the heck and let him have one. I asked how many he had already and his cousin Carson blurted out, "Auntie Kim, he's had LOTS of donuts!!" To which Carson's Uncle Mike said, "Carson! We don't talk about what happened at the cabin!!" Sigh...who knows what else went on there!?!


Anyway, above is the picture of Tyson shooting a 22 with Russ (Auntie Missy's brother).