Eating My Potty Words

I had goals once. And 2/3 of the time, I've achieved those. The "Cooper-Pooper" goal, though, is eluding me.

You see, Cooper just won't sit on the pot. I take that back. He'll sit, he just won't go.

Rather, potty time, to Cooper, is reading/relax time (as any Fuller will tell you).

When, about a year ago, my friend was recounting her woes to get her little 3-year-old to go, I just couldn't relate. Matthew was not quite 2 1/2 when he was potty trained, Milo was a little older than that. I followed the Aunt Donna method, who had trained at least 87 children, or something like that, in her time: real undies, spanks when there's an accident, cleaning up their own messes, and rewards. And it worked. I can safely say there were only a handful of accidents in the months afterward. Granted, each time those were two of the longest days of my life, spent perched on the edge of the bathtub, but I/they got the job done.

So, I didn't understand when my friend couldn't get the job done. Just use "the method," duh.

Tried the same method on aforementioned boy #3. Tried back in August, a month before he turned 3 and then again last week. Oh sure, he loves to wear his Lightning McQueen underoos, sit for "story time," and even clean up his messes. But after two full days of "training" each time I think he has me trained.

I don't get it. Oh well...there's not too many kindergartners with diapers, is there? It'll happen on his terms when he is ready, right? One day, right?

Until then, I'll just continue to fill myself on eating my own potty words.

Super Duper Cooper Trooper

I have all three boys in junior Primary at church now. What that means is that about this time for the last four years I've sat with little crying boys as they adjust to church without toys. What a cruel world.

Cooper is a bit more outgoing than Milo, so I thought he would have an easier time adjusting to a new teacher. Not so.

Sis. Earl has had all three of my boys in Sunbeams. She told me I needed to get going because I'd run out of boys to teach after Cooper. I told her even if I were to have another now I'd hope she wasn't still teaching 3-year olds by then.

Milo learned about families last year and would come home with drawings labeling his mom, dad, Matt, and "Trooper." I knew it was a mispronounciation issue as Milo's "w" come out as an "l" and his "c" as a "tr" sound.

So, "Cooper" was "Trooper" all last year. I never corrected Sis. Earl, but she told me she'd simply thought I'd come up with an inventive name and never questioned Milo about it. She, however, questioned the Primary president when she'd introduced the new Sunbeams and called my baby "Cooper."

"No, it's Trooper," Sis. Earl told me she had said.

And so our baby goes by many names here: Trooper, Coopie, Coops, Baby, and as we drive past the feed silo in Fruit, Colo. Matt points out Cooper's name on the "COOP" tower.

And even I've given him new names: just look at the stepping stone at my mom's house. "Copper" has his own special stone. How sad is it that I often have to stop and think about how to spell my own child's name....oh well.

Halloween, Halloween

Out on a Farm

We took a trip to a nearby corn maze and pumpkin patch in October. The kids had fun on the "white trash trampoline" (or something like that with old mattresses) and I had fun kicking Sam's butt in tetherball. He had no idea the skills I have.

Cub Scout Derby

Doesn't it look like these two could be brothers?? Mine is on the left, Amber's is on the right.

Dad

I love October. I love when the sunlight starts to come in at a different angle and the air starts to have that cleaner crispness to it.
The sun will shine through the window of the vaulted ceiling and for about 15 minutes it will warm the couch in the family room. Our home in Santa Clara was the perfect place for warm Fall afternoon naps in the living room...that was pretty much all that huge 1970s living room was good for.
This Fall day was also a good day for Cub Mobile racing. Now, not only is Matt not a Cub Scout, we don't even live in Colorado where this race was. But, I have a hook-up (thank you Aunt Allison), and Matt used his cousin's cubmobile....and nearly won it all! He's six years old and was competing against about 20 boys from ages 6-11. He took first for Tiger Cubs and second overall.
The key to a successful Cub Mobile run: keep it straight and don't use the brake.

Grandma Whiting

My cousin, Amber, with her look-alike boys to my little Cooper

Matt ready to race