Bubblepalooza and Birthday Fun!

The weather has been delightful lately! The boys and I enjoy lazy afternoons in our yard when Tyler gets home from school, blowing bubbles, coloring with sidewalk chalk and playing hopscotch. We had a busy, fun-filled, exhausting week and even more fun over the weekend at a friend’s birthday party. The joys and wonder of little boys bring big smiles to my world.

Bubbles take us away to a happy, carefree place. It is so peaceful to blow bubbles and watch them take flight, especially on a windy day -- hundreds and hundreds of bubbles, spiraling up and spiraling down, filling our yard with magical goodness. I had forgotten we had a large bubble wand that dips into a shallow pan, so I got it out and the boys were mesmerized by the gigantic bubbles that were created. It didn’t take long for the fight to begin, over who would hold the wand. Turn taking did not work very well. I guess this means I need to get another one. Luckily for me I found our big bubble wand in the dollar area at Target. The cool thing about this wand is when it’s windy, we don’t even have to blow the bubbles; they just form and blow away. This windy weather is making me look forward to getting a kite and and flying it high through the park with the boys.

We had a birthday party today for Luke’s sweet friend Ben. I was hesitant if we would all go, or just Luke and I. Sometimes birthday parties are difficult for us with Tyler, he gets over-stimulated and upset and can easily have a meltdown. This is unusually frustrating and embarrassing, especially when you don’t really know someone that well. Ben’s mom approached me in the hallway at school and asked if we would be able to go to his 3rd birthday party. I told her we would be there if I was able to find a sitter for Tyler. She told me to go ahead and bring him. I hesitated, and then explained my situation to her -- that Tyler had autism and birthdays were hard for us. She smiled, looked at me and reassured me that this would be fine. She also told me that she used to work with autistic children, so it eased my mind. I am so glad Susan and I talked -- we had the most wonderful time at Ben’s birthday party today, bouncing in the bouncy house, running around in their backyard and swinging. Luke also enjoyed playing in the sandbox and baptized their dog, Pete, in sand. I was embarrassed, but she thought it was hilarious and took a picture.

Today was a testament to how well Tyler is doing, to be able to go into an unfamiliar environment, be at ease and have fun and not tantrum or get over-stimulated. This also helped me to relax and enjoy myself. I have not felt this way at a birthday party, ever! Thanks so much Susan. I am always on guard, ever the watchful parent, following Tyler around to make sure that he is behaving appropriately. I think I can get used to this! Another beautiful thing about today is that Tyler stayed clean and dry in his big boy underwear. Potty training has been an uphill battle, but finally, things are working out. Hip hip hurray, Tyler!

I am looking forward to more birthday parties and beautiful days, with big blue skies and the sun glistening on the boys’ precious faces. I am also looking forward to the happy times that come from taking chances. I need to be more fearless! Today taught me that, and boy did it feel good.

It's A Poop Thing!

A couple of weeks ago, I got together with the girls to celebrate Brandi’s birthday. We were all talking about the usual, what we have been up to and how things were going for our kids at school. They asked me how potty training was going with Tyler and if he had made any more progress with pooping on the potty. My reply was, “not really, but I’m hopeful.” Brandi told me about a favorite book of her children that they used to read, Everyone Poops, so I asked to borrow it. Low and behold, it has become a favorite of the boys. It’s quite hilarious -- the pictures, text and everything about it.

The next day, I read Everyone Poops to Tyler and he LOVED it! He reads it every day and talks about going poop on the potty and how all animals and people go poop on the potty. So whenever I change him, I always ask him “where does poop go Tyler?” “Poop goes in the potty Mommy!” The following day, we were getting the boys ready for bed. I decided to let Tyler run around naked for a while, hoping that if he had the urge to poop, he would run and sit on the potty. Then he tells me, “I need you to wipe my bottom.” So I take him to the bathroom and ask him if he wants to sit on the potty, which he does. As he is sitting on the potty, I have an epiphany, read Everyone Poops. So as he sits there, that’s exactly what I do. When I am finished, I close the door and give him his privacy. Then I hear, “I did it!” As I peered into the bathroom, I noticed a very excited Tyler, so I check the potty and there it is and ready to be flushed -- a brand new poop. We celebrated, did a happy dance, congratulated Tyler and rewarded him with a new Hot Wheels car. I think the more success Tyler has, the more he will feel confident and want to go on the potty, at home, at school, everywhere. I am REALLY looking forward to that day!

As we encourage Tyler toward achieving the goal of being fully potty-trained, I notice it’s all about poop and potty humor with the boys lately. Last Friday, we were at the visitation for Geoff’s uncle Tookie who had just passed away, and Tyler is talking about “tooting.” I was mortified! Looking back, it was funny, but still embarrassing nonetheless. There are just some things you don't say at a funeral home! I am hoping this poop and tooting obsession will lead us somewhere, preferably out of pull-ups.

Tonight, while getting the boys ready for bedtime, Luke fussed at Daddy because he wanted to rock and hear the bedtime stories from me. He cried the whole time while Geoff was reading to him. Luke came back into the room and says “I wanna rock with mommy,” so off we go back to the playroom to the glider rocker. As we leave Luke and Tyler’s room, Luke says. “Goodnight poopy Daddy, Goodnight poopy Tyler!” I laughed so hard at my comical little man. It’s a poop thing, you just wouldn’t understand!