Potty Training Update

We're still working on potty training. My son will sit on the potty each morning. He likes to see a doll use the potty first so I "feed" the baby and then let it go potty on the toilet. He then jumps up on the seat and sits there while I read him books. He hasn't actually gone potty yet, but he knows what it means when I say, "Let's go potty." He'll sit there for awhile and he understands that afterwards he needs to flush the toilet and wash his hands. He isn't afraid of the toilet which is progress for him.

I read short book on potty training in one day. It isn't really in one day because you spend a few weeks ahead of time preparing for the "big day" and then you spend a few weeks, or even months, afterwards cleaning up accidents and following up on using the toilet. For my other 9 kids I've just waited until they were ready and looked for signs that they could understand. Since my youngest has had dry diapers and points to his diaper when he wets, I think he's getting ready.

We also watch potty training DVDs and sing songs about it.

It's slow going, but he'll get there. Meanwhile, we'll read a lot of books and sing a lot of songs together.

The Inspiration of Team Hoyt

The world sees Rick Hoyt as handicapped and many pity him. Yet, in the eternal scheme of things, he is not the one that is handicapped, we are. His challenges, like my son's, will never keep him out of the celestial kingdom, while mine will.

While watching this video and the love this father has for his son, I am reminded of the scripture in John 15:13: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

Have a tissue nearby while you watch this.

He's Not a Chromosome Count

My son still amazes me when he does things I don't expect.

He loves to play on Starfall (www.starfall.com) and today I watched him choose a game about the body. Words were listed at the top of the screen. In the middle of the screen was a figure of a kid. Along the sides of the kid were spaces with arrows pointing to different body parts like head, arm, foot, hand, etc. I stood in amazement as my four-year-old, who doesn't speak much, matched words to body parts by clicking on the word at the top and dragging it to the correct space. Time and time again he did it correctly. As soon as he'd match one, he'd look at me and smile.  At the end of the game, the kid on the screen did a little dance so my son stood on his chair and shook his little bootie. So cute!

The more I see him do things like this, the more determined I am to make sure he doesn't get shoved into a "box" designed by well-meaning people who decide he'll only do certain things because he has an extra chromosome. He's an individual with talents just like everyone else. He may have challenges, but so what?

He needs to be evaluated as an individual, not as a chromosome count.

Family Photo Session or Torture at the Talley House

This is an attempt at a family photo. I just love my youngest son's smile, even if it is goofy.

Here's a close-up of that smile.



And this is the best representation of what our family photo sessions are like . . .

Tiara Boy

This is what happens when your older sisters take you wedding dress shopping--isn't he lovely? Poor boy, he didn't stand a chance.

His favorite part of the shopping experience was hiding inside the poofy dresses my daughter tried on. He also loved the big mirrors in all the stores where he could make faces, dance, and even strip off his clothes. He loves to admire himself.

And, yes, we successfully found a wedding dress for my daughter--thankfully.

Music

My son loves music. He regularly sits down at the piano and "plays." He loves to play the piano when we sing our nightly hymn. He smiles and really gets into it. He even plays faster, slower, softer, and louder. He's actually starting to make more music and less noise.

He loves to dance, especially if it's in front of a reflective surface. He really wiggles his body, even his little behind. When he's done, he claps his hands and says, "Yay." He expects all of us to clap for him. Surprisingly, he seems to get the beat.

Ever since he was born, I've played music for him when he goes to bed. Sometimes, it's children's songs, but usually it's classical music. I'm hoping that it's not only helped his brain stimulation, but has given him a subconscious understanding of music. I plan to give him piano lessons when he's a little older. I'll be interested to see how he does.

I think music has a dramatic effect on us. In fact, inside our hymnbook the First Presidency states, "The hymns can bring families a spirit of beauty and peace and can inspire love and unity among family members. Teach your children to love the hymns. Sing them on the Sabbath, in home evening, during scripture study, at prayer time. Sing as you work, as you play, and as you travel together. Sing hymns as lullabies to build faith and testimony in your young ones."

I've noticed that as we've sung hymns in our home that we've experienced less fighting and felt the Spirit more abundantly. I love to sing the hymns and my son loves to lead them.

I'm thankful that he enjoys music so much and look forward to seeing how he uses it in his life. Maybe he'll be the next Beethoven.

Fishing

My son had fun with us on our fishing trip over the weekend. He loved reeling in the line as soon as we cast it out for him. He wasn't quite sure about the fish when we caught them. He didn't want to touch any of them. Can't blame him, I didn't want to touch them either. I definitely didn't want to stick my finger in their mouths to pull out the hook. And gutting them? No thanks.

He was so cute sitting in his dad's lap holding onto the fishing pole. Wish I'd had my camera to capture it.

He really enjoyed taking off his shoes and socks and throwing them into the water. Yep, I had to go after them and I was sure I'd end up in the water, but luckily I didn't. His shoes are now permanently soiled with lake water. I'm just glad he didn't decide to go for a full-on swim.

He loved being part of our first successful, as in we actually caught some fish, fishing trip. Maybe when he's a little older, he'll catch one too.