BEN FINALLY POOPS ON THE POTTY. Way to introduce a post, I know, and in all shouty capitals too. It only took 1.5 years of being potty trained to not be an issue. He would poop in his diaper just fine but would not go in the potty. He’d even sit on the potty and go in his diaper. So finally one day a few months ago I cut a hole in the diaper, sat him on the potty, poop fell through, the heavens parted, angels trumpeted, poop made the water splash him and he thought it was hilarious. And we’ve hardly had an issue since.

I weaned Cassidy this week after 13 months of nursing. I honestly would have gone longer, but we were down to just a morning and night feed and even then she was really only nursing for a few minutes. I was open to doing 18 months, it’s not like it’s any less nutritious or special and cuddly after they turn a year old and can have cow’s milk…but it was just time, I felt good about it and she wasn’t terribly interested anymore anyway. I actually loved how my relationship changed with Ben after he stopped at 11 months, looking forward to the next toddler phase with Cassidy too!

I’m upping the mileage on my half marathon training, ran 9 miles this Saturday. I actually moved ahead a few weeks in the training to run with a friend whose first half marathon is two weeks before mine.

I have been so tired lately (yes the extra running may play a part). I wake up at 6am (thanks Cassidy) and even after coffee still never seem to catch any energy. In retrospect I think I should have waited a few years until the kids had reliable schedules to train for this half marathon, but, I’m all signed up now. And I suppose things only get more complicated as they get older and into activities. Anyway, tired all the time. Part of it might be my fault too, I usually don’t get to bed until around or after midnight. Ben goes to sleep at 8, so that leaves 8-12 to get things done around the house (dishes, laundry, vacuum, house renovation, etc) and my only personal time. How is it that a stay at home mom doesn’t have time to do house stuff during the day, it’s amazing. During the day you play, teach, cook, diaper, cuddle, read, build and love on the little ones. And then naptime is work time for me, so, yeah, everything gets crammed into the wee hours of the evening.

Speaking of personal time, I started reading again! I downloaded a few ebooks from our library and have been enjoying them on my phone. You know, for the 10 minutes I lay in bed before I fall asleep.

Andy and I found a good series on Netflix called Hell on Wheels. It’s about the reconstruction era after the Civil War and the building of the transcontinental railroad. Industry, business, social issues…a lot of racial tensions with the freed slaves and then the white man’s “Christianizing” of the “red savages.” I love historical fiction and Andy’s big into the gritty gunslinger aspect. I also found old episodes of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman on youtube. I used to love that show growing up. Andy is not so much into the Dr. Quinn, it is admittedly little cheesy now. And there may not be enough guns for him ;-)