Elias Escapades

He really is quite the child. He has turned out to be the most rambunctious, energetic, and hilarious of our three sons, and not a day goes by that he doesn't drive me crazy. However, he can make me laugh more than anyone in the world.  

Just recently, for instance, this little bit:

* decided to pour a gallon of water all over the bathroom floor.

* has taken a liking to dressing himself in the most fascinating ways. Clothes are often inside out, socks are gloves, coats are acceptable in the spring, and anything goes.

* shovels food in his mouth.

* thinks he can avoid bedtime if he's pretending to potty train, which he clearly isn't interested in attempting or accomplishing yet.

* likes pretending to be the bad "die", which is guy, and runs at us with a water gun.

* figured out how to unbuckle his car seat, get really quiet, then fall asleep while we're on the interstate. Oh, yes, he did.

* ate both of his brothers' leftover pieces of birthday cake. Both of theirs.

* likes to have crazy hair... at his sleep study, they put this gel on the electrodes to keep them on his head. When they came off, his hair was everywhere, but he just laughed!

The Things Kids Say...

Lately, Daniel at three years old has become quite chatty and outspoken.  He seriously says things that people are thinking but would never say aloud.  I love his honesty, and his humor astounds me.  In the last week, Brian and I have found ourselves literally laughing out loud over things Daniel has to say...

• Mom, it's an ant!  RIGHT THERE!  Kill it fast with your shoe. - upon discovering some unwanted intruders in the house
• screaming at the top of his lungs - I'm a quiet mouse!
• while on a walk in the neighborhood - Ugh, gross.  Who did that right there?  Why'd they do that poop on the grass?  That's not good.  That is gross.  Why'd someone do that?  I explain that a dog must have done it.  He needs to go to the potty. 
• I don't like your booty at all.  Put some pants on! - details are not needed. 
• I am the boss, Mommy.  You are not the boss.
• exclaiming to complete strangers - I have a new baby brother at my house.  His name is Elias Joseph.  He cries a lot.  He shakes a lot.  He sleeps a lot too.
• I got a great idea.  See, isn't this a great idea?! 
• I can.  I think I can. - while trying to build a fort.
• We're making too much noises.  - upon hearing Elias crying.

He Gets It from His Momma...

I promised no potty-training stories, but this was a learning experience for both my child and me.  I hope you see the simple message here and focus less on the potty parts of this blog.

I see so much of myself in Daniel.  His tendency to be a bit dramatic, his need for details, his love for going and not sitting at home, how he loves to go shopping, his outgoing personality, his passion for music and singing, and his tremendous creative ability (we'll focus on that today) are without a doubt qualities and traits Daniel obtained from me.  I never imagined I could look at one of my children and see a reflection of myself looking back at me, and yet Daniel seems to teach me that I still have areas in which I need to grow because he is so much like me.

Just yesterday, I realized Daniel had gotten quiet.  Way too quiet.  I rushed to find him standing in his room with no bottoms on.  I proceeded to change Samuel's diaper when I was amazed with what I found.  Let's face it, Daniel has always found ways to surprise me...  from lining up his cars and trains with their front sides all facing the same way to learning how to open every child safety lock in this house.  However, yesterday's creative genius went beyond my own belief!

As I said, I went to change Samuel and discovered that the wipes box was empty...  well, somewhat.  I have been the recipient of many items in our wipes box (from trains, crayons, and forks to paper, books, and more), but I have never once found anything liquid inside.  Until yesterday.  Daniel had actually used the empty case as his very own, personal potty - thus, his naked bottom half. 

In disbelief, I look at Daniel and ask, "Honey, did you pee in here?"  He replied (creative as ever), "I so sorry, Mommy.  I not make it to the potty fast."  In other words, Yes, Mom, I peed in the wipes box, and I really am sorry about it.  However, I couldn't make it to the potty in time.  When telling my sister about this event, she asked if I scared him by freaking out over the pee in the wipes case.  To be honest, I would have totally been shocked if this were any other child but my own, but I was actually impressed that he was clever enough NOT to make a mess on the floor but grabbed the next best thing he could find.  It's quite genius. 

In that moment, I happened to see a little bit of Jenna in Daniel.  Just like his mom, he attempted to avoid a problem situation by coming up with a better idea.  He even was creative in the way he apologized and told the truth about his misdoing.  I could have been angry, and while I did say over and over that "pee goes in the potty," I was astonished at how his little mind took something simple and used it in a creative way.  Isn't that what I do when I paint?  Isn't that what I do when I embroider?  Isn't that what I do when an idea for a birthday party pops into my head?  I take simple things and allow the creative ability God has given me and use it to the best of my knowledge. It doesn't always turn out pretty, and it might not even be done correctly, but it's what I do.  That's what I saw in Daniel yesterday...  the fact that God has given him a precious ability to be creative even at almost 3 years old, and that itself is a beautiful thing.

Sure, I'd much rather him use the potty next time...  :)

I have to remember this...

I was very certain in the years and days before I became a parent that I would never share naked-sitting-on-the-potty pictures or tell stories about my children regarding their toilet training events.  I don't even like discussing or mentioning pee or poop aloud, much less writing about it.  However, Daniel just made me laugh so hard that I do not ever want to forget how difficult, yet hilarious potty training can be.

Daniel at 34 months old has been potty trained for about 2-3 weeks now.  He really had no problems with it once he realized he actually could do it.  That took all of two days.  I didn't use any treats, tricks, or bribes with him.  That is, until about a week ago...

He began to regress in a not-so-fun-for-mom way.  Daniel continued to pee in the potty with no accidents, but there were other ways in which I was becoming so frustrated with him that I was desperate.  I literally looked at my almost three year old and said, "Daniel, if you will "mess" in the potty all of the time and not in your underwear, Mommy will buy you any Thomas train you want."  At first, I'll admit that he honestly could care less.  He's a hands-on, show-me-right-now kind of kid, so when he continued making messes in his underwear, I wasn't surprised. 

However, Daniel soon found the Thomas object of his affection.  While reading his Danger at the Dieselworks book one afternoon, he discovered a toy he decided he couldn't go without.  He has talked about this Dieselworks Playset for about 5 days now.  Anytime he heads to the bathroom, he is usually mentioning the "crane" or the "diesels."  BUT, he's only messed in the potty once.  ONCE since then.  He's still certain about getting the Dieselworks set, but he isn't so sure about using the potty to do so. 

Just moments ago, after sitting on the potty trying to get the Dieselworks pretty much all of today, he was over in the play area scooting trains around the track when he popped up from the train table.  He dashed by me where I was sitting on the couch, exclaiming, "The poop is coming!  I have to do it for the diesels."  Serious as all get out.

And sure enough, mission accomplished.  Two days in a row.  One more time, and I feel a certain $33 toy is on its way.  I, for one, am quite proud.

Daniel-isms

Okay, life with a two-year-old is tough at times...  You know with the temper tantrums and potty training and the rough hits and determination of an ox?!  Well, maybe that's just our two-year-old, and he is teaching us all about the "terrible twos."  However, there are times when this kid literally makes us laugh so hard and love so much that we forget how awful the moments before actually were. 

Case(s) and point(s):

• While riding in his car seat on the way home from church, Daniel kept dropping his sippy cup onto the floor.  We'd bend back, pick it up, and give it to him for him to repeat the process.  He was thoroughly amused; we weren't as much.  In between tosses, he really was thirsty and was gulping down fruit punch.  So, it came as no surprise when I heard the first hiccup...  and another...  then the next...  and on and on until Daniel became quite frustrated with them.  He clearly stated, "Mommy, I chokin'."  I said, "No, you're not, honey; you've got hiccups."  To which he replied, "Mommy, I chokin'."  As the hiccups got stronger, his patience was thinning, and he was very upset and yelled, "Mommy, no hiccup.  I CHOKIN'!"
• Daniel's story-telling skills are really picking up as of lately.  Why, just Tuesday while the boys were at Mother's Day Out, and Samuel took a pretty rough fall.  How do I know this?  Well, it's a whopping five days later, and upon seeing any one he knows, Daniel STILL begins with this, "Uh, Samuel fall down on the ground at school, and....."  I promise, he has told that same "story" over a hundred times in five days, and it seems brand new to him every single time.  And for the record, Samuel didn't cry when he fell at school; in fact, he doesn't even have a scratch!
• Daniel has become quite the boss around here.  Or at least he believes he has.  We hear these a lot:  "Be quiet, Mommy."  "Daddy, stop it."  "Watch Thomas, Mommy."  "Samuel, be quiet.  Stop it.  Shhhh." 
• Daniel speaks in first person right now.  It is hard to take him seriously when he talks as if he's someone else because it is SO hilarious.  Last night as we ate dinner at Chick fil A, the "carnival" was in town right beside the parking lot.  Daniel was very intrigued by the ferris wheel and its amazing lights.  He watched from the restaurant doors, saying, "Daniel ride that.  Daniel sit on it.  Daniel go to it.  Daniel want to ride it now." 
• Daniel is beginning to potty train.  While we haven't yet forced it, he has just started showing interest and going on his own...  in the potty...  without help from any one.  Anyway, we've tried to get Daniel excited about the process with "big boy" underwear and Pull-ups, but let's face it, they equal big messes that make HIM laugh so we've opted for the cheap brand of diapers for him until we move on...  Let's just say, they do not work. Just Tuesday night as we were out shoppng as a family, Daniel rode on my back in the Beco, and discovering some awesome clearance buys in the kids' section, I suddenly felt moisture running down my back.  He had peed right through those Pull-ups!  As I took Daniel to clean up the mess, I kept asking him, "Where does pee go?  Why is Mommy wet?"  He answered, "In the potty.  Not Mommy."  Here I was in a public place with my child's pee ALL DOWN MY BACK and PANTS.  Worse part, I didn't have any extra clothes for Daniel OR myself, so with a pantless Daniel strapped again onto my wet back, he and I finished shopping and headed to the checkout! 
• HOWEVER, this was not our only encounter with pee this week.  Tonight at church during singing practice, Daniel sat cheerfully on Daddy's lap while we sang.  It wasn't very long into the service when Brian looked over at me with the deer in headlights look...  He mouthed, "He's peeing on me!"  I thought he was kidding, that is, until I noticed Brian's suit's pant leg was soaking wet.  It looked as though it was BRIAN who'd had the accident.  He sat there with that look on his face for what seemed like hours, as he tried to figure out what to do next.  Daniel hadn't moved.  He was just fine now that he'd released that burden.  :)  I too hadn't moved.  I was laughing so hard I didn't think to move or help.  When I came around to noticing Brian needed my help, I picked up Daniel and headed to the nursery.  Every step of the way, Daniel reminded me, "I pee on Daddy."  Brian thankfully had an extra set of clothes in the car (which, by the way, was a t-shirt, khaki shorts, and Crocs) but when we got to the car, Daniel made certain we hadn't forgotten what had happened in church, laughing and saying, "Daddy, I pee-pee. I pee on Daddy."

Things That Make Me...

Crazy:

• Stealing.
• Hearing my 2 year old say, "Stop it!"
• When both boys are crying.
• Diapers that don't hold together too well.
• Wet beds.
• Poo-poo in the pants and not in the potty.
• The fridge's water dispenser.
• Children's snacks attracting ants.
• Watching Samuel fall while walking.
• Having to deal with bibs.

Angry:

• Daniel's strange sleeping patterns or lack thereof.
• Staying up too late.
• Not getting my to-do list accomplished.
• Bugs. 
• Finding ants in the cereal cabinet!
• Smooshed grapes.
• Spitting children.

Frustrated:

• Piles of laundry.
• Children that can climb gates.
• Spilled juice.
• The timeout technique.  Enough said.
• When Daniel pulls all the dvds out.
• When Daniel gets out all of the batteries.
• When naptime ends.
• Not getting a shower.

Laugh:

• When Daniel begs for, "Do-wa."  (Dora the Explorer)
• When my children make each other CRACK UP!
• Finding Daniel naked.
• When Daniel kisses Samuel's booty.
• Samuel's cheesy grin.
• Samuel's excitement over snacks!
• Daniel's love of candy!
• When Daniel says, "Here it comes!" while waiting for dvds to load.
• Children dancing!

Humble:

• "Goodnight Mommy."
• When I've prayed too long, "AMEN!"
• When I tell Daniel, "Stand up," while changing his clothes, he'll say, "FOR JESUS!"
• Hugs.
• Tight hugs.
• Blown kisses.
• Holding my hand to, "Show you sumthin."

Blessed:

• Blue eyes.
• Bug bites.
• Dirty clothes.
• Trails of toys.
• Crumbs for critters.
• Meals with my two babies.
• Finding deals on things I could never purchase!
• Having sweet sisters in the Lord.
• Knowing there are two babies waiting for me in Heaven.
• Realizing I have a ministry, right here in my home.
• Learning that each day is God's gift to me.
• Texts from my husband.
• Love I don't deserve.
• Having a know-so, never-goes salvation.
• Family that knows me too well.
• Being held in the arms of God.  :)

Table Talk

I can't remember exactly what I was doing in the kitchen, but I could not figure out to keep both boys happy and safe with them in the living room.  So, I did what any mother would do, I bribed one with Toy Story coloring pages and goldfish and the other with his exersaucer. 

Much to my surprise, they actually enjoyed their time together in the kitchen.  I caught them laughing and making noises at each other, and it was hilarious.  I stood and watched in awe of them for a few minutes before realizing this was too sweet not to catch on film...


Table Talk from Jenna Johnson on Vimeo.


And because the cuteness continued...


Table Talk Part Two from Jenna Johnson on Vimeo.

By the way, please ignore the mess which is my house! 
AND, would you notice Daniel's manners in the part two video?!

Boys Equal Noise

Daniel is a loud child...  He makes lots of noise.  He screams...  throws fits....  does NOT need a drum set because he's one all by himself...  fights sleep...  always gets his way.

Tonight was no exception.  In fact, he screamed so much after Brian put him to bed that Daddy ended up going and getting him out of the crib.  Daniel probably danced and played an extra 30 - 45 minutes until his noise outside of the bed was as much as it was inside the crib. 

Did I mention we were trying to watch a movie?!

It was right about the time that Daniel had ripped his train tracks apart and was banging them together that Brian actually sounded like a parent.  You know, the kind of statement that your parents said to you, and you vowed to NEVER say something like that to your children?!  He looked right at Daniel and exclaimed, "Daniel, if you keep making all this noise, I'm putting you back in bed."  As if Daniel really understood.  Like Daniel would actually stop hitting the tracks together.  As if Brian hadn't just gone into Daniel's room not an hour before to get the boy OUT of bed for making TOO MUCH NOISE! 

I have never laughed so hard in my life...