Porter got pretty lucky this year.  Because of Aaron’s and my complicated work schedules and because Porter’s birthday fell on a Sunday, we celebrated his birthday on several different occasions.

Porter didn’t seem to mind!

On April 15, Porter’s actual birthday, we started the day with presents!

And after breakfast Porter helped Daddy put together his present from Mamaw and Papaw–the Anchors Away Pirate Ship Water Table!

Then Porter had to try it out–just to make sure it was working properly, of course!

Once we changed Porter back into dry clothes, we went out for a special birthday lunch.  What Porter didn’t know was that a surprise would be waiting for him afterward!

After lunch, we took Porter to the park and where Aaron and I gave him his big gift from us: a tricycle!

Porter is just a tad too small for the tyke, so didn’t get the hang of peddling right away–but he still had a good time pulling his bike around the park.

After the park we went home and had cupcakes before Aaron had to go to work.  Porter blew out the candle before we even put the cupcake down in front of him!

On Monday, Porter brought mini-cupcakes to daycare where his classmates sang to him while they enjoyed their special treat!

The show that Aaron and I were working on finally opened on Saturday, so on Sunday we had a little party at the house for Porter with a few close friends.  The highlight of the party was the Thomas Coal Car cake I ordered from Oakmont Bakery.

We had a great time celebrating with our friends–even if Porter did retire to his room to play trains by himself from time to time!

And what Porter doesn’t know yet, is that this weekend we are heading to central NY state for a brief visit with my side of the family so it is likely that the birthday celebration will continue!

I think Porter must be the only kid who loves to go to the doctor.  Part of his enthusiasm for our pediatrician visits is due to their kick-ass kid-friendly office.  There are wall murals, cool toys mounted on the walls in the waiting room and bright colors everywhere.  Not to mention that all of the staff are genuinely friendly and good at what they do.

He woke up on Friday morning and the first thing he said was, “We are goin’ to the doctor today!”

Friday was also special because all three of us had the day off.  No daycare for Porter, no work for me and no classes for Aaron (though he did have to do a little work because he is literally working three jobs right now.)  We have been together for all but one (I think) of Porter’s well baby check-up since he has been born.  Just like Aaron was with me for all of my OB appointments when I was pregnant.  We all are very supportive of one another!

We arrived at the office and things were pretty quiet–probably because the weather was gorgeous and people would rather be out enjoying it!  We had a nurse we had never had before followed by a doctor who was also new to us.  Our regular Physician’s Assistant, who has seen us for almost every visit–even all of the ear infection ones, was stuck in traffic and wasn’t going to be able to see us.  We were a little disappointed because we like him!  The nurse checked Porter’s blood pressure with a new machine and the results were a little low.  The doctor came in and said that his height reading seemed off given Porter’s previous measurement and that she would double-check that (but that never happened.)

Everything about this visit just seemed a little bit “off.”

Finally, she asked us if we had any questions and Aaron asked about Porter’s breathing.  We’ve both notice that Porter breathes through his mouth a lot.  We weren’t sure if this is because of his seasonal allergies and he is just too stuffy to breathe through his nose or if there was something else going one.  We also mentioned that Porter breathes heavily and even snores pretty loudly for a kid his size.  But the real concern happened not too long ago when Porter fell asleep in the car.  Aaron swore that Porter stopped breathing for a few seconds, so naturally we were concerned if sleep apnea could be an issue.

After hearing our concerns, the doctor decided to look into Porter’s throat again.  However, Porter wasn’t having it.  He was having trouble opening up, sticking his tongue out and saying “Ah!” all at once.  She laid him back on the table and attempted to hold his tongue down with a tongue depressor, but boy, he didn’t like that either!  The doctor did get a glimpse of his tonsils and said they were “good-sized” and suggested that we take P for a lateral neck x-ray.

Better to be safe than sorry.

We went home and made some phone calls and were able to get Porter to the x-ray technician around noon.  This place dealt exclusively with kids so the technicians were really great.  We had told Porter than he was going to get an x-ray and that the ladies were going to take a picture of the inside of his body to make sure that he was healthy.  He was pretty excited about it and was completely cooperative.  He had x-rays of his intestines back in July of 2010 when he had come terrible virus that was making him sick, but of course he couldn’t remember that experience.  This time around he got to lay back on a “special pillow” that held his head straight.  He also got a “special blanket” that covered him from the waist down.  The hardest part was getting him to tilt his head back while also keeping his mouth shut while breathing through his nose.

Porter did great and was awarded Nemo stickers for his efforts!  Aaron and I also praised him up and down for being such a good boy–both at the doctor and at the x-ray office.

We were told that we would hear the results of the x-rays on Friday afternoon, but that didn’t happen.  As many of you have said on the I Can Grow People Blog Facebook Page, maybe no news is good news?  We hope that we hear something by Monday.  Porter had quite a few ear infections just like my brother did when he was a kid.  My brother not only ended up needing tubes in his ears (twice) but he also had his tonsils and adenoids out when he was little too.  It has been over a year since P’s last ear infection, but I can’t help wondering if Porter will need his tonsils and adenoids out also.  My dad had his tonsils and adenoids out too–much, much later in life though.  So, you never know…

Hopefully we will find out on Monday if we have anything to be really concerned about.  Until then, we are prepping for a little birthday party for Porter tomorrow.  A Birthday Wrap Up post will happen soon!

Hey.  Remember this?

Hard to believe that same little baby burrito is now this:

What Porter is Wearing:

• Finally growing out of those size 24 months pants.  I think he is outgrowing a pair a day!
• Still in size 6 diapers…
• Size 2T and 3T shirts
• Still size 8 shoes
• Still in 2T pajamas

What Porter is Eating:

• Strawberries, apples, grapes, oranges
• Raw veggies only: cucumber, celery, carrots, lettuce
• Has given up on chicken of all kinds.
• Meatballs are still okay.
• So are tacos.
• Salami and bacon are still favored as well.
• Would eat cheese and pickles for every meal if I let him.
• Bread, biscuits and buns of any kind are accepted.
• Tried his first jelly beans on Easter weekend!
• We try to get him to try foods he hasn’t tried before.  His response?  ”I can’t.”  Or “I don’t like those.”

What Porter is Saying:

• It seems as though Porter is connecting with his Tallahassee roots since he seems to have developed  Southern accent.  Only certain words though.  It is like he adds in a syllable.  Can’t is now cay-int.  Down is now day-own.   Aaron thinks Porter is slowing sounding like Paula Deen.
• Porter says all sorts of funny things nowadays; it’s hard to keep track of it all.  Tonight at bathtime he was calling me Computer.
• “I can’t” is an often heard phrase in our house these days.  ”I can’t pick up my toys.”  ”I can’t wear underwear.”  ’I can’t eat this.”
•  Porter can, however, tell us how much he loves us.  ”I love you very much, Mom.”  And “I love YOU!  And you love ME?”  It’s adorable.

What Porter Likes These Days:

• The train that Aaron brought him back from Chattanooga.
• Going to see Mommy or Daddy at the theatre.
• Having one of his trains “listen” to stories as we read before bed.
• Cuddling on the before I get ready for work.

What Porter Doesn’t Like These Days:

• Using the potty at home other than bathtime.
• The mere mention of Pull-ups or underwear.
• Eating anything we order him when we go out to eat with the chips and salsa, celery, french fries, lettuce or cheese being the exceptions.
• Getting read for daycare.

What Porter is Doing:

• We’ve reached this really awkward phase with Porter and my boobs.  In the last week he has started fluffing them like pillows, saying “Ooh, cozy” and then burying his head in my chest.  We’ve talked about how cuddling with mommy is okay, but touching me–or anyone– like that is not okay.  I’ve talked to him and Aaron and has talked to him, but he did it again tonight.  I think we may have to start putting him in Time Out for it…
• Singing a call-and-respond version of Harry Belafonte’s “Banana Boat Song (Day-O)”
• Doing a great job using the potty at daycare one to three times a day.
• Consistently uses the potty every night at bathtime.  He actually gets excited to use the potty at that time.
• Singing songs from The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That.
• Cleaning up pretend messes.
• Doing a really well consistently using forks and spoons!

Porter is going to be three years old in only one month’s time.  Let’s start the monthly update before I start crying wondering where my baby went…

 What Porter Is Wearing:

• Size 6 diapers…I got him to wear a pull-up once last weekend (size 2T-3T) which was a major accomplishment!
• Size 2T and 3T in shirts but some brands of 3T are still WAY too big.
• With the exception of one pair or 2T pants, all pants are still 24 month size.  This is strictly due to length.  Most 2T pants are too long on him.
• 2T pajamas still fit him perfectly.
• Now in size 8 shoes.

• Fruit
• Celery
• Cucumber
• Cheese
• Pickles
• Crackers
• Hot dogs
• Salami
• Tacos
• Peanuts
• Sunflower seeds
• He now requests “crunchy chicken”–he no longer will eat chicken without a coating on it.  In fact recently he is barely eating chicken at all.
• Cereal in a bowl with milk and a spoon (this is major!)
• Still won’t touch pizza, macaroni and cheese or grilled cheese
• He pretty much won’t touch anything else.  When do kids outgrow the picky eating phase again…?

What Porter Is Saying:

• Porter is talking non-stop these days and he is saying some incredibly funny things…here is an example:

Me: (after getting Porter out of the bath tub) Look, your fingers are all pruny.

Porter:  My fingers are all wrinkly–just like Daddy!

• He has started adding in “t” sounds to words.  Didn’t is now Didtint.
• Overall he is becoming more expressive and conversational.  Tonight I asked him to pick a book for me to read at bedtime and he walked over to the bookshelf and said, “Oh The Cat in the Hat!  This is perfect!”

What Porter Likes These Days:

• Being outside!
• Thomas and Friends “Rescue on the Rails.”
• Trains, trains, trains.
• Did I mention trains?
• Giving hugs and kisses.
• Going to the car wash.
• Bubbles.
• Talking.  A lot.
• Pretending.

What Porter Doesn’t Like These Days:

• Using the potty at home at any other time besides bath time.
• Pull-ups.
• Underwear.
• Most food we want him to eat.

What Porter Is Doing:

• Being sneaky.  While I was sick last week I caught him using his Elmo step stool to try to reach cookies on the counter, he managed to steal my flash drive from my computer and my notebook for work (both were in his room.)  This was all in that matter of an hour’s time.  Last weekend, I was in the shower for all of seven minutes and I came out to discover him upstairs (totally off-limits without me or Aaron to supervise) rummaging around in my bedroom.
• He is doing really well on the potty at daycare.  There have even been some days during which he stays dry all day and uses the potty successfully each time!  But he had an off week this week and we still aren’t progressing at home (other than the bathtime potty try.)
• He has moments during which he is obstinate and demanding.  I’m seeing glimpses of the “Terrible Threes” I keep hearing so much about…
• Porter likes to help me feed the cats.

What We Are Working On:

• As always, potty potty potty.
• Picking up his own toys/mess.
• I want him to be more involved with dressing himself , but he has no interest.

Since Aaron and I are working almost every weekend in April, we are only going to have a small, small get-together for Porter’s birthday.  A few family friends, snacks and cake.  Then at the end of April we are taking a trip up to NY to see my parents.  Unfortunately with work and the rising gas prices, we really can’t afford to give Porter the big shin-dig he deserves.  But I do think he will definitely have a Thomas the Tank Engine cake!

You know, there was a time in my life when Friday night was a big deal.  It meant anxiously counting down the hours, then minutes until class got out or work was over.  Then it was a night full of hanging out with friends, having some beers, maybe seeing a movie or going out to dinner.

Now things are different.  I have bills to pay and mouths to feed so no money to spend all willy-nilly on cocktails and nights on the town.  I’m tired.  And besides I can’t drink like I use to and I’m in bed by 10:30, so even if I could go out I would have one drink and fall asleep in a booth somewhere…did I mention the part about being tired?  And of course the biggest difference: I’m a mother.

So now Friday nights are exciting in a different way.

Last Friday night there was squealing, clapping, dancing, and laughing in our house.  Was it because we were blowing off steam from a long week of work?

No.

It was because Porter pooped in the potty.

Yes for the first time ever, Porter pooped in the potty!  Not only that but at our pre-bathtime potty time he said, “I’m going to poop in the potty.”  And he DID.

DOUBLE.  AWESOME.

There was so much whooping, hollering and clapping that if you were walking past our house you would have probably thought someone inside hit the lottery.  But no, it was just two overly excited parents wildly and loudly praising their son and his momentous achievement.  And though Aaron and I did celebrate our own fantastic parenting skills over a beer after Porter went to bed, Friday nights are quite different now.

And I am very much okay with that!

Just a note: The blog was hacked this week.  Not cool.  My husband and our hosting service have got most things back to normal, but there are still a few kinks to work out.  Please be patient during this process and if you notice anything weird (other than that title in the wrong place in the header above) please let us know.  Thank you and down with internet scum!!!

Now where was I?

Oh yeah, Porter turned 34 months old on Wednesday which means we are just a mere two months away from his third birthday!

What Porter is Wearing:

• Slowly growing out of his 2T shirts.  He needs more 3T shirts STAT.
• Even though he is 34 months, his 24 month pants still fit well.  He wears one pair of pants that are 2T.
• He wears 2T pajamas right now, but he’ll be out of those in about two months.
• Still in size 5 diapers (more on our potty progress later.)
• Just about to bust out of his size 7 shoes.

What Porter is Eating:

• We have entered the “This is your dinner: take it or leave it” phase of parenthood.  We use to give him dinner and then if he refused it we may give him something else later.  I use to worry that he wasn’t eating enough or thought that he would wake up hungry.  I’m passed that now.  He needs to be eating what we are eating.  His pickiness is getting ridiculous.
• He is now refusing to eat chicken and beef.  He pretty much won’t eat any meat that isn’t deli meat, hot dogs or bacon–all of which is loaded with junk.
• Still refuses to eat pizza or macaroni and cheese.  When he was offered a piece of pepperoni pizza recently he said, “Pizza is yucky to me.”
• However, he will gladly eat lettuce of all kinds, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, celery and lots and lots of fruit…
• …except blueberries.  He ate them when he thought they were grapes, but we let it slip that they were something different and now he removes them from his plate.
• He will only eat potatoes in fry or tot form.  This has always been the case.
• Porter now enjoys sunflower and pumpkin seeds.
• He and I both loveChobani Greek yogurt.  
• We also have been sharing bowls of popcorn lately.  Porter finds the popped kernels really fun to look at (and then eat.)

What Porter is Saying:

• Porter seems to have reached the non-stop-talking part of toddlerhood.  This is fascinating to me since I am a fairly quiet person.  He is saying all sorts of funny stuff these days–mostly because his imagination is going full-tilt.
• Porter has started referring to me and Aaron as “you guys.”  Pittsburgh hasn’t taken a hold of him yet since he isn’t calling us “yinz.”
• He likes to call things “cute” or “pretty.”
• He asks us for privacy during diaper changes if both parents are present.  All thanks to this book.
• After he has gone to bed, but has yet to fall asleep he likes to open his bedroom door to tell us things, such as “Mommy, kangaroo is sleeping.”
• Sometimes he will come to the bathroom door while I am in there.  He’ll knock and say, “Mommy, you in there?”  I will respond with yes. “Can I come in?”  I will ask him if he needs to or wants to try to use the potty.  He replies, “No, I just want to watch you.”  Great…
• Everyone is his “best friend” lately.  Even his toys.  ”This is my best friend Toby, the steam tram.”
• Restaurants are now referred to specifically as “food restaurants.”  Not sure why the change…

What Porter Likes These Days:

• “Cooking” in his kitchen
• Books
• Puzzles
• Pretending
• Dancing
• Singing
• Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood

What Porter Doesn’t Like These Days:

• Using the potty at home.

What Porter is Doing:

• Porter is creating long and involved imagined scenarios.  It is fascinating to witness–both by eyes and by ears!  I think I am going to write a post just about his imaginings.
• He is “reading” (and by reading I mean reciting word for word) books to us and to his stuffed animals.
• There has been lots of spontaneous dancing lately.
• Singing the theme song toMister Roger’s Neighborhood.

Can you believe that I haven’t done a monthly update since OCTOBER?!?  With my crazy work schedule, the holidays and then my grandfather’s passing I just let months slip by.  I have so much to tell you about!

P delivers a spirited rendition of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" on Christmas Eve

What Porter is wearing:

• Size 2T shirts, but with a few 24 month shirts still in the mix.
• Mostly size 24 month pants with a few 2T pairs creeping in.
• Still in size 5 diapers.
• Would be in size 2T underwear if he let us put them on him

What Porter is eating:

• He is on a huge vegetable kick right now.  As always, raw vegetables ONLY.  I just can’t believe that a toddler can enjoy salad so much.
• Chicken use to be his favorite, but now it is hit or miss.
• His “on again/off again” relationship with wheat toast with peanut butter is back “on.”
• He still refuses typical toddler favorites such as pizza and macaroni and cheese.
• Spaghetti and meatballs use to be our “go to” food since we knew he loved it.  We were eating it once a week.  Now?  He could take it or leave it.  Depends on his mood.
• He likes olives now.  Green only, please.

What Porter is Saying:

• A lot.  So much, in fact, that a whole post is in the works solely devoted to what he says on a daily basis.

What Porter Likes These Days:

• Cuddling under “cozy blankets.”
• Books books books.
• Thomas Thomas Thomas.
• Timmy Time
• Puzzles!

What Porter Doesn’t Like These Days:

• Wearing his winter hat.  He’d rather wear his hood on his coat.
• Using the potty at home.

What Porter is Doing:

• Imagining.  In the last three months, his imagination has blossomed.  It is just amazing to watch him play and to play with him.  He likes to hide from “monsters” by sitting on his bed with the covers pulled over him.  He isn’t scared of the “monsters” or anything, he just thinks it is fun to hide from them!
• Having a “party”–which means he turns the overhead light on in his room and spins in a circle until he falls down laughing.
• Having a “kangaroo party.”  Same definition as above with the addition of him throwing his stuffed toy rabbit named Kangaroo up in the air.
• Cooking in his play kitchen that Santa brought him.  He only serves water and hot dogs at the moment.  And he keeps his eggs in the dishwasher.
• Playing trains!  Never gets old.
• “Reading” books.
• Hopping around on all fours pretending to be a frog.
• Running.  Always running…
• He can recognize his name and some words–like zoo and school.
• He likes to refer to himself by using his full name–first, middle, last.
• And…HE IS USING THE POTTY AT DAYCARE!!!  Not all day, but one time most days–sometimes more!

Over the summer we slowly started collecting new furniture for Porter’s room.  He is growing up so fast and it was apparent that the crib-converted-to-toddler-daybed just wasn’t going to cut it through the end of the year.  So we started shopping around for some new items as well as some “new to us” things to help makeover his room without breaking our already strained piggy bank.

First, we found a twin bed frame on craigslist for $40.  I painted it white.

I bought new Big Boy bedding 50% off at Target!   I got a few sets of sheets during the Labor Day sales at Kmart.

Another craigslist deal: we found an Ikea dresser for FREE–and it happened to match the Ikea nightstand I bought in ’05 when I was living in New Haven.  The dresser had a broken drawer glide, but Aaron fixed that.

Then we bought Porter a twin mattress for his new bed.  No box spring quite yet (it would make the bed a bit too tall for him right now.)

Finally, we bought a pretty sweet storage unit brand new from Ikea and storage bins from Target (itso bins fit PERFECTLY.)

Here are just a few photos of the new set up.  I actually took these photos before the room was completely finished, so no shots of the dresser yet–sorry.  (We’ve been super busy.)

We just recently got a fourth blue bin for the bottom shelf.

Porter LOVES his new room.  And since we are still working on potty training, we actually use the top of the storage unit as a changing table (with changing cushion.)  At the time I took this photo, the changing table was still in the room (since it was too heavy/awkward for me to remove from the room by myself.)

Next post: Porter helps to make his bed.

Okay first off, do you know how hard it is to talk about the potty to Porter and not accidentally say the word “port-a-potty”?  Ugh.  So difficult.  It honestly never crossed my mind when picking out his name.

But anyway…

Since Porter decided “Hey, this potty thing isn’t so bad!” every day has been different.  We haven’t pushed him; we’ve let him lead when, where and how long he wants to practice on his potty.  That means some days he doesn’t even look twice at the potty and that’s okay.  During the week we are only with him for an hour in the morning and then a few hours after daycare.  That leaves little time to really work with him on the potty.  However this past weekend, Porter wanted to sit and hang out on the potty whenever we were home.  He peed in the potty THREE TIMES IN ONE DAY on Saturday!

Needless to say we are very proud of Porter’s progress, but there have been a few things we’re getting use to.  Porter now likes to drop his pants, take off his diaper and sit on the potty for long periods of time.  He carries the potty around the house with him, diaperless, pants around his ankles, so he can do activities in other rooms.  He bellies up to his train table while on his potty.  He wanted to watch Daddy work on putting his new dresser together, so Porter set up shop in the dining room.  This potty migration means that Porter isn’t always situated on the potty when he “goes.”

Accidents happen.

But for the most part, things are progressing.  Onward and upward!  Or outward…?

For months I have been fretting over Porter’s lack of interest in the potty.  Pretty much every parent I know as well as his teachers at daycare told me not to worry, he is still young and there is still lots of time for him to become interested in being diaper-free.  We noticed that on his notes from daycare this week Porter was at least sitting on the potty four times a day most days of the week.  This was a change from two to three times on the potty three times a week.  Aaron and I were glad that his trips to the potty, even without “remnants” left behind, were growing in frequency.

Today I geared up to paint our bathroom.  The landlords had painted it a dark blue-green, which in my opinion didn’t go well with the 1970s mustard yellow tile on half the walls and floor.  I was happy to finally have the time to change it.  I cleared the small bathroom of its contents which means that Porter’s potty chair went in Porter’s room.  Porter’s potty had been in his room before, so I thought that he’d just sort of ignore it like he has been doing.

SO NOT THE CASE!

He walked right over to the potty and sat on it.  Something he hasn’t done at home IN MONTHS!

Aaron and I both exploded into applause and cheers.  There were hugs, kisses and lots of high-fives.  Porter LOVED the attention, so he sat on the potty again.  He got the same, very enthusiastic reaction.

And just like that, it happened.  Porter wanted to get to know the potty!

In the beginning of the afternoon, Porter was just sitting on the potty with his pants on.  But as the afternoon progressed, Aaron slowly worked with Porter and as I primed the bathroom (twice, ugh.)  Through lots of encouragement and songs made up on the spot, Aaron managed to teach Porter how to drop his pants then sit on the potty.  At one point as a show of solidarity, we all were pantless in Porter’s room at Porter’s request.

That’s what family is all about, right?  Supporting each other.  Even without pants.

We read a lot of book while he was on the potty, including The Big Boy Potty by Joanna Cole which Porter really, really likes.  It really is the perfect book for him right now.

Porter just couldn’t get enough of the potty and because he was so interested–for the first time EVER–we didn’t want to stop encouraging his behavior.  While I was still priming the bathroom, Aaron eventually got Porter to sit on the potty without a diaper.  This was a huge step for us.  There was lots and lots of cheering!

Then things took a turn we didn’t expect.

Now that Porter knew how and was encouraged to take his diaper off, he didn’t want to keep a diaper on.  He didn’t want underpants either.  We tried a swim diaper (because it was the closest thing to a pull-up we had) but that only confused him.  ”Swim trunks on?” he said.  As a result of no diaper, we did have one accident.  No pee in the potty though.  Later in the afternoon he peed in his diaper while sitting on the potty, but told us right afterward.

At one point in the afternoon he decided that he wanted to sit on the potty in the kitchen, so he dragged it from his room down the hall and planted the potty in the middle of the kitchen floor.  He sat there for quite some time.  He could have put the potty on the back porch for all we cared–we were just SO HAPPY that Porter was finally warming up to the potty!

We aren’t sure if today was a fluke or if Porter has finally entered this stage of Toddlerhood–but either way, it is rather exciting.  And we are praying that he keeps his pants and diaper on through the night!

I have to give a huge thank you to Aaron who did a great job both encouraging and entertaining Porter today–even though he was sick.  Thank you!  You did such a great job!

Have any good potty training advice or stories to share?  We’d love to hear it!