Celebration! (Not for Those With a Weak Stomach)

I am SO happy to report that it has been well over a week since Robbie has used a diaper! He is officially potty trained. It is one my favorite milestones that a toddler reaches. As a mother, after changing stinky diaper after stinky diaper (day after day), I'm ready to put a party on when a child gets potty trained! For awhile, I won't have any diapers to change that make me feel like holding my breath, or that cause me to sit there praying I won't vomit (I know it sounds a bit exaggerated, but when I have a flu bug or just have an upset stomach and I'm faced with a big diaper load of you-know-what, I DO feel like I may throw up). For some of you, this may come as a surprise. I look like one of those moms where nothing bothers me. Well, I smile as I hold my breath! That smell does bother me (even after four children), though. I feel like I must be like my grandma, who during every diaper change would have to say how disgusting it was and she would make faces. She was just honest about how she felt about it... I try to keep it to myself most of the time. I remember watching her change my red-headed cousin's diaper a couple of times and thinking it was pretty funny... until my grandma had to wipe my butt. That wasn't funny. I was already embarrassed by the fact that anyone had to wipe my butt, but then my grandma would go on and on about how disgusting it was - that was embarrassing! I did learn from it, though... I learned not to do that to kids. When, like Robbie, they need their butts wiped after going number 2, I keep my opinion of what is in the toilet to myself.

So, all of this to say, my little guy is potty trained! He doesn't even need a diaper during the night. He just became determined to be a big guy (in that area) and started using the toilet. Brad took Robbie out to get a package of boxer shorts, which Robbie is quite proud of, and Robbie wears a pair each day. I didn't even know they made boxer shorts that small until Brad found them! They're kinda cute. Well, especially on such a cute little feller. :)

While we're on the subject of Robbie, I would like to bring up that about 3 weeks ago he started teaching himself how to get dressed. That stage with a toddler is mostly cute - especially at first! He usually puts his pants on backwards and it's about a 40% chance (still) that he'll put his shirt on backwards. With this new knowledge, comes opinion. He now has a strong opinion as to what he wears! It's kind of neat seeing a bit more of his personality. I always like that with the children. When Ethan went through this stage I learned that he LOVES vests. With Madeleine I learned she really loves the colors purple and pink. I haven't actually figured out what Robbie loves besides completely dry clothes. That's the part I don't like. He changes a bit too often just from a drop of water (as have each of my children at this stage). With not having a washer or dryer, that makes things a bit inconvenient. I have learned, though, that when I find a pair of pants that look completely fine (since he changes himself, I find his laundry all over the place) to just hang them up for a little while. He'll want them back when he is sure they're dry.

Well, that's all I have to say for now! I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend so far! :)

Me and Mine

I nearly didn't post this picture at all, because I had just crawled out of bed when I took this photo, but Robbie looks so cute in it I just couldn't resist! I gave Robbie a haircut recently and since several people asked for a picture of him, I thought I better get to it! So, here's the cute little guy with his new 1 inch buzz cut.

Here's Elizabeth napping today. Isn't she sweet? It's hard to believe she's nearly 3 months old already! I love how her little arm is stretched out above her head... so trusting, comfortable, relaxed, sweet. It's hard not to resist kissing that little cheek, don't you agree? :)

Birthdays and Ella

My baby girl, Madeleine just turned 4-years-old at the end of May and I wanted to post a couple of pictures of her while I have a chance!

She is so beautiful and growing up so quickly!

For her birthday she requested blueberry cake and since I'm on bed rest a friend of mine who was over helping me made Madeleine a blueberry cake with cream cheese frosting! That was so sweet of her! Thanks, Bettina!

Here Madeleine is playing outside on her birthday with Robbie.

The other new thing around here is our new Jersey heifer, Ella! She's 15 months old and weighs about 650 pounds. She'll be our milk cow next year - assuming she gets pregnant soon. Here are a couple of pictures of her:

We bought Ella from some folks who had her as basically a pet. She's very friendly and loves following Brad around. She even comes when he calls her name! She is also gentle enough Ethan and I can lead her around if needed.

Here are a few random pictures from this month:

Robbie just had his second birthday, but his birthday pictures didn't turn out as well as I would have liked. He had food on his face in most of them! :o) In the picture above he is petting a new lamb Brad brought in the house to show me since I'm unable to go out and see the new ones. That little gal couldn't seem to figure out how to feed off of her mother, so we gave her to some friends to bottle feed. It sounds like she is getting spoiled with all sorts of attention! I sure am glad it worked out for them to take her!

Here's a cute picture of Ethan, Madeleine, and our Scottish Highland calf, Red. I think it's cute how Ethan is standing in this shot - it reminds me of his daddy! And I think it's funny how Madeleine was brushing her hair outside with the new hairbrush she got from her grandma for her birthday!

Spring

Spring is definitely here. Spring brings with it many ups and downs; snow and mud, gray skies and blue, warm and cold, bicycle rides and sledding. We've gotten more snow this spring than we did during the whole winter, I think. We had one snowfall of 18 inches, then another of about 6 or 7 inches. Most of the other snowfalls have only left an inch here and there. The wind keeps blowing it into drifts making some of them deep enough for me to sink up to my knees in and other areas bare. I must admit, this part of spring is bothersome. I look forward to the end part of spring where we mainly get sunshine, blue skies, and blossoms. It's just around the corner... I can almost smell it and definitely hear it - the birds are returning!

Here are a few pictures I've taken this month that I thought I would share with all of you:

A picture of spring; bicycling and snow.

Little man, Ethan shoveling paths through the snow.

Robbie interrupting school time.

My baby belly at 6 months along. I accidentally didn't get my head in this photo, but it was the best angle of the belly out of all of the photos I took recently.

Brad has returned and will be working from home, hopefully for a long while. I'm very happy to have him home, as are the children. Even the oxen seem glad to have him home! They get more attention from him than they do from me. :) I just don't tend to find the extra time and energy it takes to stand around scratching their chins, necks, and backs.

Well, that's it for now. I'll try to get an updated photo of Madeleine on here soon. I have a harder time getting a good one of her since she is always on the move! :) Have a great weekend!