While we're talking about growing up...

This may be a little too much information (for my txt readers TMI), let me set the stage for Dax's usually #2 potty routine.

• Jump wildly around the house
• after several minutes of this start yelling "I have to poop!!"
• find nearest older person, demand they come with you because "I can't poop by myself!!"
• Have said older person, while lecturing about you being almost 4, attach potty seat and lift you onto it.
• Have deep conversation for a good 15 minutes with older family member that you've imprisoned in the bathroom.
• Insist on help dismounting, stand teepee style with hands and feet on ground, booty in air so potty slave can wipe your cute little behind.
• Wash hands after questioning "why, when I didn't touch my bottom?"
• Go back to playing

Today I was having "God time" (this tends to be when pooping is best) when the jumping and yelling began. I simply asked (like I do every day) if he could go put the potty seat on. He said yes... I asked if he could use the stool to get himself up. He said he'd try it... He sat in there, alone!! When the yell came that he was done I greatly praised him. I asked to try to wipe himself. He said ok! He took the seat off and put it away. He then washed his hands with a smile on his face after only one prompting that he did, in fact, touch his bottom.

Miraculous!! It's amazing how the things that excite you change when you have small people! I was so proud of my guy! First thing he said to Lily when she walked in the door was "I pooped all by myself! Are you proud of me??" She clapped, she gave hi-5s, she was genuinely proud, well, that and totally relieved that she may get a reprieve from her prison time in stinko penitentiary!

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In another room(aren't you glad?), later this same day, another kind of growing up occurred.

I bumped Dax in the kitchen, I apologized. He didn't say anything at that moment, but when I left the room he followed.

"Mom, I really didn't like you when you bumped me. It made me not like you. I wanted to say mean words like hate, stupid, or blah blah blah."

He didn't. He didn't say mean words, he didn't yell. He processed that that was how he wanted to react but instead shared his thoughts with me in a very grown up way. I smiled. I told him it was ok to feel that way but the fact that he knew not to act that way made me feel very proud. He grinned from ear to ear and told me "I just really love you, Mom".

I may be missing my babies, but boy I'm loving the big people they are getting to be!

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Just so you don't get carried away, thinking my house is now some sort of utopia, Dax did pour honey all over Finn's head this morning...