Motivation

I know that you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. On the other side of the water equation, there is the toddler that you can lead to the potty but you can't make him tinkle. Last week we began the process that most people call "potty training" but I prefer to think of as, "Getting to Know your Child". Because I've learned a lot about him and until I figure out even more of his little ticking brain, there will be more wet underwear and less toilet flushing.
I started with bribes for cookies. One tickle on the potty, one cookie. This worked initially, but he takes after his dad too much. "Sweets? I can live with them or without them." These types of people were generally referred to in my mind as "aliens" but now that I have two of them in my house, I guess I"ll have to accept that some people are just weird.
So then I tried Quality Time. We would sit on the potty for half an hour while I read him all the books in his basket. This actually worked well and got us the first "Toddler Initiated Tinkle" because he wanted me to sit and pay attention to him and read to him, so he asked to sit on the potty. The problem with this was that sometimes he just didn't want to take 30 minutes out of his play time to sit on that yellow duckie seat. I don't blame him. That's a lot of Tinkle Waiting Time.
So then we got some little prizes. I made a chart with numbers up to ten and when he got 10 sticker stars (those of you who REALLY know me realize I'm making great strides in my own personal development by even allowing stickers in the house at all), then we went and got him a little matchbox car. He got through 20 stars in the first two days, and Justin said, "This could get expensive." (The cars are really only about $1, and I figured the quicker he learned, the quicker we could stop the bribes so it didn't bother me). But after two days of that, the cars were forgotten, since he has a whole toolbox full of them already anyway.
So then I happened on some little foam shapes. There are little stars, circles, squares, etc in various colors and these were a very unexpected hot item. He's got a lot of the "collecting" gene in him. He hoarded those shapes like they were little pieces of gold. Then when they all fell behind the bed, he forgot about them and they lost their luster.
So then, after all these "partially motivating" things got us through a semi-successful week, we stumbled on the biggest motivation ever - bubbles. Who knows how long this will last, but suddenly he is even actually saving tinkle and releasing in spurts to prolong the bubble blowing action. It's a nice life.
So now I know so much more about my fun little guy, and we are so much closer to diaper-less bliss. Potty-training? It's definitely Mommy Learning Time.

It's about time

I know that's what you're thinking. We had Gramma and Papi to visit and then Lauren with Lia and Toby. I think Jonas will be a great big brother - he had a blast playing under Toby's mobile - with or without Toby. Then Lauren babysat Jonas with her two kids while Justin and went to look at the baby. Yes, we know if it's a boy or girl. Did you think I was going to tell you on a blog? You'll have to call...

Been Awhile

I know it's been forever since I've blogged. Here's a quick catch-up to tide you over until I blog again in 4 months. Haha.
I'm pregnant, due this summer, for those of you who haven't seen me and my growing tummy.
Since September, we've had my brother and his wife, friends, and my brother-in-law and his wife to visit. Next month we're having my mother-in-law and father-in-law for a week. Maybe she'll potty train Jonas while she's here. Haha.
We saw the sun for the first time yesterday since before Christmas. I'm really not exaggerating. I think there was like a cloud convention here.
Jonas knows his numbers (up to 10 and from there it's "frum-teen, gurr-teen" etc.) and his letters and a gazillion words (some of which I've never even said to him, and some in Czech)
That's about the extent of things here. I'll add some pictures, since that's probably what most of you care about more than my ramblings.

Thankful List

I'm narrowing down my thankful list this year to just reasons why I'm glad we're here. This doesn't mean I'm not thankful for all the other things in life, just that I want to share some of the good things God's given us on the other side of the ocean...
1. It's only a 10-minute walk to Justin's office -through an enchanted forest!

2. There are NO stray shopping carts in the parking lots EVER because of the coin deposit for borrowing a cart.

3. I have twice as many places to call home as I would if I only ever lived in America.
4. Jonas loves taking the bus, so when we go on a small errand to the grocery store, I get credit for taking him on an amusement park ride!

5. We get lots of visitors (even though they have to pay an arm and a leg).

6. Lots and lots and lots of people are praying for us every week.
7. We can go see a castle anytime we want.

8. We know how to play Squash.
9. Jonas will learn how to recognize mushrooms and tree leaves during school trips.
10. Small things are big treats (like finding real brown sugar or understanding a full conversation), which makes life full of triumphs and good surprises.

Life in the House

Here are some quotes from my husband,
"I didn't track much hair out of the bathroom [after I cut it] this time did I? I'm really maturing into an awesome husband."
"I'm a super husband. Call me the Sub Hub." ....an hour later, "Where did I get Sub Hub? Super is Sup, not Sub. Huh."

Here are some quotes from my son,
"Peep peep peep." (a direct quote from Dora the Explorer)
"Momma beard?" (feeling my chin and wondering why I can't be as cool as daddy)

And some quotes from me,
"Yes, that's daddy's washcloth" (and repeat 10 times)
"Yes, daddy put that board there so you wouldn't fall through the stairs" (and repeat for every step all the way down)
"Did Duckie tinkle on the potty? He gets a cookie, doesn't he?" (and repeat for Bunny, Doggie, and Penguin)

Clearly I'm not the coolest Loy in the house.

Silver Linings

Here is a list of all the reasons why it's a GOOD thing both guys are really sick right now...
1. It's a very very good thing it wasn't while we were at conference.
2. I'd been meaning to change the crib sheets. And the bumper. And the pajamas. And the waterproof lining on the mattress.
3. When a baby throws up and blows-out his diaper in the middle of the night and I have to do a quick load of laundry right then so he can have his blanket to get back to sleep, it gives me a heads up on the drying everything on the rack. By morning, one whole load is mostly dry!
4. Sick babies sleep a lot even during the day.
5. Sick people don't feel like eating much, therefore less cooking for the mom to do.
6. Hearing "mama" over and over from a pathetic little voice reminds me I'm needed and loved.
7. I get to practice my comforting/patience skills. And they needed practice.
8. I get to stop cleaning the house, doing paperwork, and working on the computer to sit and stoke my baby's hair and back.
9. All someone wants is ME. Not food, not sleep, not more toys, not tv, not money, not fame. Just me. That's all he wants.
10. I get a chance to be that person for Jonas that Barbara Coleman was for me when I was sick - the mom. I can think of no higher honor, despite the nastiness of vomit and diarrhea, the exhaustion of multiple middle-of-the-night wakings, and the terror of being the one who's supposed to have the answers, the right medicine, the unending grace, and the strengh to hold my family together. I get to be the mom. That privilege is more than a silver lining - it makes all the clouds disappear.

The Move

Don't ever move. I guess if you cut the month preceding and the month after the move from your memory, it's all worth it. (If you're moving to a nicer place, which we did.) But in the chaos, stress, filth, and exhaustion of the moment, it usually appears to be an idea born of insanity and self-torture.
We are officially moved (although still trying to get the paperwork for the foreigner's police to have them switch our address, and way past the 3 days they allot to get your contract notarized and signed by your new landlord, who is probably on vacation during the summer).
Here are some pictures for the curious. If you're not curious, then these pictures are not for you. "Skip to the end." (Princess Bride) It's going to look way better when we get everything put in it's place like pictures, and when we find a PIANO!
This is everyone who helped except two other guys who had to leave before the pizza and smoothies.


Here's Jonas in the new backyard. There's a sand pit down the road and the landlord said he'd arrange to get some sand for the frog.






The grill/fireplace in the backyard -

So that's the new place. Lots of perks - fireplace, dishwasher, laundry room, backyard, third bedroom, half bath downstairs, garage, etc. Minuses - lots of bugs! I was sweeping inside yesterday and knew that we had lots of ants and spiders when my dirt pile I was collecting was literally crawling away between sweeps! I guess I should keep the spiders until we get rid of the other bugs. Get them on my side, then when they've done their job, fire them! ; )