Milestones

The past couple of weeks have been an emotional rollercoaster for me.  It all started with my last post on my BABY'S second birthday.  The first milestone of this post was definitely not a tearful one.  I potty trained all my children when they turned two.  Some people think that is too early.  However, my pediatrician is a firm believer in early training.  And when you expose them to it early, they are ready by two.  Some were harder than others, but I have never regretted getting it over with.  So all summer Wes was showing signs of being ready.  I began to tell him, "When you turn two, you can't wear diapers anymore."  Low and behold, he turned two and two days later woke up in the morning saying he needed to go potty.  I took him he went number one and number two and didn't want to put a diaper back on.  He then kept his big boy pants clean and dry the rest of the day.  I wish I could say that was the end of it.  It wasn't but overall he has done well including making it through Walker's wedding weekend having to use portable potties....

....which leads to milestone number 2 and an emotional uphill.  My baby brother Walker is married!  I have loved my now sister, Heather for years.  Even when the two of them were not together I hoped they would someday be together forever.  I am so happy for them.  But the week of the wedding, my mom started calling me every day and I could tell it was setting in that her baby was getting married.  Then it hit me, my baby brother is all grown up.  The brother that called me "Little Mama."  My brother I helped raise.  My brother I remember every part of his growing up phases.  But I must say, it was a glorious day.  It was a worshipful, relaxing, fun atmosphere. It screamed of Walker and Heather.  And it was picture perfect (as you can see from the pics).

So we get home from the wedding, I am coming up on my fourth marathon and have committed to taking a break, and we arrange for our crib to be sent to "storage" (Papa and Yaya's).  Remember, the agreement was I could run as many races I want as long as I am not pregnant (Doug's form of birth control).  For the first time in seven years, I have no crib in my house and no diapers to change.  Again, not bad but I miss my babies!!  Great advantages to having older ones.  But there is a part of me that yearns for the baby stage.  (Good thing I have a lot of friends having their first/second willing to share.)  I think Doug got rid of the crib to assure I wouldn't try for another one while taking my break from races. :)
And this picture of my baby on the tractor gives a great shot of his little personality.  He is all fun and laughs!  Loves attention, gets upset whenever anyone else is, and always knows how to find a good time.