Bye Bye Diapers and other little tid bits

Benjamin Joseph Dell is officially potty trained!!! That means bye bye diapers in the Dell household. I am not sad to leave them behind. And I can't tell you how adorable Ben is running around in his little underoo briefs! He is growing up to be such a sweet little boy.

Speaking of sweet boys. Peter and I went to see the play Frost Nixion. I got dressed up (I do not often wear an actual dress, so definitely a big deal) and when I came out of the bathroom in my dress, Ben was sitting on the floor playing with a pile of pencils, he looked up and said, "Pretty dress mama." Yes, he melted my heart, and yes I got a little teary eyed.

Temper

So I have a tendency to sometimes lose my cool with my little ones. I am going to do better at counting to 10, taking a breather, and staying calm so I can see them for who they really are - a 4 year old and a 2 year old, who are learning and growing everyday soaking up every move I make so that they know how to be adults themselves. I so often feel like I want them to leave behind their baby ways and throw away their plate without being asked, pick up after themselves, and not bother me when I am on a business phone call. However, I think those are unfair expectations of them. They are so young and still learning all that, they will have the rest of their lives to be grown ups. I know I need to relish this baby time, because before I know it they won't be kids anymore and I will want back that snuggle time. I will wish I spent more time cuddling and playing and less time nit picking.

Cool

So this conversation happened with Grace today. She is growing up too fast. I am not ready for cool, I haven't had enough of innocent sweetness.

Grace: I love the Jonas Brothers, they are so cool.
Me: Really what exactly makes them cool?
Grace: Just look at them, they are totally cool.
Me: Why?
Grace: Mom, they are totally rocking out on stage!
Me: What about Hannah Montana?
Grace: She rocks it out too, she's cool.
Me: What about Belle?
Grace: Well, she sings good, but she doesn't rock it out, she just sings princess songs.
Me: (Dancing around) Is this rocking it out?
Grace: No you have to sing too.
Me: (Dancing and singing Twinkle, Twinkle) Now am I rocking it out?
Grace: (Laughing and smiling) uh . . . Yeah (Not very convincing)
Grace: Singing the ABC song more like a rap than the regular way) This is rocking it out, I totally rock it out mom, see?

I am not ready for rocking it out, cool, or any of that. I need a few more years to prepare, thank goodness she doesn't like boys yet, I don't think I could handle that.