Honor has been really giving me a lot of trouble lately, and just me, he’s fine for Jim and everyone else. I’m not quite sure what to do with him and I’m totally open to any suggestion, as remote as it may be. I’m pretty desperate right now and I continue to be awestruck at my child’s ability to never fail to make me look like a fool.

sigh.

I think that in the course of his 3 year life, he has not been able to eat anything without making a mess. Anything.

I forgot to post photos of Honor’s birthday (cup) cake and him eating it. eeewww, fake earth worms…

Just a quick update so say that Honor does have an ear infection. He’s had 4 doses now of his antibiotic and is already feeling much better. We even got some sleep last night. Thank you all for your well wishes for our health.

When things like this happen, I think about what it would be like to live 100 years ago or in a 3rd world country. Something that can be cleared up as easily as an ear infection could mean life or death. I always wonder, why am I so fortunate to be born in this century, in this country? I am very thankful for modern medicine, even if modern insurance companies are working to ensure no one can afford it.

“So Honor, it’s your birthday so I think we should have a special dessert. What would you like for your special dessert?”

“Um… I think I want coffee, yeah, coffee.”

(Disclaimer: no children consumed caffeine in the context of this post.)

Today Honor turns 3 years old. I really can’t believe how big he is. His turning three brings some great relief. I’ve spent the last three years wishing he would get easier and now here he is bigger, easier and he will never be that tiny toilet playing boy again. Changes like these are bitter sweet.

He woke up this morning slightly grumpy until I tempted him out from under his blankets with the offer of a juice box. Juice boxes are revered treats in our house, never mind that they get them almost every day. After I tempted him with his juice box, I took him to the living room to show him his pile of presents. That cheered him up right away and it was perfect timing because his dad just walked in the door from an early meeting.

This morning he opened up something that he has been wanting SO badly – a Batman Sword. I could tell he was very happy with his present because he kept coming up to me between swings and jabs to tell me, “I love you very much, mom.” He’s sweet that way.

I was thinking about how much he has changed in the last year. It has wizzed by. He talks really well; it’s a rare occasion that we don’t understand him. When that happens, he speaks very loudly as if the shear volume of his voice will cause us to understand. He is an amazingly good eater, often he will eat as much as I do at one meal. It doesn’t seem to affect his waistline, every pair of pants he owns still fall down. He gets his butt from his dad. Ooops! I said the “B” word. Every time he goes poop on the potty, he still asks if he can say the “B” word… one time.

Everything done wrong is “just a wittle accident.” Oops, I hit my sister, “It was just a wittle accident.” He intentionally splatters soup all over the floor, “It was just a wittle accident.” This works out especially well for potty training. He told me yesterday, ” I won’t pee in my pants, because that would be just a wittle accident.” No big deal!

He loves bugs and dinosaurs and lizzards and pirates and batman and tools. When Honor was born, the hospital gave him a soft little bear with their logo emblazoned across its chest. This has become Honor’s favorite over the past few months. His name is Tootie Bear and, yes, it is because he toots. A lot. Tootie Bear has tooted on everything you could imagine. The other day Tootie Bear disappeared. I checked with everyone whose house we had been at recently, tore our own house apart and still couldn’t find Tootie Bear. A few days later he magically appeared. This further convinces me that Honor has a secret hiding place for his most beloved items because I frequently search the house for special toys to no avail only to have Honor find them days later. The presence of a secret hiding place is not surprising to me at all.

I planned to post photos of Honor over the past three years today, but having spent the last hour searching through iPhoto, I’ve discovered that there was no way I could pair it down to anything manageable. Click the photo below of Honor today in his special “pirate” birthday shirt to see the whole set of Mr. Honor aka Destruct-o-con aka Spuddy Buddy aka Stinky Pants.

well… one more just for good measure.

Well, I am happy to report that we are on day two of no accidents (not counting nights). Honor has successfully pottied in the potty without even being told. The key seems to be wearing big boy underwear, but today we were out for several hours while he wore a pullup and he didn’t have an accident either. Could this be it? I’m probably jinxing myself just writing this… Keep your fingers crossed for me, it would be nice if he could be trained by his 3rd birthday one month from now.

Last week, after I got off work, I loaded up the kids and headed out to the mall to look for some new shoes and jeans. Usually this would be a fun experience, but we have NO good shoe shopping in this town. It’s pretty sad, really. After several stores and dinner, we headed to Old Navy. The thing about Old Navy is that even though I love their jeans, I have to try on every single pair in my size to find the perfect pair. No pair of jeans is the same.

Needless to say, we were out for several hours. As we were leaving Old Navy, I picked Honor up and noticed that his pants were wet. “I spilled water.” he told me. Um, yeah, no water in sight. Thats when I realized that he had had real underwear on the whole time. Over 3 hours he went without an accident.

I called my sister to ask her to let me know next time he’s not wearing a pullup and that’s when I found out: He always wears real underwear for her and he never has an accident. He always sits on the potty. He even goes without being told.

So, yeah, when it comes to potty training, it’s just me he hates.

Honor plus scissors equals:

yes, that is a handknit sock.

Yesterday Honor pooped in the potty all by himself. Today he did too.

It almost makes up for Monday when he smeared poop all over himself.

Almost.