My Hero!

I'd like to take a second to recognize my HERO today!!! Harper Jones!!!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

For those that recall, I had over $2,000 in photo equipment stollen out of my luggage on the trip to Gruene. I'm still battling all the steps to try to recoup any of that amount. In the meantime, I have photo shoots and even booked another one just this week. Harper to the rescue! She sent me her backup equipment so I don't have to cancel my shoots.

Let's face it, I need the shoots to make up for whatever the insurance company doesn't let me recover.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!

The scoop from the crapper

So, it's poopless around here.

HOWEVER, the pee pee piece has gotten MUCH better!!! Shelby is getting better at letting us know ahead of time, and when he doesn't he seems to be just as disappointed as we are now. He even said he had to go and ended up in some failed attempts. False alarms are better than the 911's.

On the Poop Scoop....I've heard this happens when they start training. He hasn't gone in 2 days! I gave him the low dose of the Little Tummies laxative at 11am this morning, and he had a whole thing of mandarin oranges at lunch. And nothing!!! Lo siento to the daycare tomorrow when he blows it up! Sheesh.

I'm sending him with 4 changes of clothes and underwear in the hopes that they'll keep up our progress. Nonna is coming Tuesday night, so she'll have Shelby Wed - Fri while Stacy is in Wyoming, and I'm hoping he doesn't make it too hard on her.

Long story short: It's getting better!

Thanks to all my friends for the thoughts and advice. Keep it comin!!!! Camille: He freaks out if he's naked. Did Pierce take to just the running around naked part okay? Patsi: I'd keep the pull ups at night too if it was top bunk pee in the bed. Don't listen to everyone else. Do your thang, Girl!

Harper & Shae, Sharla & D, Grammy & Grandpa: This kid is getting some serious wear out of all these underwear you previously bought for the occassion. THANKS!

The D.L on the P.T

(That's: The down low on the potty training for those not as dorky to come up with that as me)

The afternoon got much better. You might be right, Camille. If the accidents are the key, then sheesh...tell me we've learned a lot today. It must be true, because he did pee again, but just a tiny bit and came in to go potty. Lots of attempts with nothing happening and then finally, he told me he had to go and he went in the potty!

We did have another accident late evening. I was so frustrated. I had him on the diaper table cleaning him up and he asked me what was wrong. I said, "I'm not very happy with you, Shelby. You are supposed to pee pee in the potty!" He stood up on the table, held his arms out in the "why" motion, shrugged his shoulders and said as serious as could be, "(Sigh)...It's all my fault today." Then he looked down so sad. I couldn't take it! I just wanted to eat him up. I was laughing so hard. That kid knows how to melt me and undo it all.

I put a pull up on him for dinner, just to avoid the accident during the meal. When I removed it to give him a bath it was dry. I sat him on the toilet and he pee'd! YEAH! Then, after bath, stories, etc we crawled into bed. Partly through the night-night song he said, "I go pee pee!" We rushed to the bathroom and he went again!

He's sleeping in a diaper of course, but I'm hoping for even more progress tomorrow.

Keep it up, Shelbs! And it's not all your fault, buddy. Mommy needs to check her expectations.

Potty Training Journal Entry

Oh My Gosh! Tell me you're joking!!!! It's only 11am and we've already changed Shelby out of pee'd on underwear and shorts 4 times!

I kept hearing...don't do pull-ups just go straight to underwear. They learn faster b/c they hate how gross it feels when they're sitting in wet underwear. Oh yeah?

Let me introduce you to my son, Shelby Ander Jones.

Last night he was sitting on the couch with Daddy and I told him let's go try to go potty. When I lifted him up, I found his blanket was strategically placed in his lap to cover up the fact that he was sitting in urine. ON MY COUCH! YUCK.

Wish us luck...

Graceful Dancing

Obviously from my long hair (thank goodness I cut it so you're not bored with pony tails anymore) this is an older video. I came across it and wanted to share. Shelby wanted to dance to Blue October's "Graceful Dancing" and I thought he was just the cutest.

Whitey Tighties here we come!

Stacy and I proudly announce that our son has taken his first poo-poo and pee-pee in the potty tonight!!!! 2 yrs 7 1/2 mo.

He's been sitting on the potty off an on for a very long time and has pee-pee'd once. He was not in the daycare class with the potty training facilities until this month. He hasn't made much progress at school, either as the kids are all distracted by the newness of the room and the lead teacher went on vacation.

HOWEVER, despite all of that, we're working with him and tonight he made it happen! We sat on the potty before bath time. There was some serious grunting and squeezing before he relaxed enough. Poo.....then, with all the movement the wee-wee was dislodged from it's position pointing down and he shot pee in a stream line straight for Mommy sitting across from him!

The little toot. When I put him to bed tonight I was still making a big deal out of it for him. I said, "Shelby, Mommy's so proud of you! You poo-poo'd and pee-pee'd in the potty!!!" He smiled at me and said, "I poo-poo'd in the potty. I pee-pee'd on you!"

Little toot! He cracks me up.

YEAH FOR BIG BOY UNDERWEAR!

The Sassy Spike is back!

Dear Hair,

I'm so glad I don't hate you anymore! Instead of lying there, lymp and pointless, you've revived yourself and come back to life! I only spend 2 seconds now for you to be up and at 'em and so cheerful!

I've missed you, dear fun hair.

Welcome back.

T

Children's Fair

Shelby and Mommy had a great weekend together! Saturday Stacy worked on the deck and Sunday afternoon/evening he went to the 49ers game to see Coach Clark (now coaching for the Seattle Seahawks)

Saturday we went to the Livermore Children's Fair

Cat in the hat
Shelbs decided we were going to buy hot dogs. He ate the whole thing, then took $2 to the hot dog stand to buy another one all by himself.

What's with the eyes closed squint?

Jumpy House!

After nap time that afternoon we went back and went to the pool. This place was crazy with the slides and jungle gym in the water. Shelby did a great job, but was freezing!

To wrap up the day, we enjoyed books. Shelby wanted to read along.

On Sunday I had a photo shoot then came back for a fun afternoon. Shelby and I hit the hot tub over at the Zapp's with Sandy & Baby Tyler. (Of course, it was a luke warm pool, not a hot tub with babies.)

What a fabulous weekend!

Anyone notice I had my haircut in these photos. Need to take a decent pic of it this week to share.

2 Years in Cali!

This month makes 2 years that we've lived in the San Francisco bay area. Wow, time sure does fly! Here's some pics of Shelby from when we first moved here.

Shelby's favorite...squash.Ah, my little Coop-aloop-ah! Still missing Cooper!!!!

Here - "Bow to me, little one."

The family was excited about the beautiful landscape and weather here! We still are. In fact, we quite often say how amazing it is here!

Shelby's collection of funny faces has only grown since then.

If all goes according to plan, we'll be here until Summer 2012 after union negotiations are complete at the refinery. I'm sure the next 3 years will fly by just as fast as these past 2 have. If you haven't been out here to see us yet, get on the slate now! 2 years of your chance are already gone. :->

Gruene Girls, Guys & Gigglers

It was a wonderful weekend in Gruene, TX. Wow, back to the GG roots. (Gruene Girls) I truly enjoyed my time with my girls, their men and their babies. Thanks so much, Ladies!!!!

Thought you girls might enjoy a trip down memory lane to our first GG Weekend, 7 years ago (right?). Who are these little girls?

Top: Julie Eberhart (now Vicic), Laurie Hyland (now Mayor), Jamie Edins (now Hartsfield), Cantrell Lewis (now Morford). Bottom: Christina Anderson (now Jones) and Holly Poole (former GG)
Crazy ladies!Toned it down over the years...

Enter...GG husbands. Hence the toning it down. L to R: Eric Hartsfield (Jamie's), Jeremy Morford (Cantrell's), Billy Vicic (Julie's), Stacy Jones (mine!) and Jonathon Mayor (Laurie's) Thanks for being so fabulous, boys!

Da Baby Boyz

L to R: Shelby Jones (mine!), Dominic Mayor (Lu's), Harrison Vicic (Julz'), Peyton Hartsfield (James') and Jackson Vicic (Julz')

We're so thrilled about Cantrell's pending adoption of a GIRL! About time there's some pink around here. :->
Precious Babies!
Thanks again. Love you all!

T

Elvis is Alive and well!

Who said Elvis is dead?

The GG's had a Variety show this weekend and Nonna came through for Shelby to make sure he was fully equipped to entertain!

Thanks, Nonna!!! And Nonny for the painting!!!!

The Ultimate Sacrifice

As if the camera wasn't enough, Stacy donated a 5 yr old wedding band to the Comal River Gods!

His fingers were so swollen in Texas, he never dreamed he'd lose his wedding band in the river, but he sure did!!!!

The good news is that the ring, the camera equipment, it's all "stuff" and we can handle anything when it's just "stuff."

VIOLATED!

We're in Texas this weekend for the GG Family Weekend and on the flight out, my Nikon D70 body, new Nikkor VR 18-200mm lens, SB800 flash were all stollen!!! Yes, the San Jose TSA dept has employed some sketchy criminal somewhere that felt the need to violate me! Before people want to tell me you should never put electronics or valuables in your check luggage (don't even bother saying it because it'll only infuriate me and not help get the $2,000 worth equipment back) let me tell you why I even wrap it all tight and pack it. Because on the plane we already lug around a toddler, his car seat, a stroller, a diaper bag with lots of crap in it, a laptop and a traveling DVD player. Packing it was always the safest way to transport it....until now......

UGH!!!!!

My Cutie Patootie!

And the reward for indulging Mommy's photo shoot.

Anger Management

Yesterday, Shelby wanted to put on his Oakland A's cap and get his "Oakland baseball" and Play Ball!

He was so excited, and having a great time, but the hat is too big and kept slipping down on his face.

Suddenly the kid had a complete melt down! He pulled off the hat and was so angry he started screaming at it with no real words coming out, but it would appear he was cussing this hat out. I couldn't help myself! I was laughing and taking pictures, which pissed him off even more.After it was over, I thought, "Forget swimming lessons, this kid is going to anger management!"

PS Absolutely adorable shirt compliments of "Aunt" Carol Wolfe! LOVE IT! I can't wait to start shopping for pink for you, lady!

Shelby & Nina

Stacy's co-worker, Brian had invited us to their place a few weeks ago so the guys could hang out, Rebecca and I could end up decided to take photography courses in Santa Barbara, CA together (weekend away in which the guys have the kids...not sure the invite anticipated that one) and the kids could have a fabulous time together!

Shelby just loves Nina! Can you blame him? She's an absolute doll!
Shelby kept getting all goofy around Nina. It was hilarious.
The end of the night. Sorry, gang, I just had the Fuji camera, so the photos are once again not as great as the actual view of the kids together.
Video: Riding the Leopard, "Leo"

Video: Race is on! After tripping Nina, Shelby later raced again and Stacy and I were so proud of his chivalry! He stayed behind her, letting her win an even patted her encouragingly on the back saying, "Go, Nina!"