First, a plethora of pictures.

trying to sit up


frothing spit bubbles (time to eat!)


middle-of-the-night migration


the tools it took to get our first coconut drained, open, and scraped (concrete front porch not pictured) (yes, that is my Higginbotham hammer)


what turned out NOT to be a clump of hair in the tub drain


why we spent our tax refund on a king-sized bed


Daddy learns to multi-task


brotherly bonding in a SC motel


Despite the fact that I'm not wearing a skirt, Caspian is adamant to hide inside.


2mo Perrin grins at Daddy


Perrin, 11w5d (he graced his special outfit with a rare spit-up moments before) (I had to change his outfit before bed because his thighs just wouldn't fit in this one anymore.)


Okay, onto the news.

We're on day 4 of potty training Caspian. Perrin is already 15 pounds, and the little chunkmeister has outgrown our Little Sandies infant diapers...which means he needs to use the Motherease One-Size diapers...which means Caspian can't, as we don't have enough for two children to use them (unless we wash a load of diapers every day)...which means Caspian is getting potty-trained! LOL

He was ready, anyway. He's very interested in potty books and talking about the potty, and he is aware of when he's going to "go". On Tuesday, we bought him some Cars training pants that have little designs on the front which disappear when they get wet. There are 3 on each pair, so we let him wear the same pair as long as he can keep at least one design. He has done AMAZINGLY. He lost one design yesterday and one the day before. We have potty time as soon as he wakes up, before and after each meal, and before bed. He knows that if he feels like he's about to pee, he's supposed to run to the potty, pull down his training pants, and sit on the potty. He has only had three accidents in the last four days — all willfully, to see what would happen. Now, he loves making it to the potty on time. He even got up from bed two nights ago and from his nap yesterday (both before he'd fallen asleep) because he knew he had to go. What a big boy!

The only obstacle we have to overcome now is that Caspian doesn't want to poop in the potty. We don't know why, and he knows when it's coming (and retreats to the corner to hide), so we're hoping he gets over it soon. We promised to buy him big boy underwear as soon as he starts pooping in the potty.

TIDBITS:

• Caspian has started telling me how much he misses me when I'm gone "at work" for a few hours. That's pretty wonderful.
• He acts out his favorite book and movie scenes, complete with emotions and vocal inflection.
• Once every few weeks, he decides to sleep in his own bed.
• Sometimes he shouts, "Babe!" when he wants me, because that's what Charlie calls when he needs me. Yeah, we nip that in the bud.
  
• We think he's starting to read, because he's sounding out words he finds. One a walk, for example, he saw the word "WATER" on a water main mini-manhole. He pointed to it and said, "wuh-ah-tuh-ǝ-err...water!"

• Perrin is so flirty. He'll look you right in the eye and talk and smile forever! He coos along when I sing to him, and definitely uses non-verbal communication via facial expression. When you sit and talk with him, he tries to repeat you.
• He never complains/cries unless something is wrong.
• He is so gorgeous. He has a dimple in each cheek. Sometimes he laces his fingers together (like he's praying), and it's so adorable. And, yes, he's another curly redhead.
  
• He holds his head up, and he's trying so hard to sit up by himself.
• He has 5 fat rolls on each arm.
• He's slept through the night for a couple weeks now, PRAISE GOD.

• Charlie enjoys working at home SO much. It is so much easier to parent the way we want when we're both home.
• I'm already 100% back in my pre-pregnancy clothes (and about a ½ size smaller).
  
• Having mono for the last two months has made it difficult for me to jumpstart off maternity leave the way I need to. Prayers (and referrals) are appreciated!
• If you are running out of your regular brand of sunscreen, moisturizer, face wash, shave gel, body lotion, mascara, etc. — or would just like to try something new — please give Mary Kay a try. My business is our family's financial support! MK has a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and free shipping is cheaper/easier for you than driving to the store. :) Shop on my website 24 hours a day!
  

I love my boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are so immensely, incredibly blessed.

Speaking of blessed, we were approved for EBT, so we can "afford" to buy any food we want! All we need now is to find someone with a chest freezer they don't want anymore so we can save some of this bounty for when we really need it! If you know anyone in central KY who wants to get rid of a chest freezer, please let us know!

We spent the 4th of July playing with Ginny and her boys, then at RJ Corman's, then watching fireworks in the rain from the playground next door. Pics to come...

I finally broke down and bought 2 pairs of LANACare Wool Nursing Pads. Using disposable breast pads was grossing me out so much, I couldn't take it anymore. They're $7 a box, too, so at a box a month for the next 2 years, they're also costly. The wool pads should last that entire time, and beyond! They feel soooo wonderful and soft. And best of all, they're large enough to fill the entire bra cup, so no more fumbling with a crumpled breast pad when I'm trying to re-hook my cups! Two thumbs way up.

C ~ "I want two crunchy pastas and two cold broccolis, one big, and one small." (He likes to eat dry rotini and frozen broccoli.) He ate his entire serving of broccoli tonight still frozen. He still very much prefers cold or lukewarm food, in general.

Oh, yeah. We had our 9-year wedding anniversary a couple of weeks ago. And Caspian turns 3 in two weeks!