Stressed but Blessed

Have you all heard the one about the guy who worked 17 days straight? Until 7:30...8:30...10:00 at night?! That guy is Devan. And I'm not comparing my job to his, but just let me say that I've been at home with an infant and a nearly two year old who had strep throat and just began potty training. Holy CRAP! We needed HELP, so Papa Mike came to stay with us for a couple of Devan's longest work days. I can't even express how much that helped de-stress me. Jalen has loved playing with Papa, and if you know Papa you know he didn't come alone. He came with toys and books and treats. One morning they went shopping together and came back with a new tricycle. Jalen hasn't mastered the pedaling yet, but he loves to ride it anyway. (Ok, sidenote: Papa left an hour ago and Jalen is in the kitchen calling for him) Papa left with a messed up back this morning. I wonder if going to the inflatable jumping toys place yesterday and going down the slide with Jalen had anything to do with loosening his back up?
Jalen started out doing really well with the potty. He likes to wear his "unnies". But for a couple days now, he has remembered that he is almost 2, and has started telling me "No" he doesn't want to sit on the potty. Not "No", but "NnnnnnOOOOO!!" Good times. Weave potty times intermittenly throughout the day with feedings for Tessa and you can see what I do ALL day.

J has really been into his "movies" lately. One day we had a movie date and made popcorn and all stayed in our jammies and curled up on the couch and watched our Charlie Brown holiday movies. I wanted to see if Jalen had the attention span to watch one, and ever since we have watched the same three Charlie Brown's and one Mickey Mouse dvd repeatedly back-to-back every day. Can you say new movies for Christmas??? The upside is I can pop one in and pretty much do whatever else I have to do and be pretty confident that I know where he is and what he's doing.

Jalen looks so cute in his undies!

Thank you, thank you, thank you Dad for staying a few days with us so I didn't end up in the looney bin!