New Church Shoes

Sadly, James has outgrown his beloved black penny loafers. I loved them, too, because, well, they are miniature-sized penny loafers and more importantly, because James could quickly slip them on himself. We are always in a rush to get out the door. So, in an effort to avoid another week of church in Spongebob crocs, James and I went shopping for some new church shoes. We did not find any penny loafers. We were sad. But then, James came up to me with these beauties and said, "Mom! I find dem! Dare my new church shoes! Dare green ones!" How could I say no? And why would I say no to the most awesome church shoes ever?

Funny Prayer

When I picked James up from school on Friday, I asked his teacher how he was doing. I have been understandably apprehensive about him being at school. What with the running, and dumping of toys, and potty inconsistency, and well . . . the general craziness that accompanies James everywhere he goes. So, Mrs. Marsh said, "Well, every day he gets a little bit better. " Which is code for he can't get much worse. Earlier in the week, she said, "Wow, he is nothing like his sisters. I didn't know a Nyland child could have so much energy!" Yeah, that one is code for he's totally out of control. Anyway, they had their first group snack on Friday and James didn't get the memo that you're supposed to wait for the food to get passed out to everyone and then say a rhyme before you start eating. He had all his grapes in his mouth while everyone else sat patiently. On the way home in the car, I asked him how group snack was. He was very eager to tell me all about it. "We had peanut butter crackers! They're so yummy! I wike dem berry much!" Then he paused a moment and said, "Mom, they said a funny prayer."

Phone Fun

While we were at Gramma and Grampa's house tonight, Gramma played back a very funny phone message from Friday, featuring James answering the phone and talking to a solicitor while Gramma was doing laundry. Audio will be forthcoming. Here's a transcript in the meantime.

James: Hadoe?
Unsuspecting Salesgirl: Hi, is Gerald there?
James: Yep.
Then a few seconds of nothing but cartoons in the background.
James: I go to school.
Salesgirl: Oh, you do?
James: Yeah.
Salesgirl: Oh, how cool. Is your mommy or daddy there?
James: No, I'n just by myself.
Pause . . .
James: I'n at Gramma's house.
Salesgirl: Gramma's?
James: Yeah, Gramma's house.
Salesgirl: Oh, can I talk to Grampa?
James: No, he's at work.
Salesgirl: Oh, he is? Oh, okay. Well, we'll just call him back another time.
James: Okay.
Salesgirl: Okay, thank you.
James: Bye.
Salesgirl: Alright, bye.

Have a listen for yourself.

I Believe in Miracles

James just pooped on the potty. Then he said, "That was awesome." It really was. Now he's playing wii resort.

Cold Turkey

This week was probably the worst week of James' life and subsequently one of the worst of mine. We took away his binkies, bottles, and wii. . . cold turkey. (He gets to play the wii again after he goes poop on the potty. So far, he only goes in his pants.) The first couple of nights were pretty pathetic. He just cried in his bed and said, "It's too hard. I don't wanna do it. I don't wike it." He had some serious withdrawl to contend with. Now that it's been a week, I dare say he's a bit calmer. A bit. Without the constant need to feed his wii addiction, he has taken to doing jigsaw puzzles again to fill his time. A couple of days ago, after one of the girls came out of the bathroom, James said, "You go poop on the potty? You can play wii!"