OWN!!!

Zachary's health issues have been quite uneventful lately. He's currently battling a late-season cold and sinus infection, but aside from a few nasty coughing spells, we have had no reason to worry. That has left him with plenty of energy and spunk to develop quite normally, and to keep up with our very eventful spring activities.

Some of you know that in early March we moved to a new home with a little more space for our growing family and our growing puppy! I was a little unsure how Zachary, or any of our boys for that matter, would handle the big change. Fortunately, they adapted quite well and Zachy has had no problem adjusting to his new place. In fact, in the past few months Zachy's vocabulary has exploded and with that, he expresses quite freely his toddler opinions. Among them, first and foremost, is

"OWN!!!"

Zachy is tired of playing second fiddle, of taking sips of Mom's drink or sharing a bowl of ice cream with his big brother. Anymore, he has had it with the baby treatment and always demands his "own." So on our roadtrip this weekend to Minneapolis, when we stopped for a potty break, Zachary requested his "own" ice cream cone. He did pretty well until it started to melt.

Speaking of "potty," that's another interest our miracle boy has taken lately. Now, don't go getting all that excited. I certainly learned some four boys ago that it's best to let the child take the lead and not get your hopes and expectations up, at least until nearer to their third birthday. But one day, as we were unpacking one of the gazillion boxes that grace our basement family room, Zachy saw me pull out a colorful and somewhat familiar object. "Potty!" he cried, and quickly pushed down his pants and sent his diaper flying.

We had been talking about big boy pottying for some time now, and he has logged many hours of observation accompanying me and his brothers to the restroom. Now he had a potty of his "OWN!" He very readily knew what to do, and promptly plopped his little moon down onto what I consider a very small-holed rim--especially for boys.

After several delightful squeals of "PEE!", and an equal amount of disappointing "Sorry, big boy, you didn't pee" replies, I turned my attention back to the boxes and Zachy reached for his sippy cup. I hardly had the heart to respond to his next "PEE" squeal when I noticed that he was standing, looking, and pointing into the mystery basin. What, could it be??? Indeed, it really was! So we threw a celebration and called Daddy, and Zachy adamantly insisted he try again: "More! MORE PEE!!!"

However this time I turned not back to my boxes, but instead waited to watch the Magic happen. And to my horror... he did not sit, but STOOD in front of that tiny hole and did his business. I suppose he had been watching his brothers too much. Though he mostly hit his target, a little dribble was inevitable. Stand-peeing and toddlerhood don't mix, so I'm afraid on that very morning he marked his territory--our spotless new carpet--and in his very big boy way, Zachy made this house our "own."

Since that exciting morning, Zachary's unpacked potty has made its way back to a more obscure corner of our house, out of view and out of mind. I'm not ready for this potty-training struggle yet. In a few months, after we have had our share of a care-free summer and pricey swim diapers, we may revisit that topic.

Now, I consider each and every one of my five boys to be intelligent. What parent doesn't say the same of his children? But Zachy has impressed us at the age of two in a way that none of our older boys have. Granted, his speaking skills still lag those of most children his age. But make no doubt, this little guy already knows his ABC's! Around Christmas Zachary started pointing to our magnetic letters on the fridge and identifying "O", "X", and "A." Today he correctly identifies nearly every letter of the alphabet. Now, this momma can't take the credit... I have way too much laundry to be sitting down with him all morning for a phonics lesson. No, this little trick of his I owe entirely to "Super Why"--his favoite PBS show that he has been watching nearly every morning since he was six months old. Will he be reading at the age of three? Don't count on it. Will he take English honors? Doubt it. Will he write his "own" book someday? Slim chance. He simply has a unique little "trick" for a baby his age and since this is his blog, I wanted to toot his horn a little.

Speaking of tooting, that's another very typical boy "trick" that Zachy is quite good at. He does it at will.

All joking aside, we are very thankful for our baby's health and development. Three years ago we learned the unthinkable. We were told that our unborn baby was very sick and that there was no guarantee he would survive. Today, that "sick" little boy is the most fearless and energetic of our five-pack, developmentally on track with his peers. This Memorial Day weekend, we're kicking off the summer with a trip to see family, not a trip to see the surgeon.

Yet we remember our special heart buddies, those who are on the journey with us, those who thrive, and those who suffer. We hope you will join us in prayers of thanks for Zachary and his friends that are doing well, and ask special prayers for his friends that are currently in the hospital and battling complications.

Hope you enjoy the summer in your "own" special way!