Big Boyness

Isaiah is impressing and surprising us every day with his latest big boy achievements. Last week it was the move out of our room and into his big boy bed. We really had no expectation that either would happen any time soon. But he slept through the night without so much as a peep. Then last night when we were getting him into his PJs, he said he didn't want to put on a diaper until right before bed, but when that time came, he said he didn't want to wear a diaper at all. Since he's woken up dry quite a bit, we said "why not?" and sure enough, he woke up dry and the organic (and incredibly uncomfortable) mattress that we just bought him was spared. Then this morning he got his shoes on without any reminder and happily agreed to brushing his teeth! Usually we just brush teeth at night but our successful dentist apt last week seems to have eased the way to brushing after breakfast too. That's a good thing since our main incentive strategy for pooping in the potty or whatever else we want him to do lately is chocolate chips! I've just started moving towards stickers instead and that also seems to be working.

OK, so before you all roll your eyes at this litany of good news I should add that yesterday was the hardest preschool drop off we've had since Shayna was born. Total melt down to the point where he was lying on the sidewalk practically foaming at the mouth like a rabid dog. I basically tried to wait it out, but eventually had to just carry him into the room, transfer him to his teacher Maya's arms, and then fled with him screaming, tears running down his face. Miserable. Of course he stopped crying within 30 seconds of my leaving.

So it's 2 steps forward, 1 step back, but we just continue to be amazed by the leaps forward, especially at how he is the one to initiate them.