Editorial: Special Agent in the The PIA (Poop Intelligence Agency)

Note: Pictures not included (you're welcome)

I spend way too much time thinking about, talking about and contemplating the realities of poop; Xander's poop to be exact. Of all the things I've learned by being a dad, the one that’s surprised me the most is how crucial it is to know your child's pooping habits. Not only is it important to know his poop-habits, but what its consistency might be and how to interpret that consistency.

Every time Xander drops a deuce it needs to be studied. Is it soft, runny, chunky? Is it hard like deer droppings or rabbit pellets, or a single clump like a billiard ball? What color is it…red, brown, black, green (my favorite), yellow? When was the last time he pooped? Yesterday, 3 days ago, 3 minutes ago? All of this is very important; and you better know what it all means. If you don't know how to deduce (great word don't you think?) your child's poop, you risk missing the signs that your child might be sick, sad, blue, out of sorts, down in the mouth or just grumpy.

So that was the first two years of his life. Now we enter into the realm of toddler; the realm of potty-training. I never thought there could be more to learn from poop, but this new season of Xander’s life has definitely upped-the-ante. Because not only is there more for me to learn, but now he’s interested in it too. Before Xander became poop-aware I operated on my own in the PIA. Now however, as I’m with Xander in the bathroom encouraging him to drop his deuce in his potty training toilet, he has become intimately involved with the process.

So begins the bazillion questions about his poop; it’s as if he knows how important his poop is to us. Because you can see him processing whether or not he really wants us to have any. He has control at this point; he knows we want it, yet keenly aware that he possesses it. He’s not going to give it up easy either. It’s going to take pleading, persuasion and all out bribery for him to give us what we so desperately desire…his #2 in a plastic petri dish called a training toilet.

As we head into the second pair of years of Xander’s life we prepare to welcome a freshy to our brood. Alaster will be here within the next week or two. We enter into a new poop season with Xander and have the joy of experiencing the first two years over again with Alaster. It’s the best of both worlds; new and used, young and old, past and present. Think of it like this…tuning into the first episode of your favorite TV show’s new season while at the same time having last years season on DVD. What could be better than that?

Mid-life has come and passed me by without so much as a courteous nod.  I've stood at the top of the Eiffel Tower in the snow and watched the sunrise over the Grand Canyon.  Events in my life that have taken my breath away without any doubt.  Who would have thought that the same could be said of the pile of poo mushed into the bottom of my sons diaper?

I wonder if this post will have any relevancy to Xander in 40 years when he’s out diaper shopping for me and Lisa. I wonder if he’ll find the irony as humorous as I find my reality right now. In all seriousness, I hope he never has to be put into that position, but if he does, I hope he can see the humor. At a minimum I hope he has as much fun talking about poop with his children as I do with him.

Hang'n with The X-Man!

Just a few pics from the last couple weeks.

Talk about crashing out; he must've had one tough day. 

Climbing the Lemon Tree in our backyard.

Playing in his sandbox. 

 

Sad day…Xander's got a temp of 104.9.

Enjoying his birthday balloons. 

Opening a last minute birthday present from Uncle Jim, Aunt Melinda and Grandma Charlotte.

Xander Has Outgrown His Highchair

Looks like this will be Xander's last meal in his highchair. We took delivery of a new booster seat from my favorite store today, Amazon. 

Xander's Birthday Party

Xander had a great time at his birthday party.  He was blessed with some very nice toys, games, books, puzzles and clothes.  Mommy and Daddy are so thankful for him and couldn't imagine life without him in it.

"Thank you Lord for blessing our family with such

an awesome little boy; our hope is that he will continue to love

You more and more each day.  Give us the wisdom to raise

him so he has a passion for You and a passion for Your people."

Xander's Birthday cake that Mommy decorated with a Cars theme.

Mommy and Xander opening his gifts.

Having a great time blowing bubbles.

Uncle Josh teaching Xander how to blow bubbles.

Xander and Auntie Lori.

Of all things Xander loves, trash trucks are at the top of the list.
We were able to find him a Tonka Trash Truck at Costco.

You always need to take a picture of what's cook'n.

A big train set that he can use with all his Chuggington stuff.

Xander's Big Day!

Today is the day our baby boy officially becomes a big Boy.  Today he turns 2 years old and he is more than ready.  Here are a few pictures of how he started his day.

So who's birthday is it anyway?  Our goofy boy hanging out with Goofy on his BIG day.

Checking his email to see if anyone sent him some birthday wishes.

Playing Peek-A-Boo with Grandma and Grandpa on Skype.

Xbox

Xander loves having fun just like any other little boy.  He can turn anything into a play toy and find enjoyment out of it.  Even first thing in the morning, no matter how tired he might be, he loves to play and have fun.  When I went into his room this morning and woke him up, he sat up in bed and shouted, "Hi!"  He greets you as if you are walking in the door from work, excited to see you and happy that he's with you, it's absolutely the best.

Today was no exception.  As we headed downstairs to the kitchen he grabbed a box that UPS had delivered the day before.  We didn't take the time to open it, so it was still sealed with tape.  He wanted to open it up so bad that he could hardly contain himself.  As I cut the tape, he tore into the box taking out what was inside.  As he held the mattress cover to his bed up and looked at it, he glanced down at the empty box on the floor and then looked back at the mattress cover in his hand.  You could see him processing the difference between the two options he had before him.  He was trying to decide what he could have the most fun with and quickly made a decision.  He tossed the mattress cover to the side and quickly began playing with the box.  The picture below is the result of his deliberation and final decision.

They always say that kids love the box better than what came in it.
I wonder if I could ever have the guts to give him the box rather than the toy?

Xander & Alaster's New Room

In preparation for Alaster's arrival, we spent a good chunk of our 3-day weekend getting geared-up.  Most of that was spent getting his room ready to go.  Xander and Alaster are going to share a room for now, so we needed to get the sleeping  arrangements taken care of.

Up until tonight, Xander has been sleeping is his toddler bed, which is nothing more than a crib with the front rail taken off.  We bought Xander a new twin bed and got it set up today; he is actually sound asleep in it at this very moment.  Needless to say he was pretty stoked to have his own "big-boy" bed and wanted to make sure we documented the moment with plenty of pictures.  Below are a few of the enjoyable evening we had hanging out in Xander and Alaster's room.

Bath Time

Who doesn't love playing in a bubble bath?  I know I do.  However, I thought I was pretty much a bubble connoisseur until Xander came along.

I wish I loved anything half as much as Xander loves bubbles.