Holder Boot Camp

When it comes to parenting I often times feel like discipline and correction ebbs and flows. There are times when after correction and discipline occur for a heart/behavior issue multiple times you can let the 'string' go out a little bit. Then when another heart/behavior issue creeps in that isn't positive or God honoring that 'string' comes in real close again until you see a change in their heart and a desire to be obedient.

Right now if you are 3 and live in this house...your 'string' is real close to your mom and dad. :) For a few weeks we were able to see his ability to be obedient and a heart change. Was he perfect...no...are you? Did he DESIRE to obey...yes...did he choose to obey more often than not...yes. I now can see that his heart is defiant and testing. Ugh! It's in these days that I have to remember the end goal. Is my goal to have him 'behave' a certain way? Not exactly...the end goal is for his actions and behaviors to be the overflow of his heart.

"...out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." Luke 6:45

We recently wrote specific prayers for each of our kids individually...2 parts of our prayer for him are: "thank you for his excitement for life, may he learn to use his excitement and energy for Your glory" -- "please use his passions for engaging people for Your glory" (if you've ever met him, you know he is a people person)

You may have an amazingly sweet face, but I desire even more for you to have an amazing heart. I love you!!!

Flunked/Failed....

So, potty training is a S__L__O__W__ going process right now. It seems no matter what I do, he does great when he has nothing on his bottom, but the moment he has on underwear or a pull-up he forgets. The reality is, I can't take a naked boy out and about...I think people would question that!!

I have tried treat rewards, we have a special cheer, larger incentives, reading while he goes, etc...he doesn't seem to forget in order to defy me...he just doesn't seem to get it yet. He goes when I ask him to go, but he doesn't always hold it in between those times, so even if I have him go every 1/2 hour, sometimes he will go a little bit in between. Plus, I prefer for HIM to be potty trained, not ME to have to tell him to go all the time.

If anyone has any great tips or suggestions...I'd love to hear them. I have successfully potty trained 2 kids, but this 3rd one has made me consider allowing him to graduate from high school still wearing pull-ups...I figure at least by then he will be changing them on his own!!!

Trust and Obey

This morning at church during the sermon Seth decided to start singing his new favorite song. "Trust and obey, for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey." It wasn't loud enough that everyone could hear, but it was definitely loud enough for a couple rows around us to hear his little voice. To be honest, I let him sing...we were in church and he was worshiping. I will admit though that I did ask him to sing a little quieter and after the 3rd or 4th time through I tried to distract him with other things.

How is it that my child that pushes me to the limit is also able to melt my heart. :)

Time to Celebrate!!

We had a great day celebrating Seth's birthday last Saturday. His grandpa & grandma Kiedrowski were here to celebrate and so we went to Yunker Farm and played, came home for lunch, cake and presents....then it was nap time for the birthday boy! We had a great time! He didn't realize he'd get presents, so that was a double bonus...in his mind he kept telling me that what would make his birthday special was to have CAKE! So the day before I made his cake and he was very excited and kept looking at his cake and asking when it would be his birthday and when he could eat it. Happy Birthday Setharoo!

The next day his grandpa & grandma Holder came to celebrate and this weekend some family from my side will be here and we will celebrate again....the birthday that keeps on going...the best kind to have when you're a kid!!

My baby turned 3

Seth, today you turned 3. I was excited for you because you were anxiously awaiting your birthday, I realized though that the thought of having a 3 year old truly means you are getting older. Diapers will soon be gone, and though you aren't 100% potty trained, you have made great improvements and I know it won't be long until it's official. I won't miss changing them, but it's another phase of motherhood that will be done and that is bittersweet.

You have an amazing happy personality! You still have the ability to make anyone that meets you smile. You love your brother and sister and still prefer to cuddle up with Josiah at night to go to sleep. :) You communicate your thoughts and feelings very clearly now and you say the funniest things that makes our family laugh regularly ("this looks like a job for...SUPER SETH!). We have pretty much moved beyond the biting phase (that is a phase I was willing to give up!)...thankfully!!

Though WE didn't plan on having baby #3 (you), I'm SOOOOOOOO glad God knew better. I can't imagine our family without you. Your smile, laughter, energy, love for life and love for everyone around you is something I can't imagine living without. You have taught me so much about being a mom, about humility, and you have challenged my/our parenting many times and made us better parents. You are still a mama's boy and would love it if I would lay with you each night and cuddle real close and let you play with my hair. Most nights....I do cuddle up for a few minutes because I know it won't last forever and I love that you enjoy being so close still. Baby Seth, Super Seth, Setharoo...whatever we call you...you are one of a kind and I'm so glad you're mine!

I love you -- mom

Potty Training....

Yes, I've finally decided to work on potty training. He's been able to go on the potty for a while now, but not consistantly and not without us telling him to. Sooooo...this Saturday he turns 3 (I still can't believe that, but that's another post) so I decided to plan a week where I pretty much stay home and work on training. I have to say (though I'll admit I have a bad attitude when it comes to potty training) he's done really well. He's had a couple accidents, but nothing major and he's been doing great at going in the potty all on his own the last few days. Last night when we had Missional Community at our house I thought for sure he'd be wet by the end of the night due to excitement and distractions...nope, he was still dry!!! I realize we're not done yet (part of the reason I dislike potty training so much) and that there will be accidents and it will still be a process, but we are doing well so far and I hope it continues to improve from here!!!


Could it be possible that we will have NO MORE DIAPERS at any of our Christmas celebrations? With 11 grandkids on one side and 7 on the other....all very close in age...every year for the past 10+ years there have been multiple kids in diapers. What a strange thought...I've changed diapers for more than 8 years now....I really can't imagine not changing them....don't worry, I'll adjust! :)

Multiple Adventures!

Last week there was no school on Thursday and Friday...Dan and Josiah had a hunting trip scheduled with Dan's dad, his brother and his nephew. Josiah had been thoroughly excited and anticipating this hunting trip for quite some time! They had a blast and Josiah's favorite parts were shooting his new BB gun, riding 4-wheeler, swimming at the hotel and playing DS in the truck (he doesn't have one and loved that he got to borrow one)....and let's be honest, he was having guy time with some of his favorite guys, what's more fun than that!?!? Here's a pic of the crew and some of their loot. Now if only I could find some good pheasant recipes......


While those 2 boys were off hunting....Seth, Alayna and I were left wondering what to do.... I opted to NOT just stay home, we went on our own adventures! :) We headed to St. Cloud for "2 sleeps" and visited friends and family. During our 2 day trek I visited a long ago friend who used to live in Fargo, a college friend, my sister, another dear friend who used to live in Fargo (was it something I did...they moved away!!) :), my sister in law...and of course since we stayed at my in-laws we had good chats and fun play times there as well. It made the time without Dan and Josiah go by much more quickly and even fun!! Thanks dear friends and family for making time to hang out!