Big shoes to fill

Royal loves trying to put our shoes on. Every morning when Michael is getting ready for work, he sits down to put on his socks and shoes, and it never fails. Royal, runs over and puts his feet in Michael's shoes and attempts to walk around the house in them. He even has slide my mom's (Gma Tut's) flip-flops on, and could actually walk in them. He does this every time we go to her house. I took these pictures of him trying to put on my gold flats right after I took them off one afternoon. 

Benefit

Just to make this a little easier: when I refer to Sr., that is Michael's dad and when I refer to Jr., that is Michael, (my hubs).

Michael Sr. was diagnosed earlier this year with ALS. Most of you (our close friends) know this, but recently Nancy (Jr.s stepmom) made a website for Sr. It is a caringbridge site which shares information with family and friends about how their loved one with an illness is doing, if they do not get to see them on a regular basis. This month is a special month for Sr. as it is his birthday this Thursday, Oct, 8th. But, on October 17th, there is going to be a benefit in his honor in Charlotte, NC. It is the ALS/Fleming Benefit, and we are so thankful for the great honor in his name. Jr. is singing at the benefit at his Dad's request. Jr. is a phenomenal singer and as I call him a songbird. He was actually a vocal major in college and sometimes when I hear people singing on the radio, I think, "man my husband can sing as well as that and better." But, he is not as boastful (I call it proud), as I am about his amazing gift, so you will rarely ever hear him sing....except when it is for a great reason, like a wedding, church, worship, and in this case Sr's. benefit. So, go and check out his caringbridge page, and pray for our family! God is good.

Lollipops and Popsicles

Last night Michael had a lollipop and this is what happened after we let him have some. It all started with coveting Daddy's sucker. 

Not wanting to share AKA selfishness

 Finally sharing...reluctantly AKA being a little greedy

Daddy didn't give it back soon enough AKA impatience

Got it back....now he is happy, AKA spoiled 

After we told him he couldn't have anymore AKA pitching a fit and not being grateful.

I thought this was a funny visual of how even the sweetest little ones are still sinners in need of God's grace....and lots of hugs and kisses from Mommy and Daddy. : ) It's hard to learn to be grateful for what you have, to give what you have to others, to give with a joyful heart, to be patient, and to learn that you can't have everything that you want. It's OK little Royal, we are still learning these things, so you are in good company. 

After dinner we did give him a fruit juice popsicle, and he loved it. 

Time to potty

So, Michael and I decided that maybe we should introduce Royal to the idea of potty training. I don't have any grand expectations, but we thought since he keeps taking his diaper off and if he is in the tub he will stand up and pee, then maybe he understands the potty thing a little more than we give him credit. We also know that boys are supposedly harder to potty train, so we might as well give him all the time he needs to get used to the idea, and just get a head start on it. My MIL, Debbie, said that Michael was PT before he was 2, so maybe he will be also. Anyway, so far he really loves the little potty Michael picked out. He keeps sitting on it, and then putting toys in it (which we are telling him is a no no), and he even likes it so much he already bit a hole in it. That's right, a hole, in the soft seat part. Oh, well. It adds character. He loves it so much that he has been putting it on his push car and driving it around the house. Hopefully, he loves it so much, he will want to "use" it like a big boy.

 

Playing

One great thing about living next to an elementary school, is that Royal has his very own playground every afternoon. So, the three of us decided to go play!