Potty Training and such

It's been a week since we started potty training. He's had a couple of accidents at night and he has had one at school everyday but other then that he's been doing good. I think there might be an issue at school which is why he's having the accident. Because he's fine when it's church. So I don't think he likes his teacher. But it's only been two days. 

Liam has two teeth! Little sharp mouse razor teeth. 

Last night we went out to dinner with one of the pastors and his wife. Afterwards we went to a little splash park 

JT had tons of fun. Super thankful for the Engelthalers and the blessing they are to us. 

Wees and Caner come today!! Super excited. We've got lots planned including date night! 

Have a good long weekend everybody! 

Day 1: potty training

This morning we had a meeting with JTs new teachers. You should have seen the look on their faces when I told them JT use to be rocked to sleep for nap at his old school. He's going to realize just how spoiled he was. Thankful he goes to nursery at church in the same room as he will go to school. But it will be different teachers. 

When we got home we had the ceremonial burning of the diapers. Which really was us "throwing them away". He did really well all day. He peed in the pot more than the floor-  so well done. We are however running low on bleach.

I however have spent most the day in tears. It's sinking in that we aren't going back to Maryland. And it's sinking in just how much i miss everyone and have no one down here. Which is only made worse by the fact that my only non-child interaction is Brian and youth group. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't go back to Maryland. I know this is where God wants us. And I am happy here. I live Dallas.  I also know that life on life relationships take time. And no relationship takes the place of previous- they are all different. 

Upon all of that, my sweet chubby baby is now 2. Can have full coversations with me, and is peeing on the potty. (Mostly) I still don't know why he was given to us. But I'm so thankful. 

Colligan Life.

This time next week I will have just picked JT up from school.

Praise. The. Lord.

I'm glad I'm home with him. I'm equally glad he will be going to school 2 days a week. I have mixed emotions because for the first time in 2 years it's somebody new taking care of my son.

No Dannette. No Sharon. No Lauren.

Weird.

I'm surviving.  Brian is thriving.

Sharon and Caner come next weekend and we couldn't be more excited.  JT is super excited. I can't wait for him to see them.

Brian and his youth team put together a big back to school night for the middle and high school. There were over 80 students. It went well, but both of us thought it could have gone way better.

A lot of churches in our area are doing this thing called explore God. The purpose is to start a conversation about God. To explore who God is. Check it out at www.exploregod.com  BUT I'm super excited. Over 360 in the DFW are participating in this. Inviting people to just talk bout God.

We're doing it with the teens. I will be co-leading a High School senior group.

Pray that teens will have the courage to show up to youth group the next couple of weeks.
Pray they have courage to ask questions.
Pray the leaders have the ability to sit back, keep their mouths shut, and listen. (we all know my       inability to keep my mouth shut)
Pray that teens will invite their friends.
I just want them to come. They don't need to make a life decision right away. I just want to plant seeds. I just want them to be curious enough about God to give us a shot.

Thanks
-j

OH and I'm potty training starting Thursday. The tree-day method. I'm either a genius, or an idiot.

Banana bread

JT and I made banana bread. We were suppose to take it to Brian a work for his staff meeting. But in tee fashion it wasn't done in time. But it was well worth the adventure. 

Don't let this fool you. Liam screamed the whole time we made bread. I used The Pioneer Woman's recipe. I added chocolate chips. It's very yummy. 

Little boys and baseball

A lady that Brian works with gave us some tickets to go to a minor league baseball game. The Frisco Ruff Riders. 

It was tons of fun, he had been to a blue crabs game but that was almost a year ago. All he wanted to do was watch the game. During the 6th inning the little bats were on sale - so of course we had to get one. He was so proud of it. 

Nothing says family time like a sweaty baby and a drooly shoulder

Thanks Amy for the tickets we had a blast! 

Pool time

Brian has Friday's off now so we try to do something family fun. This past Friday we went to the pool. 

Homeboy passed out. Big thanks to Diana who lets us use her pool while she was working. The pool at our apartment complex was disgusting. 

Brian and I have decided that if we get the opertunity to buy a house - we want one with a pool.

Stay at home life

The biggest adjustment for me is staying home and not working. And also not working with Brian. 

We would have lunch together everyday. Now I see him for just a few hours out of the day. And usually there is some kid in the background screaming. 

I've learned I need to keep JT busy. Which is hard in this heat. On the days that we don't go to the park, he helps me work out. 

This is me doing squats with him on my back. Take that black girl legs! 

As hard as it is for me to stay home, this is an answer to prayer. We didn't have enough money to send Liam to GRACE staff care. I didn't want to miss out on their lives and I was tired of have a house that was disfunctional. Also I knew that it was best for our marriage if we stopped working so closely. 

But now I get to hear the giggles (and screams). There's always food in the fridge, dinner is usually cooking by the time Brian gets home. I'm thankful for this answer to prayer -- even though it's not exactly how I envisioned it. 

Among the other things I'm praying for- I've stated to pray about a second car. It's starting to get tricky. During the day it's fine- but if somebody needs a ride home from church, it gets a little tight. If I have screaming children and need to leave - Brian has to find a way home. Not sure what the answer is. But I'd appriciate the prayer. 

-j

Week 3

This is week 3 of stay at home mom life.  

It's different. Good, I know it's what I need to do right now, but different.

It's hard staying at home with the boys, especially when it's too hot to go outside. We go the park and have to leave by 10/10:30 because it's just too hot. 

JT is still having a hard time adjusting. He has good moments and bad moments. We Face Timed Brian's dad earlier this week - JT kept saying "Grandaddy, I want to go to your house," and then he would say that he was sad. But the flip side of that - when I pick him up from the church nursery he always tells me how much fun he had. I know it will just take time for him to get use to things. 

Liam no longer sleeps. Which is fun. Pretty sure he hates me. 

Both boys won't stop eating. Wednesday mornings I've been making a big breakfast, just something special because Brian doesn't usually go into work until Lunch time. Anyway - Home boy ate 2 waffles, an egg, 4 slices of bacon, and a bowl of fruit. Less than 3 hours later he told me he was hungry. 

Brian's job is going well. I'm so happy for him, I can tell he's really enjoying it.  I had forgotten how hard building a ministry was. There are only about 30 high school students - for a church of around 1500, thats a huge disconnect. We've been bouncing ideas around on how to get kids to come. I'm excited to see what God does with this up coming school year. 

Sorry for those of you who have wanted an update. Being sick set me back. Praise the Lord I'm feeling like a human again. 

We appreciate all those who are praying for us.

Pray that we will continue to meet people.

Pray for wisdom for Brian, that he will lead the ministry in the direction that Jesus wants it to go in.

<3 we love you all. For those on the East coast who are reading this, we miss you tons!