To Hold You Over

Hi All!
Well, you'd think I just had a baby or was trying to learn a foreign language here with the way I've been dragging my feet lately in posting blogs! :) But, I've been wanting to post several recently, but after going through all our pictures from the past 2 weeks and trying to catch up on some other things, it is already my bed time (10:30pm), so you will just have to be content with these few pictures.
Just to spark your interest, I plan to put two slideshows up soon: one of Easter and all the fun we had dying eggs and doing other stuff, as well as one of some pics of our team retreat. Both events were quite fun and I look forward to letting you know about all our exciting things here of late.
Love you all. Hope you had a great weekend!
Lucy

What We Hear

So, the McDougle house is never quiet these days, except for those moments around 1-3pm in the afternoon when Canaan is getting some sleep! He is our little jabber jaws and we love it. He is always saying things that stun us and amaze us or make us laugh. I wish I could remember everything, but I am not always close enough to paper to write it down right away and forget. But, here is what we've heard recently. 

Mommy: Your Daddy, he is so sweet. He loves your Mommy very much!

Canaan: And Mommy loves Canaan!

Canaan (bending over): Mommy, you upside-down!

Canaan (when our tea kettle finished): Mommy, it done hotting!

Canaan (upon leaving David and Liv's apartement): Bye David! Bye Auntie! Call me David! Call me Auntie!

Canaan (driving in the car): Look! It the SUN! The sun so bright!- this might be more of a testimony to our weather and how much we've missed the sun recently!

Mommy (to Max): How are you doing, Max?

Canaan (to Mommy): He doing well. 

Daddy (to Mommy): And he even used correct grammar and everything!

Daddy (as we were walking to the store down the street): I don't think I was cut out to be a Daddy. I worry too much!

Canaan thinks that David and Auntie always go together and Rob/Denyce/Chi/Silas all go together. So, even when we pray, he corrects us if he thinks we've forgoten someone. The other night, Dougle was praying for Denyce, Chi and Silas as they are in the U.S. right now due to the illness and death of her grandfather (Rob stayed behind) and Canaan blurted in, "And ROB!"

On our trip to Kiev, we took the express train to Kiev (a 6 hour ride). We had seats that were facing the opposite direction of the way we were going. When we got on the train, Canaan couldn't wait for it to go. He kept saying, "Go!" Then, when we finally started, he exclaimed, "We go backward! Mommy, turn this train AROUND!" He said this over and over for about a minute and I was afraid his whole expreience might be ruined. But, he soon let it go and it didn't bother him that we were going backward anymore!

Excitement and Confessions

Ok, so we are in Kiev now. It is so wonderful! I am thoroughly enjoying myself. We rode the express train in last night. We left at 4:30pm and arrived in Kiev around 9:30pm. Canaan was so excited about getting to ride on the train. And he did great. He played, we read books, and he looked out the window in the little cafe part of the train car. It was fun. Dougle and I took turns watching Canaan and holding Max so the other could rest. So, I got to read a novel! It is so much fun to read novels. Here in Kiev, it is wonderful too. Not only is it SUNNY, but it has been up to 60 degrees, which is so warm! We are loving it. Dougle went to get some stuff translated and the boys and I went to a park with a cool playground. Canaan loved playing with all the other little kids. It was great. Max did good too: he slept and ate a tad too. :) Then we went to a Mexican food restaurant for lunch. We took a taxi there, but took the metro home b/c it took so long in the taxi with traffic to get there and it ended up just being about 3 metro stops away from where we are staying. The Mexican food was delicious; it was a splurg b/c it is expensive, but we just don't get it very often over here. Not the real tasting stuff anyway! Then we rested this afternoon. I am catchin up in my Daily Bible- about a week behind now. And I read a bit in my novel again. It is so wonderful not having to do dishes or having housework or homework looming. Yes, I left my Russian homework at home! What a bad girl I am; but we all must be bad at times. We played on the playground more this afternoon and enjoyed Chilantano's Pizza for dinner. Scrumshious. They have these tall stools at the tables, but have extra tall ones with a back and buckle for kids. Very convienienet in a land that doesn't usually have convieniences like that! Then we relaxed tonight. Canaan had a long bath and was silly. I put some pictures on facebook. Good all around. Just wanted everyone to know.

So, for the confessions. I've been thinking about how I usually post all the good things that happen, but not always the bad parts. Kind of leaves out part of the picture of our lives. Sort of like Canaan's potty training. Well, life is not always that easy for us. After his first week with a very successful start, Canaan started to forget to tell us he needed to go potty. We had about a week of popping in his pants and many clothes changes because of wet underwear and pants. A bit frustrating. I think I just stopped praising him too soon, and left it all in his hands too soon. So, after a bit of a relapse, he is doing well again. But, we ask him a lot if he is still dry (to remind him he is in his big boy underwear), we praise him for going every time, and we make him TRY to use the potty a lot. This part is funny because I totally deserve it. My mom had to make me "try" to use the potty lots as a kid. I would cry, "I don't have to go!!" as she sat me on the potty and while I was going! Yes, Canaan does the same thing. "I don't want to try! I don't have to go!" Oh my! But, he is doing better now and we have few accidents again. Someday soon he will start telling me he has to go on his own. He is already getting better, but we keep on top of him too. And it is super nice having a boy so that he can easily relieve himself while we are out and about, like at the playground...!

Ok, so that is all for now. Our two little boys are sleeping and I am going to curl up next to my fabulous and most wonderful hubby and read a bit before drifting off to sleep. Hope you all are doing well too! And, I'll add more pics next time around!

Pictures

Hi. Just wanted to post a few pictures for you this time! The boys are growing so fast, especially Max at this time. I just wanted everyone to see what cuties I have! Hope everyone is doing well! We love you all!

This first picture is of Canaan "walking like a elephant" as he called it. I recently bought him a copy of the Jungle Book, and he is imitating Mogli when he joins the elephants, marching from here to there! The picture is a bit blurry, but cute none-the-less. There is also a picture of Canaan sporting his "big boy underwear," as well as many of Max, one of Sunday morning Bible class in the kitchen, and one of Valery, our friend, reading to the kiddos.

Sweetest Grand-Dad

Well, I just want you all to know what Grand-Dad was busy doing during his Spring Break: he was building a swingset for Canaan and Max (and other future grandkids- someday). As many of you know, we will be heading home for a furlough during the month of May. We will mainly be based in Lubbock, spending time with family and supporters in and around the Lubbock area. If you are in/around Lubbock during May, we'd love to see you!

Anyway, Gran-Nan thought it would be fun to have a swingset for the grandkids in the backyard. So, Grand-Dad looked at kits for swingsets, but decided he could build one just as nice on his own- and for cheaper. Here is the final project that we are looking forward to using! Great work Grand-Dad! Thank you!

Potty Training!

I have wonderful news! At two years and 5 months old, Canaan is potty training! Actually, he is almost completely potty trained now. We are SO proud! Up until this point, he was not interested in going in the potty, though he would occasionally at bathtime. Most of the time if we asked him if he wanted to go, he would say, "No!" So, once we got over the initial hump of not wanting to do this (this took the whole first day and some strong persuasion), we were doing great!

Semi-Method- We did a loose method of full blown potty training as suggested in the book on Potty Training by the people who put out the Babywise books. They say that once big boy underwear goes on, there are no more diapers! (We let Canaan sleep in diapers for now b/c we don't have a matress protector yet.) We set aside about 3 days where we weren't going anywhere (Canaan, Max and I) or doing anything except potty training. I fed Canaan crackers all day so that he would drink all day, thus making him need to "go" more and get extra practice. The premise is to encourage "dry-ness" rather than going in the potty. We encouraged both. I would ask him every 5 minutes if he was dry. We would feel his underwear and give high fives and "good jobs" when he was dry. When he peed in the potty, he got an M&M or a sticker on his potty chart. If he started going in his underwear but stopped and finished in the potty, he still got an M&M. The first two days, we hung out only in his bedroom. I turned the heater on and dressed him in a shirt and his underwear with no pants or socks (no socks b/c they just got wet when he had an accident in his underwear). Oh, we had a kid training potty too that was in his bedroom for easy access!

DAY ONE- The first day, we put on "big boy underwear" and read our potty book that we have been reading the past few months. We talked about going in the potty. I would ask him if he was dry. Whenever I asked him if he needed to pee in his potty, he invariable said, "no." After two accidents, I stopped asking if he wanted to pee, but rather told him that he needed to try to pee in the potty. This was accompanied with much crying. The first time, we waited on the potty for a little bit, but as soon as he got up and pulled up his underwear, he went in them. Ummm. The next time, we waited at the potty for 10 minutes, while he cried the whole time. But it all ended when he finally peed! Yeah. Success at last! The next time I told him he needed to try, the time was halved (for crying and how long it took him to go). After that, there was just a little complaining each time, but he usually would go quickly. Asking him if he was dry every few minutes helped remind him that he was in big boy underwear and not in a diaper any more. He had about 7 accidents and about 10 full success that day. Some of the accidents were just half accidents- he would start in his underwear, but stop and finish in the potty. We quickly figured out that Canaan prefered to stand when he used the potty- which is fine, just a bit messy if done without a bit of help!

DAY TWO- Only two accidents! Mommy and Daddy are so proud and so hopeful! Is it really going to be this easy?

DAYS THREE and FOUR- Things were going so well, we transitioned to the big boy potty. Canaan stands on a step stool to pee. Only one accident each day! AND, to top it off, Canaan started asking to go the potty regularly without being reminded!!! We had church at David and Livia's and he even went at their house. This meant a new environment and a friend to play with- but he still stopped to ask to potty! Mommy and Daddy can't believe he is being such a big boy and that this is going so well!

DAY FIVE- We took our first extended outing: to the mall! I was a bit worried and put on plastic underwear over his regular underwear and packed an extra pair of EVERYTHING for him. He asked twice to go the bathroom and we made it to the bathroom each time! Mommy and Daddy are ecstatic!

DAY SIX- Today we are on day six. His accidents the past few days have only been involving "#2." He will start to go in his underwear, realize what is happening, and then go to the potty to finish. He still needs help getting his underwear and pants fully off and on, though he does the majority by himself. We are about to finish our pack of M&M's, and that will probably be the end of gift rewards. Of course we will probably continue praising him and telling him what a big boy he is! He will sometimes tell me, "I am so proud of ME!" when he goes in the potty! What a funny boy I have! Mommy and Daddy feel SOOO blessed!

SIDE NOTE- Canaan loved picking out his M&M's. He ate first all the yellow and brown ones. Those are his favorite colors! :) And, Canaan has woken up from almost all his naps completely dry, and occasionally completely dry in the mornings too!

Apartment Pictures

Hi everyone! Well, we spent most of the month of February with our apartment torn apart. Not only were we taking care of an infant and had an extra person staying with us (my Mom- who was tons of help!), but we were getting some work done on our apartment to make it more liveable and homelike. One of the changes was the new wallpaper that was put up. Here are some before and after pictures of different rooms. Hope you enjoy.

PS. Some of the pictures are blurring. Sorry about that!

CANAAN AND MAX'S BEDROOM

BEFORE-

Notice the rug hanging on the wall? That is very Soviet style. There were rugs hanging on the walls of both the bedrooms when we moved in. They came down quickly. :)

AFTER

-Isn't the "road rug" incredible cute? Dougle found it as a scrap on clearance at a building store! What a awesome Daddy! We hop e to get some decorations up on the walls soon.

LIVINGROOM

BEFORE-

This picture doesn't do the terribleness of this room proper justice! The livingroom was VERY dark (poor lighting), and the wallpaper was a bit overwhelmingly brown. I told Dougle I felt like I was living in a cave when in the livingroom!

AFTER

The whole place brightened up after this lighter color was put up. Plus we got some lamps to help out, a rug and a new couch (the ones that came with the apartment were ripped and peices were broken off that exposed sharp edges and screws).

KITCHEN

BEFORE

This is a blurry picture, but we were cleaning the kitchen. When we moved in, the whole kitchen and everything in it was covered with a film of grease. It was gross, but the cabinets all looked like new after we were done! Notice also the floor and the wallpaper patterns!

AFTER

We got new tile (the tile was falling off the wall and there were chunks of cement wall exposed where there was tile missing), new wallpaper, new lights/ceiling, and new flooring. The cabinets and large appliances are the same.