Here I am.....

I picked the name of the title for this post because it is the first words out of Josh's mouth this morning....it was quite funny!! Let me back up a little bit...like...maybe a month???? Anyways, since Eric's departure Josh has certainly become quite independent with some definite regression(tantrums, meltdowns, disobedience, etc) but, I guess I've done more of that too! HA
The week after Eric left...Josh potty-trained himself...yes, you read that correctly...he did it himself. He was completely over pullups and no accident by day #3. Crazy, really....but he was SO PROUD!!! I think he decided that if he is to be the man of the house for awhile he needed to be in big boy underwear too! :-)
So, that was huge....it has definitely taken us atleast 2 weeks to figure out our groove and routine around here. Particularly bed time...I believe the last 2-3 nights I finally have something that'll work for us...atleast for now....As I'm typing this Josh is in the bathroom brushing his teeth all by himself with no prompting or help from me....I tell ya...show him how to do it, give him the tools to reach everything by himself and watch him go....One interesting conversation from earlier today...We were driving to SBUX and Whole Foods and he was watching the small planes fly around the Academy. He asked me if that was the airport that we dropped dad off...I explained to him it wasn't and what airport that was and it is where the cadets learn to fly, etc. He  asked his 'why' question and I told him it was because they wanted to be pilots when they grow up! :-) I told him that he could be whatever he wants to be when he is big too...I listed a couple of things and was still talking when he interrupted me and said he wanted to be a pilot that flies an airplane so he could fly and help people...too funny in my book. and just FULL of developmental milestones that I was so giddy about....
Then he has become quite independent before going to bed. He watches his videos from his dad reading books and then I go with him to his room....He doesn't want me to do our 'old' routine any more... and in fact we read a book, then he politely asks me to leave. I told him I loved him, etc...the normal things I tell him BUT tonight he goes...I love you too mom!! I love you so much. I'm going to give you a big hug....I love you mom! OH MY...stop the horses....and try not to have another emotional breakdown(yes, would be number 2 of the day, the first being in whole foods, but that's another story)....He's growing...he's maturing...He's PROCESSING!!!! :-)  I needed to write this all out because who knows what tomorrow will bring....and right now as is his new routine...he closes his door...reads some books on his own, gets all his animals together, gets on his bed and falls asleep all by himself...huge, huge, and huge steps for him!
Oh. before I forget...going back to this morning....we had a late night yesterday..we were in Estes Park all day hanging out with my parents and the Raybourns and didn't get back to the house till 9:30pm. I told Josh I wouldn't wake him up in the morning and he could sleep in as late as he wants....So, he's been wearing this flannel, long sleeve, collared pjs to bed(given to him from aunt sarah) he loves them...kinda funny in the middle of summer with no a/c, but whatever.....continuing on...he HAS to sleep in them and now with his shoes on too. My mom was here last week for 2 nights helping me get some stuff done. We were at Target and she spotted light up Toy Story velcros shoes...He fell in love with them...in fact sat down, put them on all by himself(another first) and walked around Target with them on(also, with the elastic band that holds the pair together) it was quite funny watching him...so, he loves these shoes and now wears them to bed. So, this morning around 9am as Sam and I were in the kitchen having our mid morning snack...I hear upstairs this "clomp, clomp, clomp" of Josh walking into his bathroom with his shoes still on, just waking up, and then a 'clang' of the toilet seat'...and then clomp, clomp, clomp,...the next time I hear him he's walking into the kitchen with his arms over his eyes....drops them, and exclaims, "Here I am!" and I couldn't agree more...Here he is....and Here he comes!!!!!!!!!!!! :-)