Andy and Sarah at the T-Rex restaurant in Downtown Disney when we were in Orlando a couple of weeks ago.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Picture of the Day
Andy and Sarah at the T-Rex restaurant in Downtown Disney when we were in Orlando a couple of weeks ago.
Third Times a Charm
I've done more than my fair share of potty training, and pretty much I hate it. Diapers are so much easier than potty training, except when its way finished, like months or years later. Because when you potty train, that's when the real work starts. With Andy I had to take him to the bathroom within seconds of him saying he needed to go. It didn't matter if we were in the car, at the grocery store, in the middle of the library, he had to go right then. That goes on for months. And don't get me started on the wiping. That goes on for years. It's a lot easier to just leave them in the diapers and if they have to go, they go. Unfortunately society doesn't see it that way so eventually you need to teach them how to use the toilet.
With Amanda, it's been different. Really different. In the past six weeks since she stopped wearing underwear, she has maybe had one accident in a public place. I carry extra clothes with me, but never have to use them. She gives me ample warning that she needs to use the bathroom, and often will say she would rather wait until we get home than go somewhere else, and she does. I often have to bribe her to go to the bathroom because it's been more than three or four or even five hours since she's gone and she still says she doesn't need to go. She must be part camel.
When she first stopped wearing diapers during the day I bought a jumbo pack of around 60 diapers for her to wear overnight. I figured we'd give it a couple of months and see how she was doing. For the first few weeks she would almost always wake up dry. Only recently has she had wet diapers in the morning. She refuses to go to the bathroom when she first wakes up and then when I finally take her the diaper is wet but it's warm. Which means she is just being lazy and doesn't want to go on the toilet, she wants to go in the diaper.
If she was wearing underwear she wouldn't do that, but she knows if she has a diaper on she can. So last night we decided she didn't need a diaper and she could wear underwear to bed. Not only did she stay dry all night, but she didn't even go to the bathroom until about 30 minutes after she woke up. The child has a bladder of steel. I hope this continues, because I'm getting tired and old and I need a win here. If anywhere you should want an easy out, a simple win, it's in potty training.
I hope this continues, because I really hate to change sheets.
With Amanda, it's been different. Really different. In the past six weeks since she stopped wearing underwear, she has maybe had one accident in a public place. I carry extra clothes with me, but never have to use them. She gives me ample warning that she needs to use the bathroom, and often will say she would rather wait until we get home than go somewhere else, and she does. I often have to bribe her to go to the bathroom because it's been more than three or four or even five hours since she's gone and she still says she doesn't need to go. She must be part camel.
When she first stopped wearing diapers during the day I bought a jumbo pack of around 60 diapers for her to wear overnight. I figured we'd give it a couple of months and see how she was doing. For the first few weeks she would almost always wake up dry. Only recently has she had wet diapers in the morning. She refuses to go to the bathroom when she first wakes up and then when I finally take her the diaper is wet but it's warm. Which means she is just being lazy and doesn't want to go on the toilet, she wants to go in the diaper.
If she was wearing underwear she wouldn't do that, but she knows if she has a diaper on she can. So last night we decided she didn't need a diaper and she could wear underwear to bed. Not only did she stay dry all night, but she didn't even go to the bathroom until about 30 minutes after she woke up. The child has a bladder of steel. I hope this continues, because I'm getting tired and old and I need a win here. If anywhere you should want an easy out, a simple win, it's in potty training.
I hope this continues, because I really hate to change sheets.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
The Comedian
The sweetest thing I have ever heard in my entire life is my babies tell me that they love me. The first time they look at you and say "I wuv you" it just melts your heart. It's still wonderful when the older kids say it, of course, but it's just not as corn syrup sweet.
Amanda just started saying it a few weeks ago, and I can't get enough of it. I'm always trying to get her to say it, or at least say it back to me, and I've even unsuccessfully tried to get her to say it on video. However, I don't want to say, "Amanda, say 'I love you'", so I always just tell her I love her and hope she says it back. I'm kind of like a love sick teenager. The other day, we were in the bathroom and I needed to get a fix.
Me: Amanda, I love you!
Amanda: I love...ducks!
Me: What?!?
Amanda: Bwahahahaha.
Okay, maybe she didn't laugh that long, evil laugh, but she did laugh. We have a rubber ducky theme in the kids' bathroom, and she looked at the shower curtain covered in rubber duckies right before saying it. When I acted a little hurt, she thought it was hilarious. She saw my fake horror reaction, couldn't contain her giggles, and now says different stuff all the time. She'll tell me she loves Mickey Mouse, Lotso (from Toy Story 3), anybody else just to get my reaction.
Of course when she's really tired, just before bed, I always get a super bear hug, a nice big kiss and a genuine "I love you" from her with no laughing. That's good enough for me.
Amanda just started saying it a few weeks ago, and I can't get enough of it. I'm always trying to get her to say it, or at least say it back to me, and I've even unsuccessfully tried to get her to say it on video. However, I don't want to say, "Amanda, say 'I love you'", so I always just tell her I love her and hope she says it back. I'm kind of like a love sick teenager. The other day, we were in the bathroom and I needed to get a fix.
Me: Amanda, I love you!
Amanda: I love...ducks!
Me: What?!?
Amanda: Bwahahahaha.
Okay, maybe she didn't laugh that long, evil laugh, but she did laugh. We have a rubber ducky theme in the kids' bathroom, and she looked at the shower curtain covered in rubber duckies right before saying it. When I acted a little hurt, she thought it was hilarious. She saw my fake horror reaction, couldn't contain her giggles, and now says different stuff all the time. She'll tell me she loves Mickey Mouse, Lotso (from Toy Story 3), anybody else just to get my reaction.
Of course when she's really tired, just before bed, I always get a super bear hug, a nice big kiss and a genuine "I love you" from her with no laughing. That's good enough for me.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Picture of the Day
I know it's nowhere near Halloween, but the other night all three kids put on a different pair of "skellies" so we had to take a picture. They thought it was awesome. Ahh, the simple pleasures in life.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Kid Quote of the Day
Me: Girls, you shouldn't share a lollipop!
Sarah: Why?
Me: Because one of you could be sick or have germs and then you would give it to the other person and then you both would be sick.
Sarah: I'm not sick, are you?
Amanda: No. Mommy sick.
Sarah: Yeah, don't share the lollipop with Mommy.
Sarah: Why?
Me: Because one of you could be sick or have germs and then you would give it to the other person and then you both would be sick.
Sarah: I'm not sick, are you?
Amanda: No. Mommy sick.
Sarah: Yeah, don't share the lollipop with Mommy.
Picture of the Day
This picture speaks volumes. First, she's wearing a crown because she is queen, ruler of the car. Second, she has a box of runts in her hand that she has negotiated in exchange for using the toilet. Master manipulator this one.
I'm Amanda
Amanda has finally learned her name, and can say it very well. So well, in fact, that she does not like to be called anything other than Amanda. The first time I noticed this was when I said something to her and added "lady" to the end. I don't remember exactly what it was, but something like "Don't stand up on your chair, lady!" She looked at me and immediately said back, "I'm not lady, I'm Amanda."
Then the other day, she was in a really foul mood. So I told her that she was being really cranky. Again she retorted with, "I'm not cranky, I'm Amanda." Now it's hard to be angry with someone so cute declaring to the world who she is, so I had to laugh.
Being the person I am and looking for a little entertainment in the drudge of the day, now I am constantly calling her other things, just to hear her response. The majority of the time it is, "I'm not (insert random adjective or noun here), I'm Amanda." I've even got the older kids doing it.
However, she's smart and I don't know how long the game is going to last. Yesterday she decided she wasn't Amanda anymore, now she's Mickey (of the Mouse variety).
Then the other day, she was in a really foul mood. So I told her that she was being really cranky. Again she retorted with, "I'm not cranky, I'm Amanda." Now it's hard to be angry with someone so cute declaring to the world who she is, so I had to laugh.
Being the person I am and looking for a little entertainment in the drudge of the day, now I am constantly calling her other things, just to hear her response. The majority of the time it is, "I'm not (insert random adjective or noun here), I'm Amanda." I've even got the older kids doing it.
However, she's smart and I don't know how long the game is going to last. Yesterday she decided she wasn't Amanda anymore, now she's Mickey (of the Mouse variety).
Friday, January 20, 2012
Mr. Adam Sandler
Have I mentioned that we spend a lot of time in the car? A lot. We were doing fine with no video and then Charlie drove somewhere and I wasn't in the car and he introduced Amanda to the DVD player so it all started again. We were sharing, everything was copacetic, until Amanda decided she won't watch anything except Elmo. Okay, that's not quite true, occasionally she will let us watch Winnie the Pooh. However, most of the time it's Elmo.
How, do you ask, does a two-year-old dictate what we watch? Simple, she won't stop asking for it until we put it in. If we put something other than Elmo in the DVD player, the entire time it's on she says "I want Elmo. Mommy, I want to watch Elmo. I don't want to watch this, I want to watch Elmo." You can only listen to that so much, especially when you can't hear what's really supposed to be playing, before you give up and watch Elmo.
So, to mix things up a little, Amanda got The Best of Elmo 2 for Hanukkah. The kids were sick of The Best of Elmo, so I thought I would introduce something new. This DVD has some pretty catchy songs on it, including this one from Adam Sandler that I find myself singing a lot during the day, even when we aren't in the car. My favorite part is the dragon that "kisses and tells".
How, do you ask, does a two-year-old dictate what we watch? Simple, she won't stop asking for it until we put it in. If we put something other than Elmo in the DVD player, the entire time it's on she says "I want Elmo. Mommy, I want to watch Elmo. I don't want to watch this, I want to watch Elmo." You can only listen to that so much, especially when you can't hear what's really supposed to be playing, before you give up and watch Elmo.
So, to mix things up a little, Amanda got The Best of Elmo 2 for Hanukkah. The kids were sick of The Best of Elmo, so I thought I would introduce something new. This DVD has some pretty catchy songs on it, including this one from Adam Sandler that I find myself singing a lot during the day, even when we aren't in the car. My favorite part is the dragon that "kisses and tells".
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Someday I'll Look Back On All of This
Yesterday I read two articles that were posted on Facebook by other moms. The first was 14 Reasons Why Being A Stay At Home Person Sucks. The second was Don't Carpe Diem. Both articles hit close to home because it's how I've been feeling for a while. Both touch on that nagging feeling, and the more blatant statements that people make, that I should be enjoying my children more and how someday I will miss this time with them.
I often wonder what I am doing wrong, why I can't be more patient and what does it mean if all I've ever wanted to do is be a stay at home mom and this is really all it is? Why do I let them get to me and why can't I be more happy? But nobody has to tell me that raising kids is hard, very hard, because I'm in the thick of it. I love my kids very much but you can't convince me it's all rainbows and puppy dogs.
There are so many things about my kids that I won't miss, that it overshadows the things that I will. Of course, just like the horrors of pregnancy and child birth, I will forget a lot of the bad things and only choose to remember the good. I will not think about Sarah's incessant whining, Andy's non-stop antagonizing, or Amanda's need to be carried all the time regardless of how sore my hips are. I will choose not to remember the crying, the throwing of toys or the way they sometimes talk to me in the most amazingly disrespectful voice.
Instead I will remember Amanda crawling into my lap when I go to lunch with my friends and sitting there quietly, just happy to be with her mommy. And how she desperately wants to sleep with us and on the rare occasions we let her she curls up next to me and her warm little body breathes softly in my ear. How when I make her hold my hand while we're crossing the street she just holds one finger instead of my entire hand and when going to bed she gives me the biggest bear hug and smack on the lips right before she lies down for the night.
I will remember Sarah's infectious laugh and how she sings when ever she's in the bathroom. How she is so sweet and gentle and inclusive with her little sister and pretty much any child that is smaller than her. How she tries so hard to be big and responsible even though she wants to be babied.
I will remember how Andy at age nine (well, almost), still comes to me and makes me give him a hug. How he still loves for me to tuck him and kiss him good night. How all the word and number games we played with him as a kid have only made him want to play more as he gets older and how he is as inquisitive, or more, than his father in the way he asks so many questions, never stopping to let you give the answer.
So, there will be a day when I look back and think how quickly they've grown and how much I miss it. I won't, however, cherish or love every moment. Instead I will set aside the memories that I like best and those are the ones that I will wish I could get back.
I often wonder what I am doing wrong, why I can't be more patient and what does it mean if all I've ever wanted to do is be a stay at home mom and this is really all it is? Why do I let them get to me and why can't I be more happy? But nobody has to tell me that raising kids is hard, very hard, because I'm in the thick of it. I love my kids very much but you can't convince me it's all rainbows and puppy dogs.
There are so many things about my kids that I won't miss, that it overshadows the things that I will. Of course, just like the horrors of pregnancy and child birth, I will forget a lot of the bad things and only choose to remember the good. I will not think about Sarah's incessant whining, Andy's non-stop antagonizing, or Amanda's need to be carried all the time regardless of how sore my hips are. I will choose not to remember the crying, the throwing of toys or the way they sometimes talk to me in the most amazingly disrespectful voice.
Instead I will remember Amanda crawling into my lap when I go to lunch with my friends and sitting there quietly, just happy to be with her mommy. And how she desperately wants to sleep with us and on the rare occasions we let her she curls up next to me and her warm little body breathes softly in my ear. How when I make her hold my hand while we're crossing the street she just holds one finger instead of my entire hand and when going to bed she gives me the biggest bear hug and smack on the lips right before she lies down for the night.
I will remember Sarah's infectious laugh and how she sings when ever she's in the bathroom. How she is so sweet and gentle and inclusive with her little sister and pretty much any child that is smaller than her. How she tries so hard to be big and responsible even though she wants to be babied.
I will remember how Andy at age nine (well, almost), still comes to me and makes me give him a hug. How he still loves for me to tuck him and kiss him good night. How all the word and number games we played with him as a kid have only made him want to play more as he gets older and how he is as inquisitive, or more, than his father in the way he asks so many questions, never stopping to let you give the answer.
So, there will be a day when I look back and think how quickly they've grown and how much I miss it. I won't, however, cherish or love every moment. Instead I will set aside the memories that I like best and those are the ones that I will wish I could get back.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
A Magical Break
Somehow, Andy got a four day break for MLK day. I'm not really sure how it happened, and I'm really not sure how I didn't even realized that he had the break until January 2nd, but it kind of goes like this. Every week they send all the kids' papers home in their Monday Folder. This includes notes from the teachers, notes from the PTA, upcoming events, graded homework, anything and everything the teachers or school wants the parents to have. They only send stuff home once a week, in the Monday Folder, so when it comes there is usually a lot of stuff in it.
On January 2nd I happened to actually look at the information in the Monday Folder and read the upcoming events/important dates section a little more carefully than normal. So the conversation between Charlie and me went something like this:
Me: Huh, Andy has January 16th off from school. Hey, he's also got the 17th off.
Charlie: Where do you want to go?
Me: Disney World
Yes, it was that fast. That is the joy of flight benefits, the ability to go anywhere on such little notice. The thing that someday, if and when Charlie ever leaves the airline industry, we will miss most of all. I had been wanting to go to Disney one more time before Amanda wasn't free anymore, and time was running out. Yes, we still had about six months, but spring break would start soon and you don't want to go then, and then it would be summer and you really don't want to go then. So it was pretty much now or never. So we went.
We spent our first day there doing nothing in particular. We did not go to a park. We played mini golf, we had a fancy lunch, and we shopped. It was relaxing and relatively enjoyable. The next day Charlie and Andy went to Universal Studios to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and I took the girls to the Magic Kingdom. We stood in line to see tons of characters, but it was what the girls wanted to do. Amanda loved the animals - Mickey, Minnie, Winnie the Pooh - but did not like any of the people - Tinkerbell, Snow White, Cinderella. I think generally it's the other way around, but to each his own. We watched a show or two, saw the parade and went on a few rides and overall the girls had a great time.
The last day we all went to the Magic Kingdom together. We went on a few more rides, had some yummy snacks and just hung out. We didn't stay too late, but still had fun. Hopefully creating good memories for our kids.
Why do we go so often? First of all, I like it. Charlie doesn't like it that much but goes because he loves me. Second, the kids are only going to want to go for so long. We have plenty of time to go other places, but not as long to go here. Finally, it's the most magical place on Earth. Who wouldn't want to go?
On January 2nd I happened to actually look at the information in the Monday Folder and read the upcoming events/important dates section a little more carefully than normal. So the conversation between Charlie and me went something like this:
Me: Huh, Andy has January 16th off from school. Hey, he's also got the 17th off.
Charlie: Where do you want to go?
Me: Disney World
Yes, it was that fast. That is the joy of flight benefits, the ability to go anywhere on such little notice. The thing that someday, if and when Charlie ever leaves the airline industry, we will miss most of all. I had been wanting to go to Disney one more time before Amanda wasn't free anymore, and time was running out. Yes, we still had about six months, but spring break would start soon and you don't want to go then, and then it would be summer and you really don't want to go then. So it was pretty much now or never. So we went.
We spent our first day there doing nothing in particular. We did not go to a park. We played mini golf, we had a fancy lunch, and we shopped. It was relaxing and relatively enjoyable. The next day Charlie and Andy went to Universal Studios to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and I took the girls to the Magic Kingdom. We stood in line to see tons of characters, but it was what the girls wanted to do. Amanda loved the animals - Mickey, Minnie, Winnie the Pooh - but did not like any of the people - Tinkerbell, Snow White, Cinderella. I think generally it's the other way around, but to each his own. We watched a show or two, saw the parade and went on a few rides and overall the girls had a great time.
The last day we all went to the Magic Kingdom together. We went on a few more rides, had some yummy snacks and just hung out. We didn't stay too late, but still had fun. Hopefully creating good memories for our kids.
Why do we go so often? First of all, I like it. Charlie doesn't like it that much but goes because he loves me. Second, the kids are only going to want to go for so long. We have plenty of time to go other places, but not as long to go here. Finally, it's the most magical place on Earth. Who wouldn't want to go?
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
Picture of the Day
Amanda didn't want to wear her pajama pants the other day so we put them on her head. We're crazy like that!
Kid Quote of the Day
"Why do they have swearing in movies if nobody really swears in real life?"
-Andy, my innocent 8 year old.
-Andy, my innocent 8 year old.
Deconstructing
The holidays are officially over at our house. Over the weekend we finally took down the trees (yes, we have two, one for the kids' ornaments and one for the nice ornaments, lol) and all the other decorations. We put away the stockings and the advent calendar and everything else that gets us geared up for Christmas and Hanukkah.
Charlie did an amazing job cleaning the garage, recycling a ton of boxes and reorganizing a bunch of other things. You still can't park a car in there, but that's just not meant to be.
The leaves are finally off the trees and so we raked the lawn. After all these years I still find it weird to rake in January, but if you do it before then you just have to do it again because either all the leaves aren't off the trees yet or everybody else's leaves blow into your yard.
We're back in our routine, but all I want to do is purge. Charlie cleaning the garage has inspired me to get stuff out of the house. We have three coffee makers, two blenders and a bunch of other stuff we never use. We need to simplify and streamline and declutter. It's so bad, that I asked my mom to get me a book for Christmas called "The Joy of Less: A Minimalist Living Guide" and then had a panic attack a week or two before Christmas because I thought I already had it. You've got a serious problem if you have two copies of the same book on how to be a minimalist. Luckily, it was not a duplicate.
So that's the goal for the next few weeks. Fun stuff like cleaning out the closets, getting rid of things we don't use and don't plan on using and push back against our urge to keep everything. When two pack rats marry it is not a good thing. It's not Hoarders, but if I had a different personality type this house would look very different.
It will be fun, it will be great, it will be and adventure. As much as throwing out a ton of crap can be an adventure.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Picture of the Day
Yesterday I took Amanda to one of my favorite malls. I knew there was a carousel in the mall, I just forgot. As soon as she saw it she said, "I want to ride that". Smart girl. At first she tried to sit on one of the benches, but I made her move to a horse. I'm not paying to ride the carousel and then sit on the bench and not move up and down. It took her forever to pick which horse she wanted and then she wasn't happy about the ride. Until it stopped. Then she didn't want to get off. Of course.
Ignore her hair, she's two and she won't let me do anything with it. Not a battle I'm willing to fight.
Poetic Justice
I find the dynamics between my three children very interesting. Sarah and Amanda love each other, it's as simple as that. Occasionally one of them will be in a mood and be nasty or antagonistic towards the other, but the majority of the time they are the best of friends. I love that about them. Andy is the one who throws a wrench into the whole situation.
From the moment Sarah was born, Andy didn't like her. He has said since he was about four that she ruined his life by being born. He seems to remember that he had it pretty good before then. I'm not sure how Amanda doesn't factor into the equation when he mentions all of this, because she would have ruined his life eventually as well, but I guess she's so much younger that he doesn't think about her that way.
Sarah has always craved Andy's approval, but he very rarely gives it. On the other hand, he loves Amanda. In fact, he is always craving her approval, but she rarely gives it to him. So to sum it up, Andy doesn't really like Sarah but loves Amanda, Amanda doesn't really care for Andy but loves Sarah, and Sarah tries to dislike Andy but secretly worships him and she loves Amanda to pieces.
Because Andy likes Amanda so much, he's always asking her for hugs. 90% of the time she says no. He's a little overbearing and doesn't understand why she won't hug him. We've tried to explain that he just needs to back off and she'll be more open to it, but he just can't do it. Today we were in the car and Andy decided he was going to tackle the issue head on.
Andy: Amanda, why don't you like me?
Amanda: I don't like Andy, I like Sarah.
Andy: I know. WHY don't you like me?
Amanda: I don't like Andy.
Andy: We know you don't like me, but why don't you like me?
Amanda: I don't like you Andy, I like Sarah.
This went on for at least five minutes when I finally told Andy that Amanda just couldn't comprehend what he was asking her. She didn't know how to answer his question. I tried to tell him that she probably didn't like him because he was mean to Sarah, but I'm not sure he bought it. He was so frustrated and I was just giggling to myself in the front seat, trying to stay out of it.
In the end he never got an answer other than Amanda doesn't like him. Of course she does, but she likes Sarah better and she doesn't know how to explain that. All I know is that he kind of deserves it, and if he was a little nicer to Sarah then Amanda probably would like him more.
A tough lesson to learn, but who better to teach you than an innocent little girl that you are desperately in love with?
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Priceless
Amanda gave me the best gift ever for Christmas. Seriously, and it didn't cost her a dime. A week before Christmas she decided she didn't want to wear diapers anymore. Yipee!
It was a couple of weeks ago, of course I don't remember the exact day because I don't remember much anymore, but I do know it was after she was done with school and before we left for Puerto Rico. One night as I was getting her ready for bed she told me she didn't want to wear a diaper to bed, she wanted to wear Minnie Mouse underwear. I was floored. I've been trying to get her to wear it and to potty train for months, but she hasn't been interested. Of course I wasn't going to let her start wearing underwear to bed out of nowhere, so I told her we could start the next day. So we did.
She did great. When we flew back and forth to P.R. we put her in a diaper just in case, but we took her to the bathroom several times during the flight and she stayed dry the entire time. The rest of the trip she was in underwear during the day and diapers at night only. Occasionally she will ask for a diaper, such as this morning when she did not want to go to school, but I just tell her that she is a big girl and doesn't wear diapers except for night time. She's not always excited about it but she knows I'm not going back.
Yes, she's had a few accidents. She's not so good at telling me when she has to go, but she is getting better. She went to school with underwear on today and they were so excited. They didn't even care that she had an accident, they are just about as happy as I am to not have to change her diaper.
She likes it because I usually end up giving her candy if she goes to the bathroom. In fact, this morning all she had for breakfast was candy. I'm not proud of it and don't like to do it often, but after being home with me for two weeks she did not want to go to school or sit on the toilet, so it was the only way to get her moving this morning. The best part is when she comes to me and says, "Mommy, I want to go to the bathroom for a piece of candy". I'm not sure if she actually has to go or just wants the candy, but I don't care. Soon enough she'll go and won't ask for candy. Plus, we went to the dentist last week and I told them what's going on and they are also of the "whatever works" philosophy so if they aren't too worried about it I'm not either.
This is a long time coming. I've been changing diapers for almost nine years, with a few short breaks while I was pregnant with the next one. I'm looking forward to the freedom of no diapers, the lighter bag, less bulk and, you know, not changing diapers. Of course she'll still need my help for another year or two, but I'll take it!
It was a couple of weeks ago, of course I don't remember the exact day because I don't remember much anymore, but I do know it was after she was done with school and before we left for Puerto Rico. One night as I was getting her ready for bed she told me she didn't want to wear a diaper to bed, she wanted to wear Minnie Mouse underwear. I was floored. I've been trying to get her to wear it and to potty train for months, but she hasn't been interested. Of course I wasn't going to let her start wearing underwear to bed out of nowhere, so I told her we could start the next day. So we did.
She did great. When we flew back and forth to P.R. we put her in a diaper just in case, but we took her to the bathroom several times during the flight and she stayed dry the entire time. The rest of the trip she was in underwear during the day and diapers at night only. Occasionally she will ask for a diaper, such as this morning when she did not want to go to school, but I just tell her that she is a big girl and doesn't wear diapers except for night time. She's not always excited about it but she knows I'm not going back.
Yes, she's had a few accidents. She's not so good at telling me when she has to go, but she is getting better. She went to school with underwear on today and they were so excited. They didn't even care that she had an accident, they are just about as happy as I am to not have to change her diaper.
She likes it because I usually end up giving her candy if she goes to the bathroom. In fact, this morning all she had for breakfast was candy. I'm not proud of it and don't like to do it often, but after being home with me for two weeks she did not want to go to school or sit on the toilet, so it was the only way to get her moving this morning. The best part is when she comes to me and says, "Mommy, I want to go to the bathroom for a piece of candy". I'm not sure if she actually has to go or just wants the candy, but I don't care. Soon enough she'll go and won't ask for candy. Plus, we went to the dentist last week and I told them what's going on and they are also of the "whatever works" philosophy so if they aren't too worried about it I'm not either.
This is a long time coming. I've been changing diapers for almost nine years, with a few short breaks while I was pregnant with the next one. I'm looking forward to the freedom of no diapers, the lighter bag, less bulk and, you know, not changing diapers. Of course she'll still need my help for another year or two, but I'll take it!
Monday, January 2, 2012
Happy New Year!
After two weeks off of school and some work, we are finally back on track to schedule city. The two older ones went back to school today and Amanda goes back tomorrow. Of course when I picked Sarah up from school her teacher said she did not have the best day and almost fell asleep after lunch, but she did survive.
We had a nice Christmas at home with a couple days off before we headed to my parent's house for Christmas with the extended family. The kids had a great time with their cousins and I got to catch up with my siblings which was nice. Unfortunately there was no snow so we couldn't do any crazy sledding this year, but we substituted with bowling and everybody appeared to have a good time.
I'm not one to make New Year's Resolutions, because I think you shouldn't wait for New Year's if you need to make a change in your life. Just make the change. Such as changing your eating habits, you should do that anyway so just do it. However, this year I decided to buck my anti-resolution mindset and make a few.
First, I'm going to try to go to bed by 10:30p every night. Well, every week night. If not actually be in bed, at least go upstairs and start getting ready for bed. Since I usually start the process around midnight, this will be huge for me. However, I think the extra sleep is really important and will make some enormous changes in my life such as increase my patience, allow me to drink less caffeine, allow me to drive without falling asleep and maybe even prevent me from sleeping in instead of going to yoga. I may even be able to get rid of some of the bags under my eyes and hopefully my metabolism will start working again. The sad part for you is I usually start writing my blog late at night, so if I can't fit it in earlier there may be less posts during the transition. You will just have to call me to find out how I'm doing :)
Second, I'm really, really going to go to yoga more. In the past I was trying to go so many days that it was just daunting. I gave up before I started. Then I decided I would go when I could, but only if I could go at least a couple of days in a row. I wouldn't go if I knew I wasn't going to be able to go for the next couple of days which often meant that I didn't go at all. Now I am just going to go whenever I can and feel good about the fact that I made it. Plus, Charlie got me an awesome yoga mat to Christmas, and I would feel bad if I didn't use it because he thinks I don't use any of the gifts he ever gives me (which sadly is more right than wrong).
Third, and this is a big three, I'm going to try really hard not to let things get to me so much. I'm turning 40 this year, I just have to finally let things go. I read a really cool quote someone posted on Facebook last week that basically said if someone says something bad about you that you shouldn't worry about your character you should worry about theirs. I like that, I'll stick to that mentality.
So, nothing Earth shattering, but still something which is more than I usually do. Of course I'll try to write more too, but again that's not a resolution that's just something I really want to do so I might as well start now.
We had a nice Christmas at home with a couple days off before we headed to my parent's house for Christmas with the extended family. The kids had a great time with their cousins and I got to catch up with my siblings which was nice. Unfortunately there was no snow so we couldn't do any crazy sledding this year, but we substituted with bowling and everybody appeared to have a good time.
I'm not one to make New Year's Resolutions, because I think you shouldn't wait for New Year's if you need to make a change in your life. Just make the change. Such as changing your eating habits, you should do that anyway so just do it. However, this year I decided to buck my anti-resolution mindset and make a few.
First, I'm going to try to go to bed by 10:30p every night. Well, every week night. If not actually be in bed, at least go upstairs and start getting ready for bed. Since I usually start the process around midnight, this will be huge for me. However, I think the extra sleep is really important and will make some enormous changes in my life such as increase my patience, allow me to drink less caffeine, allow me to drive without falling asleep and maybe even prevent me from sleeping in instead of going to yoga. I may even be able to get rid of some of the bags under my eyes and hopefully my metabolism will start working again. The sad part for you is I usually start writing my blog late at night, so if I can't fit it in earlier there may be less posts during the transition. You will just have to call me to find out how I'm doing :)
Second, I'm really, really going to go to yoga more. In the past I was trying to go so many days that it was just daunting. I gave up before I started. Then I decided I would go when I could, but only if I could go at least a couple of days in a row. I wouldn't go if I knew I wasn't going to be able to go for the next couple of days which often meant that I didn't go at all. Now I am just going to go whenever I can and feel good about the fact that I made it. Plus, Charlie got me an awesome yoga mat to Christmas, and I would feel bad if I didn't use it because he thinks I don't use any of the gifts he ever gives me (which sadly is more right than wrong).
Third, and this is a big three, I'm going to try really hard not to let things get to me so much. I'm turning 40 this year, I just have to finally let things go. I read a really cool quote someone posted on Facebook last week that basically said if someone says something bad about you that you shouldn't worry about your character you should worry about theirs. I like that, I'll stick to that mentality.
So, nothing Earth shattering, but still something which is more than I usually do. Of course I'll try to write more too, but again that's not a resolution that's just something I really want to do so I might as well start now.
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