Big Girl Undies Here!

Filed Under Diapers/Potty, Potty Training, This Rocks, Three Years Old | 2 Comments

I never thought I would be typing these words…. Bailey is potty trained!!! It started on June 26th, in the afternoon. My mother offered to keep Bailey overnight so Jonathon and I could go out, and then the next day we could prepare for a friend’s baby shower at our house. As I was getting ready that afternoon, my mom called and said, “Why don’t you bring Bailey’s little potty and some extra underwear with you?” My child has attempted to potty train several times, each of which has been a disaster, so I agreed but assumed it would be a waste of time.

My mom said that Bailey had ONE accident on Saturday evening, and then a second one on her way to the bathroom. That’s all it took for her to figure it out. On Sunday morning she had one accident on the way to the bathroom again. Then my mom took her to Chuck E Cheese in underwear, and she stayed dry. At this point I will also admit that MY MOTHER TOOK HER TO CHUCK E CHEESE IN PAJAMA SHORTS. And she KNEW they were pajama shorts. Groan. SHe thought they would be comfortable and easy to pull down.

Bailey was accident free for four days after that, until she “dripped” on the way to the potty one night. Since then, she has had one accident at gymnastics camp and one at her preschool. Both were situations where she was dropped off for several hours and I wasn’t there. She has even started pooping on the potty in the last few days, instead of waiting for her nighttime diaper. She does wear a diaper at nap and bedtime. She is almost always dry after nap but usually a little wet in the morning. First thing she does in the morning is sit on the potty though, which is her choice.

We discovered FINALLY that the key to her potty training is that we could not ask her to go potty. That was what was making her freak out. We had to just let her go on her own and not even ask her to try. Now, if we are leaving somewhere I still don’t have much luck asking her to try. I have to be pretty firm and say something like, “You need to go make pee before we leave. It’s not a choice right now.” But thank God, she is potty trained. At 38 months- we always joked she’d be reading before she was going potty but I guess not. And thank you, mother. Now she can actually go to preschool this fall… which is a whole ‘nother topic.

My brain is drained

Filed Under Diapers/Potty, Difficult Stuff, Into Everything, Sleep, Slinging, Three Years Old, Two Months- Taylor | 2 Comments

I feel like I need to tell you why I haven’t really been blogging– just posting pictures with a few captions here and there. It’s because when I finally get to sit down, I usually don’t have both hands free. And I get sick of typing with one hand. My brain is tired, but I’ve been getting enough sleep. (Shocking, right? I really have though). My brain is tired because of what happens during my awake hours.

I have a very feisty three-year-old who flat out refuses to go potty. We actually attempted potty training last week, as recommended by our pediatrician. It basically resulted in my child peeing everywhere but the toilet, mostly on purpose, throwing wet undies, and telling me she was NOT going to go potty. In her words, “It’s just for other girls.” Can we say strong willed? We have also had a few incidents involving spitting, kicking, squeezing her brother’s face, and just general disobedience. Oh, and let’s not forget that she dumped the entire thing of fish food into the aquarium, clogging the filter and requiring and emergency evacuation from the tank. Because I had nothing better to do that afternoon. When we were at the store she grabbed a barcode scanner and tried to play “store lady.” She has also recently climbed onto the countertop and played with the dish soap and colored with a sharpie, as pictured here.

Taylor likes to be held all.the.time… he is starting to like other people besides just me, so that is refreshing. Although I’m still his favorite (and I secretly hope I always am!) but he is just a much needier baby than Bailey was. He wants constant comforting and bouncing and eye contact. Until last week he was almost inconsolable unless he was nursing. We finally figured out that he was actually uncomfortable and not just being a pain. Yes it took me nine weeks to realize that, and yes I feel guilty. So he started on Mylanta last week and it has made a world of difference. He still wants to be held but at least he is pleasant while being held and not screaming or fussing. But basically I have a constant companion. He nurses anywhere from every two to three hours during the day, but more like every hour in the evening. He’s cute though, isn’t he?

A few days ago it was SO bad though. Bailey was screaming, he was screaming, the house was trashed… I sat down in the kitchen and cried and called my mom. She came and rescued me and it was wonderful- but sometimes I feel like I am not cut out to be a mom. I just honestly suck at it sometimes. I love my kids like crazy but between the two of them it’s just exhausting emotionally.

At night, he sleeps with me so I have no idea how often he nurses. Honestly, we go to bed and get up eight hours later. Sometime during the night I know that he eats, and we flip over so he can eat on the other side as well. I know sometimes he goes longer than others because sometimes I leak and other times I don’t. But I think it’s all subconscious for both of us- it’s just like an instinct. I know that sometimes I feel his feet starting to move next to me and then I snuggle up next to him so he can eat and then we are both back asleep before I know it. Eight weeks ago, this was making me crazy. I had never planned to co sleep. But we get such good sleep, and I can function normally during the day. Someday I will worry about getting him into his own bed. (Yes, he does sleep there on occasion for an hour or so). It’s amazing how I am such a different mother with him, because he is such a different child.

All this to say, when I have my hands free, it is probably my only free half hour in a 24 hour period. Or Jonathon is holding Taylor so I can get something ready to ship, or I am making dinner. Taylor likes the Baby Bjorn but it’s not practical to have him in there all day. The sling makes me crazy after a while. But this is our life for now. I’m happy, just drained and so blogging is last on my list if it involves thinking.

34 Months

Filed Under Being a Mom, Big Sister, Daddy, Diapers/Potty, Gymnastics, Talking, Two and a half years old | 1 Comment

Bailey,

I can’t believe you are 34 months old. Almost three years… plus the nine+ months that you were inside me. I can’t even imagine my life without you. You just seem such a part of me, a part of our family. You are the most beautiful child I have ever seen.

Your creative side is really coming out lately. You have a love for performing and pretending. You still love to play Little People and to play Princesses with your new castle. But you also like to assign me roles to act out (and you tell me exactly what to do so there is no confusion!) You also spin and twirl while talking, and take frequent bows at the end of sentences or announcements. You like to curtsy, which we really need to get on video. You talk about what you are going to be when you grow up- either a doctor or a rock star, depending on the day. You recently told us that you were going to be a firefighter (“fighter-fighter”) and that daddy would be your fire dog! You are often heard saying things like, “Oh my goodness, I’m never gonna finish this!” or “Oh dear, I just can’t believe it.” I laugh at the little phrases you’ve picked up from us and from the television.

You are starting to have an interest in potty training. Some days. On occasion you wear underwear and try to go on the potty. You understand now whether you are wet or dry. It really just depends on your mood, but I have learned there is no sense in pushing you. If I push, you shut down and refuse to cooperate. This morning you told me you wanted to wear diapers just like Baby _____ ____. (Your brother, whose name has not yet been shared with the internet).

Speaking of your brother- you love him and you are so excited to meet him. I am still a little nervous of how it will be once reality sets in. But you like to talk to him, kiss my belly, and put stickers on my belly to share with him. You will tell anyone that you are a big sister, and what his name is, and that he is growing in mommy’s tummy. We have explained that when he is ready to come out, mommy and daddy will go to the Baby Hospital and the Baby Doctor will help take him out. Then you can come see him. You seem really satisfied with that explanation. You’ve been to quite a few doctor appointments with me and heard the heartbeat and gotten lollipops for sitting in the chair. You haven’t tried to touch anything gross (ahem, pap smear wands) in a long time, thank goodness!

Your vocabulary amazes me. You are really easy to understand- we get lots of comments about how clearly you speak. And the things you say! Long sentences that flow together really well, for the most part. Occasionally you mix up a past-tense or a she/her/pronoun. Just last night- “Daddy, today at gymnastics Mr. Mark gave me a medal. He gave it to me because I obeyed in my class.” Gymnastics is your favorite thing to do right now. Just yesterday you did a forward roll on the balance beam WITHOUT mommy holding on to you. I was there spotting you but your balance is SO good. You can also reach out and grab the rings and swing on your own, and hold the bar and walk your feet up the wall before I help you do a pullover. Next week starts the new semester and you will be in the next class up/next age group, and your teacher thinks that will challenge you a little more both with skills and with listening/following the teacher.

We are still trying to get your asthma under control. That has been our biggest struggle this fall and winter. You are now on a daily preventative medication (through your nebulizer) and you take allergy medicine. You have a nasal spray for when you need it, and also an as-needed inhaled medication. It’s a lot, but it seems to be working. I am hoping the days of throwing up from coughing are behind us…

You are such a joy. We have just two months left before your brother arrives. Maybe less. I want to make the absolute most of these two months. I can’t believe it is almost the end of our uninterrupted time together. I know once he’s here, he won’t seem like an interruption. But for now I can’t imagine anyone else being part of our perfect little world. I love you more than you can imagine, Bailey Sophia.

Mommy

Not just a fluke

Filed Under Are you kidding me?, Diapers/Potty, Two and a half years old | 1 Comment

Today I jumped in the shower while Bailey was having a snack and watching tv. We were getting ready to go to gymnastics. She still had her pajamas on. As I was finishing my shower she came into the bathroom. She was like “Look Mom!” and through the steamy shower glass I see this brown thing in her hand… I bet you know where this is going…

After I calmed down we flushed it, washed her hands, and I went in the living room to find her jammy pants and diaper on the floor. Thankfully there were no other “remnants” anywhere. Someone needs to start wearing a onesie, I think.

Tuesday Toot- Should I Even be Proud?

Filed Under Are you kidding me?, Diapers/Potty, Second Pregnancy, Sleep, Tuesday Toot, Two and a half years old | 3 Comments

So I’m supposed to talk about an accomplishment, something I’m proud of, etc.

Should I mention that I functioned all day on just three hours of sleep (thank you horrible gas pains, I thought I was in labor! I have honestly never felt anything quite like this. Jonathon finally went to the store at 2 a.m. to get me Gas-X.)

Or that I cleaned poop out of Bailey’s bed this morning? After listening to her yell “Mom! Come in here! You hear me? I need you to come in!” I thought she just woke up early and told her to go back to sleep. So I finally sent Jonathon in and he’s like “Help! There’s poop!” So I go in and she says, “Look at all the poops in my bed! There’s poops in my own bed!” And those little turdlets were all lined up and arranged. Nice.

Or should I tell you that I worked doing childcare this morning at church and I wish that my old co-teacher was still in my room with me? Long morning.

Or maybe I should just tell you that Bailey and I both got to take a three hour nap this afternoon

Tuesday is Snooze-day

Filed Under Church, Cloth Diapering, Diapers/Potty, Twenty-two Months | Leave a Comment

I have been noticing a trend. Every Tuesday afternoon Bailey and I take a LONG nap. Not together, but at the same time. I work at church doing childcare on Tuesday mornings and she is in the “Big Girl 2′s Class” so we both have a busy morning. I am in the infant (six weeks to crawling) room with my friend Casey. I enjoy getting to spend the time with her every week. It gives us a good chance to talk while we hold the babies and play with them. We have been blessed with some really cute babies! This one little guy, well it’s good that he’s so cute because he seriously has stinky grown man gas. Constantly. But he is just so cute that we manage to put up with it

On the flip side: My daughter is most definitely not a baby anymore. She is funny and sneaky and loves to be mommy’s helper. She also likes to sit on the potty. She is successful maybe 1/2 the time but we don’t push it.

Another thing that she loves to do is line up her Little People animals. She likes them all to face her. She knows an astonishing amount of animal names now. Even things like lizard, seahorse, hippo… I can’t wait to take her to the zoo this summer. We talk about the zoo A LOT and talk about what animals we want to see. I love that she can have conversations with me now.

And just because I love her fluffy cloth diapers (this one is a Blueberry Minky), and because this one just happens to match her pajama shirt, I had to snap one more.

Floor Pooper

Filed Under Diapers/Potty, Fifteen Months, Firsts | 5 Comments

Just like it sounds. Today, I told Bailey we were going to go in her room and change her diaper. She walked in her room with me and she took off her diaper. I turned around to the changing table, to get a cloth diaper ready so I didn’t have to hold her squirming body down on the changing table any longer than necessary… and of course right as I turned back to pick her up, she was squatting on the floor, pooping. She left a little doody right in the middle of the floor. Then she stood up and walked over to her toy box to play. Nice.

Believe it or not, this is the first time B has EVER pooped or peed on the floor. She goes diaper-less quite a bit and it finally happened. Quite intentionally, too. I’m not sure what to think. But it was definitely gross.

Fishing For Turds

Filed Under Diapers/Potty | 9 Comments

This is quite possibly the most disgusting thing I have written so far. Although I am sure as Bailey gets older, there will be lots more gross posts

Bailey had a memorable event today to mark her fourteen month birthday. She pooped in a cloth diaper- which is nothing new- so I went in the hallway bathroom and dumped the diaper out into the toilet. Closed the lid and then got distracted and went to do something else.

You can probably guess what’s coming… About ten minutes later I heard a clunk. I ran into the bathroom to find that Bailey had learned how to lift up the toilet seat (first time ever) and was splashing her hand in the water, trying to grab the piece of poop.

I’m sorry if you just barfed in your mouth while reading my blog. I promise to make up for it with some cute (non-poop-related) pictures soon!

Diapers

Filed Under Diapers/Potty, Input Needed | 6 Comments

Well, it’s official… Bailey’s little bottom is moving up to Size 1 today. She has two newborn diapers left to wear and then we are done with those. This is technically the first thing she has outgrown. My favorite newborn diapers were Pampers Swaddlers but they seemed to run the smallest. Then she wore Target ones for a while and then moved into the Huggies which seemed the biggest. (We have quite the variety thanks to our diaper shower and my mom).

I opened a pack of Pampers Size 1 and they look huge. Without opening ALL my diapers and going through them, does anyone know what seems to run the smallest in this size? And prevent leg-hole blowouts the best? We haven’t had many but that is the only spot that leaks on her- not the back or front of anything, just those legs. I noticed it more with Huggies I think they didn’t seal as tightly. Also, have you found a cheap generic diaper that works well? The Target ones seem decent but I’m willing to try others.

Last night I got a little delusional and looked at a cloth diaper website. Then I remembered I didn’t want to wash poo every day. Plus, those things are expensive!

Fuzz Head Baby

Filed Under Diapers/Potty, One Month | 2 Comments

I finally have a minute just to chat. I slept really well last night, but of course I am getting the “late afternoon” tired thing right now. Probably doesn’t help that Bailey is sleeping against my chest in her sling… my eyes are kind of droopy but I am going to dinner in like a half an hour with my mom and grandma, so no time for a nap. We are eating barbecue- note to self- do not eat the spicy sauce.

Last night Bailey was a little fussy after dinner. I think she was just tired, I was tired of holding her (gasp) and wanted her to sleep in her swing. She disagreed. She also wanted a binky, which is rare, but then it kept falling out of her mouth and she’d get mad. jonathon worked a little bit late, so when he got home at 9:15 I was like, “Congratulations, she’s yours the rest of the evening!” I feel guilty doing that after he’s been at work all day, but honestly sometimes I just need a break from having a baby attached to me in a sling or on a boob or in my lap. And I tend to either nap or get stuff done while she’s sleeping during the day, so then I haven’t had much “me” time by the end of the day. But we put her down about midnight when we were ready to go to bed and she slept until almost 6 a.m., then I fed her and got her back down around 7:15 and we slept again until 10:45.

I think she would have slept a little longer this morning except we had our breastfeeding support group/mommy’s social group. It’s at a maternity support store in the area and there are some really nice ladies that go to the group. This was my second time going and there were about 20 women there this time. Lots of little babies, some even younger than Bailey. The oldest one is about 9 months, I think. Anyway they also have a book club that meets on Tuesday mornings once a month, so I think I might try going to that next month. I am trying to build as much of a stay-at-home/social life as I can for myself.

Let’s see, what has Bailey been doing lately… still not socially smiling but she will smile randomly when she’s happy. She has now smiled several times at the ceiling fan and the windows. Apparently those just really make her happy. What can I say. She has learned to cough in the last week and she will cough once in a while, I think just for fun. She looks right at me when she does it. She never sounds like she’s choking or spitting up or anything when it happens. Today for the first time she is in her sling with her feet out. She was trying to push up in it and couldn’t settle down, so she’s in it like a big girl right now with it just under her bottom and around her back. I think she is starting to get more hair. Her head feels fuzzier and I love to kiss it and rub my face against it. She has almost outgrown newborn size diapers. She is wearing Hugg1es right now and they seem to run the biggest. Next package we will probably do size ones. Any ideas on which brand runs the smallest in that size? P@mpers seemed to be the smallest newborn ones.

Well, that’s my life lately. Breastfeeding and fuzzy head and diapers and waiting for my baby to smile at me. And I am loving it.