It's My Party...

Having a birthday 3 days after Christmas can be a little troublesome.  As a kid, you don't get balloons delivered at school, you can't have pool parties, slumber parties are difficult as everyone is out of town, and it's too cold to ride the new bike you got.  As an adult, it just means that I'm over all of the holiday madness to even feel like celebrating or asking for any kind of a party.  I can usually depend on my close friends to go have dinner and a few drinks with me, but at nearly 8 months pregnant drinks aren't an option and going out has lost its luster. 

What WOULD a pregnant gal like to do for her birthday?  Well, I'd really just like to get into comfy clothes, sit on my couch with close friends and eat yummy food.  I think I'll call it a Cozy Party!  First step? Pinterest of course. I found great recipes for finger foods that we could eat on the couch.  No utensils needed!  I spread it all out on the coffee table and we munched and talked all night. This was also a great excuse to have the yummy Campfire Cake that my friend Laura had posted a blog about last month.  So glad she made it for me!  And it IS as good as it looks.

And what is cozier than hot chocolate? I found a great recipe and a fun idea for marshmallow dippers.

My favorite part of the night was giving all the girls a pair of my favorite Old Navy slippers to put on when they arrived.  They were on crazy sale, and I rarely exchange gifts with friends so I knew this would be fun!  I love giving things that I love to people who will love them just as much as I do.  And I have to admit I felt a little like Oprah.  You get a pair, you get a pair, you get a pair!

It was a great night despite my very pregnant puffy self. 

And I had a great clean-up crew...

Dish washer...

and the Disposal

*Winston is fine...just got a few troublesome moles removed.

Family Tradition

Well, the craziness of Christmas has come and gone.  I have a camera full of photos, a fridge full of leftovers, and a living room full of toys to show for it.  I have to say, for a pregnant gal a little more than a month away from delivery, I was a pretty good sport.  But this blog is really less about our travels and more about our own Christmas at home.  In my pre Christmas blog, The Holiday That Stole Christmas, I mentioned several traditions that I wanted to incorporate into our own Christmas, so I'm following up.

Decorating the tree together- check

 Added a few child friendly things this year

Make homemade Christmas Cards- check

Sugary Confections- Check

I had planned to do this on our Christmas Eve (23rd) so that we could pack them up and take them to family the next day.  So I planned a whole day of baking for Carter and me while Daniel was at work.  Well, a whole day of baking for me...someone else started his day with a little rock and roll.

He later decided to take his usual spot on the counter to help with the Turtles 

and chocolate covered stuff....I say "stuff" because I literally dunked whatever I had that i thought might be good.  So it was a little random.

 

I decided to add this one to the list...

The Night Before Christmas- Check

Daniel reads the same book his dad read to him as a child.  It's old and worn and fantastic. :)

After putting him to bed and setting up all of his presents for the next morning, I sat in the floor of the living room admiring all our hard work.  This is the last Christmas that it will be just the 3 of us, and I feel like we did a pretty good job of making it special while taking advantage of teachable moments.  We managed to do everything that I wanted, with the exception of the advent calendar ( I have plans for next year).

Santa or no Santa, I think he had fun, and our Christmas morning would be no exception.

Yeah...that's a 6 foot tall Buzz Lightyear play tent.  It also all folds away pretty easily :)

Melissa and Doug play rug was a big hit! He's all about anything with wheels right now.

I'd put this stud on a calendar any day

I think I'm becoming less of a Christmas grinch and more a mom who is trying her best to love and celebrate the season in her own way.

Charlie Brown- "Isn't the anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?"

Linus- "Sure Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.  Lights, please...

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'''A Charlie Brown Christmas

Mommy Confessions: Go to your room

I have really surprised myself as a mom when it comes to the patience department.  My siblings would probably tell you that as a young person, I could be a bit volatile.  Like a dry match just looking for something to rub me the wrong way so that I could explode with dramatic flare.  Let's just say, there are very few moments in life that I look back on with regret, but they all include my blowing up and either making a fool of myself or really hurting close friends or family.  So I'm not sure if maturity, marriage, middle schoolers, God, or a combination of all 4 are to credit, but I think I've mellowed out.  There have been times, as a mom, that the old me would have gone off like a truckload of fireworks, but somehow I've managed to laugh or breathe through most situations.  Like this one...

Yeah, those would be my laptop keys on the floor

When I walked in and found him on the bed popping keys off one by one, all I could do was laugh on the inside.  However, as a parent, I know the importance of discipline and making sure he knew the gravity of the situation.  Part of me wanted to storm in, grab him by the shoulders, scream " have you LOST YOUR MIND?!!!" Instead I walked in, took his face in my hands and calmly explained that he was in trouble.  Upon hearing that he broke Mommy's computer and that it was very very bad...he started crying.  It might be the first time I've really seen him remorseful of what he had done.  So I chalked it up as a win for me.  No temper needed.  Just the facts.  You screwed up, son, and mom's not happy about it.  He hasn't touched the computer since.

But my best moment so far in this Terrible Two's adventure has been "go to your room until you are ready to obey mommy."  As he toddles up the stairs obediently and shuts his door, I think "did that really just happen?!"  Yeah, it did.  And it TOTALLY WORKED!  At a moment when I could not TAKE another whine, fake tear, or obstinate cry I sent him away for fear of losing my temper.  It was my answer to I don't want to damage your soul, but if you're gonna cry...I don't really care to hear it right now. 

My husband tried it again while fighting the all too familiar "take another bite" dinner table game.  We'd had enough.  Carter had his mouth covered with both hands and eyes tightly shut.  You would have thought that chicken casserole was cold chopped liver.  Well, no sense in ruining our dinner..."go to your room until you are ready to eat your dinner."  10 minutes later he is back at the table happily eating while Daniel and I cheer him on. 

My principal once told me that teaching is like a game.  "You just have to learn how to win against the students every day."  If you lose your cool or leave feeling defeated you've lost.  If they leave having done what you asked and learned something in the process you've won. I like to think of parenting in the same way. Yay me for keeping my cool, and for teaching my kid that it's not okay to act like a hooligan.  One victory at a time, right?

The Holiday That Stole Christmas

I won't lie.  I've been called a grinch before, and quite frankly, I wore the badge proudly.  I'm not really ashamed to say that I've never been a big fan of Christmas.  Correction: I've never been a fan of all the Christmas shananagans.  I don't enjoy Christmas movies.  I hate even the thought of eggnog.  Wish lists seem incredibly selfish, but who wants to give a gift that isn't well received?  So we better throw in a gift receipt in case you want to TAKE IT BACK??! Then there's the shopping.  The crowds generally just piss me off because for people who are claiming to have cheer, there is NO Christmas spirit in the checkout lines that I've waited in.  Not to mention, I'm allergic to evergreen trees and cinnamon scented things give me asthma attacks. I just don't get in to it.  Never have.  When I was younger I had the whole Santa conversation with my mother.  I told her that I really WANTED to believe, but I just didn't.  The idea is so pretty and sparkly and fun.  Who wouldn't want to believe?  As hard as our grandparents tried...I was never convinced.

So it didn't hurt my feelings when, as a my then fiance, Daniel told me he didn't want to tell our children that Santa was real. He was devistated as a child when he found out that Santa wasn't real...never fully recovered if you ask me.  Good.  One less thing, right?  One less charade to put on.  Great chance to emphasize the real reason for the season, right?  Well, yes....and no.

As long as we stay in our little world here at home, it's great.  But when we leave and are bombarded with "Holiday" ridiculousness it seems like all the Baby Jesus talk becomes pointless.  And because we haven't played up the whole Santa, elves and naughty or nice stuff people look at me like I'm the grinch that stole Carter's Christmas.  Don't get me wrong, he knows that Santa is the one in The Night Before Christmas book who says "On Dasher, on Dancer..." and that he has a white beard.  But we are keeping him as that...a character from books and movies.  But the cashier lady at Target gave me a scornful eye when he didn't respond to her Santa questions.  And relatives look at ME when he doesn't answer the question "What do YOU want for Christmas?" It's like they think he's less intelligent because he doesn't provide the appropriate response to those questions.  And I've found that people's view of holiday traditions are similar to every other part of parenthood...very personal.  And everyone has very strong opinions one way or the other.  So instead of snapping back with "Actually we are choosing NOT to focus on shiny material things and what we can get get GET from some fat man in a red suit, thank you!" I will be practicing my dismissive shoulder shrug and winning smile as if to say "oh well."

All that being said, I'm trying my best to find other ways to make the holiday Christmas special. I'm digging deep here people...trying to remember what my favorite parts of Christmas were.  So here they are...my traditions.  Some are fashioned from my childhood and some are things that I've recently found to be nice enough to do every year.

-Decorating the tree together while listening to...
-James Taylor's Christmas album
-Making homemade christmas cards or ornaments
-Sugary confections!! Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, peppermint patty brownies, chocolate covered pretzels (chocolate covered anything really), made from scratch hot cocoa, haystacks, and I'm fairly certain there will be some sort of jello mold- because Aunt Tammy's Jello Santa complete with whipped cream beard was always my favorite.
-A kid friendly, touchable, unbreakable nativity.  Got one as a gift last year (another shout out to Tammy) and Carter loves it.  Plus, it helps to....
-Tell the story of baby Jesus.  Been using his toddler bible and it is way fun.
-Make wrapping and giving gifts just as fun as getting gifts.  I let Carter put on the gift tags, hold his finger in the bows while I tied, and he even learned to tear the tape from the dispenser (we are working on appropriate tape length).
-Advent calendar
-Charlie Brown's Christmas (for Daniel)

I'm sure this list will grow and include things that I never thought would be traditions.  And I'm excited...Santa or no Santa. 

It's that time of year again...

That's right.  It's that time of year.  The air is crisp and weighted with excitement.  The smell of baked goods fills every home on the street.  The lights.  The singing.  The joy.  It's beginning to look a lot like....my birthday!

So in honor of my birthday month (and because I may be too exhausted in 20 days to actually celebrate it), I give you my thoughts on turning 28.

If you would have told me ten years ago that by the age of 28....

-I'd be married to a wonderful, successful, accomplished, intelligent, funny, handsome man

-I'd be a mother to the most beautiful, hilarious, and charismatic 2 year old

-I'd be awaiting the birth of a second baby boy

-I'd have graduated college with an education degree (not journalism, marine biology, english, dance or theater) and am already happily retired

-I'd prefer quiet nights at home with my family rather than nights out at bars

-I'd dream of a big house in the country rather than a small loft in the city

-I'd lean more on my faith in God than on my own strength or understanding

-I'd have a great group of girl friends who support and love me...all of whom I love and support in return

-I'd feel more beautiful than ever

-I'd learn to appreciate where I came from

-I'd spend less than 20 minutes in front of a mirror on an average day

-I'd laugh more as a married mom than as a carefree teen

-A clean house and toddler kisses are my 2 favorite things

-I'd know that the older I get, the happier I am

...I wouldn't have believed you.





A Fresh Perspective

This blog is off the tail of several conversations with my husband, pastor, mom and others...just need to get it out of my head.

Every now and then, in any profession, we all need a pick-me-up.  A little reminder of why we do what we do. As a teacher, it was those light bulb moments when something clicked with a student.  As a professional it may come by way of a raise, promotion, or a grateful client.  As a SAHM I get mine with every "smacker kiss" and "make mommy happy."  But I've also realized that these moments usually come after a long battle on the potty, a dinner plate stand-off, or a for-no-reason-at-all toddler tantrum.  So sometimes I have to breathe in deep and remember that children are a blessing, not just something else in life to deal with.  Because I stay at home, I think I may have a little more patience in these moments.  A little more guile to stick to my cause when trying to teach a lesson.  A little more perspective when being shouted at by a 2 year old.  A little more resolve when things don't go the way I had planned.  I know, with all that I am, that God blessed me with a child(soon to be children), and it's my job to raise him up in the way that he should go.  To be a hard worker, an exceptional husband, a loving father, and a follower of Christ.  I can't expect anyone else to do it, the job is mine. 

I want to be a mom who is living life with her children, not in spite of them.  Taking the time and mustering the patience to see through their eyes for a bit.  Enjoying their happy faces in the morning instead of being upset that they are awake so early.  Stopping whatever task I'm in the middle of to play trains or make the bulldozer sound (because mom's is always so much better). Taking double the time to complete the chores so that I can let them use the vacuum or the dust rag.  Accepting that there will be additional cleanup because he wants to help mix the flour and egg.  Understanding that motherhood means less sleep, less time, and less energy than I would like.  Because it's not about me anymore.  It's about the lessons my children need to learn in the short time they are awake each day.  That usually makes me bad cop, while my husband gets to be good cop...I don't think I'll regret the end result.  It just means I have to make twice the effort to remind them that I love them.  And because I love them, I will do all that I can to discipline fairly, consistently, and from a root of love not anger or frustration. 

I never want my children to question how important they are to me.  I never want them to think that I'm too busy to sit with them, read to them, sing with them, or love on them.  I don't want to be sitting around a campfire years from now surprised by the stories they tell.  I'd rather have been a part of their stories.  "Remember the time that you and mom..."

Go ahead...make a mess

Every once in a while, I have these moments where I can stop and realize that I'm doing a great job as a mom.  That he really IS better off here with me than at a daycare center or even with grandma.  One of those moments came a few days ago (I know, I'm behind) after cleaning up yet another mess.  Yes, you read that right.  It is possible to have a good mom moment while cleaning a mess.  I'll explain...

A month or so ago, we visited a local pumpkin patch.  While there, I found it difficult to pull Carter away from this

Who knew a feeding trough and corn would be such a hit?! So ever since then, I've been trying to think of a way to do something like the trough here at home.  Obviously the whole feeding trough motif doesn't jive with what we've got going on here in suburbia, so it was going to take some imagination.  Sandbox perhaps? Maybe next spring, but it's going to require some work from dad.  Enter the rice box...

I saw a version on Pinterest and against all inner OCD voices, I decided to make my own.  I used rice and split peas (split peas because they were on sale...and pretty) then just dropped a few small cups, an old plastic measuring spoon, and the top half of a small coke bottle for him to use as a funnel. Now you may be thinking what everyone told me- "What a mess." But I still think back and appreciate the time I spent at my grandma Dot's house when I was young.  Not because she let us do whatever we wanted, because she most certainly didn't.  Not because she bought us fancy toys or clothes, because she couldn't afford to.  I liked being there because she rarely said "no" to a creative activity.  Mess or no mess, we were welcome to her acrylic paints, her brushes, her paper, her fabric scraps, her thread, her glue, her perfectly sharpened pencils, her flour and Crisco to make sugar cookie people, her wooden spoons, her pots, her pans, and her rain buckets outside to make mud pies.
I want to give Carter the opportunity to be creative, and more often than not, creativity comes by way of a mess.  As a Science teacher, I think I became more comfortable with organized mess.  Even seventh graders spill, drop, and break things.  So I guess, in many ways, teaching was the best preparation for motherhood.  While I do NOT believe in unorganized mess, ie Carter getting into the pantry on his own and opening bags of dried goods without supervision, I do believe in presenting kids with the opportunity to learn.  And in the few days that Carter has played with his rice, he has learned to keep the mess inside the bucket, and when he does spill, he has learned to get the hand vac and clean it up.  And really, what meaningful activity doesn't require a little clean-up? I can't think of one. And the best part?  Mom can sit him at the table and get up to an hour's worth of work done in exchange for about 3 minutes of clean up!! 

stimulating the economy: things I couldn't live without this winter

They say "Money can't buy happiness," but it CAN buy products that have the power to change your life!  And honestly, I think I was surprised by small things that made all the difference for me.  So here are a few things that I splurged (I use this word lightly because these things aren't real expensive) on to prepare for a very pregnant holiday season.

#1 Maternity Pillow

I was a bit skeptical of these things when I was pregnant with my first child, but I'm a believer now!  If you are or ever have been pregnant and remember the 3rd trimester tossing and turning you will understand the gravity of my next statement: I can sleep and stay asleep in the SAME position ALL NIGHT LONG using this pillow.  I can't explain why it's better than shoving a bunch of regular pillows between your legs and behind your back...but it is.  It just is.  It supports in all the right places, and is the right amount of firm.  Plus, you can put it in like 8 different shapes to fit your needs!  My regular pillows have been in the floor since I got the Snoogle (Amazon 65.00) , and I have a feeling they may not return even after the baby arrives. Changed my life!

#2  Mens Boxer Briefs

So my husband threw an old pair of his Calvins at me one night and said "try those on. I got the wrong fit.  They are too short."  His loss, my gain.  They are now what goes on after the bra, uncomfortable prepregnancy underwear, and makeup come off. 

#3  Vaseline Intensive Repair Lotion

Okay, so you may be wondering "really? lotion?"  Yes.  Really.  I must say that I don't know anyone with dryer skin than mine.  This stuff works!  All day!  I even put it on my face!  Winter has always been dry and itchy for me, but this has seemed to cure it!  Never using another lotion again.  Drugstores for about 5.00.

#4 Old Navy Sweater Knit Booties

Lots of fun patterns, but I chose Heather Brown (because I'm safe and boring, I know). They go great over leggings.  'Nuff said. Old Navy 23.00

#5 Bandeau Top

I may have become obsessed with these after seeing Dani from Big Brother wear them under her razor back tanks all summer, but I'm glad I have them for winter!  Next best thing to going braless, and I can still answer the door or run to the store without being inappropriate.  Now, I will say, while I'm a C/D during pregnancy, I'm pushing a B normally so I don't have support issues(yet...I'm sure that day will come).  Underwire is more of a formality rather than a necessity for me so a bra like this is possible. Victoriassecret.com 14.50 when you buy 2 

Go ahead...try something on the list and tell me you don't love it.  I dare you.

Because I Don't Say It Enough

When I met you, I was dead.  I was cold and alone and kept walls up to protect me from loving or being loved by anyone ever again.  It seems like a lifetime ago, and it's hard to imagine that young woman now. 
But I believe God sent you to me.  Dropped you right into my life when I least expected but when I needed you most.  When I needed love the most.  He knew that you would make me want to be a better person.  To be smarter.  To be kinder.  To be loving.  To be driven.  To be focused.  To be passionate.  To be hard-working.  To be faithful.  To be honorable.  To be successful.  To be admirable.  To be graceful.  To be honest.  To be tempered.  To be gentle.  To be strong.  To be more like you.  Because you are all of those things.  When I see you in a room full of people, I am so grateful that you are mine.  You are the guy in the room that everyone likes.  You are a good friend to those who are lucky enough to call you one.  You work hard to provide for our family.  You are an amazing father, and sometimes my heart can't handle how much I love to see you love our son.  You love me more than I deserve.  You are my best friend, and you are the one I want beside me.  If you aren't there with me to share it, chances are it won't be as great as it could have been.   You know me better than anyone, but you never stop trying to understand me better. 
And because I don't say it enough...Daniel, you are wonderful and I love you.

The Walking Dead

Do you ever find yourself wanting to punch the person sleeping like a baby(and maybe even snoring)  beside you while you toss and turn in wide-awake misery?

Yeah, it was that kind of night last night. 

I should preface this blog by saying that nighttime sleep and I have never really been friends.  I have always had a hard time falling and staying asleep.  As a child, I would intuitively know when my dad got home from work at 11:30pm.  Like clockwork, most every weeknight, I'd make the zombie walk to the living room recliner to crawl up in his lap and watch something like The History of World War II Fighter Planes until I fell back asleep.-You'd be surprised to know how many war planes I can correctly identify to this day.

As a teen, my mom would find me rearranging or reorganizing my room at midnight.  As a college student...well, let's face it.  No one gets or seems to need a lot of sleep in their early 20's.

However, as a grown arse pregnant woman who has to be up bright and early with a toddler, I would love to have a full night's sleep.  Unfortunately, I can count on one hand the number of times that's happened in the past year.

I've decided that my brain is the most active it can be the few minutes before I fall asleep.  What is my mind so busy doing?  I'll run you through the nightly routine.

1. Checklist: To do-tomorrow, to do-this week, to do-sometime in the near future

2. Worries: How did I screw up my child today?  Do I have cancer? (because it looks like we are all gonna get it at some point, right?) Am I getting enough exercise?  Am I eating right?  Maybe I should try a fruit and vegetable detox.  My face is dry...I need a new moisturizer.  When was the last time I washed my makeup brushes? We have company coming over on Saturday, so I should probably dust and mop downstairs.

3. Pregnancy: I am so uncomfortable. Why does the baby choose to be still all day, then to kick non-stop from 11pm to 1am? I hope I get a good nurse when I go into labor.  How many weeks left?  I wonder if I should try doing it natural this time?  Eh, probably not.  Ok, if Daniel is out of town when I go into labor, first I call Barbara to come and watch Carter.  Then I call Lori to take me to the hospital.  Then I call mom to meet us there.  If Daniel is in town, first I call him...but maybe it will happen while he's at home.  Oh I hope he's at home. 

4. Ridiculousness: Random memories/flashbacks from months or even years ago.  What I SHOULD have said to so-and-so when they made me feel like an idiot.  Zombie epidemic/ Apocalypse evacuation plan (you can never be too prepared). 

5. Solving the World's Problems...usually starts with revamping the Education system and ends with the resolution that a Watson will need to become President for this nation to be restored to greatness.

6. Frustration: Why can't I FALL ASLEEP?!! I am so mad that everyone else is asleep and I'm not.

7. Prayer: Please, Lord help me fall asleep.

8. Contemplate taking medication: should I take some benadryll?  Maybe Tylenol Pm...no.  It's 2 am now, it will take an hour to kick in, so that's 3am.  Then I have to be up with Carter at 7.  That would mean I would need an entire cup of coffee in the morning, which means I don't get to have a coke at lunch.  No medicine it is.

I think I've decided that this kind of checklist is a curse that most grown, responsible women have to bare.  Surely I'm not the only one.  Because that would make me crazy, and that's just not a worry I'm willing to tack on to the rest.  So for now, I guess we can raise our morning coffee cups and toast to the fact that we have a life, a family, and a group of friends to think about at night.  Cheers! 

Mommy Confessions: I've gone soft

I'm not going to lie...some people (and by people I mean my mother) thought I was crazy for putting my newborn on a rigid schedule.  I lived and breathed that schedule for the first year, and it worked for us.  But somewhere along the line...that schedule became less rigid.  And then "less rigid" became "pretty flexible".  And then "pretty flexible" became "whenever I can get him to agree to it."  And all of a sudden, I've lost my power.  I went soft.  I have officially lost all hardcore Type A Mommy street cred.  I've replaced words like "too bad, sucka" with "oh honey, I'm sorry" and the attitude of "because I said so" with "okay...just one more time." If I were in the mob...they'd chop off my little finger and call me Pinkie to remind me that weakness is never an option.  Instead, as a mom...weakness means I'm left with a bratty, tantrum throwing, line crossing, tester of a two year old.  I think I'd prefer to lose a pinkie. Solution:

No more Mrs. Nice Mom...back to the schedule it is.  Oh, you'd like to throw a tantrum? Time outs are back, too.  No questions.  Mobster style.  No mercy.  2 days and counting.  He doesn't even know what hit him.  In bed at 7:30, Cat In the Hat ONE TIME, Sing Adel Weiss ONE TIME and I'm out, son.  "sleep with the fishes"....okay that's a little hardcore.  "Sleep like a baby" is probably more appropriate.  Maybe a little Mrs. Nice Mom is okay. 

Keep On Keepin' On: Potty Training Beyond Day 3

It's been almost two weeks since the 3 Day potty training began, and I must say...the whole experience is better than what I thought it'd be (expect the worst, and maybe you'll be surprised- my motherhood motto).  I've learned that like all other child training, consistancy is key.  We have to celebrate the 23,000th time just as much as we celebrated the 1st time.  This, my friends, requires endless energy.  Accidents still happen (usually when he is distracted by buzz lightyear) which requires endless patience.

He has been at Grandmother's all week while mommy was soaking up sun at the beach, so I had a feeling today would be a doozy.  I was right. 

Not only did I have to remind him that tantrum = spanking (yes, I spank. Get over it, or get on board), I also had to pretend like it was potty training day 1 again.  Watching him like a hawk, and giving him lots of juice so we had lots of oppertunities to go in the potty.  Gummy bears, potty dance, oxy clean, rags. 

We have learned that reading material is helpful to keep Mr. Ninety-miles-a-minute on the pot for longer than 2.5 seconds. 

It never failed...he would have a poo poo accident 5 minutes after getting off the pot.  So, keeping him on a few extra minutes "just to be sure" never hurts. "Max's Halloween" is his favorite right now.  Mommy prefers "Diapers Are Not Forever." Just sayin.

All we can do is keep working toward no accidents.  So here's to a future of countless celebratory dance parties in the bathroom!

You Win Some, You Poo Some: Potty Training Day 2

Well, this morning I walked in to find Carter sitting in a wet bed.  Have I mentioned that I hate Huggies diapers, and that I will always be a hardcore Pampers mom? No, okay...another blog perhaps.  Anyhow, I found this ironic as last night, in bed, after explaining for the 3rd time that yes, Carter will still wear diapers during sleep time my husband says "Aren't we supposed to just let him sleep all night in his own mess if he wets the bed? Didn't I hear that somewhere?" I turn, of course, to laugh in response to his joke only to find that he was, in fact, serious!  Just to be sure, I ask "Are you serious right now?"  "Yeah, I thought I've heard that before." What?! "Um....I think you're getting human potty training confused with canine crate training, dear."  Sigh....

So after dealing with wet sheets and wet clothes, Carter and I resumed Operation Pants Off.  After the optimism of my half cup of coffee set in, I decided that I was going to try and tackle the downstairs cleaning this morning since yesterday, my usual cleaning day, was completely potty focused. I can do this...I was a middle school science lab teacher for goodness sakes.  I can handle a vacuum and pee pee at the same time. 

Skip to an hour later, "Mommy, shoo shoo on tricycle! Oh no!"  Sure enough, right on the seat.  Thankfully it was a clean drop and there was little clean up.  The Radio Flyer carries all kinds of loads around here.  Needless to say, I became a little less vacuum focused and a little more potty focused after that.  The rest of the morning went well, and we managed to get the downstairs pretty spotless.  Score!

Now, the major goal for day 2 of this method is to leave the house or play outside for an hour without having an accident.  I decided to tackle this after nap.  Get this...I get him to go potty before naptime, put him in his diaper, lay him in bed, look him in the eyes and take his hands and say "Carter, we wear a diaper just in case, but we pee pee in the potty now.  So as soon as you wake up you say mommy go pee pee in the potty." He agrees with his usual "okay." Eh...couldn't hurt.  I shrug and walk out.  Almost 3 hours later, over the monitor I hear "Mommy, go pee pee potty."  I run in, we run out and into the bathroom.  I strip off his DRY diaper and put him on the pot to hear the sweat sound of victory.  Dude, my kid just make it through a 3 hour nap without going pee.  Score again!

Heck yes we are goin outside, son!  So, as directed we go to the potty (to connect leaving the house with going potty first) then on go the loose fitting shorts (I guess toddler nudity isn't acceptable outside of the house) and out we go. 

We had one small accident early on, but 2 successful trips after that...so I just stayed out until dinner.  About 2.5 hours.  The fresh air did us both some good, I believe.  Cabin fever was beginning to set it, so I was glad for the sunshine.

I'm glad to say that the bag of gummy bears is dwindling, and our confidence is building.  He is going to Grandma Barbara's tomorrow, so he will continue Day 3 there.  The control freak in me is a little scared, but the pregnant tired woman in me needs a break and a mani pedi. 

What have I learned today?
1. In the words of my good friend Tom, "Let the main thing be the main thing." Sometimes multi-tasking is beneficial to the to-do list but detrimental to everyone else....including the Radio Flyer

The Boy with No Pants: Potty Training Day 1

So at Carter's 2 year checkup, the doctor mentioned potty training.  I nodded my head and pretended that I've thought about starting it soon, when in reality I have been too busy, too scared and too pregnant to think about trying it.  Well, later in the week, I realized that we were out of diaper genie refills.  That was motivation.  That and my husband mentioned that he'd like the current case of diapers to be the last.  Doctor's right...he's a big boy.  Okay, it's go time.

So, after breakfast and a quick run to the nearest gas station for a gallon of milk, lots of juice, and gummy bears(will explain)...it was PANTS OFF!  For Carter, that is.  That's right...a two year old, naked from the waste down.  Most moms with a carpeted home would shudder at the thought, but I'm trying the 3 day method.  I'm a "rip the band-aid" kind of gal.  If I'm gonna do it, let's do it hard core and get it over with as quickly as possible.  So there's no easing into this party.  It's a pants off, pee in the floor a few times before you get it right kind of potty training.  (See this website for a much better explanation)

And pee in the floor he did.  Three times total today.  All of which I was prepared for with a bottle of Oxy carpet cleaner, a wet rag, and patience.  I knew it would happen, it did happen, and then it started to happen IN THE POTTY!  I'm telling you, it's the quickest gratification I think I've had as a mom.  Within an hour and a half, my son was yelling "Pee pee in the potty!" and running "reewy reewy fast" to the bathroom.  Amazing.

I decided a while ago that I am not dealing with that tiny potty that requires dumping and cleaning.  Heck no. So we went the route of the smaller seat that sits on top of the regular toilet seat.  Only problem...my son was scared to sit on the real toilet.  Enter gummy bears.  See he's had an obsession with my gummy prenatal vitamins (yes, I'm a wimp) so I went out on a limb and bought 2 packs of gummy bears.  He's not much of a candy kid so I'm so glad it worked.  When I pulled out the bag he said "okay..." and climbed up on the stool.  He didn't go at first, but didn't cry about sitting on the pot.  Success! 

So he did go after a few tries and we were doing the happy dance in no time!

And flushing (the best part, duh)

This method suggests keeping the diaper on for naps and night time sleep, so I figured that's when he'd do his doo....but again I was surprised! 

The shirt was one of few casualties in today's adventure

He went in for what I thought were a few false alarms, but turns out, he was just workin up the wherewithal to do the dirty! I've never been so proud of crap in my life. 

So what did I learn today?
1. hand sanitizer is much easier than washing hands in the sink every time.  Economy size bottle on the back of the toilet, check.
2. the more he drinks, the more tries and ultimately successes he will have.  Muscle memory of sorts.  Extra juice and milk in the fridge, check.
3. the curious dog is probably not the best indoor guest during Operation Pants Off.  Winston outside, check.
4. go on with life as usual even if he isn't wearing pants.  I can still discipline, play with and let my child on the furniture.  it's okay.

Day 2...here we come!



mirror, mirror on the wall...

Okay, I am writing this post out of sheer frustration and the need to vent to girls who understand.  Last night, I saw that I had been tagged in a friend's photo, and after checking out said picture, I was immediately in a horrible mood.  How, on a night that I thought I looked so cute, could I look so terrible in a photo?!  Why didn't my mirror tell me before I left, "Hey, maybe you should put your hair back, use more eyeshadow, and don't let anyone take a picture from the right side of you...it's officially your bad side." 

Now, I am in my second trimester of pregnancy, so there is a certain lack of motivation to spend a lot of time primping.  However, I've decided I HAVE to try harder.  It is very rare that I step from behind the camera to be in photos, so when I do I need them to look decent. 
So, this morning I woke up, as I usually do after a good night's sleep, with resolve to find a solution.  Must Fix The Problem.  Enter Pinterest, to the rescue!  Hair and makeup tutorials till my bottom is numb from sitting.  Good news is I found Keiko Lynn who has several good tutorials on the same blog.  So in the next few weeks I plan to dust off the curling irons, old make up bags and pull out the eye shadows and eye liners that I have long packed away.  I've never been a huge makeup person, and usually choose a more natural look, but evidence shows that's not working for me in photos anymore.  Hopefully I'll have some looks down by the time my friend Laura comes to take baby bump pics.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Bulldozers and Dumptrucks: Letting Others Do the Heavy Lifting

Carter Is Two Today!!

When my husband suggested having an Edens joint birthday for Carter, my niece Anna, and my Dad (all who were born days apart) I surprised myself and said "okay."  And when my sister-in-law asked if we would want to have a Watson family pool party for Carter's birthday, I again surprised myself and said "yes!"  So not only are both sides of our family celebrating, but I'm not hosting either of the parties!  I'm not sure whether this was made possible by the fact that I'm pregnant and just too tired to argue, or the fact that the rig-a-ma-role of his first birthday is still fresh in my memory, but either way...I'm glad I gave in and let someone else help.  Now, I will say that this new easy going spirit had to give a half-time pep talk to the controlling, type A obsessive mother after she spent an afternoon on Pinterest.  "I know, Heather...these are great ideas.  I know, you could do them just as well for Carter's birthday.  Yep...that's right...you'd even do them better.  But remember what we decided? Someone else is taking care of that.  Back awaaaay from the computer."  And later had to give another pep talk after controlling, type A obsessive mother was reminded by her husband that we only have, at most, 16 more fun birthdays to throw for our first son.  "I know, Heather...16 seems like so few, but you'll have at least one more child so that's 18 more for a total of 34 more fun birthdays to plan and execute. See?  That's not so bad." 

So no....I didn't make my son's second birthday cake, but look how GREAT it turned out! My sister in law got to show off her cake decorating skills, and I got to enjoy just showing up to eat it.  Thanks Aunt Tracy!

I couldn't have asked for a better party or a better day, for that matter.  I started my day singing happy birthday to Carter while he was eating his breakfast, and yes, I cried.  But I was okay with it.  Just took in how much he's grown, how much I've grown because of him, and how much more we have to look forward to. 

We decided to do an easy crockpot fajita lunch that I prepared the day before so we packed all that up and headed over to Aunt Tracy and Uncle Neil's house.  They just got a new pool put in, so we were all excited to swim and enjoy their new backyard addition. 

It was kind of like a family stay-cation for me.  All day by the pool, good easy food, and the people we love.  We swam a little, ate a little, cut the cake, put Carter down for a nap, swam some more, and when we were all completely baked...went home.  Other than the few times I picked up the camera to take some shots...I literally just sat around and enjoyed everyone else enjoying my son.  There were no guests to entertain, no questions to answer, no toilets to clean before hand, no clean up to do afterward.  I traded sunscreen for makeup, wet hair for the flat iron, and "go ahead" for "let me take care of that."  It was one of the most special days...and I didn't have to plan it to be that way.  It just was.  So, point taken, free spirited alter ego. You win....today.