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@fablifeofshml
My youngest is officially potty trained! After 4 days of wearing big boy underwear with no accidents, we had a potty party! He got to go play games and east pizza. He loved it! Yay no more pull ups! Now the next step. Getting him to wait until he gets to the bathroom before he pulls down his shorts and underwear! :o) Right now, as soon as he has to go he drops them and waddles into the bathroom. Lol!
Really sucking with the time change! Do I like the fact that my 2yo doesn't wake at 5 am? Um, hell yeah! But, it's now 8:30, and the boys are both still asleep! Really throws a monkey wrench into our day. I want to wake them, but at the same time, hell hath no fury like a tired toddler! Ugh!
Washable Crayola markers! ha!
Does anyone know how to get "washable" Crayola markers off Children's skin? Quite time was too quite, and now I know why :/
the joys of potty training!
My 2yo is trying to learn how to go potty, or I should say I'm trying to get him to use the potty. He could take it or leave it. His older brother was pretty easy, but this kid...not so much. I just sat in the bathroom for 45 minutes while he sat on the potty and played. He peed a few times (that's not a problem), but now is his usual time to poop. So I didn't want to get him off the potty since it was his suggestion. And he didn't want me to leave the room, but no poop. If this was the first time I wouldn't be as frustrated, but this is the 5th time. He just picks the worst time to do this. I had a list of things that HAD to be done before lunch, not happening now. I am going to do what he needs, I just wish I could wave a magic wand and bam-potty trained. End rant.
Love my boys!
We were at the park. We actually left a park close to our house because there weren't any other kids to play with. And drove all the way across town to this park. The boys wanted to find "friends" to play with. There was a boy there who looked to be about 3, and my 2 yo ran up to him on the playset and said hi. The little boy pushed my son and shouted "I'm not angry boy!". My 3 yo stepped in between them and told the little boy not to push his brother again. They can spend all day arguing with eachother, fighting over every little thing, but when push comes to shove (pun!), they have eachother's back! My 2 yo said, "yeah, don't push me again" turned to his big brother and said "come on, let's play" didn't let that kid phase him at all. And no big surpise, his mom way no where around. 15 min later she came up to her kids and said "Miles, you playing nicely with the other kids?" Didn't wait for a response, and went back to talk with the other moms. Ugh!
play-dough
Today we're having fun with homemade play dough. "No Tiggy, it's called PLAY dough, not EAT dough!" Lol!
Thomas the train cake for son's 2nd birthday. I couldn't find a Thomas cake pan, so I got a generic train pan and made it up as I went along looking at a pic of Thomas.
Stupidest damn thing I ever heard. If you don’t make money you shouldn’t be allowed to get a credit card. You want to be financially independent? Don’t get married and then agree to quit working in order to stay home and raise your kids. That ain’t a job. It’s something you do but if you think that qualifies you to have a line of income-based credit you need a slap in the face.
I chose to stay home with my children to educate them myself. I saw that the schools were churning out too many ignorant, uneducated children. So I took matters into my own hand. I don't get paid by a company or the government to raise and educate my children. I basically get paid by my husband. I earned the right to have my own credit card, independant of my husband. If anyone needs a slap in the face, your mom needs to give you a good one. It is because of ignorant, uneducated people like you that I have made the decision to stay at home with my children and home school them. I work harder and longer hours that anyone in the corporate world, and shame on you for not seeing motherhood as real work.
Thank you makers of little boy underwear for putting the cool picture on the back of the undies. So now my son has to wear them backwards, and constantly pick out the permaweggie this gives him. But otherwise he can't see the cool picture! So yeah, thanks!
3rd one is the charm?!?
I offered to watch a friend's boy (who's between my boy's age) while he turns in his resume at a few places. He's been a stay at home dad for about a month, and I think he's had enough. He loves spending time with his boy, who is now potty trained, but I don't think he's really in the right frame of mind to take care of him as his full time job. We went to the park the other day and he told me their entire daily schedule. Then he called two more times that day to say something he remembered. He then apoligized for boring me. I told him I understood. When you have limited adult interaction, and your children are your one and only focus, it's kind of hard to talk about anything else. He lost his job because of the economy, and they have enough to get by with just his wife working, but he's not comfortable in his new role. He takes his son out to play at least twice a day, limits his tv, and feeds him well. His issues come in to play around other people. I think he might be afraid of how other's look at him being a sahp. He doesn't like taking his son places where HE doesn't know anyone. We have a kids center for 5 yr olds and under. He won't take his son because his son doesn't know any of the kids (parents) there and " he just ends up doing the same thing he does at home- playing with trains and cars". But the difference is there he's interacting with other kids, new kids. His dad just doesn't know how to interact with the adults and feels uncomfortable. He was going to have his parents watch his son today (dr appt), tomorrow, and tomorrow night. We didn't hang out on Mon, but we all went to their house for the wife's birthday celebration on Sun. If I didn't offer to watch their son tomorrow, that would be at least 4 days of no interaction with other kids at all. My boys love him, but they also have eachother. He doesn't. So I am purposefully taking care of three boys 3 and under, two of which are newly potty trained, and one very clingy boy who doesn't like other kids (his older brother included) taking his Mommy away. Oh, boy. I would do it any time though... well, I say that now, but ask me again tomorrow night! Lol!
Father's Day plans?
What's everyone doing for Father's Day? We are going to watch a movie. And for dinner we're having sushi. Dessert is cheesecake layered with homemade chocolate cake and drenched in chocolate ganache. Yummy!
yeah! Poop!
My 3 yr old has been going pee in the potty for 6 months, but refused to go poop. But today he did! Yaaay! He always gets a small sticker to decorate his potty with if he pees. But we've had large stickers waiting for him to go poop. Just waiting.... until today! :) then we ran errands. He proceeded to tell everyone we saw " I went poop in the potty, and I got a BIG sticker! " he was grinning from ear to ear! To continue his "I'm a big boy" day, he just went pee in the " really really big potty"! I'm really proud of him. He wants to go to school, but none of them allow your child unless they are potty trained. So now we are one step closer! Yaaay!
Go the F to sleep
I've seen a lot of press on this book. Although I haven't read it, I can relate. My youngest will turn 2 in a month. He has slept through the night a total of ONE time in his entire life! I have been up with him for the last 2 and 1/2 hours. I have tried everything to get him to sleep, but he either just won't sleep, or won't sleep without me. I don't sleep well with him because I move a lot in my sleep, and when he sleeps with me I stay frozen in one spot so not to hurt him or wake him up. I have a bad back, and this causes me to be in a lot of pain the next day. So not only do I not get any sleep, but the whole next day I walk around in a fog with terrible back pain! Ugh! I just want to sleep!
Things I never expected to hear comming out of my mouth
Yesterday my 22 month old walked up to the 3 yr old and pretended to grab a piece of his belly and eat it. The 3 yr old laughed and said "Don't do that!" A few minutes later the 3 yr old decided to return the favor. The 22 mo old LOST it! He started crying " Don't eat me! Don't eat me!" I turned to him and said, " you can't eat him and expect him not to try and eat you!" What?! Even as I said it I realized how silly I sounded! Lol! Flash forward 3 hours. I have a runner on the floor in the kitchen. A few weeks ago the 3 year old decided that his "eggs" were covering the whole rug. Don't ask me. I took it out to wash it, so it was gone for two days. I put it back yesterday. When he noticed it he brightened up and said "yay! My eggs are back! Look! They're popping!" Again, no clue, but I go along with it! "Really? Cool! They're popping? Oh, I can see them pop!" Then the 22 mo old starts hitting the rug and saying "POP!" And laughing. Now it was the other one's turn to cry. "Don't pop my eggs! Noooooo!" I had to think fast. So I told him it was ok because... watch. I then waved my hands over the runner and said "Shazzam! Look I put all your eggs back. Do you see them?" "Yes" between sniffles. "It doesn't matter how many eggs he pops, I'll always be able to wave my hands and put them back with my magic". "OK. Thanks mom!" You have to be very creative when navigating your way through sibling squables. And I'm sure through the years I'll have many more "interesting" things come out of my mouth as solutions, but two in one day just made me laugh out loud. I even said "this is the silliest thing I've ever said" at one point! Gotta love it!
3 yr old's life lesson for mommy
Today we went to this Megachurch because they had a killer playground. They had three different areas depending on your age. Of course both my kids only wanted to play on the big kids playground. I swear my 22 month old is going to give me grey hair or a heart attack in a very short time. The big kid's playground was three stories high, with a giant covered slide on the third level, a straight drop down slide and two less scary curved slides on the second level. And just a platform with steering wheels etc on the 1st level. As soon as we got there, the youngest one ran up the stairs to the second level and slid down the slide that goes straight down. I wasn't sure he was going to even make it up the stairs without falling down, let alone go down such a steep slide. But my little dare devil didn't even bat an eye. His older brother is a little different. He has always been a little bit afraid of hights. When we went to the indoor playground at Chick-fil-a, he was fine until he followed a little girl to the very top. Then he froze. He started to cry and call out my name. I thought he was stuck or hurt. So I squeezed myself up to the top to find him just laying there smiling at me. He still couldn't move until I helped him down, but he wasn't harmed, so I was relieved. Until the next time. He keeps seeing other kids go up to the top of things, and if there's a kid who wants to play with him, espically if it's a pretty girl, up he goes. If he doesn't think about it, he's ok. If he stops to take everything in he freezes up. He followed his little brother to the second story and looked through the little periscope and sat on the bench. Then he saw all the kids climbing up the ladder to the third level. He waited til they had all gone up, then started up himself. He got up two rungs, then climbed back down. Over and over again he'd see other kids climb, then try to do it himself to no avail. He'd try then when he'd get scared and come back down, he'd sit down on the bench dejectedly then turn to me and say "Mommy, I'm scared. The ladder is scarry" I told him that it was ok, he didn't have to go up there if he was too scared. There were three other slides and a rock wall he could go down on the level he was on. It was really ok to not go up. Then he would turn around and try again. And another round of "Mommy, I'm scared" it was breaking my heart. Until his 8th attempt. Without saying anything to me, he just turned around and climbed all the way up. He was stuck on the top rung unable to figure out how to pull himself the rest of the way up. I saw his little legs start to shake and flail in the air, then they disappeared. He made it! With in seconds, he slide down the twisty covered slide. If he had stayed up there any longer, I would have had to go get him. But he did it. When he slid down he had a giant grin on his face! I told him I was proud of him for overcomming his fears. He said he was scared at first, but he wanted to do it, so he did it and "I not scared anymore. And I pee in the potty" (we're still working on potty training, and he was really good today) lol! My three year old inspired me to face up to my problems and fears, whatever they are. He kept trying over and over, never giving up until he had accomplished what he set out to do. I am in awe of his determination and it's a real reminder to me- don't give up on your dreams. Even if you have to try over and over and over. If it's something that you want, you have to keep pushing yourself. Man, I love my kids!
Big "little" shoes to fill
I just helped my friend remember her 17 month old's life by "blowing bubbles for Hudson". It was a horrible and unexpected illness that left her without her little girl, and a family forever changed by grief. She has a very moving blog she writes about trying to live her life without her daughter. I am left in tears every time I read something she's written; for many different reasons. I can't believe how strong she is and what she has turned this loss into. There have been donations to libraries, bracelets made, a memorial bench and donations to an Arboureteum. I'm in awe of her strength, even when she doesn't feel strong at all. One of the things she has written several times is about how this has moved and changed so many others. How this has helped parents hug their children a little tighter and make more time for their children. Then my life comes in to play. I have two VERY strong willed boys that love to push eachother's buttons. I actually had to stop typing mid-sentence to put out a fire. They are 15 months apart, and the 22 month old already knows just what to do and say to make my 3 year old cry or pout or what ever he wants at the time. Because of all the complications I have been having from my illness, it's been hard to go out and meet new children, so they are just around eachother all the time. I'm working on being able to get out more and socialize, but until I get that all worked out, I still feel crummy. My meds cause mood swings and fatigue, which effects my mood as well. I have always had an abundance of patience, but lately I have found myself running short. I hate raising my voice. I'm from the "talk it out" school. But lately I have gotten louder and louder in my dealings with their fights and bites and tantrums. It makes me hurt inside, espically when I heard my 3 yr old yell at my 22 month old. That's when I realized how bad it was and decided to make a change. We've been working on talking before yelling or fighting. It's a slow process with the 22 month old, but my 3 yr old is all about it and is trying to lead by example. Since his younger brother wants to be just like him, it's really helping me out. We still haven't turned the corner, but we're on our way. I read my friend's blog and it makes me cry for her loss and my ineffectual mothering skills as of late. I realize that because Hudson has passed, she won't get to have all the tantrums. And in remembering her, we only hear about all the joys in her life. It's not a complete picture of her life or their family life. So that places the bar really high. I know better than to constantly compare my family's life to another, but it still doesn't make me feel like I'm living up to my potential as the best MOM I can be. Who would have guessed a 17 month old could leave such big shoes to fill?
Start living
I have been neglecting this blog. I started it 2 months ago or so, but I haven't been posting any of my thoughts or anything. The reason for that is I was diagnosed with a chronic illness, and that has taken over my thoughs and daily life. Even though I vowed it wouldn't. I have a blog for that too, which has several posts. It's just been hard to focus all my attention on my children between researching my illness, going to the doctor, having medical issues rear their ugly head, and trying to be the best mom I can for my children. No more. I know I have to get myself to a place where I can be an effective mom for my kids, and I'm finally getting there. I have to find a balance between dealing with my illness sidelining me and actually getting stuff done. Through this experience so far, I have still put my children first, but we haven't been able to do the same things we have in the past (ie go out and play at the park or children's center as often). I feel horrible, but if I'm not careful, I'll end up in a place where I can't take care of them because I'm too tired or in too much pain etc. We used to go out somewhere almost every day, now we end up in our backyard on the jungle gym instead. They don't get the interaction with other children. I'm glad that they are so close in age (15 months apart) so they at least have eachother. But at the same time, they aren't always interested in the same things at the same time. I have one more doctor's appt today, then I belong to my kids. The house has been the one thing that has sufferend the most. I like to have a clean house, well as clean as you can with two toddler boys! But the schedule I used to follow doesn't work for my energy level anymore and I have to rework how I manage my children, house and illness. I have allowed it to overwhelm me, but now my head is on straight again, and it's time to start living life again.
