Author: A Mama's Blog

Potty Training-Second Time Around

Post author By A Mama's Blog
Post date February 11, 2008
1 Comment on Potty Training-Second Time Around

I think we have officially moved into potty training Cole- all at his insistence. What a difference this time around. Here is a summary of how we prepared to potty train Ryan:

Around 18 months, we decide we should start prepping Ryan for potty training. We buy a potty training potty, and a toilet insert so he can sit on the toilet if he wants, without falling in. All the books, articles, and speaking to friends, tell me some kids like to have their feet on the floor, and some like to sit on the toilet. We start “talking up” potty training. I become almost OCD, asking Ryan if he wants to sit on the potty, every hour. He never wants to. I try harder. I switch him to cloth diapers, so he will start getting used to having a wet feeling, assuming this will all move him in the direction of wanting to use the potty himself.

At 24 months, I feel like a complete failure, because Ryan is still not potty trained. More advice from friends and the doctor tell me usually boys aren’t fully potty trained until three or four.   I can’t see myself changing diapers for another year, especially since I had Cole on the way in four months.   I decide to keep him undressed from the waist down during the days we were at home, in his Baby Legs, assuming this will move him in the direction of wanting to use the potty himself. Cleaned up more pee on the living room floor during this time than I ever thought possible. Watched movies about Elmo, and Joshua (Once Upon A Potty), going to the potty so many times, I lost brain cells. How bad is it when you can’t get the Going to the Potty song out of your head, and you know all the words?

At 35 months, I still had an “untrained” toddler. I also had a 6 month old baby, and have been changing diapers for two. Ryan is slowly, slowly, wanting to use the potty more, but still likes his diapers. Nothing I have tried has been the magic key to unlock the treasure chest of the toddler going potty by himself. Out of sheer desperation, I decide when he turns three (in one month), I am going to stop his diapers “cold turkey” and he will only wear underwear.  I also resort to the experienced potty training mom’s top secret weapon- the M&M.  (Let me just say, this was one of the things I swore, vowed, and told myself I would never, never, do, before having children, when I knew everything there was to know about raising kids. M&M’s were for those other mom’s who couldn’t get their child potty trained.)

At 36 months, operation Potty-Training-Because-I-Am-Going-Nuts-Changing-Two-Sets-of-Diapers-Everyday, was underway. God bless the M&M! I am sorry to every mother I ever judged for using them, because after a year and half of me trying, suggesting, gently reminding, using a sticker chart, toys, movies, books, and anything and everything else, the M&M finally does the trick. It is the key to the toilet for the toddler!   Ryan actually wants to go on the potty, and starts doing it himself. God bless the M&M!

At 39 months, I have reached toilet training Nirvana!  A potty trained toddler!

After going through all of that- (and that is the short version), I am in no rush to potty train Cole. He has been interested in the potty for months, watching Ryan very intently when Ryan goes. When Cole was about six months old, I came across a Baby Bjorn Potty at a consignment sale that I got for Cole. It was smaller than the potty chair we had for Ryan, and if nothing else, I thought he may like sitting on it when it comes time for him to watch Joshua (it is the same type of potty that Joshua uses in the book and movie).

Cole took a liking to it right away, and has often sat on it, sometimes even taking his diaper off. As of lately, he doesn’t like to sit on it without his diaper. When Joe was watching him one afternoon before Christmas, he saw Cole’s cues, and had him sit on it. Cole used the potty. He has done it a few times since, but since we are not training him, it hasn’t been consistent.

During the last week, I have noticed that Cole will pull his diaper down, and he’ll be walking around the house with his pants and his diaper to his ankles. One time I tried to pull the diaper back up, but he threw a fit. I noticed then, that the diaper was wet. He doesn’t like the feeling of the wet diaper! (Can I get a Hallelujah?) He has also started coming to get us, the moment he is done pooping. He points to his bum and won’t do anything until we change his diaper! (Can I get another Hallelujah?) Today, after his nap, I was folding laundry and he kept pulling at my hand. I thought he wanted to show me a toy, and I kept telling him in a moment. He was just as insistent and wouldn’t stop pulling on my hand.

I finally put the laundry down, and asked him what he wanted. He took my hand, and led ME to the bathroom, pointed to his potty and sat down. He started making his little potty noises, but he wouldn’t let me take his diaper off. He was so proud, and it was so cute. He is trying to be such a big boy, but just hasn’t made the connection that his diaper actually has to be off for the whole potty thing to work. Here is a picture of my proud little boy:

When he stood up, he had gone potty. I know he’ll eventually figure it out- that he has to take his diaper off, before he sits down, 😉 and so far just leaving him alone has worked out well. It also helps that I am not pregnant, and stressed about getting him trained before a new baby arrives. But what a difference a second child has made. Maybe that is the secret- leave them alone, and they will figure it out.

Turns out I didn’t potty train Ryan- he trained me- he trained me to realize that steps and milestones will be made and reached when it is time. Yes, the M&M’s helped, but they were a tool. What I failed to see at the time was, he just wasn’t ready. The M&M’s only worked because Ryan was ready to use the potty on HIS timetable- not mine. Lesson learned.

So, this is the attitude I take in with me, as Cole starts potty training. I can’t quite believe my “baby” is ready for potty training though. But, I think the second time around will be much more enjoyable for all involved. Somehow I don’t think I’ll be needing the M&M’s this time 🙂

Tags 101, 309, 333, 334, 335, 413, 74, 80

Cole Me Shopping

My Day at the Mall

Post author By A Mama's Blog
Post date February 11, 2008

All the stars must have aligned right yesterday, because it worked out where I was able to get out of the house, and do some much needed shopping. I had Cole with me, and he is quite the shopper.

One reason I always wanted a girl, was I just assumed you had to have a girl to go shopping with. Ryan is not a shopper- he is just like his dad in that area-go in, get what you need, get out as quick as you can. Cole, on the other hand, takes after me. He loves looking around at all the people, and he loves touching clothes, and just seeing what is going on in the stores. I have to be in the right mood to shop, or else I hate it, and fortunately, both Cole and I were in a shopping mood today.

We started out at Old Navy, where they are having a huge baby sale- all baby/kids clothes were 40% off. I stocked up on tee shirts and shorts mostly for Ryan for the summer, since Cole will have plenty of Ryan’s hand-me-downs. They were all on sale for $3.90 each. I did get both boys one matching outfit- a navy and gray shirt, with matching shorts. Then I found a nice work / dressier occasion black short sleeved blouse for me on sale for $7. It was triple that originally, so I scored there. I looked for a birthday present for my niece, who will be one in April, but I just didn’t see anything that I liked. I take that back- I saw this adorable onesie, which fits my niece to a T, but they only had newborn sizes. However, I got my friend, who is expecting her first baby, a boy in March, a gift, (not sure if she reads my blog or not, so can’t say what it is, other than it is cute!) I had a coupon for an additional 10% of everything, so I saved quite a bit.

I was getting hungry, so I stopped at a bakery and got a chicken walnut salad sandwich. Cole had eaten before we left, and didn’t want any of my food, except for the delicious oatmeal raisin cookie that came with it. He sat on his chair like such a big boy and smiled at everyone who walked by. While we were eating, I saw a new mother sitting a few tables down with a baby that looked about a month old. They looked so happy and calm. I wondered if I ever looked that happy, or if I just always looked as frazzled, and tired as I felt.

After we were done eating, it was off to Children’s Place, where I had another coupon for 15% off. We went shopping there right before Christmas, so I figured I had seen most the merchandise, but I have another friend who is also due in March with her first baby, but she doesn’t know the gender. I thought I would see if there were any cute outfits that would work. Now I know what everyone went through with me- we didn’t find out the gender either time. I really wanted to get her some things, but everything was so gender specific, I couldn’t. I did find one nice little gift though, that will work for a boy or a girl. I also found two long sleeved graphic shirts for Ryan for next fall, that were originally $14, marked down to $5.99, and then they were 50% off that. With my coupon they ended up being $2.54. Not bad for two brand new cool shirts. One had a snowmobiler on it, and one had a helicopter scenes. Right up Ryan’s alley.

Cole was starting to get a bit tired, but I wanted to go to New York & Company to see what kind of jeans they had. I debated on stopping at Pottery Barn Kids first to let Cole play for a while, but it is so hard to get him out of there- he never wants to leave. So I decided to go to NY&Co. first. They were crazy busy! It was my lucky day to need jeans, because they were having a sale on all their pants- buy one get one for 50% off. And, yes you guessed it, I had a coupon for $30 off, if you spent $75. I have never bought NY&Co. jeans before, but my sister has a few pairs that are really cute. Plus, I can wear jeans to work if they are nicer, and it seems like the jeans there are a little dressier. Plus they have tall lengths, which I usually need.

Because of the sale and my coupon it really did make sense to get two pairs- two pairs would cost me $10 more than one pair. But, I was out of luck. The jeans were so picked over, I only found one pair that were my size, and they weren’t even the long length. I tried them on anyway, and surprisingly they were long enough. I even asked the sales person to see if they had anymore jeans in my size.

The store was so cramped, and the aisles were very narrow, it was NOT fun trying to maneuver a stroller through all of it. The sales person told me I must have the only pair in my size- she couldn’t find anymore. I was still going to get the pair I liked, and found some great sweaters for work and a blouse, all marked down from $36 to $7.99. Then I spotted a clearance rack by another dressing room that had some more jeans on it. I looked through every pair, and the very last pair, was my size, in a long length, with a design on the back pockets that I really liked. After trying them on, it seemed like they were a little too long. I guess they don’t mess around- tall means tall! Usually tall is like half an inch longer than the regular length. Not at NY&Co.! But they were so cute, I decided to get them anyway, and I know Joe’s mom could hem them up for me.

While I was standing in line, I noticed EVERY fashion conscious person in the store (you know what they look like- they aren’t mom’s who have dried chicken salad from lunch on their black shirts, and pushing a toddler in a beat up stroller) had on really long jeans- most had the hems to the floor, and were standing on them. I guess these pants were the height of fashion. Maybe I won’t have them hemmed- now if I could do something about the dried white mayonnaise spots on my black shirt.

I was over the $75 mark with the sweaters, but after using my coupon, I got $30 knocked off. I am really happy I found two nice pair of jeans I can wear to work if I want to. Here is the first pair, and here is the second, long, pair.

Cole was really getting fussy at this point, so we went to Pottery Barn Kids, and spent the next hour there. He was having a blast playing with the toy kitchen, stove, washing machine, ironing board, and vacuum cleaner. It also was not crowded at all, so he had the toys to himself. Almost everyone who walked by and saw him playing told me how sweet he looked. He would stop what he was doing, and wave at that the person. Finally, he was getting so tired, I had to pick him up and carry him out of there. He cried, but he stopped as soon as we started walking in the mall again. He fell asleep on they way home.

Hopefully we are set on clothes now for a while. It was a really nice, fun, and laid back day, and I really enjoyed spending that one-on-one time with Cole. Oh, and if you are wondering how I got so many coupons- the last time I was at Old Navy, the reciept selected me to take a customer satisfaction survey for the 10% off. So I did, and I got a code when I was done. For the other two stores, I am on their mailing list, and they send coupons quite regularly. You can sign up on-line at their websites, if there are any shopping trips in your future to these stores.

Activities Cole Family & Friends Parenting Ryan Shopping

Odds & Ends

Post author By A Mama's Blog
Post date February 10, 2008

It finally warmed up today. Ryan received an air rocket launcher for his birthday (over a month ago), and has been dying to use it, but it has been too cold. Today when he saw the sun was shining, he said, “Today is a nice day. Can we go to the park and shoot off the rocket?” After breakfast we headed out, only to discover it was way too windy to shoot the rocket off. We took the boys to the park instead, but the wind was very strong, and was making it cold yet again. After about 15 minutes, we had to call it quits.

We came home, had lunch, and then the boys took a nap. When Cole woke up I took him to the health food store, and the grocery store for groceries. The wind had died down, and it was wonderful. Cole and I didn’t even need our jackets. Joe took Ryan to finally shoot off his rocket. We all got home at the same time, and Ryan had so much fun with the rocket. He kept saying he hopes it is warm tomorrow, so he can go again.

While we were eating dinner, Cole was particularly fussy- he didn’t want to eat, but he kept pointing to my plate. When I offered him my plate, he would just start fussing again. We couldn’t figure out what the problem was. I was trying to get Cole to eat something, but to no avail. I tried bribing next- I told Cole if he ate his food he could have dessert. Even that didn’t work. But Ryan, not missing a beat, had to point out that he was already done with his dinner and he was going to get dessert. I told him that was correct, but we were going to wait for dessert until Cole had eaten. Frustrated, Ryan pulls says to Cole, in his best stern Sir Topham Hatt voice, “Coley, you are causing confusion and delay.”

I just burst out laughing- it was so funny, and just perfect timing. Later, as they were getting dressed after their bath, Cole was goofing around, and was not being very cooperative, when I was trying to get him to stay still, so I could put his diaper on. Again, Ryan tells Cole, he “is causing confusion and delay.”

I got my hair cut yesterday. I realized it had been almost six months, since the last time a pair of scissors had touched my hair. It was to my shoulders, and I got about three inches cut off, and got it thinned out. I always forget how much lighter my neck feels when I have this done. I like it. I didn’t get it a new cut, but it feels great to have it trimmed up again.

My Alzheimer’s is behind me! I finally, finally, found the bag of art supplies I have been looking for now, for several weeks. Were they in some obscure place? Nope. They were in a Dillard’s bag, in the front closet- the closet I have checked at least 20 times before. Don’t know why I never found them before, or how I missed them, but I was very happy when I came across them yesterday.

I think what threw me was the Dillard’s bag. I hardly ever shop at Dillard’s. I can’t say when the last time I was there. I don’t know where the bag even came from, so I think when I saw it, I figured it was something really, really, old in there- like clothes that need to be donated or something like that, and I just skipped right over it. Now we’ll see if we get another snowy day, in which the boys could actually use the supplies before next winter.

My Alzheimer’s is gone, but now it has hit Joe. He has a bad habit of forgetting to close the garage door. Someone could walk right in our house this way, or just help themselves to his myriads of tools on the shelves in there, and we would never know they were gone, until that day he is looking for that one tool, and can’t find it. Joe carried in the groceries for me this afternoon around five. We carry them in through the garage, since it leads right into the kitchen.

Tonight at 11, the doorbell rings. We were watching a movie, and wondered who in the world would be at the door that late? Joe answered it, and it was our wonderful neighbor across the street. He told us he was sorry to bother us, but they were getting ready to go to sleep, and had noticed that our garage door had been open all night, and he knew we usually keep it closed, so he wanted to let us know. Thank goodness he did. That would have been great- leaving the door up all night. I check it sometimes before I go to bed, but not always. I told Joe we need an alarm or something.

Tomorrow it is supposed to be warm again, and no wind. I desperately need some new clothes. I won’t complain, because I finally, finally lost all my baby weight for good, and then some. I have forced myself to stop eating dessert every (only occasionally now) night, and surprisingly lost almost 10 pounds. So once again, I don’t have any jeans that fit great. I’m hoping to sneak off to the mall for some shopping. I also have a friend who is due in March with her first baby, and she is having a boy. I know they are having some great sales right now too, so I want to get her baby some goodies. 🙂 We’ll see how that goes.

I have to take my Jeep back into the shop on Monday. We had it in last week for a tune up, and the shocks were shot. After we got it back, it idled very rough, and the check engine light came on. Guess they didn’t fix it right, or did something wrong. So I hope to get all those little things done tomorrow, since we’ll be home-bound on Monday.

Hope you can stand all the excitement around here. At least we aren’t sick. J

Cole Health Me Ryan

Sore Teeth

I finally got the first aligner in a series of three today. I had no idea what to expect- I guess I thought it was like a retainer. The hygienist snapped it on, and Holy Crap! I about came out of the chair! It was so dang tight. They wanted me to “practice” taking it out, and I couldn’t. It is such a tight fit, I thought I was going to need pliers to take it off. I finally managed to get it off, after I broke two nails, and had drool/slobber running down my wrists. Good times.

Anyway, I am supposed to wear this now for the next 4 weeks, 22 hours a day. I can take it out when I eat, or drink “staining” drinks like coffee, tea, or wine. In a month I go back, for a tighter one, repeat the process, and then go back for the final one, which I don’t even want to think about, how tight that one will be. I barely remembered how much braces hurt- it has been almost 20 years, but it is coming back to me rapidly, wearing this aligner less than 24 hours so far. Once I have it in, I get used to the soreness somewhat, but when I snap it out, my teeth really hurt.

The good news is, is it is very thin, clear plastic and you can’t even tell it is in. Joe didn’t even notice, until I pointed it out. Since it is so thin, it isn’t rubbing against my gums, or making me gag or anything. They took before pictures, so I’ll be anxious to see how it all works out.

The boys did well at the office. I worked this morning, picked them up, ran to the bank, and then we went to the orthodontist. There is a really neat wooden school bus play station in a nice playroom , at the office, which they love. When I was called back, I was sitting there for a few minutes, while the hygienist was gathering everything, and I hear a loud whisper, “No Coley. You can’t go back there.” I turned my head around and saw my two little monkey’s standing at the entry, deciding if they should go any farther. I brought them back with me. They were thrilled.

The nurse gave Ryan the remote control to the TV, and turned on Mulan for him. She put headphones on him, and the thought he was all that! Cole sat in my lap for a few minutes, and then decided to play chair operator with the buttons on the bottom of the chair. I didn’t know this until the orthodontist tried to move my chair back up, and it was locked. He looked down to see what the problem was, and we saw Cole pressing all the buttons. He had deprogrammed the chair! Fortunately, the orthodontist said he had a little button pusher at home too, so he was very understanding.

Now I just hope I don’t lose or as lately, misplace the aligner. I have a really “cool” case for it. Something a teenage girl would like to slip her retainer in during lunch hour- it’s all glittery and in rainbow colors. 🙂

Tags 313, 65

Mothering Ryan

A Hair Raising Experience

After putting both boys down for their naps, and they were both tired, I decided to take a nap too. We are all still trying to get over our colds, so I thought a little extra rest wouldn’t hurt. Ryan returned to preschool today too, and was yawning from the moment I picked him up. He usually takes a nap with no problem.

As I laid down, all was quiet, and I fell asleep. I was awoken about an hour later, with “Mommy, Mommy, I have something in my hair.” I sat straight up and looked at my adorable 4-year old, whose hair was white, sticky, and sticking straight up. I couldn’t imagine what he had gotten into- it looked liked a sticky, gooey, paste. I thought Ryan had put shaving cream in his hair. I asked him what he put in his hair, and he just smiled. He wouldn’t answer me. I saw his hands were white and sticky. I asked him again what he had put in his hair, and still got no answer- just a grin like the Cheshire Cat.

I took him with me into the bathroom, where I saw Joe’s hair gel container open, and most of it gone. While I was trying not to laugh, I told Ryan he knew better than to play with Daddy’s gel. He just kept smiling with the cutest little smile. I wanted to take a picture, but didn’t want to encourage him. So I cleaned off his hands, and put his head over the bathtub and washed his hair. I kept thinking I should have taken the picture- it was priceless and now I’ll never have that again. But, I really wanted to emphasize the point that he shouldn’t have done that. I made the decision at the time, but in the future I think I’ll tell him something like I have to take a picture to show Daddy, but it is not OK to play with the hair gel.

When we were done, he asked, “Mommy, do you know why I put the gel in my hair?” I told him no, but I thought it was because he was trying to be like Daddy, but instead he said, “Because the back of my hair was sticking up and I wanted to smooth it down.” Well OK then- how do you argue with that?