Tuesday, February 28, 2012

And I'm back

Good lord. I've only trying to write about this child's second bday party for over a week. And instead I get a sick kid who spikes a fever the night of his bday, throws up all over me and him right before cake is served, and then proceeds to have the worst cold we've ever had- snot (plenty of it), a terrible cough that leads to uncontrollable coughing which leads to puking four times in five days, and a complete loss of appetite. It's been really fun in our house for the past two weeks. Oh, and did I mention he got an ear infection in the ear that the tube fell out of? Fun.

Anyway, Sunday brought back the appetite and snot seemed to also decrease greatly. The cough and need to nebulize ended on Monday night. And we are back to our normal cheerful and crazed selves. Check out below for what else we've been up to.

Potty time

We have made some giant steps towards potty usage the past two weeks. Big guy has started to selectively use the potty. I'm going at his pace and there have certainly been less accidents.

When we went to his two year appt, the DR was confident that we could get this whole potty training thing done quickly, if I could figure it all out. So, I made up a potty song, there are stickers, and thomas books. But what I've figured out is that essentially until he does it by himself without prompting, I am going to spend a lot of time in the bathroom. Lots of talking about pee pee and using the potty. Here is how we've been doing so far.

On friday, big guy was home sick with hubs. Hubs and big guy were sitting in our bed chatting and reading books. Big guy looks at hubs and says, "I pee." He hops off the bed and hubs hears the toilet seating hitting the back of the toilet. Hubs yells, " be careful" as he's running to the bathroom. There is my little monkey sitting on the potty peeing all by himself- the big potty. Hubs helped him down as he almost fell in and then they proceeded to do the pee pee dance while yelling "I pee." and then they flushed. Hmmm, how come he won't do that for me.

Fast forward to sunday. big guy is feeling better. he ate a great lunch- which got things moving. He grabs himself, says, "I pee." We walk to the bathroom and talk for a couple minutes about sitting on the potty. Finally, big guy steps on the stool and sits briefly on the potty. He hops down and does a nice little dance. Then starts to pee. I pick him up and he finishes the pee and drops some poop, score! He gets down, we cheer and dance and flush! After dinner, same thing! Today, big guy really had to go. He hadn't gone poop for two days. He refused to sit on the potty- sobbing hysterically. He eventually drops trough and pees/poops on the floor- it's like having a puppy.

WE clean up do a nice pep talk. big guy is feeling good- playing quietly. I'm cooking dinner and big guy walks over to the stove to check himself out in the reflection. He lifts of his shirt and checks out his belly and groin region. He looks at me, says, "I pee." He walks away and I hear the toilet seat lift up. I walk to the bathroom and there is big guy leaning against the toilet. I lift him onto the toilet and he pees in the toilet. Totally calm. He finishes and I put him on the floor and start cheering, clapping, yelling/praising joyfully at what a big boy he is and how awesome the peeing in the potty was. Then he starts doing the pee pee dance and screaming with joy. yes! Seems like I just have to keep in mind that I need to go at his pace.

Sippy cup no more

Yesterday when I picked big guy up from school, he had a certificate in his cubby. It is official, no more sippy cup at school. Big guy is officially only drinking from a cup at school. Of course I told them weeks ago that he knows how to do it, he took his time showing off his skills at school. Now, I just have to get on board and start letting him drink only from cups at home!

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Bday par-tay


The bday party was on saturday and was quite the success! The only low note was that big guy was horribly ill. So, we couldn't go to Gymboree to burn off some energy. But did go to the car wash, then to pick up balloons, cake, and other miscellaneous food items for the party, which gave hubs some time to super clean the house. We made it home and ate some lunch. Then big guy and I went for a walk, we lucked out in the weather department- it was beautiful outside. Big guy promptly fell asleep and I strolled to the duck pond.

Nap time ended rather abruptly when gmom Dino came in the house yelling hello. Big guy was not pleased. It would be another forty minutes before he would let either of us put him down. Big guy socialized with family members, showed off his toys, but mostly stayed close. Following a delicious dinner of pizza and onion rings, our dear Brazilian friends from down the street came with their little girl S who is now a year a d a half. Big guy was over the moon- just so excited for a playmate. And they played so well together- sharing toys and food. It was really very cute.

Followings dinner, big guy was having a tickle fight with aunt K which of course sparked a coughing fit which lead to big guy throwing up all over us both. Hubs was freaking out, while I was just stripping us down. All of his bday cake and singing pics he is just in a diaper, but he didn't seem to mind. Simultaneously while we are stripping down, our families are searching the downstairs for a lighter to light the candle. All dangerously my mom and uncle E are trying to light a paper towel off our electric stove- fun fun. Big guy loved his cake (choo choo themed) but was not interested in eating it. In fact when he accidentally put his hand in it, he showed it to me and said "ew!"

Following cake, we opened presents. Could the child get any more presents? Art easel and supplies from gmom Dino. Thomas train toy, foam blocks, clothes from gmom J and aunt B. Thomas books and clothes from aunt K and uncle E. and a cozy coach from gmom C and granpa J. The cozy coach is a really cute car that we can ous big guy in or when he's ready he can Fred flintstone around in. Big guy loved all of e presents and was playing with the blocks the rest of the night. Glad I picked them! Overall, only one bout of vomit and a little clinginess- I deem the party a success!

Car wash

The morning of big guy's bday party, big guy and I had to waste time so hubs would have more time to clean the house. We didn't go to Gymboree bc big guy is of course inflicted with some horrific cough with lots of snot. I think there is something cosmic about kids getting sick on their bdays. Anyway, we decided to go to our local car wash. Ok- confession time. This is the third car we have leased and I've never washed any of them, in six years!

Anywho, we head over to the car wash, it's packed, apparently other people wash their cars a bit more often. The weather was nice, so we sat with the windows down and big guy read his truck book while we waited. We got the deluxe, it includes tires. Hubs suggested I get my tires done, too. I felt like quite the princess getting my car washed. We pulled up and big guy let out an "ohhhhh!" he continued to make this noise throughout the whole wash. I think his favorite part was when there were bubbles all over tha car and he could repeatedly tell me, "bubble." and we talked about how the car was getting a bath, just like how he gets a bath. And the really cool thing is that he understood. Or at least I think he did, because he was very interested in the whole operation. My only complaint is that it was very quick and we were dumped unceremoniously into the back of the IHOP parking lot.

Friday, February 17, 2012

Butt tap

One day last week we were running late. Usually when this happens we all end up in the bathroom in various states of dress and undress. This particular day I was apparently taking up too much space because hubs walked in and gave me a tap on the bottom as if saying, scoot over! I move over, but what do I feel next. A little hand give me a butt tap as well. I turn around to find big guy looking at me, probably thinking, am I going to get away with this? Then all three of us burst into laughter!

Two years

Two years ago today big guy was born and I became a mommy. Hard to believe. Some things I've gleaned so far. Being a parent is one of the most rewarding and yet simultaneously exhausting/demanding/difficult things to do in the world. But seeing big guy grow up and watching him develop more and more into the awesome person he is- its really amazing. Oh, and I've learned that he just keeps getting better and better. For instance, tomorrow is big guy's bday party. I've got all the Thomas train decorations, picking up balloons, and cake before nap time. Then we are having people over at three for pizza and fun. And I'm ordering the pizza during the party. Oh, and eveRyone has already been given their food to bring. That's right- I've planned ahead. Last year, I was entirely incapable of planning this party. My mom brought all the food. I was a mess. Big guy is getting better and I'm getting more functional.

The only thing working against us this year is that big guy is horribly ill. Runny nose. Horrific cough. And tonight, the night before the party, he spiked a fever. But he's been nebulized and choked down some fever reducer- really choked down- we had to wrestle him to get anything in his mouth. Who knows how much he got.

Today we also fortuitously had big guys two year appt. dr W wasn't too concerned about the cold being anything more than a cold. But she said to keep nebulizing. She said if the cough lasts longer than four weeks to call because it might be asthma related and would need stronger medicine. Oh dear! Other than that, he passed with flying colors. He's 3 feet 1.5 inches. 32 and a half pounds. The size of an average three year old- which we knew because he already wears 3T. She thought his speaking was great- right on track. And everything else developmentally was good to go. We talked about the pooping/potty issues and she was really listening. And unlike every other person I tell my dilemma too, she agreed with me that this was a good opportunity to really get him on the potty. Things I need to work on- making sitting on the potty fun, getting a better potty, and continuing with the miralax. All things I can work on. I've made up a potty song- "let's go to the potty and have ourselves a pee." and there are stickers once we are in there. I'm also in the market for a new potty, one that looks like a real one. And besides thinking big guy is fabulous, at the end of the appt, dr W gave me a pat on the back and said, "you're doing great mom." ah, validation!