Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to http://www.mycharmingkids.net">her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.
This week, I did not do the following things:
I did not, on two occasions, stay in my pjs until well into the afternoon. I am not that lazy.
I also did not have my husband come home from work, on one of those pj afternoons, that I did not do, and hear him say, "your still in your pajamas"!!
I certainly, did not steal an idea from MckMamma's blog, and then sing her praises when it kept my children busy for hours. They are not still playing with the same dried beans!
I definitely did not, thoroughly enjoy an evening out with my husband and cousins. I never enjoy leaving my kiddies at home.
On the night out that we didn't take, we did not see a great movie, that caused me to audibly gasp! I'm never that caught up in what I'm watching.
I definitely did not, take a nap, almost everyday this week. I never nap that frequently.
I certainly did not let my two younger kids eat mini Oreos with their breakfast this morning...after all, we always eat balanced meals.
I did not, nor did my husband, resort to holding our 2.5 year old up in the air, to have him point at what he wanted when we simply could not decipher what he was asking for. We always make him use his words.
I also didn't turn into "one of those moms" at church last week, when for the second week in a row, my 5 year old dumped his cup of chocolate milk down the front of this shirt, before service even started. I was not overly annoyed that we had to attend a baby dedication after our church service and I was not incredibly dumbfounded at the fact that the words "do not tip this cup like you did LAST WEEK, or it will spill again", had just left my mouth.
I also did not, under any circumstances, not do laundry for three days. I know that not doing laundry would create a massive, mound of mystery stained clothing and moldy towels - so I'd never do that!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Adventures in Potty Training
This post isn't for the weak tummies. It involves several bodily functions. All are messy and unwanted anywhere but in your bathroom toilet....they didn't occur in my toilet all the time.
So, I decided it was time, for my non verbal, slightly spoiled and completely adorable child to be potty trained. We are pushing three here folks....thankfully, O is small for his age, and still looks totally small enough to be placed on one of those shopping mall changing tables.
I'd put it off long enough. I was dreading potty training my last little man. The older two boys were so different in their potty training routine, I wasn't sure what to expect.
S was a breeze. Took about 2 weeks to get him mostly trained. He still needed diapers at nap and bedtime, but that was just fine. Two diapers a day versus 6 or 8 was a huge money saver - and yes, at 2.5, I needed that many diapers a day. Our children, thankfully, are great poopers. Yes, folks, I'm talking about my children's bowel habits on my blog.
S did great. He needed little prompting and had to sit backwards to pee for the longest time, but it worked. He also had to take off his pants, shoes and socks to go potty, which was fine as long as we were at home, not so fine say at...the grocery store or church. He has outgrown that habit...in case you were wondering.
Then it was M's turn to train...WOW! I had met my match. We tried training right before O was born, but I went into labor 3.5 weeks early and that kind of went out the window with a newborn at home. We tried again, once I was feeling better from the post partum issues, and M was used to having a new baby in the house. He was almost 3 by this point. Dangerously close to 3. I always swore I wouldn't be one of those mothers, hoisting a 50lb 3 year old up on the changing tables...never say never. Thankfully, M still doesn't weight 50lbs and he's 5...but still, he was big.
The child was impossible. He is laid back...so laid back in fact, that he would poop and or pee his pants and not care. He'd sit in underwear that were soiled and not say a word. It wouldn't be until I smelled/stepped in something that I discovered the "accident". I was convinced as time went on, that is was less and less an accident and more laziness.
We had to resort to a spank every time he peed his pants when he told me, "I just don't want to go in the toilet, I'm busy". It took months to get him trained enough to leave the house without extra clothes. He was still having accidents at 4.5. He's yet to stay dry through the night - but in hindsight, his diabetes might have had something to do with the accidents later in age and the night wetting....
O, I was certain was going to be a nightmare. He still wasn't talking much and it's difficult to potty train when a child isn't verbal. The first week was shaky at best. He didn't want to go in the potty and would fight when we tried to put him on it...I was persistent.
Week 2 went oddly well and we've continued down that path for quite some time!
Naps often are accompanied by a dry pull up....nights, not so much! He's doing great and is even to the point where he tells us he has to go potty, instead of me taking him every 30 minutes.
That being said, I've cleaned up my share of poop and pee puddles around our house. Some, poop issues are to disgusting to even talk about...like the time, he tried to dump his own potty and missed, and then tried to clean the poo up himself.....just let your mind wander on that one.
I've also been reminded that the makers of potty chairs, aren't always conscience of little boys and how their plumbing works....until a boy learns to pee standing up, there is some direction issues. I've cleaned up more pee of walls and doors in my boys lives than I care to remember.
We've also had some moments of poohing on the playroom floor....not fun for your brothers who happen to to playing in there with you. Those moments are often accompanied by, two screaming brothers...one of which is dry heaving from the site and smell.
All in all, it's been mostly smooth sailing and for that, I am grateful. I'm sure there are still more wet pants and undies that have to be thrown out in store trash cans to be had.....but for now, I am proud of my newly potty trained boy, and of myself, for getting the last one out of diapers....
So long Pampers, Luvs, Huggies and mostly store brand diapers...you have served me well for the last 6.5 years, but alas...I have no need for you anymore. We have graduated to your more superior counterpart - the Pull Up - equally expensive, but much better suited for our needs.
So, I decided it was time, for my non verbal, slightly spoiled and completely adorable child to be potty trained. We are pushing three here folks....thankfully, O is small for his age, and still looks totally small enough to be placed on one of those shopping mall changing tables.
I'd put it off long enough. I was dreading potty training my last little man. The older two boys were so different in their potty training routine, I wasn't sure what to expect.
S was a breeze. Took about 2 weeks to get him mostly trained. He still needed diapers at nap and bedtime, but that was just fine. Two diapers a day versus 6 or 8 was a huge money saver - and yes, at 2.5, I needed that many diapers a day. Our children, thankfully, are great poopers. Yes, folks, I'm talking about my children's bowel habits on my blog.
S did great. He needed little prompting and had to sit backwards to pee for the longest time, but it worked. He also had to take off his pants, shoes and socks to go potty, which was fine as long as we were at home, not so fine say at...the grocery store or church. He has outgrown that habit...in case you were wondering.
Then it was M's turn to train...WOW! I had met my match. We tried training right before O was born, but I went into labor 3.5 weeks early and that kind of went out the window with a newborn at home. We tried again, once I was feeling better from the post partum issues, and M was used to having a new baby in the house. He was almost 3 by this point. Dangerously close to 3. I always swore I wouldn't be one of those mothers, hoisting a 50lb 3 year old up on the changing tables...never say never. Thankfully, M still doesn't weight 50lbs and he's 5...but still, he was big.
The child was impossible. He is laid back...so laid back in fact, that he would poop and or pee his pants and not care. He'd sit in underwear that were soiled and not say a word. It wouldn't be until I smelled/stepped in something that I discovered the "accident". I was convinced as time went on, that is was less and less an accident and more laziness.
We had to resort to a spank every time he peed his pants when he told me, "I just don't want to go in the toilet, I'm busy". It took months to get him trained enough to leave the house without extra clothes. He was still having accidents at 4.5. He's yet to stay dry through the night - but in hindsight, his diabetes might have had something to do with the accidents later in age and the night wetting....
O, I was certain was going to be a nightmare. He still wasn't talking much and it's difficult to potty train when a child isn't verbal. The first week was shaky at best. He didn't want to go in the potty and would fight when we tried to put him on it...I was persistent.
Week 2 went oddly well and we've continued down that path for quite some time!
Naps often are accompanied by a dry pull up....nights, not so much! He's doing great and is even to the point where he tells us he has to go potty, instead of me taking him every 30 minutes.
That being said, I've cleaned up my share of poop and pee puddles around our house. Some, poop issues are to disgusting to even talk about...like the time, he tried to dump his own potty and missed, and then tried to clean the poo up himself.....just let your mind wander on that one.
I've also been reminded that the makers of potty chairs, aren't always conscience of little boys and how their plumbing works....until a boy learns to pee standing up, there is some direction issues. I've cleaned up more pee of walls and doors in my boys lives than I care to remember.
We've also had some moments of poohing on the playroom floor....not fun for your brothers who happen to to playing in there with you. Those moments are often accompanied by, two screaming brothers...one of which is dry heaving from the site and smell.
All in all, it's been mostly smooth sailing and for that, I am grateful. I'm sure there are still more wet pants and undies that have to be thrown out in store trash cans to be had.....but for now, I am proud of my newly potty trained boy, and of myself, for getting the last one out of diapers....
So long Pampers, Luvs, Huggies and mostly store brand diapers...you have served me well for the last 6.5 years, but alas...I have no need for you anymore. We have graduated to your more superior counterpart - the Pull Up - equally expensive, but much better suited for our needs.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Who Knew
Who would imagine that a bag of dried pinto beans, a few trains, a cookie sheet, a spoon and a toddler would bring hours of fun, not to mention peace!
He had such a wonderful time pushing those beans all around. He would load them in his cargo cars and crash them. He laughed and chattered away the whole time!
I tried to get him to look at me and smile...this is the face my sweet O gave me. He was just too busy working to pay me much attention.
He kept telling me - "Beans are rocks mommy". I told him, before he started playing, that these beans were raw and he shouldn't eat them. As is par for the course with my rebellious always obedient children, he only tried to eat the beans twice! He loves pinto beans...any bean really. One or two bites of dried pinto beans was all he needed to convince him that mommy was right on this one!
I love his sweet, hardworking, little hands!
For more awesome and kid friendly ideas, check out MckMammas blog. She had a bunch of fun ones! I'd heard of doing this with rice, but the thought of rice stuck in the grooves of my hardwood floor was more than I could handle for one day. The beans were simple and an easy clean. As a matter of fact, we left them on the tray, ready for a fun day of play tomorrow.
He had such a wonderful time pushing those beans all around. He would load them in his cargo cars and crash them. He laughed and chattered away the whole time!
I tried to get him to look at me and smile...this is the face my sweet O gave me. He was just too busy working to pay me much attention.
He kept telling me - "Beans are rocks mommy". I told him, before he started playing, that these beans were raw and he shouldn't eat them. As is par for the course with my 
I love his sweet, hardworking, little hands! 
For more awesome and kid friendly ideas, check out MckMammas blog. She had a bunch of fun ones! I'd heard of doing this with rice, but the thought of rice stuck in the grooves of my hardwood floor was more than I could handle for one day. The beans were simple and an easy clean. As a matter of fact, we left them on the tray, ready for a fun day of play tomorrow.
M and S, who wanted nothing to do with the idea at first, saw how much fun their little brother was having and begged to join in the fun! They even shut off the computer! This kept them busy until dinner - which was 45 minutes and they begged to keep playing. O played for almost 2 hours. That's right folks...2 hours! A 2.5 year old sat and played for 2 hours and only stopped once to go potty!
Life Lessons and Theology
I had a long conversation with M the other day about the ocean. This conversation, was of course, inspired by an episode of Sponge Bob, as all our great conversations are....
M: Mommy, is the ocean real.
Mom: Yes, it's beautiful. One day, we will go a see it.
M:(insert jumping up and down) I can't wait to see the ocean.
M: Are jelly fish real?
Mom: Yes, they are very real.
M: Can you catch them like Sponge Bob does?
Mom: No. You can catch them, but not like Bob does, and you really wouldn't want to.
M: Why?
Mom: When mommy was a little girl, she and grandma got stung by jelly fish in the ocean.
M: Did it hurt, did you cry, what did you do?
Mom: Wasn't horrible, yes it hurt a little bit.
M: NEVER MIND! I'm never going to the ocean.
That was the end of that conversation. I'm certain, I have now traumatized my child, and have made it so that he will never swim in the ocean!
S is always asking me questions about deep, theological things. Things I rarely know the answer to.
A few days ago, while at the eye doctor, he wanted to know who made tornadoes and why. He wanted to know if God made tornadoes, why does he let them happen? He then wanted to know if one would come here....The only thing I could answer is that if one came here, we have a plan of what to do and that we trust in the Lord and his plan for our lives. If was hard to explain the whole "God allows things to happen because of our choices" thing to a 6 year old. I did try though.
On a silly note....S has been complaining about his eyes not seeing well and being blurry. I asked him what was blurry.
Is it blurry up close? yes
Is it blurry far away? yes
Is this blurry (holding something in front of him)? (squinty eyed) yes
What isn't blurry? Nothing. Everything is blurry.
I assured him he was going blind then...and that seemed fine with him. I told the eye Dr. and so did S. S told him how everything was blurry. The kind and understanding opthamologist told S that his eyes were still perfect...but that maybe one day, he could get glasses. That seemed to end the blurry vision.
O has been talking up a storm. He's trying to tell us stories now and has taken to calling one of his grandmas or MAS as he calls them, by her first name, Nancy. It's quite funny!
M: Mommy, is the ocean real.
Mom: Yes, it's beautiful. One day, we will go a see it.
M:(insert jumping up and down) I can't wait to see the ocean.
M: Are jelly fish real?
Mom: Yes, they are very real.
M: Can you catch them like Sponge Bob does?
Mom: No. You can catch them, but not like Bob does, and you really wouldn't want to.
M: Why?
Mom: When mommy was a little girl, she and grandma got stung by jelly fish in the ocean.
M: Did it hurt, did you cry, what did you do?
Mom: Wasn't horrible, yes it hurt a little bit.
M: NEVER MIND! I'm never going to the ocean.
That was the end of that conversation. I'm certain, I have now traumatized my child, and have made it so that he will never swim in the ocean!
S is always asking me questions about deep, theological things. Things I rarely know the answer to.
A few days ago, while at the eye doctor, he wanted to know who made tornadoes and why. He wanted to know if God made tornadoes, why does he let them happen? He then wanted to know if one would come here....The only thing I could answer is that if one came here, we have a plan of what to do and that we trust in the Lord and his plan for our lives. If was hard to explain the whole "God allows things to happen because of our choices" thing to a 6 year old. I did try though.
On a silly note....S has been complaining about his eyes not seeing well and being blurry. I asked him what was blurry.
Is it blurry up close? yes
Is it blurry far away? yes
Is this blurry (holding something in front of him)? (squinty eyed) yes
What isn't blurry? Nothing. Everything is blurry.
I assured him he was going blind then...and that seemed fine with him. I told the eye Dr. and so did S. S told him how everything was blurry. The kind and understanding opthamologist told S that his eyes were still perfect...but that maybe one day, he could get glasses. That seemed to end the blurry vision.
O has been talking up a storm. He's trying to tell us stories now and has taken to calling one of his grandmas or MAS as he calls them, by her first name, Nancy. It's quite funny!
No Flashing
I love the quality of pictures I get when I don't use my flash. I wish I could figure out how to NEVER use it! I just need to purchase one of the big umbrella light thingies, that photographers use and carry it around with me every place I go. I can do that right?!? Just add it to the diaper bag with all the other junk necessities.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Our Hope Endures
This song, Our Hope Endures, by Natalie Grant, has blessed me and spoken to me in many ways. I hope it will do the same for you. If you scroll down to the bottom of the page, there is a link to hear the song.
You would think only so much can go wrong
Calamity only strikes once
And you assume that this one has suffered her share
Life will be kinder from here
Sometimes the sun stays hidden for years
Sometimes the sky rains night after night
When will it clear
But our hope endures the worst of conditions
It's more than our optimism
Let the earth quake
Our hope is unchanged
How do we comprehend peace within pain
Our joy at a good man's wake
Walk a mile with a woman whose body is torn
With illness but she marches on
Sometimes the sun stays hidden for years
Sometimes the sky rains night after night
When will it clear
But our hope endures the worst of conditions
It's more than our optimism
Let the earth quake
Our hope is unchanged
Emanuel, God is with us El Shaddai, all sufficient
Emanuel, God is with us El Shaddai, all sufficient
Emanuel, God is with us El Shaddai, all sufficient
We never walk alone
This is our hope Our hope endures, the worst of conditions
It's more than our optimism let the earth quake let the earth quake let the earth quake
Our hope is unchanged
Monday, February 2, 2009
Not Me Monday
If you love the "Not Me" therapy, visit MckMamma's blog carnival HERE. I am certain it will make you laugh....and feel just a little bit better about your Not Me moments!
This week, I did not, sit in our lazy boy for three hours. That would simply be lazy and I don't have the time, or the energy to be lazy!
I definitely, do not live in such a cold state, that I heard my husband say, "WOW, I'm not wearing this sweater today, it's going to be 32 degrees!". That would just be too cold of a state to live in to think that 32 was a heat wave!
I most certainly, did not tell my family, that I don't want a surprise 30th birthday party, and proceed to help them with the planning. I am not that vocal, ever!
I also did not "sniff" a pair of yoga pants this week to see if they were clean. My laundry is always, clean folded and put away. I would never have to sniff clothes to see if they were "not stinky enough" to wear.
I did not have a fun time with my friend Carrie, laughing and feeling like we were in a twilight zone while dining at a local Wendy's restaurant. The girl behind the counter did not yell, curse and shoot dirty looks to all her fellow workers, while the rest of us stood at the counter and stared. I was not hysterical.
This week, I did not, sit in our lazy boy for three hours. That would simply be lazy and I don't have the time, or the energy to be lazy!
I definitely, do not live in such a cold state, that I heard my husband say, "WOW, I'm not wearing this sweater today, it's going to be 32 degrees!". That would just be too cold of a state to live in to think that 32 was a heat wave!
I most certainly, did not tell my family, that I don't want a surprise 30th birthday party, and proceed to help them with the planning. I am not that vocal, ever!
I also did not "sniff" a pair of yoga pants this week to see if they were clean. My laundry is always, clean folded and put away. I would never have to sniff clothes to see if they were "not stinky enough" to wear.
I did not have a fun time with my friend Carrie, laughing and feeling like we were in a twilight zone while dining at a local Wendy's restaurant. The girl behind the counter did not yell, curse and shoot dirty looks to all her fellow workers, while the rest of us stood at the counter and stared. I was not hysterical.
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