There is so much I want to write, to capture the moments of my life as it is right now. How there is so much craziness, but also? So much love! So much life! And oooohh, so much laundry. Which I should currently be folding....I digress.
Jacob - is learning to spell words, can sound some out on his own. It is neat to see how the wheels in his head are turning, and the "ah-ha!" moment when he gets it right. We have been watching a small fair being built at the church down our street. Yesterday was the first day it was open. We stood in a parking lot across the street, and he just soaked it all in. He was enamored by the lights, sounds, and how each ride worked. He LOVES to play with Wyatt, and they giggle so much together ~ especially at rest/quiet/bed time. Ha. They have bunk beds and goof around for a good half an hour before....silence.
Wyatt - potty trained in a few days about a month ago. The first two days, he had a few accidents. Then, he flat out refused to have anything to do with the potty, and held his pee for more than 6 hours from waking up in the morning until I put a diaper on at his nap time. I was getting frustrated with the process, and said to him, "You're totally gonna pee in this diaper as soon as I put it on, aren't you?". His response? "No...I'm gonna wait until you leave (the room), then I'm gonna pee". I walked away ready to explode, but then after I closed the door, I busted out laughing. S.T.U.B.B.O.R.N boy, my Wyatt. After that first week, he has totally ROCKED potty training. Now he wakes, pulls off his own diaper, and uses the toilet right at the beginning of the morning. He is also diaper-free at nap, as of about 10 days ago. All in his own timing! And someday....he'll wear underwear, instead of just going commando. Again...all in his own timing :)
I also love the way Wyatt says banana. He calls it a "ba-man-a".
Nate - his language has just exploded! He talks all the time, in mostly complete sentences, and has been pretty adamant about expressing what he wants/how he feels. He is our "spit-fire" ~ going from 0 to 100 mph in seconds flat. He wakes up jabbering, and goes to sleep much of the same way. He is always on the move. Might explain why he is still so little for his age. At 20 months, he weighed in at 21 lbs and was 33 inches long. He is falling off of the growth chart. I've heard two different peds toss around "failure to thrive" a few times, if he continues to stay at the same weight, or loses anything. So for a few days following his most recent dr. visit, I made myself crazy with trying to force him to eat (high calorie stuff with additives: smoothies made with whole milk and whole yogurt, with all kinds of stuff in it - fruits, wheat germ, flaxseed, butter, in addition to avocado. I've also given him a supplement drink for kids right before bed, added butter to everything, etc...) and eat more times during the day. But I was starting to get stressed about all of it, so I had to let some of it go. He eats, and eats a LOT all.day.long. He eats fruits and veggies, he eats proteins, and fats, and whole grains. He drinks milk and water, and asks for more when he wants it (likewise throws everything when he is all done....how do you break that habit in a toddler?!) We don't have a lot of junk foods in our house, so he doesn't get much of it. What more can I do?
Nate is wearing 18-24 month clothes, some 2T stuff, size 5 shoe, and size 3 diaper. He still takes a pacifier for sleeping (loving called his "Nigh-Night") - and at nap he takes three Nigh-Nights (one for his mouth, and one for each hand!), and loves to play ball. He throws overhand, and can catch too - most of our friends/family agree that he is "abnormally good" at ball for his age. I'm all for that ~ scholarships, anyone? :) He is so.darn.cute, and we say that often. He says things like, "Oh, Papa" and gives a hug when he does. He gives kisses and hugs freely. Most of his words start with G's. Guck (truck - sometimes it comes out like he's got a hairball, it's hilarious! Guuuccccck), Goggy (doggy), and Gub (bug) are a few of our favorites. He also says "bussssssss" whenever he sees one. He narrates life as he sees it too, which is both amazing and so funny all at once!
Everett - is 7 weeks and growing like a weed! He is around 14 lbs, and reminds us so much of Jacob as a baby: rolls in the middle of his forearms, a hot & sweaty-boy, receeding hairline, not to mention his looks! I'd better caption/label my pictures of my guys! Everett has the most intense, dark blue eyes. He just stares into mine, and I often wonder what he is thinking about, or learning. I remember looking into those same, intense eyes the moment he was born. He loves to be held, and loves nurse side-laying. He just started smiling and cooing regularly. He is wearing mostly 3-6 month clothes, but can make do with a onesie extender for some smaller things. He is wearing a size 2 diaper (catching up to Nate! ha!) but when I'm home or out at the grandparents, I cloth diaper the younger two - prefolds and covers for E and BG 3.0s for N). He has a fussy period in the evenings, usually between 7-8 PM, right when we are trying to get the Big 3 in baths and down for bed. Recently, his screaming can be curbed with nursing and sleeping. He is pretty "scheduled" ~ but all in his own doing. He sleeps at night from about 8 or 9 PM until 1 or 2 AM, then wakes every 2 hours or so to eat after that. I'm hoping I can push back this time to get more of our sleep lined up together...might be wishful thinking ;) He is taking naps in our bed now ~ he much prefers being swaddled loosely with his arms out, rather than being rocked in his swing (again - so much like Jacob!). He is by far our most "pukey" baby. Yesterday was a first for me in motherhood: I got baby puke in my hair (and pretty much all down my shirt and his - we were a mess). I guess that's not too bad for our fourth, huh?
::
We have some exciting things happening in our lives, and coming up this summer. I can't wait to post more about it, soon!
Showing posts with label potty training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label potty training. Show all posts
Friday, May 13, 2011
Saturday, April 10, 2010
More Potty Talk
...this post is simply for my note-taking self, so feel free to skip or view. But be warned - we Mamas are always discussing everything poop-related!
Jacob has been potty trained since November - one month shy of age three-and-a-half. He has been wearing pull.ups at nap, and over.night diapers at night. (heavy wetter).
Just this last week, he has been staying dry at nap time - age 3 years, 9 months.
He also (mostly) uses the toilet without being prompted. Sometimes he uses the seat adapter, sometimes not. He is a trooper!
Wyatt asked to get down from dinner the other night because he "had to poop" (his words, not mine). We grabbed his current favorite book at his request, and went on to read it while he sat on the seat adapter. We read the whole book, and he announced he "was all done". Nothing in the toilet, but he went on to go in his diaper, not a few minutes after coming off the toilet. He is truly starting to recognize his own cues and urges ~ something Jacob never did, or at least never verbalized. I definitely see this as a good sign, and a step in the right direction at potty training at an earlier age for Wyatt. Or at least I can hope for that anyway.
Jacob has been potty trained since November - one month shy of age three-and-a-half. He has been wearing pull.ups at nap, and over.night diapers at night. (heavy wetter).
Just this last week, he has been staying dry at nap time - age 3 years, 9 months.
He also (mostly) uses the toilet without being prompted. Sometimes he uses the seat adapter, sometimes not. He is a trooper!
Wyatt asked to get down from dinner the other night because he "had to poop" (his words, not mine). We grabbed his current favorite book at his request, and went on to read it while he sat on the seat adapter. We read the whole book, and he announced he "was all done". Nothing in the toilet, but he went on to go in his diaper, not a few minutes after coming off the toilet. He is truly starting to recognize his own cues and urges ~ something Jacob never did, or at least never verbalized. I definitely see this as a good sign, and a step in the right direction at potty training at an earlier age for Wyatt. Or at least I can hope for that anyway.
At least this time around, courtesy of my pre-potty training days with Jacob, I'm armed with the knowledge,
"There's never been a groom who walked down the aisle in diapers".
~ Friend of the Family
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Potty Training, Take 2
We are on Potty Training Boot Camp, Take 2, Day 1. (I tried a few days this summer, if you remember). It was, and is time. Jacob is ready. I am ready. Now or never.
Day 1 = success!
Jacob peed in the toilet 3 times successfully, with no accidents. He wore a diaper at his nap time ~ and pooped during the time he should have been sleeping, and therefore didn't ever sleep. Regardless, he was in good humor the rest of the day (surprising, actually, as it's usually a tough night following no nap).
It was an exhausting, but awesome day. I set the timer on the stove for every 15-30 minutes, depending on how long it had been since the last time he tried to urinate on the toilet. I kept feeding him pretzels and water (in a "big boy cup") to fill him up and make him have to go. He did the first time without hesitation, the second & third times he was wiggling, and asking for a diaper to be put back on. With a little coaxing and encouragement, I (and later we - Tim was gone for a majority of the day) was able to get him to sit on the toilet, and he peed with success!
We celebrated each time with hugs & kisses, and cheering, and a "prize" after each success - pretzels (from Halloween stash), and a toy football (from Big Brother present, leftover still - I save things periodically for such occasions, as to not overload them with goodies all at once, and to be able to reward the boys at times such as this), and a chocolate covered strawberry (yum!).
Jacob - we are so proud of you! We love you so much, and look forward to continuing to celebrate every goal you set out to achieve. Keep up the great work! All of our love, Mommy & Daddy
Day 1 = success!
Jacob peed in the toilet 3 times successfully, with no accidents. He wore a diaper at his nap time ~ and pooped during the time he should have been sleeping, and therefore didn't ever sleep. Regardless, he was in good humor the rest of the day (surprising, actually, as it's usually a tough night following no nap).
It was an exhausting, but awesome day. I set the timer on the stove for every 15-30 minutes, depending on how long it had been since the last time he tried to urinate on the toilet. I kept feeding him pretzels and water (in a "big boy cup") to fill him up and make him have to go. He did the first time without hesitation, the second & third times he was wiggling, and asking for a diaper to be put back on. With a little coaxing and encouragement, I (and later we - Tim was gone for a majority of the day) was able to get him to sit on the toilet, and he peed with success!
We celebrated each time with hugs & kisses, and cheering, and a "prize" after each success - pretzels (from Halloween stash), and a toy football (from Big Brother present, leftover still - I save things periodically for such occasions, as to not overload them with goodies all at once, and to be able to reward the boys at times such as this), and a chocolate covered strawberry (yum!).
Jacob - we are so proud of you! We love you so much, and look forward to continuing to celebrate every goal you set out to achieve. Keep up the great work! All of our love, Mommy & Daddy
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Surviving
So I'm back at work. And to be honest, the transition so far has been smooth sailing. Granted, I'm exhausted, but I was before I went back too! There is no rest for the weary in motherhood, I'm afraid. I've come to accept that this time around (third time's a charm, apparently!) that I will be tired to the bone more often than not. And I.am.tired. But, truth be told, I'm enjoying my children that much more because of my attitude.
Wow. I digress.
Yes, I'm back at work. My schedule has been great - full day in the office, half day in the office, full day working from home, and half day in the office. Not too shabby. And next week is a short one due to Thanksgiving - we are closed Thursday and Friday.
We are blessed: my in-laws have been a tremendous help with this transition, certainly without them, it would be much harder on all of us. Tim started work from home this week ~ Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays he is pluggin' away in our basement office, and we are in search of a Mother's Helper (or in this case, Father's) type of a person to come in and help with the boys so they can have someone totally devoted to them. For now, my FIL & MIL are bridging the gap as well as taking Wednesdays ~ they are retired, and wanting to help (my BIL & SIL and nieces just moved out of state, I know they are grieving this loss) it continues to build the boys' relationship with their grandparents - something I was not able to have with my own grandparents growing up. I will say it again: we are blessed!
My parents are also still going to take the boys on Mondays, and Tuesday mornings my mom and Jacob will go to here. I guess there is an infant and a 2-year-old program starting in January, so Wyatt might join them. Nathaniel could go too, but that's a lot on my mom to try to lug the three of them out solo. ;)
***
In other news, I've been able to cloth diaper the younger 2 on a more consistent basis. I'll admit I don't do it 100% (not at night, not always at naps, not all the time when we're out), but do it as often as I can, and am definitely enjoying it - it's a fun challange for the frugal mama in me. I am definitely cutting down on our output of paper diapers & wipes (3.in.diapers.seriously) and Wyatt's been telling me more often when he's wet or dirty. I keep saying we're getting a 2-for-1 deal on potty training, because Wyatt seems like he's way more eager to learn the skill than his big brother. Hmph!
AND - Score for Mama: all 3 boys are napping in their respective beds this afternoon!
Stay tuned, more pictures & updates to come....Happy Thursday!
Wow. I digress.
Yes, I'm back at work. My schedule has been great - full day in the office, half day in the office, full day working from home, and half day in the office. Not too shabby. And next week is a short one due to Thanksgiving - we are closed Thursday and Friday.
We are blessed: my in-laws have been a tremendous help with this transition, certainly without them, it would be much harder on all of us. Tim started work from home this week ~ Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays he is pluggin' away in our basement office, and we are in search of a Mother's Helper (or in this case, Father's) type of a person to come in and help with the boys so they can have someone totally devoted to them. For now, my FIL & MIL are bridging the gap as well as taking Wednesdays ~ they are retired, and wanting to help (my BIL & SIL and nieces just moved out of state, I know they are grieving this loss) it continues to build the boys' relationship with their grandparents - something I was not able to have with my own grandparents growing up. I will say it again: we are blessed!
My parents are also still going to take the boys on Mondays, and Tuesday mornings my mom and Jacob will go to here. I guess there is an infant and a 2-year-old program starting in January, so Wyatt might join them. Nathaniel could go too, but that's a lot on my mom to try to lug the three of them out solo. ;)
***
In other news, I've been able to cloth diaper the younger 2 on a more consistent basis. I'll admit I don't do it 100% (not at night, not always at naps, not all the time when we're out), but do it as often as I can, and am definitely enjoying it - it's a fun challange for the frugal mama in me. I am definitely cutting down on our output of paper diapers & wipes (3.in.diapers.seriously) and Wyatt's been telling me more often when he's wet or dirty. I keep saying we're getting a 2-for-1 deal on potty training, because Wyatt seems like he's way more eager to learn the skill than his big brother. Hmph!
AND - Score for Mama: all 3 boys are napping in their respective beds this afternoon!
Stay tuned, more pictures & updates to come....Happy Thursday!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Emotions
It's been a tough few days. Hmph ~ actually, this pregnancy has brought more ups and downs emotionally than either of my two previous ones. I'm grumpy and have mood swings - a LOT, I am sure my husband would agree! Grrr....I find myself short on patience frequently, and snapping over the tiniest things.
We started potty training Jacob last week. I mean that in a very loose way ~ I have no idea what I'm doing, and frankly, he seems to sense that. He's gone on the little potty once, in one week, and dozens of other times on the floor, the couch, chair, in his pants, etc. I can see him squirm, hold his privates, and run around - all the while holding in his pee, then refuses to sit on the potty and/or go there. Yesterday I put a diaper back on him to give us both a rest. I know there is no "right" or "wrong" way to do this, but wow...it's exhausting! I feel tied down, stuck, and it feels like we will never get there. I realize that these are irrational statements, and that no kid has ever graduated from high school in diapers, but geesh~
So I'm getting frustrated over things that are pretty much out of my control. I guess it's a natural part of pregnancy ~ and typical (for me) for this point too. I remember feeling overwhelmed by "the future" with my other two. This time it's...."how will I care for 3 young boys? how will I keep my sanity? How will I work? What will we do for daycare? Will we be able to...?" and on and on. Then the negativity comes in ~ circular thoughts on how much work all of this is, how I can never keep up, I'm slacking, I'm exhausted, etc. Satan sure has a way of sinking his claws & teeth in after he has a hold, doesn't he? WOW. It's a gripping, overwhelming feeling.
But....the Lord makes every morning new, doesn't He? Thank you, God, for that! What a sense of peace I have today. I know that the Lord is going to provide everything we need for our growing family ~ physically and emotionally. I just have to let go, and let Him do so!
I have tons more I could add, but for now.....we are off to get ready for pediatrician appts for the boys. Fun times!
We started potty training Jacob last week. I mean that in a very loose way ~ I have no idea what I'm doing, and frankly, he seems to sense that. He's gone on the little potty once, in one week, and dozens of other times on the floor, the couch, chair, in his pants, etc. I can see him squirm, hold his privates, and run around - all the while holding in his pee, then refuses to sit on the potty and/or go there. Yesterday I put a diaper back on him to give us both a rest. I know there is no "right" or "wrong" way to do this, but wow...it's exhausting! I feel tied down, stuck, and it feels like we will never get there. I realize that these are irrational statements, and that no kid has ever graduated from high school in diapers, but geesh~
So I'm getting frustrated over things that are pretty much out of my control. I guess it's a natural part of pregnancy ~ and typical (for me) for this point too. I remember feeling overwhelmed by "the future" with my other two. This time it's...."how will I care for 3 young boys? how will I keep my sanity? How will I work? What will we do for daycare? Will we be able to...?" and on and on. Then the negativity comes in ~ circular thoughts on how much work all of this is, how I can never keep up, I'm slacking, I'm exhausted, etc. Satan sure has a way of sinking his claws & teeth in after he has a hold, doesn't he? WOW. It's a gripping, overwhelming feeling.
But....the Lord makes every morning new, doesn't He? Thank you, God, for that! What a sense of peace I have today. I know that the Lord is going to provide everything we need for our growing family ~ physically and emotionally. I just have to let go, and let Him do so!
I have tons more I could add, but for now.....we are off to get ready for pediatrician appts for the boys. Fun times!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
