Potty Training

I don't wanna...It's time consuming, messy and time consuming...oh and messy.

Have I mentioned I don't want to? Oh, I have? Ok.

Kaia is starting to get more and more interested in potty training. This morning for example she insisted on wearing underwear from 8 until 11. She sat on the potty a half a dozen times but only succeeded in peeing and pooping (once each) in her pants. Ugh. YUCK. At 11 it had been about an hour since I last got her to agree to try sitting on the potty (have I mentioned she is stubborn?) and she insisted in putting a diaper on after finally trying and not succeeding. So I put one on her. I'm not really sure if it is worth pushing or not. She really only does things on her own terms and I'm worried if I push, she will dig in her heels. I guess she's only two... I still have time... some...

Any tips and tricks you want to share with me?

My Spare Time (hahahaha)

I've been wanting to start sharing something here. It's what I do in my spare time. I know, that sounds like some kind of mommy joke. What spare time? I tell you, it's spare time I've started really forcing myself to take. Just a little bit of time when I'm not working or in the evening after the kids are in bed. It's made a world of difference to me and my mental state. So...what do I do? I create. I digital scrapbook, or digi-scrap for short. It is such a good release for me. Want to see? Here are some of my latest creations (linked to the kits I used to create them):

This hobby of mine has led me to a wonderful opportunity to design pages for the amazing kit creators at 9th and Bloom! This month for Halloween there is some exciting stuff happening that I think you should check out, especially if you like to digiscrap or you are looking to get into it!

Stuff

I am being overwhelmed by stuff. Kid stuff to be more precise. Toys, clothes, drawings, crafts, books, Legos, schoolwork....stuff.

This is my fall project. Get rid of and organize the stuff. One room at a time. I've started with Stinkerbells room. She is 2. There is no reason to still have 6 month clothes in her closet is there?

Got any links for great organizing ideas?

Some People Make Me Sick

So I was Stumbling around the internet when I came across this great blog by a mom raising a little boy who likes pink and to play with a purse, to put it simply. Her post was a response to one written by an extremely close-minded Catholic mother who feels she can't even take her kids to the park because her state allows gay marriage and now, in her opinion, they are everywhere and rubbing their, I don't know, "gayness?" in everyone's faces. She doesn't want to explain it to her kids so she's staying home.

Can I just say how sick it made me feel to read this? I literally almost threw up. This is the world I have to explain to my kids thanks to people like her. I am going to have to explain why some people choose to hate other people because of things that don't affect them or anyone else. I mean, how does it affect her to see two people who love each other and love their children playing at the park. Really? If I was her I'd be more worried about my kids wondering why I was such a hateful bitch than why little Johnny has two mommies. She can hide behind religion all she wants but the bottom line is, she is choosing to hate without reason and that is disgusting.

Alright, I'm done ranting. Back to your regularly scheduled programming....

Someone Make This For Me

Stinkerbell LOVES her tubs. Like really really loves them. She has one just about every day, at her insistence. Here's the thing though. She much prefers to play in there with the water running. Once the tub is full and I shut it off, it isn't near as much fun. Some days, if I'm playing around on the computer trying to finish something important, I've been known to let the water out and start again. Wasteful and wrong, I know.

So, here's what I need. Some sort of apparatus like they have in garden fountains and what not, that will cycle the water out of the full tub and back down through the faucet so she things that it's still filling up. Then I think she might stay in there longer than 10 minutes. Wouldn't that be nice???

Potential for Disaster

I was recently lucky enough to win tickets to see Ovo by Cirque du Soleil. Thank you Ironic Mom! The downside was I was gone to Vegas the week before and didn't have time to make plans to take anyone with me. My mom casually suggested taking Stinkerbell. Um, what? She's 2....and yeah...she's 2. At first I thought this was the worst idea ever. I mean, can you say, "Hello glaring strangers who paid good money for their seats. Have you met my screaming 2 year old who won't sit still?" If anything had the potential for disaster it was this idea.

The more I thought about it and the more I realized how hard it was going to be to find 3 people who didn't have plans for Saturday, aka tomorrow, the more I started thinking, what the hell. She's been golfing twice, which involves just sitting in the cart fooling around and being as quiet as a two year old can be while Nana and Papa hit their shots. Surely this would be similar, right?

I followed this up with a good Google search: 2 year old and Ovo which lead me to discover that
1. It was a kid friendly show - they provide booster seats for the under 4 feet tall set
2. It was a matinee - if you don't like kids do not go to a matinee....ever
3. Other kids ranging from 17 months to 3 years old (a relevant age range, I thought) had enjoyed it
4. I still had one ticket left
5. The ticket was free so if I had to leave....

So, the decision was made. She was coming with me.

This was the best decision I could've made. She was amazing! Sure she was yelling a little bit, "OOOHHH! What is that guy doing?", "Look, Mom, he's jumping!", "WOW! Look! Look!" But it was just enthusiasm for the amazing show. I figure it was the two year old version of Ooohing and Aahing. She also climbed back and forth from her seat to my lap but she only kicked the lady in front of us once so that was a success. I was the only one made slightly uncomfortable by her presence and that was made up for by the look on her face while she watched the show. She danced in her seat with the biggest grin on her face trying desperately to clap along with the beat like the rest of the audience. That memory right there is worth more than money. More than what anyone who might've been annoyed by here paid for their seats. Only a true grump could've looked at the little girl filled with joy and been angry. And if they did? I didn't see them. And if they did? I feel sorry for them.

So, thank you Cirque du Soleil for an amazing performance. I've never ever been disappointed by one of their shows (this is my third one). They are amazing and breathtaking and full of wonder. I'm so glad I got to share this with one of the little people I love the most.

Have you ever taken your kids somewhere you were worried about their behaviour and had them completely surprise you?

Third Day of School....Who knew?

Well I didn't cry on the first day but I cried today....

McQueen wanted to take the bus today so I told him we would try it. We got up this morning to a rainstorm. Awesome. So I drove him to the bus stop and he sat in the car watching for the bus. At the first bus he jumped out and went and lined up with the kids....well, it was the bus for the Catholic school so I called him back. Great. So that started his anxiety about getting on the wrong bus. He was already nervous but this made it worse. So his bus pulls up and I tell him that's the right one and he goes to get in line. The kid in front of him couldn't get his umbrella shut to get in so McQueen kept trying to get by. Then all of a sudden he just couldn't try anymore. He came flying back to the car in tears that he missed me to much and why can't I just drive him. My heart just smashed. He was too scared? Why did I make him do it?

So, I calmed him down and drove him in. All the way he was adamant that he would still take the bus home because his friend would be on it then and so it would be ok. So, I'm proud that he wants to try again...but what if he breaks down again? I won't be there?

I walked him to class and while he was at his locker I talked to his teacher. She assured him that she walks each kid right to their bus and makes sure they get on the right bus. She does this for them every day until Christmas. I love her. She was awesome reassuring him.

When I went to leave he came running over in tears. He didn't want to stay. I was shocked. He has never once done this when it came to playschool or even the last few days of kindergarten. But I think, today, with the bus incident, it just got to him. It was too much for him to handle on his own. I did get him calmed down. I did get him to agree to stay. But it hurt. I wanted to just bring him home. I don't want him to feel the anxiety that I do when I'm in a new situation. I've tried so hard to hide that from him, and here it is anyways. I know how he feels. I know how hard it is to make yourself suck it up and do it. I didn't want to make him.

So, now I'm worried that he is going to ride the bus home after school in tears. I hope not. I'm sending him all the brave/calm thoughts I can. I know he will surprise me. I know he is braver than I am.