Catching up

All of a sudden it feels like there's a lot going on around here.

Let's start with my birthday.  For one day it was my birthday and not Miss M's birthday. It took her until 4pm that day to not disagree with me.  We FaceTimed with Poppy and when he asked her what day it was she responded with "my mommy's birthday".  First and last time she acknowledged it.

Andrew planned an amazing surprise for my birthday. I thought he had organized Annessa to come babysit and he and I would go to dinner. The usual. No big deal although getting out of the house is a big deal.  My friend, Helen, came over and told me I could take a shower for my birthday and she would watch all the munchkins. I took her up on it because who would pass up an opportunity to stand under hot water in silence for just a few minutes. I even did my hair. Big day.  

We drove into the city and I had no idea where we were going. I thought I knew but I was wrong.  When we showed up he told me he would take care of the valet and I should go check in. I walk in and by the bar were 11 of my most treasured friends.  I cried.  It was wonderful. It meant so much to me that these women took time out of their busy lives and came to celebrate with me. Most of them had to organize babysitters, some are sleep deprived from newborns not sleeping, and one fit me in after her fantasy football draft.  Here are some of the wonderful people who came to celebrate. We are down two because of fantasy drafts and sleep deprivation took them away early. 

I think I mentioned that when Miss M's friend, O, came last weekend she was potty trained and Miss M too more of an interest in the toilet than she probably ever had.  She was in the basement yesterday (Wednesday) and was doing her business in the corner (you can tell by the look on her face). I asked her if she wanted to go to the bathroom and she agreed. She sat on her potty and read some books. Not much was happening so I told her I would be back after I got will down for a nap. When I came back she had pooped, put it in the toilet and flushed it down. I was shocked.  I asked her if she wanted to wear big girl panties. She usually responds with "no, I will wear a diaper" but that day she said yes. She had minimal accidents and when she started to have an accident she was able to catch herself and finish in the potty.  She woke up this morning and went potty and then I put a diaper on her because we were going to the zoo. I was not going to deal with accidents or having to pee at the zoo where bathrooms are not in abundance.

We went to lunch with our friend and I took her to the bathroom because she was still dry and she was willing to try to go but the toilet scared her. She kept asking if she was going to fall in. She didn't go to the bathroom.  She waited until we got home (approx 5.5 hours after leaving) and then she went to the bathroom.  So no accidents as of today.  I am not pushing it but she seems willing and interested. She wants a potty like her friend Mary has where it has steps that let her climb up to the big toilet. They didn't sell it at the store today as I was going to let her pick it out so I let her help me purchase it online. It will be here Saturday! We will not.

I am a little conflicted about how much I keep going with this or just do what's convenient for me.  We are traveling this weekend and I don't know if I should put her in a diaper/pull-up/panties. Do I take a small potty for the weekend? Do I just throw her in diapers? I will probably do all of the above because it will probably be easier in the long run and reduce the number of breakdowns she has.

Isn't she cute in her panties?

 

I am hoping this is my new best friend.  This is called a time-timer. Miss M's teacher said they use it in her classroom and it helps if we have one at home to keep things consistent. She said that a lot of times it helps take the power struggle out when dealing with kids. You set the clock for how long she has for something ie you have 15 minutes before you have to try to sit on the potty or 45 minutes before you HAVE to put the ipad away even though it might kill you. The red portion continues to decrease as the time runs out so the kid can physically see that time is ending.  It also makes a small beeping sound when time is up.  The teacher said it helps make the time-timer the bad guy instead of the parent because it is an inadiment object and you can say time-timer said time is up!  We shall see if she goes along with my game. Hopefully once she starts seeing it/using it at school she will be more open to the idea. Maybe I can even use time-timer to get her to pick up her toys.

I don't have a picture of it because it's not that exciting and space on my phone is limited but Aunt Nessie suggested I make a calendar for Miss M to show her when she be at school. Aunt Nessie is a preschool teacher and knows how these kids operate. She also thinks Miss M is a visual learner which I don't disagree with rather I just hadn't put that much thought into it.  So I ordered star shaped stickers (as she's in the star room at school) and put them on each day she will be in school and hopefully she will come to love the idea of going to school because right now I wouldn't say she loves the idea of school.

Miss M woke up today and asked if we could go to the zoo. We didn't have anything else really planned and we had to be out of the house when the cleaning ladies were here. We packed up the car and invited a few friends.  We met Rodie and Eddie.  Here they are just chatting about life and sports while enjoying the summer breeze at the zoo.  They are so cute.

I didn't proofread this today b/c I am in a hurry - I have two babies sleeping - it's 5pm and one of them will wake up any minute!