Potty Training, #3

Yes, I am the worst at blogging. Now that that's out of the way, I want to record some things for my own use later. I have vague outlines of how the other 2 potty trained, but want to collect my thoughts as I get ready for a new school year, during which I will be expected to help other parents with their own potty training battles.

Day 1: Cora mostly held it for up to 3 hours at a time. When she was wet, it was a flood. But, she peed in the potty twice, and even pooped in the potty. All of them were flukes that happened because I put her there, not because she told me. THIS IS NORMAL. If you think about how a toddler has to learn to use the potty, there are a lot of things going on here. One is the muscle control to hold their pee, and then release those same muscles at the right time. Another is the ability to recognize the feeling of a full bladder. Third is the ability to recognize that feeling ahead of a relieving it, and the fourth is communicating that to someone, or taking herself to the potty.

Day 2: Wet all day. But here's the bright side: wet in tablespoons. She would pee, stop peeing, then say pee! and we would take her to the potty. This doesn't sound like a triumph, but in light of what I just described above, this is a huge step to have made in just 24 hours.

Day 3: It's noon. She's peed in the potty twice, been wet twice. However, the first time she did make it to the potty, she came barreling into the bathroom where her cousin was occupying the potty, and yelled and signed potty! I hauled Ollie off, much to his dismay, put her on, and she did it! Again, this is massive for only her 3rd day in undies.

Check out that 'hawk!

This is how Cora's hair chooses to style itself. We truly play no part in this. She is the happiest, most laid back baby. Every day, she reminds me of Emmeline. Poor girl recently had an ear infection, but the only way we found out was when we took her to the pediatrician for something else. She never ran a fever, never tugged her ear, never stopped smiling. She was having a harder time sleeping, but at 3 months, it's a little tough to figure out if sleeping issues are sleeping issues or health issues.
The big kids are so totally in love with her. Emmeline likes to change her diaper, and talk to her, occasionally read her books. Jamie sings to her and tickles her. They are great at being big brother and big sister.

Big Smiles!

We got our first "social smile" yesterday. Cora is still a pretty easy baby, so long as I maintain my strict diet of water and bread. No soda, beans, possibly dairy, or virtually anything else. She has the dreaded reflux, and some bad gas. I'm working on it. But as long as her tummy's not hurting, she's golden. Cora loves it when her big brother and sister talk and sing to her. She prefers naps on her side, tucked into a sort of blanket cocoon. Not a swaddle, just cocooned. She's still deciding on the pacifier...Em loved it, Jamie hated it, Cora...does both. She seems to love it in the middle of the night, when she'll take it and put herself to sleep (thank you, Lord). But during the day, I'd say we have about a 50% success rate with it, 

What she definitely does NOT love, however, is Zantac. Emmeline asked why we don't just make it breastmilk flavored. Good call, Em. 

Happy Birthday, Cora Juliette!

Here's our tiebreaker! Looks like the girls will carry the day here. Cora joined us on January 22, at 10:46 am. It was a whole new birth experience for me, since my epidural only worked on one side. Also, for the first time, my water broke on its own. Not at home, but it was still interesting. Miss Cora has a LOT of hair, more than Emmy did, and it's much longer than Emmeline's was. She is a champion nurser, figuring out this latching business almost immediately. At her pediatrician appointment yesterday, she had already put back on 3 ounces of the 9 she lost.

The big kids are just in love, Jamie can't stop kissing her (despite my mild protests, since he has a runny nose). When Meme took them shopping for Cora, Jamie wanted to buy her most of Target.

We are so very blessed here.

Baby G3 Baking Nicely

We had our mid pregnancy ultrasound about 2 weeks ago. Everything is looking good! Baby is measuring just right, and everything is where it is supposed to be. We are staying on "Team Green" this pregnancy, just like the others, which gets significantly easier after that ultrasound has passed. Now, we're just waiting it out, and working on logistics. Baby has been kicking like crazy, enough that Shawn even felt it once. My heartburn is back with a vengeance, but as long as I remember the rules (no tomatoes, no oranges, not too much fried, nothing carbonated + two Zantac a day), I seem to be ok. Doctor said today that I've put on 7 pounds this whole time, so I'm happy with that. I have had two people ask me if I'm sure it's not twins, and if I'm sure the doctor doesn't think I'm farther along than I think I am. I realllllly don't think I'm that big, but whatever.

And Just Because We All Look Pretty Good

Mother's Day 2014

Well, Jamie looks a little goofy, but we're all dressed nicely.

The Big Kids' Take on an Addition

We told the kids about the new baby coming a few weeks ago. They were sort of unimpressed, but have been slowly reacting. All positive - Emmeline is kind of excited, Jamie just sort of rolls with whatever Em says. Of course, Emmeline wants a sister, Jamie wants a brother. Not surprising. What is funny is that Jamie wants a brother so he can share his toys with him (!) They have had lots of questions about how things will be once the baby gets here, and logistics: where will the baby sleep? Where will its carseat go? Things like that. So far, they seem happy about the whole thing, so we're embracing that and hoping it sticks.

January 21, To Be Exact

I think 4 might be better than 2 for hilarious conversation

Me: "What's with this bag? I thought I put it away..."
Em: "I got it out, I was playing Bag Head."
*Please note, we were discussing a paper bag

*drawing a picture of the family*
Em: "Daddy will have to wear a dress, since I'm not very good at drawing pants and shirts."

Em: "You hurt my feelings when you told me I couldn't bring that toy in your room! I was feeling happy to give it to Jamie, and then you hurt my feelings!"

*listening to a song on YouTube*
Me: "Oh please, can we turn this off? This is horrible...I really can't stand it."
Em: "But it's so loving!"

*on a walk through the neighborhood*
Em: "oh, those are beautiful petals, I'm going to pick them. Then I can take them to Grandma Patsy's wedding."
Me: "....why...would you bring them?"
Em: "She told me I'll get to throw petals, these are nice."
Me: "Oh. I think she will provide them for you to throw."

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

My daughter loves books. She loves looking at them, being read to, holding books, browsing the library or bookstore, I think she probably smells them when I'm not looking. I can totally relate, being a complete bookworm myself. This video is her "reading" The Very Hungry Caterpillar to Jamie. I don't know how I didn't get caught taping them, but she never noticed me.

No Post Christmas Let Down Here!

 Above is us at the Kennedy Center after Christmas to see the Eric Carle puppet show. This group travels out of Canada doing this awesome puppet show of Brown Bear, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and Papa, Please Get Me The Moon. IT WAS AWESOME. The kids ate it up, they couldn't tear their eyes from the stage. What a Christmas gift! (Thanks, Meme and Papa)

This is Jamie rocking his fireman coat and boots - another great Christmas gift. I haven't caught the kids with my camera playing with everything yet, but almost. As I get more, I'll put some more up. I really want to get a good one of them doing yoga with Emmeline's cards and mat!

Christmas 2012

We had an awesome Christmas this year. Emmeline asked for "lighting up shoes" from Santa, and Jamie asked for his very own bike and helmet. They were not disappointed. We had our traditional Christmas Eve TauTau dinner with the family, and then hosted Christmas dinner at our house. Despite short/non existant naps, the kids were pretty well behaved!

The above was Christmas morning, when I asked them to say HoHoHo while Shawn got coffee etc ready downstairs.

After Christmas, we took a quick trip down to Williamsburg (Wibbiamsburg, if you ask Em) and went to Jamestown. I have pictures of myself and Katie and Alex at various ages holding Pocahontas' hand from the early/mid 90s. This is really cool to me. Oh, and her name is Hocapontas according to my daughter.

On a more general note, my kids are continuing to grow and impress us every day. Jamie is pretty well done with potty training. He tells me when he needs to go about 90% of the time, the rest is me being paranoid. He is still in a diaper overnight, but I'm not worried about that yet. He is a MUCH happier, sunnier guy than he was as a baby, and his language is awesome. He knows the names of about 20 different types of trucks. He loves to read, which we really didn't think would happen. But he is constantly bringing me books and backing up into my lap, saying "read book?" Usually it's one of three books: Tip, Tip, Dig, Dig or Roadwork or Sheep in a Jeep. Occasionally he wants to check out Little Blue Truck, but those are about it. If I'm reading something else to Emmeline, he'll join in, but he never asks me to read anything else.

Emmeline will be reading to us all shortly. I've been saying this for a while, but she is now reading without realizing she's doing it. I will provide 2 examples for posterity.
The other night, we went to District Taco for dinner. She and I went into the door labeled "IN". They had a very separate door for out, located about 7 feet away. I don't know why they are so concerned about this, but there is a definite IN door and a definite OUT door. As I held the door for her, she said "Why is this door only for going in?" I asked her why she thought that, and she said because the door said in, and then pointed at it. SHE DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE SHE READ THE DOOR!
We went to the GAP outlet to exchange some jeans I bought. She and I were standing in line, and looking at the huge wall of reusable bags that are emblazoned with GAP. She turned to me and asked "What does Guh-Ah-Puh mean?" I asked her what she meant, and she said "those bags say gap, but that's not even a word." I explained that gap is a word, and what it meant, and told her I was impressed that she read it. She acted like this was no big thing. IT IS A VERY BIG THING! My baby is reading. I can't believe it.

Looks like we're riding the Potty Train!

Wow. Jamie is nothing if not determined. He has steadfastly refused diapers since Monday. He's doing great, has stayed dry ALL DAY today. Yes, it's only 3 p.m., but for only Day 4 in undies, I'm feeling pretty good about his progress. I think he was totally ready, and I was in denial because he's a boy! I wasn't expecting this at all, at this age. I knew he was showing some signs that he was ready, but I thought we had a couple of weeks at the minimum. It's always something new with this guy.

Potty Training????

What do you do when the 18 month old picks up his diaper, says No. All Done. That! and points at a pile of underwear?

I gave him the underwear. He promptly put it on, unassisted, and went on his way.
I'm sure this won't last, but it seems we're getting closer! Good news for my wallet, since I won't be feeding my cloth diaper addiction.

Jamie's Birthday Cake

True Story

We're eating breakfast this morning, and Emmeline asks me, with curiosity in her voice:
"Mom, do you know why Jesus walked on water?"
I take my time, weighing how I want to hit this one. I decide to tread lightly, answering,
"I think it was to get to the men in the fishing boat."
I must have been wrong. I immediately get back,
"No! To get to the other side!"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Ok, she doesn't know that joke, and she didn't say this with a huge grin, nor did she start laughing. She went on to explain to me that he needed to get to the other shore, and tell the men not to be afraid. But how can I resist recording that one?

So obviously, I'm not very good at this blogging business. Sorry...

12 month check up:
James is still my little peanut. He weighed 19 lbs, 2 oz, and was 29" tall. Teensy. I personally love it! He is so very independent, wanting to run around all by himself everywhere, and refusing to let me feed him anything. We are also having a little bit of a biting problem. Jamie apparently has a bit of a personal space issue. As in, he doesn't like people all up in it. Unfortunately, Emmeline also has a personal space issue. In that she doesn't recognize that anyone else could not WANT her up in their space.

Emmy-Bear:
Is writing (with movable letters), and reading so much! She has recognized several letters, and put them together phonetically to make words. So, I had a tee shirt on with writing on it last night, she saw the "t-e" on it, and told me it spelled "tea." Or, when we were at California Pizza Kitchen, they had a word search on their kid's menu. She found an "e-r" next to each other and told me it spelled "ear." I am totally impressed. Once she gets all her letters and sounds down, she'll be reading in about 10 minutes. She's continued to spell with her fridge letters, most recently spelling "apple" - "A-P-O-L." I will do my best to get pictures up ASAP of both the kids.

And He's Off!

They're Growing Up!

Jamie is walking. I'm not sure we can call him a walker or a toddler yet, since it's not his primary mode of transportation, but he is taking 7-10 steps at a time now. He's confident. When he gets up from his (non) nap, I'll take some video.

Emmeline is ALL about phonics. I swear, I know I'm biased, but that girl is so smart! She wants to talk about which words rhyme, and which words start with the same letters. We've been doing some collaging (is that spelled right?). I bought teacher-bulletin board letters at the dollar store, and spent several evening decimating our magazine collection for pictures. I paste a letter to the top of a posterboard, and she picks out pictures of things that start with that letter. She then gets to glue the picture to the posterboard. It's going really well! It combines her favorite things - gluing and phonics games. She's even been spelling things with her fridge letters. She has been asking for our help, but mostly it's her thing.

Clearly, this spells "Dad"

And, obviously, this spells "mommy"

Oh, These Kids

I hear from the lunch table today:
E:"I look around, and once again, I'm on my own. My man ain't here, he's gone, and done me wrong"
Yes, we ARE Muppets fans, how did you know?

Jamie is inches away from walking. About a week ago, he let go of the coffee table and tried to take a step to me, while I was on the couch. He fell down. But he hasn't stopped trying. He also, apparently, taught himself how to (in Shawn's words) rappel down the stairs. After months of me trying to teach him. He's speedy! So now, nowhere is safe from this boy. Well, nowhere under three feet. He can go up and down stairs, he cruises and take 2-3 steps, and pulls things out of cabinets. Tonight, I had my phone in the front pocket of the hoodie I was wearing. He could see the edge, and was trying to pull it out. I was quietly pulling the phone back in from the other side. He gave up, looked up at me, and put his right hand, flat, up to his right ear, and cocked his head over to his shoulder. Then said "Ha?" I almost let him have the phone for being so damned cute. Maybe a fluke? I thought so at first, then put my flat hand up to my ear, and he cracked up and did it again, and "talked" to me for a minute on his "phone." Hilarious! What a big guy!