Potty Training, yuck!

Alex turned two in February, and along with the joys and excitement that comes from having a two year old, responsibility to teach new skills lurks right around the corner. First job was new bed (I'll tell you about that later) and the second job for us has been getting rid of diapers! Now I read some books, checked out websites, and chatted with my girlfriends, but the method that seemed most likely to work for us was "potty training in three days or less", by the way that name should be potty training in three months or less!

http://www.babycenter.com/0_potty-training-in-three-days-or-less_10310078.bc

Just so I am not misleading anyone, what I read and implement is never exactly the same as the "manual". It's awesome to get inspiration from other sources, but every kid, family and home life is different so I take what I can and the rest I play by ear.

Right now we have two potties (one in the living room and one in the play room) and Alex just runs around half naked all day, as long as we are in the house. He had one accident in the first ten min. of being diaper free, then not another one for 5 days. *I would also like to take a second to suggest the BabyBjorn potties if you have a boy. They are a bit pricey, but the design is amazing, easy to clean and winky proof. I find other potties just leave my guy sitting on the potty, yet still peeing on the floor :P* So far it's been pretty successful as long as Alex is at home, in the car or shopping. Daycare on the other hand has been hit or miss. Alex also went to Grandmas for a night and my Mom not only got to clean pee off the floor many times, but she also enjoyed the new pedicure treatment I like to call "Poo on Foot", lol. So every time he has an accident in the care of others I tell myself ~ they just don't do it right, lol and then we start at home again. 

One thing that has been pretty helpful is getting Alex empowered to clean the potty himself. He pees, YELLS "MOMMAAAA I PEE IN THE POTTY" while squealing in joy and then we take the potty to the bathroom. He dumps the pee/poop in the toilet, flushes and says "bye bye pee" and then he helps me rinse it in the tub as well as washes his hands. When it's all done he gets tons of high fives and woo hoo's and then goes back to his toys/life before the big pee adventure. Although this has been fun and great I do have one litteral word of warning, if you decided to go this route, the word together is very important. Trust me the word together will be extremely common and often said if you have a crazy toddler like mine. Here is it's use in context: "Let's take the potty together" lol... now for the reason. So it's super awesome that Alex pees in the potty, but if he then picks up the potty, runs halfway to the bathroom and thinks it's the perfect time to jump and sing TaDa! then you are still cleaning pee off the floor! ha ha ha, yes.. many, many times.

It's been about a month now and we are doing well, having fun and I am sure will have many more days of training ahead of us. After he is daytime pee/poop trained in the potty, we will work on the toilet, then nap time, then bed time. Sounds like three days is a little out to lunch, but heck if your child can make it happen then you need to be on T.V. spreading your words of wisdom to the masses, lol. I'll keep you posted on the progress. Xo

The Dreaded Playground

So seeing as the weather has warmed up and out door play means longer nap times for Alex (and Momma), I decided to take Alex on an adventure to the ultimate Mommy hot spot. You all know it... it's the dreaded playground. The place where our children can roam free and interact with each other while we desperately try to look cool as a cucumber (but secretly and on the inside freak out) every time our babies step too close to the edge of the jungle gym. 

So I am the type of Mom who would love to make other Mom friends, I dream about the day I have someone to entertain me and gossip with while DS is enjoying something other then pulling at my leg saying "no Momma PLAY WITH ME!!", and every time I dream this wonderful dream I picture being at the playground. The only problem is that dreams never look as good in the bright light of reality. 

Other Moms are F'ing CRAZY! 

Now we are at the play ground and Alex is loving the slide, the stairs, the sand, so I have some time on my hands. I smile at one Mom and she (honest to god) turned around and walked away,lol. I was slightly embarrassed, so I thought I would wait before trying to befriend anyone else, and then it happened.... A little boy (we will call him Frank) BIT!! a little girl (we will call her Dora). Well holly cr@p, that was it, drama at the playground, but to a Mom looking to make friends it was a great opportunity! So Dora lets out an earth shattering wail and Frank blankly stairs at her as if she is mental and the Moms swoop into action. 

First the questioning: "what happened?" "who was it?" "are you bleeding?" "Is she O.K.?"; Then the apologizing: "I am so sorry!" "he never does things like this..." "I swear he isn't normally agressive..." After the Moms have sorted out the situation and realized no blood was drawn and everyone is still alive Doras Mom scoops up her two children and they go to a different play area (my guess to be away from "will grow up to be a serial killer" Frank). 

Now lets be honest here, poor Frank is about 3 years old. I am sure it's not the first time he has ever bit, hit or pushed a kid in his little life, but really, a serial killer? lol... I think thats a bit absurd, he's just a kid. They were playing tea party and from what I could gather Doras hand went a little too close to Franks mouth while feeding him some make believe cake. But that didn't seem to matter. Doras Mom was appalled and  Franks Mom was mortified. So now Dora is out of the scene and Franks Mom starts talking to me :) Yippy!! A new friend!! Unfortunately all she can talk about is how her son may need professional help, maybe she is doing him a diservice by not sending him to daycare, maybe he has anger issues... K, this Mom is CRAZY. So I tried my best to not tell her she was being an over dramatic weirdo, and instead I said, "Don't worry, your son is normal. Kids bite" then with out warning and second time happening to me that day, Franks Mom (honest to god) turned around and walked away. I give up! Alex can play in the back yard, lol.       

Does this mean I am a blogger?

So the truth of the matter is I think "Blogging" is ridiculous! Who am I and why the heck would anyone care what I have to say? lol... but if by some off chance people are interested in my life with a toddler or advice, tips and stories from a first time Mom who isn't perfect, then I guess this could be something fun for me to do instead of drink every night. Beer is expensive!

I'll start with my name: it's Louise, I am 30, overweight, gapped toothed and you will never see a picture of me (if I can help it, lol) with my child. I have a two year old son Alex who I am pretty sure is perfect. By perfect I mean normal, happy, ten fingers and toes; he does every shitty/wonderful thing toddlers are supposed to do and I love him to death, lol. How me and my Husband (we will call him DH) managed to create a perfect child is beyond understanding. I hope and pray everyday that nature over rides nurture and he stays the ball of wonderfulness he is today. I figure he will either grow up to be a doctor or a drug addict, I pray for doctor! 

yes that is McDonalds you see, if that appalls you then this is not the right blog for you to follow! ha ha ha

So that is a little bit about me. The things I will be sharing (for as long as it interests me) will be everyday life experiences with my boys. I hope to not bore you.

 Enjoy