Melissa's Mommy Stories

Potty Trained

MommaMelissa — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:29:43 +0000

My daughter is closing in on three years old. For the last few months we have made strides and tons of effort to get her potty trained. Girls are reportedly easier to potty train then boys. Agreed. Started with Pull-Ups and went from there. It wasn’t long before she hated diapers and wouldn’t wear them. Then we moved to panties with timing. Meaning I set the timer and made her sit on the toilet every 20 minutes or so. We did that for a few hours a day and then would go back to the Pull-Ups. She slowly started to get the message. Fast forward. Many poops in the panties later, many pees in the panties later we are trained! Haha. Made that sound easy. Why should I give the more accurate, pull my hair out, cause me gray hair, exhausted exasperation picture? Here’s the truth. She did slowly potty train. Then she got the pee in the toilet thing down with an occassional dribble in the panties thing. I can handle that. What I hate it the poop in the pants because I don’t know why thing. It is frustrating and gross. It isn’t like a Pull-Up. You don’t throw away upteen pairs of underwears. I tried treats (M&Ms) and that didn’t work. I tried treats ($ store toys) and they collected dust. I tried applause and praise and that feel on non listening/caring ears. Finally, finally I tried Netflix. Yes, you read right. You see all of a sudden my daughter started to like Caillou. He’s education, non violent so I let her watch him on occasion. Then the lightbulb went on with me. I told her that if she poops in her panties she doesn’t get to watch Caillou. If she poops in her panties, Caillou is forfeited until said (next) poop takes place in the toilet. There were many tears shed and screaming and tempers flaring. After three days of “accidents” she made a concerted effort to make it to the toilet. Back and forth for a while. Then backslide. Oh the frustration. There was a crap filled day around the holidays were there was crap (runny kind) on the carpet from one room to another, in the panties, down the legs, what the hell do I do with this day. Then I sat her down and said you are a big girl. Big girls poop in the toilet. You make mommy sad when you poop in your panties. I’m sad. You’re a bad Elisa. Good Elisa’s poop in the toilet. Don’t you want mommy to be happy? Don’t you want to watch Caillou? Be a big girl.

Case closed. Message received. Two accidents in two weeks and I am confident she is potty trained. It wasn’t easy and there isn’t any advice I have for everyone else but I will say, you must experiment until you find what works for you and your toddler.

Up to date

MommaMelissa — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 22:05:33 +0000

I hadn’t realized that so long of a time had passed since I last wrote. I went on my lovely vacation and had a fabulous time. The most surprising thing about it was that I didn’t miss the kids as fiercely as I thought I would. I did miss them. It was great to go, good to come back. Then started the holiday rush. Oh my heavens. What a busy time of year. But I love the bustle of family. It was weird this year to not eat turkey for Thanksgiving. Did I mention I haven’t had meat in almost 6 months? The thing I missed most was the stuffing. Stovtop doesn’t come veganish at all. There are chicken bits in them. Yuck. No thanks. I did find a store bought kind that I made which was okay but didn’t have the flavor of the other. Then came Christmas. What a busy fun time. Christmas baking is the best. I did make vegan sugar cookies, vegan pear cream pie, vegan zucchini bread, and regular cheescake and chocolate cream pie. Yummy in our tummies.

Eduardo has two loose teeth. Kind of grosses me out (I hate it when bones move in ways they shouldn’t). He was really scared about it until I had the dentist (don’t you love it when cleanings coincide with teeth questions?) talk to him about the necessity of moving his teeth so that the loose ones don’t make him sick with infection. It worked. He moves his teeth now. I just keep hoping he loses them at school. Man am I a whimp!

Elisa is a sassy two year old girl. She has an impossibly large vocabulary for a two year old and sounds quite grown up when she talks. But then she shrieks and you are instantly reminded that she is two. She has recently discovered dress up like a girl. Previously she wanted to dress like SpiderMan or Batman like her brother but she rediscovered a Dora dress and puts it on, then looks at me quite seriously and says, “I’m a pretty princess.” Help me. She is going to be a DIVA!

Love my kiddos. They really do make my day. My son, just today told me, “Mom do you know why your our friend?” Nope. “Because we love you.”

Vacation Preparations

MommaMelissa — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 01:35:59 +0000

Wow. Time has really flown by. I always intend to update more but those intentions fly out the window. So here we are at the end of the month. Halloween fast approaches and somehow I am not really thinking about it. I am trying to focus on the trip that I am taking. I will be flying to an island soon. I have prepared a schedule for my husband with the particulars for our son’s school. I am so preoccupied with the kids and Eddy being here while I’m there. It isn’t that he isn’t capable of taking care of the children because he certainly is it is just that he doesn’t know their schedule because he is at work all day long and often times works overtime. They will be fine. The kids won’t be detrimented if they don’t get read to every single night or their bathes as often as I would. I know that I am going to miss them horribly. I haven’t been away from my kids for this long, EVER. Especially Elisa. I haven’t spent a night away from her really. I am more worried that I am going to spend much of my trip missing my kids and wishing that I was with them. Augh. I will of course miss my husband but we have spent time apart before. I know that this time with also be restorative to my soul and healing to my mind. I really need some ME time. It is a crux for mommies. We love our kids and want to be with them but at the same time tend to lose ourselves along the way. So my husband has gifted me with time and money for myself. I hope it will be all that I want it to be and need it to be and I sincerely hope that my husband gets the much needed time with his kiddos and enjoys it to the fullest.

Baby boy no more

MommaMelissa — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 04:53:35 +0000

I had my heart broken just a little when my son wouldn’t let me kiss him good-bye at school a few weeks ago. As I leaned in for a kiss at the playground, he turned his head and whispered, “No mom.” I whispered back, “Why?” and he told me that he didn’t want anyone to see. I held it together and asked if I could give him a hug and he nodded yes. I walked away with me head high and no tears shed. To be honest I believe that up to that point I had missed maybe two mornings of school kisses. I remember last year when he used to cling to me and wanted/needed those kisses and exuberant hugs. I was a little bluesy that day. When I picked him up we talked about it. I asked if we could compromise on a kiss in the garage or at the car before I took him to the playground. He said ok. It was an okay, I’ll do this for you mom thing. I will take it. Before the day ended, I did shed a few tears because up to the day, my son has never refused my kisses. He doesn’t even hug me anymore before I leave. He stands there like a robot while I put my arms around him and without fail, tell him that I love him and to have a good day. Aw….I miss my baby’s sweet moments. I cherished them last year because I knew this moment would come but I can honestly say that my heart leaps into my throat just writing this and my eyes get that welling of unshed tears.

First grade seems to be going well for Eduardo. We had his first parent teacher conference and she said that he is doing well so far. He is open and participates in class. Big change from last year. I have noticed the maturity level from 5 to 6 is exponentially higher. I think he finally just gets it. We still do work at home, although less my work and more homework. However when he has an extra day off, I do make him do some from our workbook. I don’t want him to become lazy and I always keep my eye on the prize for him – college. I know that it is early to say that but that is my end goal and it is my job to groom him to know that college is his end goal for education.

Singing a sweet note

MommaMelissa — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 05:39:12 +0000

Sometimes the best memories are the simplest. My daughter loves to sing. She will whip out a song at a moments notice and coerce me to sing with her. Sometimes it is the A-B-C song while cleaning others it is Hallelujah or Bruno Mars (I think she has a crush on his voice). She will hold an inanimate object in her hands and croon into it. She sings soft and loud. Whatever it is that she chooses makes me happy because it is so precious. the joy that radiates off her face while singing is great.

Now that my son is at school all day, five days a week, I get some great snuggle time with Elisa. I love it. After folding laundry or some other drudgery chore I will notice her nodding off while sitting in a chair or laying on the floor. Grab my baby girl and tell her lay on me – head on shoulder. Yum. I love the snuggles. Pretty soon my baby will be too old for this and those moments will be gone but in the meanwhile it makes my heart sing. I am such a lucky lady.

Here comes 1st grade

MommaMelissa — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 04:23:13 +0000

My son and I met his new teacher for the first grade. He is very excited that he gets both a new teacher and new classroom. She is young and appears to have a lot of energy. She mentioned that she likes to do art about once a week. That is perfect for Eduardo because he loves to be creative. I am excited for him but at the same time not looking forward to having him gone for the whole day, five days a week. He is my little man and has been by my side from the beginning. Still he must go. The first grade teachers said that they split up the kids into groups for Math and Reading and different teachers in the first grade take different groups according to ability/need. I hope this will give him the specialized attention that he needs. So, first grade here he comes!

Upcoming events

MommaMelissa — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 19:41:42 +0000

In between getting ready for school (buying school clothes, supplies) I have been planning my son’s 6th bday party. I really can’t believe that he is going to be 6 years old. It really seems like yesterday that I brought him home from the hospital. Now he is a good boy and does lots of good things during the course of a day but…….there are some issues that have popped up lately. 1. He has been caught lying, more then once 2. He hits/pokes his sister in a mean way (not accidental) 3. Not doing what we told him to do.

These things are annoying, frustrating, and are becoming more frequent. 1. The lying has been little – did you feed the dog? Yes. Why is the dish empty? kind of thing. Or no I didn’t hit/poke/push my sister – why did I see you do it then? The resolution that we have taken is one an apology to her, being specific – I’m sorry I hit you. Or for the lie itself he loses the DVD player, computer, or Wii (netflix). Not all of them unless he really did a number with the lying. 2. Apologies that are specific and are directed at the face of the victim. Elisa I’m sorry I pushed you off the bed. It makes it worse when they have to look them in the eye. Also we require enunciation – make it loud so they can hear it also. If repeat is detected then punishment of La Mano or taking away of any one of his beloved entertainment avenues. 3. Last time he didn’t do what was asked/required of him, he had to pick his punishment from three listed possibilities.

My son is growing and maturing. He picked the punishment for himself that he knew he would least enjoy. I was proud of him for making that choice. We have in the past not let him play with friends but his friend that lives close hasn’t been coming over so that isn’t a punishment option. What my son does right is share. If he gets something he will get one for his sister or cousin that is at the house. He also gives hugs quite a bit still and plays well with his little sister. He does his homework (yes in summer) when I tell him to. I really think that he will have a leg up. I love my baby boy. I can’t believe that he going to be 6 and be in the 1st grade. Time really is passing too fast.

End co-sleeping

MommaMelissa — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 20:00:33 +0000

After almost 6 years of co-sleeping, my husband and I are on our own. I remember the early days of co-sleeping. It started innocently. I would just nod off while nursing my son. When I woke up I would move him to the bassinet. Then it moved to him sleeping in the middle of the bed beside us so that he wouldn’t fall off the bed. My son has always been secure and has known a great deal of security and love. I believe that it has a lot to do with co-sleeping. I am not saying that those things cannot be given or received without co-sleeping. I am saying it worked for us. Then my daughter came along. She had never really slept in her bassinet in the early days. She is also happy and secure. My son sleeps in his toddler bed in our room. He is getting ready for a big boy bed in his own room – the nursery that I loving prepared and never used. About two weeks ago we moved my daughter to a toddler bed in our room. That is right, we have three beds in our room. She cried and fussed the first couple nights but now sleeps there like a champion. Last night she had difficulty sleeping and around 6am came to sleep between me and my hubby. We don’t mind.

When my son goes to his own room, my daughter will follow. It will be strange to have our bedroom to ourselves after 6 years. I will plug in the hardly used baby monitors so that I can know if they need us. Is this over parenting? I don’t think so. My kids live in a very loving environment. Isn’t that the point of having kids?

Vacation

MommaMelissa — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 05:23:51 +0000

Took the kids on vacation with family for four days. It was good. Elisa did great with the potty training thing while on vacation. Only one poop accident. Then when we got home it was like the gateways to her colon opened and let loose and she has had several poop accidents. Oh well. One day at a time. I must say though that the pee aspect of training has been easy.

My son loved our trip to an amusement park. Holy cow! That kid is fearless. He loves round rides, high rides, scary rides, tame rides – whatever is there – he will ride. It was so precious seeing him with his 6 year old cousin. They would hold hands because they aren’t at that “I’m too cool for you and too old to hold hands” age yet. They also put their arms around each other as they walked. You could feel the love they have for each other. Great times.

I love my kids and am fortunate enough to be able to create great memories for both them and my husband and myself while on vacation.

Begin Potty Training

MommaMelissa — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 03:44:58 +0000

The time has come for potty training again at my house. I hope to never, ever have to do this again with anyone else’s kids or mine. It is such a pain in the rear end. Now you may ask, more of a pain then a diaper? Heck yes. Every 20 or so minutes I have to remember to ask my daughter if she needs to pee. A small thing I’m sure but I argue these points: 1. I have other things that I am inevitably in the middle of doing when it is time. Such as changing loads of laundry or cooking or using the bathroom myself. My daughter for some time has been telling me when she is pee and whatnot. “Mom change me butt” is what she says. I finally had it and decided to really try potty training. Went through all six pairs of underwear in about a couple of hours the first day, a little longer the next and now we are down to maybe three panties a day. She still hasn’t grasped the idea of pooping in the toilet but that will come. The frustrating thing is times like this morning when I was at my son’s swim lessons and told her if you need to pee, tell me and we will go. Do you need to pee? No. Not even 5 minutes later she had to go and went, before we got into the bathroom. Of course I had hurried out of the house without extra panties or shorts but luckily had a diaper in the car. I am trying to be patient because realize that her bladder and mind need time to train and adjust but oh my goodness I’m going to be so glad when she is trained. May I also add that she is miles ahead of her brother at this point. He trained when he was much older. So all in all, still cruising here…one potty break at a time.