The Lord and Endorphins....

I'm not giving up. It took me all night to figure this out. And it meant that I didn't sleep well.

This is hands down the HARDEST thing I've encountered when it comes to being a parent.

But before I begin the adventure today I MUST, MUST, MUST go to the gym. The Lord and endorphins are the only way I will survive the day.

Today I want to quit potty training.

I just woke up from a good nap so I'm not sure if I will actually end this torture but this morning was a different story.

Idea

I thought this might work. If the potty is close to the "action" of her toys she'll be more likely to actually go on the potty.

 

New Name

I heard the name "Little Mister" this morning.

I like it.

Baby boy will now be referred to as Little Mr.!

The name sounds like he should be delivered wearing a baby bow tie.

One More Time.....

Im embarrased to post this, but I'm giving potty training ANOTHER try.

 

I have to admit the past few months have been potty training in session with a lot of disruptions on both our parts.

Her because she doesn't want to go and then there are LOTS of times when she DOES want to go...when we are in public.

Me because I get discouraged, frustrated, confused and the big one is a lack of consistency.

I think I approach training like a fad diet. One day I just get TIRED of the inconsistency, changing poopy diapers and lack of motivation and just GO FOR IT! Then a few days later I'm discouraged and events come up on the calendar that I allow to get in the way of my laser focus and before I know it I've made some excuse for Ellery to wear diapers full time, AGAIN.

That scenerio just happens to be the same case as this time, with the exception that we've made it 3 days with panties (far longer than any other attempt) AND, this is a big one, I feel a lot more relaxed about the whole process.

I'd like to believe and hope this time will be different. In order to do that I realized I might have to take the approach that with consistency she will get the "feeling" before her little brother is born. And if that means she decides to tell me when she has to "go" the day before I deliver, I'll just have to accept that.

 

There were moments today that were just down right discouraging, at one point I lost my temper. I just hate remembering the shining moments of failing as a mom. Several accidents. We did not leave the house. Not once has she told me that she needs to go potty (she did mention it a couple of times this weekend). We've gone through so many treats for staying dry and practice runs with her teddy bears I can't count. At one point I thought, "this potty training is gonna make me gain 10 lbs.!" I can't seem to stop eating her snacks!! Then again some of the treats are simply my life line to sanity.

Cary coming home was a sight for my wear soul. Spotlight on Sweetie for just one moment; Cary cracks me up. Ellery had 1 accident in her room the other day. Maybe 3-4 drops of pee got on her carpet. Approximately 10 minutes later I walk into her room and the rug is out of sight and a single towel is on the floor. That towel is the place she is supposed to play now, so she doesn't mess anything up. When he came home today he asked how many accidents she had and where they were. I am left only to smile, shake my head and move one.

*notice the blanket on the floor? at the moment this photo was taken I believe I was saying something like, "Pee on him Ellery! Pee on Daddy!!" I know it's mean but it would have been slightly funny to me for a brief moment, and that would have been a VERY brief moment.

 

Ellery showing love to her Daddy by patting his face.

 

We'll just have to wait and see how this little drama plays out.

22 Weeks

Okay, here it is. The ever growing belly!

Truthfully this week has been strange. I've been moody and it's been very difficult to be excited about much of anything. It's got to be hormones, cause there's no other reason.

I can sort of still sleep on my tummy but it's become more like 1/2 tummy 1/2 side.

For the first time this pregnancy, this week I have not been enthusiastic about working out! SHOCK.

Little Man moves around quite a bit. Last night, middle of the night, I was awake and put my hand on my belly. He was wiggling around and out of the blue the palm of my hand filled up with baby. It's like he moved over to snuggle with me! One of those moments when you can feel every other part of your tummy relax and a ball of baby just IS under YOUR hand. Strange feeling but so sweet I immediately smiled and like my hand, just let my heart be full.

The body is doing strange things. My lower back has been achy and sore, but nothing major. I'm finding myself short of breath at times, like my organs are being pushed into my diaphragm. For the life of me I can NOT bring myself to get out of bed before 7:30 and life is even better if I can stay in bed until 8:00. No matter how early I go to bed or how long my alarm goes off, the body says NO, not until 7:30. Thankfully we've been putting Ellery down around 7:30 so she'll sleep and hang out in bed until 7:45ish.

Play Date

Ellery had a play date with Ella today. She LOVES Ella, almost asks to see her every day. It is beyond cute to watch them play.

 

 

 

Round 2

If you are anything like me you need a plan for the day, especially when you have a toddler.

That plan/list I create is like the road to feeling accomplishment and fulfilled at the end of the day. It's like in order for me to fall asleep with a satisfied sigh and smile I have to check that list off.

So this morning, after story time and the morning errands, I sat down to make my nap time/afternoon list.

That included the following:

Study (complete the day's bible study requirements due tomorrow)
Exercise (yes this is still on my list at 5 1/2 months pregnant, it's insane I know)
Casserole (I'm signed up to bring food for bible study tomorrow, and this is THE biggy of my nap time accomplishment list)
Research meals (something random to do on the computer in case I have extra time)

Well the goal was to get the bacon cooked in the oven before E went down for her nap so I could assemble my casserole over nap and complete my bible study.

Everything was going as planned, that is until I took Little Miss to the potty.

Side note: I'm getting very tired of changing "dirty" diapers so I work very hard to get her to do her business on the potty before nap time. Some days it works, some days it doesn't.

Well, apparently potty time takes a bit longer than I anticipated.

As evidence of culinary accident that was going on in my oven.

 

SERIOUSLY?

 

By the grace of God, Cary just HAPPENED to come home for lunch which gave me the time to run out to the store and BUY MORE BACON. Okay, do any of you know how expensive bacon is these days? I'm sorry but when I know I just BURNED $4 of bacon it really gets me worked up. Not to mention this totally screwed up my schedule/plan for the day.

I watched the new batch in the oven like a hawk. Every 5 minutes I jumped up from my bible study and RAN to the oven.

Round 2:

 

MUCH more successful. Whew!

Of course as SOON as I took the bacon out of the oven Ellery starts crying (approx. 1 hour into her nap) and doesn't stop for a while. That turned into a tantrum which eventually calmed down.

Sometimes, I swear. LIFE.

I texted Cary about 4:30 and said, "Do you mind if I hop on the stationary bike when you get home and before we make dinner." That answer would be the saving grace of my evening.

I now sit before you, exercised, showered and having a wonderful plate of breakfast for dinner just served right beside me.

GOTTA GO EAT! :)

ps. the casserole turned out great!

Toddler Bed

Ellery has a LOT of transition ahead of her over the next few months.

Although potty training was at the top of my list, after reading several potty training books and watching her closely I realized that it would be better to wait a month or two before tackling that mountain.

This weekend we were cleaning and I said, "Cary, please take the front rail off of her bed." And just like that we transitioned to the Toddler bed!!

 

It took a short and simple conversation about being a "big girl" and then she was fascinated with her new bed.

 

Of course this required me to pull out the video monitor again and we RUSH out of the room to look at the monitor and make sure she hasn't fallen out.

The first nap (which was about an hour after the rail was removed) Cary tucked her in and as soon as he left she crawled out and just stood there, next to the bed, like "uh oh....what did I do?" He went right back in, with out a word, put her back in bed and that was it!

 

I love that she goes into her room after breakfast, crawls into bed and has me bring her books so she can "read" with all of the stuffed animals around. She seems to really like it!

 

Sweet thing, you're growing up too fast!!

First Week of 2011

It's taken me all week to find some sort of "groove" and truthfully I haven't been very successful at that.

I'm happy. Ellery is happy. Cary is happy.

I guess that's all that matters.

20 Weeks

As of right now I'm feeling great!

Still exercising 3-4 times a week. It seems that I've become slightly addicted to endorphins and my body gets really stressed out when I don't work out. However, if I wake up and feel tired then I don't go to the gym; just listening to the body.

This little one is a monkey in my belly. I can actually see him kicking and rolling around. What a fun feeling.

Ellery still doesn't seem interested. She is beginning to wiggle a bit more in her rocking chair at night though. As if some of the lap space is being taken and she can't get comfy.

My taste buds are beginning to shift from pickles and olives to sweet things. That's more my style.

I'm right on track with my weight gain so far, about a pound a week. However I do think that I look significantly smaller than some other friends who are pregnant and due around the same time as we are.

Is it common to feel like you are constantly blowing your nose during pregnancy? I don't remember this with Ellery, and although I don't feel like I'm coming down with something I am forever blowing my nose!

January 1, 2011

Nothing like starting a new year off with a yummy breakfast and pictures of cute kids!!