a little potty talk

Yesterday as Anna and I were cruising the aisles of our local Target, searching for some outdoor toys and a few other "necessities" (ha!), we picked up a few new things for the bathroom.

First we grabbed some of these:

I didn't realize they made them to fit her size, so this was a happy surprise!

Then, we grabbed a pack of these:

I had heard from a friend that using these can make "going potty" great fun! Her little one seems to think they're the greatest, so we thought we would give them a shot.

Then, for added reinforcement, we grabbed a package of these:

Because, well, stickers are the be all and end all for this "almost 2" year old. This will be a good treat when (and if) she does go on the potty.

While I have absolutely no expectations that my daughter will be potty trained anytime in the near future, I did think we should pick up a few things and begin the conversation. For over a month Anna has been sitting on her potty fully clothed whenever I go to the bathroom. A few times she has gone in and sat on it to actually go potty in her diaper. And this week she has started to tell me at times when she is going "pee pee" and "poopy".

Lesson #1 began this morning. We tried on the pull-ups...they fit! Score! Later in the morning I brought Anna into the bathroom and showed her how to get her diaper off and discussed what she should do. She listened intently and firmly told me that she was indeed going "pee pee". Hmmm, must have been invisible. I gave her a wipe anyway which she thought was the best and then told her to wrap it up. All went well until the wipe needed to be disposed of, at which time Anna fell into a complete temper tantrum. So much for Lesson #1.

This is as far as we are going to take it at this point. We'll repeat this process a few times, but I am not ready to push it or to make a full attempt at potty training. It's still seems way too early, but given her interest I thought we would at least start the conversation.

That's all the potty talk for today.

a week away

It seems like we left only yesterday, and already we are back and my calendar tells me a week has passed. Looking through all 120+ pictures on my calendar, and all of the things that we enjoyed during our time away, I can't believe we did ALL of those things in only a week. We packed a lot of fun into 7 days!

Our time with Nana and Papa included many walks, lots of time outside, lots of time with Uncle Nate and Kiah, trips to the park, a trip to the Children's Museum, a special trip "up north" to visit Anna's great grandma Mary, and great grandma Toots & great grandpa Norm, a trip to the outlet malls to stock-up on spring and summer clothes (and stock up we did!), and just so much more!

Only a few minutes after we arrived back home, Anna was already roaming around looking for Nana, Papa, Nate and Kiah. She had a great time, as did Steve and I. Thank you so much for another wonderful time with all of you - we can't wait to see you again!

my joy

I am finding it possible to be sad, yet joyful, all at the same time. Thank you dear husband and beautiful daughter for all the joy you bring.

date night

Last night my dear hubby and I had a date night. Funny movie, good dinner, a glass of wine, good conversation and great company. While we were away enjoying some alone time, Anna was having the time of her life with Uncle Patrick and Tanya. Just look at all of the fun they had!

Thank you so much Patrick & Tanya for spending the evening with Anna, and allowing us a night out together. Anna will be talking about you for days to come!

ABCs

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

oh, the things you say!

When playing:
"All done mommy, now what?"

Upon waking up from her nap:
"Good sleep mommy"

Upon waking up for the day:
"WAKE UP mommy! Mommy WAKE UP now! Anna UP now!" "All done sleeping"

Trying to complete the line from the song "Ooo Eee Ooo Aaah Aaah":
"Ting Ting alla alla bang bing"

When told she was going to Grandma's house for the day:
"Cool toys grandma house"

Informing us in the middle of playing:
"Anna toot"

When asked "what do you say when you toot?"
"scuse me Anna (last name)"

When asked "what's your name?"
"Anna (last name)" never just Anna

During the evening and on weekends everything must be done with:
"Mommy...Daddy...both"

When asked what she's supposed to tell Uncle Matt:
"Go Pack Go!"

And my personal favorite:
When asked "How much do I love you?"
"Lots....ocean"

best morning

...I have ever had. Today we played by Anna's rules. We went where Anna wanted to go, and did what Anna wanted to do, until Anna wanted to be done. I will remember this morning always. Love you Anna, as big as the ocean.

budding friendships

Well before the first snow fell last winter, Anna and I started spending nearly every Wednesday with our friends Allison and Tyler. Through our husbands, Allison and I met several years ago, and have become good friends. Our Wednesday playdates were born out of a desire to have something fun to look forward to during the week, during what can be a very looooong winter around here (can you believe we are going to get more snow yet?).


And now, as our children are getting older it's so amazing to see them becoming friends. They giggle at each other. They play together, or at least next to one another. They follow each other around and are curious about the other. It is so fun to watch them grow up, and see them interact.

Yesterday we were able to get outside for the afternoon and enjoyed some time at the park and in the yard. The sunshine and fresh air made the afternoon fly by! Thanks for coming over guys!

red balloon

This is both the name of the object in Anna's right hand, as well as the name of the fabulous bookstore we went to Tuesday morning for storytime. Toddler storytime begins at 11, so before we entered the cozy bookstore we made a stop at the local Starbucks for a hot chocolate for me and a piece of pumpkin bread for Anna. She sat on her own stool next to me like a "big girl", looked out the floor to ceiling windows and pointed to every car, puppy and person that walked by. It was a great start to the morning! (See, I told you yesterday was a much better day!)

After our tummys were full we stopped at the great fabric store I mentioned a few weeks ago to pick out some more fabric. Anna enjoyed hiding from me behind the various bolts of fabric, jumping out only a few moments later to say "boo". She even got a job offer from the woman who worked there - offering first $0.25 cents an hour and then after further negotiation, $25/hour! I think I'll have her negotiate for me in the future.

Anyway, back to the red balloon. So, we arrived to about a million babies leaving the store since Baby Storytime ended just a few minutes before. We found a cozy spot on the floor and soon were accompanied by over 50 toddlers and their caregivers. The leader of Storytime is the children's librarian from the downtown library and she is fantastic. She came equipped with 2 books, a trunk full of puppets, music, songs, and the letter and number of the day. Anna loved it! I worried that she wouldn't be able to sit for the 45 mins but she did very well. On our way out the door each child was given a red balloon to wear around their wrist. Let's just say this was a hit! Our red balloon stayed with us all afternoon, and is here to greet Anna on her chair again this morning.

We'll definitely be back there on Tuesdays to come...what a wonderful way to spend the morning.

coming clean

Most of the time I think I am a pretty good mom. I have an endless love for my daughter and I can tell that she knows this. Most of the time our days are filled with laughter, fun activities and the occasional time-out, or reminder of where the limits are. For the most part I choose to write about the positive things in this blog, because I worry that if I write about some of the more difficult, not so fun, things...that someone may think I am not the mom I strive to be, or judge me as a person or a parent.

Well, it's time for me to come clean.

Yesterday, I was not the mom I wanted to be. I got frustrated. I ran out of patience. I ran out of creative ideas of things for us to do. I ran out of energy to play. I raised my voice. I gave myself a time-out. Twice. There you have it...I am not perfect.

As Anna gets older and begins to assert her independence in new ways, my job is getting tougher. I find myself going through the same mood swings she does sometimes. Elated when she is happy and content, and at my wits end when the whining and leg clinging reaches its peak. My expectations of her are in flux as I try to figure out what she is capable of understanding and what consequences are both fair and effective. Also rumbling through my head is the question: just what proportion of the day should be spent with me actively playing with her, versus her entertaining herself?

I find myself in tears at the end of a day when my daughter and I have been at odds, and yet she has thrown herself into the arms of another child's mother covering them with hugs and kisses, telling me "no kisses mommy". In those moments I wonder what exactly I am doing right.

I know it was just a bad day. I know that one bad day doesn't cancel out the many, many good wonderful days that preceeded it. And I also know that the beautiful thing about yesterday is that it was just that...yesterday. Today is a new day, and one that has been quite opposite than the one before.

still "one half"

Today is the anniversary of yet another month gone by...number 19 to be precise. Up until now I have tried to summarize each month so we have a journal of the things our baby has accomplished and the things she is working on. As I sit here reflecting back on the past month I just can't get myself to continue counting Anna's age in months. I know that many moms do this up until the age of 2 but it just seems like "one and a half" or "almost 2" seem more appropriate to describe our little Anna these days. Perhaps, in some convoluted way, this keeps her the same age in my mind and prevents her from growing up so quickly.

We are dealing with what feels like lots of change in our house right now. Formerly a very good eater, Anna has recently taken to becoming quite picky. She doesn't care if she doesn't eat. She doesn't care for many of the things she previously liked - even if it was just a few days before. If I remove snacks, limit milk and water, let her eat at the table with us...it doesn't seem to matter. While a week does not a pattern make...it does feel like the winds are changing in this department. Hopefully I will be proven wrong with the passing of a cold or a breakthrough of some teeth,and our good eater will return.

Mood swings are also making an appearance. From happy to sad to mad to bubbly, Anna's moods seem to change with the weather. Little decisions, accomplishments and disappointments are such monumental things for her little brain and body to take in. I am learning more about patience, keeping calm, and time-outs (for her and for me) than I ever have before.

And then, in the midst of all of this there is a little girl emerging...one who makes my heart fill with happiness and my eyes fill with tears. I watch her play pretend with her Fisher-Price people, and play "grocery shopping" with her cart & food and I feel like time is slipping through my fingers. I witness her playing at the park not caring where her mom is she is so engrossed in playing with her "friends". I hear her tell me "no kisses mommy" one minute and then "hug, hug, hug" the next.

For today and for the next few months to come, Anna will not be 19 months or 20, or 21...she will remain "one and a half" - if only to me.

what a day!

What a better way to spend a gorgeous sunny day than at the zoo and playing outside! This morning our little family of three headed out to the zoo to see the animals, get a nice walk in, and spend time together.

It was a beautiful morning and we spent it looking at animals of all shapes and sizes. Monkeys, camels, tigers, gazelles, fish, dolphins, etc. But the exhibit that Anna loved the most was the Farm Babies exhibit. There were farm animals of all kinds, each with their new babies. Anna's favorites were the "piggies", she talked about them for much of the afternoon. Anna also loved that she was free to roam at the zoo. After an hour or so in her stroller she decided that it was time for her to walk all by herself almost the whole way back to the car. She was so tired, she took a rare 3 hour nap!

Later, re-energized we took to the outdoors again. We played with her sand table, a ball, and took a wagon ride to the park. At the park Anna ran into her friends Maggie, Lizzie, Joey & Ellie and she played with them for a long, long time. Maggie, the oldest of the bunch (1st grade) took charge and helped Anna up and down the stairs and convinced her to go down the slides with her (a feat that neither of her parents have been able to accomplish). Whenever she'd reach the bottom she would yell "AGAIN!" and Maggie would run after her only to help her down the slide all over again. The 5 kids made a big choo choo train down the slide a few times as well. It was so fun to watch! What a fun spring/summer this is going to be!

big accomplishments

Yeah! It's off to the park. I love going on wagon rides and being "OUT-side".

Watch what I can do...

Up, up, up...all by myself

Almost there...no, mommy, no hold hand

See? Did you see?!

Now I'll steer this ship...look out!

Yep, pretty cool...I know.

I guess I'll go back down and start again.

surprise

Imagine mine when I lifted up the toilet seat to go to the bathroom and found this...


Yes, that's the cover to one of my books. Apparently the "5 minutes" I asked Anna to wait while I sent a quick email, picked up a few things and went to the bathroom before we went outside for a wagon ride was juuuuuuust long enough for a little mischief.

spring break

This week was spring break for many schools in our area, and so it only seems fit that we took a little "break" too. After a flurry of posting pictures last week...we haven't taken a single photo this week, I think for the first time since Anna was born! It wasn't intentional, it just kind of happened.

So, if you've been wondering - where have they been? Is everything ok? I can assure you that all is well - in fact it is great!

Early this week Mother Nature sent more flurries our way, dumping multiple inches of heavy snow back onto our lawn, driveway and patio furniture (fresh out of storage less than 24 hrs before). Needless to say we spent the first half of the week indoors - at music class, in the house, visiting our friends Allison & Tyler, and doing all we could to stay busy.

Yesterday Anna had a fun day out at "Gamma's" house, while I had some time alone to clean our house and go through Anna's closet ferreting out what no longer fits and is no longer in season. Anna woke up yesterday so excited to go to "Gamma's" house where there are "cool toys", I was told. She had a great time (thanks mom!).

And now it appears that Spring has Sprung! It was beautiful yesterday and we are gearing up for another beautiful day in which we may even hit 60 degrees. Anna has been up talking in her bed since 5:45am so I think she too is itching to get back "OUT-side". Maybe just not quite this early!