Thursday, March 13, 2008
Yes, More Potty Talk
I have been taking deep, cleansing breaths all morning. Madeline's school wanted me to send her in panties today. They want to try no diapers except at nap time. This is more stressful for me than her!!! I was going to send her in a diaper and then let them change her when she got into her regular room. (She gets to school about 15 minutes before her teacher and goes to a different room first thing every morning.) She REFUSED to allow me to put the diaper on her. She made it clear that she was supposed to wear panties to school. So, she did. I sent two replacement pairs of panties and shorts. I am going to be thinking about her all day.... wondering how she is doing. This is my baby!!! How can she be ready to be potty trained???????? Okay.. more deep breaths. Does anyone have a paper bag I can borrow????
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Getting Busy
It is amazing how life can be so busy. As James gets older he gets busier. Right now he has things up every day after school. He also has a birthday party on Saturday. We have a family gathering with Jerry's family on Saturday, too. The following two Saturdays are already booked, too. Riley is begging to go back to gymnastics. I need to find another gym though. He is aging out of the gym he has gone to previously. They only allow boys through the age of 6. We need to find a quality, inexpensive gym with the correct aparatus for boys. (Yes, I am sure I spelled aparatus wrong, but the spell check isn't working right now.)
Oh, by the way, I forgot that Easter is right around the corner. I mean I knew it was coming but I have done NOTHING to prepare. We were also invited to participate in an egg hunt next Saturday, too. I just realized I haven't even responded to the invite. Oops.
We are smack dab in the middle of state testing. It is my least favorite time of the year. I really do not understand how a state can assess whether a student has learned a specific grade level curriculum when there are still 3 months remaining in the school year. (Don't even get me started on this one.) During this time some extremely smart person (sarcasm) decided it would also be a good time to teach the Human Growth and Development unit. -just not right How do I teach about puberty, etc after students have spent hours testing all morning. The last thing they are in the mood for is to learn about body changes and how a baby is made.
We spent about two hours outside yesterday afternoon working on the new playset and talking with neighbors. It was GORGEOUS outside. Madeline decided to try to eat some grass. Yummy! Of course she had eaten ice cream previously and refused to let me wipe her face. So... she looked quite lovely with pieces of grass and dirt stuck to her face. Very attractive. Riley decided to put dog poop on James' hand. That was a beautiful brotherly bonding moment. I was so proud. (heh!) James didn't pound him. His restraint was memorable.
I think the best thing of all is that my big time antibiotics left me with a sweet present just when my friend came to visit. I am one lucky gal!!
Okay.... that is enough rambling for now.
Ciao
Oh, by the way, I forgot that Easter is right around the corner. I mean I knew it was coming but I have done NOTHING to prepare. We were also invited to participate in an egg hunt next Saturday, too. I just realized I haven't even responded to the invite. Oops.
We are smack dab in the middle of state testing. It is my least favorite time of the year. I really do not understand how a state can assess whether a student has learned a specific grade level curriculum when there are still 3 months remaining in the school year. (Don't even get me started on this one.) During this time some extremely smart person (sarcasm) decided it would also be a good time to teach the Human Growth and Development unit. -just not right How do I teach about puberty, etc after students have spent hours testing all morning. The last thing they are in the mood for is to learn about body changes and how a baby is made.
We spent about two hours outside yesterday afternoon working on the new playset and talking with neighbors. It was GORGEOUS outside. Madeline decided to try to eat some grass. Yummy! Of course she had eaten ice cream previously and refused to let me wipe her face. So... she looked quite lovely with pieces of grass and dirt stuck to her face. Very attractive. Riley decided to put dog poop on James' hand. That was a beautiful brotherly bonding moment. I was so proud. (heh!) James didn't pound him. His restraint was memorable.
I think the best thing of all is that my big time antibiotics left me with a sweet present just when my friend came to visit. I am one lucky gal!!
Okay.... that is enough rambling for now.
Ciao
Monday, March 10, 2008
Big Step Forward
Madeline came inside from playing, went into the bathroom, disrobed... and... POOPED on the potty all by herself!!! WOOOHOO!!! Full on happy dance going on here! She didn't even tell anyone she had to go! She took off her shoes, socks, pants and Pull-Up, climbed up on the potty and went to the bathroom. When she was done she yelled for me and cried a little. I think she may have shocked herself! We called grandparents and aunts and uncles to share the good news and heap a boat load of praise.
PS
She stayed dry for 2 and a half hours after this and then... had diarrahea in undies and jeans. Mom wasn't home so Dad had the job of cleaning it all up. That is two great things in one day!!!!!!!!!!
PS
She stayed dry for 2 and a half hours after this and then... had diarrahea in undies and jeans. Mom wasn't home so Dad had the job of cleaning it all up. That is two great things in one day!!!!!!!!!!
Busy Weekend
We had a weekend filled with great ups and sad downs. It was one of those weekends that will not be soon forgotten. Let's start with some good stuff.
Riley and Madeline went to their friend Ava's second birthday party. The party was at a farm. What a blast! They brushed goats, petted sheep and then things got very different for the two of them. Riley held a baby chick. Madeline cried in fear. Riley looked with wonder at the HUGE potbelly pig. Madeline worried about the mud on her shoes. Riley ran around the coop with the chickens. Madeline pressed herself firmly against the fence unwilling to go in. Riley held a cute white bunny. Madeline climed up in to Mama's arms because she was having no interest in getting close to the bunny at all. Riley followed the geese and ducks around the fence. Madeline ran in fear from the tall birds making noises. Riley rode a horse for the first time. Madeline sat and ate three meatballs. We had an absolute blast!!
Later that night we pulled our fire pit around front to the driveway. There were about 30 of us from our neighboorhood out and about from 6:30 until about midnight. The kids played. The adults talked. It was such a great time. Every time one of these little soires is planned we always have a nice time. We are just very fortunate to have such amazing neighbors.
On Sunday we went to Home Depot and bought a kit for a big playset. It is going to be very cool! Jerry, my dad and our friend Allan got it started. It is going to be a project to assemble, but hours of fun will be had by the Reynolds' children this summer.
Now on to the sad news.... I have a very close friend... she is a sister from college who is struggling. I mean REALLY struggling. She had a bad break-up with her partner of six years a few months ago. Her father has been in and out of the hospital and nursing facilities non-stop the last three months. She has been making the 4 hour car trip every weekend to try to help her mother. She has struggled with depression for several years now. I never really thought about this too much since she has been going to a Dr. for 4 years and they have been trying to figure out the right meds. for her... but she really has had extreme highs and lows. Her highs are higher than I can imagine. Her lows.. are frightful lows. Recently she has been making some really questionable choices in relationships. Last Wednesday she was admitted to the hospital against her will. I didn't find out about it until Friday night. On Saturday after the birthday party I went to visit her. I spent the entire hour available visiting. While sitting there and talking to her... I realized that this is right where she needed to be. We talked. I was very honest with her. She told me some things she had done recently that were...hmmm... just not good. She is struggling. The Dr. has not put her on medicine that is usually used with bipolar patients. I think, if that is her diagnosis, it is probably spot on. She is terrified that this label is going to be placed on her. I think it may be her saving grace. I so want her to just find a nice, quiet normalcy to her life. I want her to find peace without thinking that means her life must be over.
I am not sure how to be the friend she needs right now without being completly honest with her. I won't play games. I won't baby her. I don't think that would be right or fair. She is an intelligent, kind and compassionate person who deserves all the love and honesty I can give her without disrespecting her by being less than honest.
So... that was the gist of my weekend. The good and the bad. The beauty and the beast.
Riley and Madeline went to their friend Ava's second birthday party. The party was at a farm. What a blast! They brushed goats, petted sheep and then things got very different for the two of them. Riley held a baby chick. Madeline cried in fear. Riley looked with wonder at the HUGE potbelly pig. Madeline worried about the mud on her shoes. Riley ran around the coop with the chickens. Madeline pressed herself firmly against the fence unwilling to go in. Riley held a cute white bunny. Madeline climed up in to Mama's arms because she was having no interest in getting close to the bunny at all. Riley followed the geese and ducks around the fence. Madeline ran in fear from the tall birds making noises. Riley rode a horse for the first time. Madeline sat and ate three meatballs. We had an absolute blast!!
Later that night we pulled our fire pit around front to the driveway. There were about 30 of us from our neighboorhood out and about from 6:30 until about midnight. The kids played. The adults talked. It was such a great time. Every time one of these little soires is planned we always have a nice time. We are just very fortunate to have such amazing neighbors.
On Sunday we went to Home Depot and bought a kit for a big playset. It is going to be very cool! Jerry, my dad and our friend Allan got it started. It is going to be a project to assemble, but hours of fun will be had by the Reynolds' children this summer.
Now on to the sad news.... I have a very close friend... she is a sister from college who is struggling. I mean REALLY struggling. She had a bad break-up with her partner of six years a few months ago. Her father has been in and out of the hospital and nursing facilities non-stop the last three months. She has been making the 4 hour car trip every weekend to try to help her mother. She has struggled with depression for several years now. I never really thought about this too much since she has been going to a Dr. for 4 years and they have been trying to figure out the right meds. for her... but she really has had extreme highs and lows. Her highs are higher than I can imagine. Her lows.. are frightful lows. Recently she has been making some really questionable choices in relationships. Last Wednesday she was admitted to the hospital against her will. I didn't find out about it until Friday night. On Saturday after the birthday party I went to visit her. I spent the entire hour available visiting. While sitting there and talking to her... I realized that this is right where she needed to be. We talked. I was very honest with her. She told me some things she had done recently that were...hmmm... just not good. She is struggling. The Dr. has not put her on medicine that is usually used with bipolar patients. I think, if that is her diagnosis, it is probably spot on. She is terrified that this label is going to be placed on her. I think it may be her saving grace. I so want her to just find a nice, quiet normalcy to her life. I want her to find peace without thinking that means her life must be over.
I am not sure how to be the friend she needs right now without being completly honest with her. I won't play games. I won't baby her. I don't think that would be right or fair. She is an intelligent, kind and compassionate person who deserves all the love and honesty I can give her without disrespecting her by being less than honest.
So... that was the gist of my weekend. The good and the bad. The beauty and the beast.
Friday, March 07, 2008
Cuteness
There are many things in life that are cute.... but my two year old daughter in pink Elmo panties, takes the cake. There is absolutely nothing cuter.
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