Random thoughts...

-I’m concerned that we have gone WAAAAAYYYY backwards in the potty training arena.  Trying to be patient, but still concerned. 

-I am irrationally excited for Nikon School in March. 

-Am I the only person in the universe that hates minky dot fabric?

-My D5100 arrived yesterday.  My D40 leaves tonight.  Happy/sad. 

-Kayla has had more diaper rash lately than in her entire life.  Another reason I’m dying to ditch the diapers. 

-Shaun’s birthday is coming up.  Present purchased; do I need to plan something else?

-Valentine’s day is only a week after that.  Should I be thinking about dinner out? 

-I need to take that jar of coins over to be counted. 

-There is a run in my last pair of “good” pantyhose.  So much for wanting to dress like a girl again. 

-Dying for warm weather already… with an awful lot of winter to go. 

-Need to add some stuff to the recipe blog. It is sad and lonely. 

-Need to do a 30 day challenge for this blog so I update more often. 

-Need to find another 30 day challenge for the photo blog – love how that made me pick up my camera daily. 

-I can’t wait to re-enroll in classes.  I need to get on that train and finish up. 

 

3 Day Potty Training (In 2 1/2 days) Part 3

Not feeling so confident today.  2 accidents before 10 am - it seems like we're going backwards.  Not sure if we should even send her to school in underwear tomorrow; not sure if I can handle the fallout of trying to get her back into diapers. 

Good grief. 

3 Day Potty Training (in 2 1/2 days) part 2

7:00 am: Wake up later than usual, pull up is damp.  Go potty, switch to underwear and go downstairs.
8:00 am: Have eaten breakfast, done puzzles and gone potty twice.  High and dry. 
9:25 am: Go potty, wash hands, have snack.  Still so far so good. 
11:25 am: Still no accidents.  Pepere and Grammy Sue come for a visit and we have 2 more potty trips and some good distracted time. 
1:45 pm:  I get out of the shower and come downstairs to an accident shortly after.  Oops.  Almost 7 hours without though - super proud!
3:00 pm: Manage a quick potty break and a walk up to Turkey Hill without incident.  Starting to feel confident again. 

Here's where the timeline gets hazy... I got caught up with making dinner, we had one more wetting accident, and no sooner did I get her changed from that then she pooped again (not in the potty).  Feeling a little less confident now than I was at say... noon today.  We'll see how Sunday goes.  She will NOT be happy if I try to go back to diapers for school on Monday, but I really don't want to have to leave work to drop off spare clothing on Monday afternoon.  *le sigh*

3 Day Potty Training (in 2 1/2 days) part 1

Earlier this week, I decided it was probably a good time to start with underwear training for Kayla.  I've read a bit about the 3 day method, where you switch to underwear and hopefully don't look back after 3 days.  Accidents are expected, and it's about getting the little one to pay attention to their bodies and know when they have to go. 

All week I've been telling Kayla that this afternoon we would put her in her big girl underwear and it was her job to keep it dry.  We went to target and picked out some new underwear and a second potty to have downstairs.  She seemed pretty excited about it all. 

So today when I got home from the store, she sat on the potty and then changed into big girl underwear!  We sat down to watch a movie, and after a while, I suggested we go sit on the potty - which she did, and she went!  Success!

A little later I was on the phone trying to get an appointment to have Shaun's car serviced, she came over and I didn't realize she was trying to tell me she had to go... so we had our first accident about 2 hours in. That's what I get for allowing myself to get distracted. 

1:30: Failed nap attempt.  Get Kayla up and put her on her potty then in her big girl underwear.  
2:15: Use potty, celebrate with praise and a peanut butter cup. 
3:30: First accident.  Quick change, gentle reminders to stay dry and lots more hugs. 
4:15: Second accident.  Quick change, another reminder.  Note to self - keep checking every 30-45 minutes, no more!
7:00: Four more successful potty trips and zero more accidents.  Having snack and feeling good!
7:15: As she's playing at her kitchen, I hear "uh oh mommy!  Poop in my panties!"  Off we go to the potty, where we manage to get 75% of the offending load.  Then it's off to the tub and I feel like a real jakcass for feeling so smug just a few minutes before. 
8:15:  With Kayla bathed, the toys picked up, snack finished and one more pee in the potty, she is tucked into bed with a pull-up on. 

Not a bad time all in all - I actually anticipated much, much worse.  I'm going to try to track tomorrow's progress - hopefully a little more closely since Shaun should be home with me most of the day, unlike today. 

Our 2011 in Pictures

Last year, the photo post was a quick-fix to a lost narrative.  This year, it was really difficult to choose just one photo per month... but here we are, with just hours left in 2011 - I present Kayla's year in pictures. 

JANUARY

None of my snow pics came out, but here she is all geared up for it!

FEBRUARY

Valentine's Day dinner... balloon and all. 

MARCH

Celebrating Great Grandpa's 80th birthday with a tune.

APRIL

Starting to get more hair now... enjoying a spring day on the deck. 

MAY

Pushing the swing at Pepere and Grammy Sue's house on Mother's Day.

JUNE

Playing in the fountain at Pepere and Grammy Sue's house (photo credit: Paul Roy).

JULY

Kayla Turns 2!  Look at how big she is; she even moves into her big girl bed this month too. 

AUGUST

One of many walks over to the playground - Kayla's favorite place! 

SEPTEMBER

September was our trip month... we went to the beach and Mount Gretna. 

OCTOBER

My sweet little Pirate at Halloween. 

NOVEMBER

Our first family photos (photo credit: The Picture People). 

DECEMBER

Looking lovely at Christmas.



















Merry Christmas to All! (now with pics)

So here I am, back at work.  Sipping my first cup of coffee and reflecting on an amazing weekend.  We are so blessed, even if being blessed means we were up to our eyeballs in plastic and cardboard and more than a little glitter up through somewhere near 10 am yesterday. 

Friday night we had a small get together at our house.  Good food, good drink, great friends and family, and of course – top notch entertainment courtesy of Kayla and her “favorite song.”  The eggnog went faster than I had anticipated and the carefully chosen dishes seemed to be a hit all the way around, especially the cheese tray.  (Gotta love having an amazing place to buy gourmet cheese right here in our little town.) 

Saturday we were able to relax a little, and after Kayla’s nap we were off to my dad and  step-mom’s house for the annual cookie and fondue celebration.  Kayla was absolutely spoiled rotten by the entire family.  She loves opening gifts and tentatively asked me “is this for me?” each time one was placed in front of her.  Jammies, a Cookie Monster, puzzles, panda umbrella and a handmade fabric “paper doll” book were among the many gifts she received.  We whisked ourselves home to put her to bed and watch a little “Christmas Story” while we enjoyed some Irish coffee and exchanging gifts between Shaun and I.  I put my new tripod and camera remote to use to attempt a few long-exposure pictures of the tree.  Fun!  (Now if only I could find time to install my new Photoshop Elements software on the computer…)

Christmas morning was a flurry of wrapping paper and squeals of joy as Kayla opened each of her gifts from Santa – a school bus, some Thomas the Tank Engine track and trains, books, games and so on… then at Grandma and Pawpaw’s house.  Puzzles, clothes and a big new kitchen set for her to bring home once our tree comes down.  After enjoying a yummy breakfast together, my mom and sister came over to our house for more gifts and lunch.  Yet more puzzles, books and a Super Grover doll.  After nap time, we headed up to Aunt Dena and Uncle Jaime’s house for the most amazing Christmas dinner and time with Kayla’s cousins.  She had a blast running around with all 5 boys and was pretty well exhausted when we got home – though not too exhausted to play with her new baby doll before bed. 

 

Monday we had lunch with my dad and sister before Aunt Paula headed back to Philadelphia, then went out for a bit of shopping of our own.  Mostly necessities, but I did grab another set of Kayla’s favorite doggie PJ’s in the next size up, since the 24 month ones are pretty small already.    It’s so hard to believe another Christmas has come and gone already, but it was great fun for us this year.  Kayla had an absolute blast and didn’t seem to mind one bit that she didn’t get one of the things she’s been asking for from Santa for the last few weeks.  More on that to come though…

A week at Sandals

So as I said in my last post, Shaun and I spent a week at the Sandals Royal Caribbean in Montego Bay, Jamaica.  We had a fabulous room with two awesome butlers (yes, butlers) all week long.  The view wasn't quite what I was hoping for, but it was still amazing.  The food was unbelievable, and if you ever get there, tell Verna I sent you for one of her totally amazing Bloody Marys.  I love the Caribbean and I really hope I don't have to wait another 5 years to get back! 

Next up... Christmas Eve-Eve soiree at our casa!

We're Back!

Photos are uploaded and I’m working on editing whenever I have time; yesterday was spent digging out from under the mountain of laundry and this week is dedicated to preparing for Christmas.  I hope to have another entry complete with photos ready to go soon… so be ready for the tale of our trip to Jamaica aka Paradise, aka the week I got hooked on the Bloody Mary, aka look out for the crazy Rastafarian mosquitos from Hell.  It was epic! 

 

Starting to breathe again

Tonight after two quizzes, a discussion question and two assignments, I laid back on the floor and took a deep breath. 

I am a final exam away from completing a semester.  100 multiple choice questions.  Only 55 of which I need to get write to still get an A in the class. 

My Christmas cards are addressed and ready to send off tomorrow after I get my holiday stamps.  Just a few more days of rushing around and then I get to relax for a week.  I can not wait.

Is it Saturday yet?