We have gotten more serious about potty training. And by "we", I mean me, and by "serious", I mean that we spend a lot more time in the bathroom even though there is virtually no pee going into the potty.
I noticed on last Year's calendar that she was actually pering in the potty last July. I knew she wasn't ready but I could have pushed it. I wish now I had. She's still apprehensive about the potty. Being "nudie" isn't a problem. It's letting the pee actually go into the pot. And now I INSIST she is at least in the bathroom when she says her tummy hurts since I know a poop is coming. I don't force her to take off her diaper for that since she's too anxious and will just cry and fight me. It's not worth the struggle and stress.
We sit on it in the morning, before nap, after nap, and before bathtime. I should do it more often but nothing is happening and we can easily be in there for 20+ minutes. Totally boring. Even reading her a book or the comics. I end up peeing more than usual just because we are in there. And as my back has been killing me, hanging out in the bathroom is not fun for me. So if we are in there for 10 minutes, I call it quits and back on the diaper.
If we aren't going outside, I've started to let her wear the training undies. She doesn't like them so if that doesn't work, nudie it is!
I know pee will happen.
Last night she told me she had to go while watching Super Why on PBS. I said Let's go to the potty. Then she said, "No mommy not yet." and for some reason I took her seriously. What she meant was, "I'm busy watching tv and I'll just pee here in the undies on my chair." which is exactly what she did.
I learned MY lesson and the tv gets put on pause and turned off, and we go to the bathroom right away.
I have to say, being in light to moderate pain all the time makes me far less ambitious than I normally am. I realized I'm walking differently and holding my butt too tightly. So I think that has a lot to do with the pain. I'm really waddling more than walking to compensate. Not good.
And I "barely" failed the 1-hr glucose tolerance test last week. So now I have to go tomorrow morning, after another full night of fasting, for the 3-hr test. Basically, after dinner tonight at about 8.30, I won't eat or drink anything (except the glucose drink) until about 11am tomorrow. Holy Christmas, I'm going to be shaking, and fall asleep from the lack of eating.
I'm eating more protein and less carbs than usual tonight. Honestly, I can't believe I failed it. And if I fail this one, I will absolutely cry out of sheer frustration.
Naptime has become different again. Many days, she will take her nap like usual. But there are increasing days where she's in there talking to herself or singing for over an hour. I don't allow the talking and singing but the babysitters were. So we had a chat. What's interesting is that she's tired and clearly needs a nap. But what she is really after is more time with me hugging her while she lays down and singing quiet lullabies.
I guess the regression is in part because of my pregnancy and also she is getting older so naps will eventually fade. But not now. She's not really capable of going without a nap and being normal all day. If no nap happens, she basically loses her mind about 5pm.
I've been getting really frustrated with her this week. My god she can talk endlessly. I now understand more and more what my mom went through with me. Just a couple of anxious Chatty Kathies. Whew. It's exhausting.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Got us a big-girl bed, but is my toddler a "big girl"?
The short answer is "yes". We waited, and I'm glad we did. She is as ready as she was going to be for a big bed.
We ended up having someone come to take the old double bed out and deliver the new bed, and that same night we dismantled the crib. So the entire coming and going happened in one day.
As expected, Carolina was very excited about the bed and her new sheets (pink!) and blanket (extra soft organic!) and also VERY apprehensive.
The first night I had to stay in the room with her for about 30 minutes until she calmed down enough, and stopped crying long enough, to relax and start to want to go to sleep. She cried out at about midnight and her papa went in there to rub her back for a bit. She woke up, very anxious, at 6.30 and wanted to basically jump off the bed to be with me when I walked in.
She was clearly tired, and ready for a nap at about 11.30am that morning. HOWEVER, she was still a little nervous about sleeping in the big bed by herself. So I stayed for about 10 minutes and then left to take my nap in my bedroom.
She woke up after only about an hour and 20 minutes. She was yawning about 30 minutes after she got up and was READY for sleep later that night.
All this short sleeping caught up with her as last night, we read 3 or 4 books (usually we read 2) and I stayed with her for about 10 minutes as she had a momentary panic just as I turned off the light and she realized it really was time for bed. I held her for a bit until she stopped crying, then hummed to her for about 10 minutes and she was out like a light.
She didn't wake up until a quarter to 7 this morning, and went down for her nap without problems.
I expect she will get a bit nervous just at lights-out moment again tonight but I think the worst is over.
Just like traveling, Carolina needs about 3 days to adjust and then she's good to go.
Honestly, this is a lot faster than I expected. I was going to give her a week of anxiety, but it seems that as long as we reinforce that her bed is comfortable and nice and her babies in there with her, AND remind her that she is still in her own room, she seems to be okay with it.
I had thought we'd need to start playing dolls in her room every day to get her accustomed to being in there but since it's still her room, I guess we didn't need to. And, I thought she'd mind the bed rail but she seems to actually like that it's there.
Also, I told her that the Warning information in English, French and Spanish (on the inside part of the bedrail mesh) is actually a letter to her saying that her bed is nice and the mesh is there to keep her safe. She then asked if the monsters could get in (this is a new thing). I explained like I always do, "No, we keep the front door locked so they can't get in." She then asked if I'd lock her door, and I told her, "I'll keep it closed like always and the front door locked. So they can't get in AT ALL." She seemed to like the "at all" part and always seems to believe me that if we lock the door, they can't get in.
I have no idea where the monsters coming in came from, but it seems that if I am factual about it and don't bring it up, she isn't too worried. Maybe that can change later.
All we need now is a new step stool so she can get into the bed herself. I got a shorter box spring than normal but it's still a bit high and the metal frame is too pointy to use as a step. I even tried it and it hurt my food. We're using a full diaper box now, and another mom in the neighborhood said I could have hers if I pick it up tomorrow, which I will.
Hooray!
PS And you know the head banging on the mattress or moaning hasn't happened since we switched to the bed. I had hoped this might happen as she did a LOT less of it when we changed her crib padding in August. She might be too nervous to bother but I'm very (fingers tightly crossed) hopeful this might be the end of it.
We ended up having someone come to take the old double bed out and deliver the new bed, and that same night we dismantled the crib. So the entire coming and going happened in one day.
As expected, Carolina was very excited about the bed and her new sheets (pink!) and blanket (extra soft organic!) and also VERY apprehensive.
The first night I had to stay in the room with her for about 30 minutes until she calmed down enough, and stopped crying long enough, to relax and start to want to go to sleep. She cried out at about midnight and her papa went in there to rub her back for a bit. She woke up, very anxious, at 6.30 and wanted to basically jump off the bed to be with me when I walked in.
She was clearly tired, and ready for a nap at about 11.30am that morning. HOWEVER, she was still a little nervous about sleeping in the big bed by herself. So I stayed for about 10 minutes and then left to take my nap in my bedroom.
She woke up after only about an hour and 20 minutes. She was yawning about 30 minutes after she got up and was READY for sleep later that night.
All this short sleeping caught up with her as last night, we read 3 or 4 books (usually we read 2) and I stayed with her for about 10 minutes as she had a momentary panic just as I turned off the light and she realized it really was time for bed. I held her for a bit until she stopped crying, then hummed to her for about 10 minutes and she was out like a light.
She didn't wake up until a quarter to 7 this morning, and went down for her nap without problems.
I expect she will get a bit nervous just at lights-out moment again tonight but I think the worst is over.
Just like traveling, Carolina needs about 3 days to adjust and then she's good to go.
Honestly, this is a lot faster than I expected. I was going to give her a week of anxiety, but it seems that as long as we reinforce that her bed is comfortable and nice and her babies in there with her, AND remind her that she is still in her own room, she seems to be okay with it.
I had thought we'd need to start playing dolls in her room every day to get her accustomed to being in there but since it's still her room, I guess we didn't need to. And, I thought she'd mind the bed rail but she seems to actually like that it's there.
Also, I told her that the Warning information in English, French and Spanish (on the inside part of the bedrail mesh) is actually a letter to her saying that her bed is nice and the mesh is there to keep her safe. She then asked if the monsters could get in (this is a new thing). I explained like I always do, "No, we keep the front door locked so they can't get in." She then asked if I'd lock her door, and I told her, "I'll keep it closed like always and the front door locked. So they can't get in AT ALL." She seemed to like the "at all" part and always seems to believe me that if we lock the door, they can't get in.
I have no idea where the monsters coming in came from, but it seems that if I am factual about it and don't bring it up, she isn't too worried. Maybe that can change later.
All we need now is a new step stool so she can get into the bed herself. I got a shorter box spring than normal but it's still a bit high and the metal frame is too pointy to use as a step. I even tried it and it hurt my food. We're using a full diaper box now, and another mom in the neighborhood said I could have hers if I pick it up tomorrow, which I will.
Hooray!
PS And you know the head banging on the mattress or moaning hasn't happened since we switched to the bed. I had hoped this might happen as she did a LOT less of it when we changed her crib padding in August. She might be too nervous to bother but I'm very (fingers tightly crossed) hopeful this might be the end of it.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
If you're taking a toddler to a restaurant, be prepared. Even if you've done it before.
So we went to brunch with the McConnell's and I forgot three things:
1. A book
2. Crayons or pencil and some paper
3. To set up expectations with Carolina about behavior and what will happen before we left
She wasn't very well behaved at all. She wasn't really jealous, in fact she loved seeing the baby, but she was all over the place and whiny and didn't eat much of anything.
Granted, we weren't making her the center of attention, so that's to be expected. But in my usual small diaper bag I forgot to put back a book and something to draw with after I cleaned out the bag last month AND forgot to have "the talk" before we left the apartment.
Really, I should have known better, and I do, but I forgot. It wasn't the end of the world awful but, let's just say that it was really good there were only two other people in the restaurant, sitting far from us, who were tolerant of the occasional crying/screaming by our toddler.
How I get her to eat something normal (instead of only ice cream) while we are at a restaurant or at someone else's house, I'm not sure yet. I'll just keep trying. And maybe eventually it'll stick, but for right now, I just gotta go more prepared.
Silly, mommy.
1. A book
2. Crayons or pencil and some paper
3. To set up expectations with Carolina about behavior and what will happen before we left
She wasn't very well behaved at all. She wasn't really jealous, in fact she loved seeing the baby, but she was all over the place and whiny and didn't eat much of anything.
Granted, we weren't making her the center of attention, so that's to be expected. But in my usual small diaper bag I forgot to put back a book and something to draw with after I cleaned out the bag last month AND forgot to have "the talk" before we left the apartment.
Really, I should have known better, and I do, but I forgot. It wasn't the end of the world awful but, let's just say that it was really good there were only two other people in the restaurant, sitting far from us, who were tolerant of the occasional crying/screaming by our toddler.
How I get her to eat something normal (instead of only ice cream) while we are at a restaurant or at someone else's house, I'm not sure yet. I'll just keep trying. And maybe eventually it'll stick, but for right now, I just gotta go more prepared.
Silly, mommy.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
First snow -- hooray!
Carolina woke up this morning and basically told this to her papa in one breath, after he opened her curtains and she saw it was still snowing,"I'm gonna make snow angels like Uniqua, Pablo, Austin, Tyrone an Tasha. An make tracks in Snowy Day. An put on jacket, an sweater, an boots, an pants, an socks!!"
We've been reading The Secret of Snow and The Snowy Day.
So right after Saturday morning pancakes, we headed outside where a lot of super fast-made snow angels were made on the sidewalk just before the legions of dogs came to pee and poop.
When we came back inside, Carolina was still excited and we helped her get out of wet clothes and I explained you have to put on dry, warm pants and a dry shirt. Sit on the couch and get a blanket. Then I'd get her a snack and juice. After she had on new clothes and the blanket was on she looked at us both and said,"Tank you eveybody. Is much better now." Because after snow fun, warm and dry clothes are good.
We've been reading The Secret of Snow and The Snowy Day.
So right after Saturday morning pancakes, we headed outside where a lot of super fast-made snow angels were made on the sidewalk just before the legions of dogs came to pee and poop.
When we came back inside, Carolina was still excited and we helped her get out of wet clothes and I explained you have to put on dry, warm pants and a dry shirt. Sit on the couch and get a blanket. Then I'd get her a snack and juice. After she had on new clothes and the blanket was on she looked at us both and said,"Tank you eveybody. Is much better now." Because after snow fun, warm and dry clothes are good.
Monday, January 2, 2012
I love my papa; Can I hug frosty?
After her nap today, Carolina stood up and said, "Look, mommy. Picture of papa!" and in fact there was in the hallway outside her room. She then looks at me and says, "I love papa" and gave me a huge hug. I'm supposing that was really for him but he's at home and we're still visiting abuela.
Every night she's asked to go home and often during the day for papa.
While watching Frosty for the hundredth time, and it might actually be 100 times by now, she asked if she could hug Frosty. So we'll have to do that when it snows as she's also been asking for her "Carolina snow boots. Big boots." and those are at home, too. Along with any possibility of snow.
A nice thing is that I'm now "allowed" to speak Spanish to her and to others as well as she wants to watch her Mickey DVDs here in Spanish. I guess Spanish isn't so bad after all.
Every night she's asked to go home and often during the day for papa.
While watching Frosty for the hundredth time, and it might actually be 100 times by now, she asked if she could hug Frosty. So we'll have to do that when it snows as she's also been asking for her "Carolina snow boots. Big boots." and those are at home, too. Along with any possibility of snow.
A nice thing is that I'm now "allowed" to speak Spanish to her and to others as well as she wants to watch her Mickey DVDs here in Spanish. I guess Spanish isn't so bad after all.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Every kid she's played with has had a cold, so...
Yup, now she's sick, too. The past two nights she's had a terrible cough. No fever or much mucus but a croup-like cough. So we're taking her to the doctor today to see if he can determine what she's got.
Like with food and naps and sleep and how carefully they're watched at the park, here it's different with kids and their colds. If we were at home, we'd have seen almost no one with a child this past week as at home no one would have taken their kid put with as much snot, coughing and sneezing as they all had. But the parents did, and the kids had fun playing.
Anyway, now she's got a cough that woke her up and hurt enough at 4am she was up until 6am. At least she wanted to go back to sleep in her crib. Means she was serious about wanting to go back to sleep.
The good thing is she's in a good mood and no other symptoms.
Maybe this is why she started asking to go home to "Carolina's big house" in new york. At first we though she wanted to leave Guanajuato and go to see Abuela, who didn't come with us on the day trip. And then though she wanted to go to her little play house in their back garden. But when we got home to Abuela's house, she started crying a lot. Demanding to go home. So we understood.
Then we had a Skype call yesterday with my parents and she got upset since she wanted to be at their place since they had new presents for her from a family friend.
I'm not sure what to tell her as she gets more upset when I say we'll go soon. As her papa is going home tomorrow very early, before she's awake. And we are here another 5 days. And then a night at my folks'.
I'm a bit nervous.
Like with food and naps and sleep and how carefully they're watched at the park, here it's different with kids and their colds. If we were at home, we'd have seen almost no one with a child this past week as at home no one would have taken their kid put with as much snot, coughing and sneezing as they all had. But the parents did, and the kids had fun playing.
Anyway, now she's got a cough that woke her up and hurt enough at 4am she was up until 6am. At least she wanted to go back to sleep in her crib. Means she was serious about wanting to go back to sleep.
The good thing is she's in a good mood and no other symptoms.
Maybe this is why she started asking to go home to "Carolina's big house" in new york. At first we though she wanted to leave Guanajuato and go to see Abuela, who didn't come with us on the day trip. And then though she wanted to go to her little play house in their back garden. But when we got home to Abuela's house, she started crying a lot. Demanding to go home. So we understood.
Then we had a Skype call yesterday with my parents and she got upset since she wanted to be at their place since they had new presents for her from a family friend.
I'm not sure what to tell her as she gets more upset when I say we'll go soon. As her papa is going home tomorrow very early, before she's awake. And we are here another 5 days. And then a night at my folks'.
I'm a bit nervous.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
I have a baby, too.
A few days ago a pregnant friend was over and as she's ready to give birth any day, she's got quite a pronounced belly. When we were saying goodbye, I decided to tell Carolina that the woman has a baby inside. She seemed to take this in stride and eventually wanted to know if the baby can come out and "play with Carolina."
Fast forward to today, she's playing in the garden with other kids and comes up to me. Pushes out her belly, points to it and says, "I have baby." I explain, no just a lot of food in her belly. She says again, "No, I have baby, too." I relent. Ok, is all I say.
She repeats this later while in the tub. And then decides she really just has a lot of good in her belly.
This is too funny. I'm hoping that she delays a bit on starting to ask when her brother can play with her as I AM CERTAIN she will be terribly disappointed there are endless-to-her months left AND THEN it's going to be a newborn, not a 2 year old who comes home.
Ah, well. I did open the can of worms...
Fast forward to today, she's playing in the garden with other kids and comes up to me. Pushes out her belly, points to it and says, "I have baby." I explain, no just a lot of food in her belly. She says again, "No, I have baby, too." I relent. Ok, is all I say.
She repeats this later while in the tub. And then decides she really just has a lot of good in her belly.
This is too funny. I'm hoping that she delays a bit on starting to ask when her brother can play with her as I AM CERTAIN she will be terribly disappointed there are endless-to-her months left AND THEN it's going to be a newborn, not a 2 year old who comes home.
Ah, well. I did open the can of worms...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)