I've always heard people say how the younger child will be easier to potty train because he/she always watches the older sibling(s). Not sure how much sense this ever really made, but perhaps I will cross my fingers that such a theory holds true. Braxton does have an interest in what Grayson does in the bathroom. I hear a lot of yelling by Grayson when he is in there to get Braxton away. I catch him often after Grayson is finished trying to reflush the toilet and then getting on the step stool by the sink like HE was the one who just did something spectacular (yes as parents of toddlers, using the bathroom is a spectacular thing when it happens... more so when they officially are 100% trained and you don't have to search the house looking for the "wet spot" when they come telling you they just went potty and their pants are soaked)
Seeing the interest Braxton has with his brother's bathroom habits I made a "wandering Walmart" decision to purchase a new toddler toilet seat to put on our toilet at home. Wednesday afternoon I sat him on it (much to his delight) and he probably sat there for 5 minutes just grinning from ear to ear. Of course, this means nothing else occurred, but I never expected that to happen. He is only 17 months and despite reading articles "Potty Train your Baby at 6 Months" I realize that not all babies are potty geniuses and the odds of my son being one is even less.
Thursday night it was time for a bath so I took Braxton in and got him undressed. He quickly tried to climb on the toilet so I sat him up there (probably 10 minutes this time). I spent a lot of time preventing excessive toilet paper being unrolled and put in the toilet. I finally scooped him up and stood him on the floor. Next thing I know, Braxton is lifting the toilet seat and climbing on the step stool. He stands there and sticks his belly forward (I wish I had a picture, it was so hysterical) so he could "aim". Nothing happens. Braxton looks down, then stands back up with his belly out. This repeats several times. After a couple minutes I just put him in the tub.
Absolute distress. Braxton starts crying. Not just crying, but extremely upset. Tears and everything. After about 20 seconds of this, he stops.... looks down....and starts peeing. Poor baby. Mom was just not patient enough. He obviously had the right idea and knew he could go, but he just couldn't get it coordinated in time. Maybe he will be a toilet genius afterall :-)
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Making Gray Faster
"Stephanie hates rice." This is something that most of you know and have even taken into consideration (without me around) when meal planning. Now this is not just a dislike for a particular food. I have lots of issues. I probably could benefit from some sensory integration therapy.
Other things I can't stand:
Loose Socks, Hair in my cheek, tapioca pudding, wool sweaters (or any other scratchy material), dry oatmeal, slimy food (looks and texture), wet toilet paper/paper towels (gagging does occasionally occur when I have to handle this), sandpaper... this is a quick list. I'm sure my friends and family can add to it.
It is possible that my sensory issues are from being a NICU baby, but I've about decided they are at least partially genetic. My argument: Grayson. His biggest challenge is the season change in wardrobe. Switching from pants to shorts or short sleeves to long sleeves (and vice versa) is always a nearly tear jerking event. Dad has found the solution.
A few weeks ago he had to put shorts on Gray for the first time of the year. His solution "But Shorts make you Faster". Who could have predicted that this would work for a little boy. Exactly why mom never figured this out. Another piece of wisdom that only another male could know.
On a side note: I've recently become a fan of this blog. http://averycan.blogspot.com/
I have great admiration for parents in their situation. It often reminds me that I can be a better mom. I have 2 healthy babies. When I first read this blog, I wasn't sure how to take it.... but there are so many hysterical comments I kept reading. I can see where they are coming from...increasing awareness and making their best effort to help their daughter experience some of life's greatest little events. I'm sure it ultimately doesn't matter what they do with her, she will just love them for all their love and attention.
Other things I can't stand:
Loose Socks, Hair in my cheek, tapioca pudding, wool sweaters (or any other scratchy material), dry oatmeal, slimy food (looks and texture), wet toilet paper/paper towels (gagging does occasionally occur when I have to handle this), sandpaper... this is a quick list. I'm sure my friends and family can add to it.
It is possible that my sensory issues are from being a NICU baby, but I've about decided they are at least partially genetic. My argument: Grayson. His biggest challenge is the season change in wardrobe. Switching from pants to shorts or short sleeves to long sleeves (and vice versa) is always a nearly tear jerking event. Dad has found the solution.
A few weeks ago he had to put shorts on Gray for the first time of the year. His solution "But Shorts make you Faster". Who could have predicted that this would work for a little boy. Exactly why mom never figured this out. Another piece of wisdom that only another male could know.
On a side note: I've recently become a fan of this blog. http://averycan.blogspot.com/
I have great admiration for parents in their situation. It often reminds me that I can be a better mom. I have 2 healthy babies. When I first read this blog, I wasn't sure how to take it.... but there are so many hysterical comments I kept reading. I can see where they are coming from...increasing awareness and making their best effort to help their daughter experience some of life's greatest little events. I'm sure it ultimately doesn't matter what they do with her, she will just love them for all their love and attention.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Sweat + Water = Poop
Grayson: "Mom, when you get sweaty you have to drink lots of water. You have to have lots of water to poop. If you don't drink water when you get sweaty you wont get to make poop."
Mom: "Yes Gray, you do need to drink water when you get hot and sweaty. Water is good for you"
Grayson: "Yes. Water is good for me so that I can poop. I need to make a big poop so when we get home I need a lot of drink of water"
I imagine that I asked for this conversation since a couple weeks ago Grayson was in the bathroom yelling "MOM" (in a strained voice) "My poop is stuck" and I was frustrated he wouldn't drink water earlier after coming in from the playground at school. I answered him with "Well maybe if you had drank your water you wouldn't have that problem."
I never learn.
Mom: "Yes Gray, you do need to drink water when you get hot and sweaty. Water is good for you"
Grayson: "Yes. Water is good for me so that I can poop. I need to make a big poop so when we get home I need a lot of drink of water"
I imagine that I asked for this conversation since a couple weeks ago Grayson was in the bathroom yelling "MOM" (in a strained voice) "My poop is stuck" and I was frustrated he wouldn't drink water earlier after coming in from the playground at school. I answered him with "Well maybe if you had drank your water you wouldn't have that problem."
I never learn.
Friday, April 6, 2012
More on Life with Grayson
Grayson switched classrooms recently at school and has been coming home demonstrating lots of learning, which I LOVE! We have learned all about how he needs to blow his nose to get out mucus (not just snot), the trees are in our ENVIRONMENT, and lots more. But lately he has been talking about being dead. Not sure if this is just a phase or if something happened with a classmate's family and he has just picked up on it through playground gossip.
A couple weeks ago I mentioned that Grayson was carrying around a blanket that my mom had given him when he was first born. His Response:"Mom (big sigh and a look of... you have no idea what you are talking about mom). Grandma DeeDee is dead."
His comment was so matter of fact, like there is no possible way she had given him the blanket because she is not here. He has no memory of her since he was so young when she passed away.
Last week we were driving down the highway and passed the cemetery. As we passed he got excited and said "Thats the flower garden where Grandma DeeDee is dead at". Not sure how he figured out she was "there" since I always just say it is where we go to put out flowers to remember her. I am glad that he views this as a garden though. Since the time he has been able to walk, he has ensured that there are 3 (exact number) pine cones mixed in with her flowers. Its been a cute tradition and I'll be sad if he every forgets it.
Then there was the Museum of Discovery. We went for a dinosaur exhibit. The first thing he says... "That dinosaur is dead. Where did his heart go when he died?" Thats a hard question to answer for a preschooler.
Probably one of the funnier stories.... his first swimming lesson. He was mostly excited (except for a few moments early in the morning where television was more important...this is where the new Angry Bird towel became important... yep I knew this might require a little coersion). He had his goggles on his head for a couple hours and wore his swim trunks all morning. His instructor convinced him to get in the water with her and he participated for the most part. Everytime she would shift her hand placement on him he would say "I don't want to die" in a very solemn serious tone. The funniest part ... he never seemed scared during their session and his poor teacher wasn't sure what to make of it all!
A couple weeks ago I mentioned that Grayson was carrying around a blanket that my mom had given him when he was first born. His Response:"Mom (big sigh and a look of... you have no idea what you are talking about mom). Grandma DeeDee is dead."
His comment was so matter of fact, like there is no possible way she had given him the blanket because she is not here. He has no memory of her since he was so young when she passed away.
Last week we were driving down the highway and passed the cemetery. As we passed he got excited and said "Thats the flower garden where Grandma DeeDee is dead at". Not sure how he figured out she was "there" since I always just say it is where we go to put out flowers to remember her. I am glad that he views this as a garden though. Since the time he has been able to walk, he has ensured that there are 3 (exact number) pine cones mixed in with her flowers. Its been a cute tradition and I'll be sad if he every forgets it.
Then there was the Museum of Discovery. We went for a dinosaur exhibit. The first thing he says... "That dinosaur is dead. Where did his heart go when he died?" Thats a hard question to answer for a preschooler.
Probably one of the funnier stories.... his first swimming lesson. He was mostly excited (except for a few moments early in the morning where television was more important...this is where the new Angry Bird towel became important... yep I knew this might require a little coersion). He had his goggles on his head for a couple hours and wore his swim trunks all morning. His instructor convinced him to get in the water with her and he participated for the most part. Everytime she would shift her hand placement on him he would say "I don't want to die" in a very solemn serious tone. The funniest part ... he never seemed scared during their session and his poor teacher wasn't sure what to make of it all!
Monday, April 2, 2012
Life Lessons We have Taught Our Son
So...we too decided to be in the majority of people who purchased a Mega Millions ticket in hopes of having way more money that any people really need to survive. We did not win. As we were returning from the grocery store this weekend we passed a billboard that listed the current value of the jackpot (a barely worth a ticket 12 million - ha.) Dusty read it aloud and I commented that we donated to the winners (and scholarships of course). He noted that "well, our money went down the drain". Of course Grayson was paying attention.
Gray: Why did our money go down the drain?
Dad: We played a game with money.
Gray: What kind of game?
Dad: A numbers game.
There were several attempts to explain this game to Grayson, but I'm not sure he ever really understood.
Gray: Well, when will our money come back up the drain?
He also had a great suggestion to teach us how to win, since we obviously lost by our own choice. He reports that he intended for us to take him home, let him get in his piggy bank (as any responsible parent would allow), and he would pick the letters we needed to win and we could use his money. Maybe that is our problem.... we picked numbers instead of letters.... and our 4 year old is now wanting to play the lottery.
Gray: Why did our money go down the drain?
Dad: We played a game with money.
Gray: What kind of game?
Dad: A numbers game.
There were several attempts to explain this game to Grayson, but I'm not sure he ever really understood.
Gray: Well, when will our money come back up the drain?
He also had a great suggestion to teach us how to win, since we obviously lost by our own choice. He reports that he intended for us to take him home, let him get in his piggy bank (as any responsible parent would allow), and he would pick the letters we needed to win and we could use his money. Maybe that is our problem.... we picked numbers instead of letters.... and our 4 year old is now wanting to play the lottery.
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