Big Girl time!!

(please note this post is about potty training, so much poo poo and pee pee talk)

My mother has been on my case about potty training Miss H since her birthday in January!! Needless to say the idea of potty training doesn't trill me for a few reasons.  1) We go go go a lot!! 2) I don't want my brand new house destroyed by potty training! 3) She can't be this old right?

Although I don't think in January Miss H was ready for potty training, I have seen more signs lately.  Yes I try like crazy to ignore them.  Until the past 2 weeks…while she was at my sisters she was brain washed that she was a big girl…lol I kid!!  No, my sister did declare she thinks its time!  I mean she would know she has had 2 already potty trained kiddos.  I will say that I too was thinking this since Miss H's newest thing is to take her pants (not diaper) off and then go poo poo.  Immediately after doing this she ask for a new diaper!  She has been taking her pants off for about 3 weeks now…a sure sign she is ready for the big moment.

Therefore when we got home from my sisters last Sunday I found all the training panties that she had given me from when E had potty trained.  Miss H and I chatted about the panties and how to wear them…and such.  We then washed them all up and placed them in her bathroom.  I told her tomorrow she will wear big girl panties and no diaper!  Since we really had no plans until 330 that day it was our best choice.  The day went pretty well!  I set my phone for 20 minutes and EVERY 20 minutes we would rush off to go potty.  If she went then she got 2 jelly beans, whoo whoo!  The day was very successful for our first day.  Sadly my kids tennis program is a location with no potty!! Thus causing an issues when you are potty training so I just let her wear a diaper there.  I know its not ideal and sends mixed signals but what can ya do?

Tuesday I really didn't say much about it because that is our busy day.  We have music class and I do tons of errands since we are in town already.  We did go to Buy Buy baby and buy her a potty to take out in public.  Just one of the fold up kinds…so we can potty while we are at stores and such.  She also picked up some pull ups for when we are in the car.  Then we did our other millions of errands.  No panties really were worn this day.

Wednesday we were panties all day!  She was great…same thing I set my timer and we just went.  She did have one emotional breakdown when she needed to poop.  She wanted to go on the potty so bad but just couldn't do it.  After sitting in the bathroom for 1 hour I called it and said time to take a nap!!  She as pretty worn out and that is more the reason we had a breakdown I am sure.  She didn't want to leave the potty but I threw a diaper on and off to bed.  Of course when she woke up from her nap she pooped in her diaper…but at least it was over.  That afternoon we did go out and she kept strong with the potty training.  Wearing a pull up out in public of course.  I still ran her to the potty every 20 minutes with her going almost every time.  We hit up our favorite spot Target to get some panties from her BB and a reward for a super day of potty training!  She picked a huge ball!!

She only had one accident the whole day!!  Of course it was on the way home in the car since our drive home is longer than 20 minutes and we had just eaten dinner.  Oh well still pretty successful.

After Wednesday I would say we have done pretty good.  I was worried that Thursday would be a bust because we were going to the zoo.  However, she did very good going potty there!  I still have to remind her that she needs to go.  Most of the time she is good with going and sitting.  She has also started telling me if she needs to go before the 20 minutes is up.  She seems to have about 1 or 2 accidents a day…which isn't too bad I don't think.

ha that is a smile face under that paci??

I would be thrilled if we could get pooping in the potty down but she REFUSES!  I mean kicking screaming ugly refuses.  Then she will hold her poop in until her tummy hurts…its a double edge sword let her poop in the diaper and not be in pain or stand my ground!! AHH Thus far I make her sit for at least 30 minutes then give up.  I really think its because she doesn't know how to poop sitting. I know this may sound odd but my child is a squatter…she goes and squats to poop?  I don't know!!  Any poop advice would be happily taken here


All in all after our 3-5 days of potty training I think we are doing pretty good.  We are headed to Chris' parents this weekend so I am pretty sure we will still stick to pull ups in public for that reason.  But once we return I may be brave enough to do panties only!! Fun times over here and most of it spent in the bathroom!  I wish I had a pick of our set up.  We have a stack of books and toys just sitting next to the potty, lol!

Miss H is TWO months old!

Harper you are TWO months old! 

The past month you have really changed.  I can't imagine what new things you will learn this month.  

This week we went to the doctor for your TWO month check up.  You weigh 11 pounds even, what a great little eater you are.  You are now 24inches long....and in the 95% in height! (you must have gotten that from your father!) Your head size and weight are just right on the mark at the 50% marker!  Way to go sweet girl.  You have gained 2 pounds and grown 2 inches since last month.  Dr. Mercer said you are growing perfectly...and that you have a beautiful head.  Yes, I was worried about the "flat" head issue that some babies get.  I know I am a crazy mommy, but I want you to have nice looking head.  Tummy time is going well over here!  Here are a few things you are really loving this month:

Smiling
Smiling: Man do you have the cutest little smile in the world.  You have become a pro at smiling when we talk to you.  I love to see your little face light up.  Now you have begun to smile at strangers, probably the cutest thing I have ever seen.

Talking: Not only do you smile, but you have really began to "talk" more.  You love to talk back when we chat with you.  Your favorite place to talk is on your changing table.  You just coo away! I love it, plus it makes changing your diaper so easy.  

Eye contact: You have become very good at following us where ever we go.  If mommy or daddy moves when talking to you...you turn your sweet little head to follow us.  Your eye contact is amazing. 

Sleep: You sleep pretty good for a 2 month old!!  Your now laying in your pack 'n play all on its own. (yes, the doctor wanted you in your room by this point...but in time you will get there!) You take at least 3-5 naps through out the day.  We are starting to narrow down a little routine and try to have those naps in the pack 'n play...not the bouncy or swing or mommy's arms. Although my favorite naps are the ones we take snuggled up together.   Most nights you sleep about 5 1/2 hours for the first stretch.  Then you need a little snack and back to sleep.  You normally only wake up 2 times at night!  Your mommy is happy you are a good sleeper.

Your hands!!  Oh man do you love your hands these days.  It is so funny to see you move them about.  Your new favorite thing is to suck on your hands.  You try to find your little fingers..but when all else fails you just suck on the back of your hand.  You look cute doing it...

You had a few first this month: 

• You attended your first NBA basketball game! GO MAVS...and didn't even fuss once with all the loud noises going on.  You were a brave little fan. 
• You went to your first birthday party: Happy Birthday Edward, thanks for letting us celebrate with you. 
• You began to coo and talk it up for real.  Not just the occasional sound..now you do it with a purpose. 
• Daddy watched you all on his own for the first time.  You were such a good little girl for him. 
• You have finally begun sleeping "flat" on your back in the pack 'n play...no more newborn napper for you!  Next step is moving to your bedroom (this makes mommy sad).
• You finally grasped your toys all on your own!  You are not sure what to do once you have it in your hand, but at least you can get it. 

Your as big as your  daddy's sock monkey! Yippee!!

You are such a wonderful baby, hardly ever fussing. We are so blessed to be your parents.  You just love to be out and about just like your mommy! We have the best time shopping and running around town together.  I love having a little helper with me. Daddy loves to come home and chat with you too.  He even will make some stops by the house between appointments...just to get some Harper time ☺  

We love you to the moon and back! We don't even know what life was like before you came along.  You couldn't be a sweeter baby for mommy and daddy.  We love you.

  

Our Walmart Challenge!

Miss H ready to go!

You know life always has to some kind of challenge, right?  Well being a mommy is new to me so there are many new challenges.  As a teacher you face the normal challenges each day.  1) Entertaining the kids so they will learn your lesson 2) Making each child see their potential 3) Eating lunch in less than 30 minutes and going to the bathroom...this is a big challenge 4) Having fun as you learn.   Now of course most of these can translate into mommy-hood as well.  However, I have found my newest challenge this past week.

Miss H and I have kind of found a good routine.  We are still working on setting up a nap routine, but I think that comes with her age too.  I mean heck a one month old needs a lot of sleep.  Needless to say since we are doing so good on a routine I have begun to venture out more and more.  Plus she is a bit older and eating about ever 3 hours now.  Thus I have almost 2 hours to do stuff.  As a bf (breast feeding) mommy you realize that time is important.  I mean heck who's time isn't important....but now more than ever.  I have become very familiar with great bf locations needless to say.  I prefer to feed her in a nice little nursing room or nice bathroom, but that is not always available.  Thus you take the bullet and just feed where you are. Okay so the one place I REFUSE to feed is at Walmart!  I don't know something about it just doesn't set well with me.  I don't even want to feed her in the car in the parking lot.

Todays CHALLENGE was Walmart vs. Miss H!  I love a good challenge....and am very competitive but that is a side note.  I rarely ever go to Wally world but thought I would try it out today.  We don't live very close to one which is really why I don't go more...I mean Target (my favorite spot) is just minutes away.  Miss H and I woke up today, I fed her then got her dressed and ready.  Then on to myself...cleaned up, dressed, and ready to go.  By the time we were out the door Miss H had about 1 hour and 55 minutes before she would want to eat again.  START your TIMER NOW!!!

Let the challenge begin....we arrived at Wally world with exactly 1 hour and 30 minutes to do all our shopping.  Thankfully she was asleep in her car seat allowing me to really get down to business.  Normally I am a stroller shopper, meaning I use the stroller and place all our items in our great basket.  (We have the baby jogger city select....it has an awesome basket!)  However, today I needed about 5 larger items and knew the stroller would not do.

That leads to the next challenge...wish I would have taken a picture!!! Miss H has to sit in the basket part of the shopping cart, leaving little room to place items in your cart.  She ends up having things all around her!  It is amazing how creative you can get when loading it all up.  I was moving right along on our list when with about 25 minutes left Miss H started to wake up.  Oh no, this can lead to 2 things.... The need to EAT or be held.  She doesn't mind her seat but can get tired of being in there.

What does any mom do....kick it into HIGH gear zooming through all the isles!  Yes, I probably looked like a crazy woman zooming in and out and placing things in our cart.  However, I was NOT going to be stuck needing to bf Miss H here.  Thankfully I had only 5 things left to grab..  Then we were off to check out.  Since I was zooming around it kind of put her back to sleep...AHHH thank heavens that bought me some more time.  Good thing since of course the check out lines were long.  However, I will say for a Wednesday mid morning of spring break they were not too crazy busy.

Finally it was our turn to check out! I look at my phone, 15 minutes left.  Our checker was super friendly...but not the fastest.  Plus reloading all your items back into the cart once they are bagged is a whole other challenge.  You really have to have some mad skills I tell ya!  However, I got it all loaded up and paid...and to the car with exactly 5 minutes till Miss H would begin to fuss for food. WHEEEW!!  We loaded up the car and made it home before she realized she was ready to eat.

 I won the challenge!!

You know its the silly little challenges you have to enjoy.  Chris asked what we did today...of course I told him we beat Walmart! Ha ha ha  Hope you won a challenge this week!!

Lessons to be learned

Miss H 7 weeks old

As a new parent there are millions of lessons to learn, like one wouldn't expect that.  However, there are somethings you don't realize you have to learn.  I mean you know silly things that matter you would have never dreamed about.  The past 2 weeks I have been searching the area for a nice REASONABLE place that does monograming.  Yeah our cleaners does it...but it cost per letter and by size.  There are a few other shops that also do it...again charged per letter and size.  I mean I knew I would need this prior to the baby.  Thus I began quizzing my moms at school.  However, non really knew a good spot.  Little did I know that something like this would be a lesson need as a parent!  I mean heck Miss H has to have cute monogrammed clothes and such, or what kind of mommy am I?

Thank heavens Chris' super sweet secretary gave us a cute little blanket (its the perfect car seat size) that was monogramed with Miss H's initials and birth date!  Thus I made Chris ask her if she did it or where it was done!  I mean I had quizzed all the people I knew and looked on line.  I had even begun to search Etsy!  Thankfully she had it done here in F.W. at little boutique.  

What does any crazy new mommy do....go scope the place out of course!  Miss H and I loaded up last Wednesday and headed out.  Our mission....a place to get here cute white bloomers monogramed!  As we pull up to the Adorable Boutique  I realize WE ARE IN LUCK!  They had some really cute little onesies and shirts in the window that proved it would be the place we needed.  Once we got in there I realized it was my new HEAVEN!!!  YES, I had finally found my new favorite place to get Miss H goodies!!  

Needless to say Chris is very sad that Bertha his secretary showed me the way to Adorable Boutique.  I have enjoyed all my visits there (yes, we have gone twice already).  The owner, Chris (not to be confused with my hubby!) is so sweet.  She can pretty much make anything.  While I was there the first time I had them monogram Miss H's bloomers and make her a few bows (colors we didn't have yet).  Everything there is so reasonable.  I mean the other 2 baby boutiques in town charge 4 to 14 for bowes....which is out of control.  Also, Miss H didn't have a bow holder, of course they made her a super cute one.  Everything you can think of they can do....

Not only did we get her bloomers and bowes, but I also wanted a few Easter onesies done.  I had found a few ideas that I liked.  Miss Chris said if I brought in a picture she could more than likely do what I wanted.  Oh my goodness!!!  Did they ever do the most amazing job.  Not only are they super cute but way cheaper than what I would have bought them for on line!  I am so in LOVE with Adorable Boutique.  I am already thinking of what kind of cute shirt I will want them to make her next!  If you live in our area I really recommend you heading over and checking it out.    Here are Miss H's Easter onesies and bows....love them!