Diaries of a Mommy

Preston is getting so big!  He is 10 months old and has four teeth on the top and two on the bottom (with two trying to cut through right now).  His sleeping habits, KNOCK ON WOOD, have been outstanding.  A week of full night sleep starting at 7:30 PM until usually 7:00 AM.  Amazing, thank you, son!  He has been trying to walk by himself, without assistance, for some time now but still does not have it quite mastered.  He's got the push cart mastered and gets the biggest smile on his face whenever we take his hand to help him walk around, but I think he'll be much happier when he can walk all by himself.  He's turning into "that type" of kid--The kind that will say, when they can talk, "No Mommy, I DO IT!!"   

However, this new independence has not always been the norm for our son.  He's been quite the mommy's boy and loves to cuddle and snuggle with me--which I take as much advantage of as I possibly can, MOST DAYS.  I know I probably should even repeat this because so many of you have told me, "Snuggle and love on them as long as you can--before you know it they will be big and will reject you hugs and cuddles".  However, about a month ago after a LONG week with the kids--the week ended with a tear filled mommy.  Set the scene:  Preston was cutting teeth and had been cranky and overly "mommy hold me all the time" for a whole week.  I had just finished preparing our dinner and got it ready for the oven.  I decided that I would take the time while it cooked to get the dishes all cleaned up and let Paul play with the kids.  Little did I know that Preston had other ideas.  Enter:  Stage one clinger, aka Preston Sidney Bersaw.  As I sat at the kitchen sink, with Preston clinging for dear life to the back of my pant legs crying his heart out (wondering why his mean mom would not pick him up and comfort him for the MILLIONTH time) the tears started to flow.  I couldn't help it--they just came.  It was the straw that broke the camel's back and I screamed, "I can't even do dishes without him pulling on me......"  That's when Paul sent me (ALL BY MYSELF) for an over night trip to Bismarck to stay with friends and get some, much need, Christmas shopping accomplished.  Thank goodness I have an understanding husband.  I came back much refreshed and ready to take on the kids again.  This just made me realize that EVERYONE needs their own personal time--mom's included.  We haven't had any melt downs since, but I also know when that breaking point is coming and I am more proactive about these feelings now--a trip to get groceries, even a walk out to the mailbox alone, are very helpful when I need to rejuvenate.

Savannah, my two year old, is starting to recognize letters and numbers.  She is a baby genius!  Of course we all feel that way about our kids, but my really is a genius!   ha ah   :)  She's two and told me that the t-shirt that  Preston had on yesterday had a 2 and a 3 on it (and it DID)!!!  I don't know if this is amazing or not, but I am inclined to think that most two year old children are not calling out numbers--maybe I am wrong, but I thought it was pretty spectacular.  She also has tub letters and numbers and told me, "Mommy, this is a "P"!"  I don't know if this will be the norm, but I can't wait to see what she'll come up with next.  She's quite the sponge right now!

Potty training.....OH MY GOODNESS....the potty training.  Aren't girls suppose to be SOOO much easier to train?!?!?!  The above subject--where I can talk her up for hours about her letter and number recognition, I am sad to report that the potty training has been HORRENDOUS!!!  Absolutely terrible.  We have tried almost everything, and even reverted to bribery (No, bribery is NOT beneath me).  I know she will not go to high school in a diaper, but I feel like since I am staying at home with my children, there should be no excuses why she's not potty trained by now.  We have tried the following (but not limited to) approaches which most have failed miserably for us-- 

•  Setting a timer:  I started by setting the timer for 30 minutes, but she was having accidents about a minute before the timer would go off.  So I set the timer for 20 minutes and I would have her try to go potty.  She'd sit on the potty, "TRY", and then say, "No, Mommy, I no potty".  To which I take her off and she'd have an accident ONE minute later.  This was NOT working for us--so I stopped with the potty watch....
• Using training diapers:  This did not work for Savannah and she thought it was just another form of a diaper and would have accidents still.  
• The use of positive words and encouragement:  This was okay for a little while, but she's only two, so telling her what a great job she was doing wasn't fully sinking in for her.  
• Stickers:  She loved getting stickers for about a week and then that wore off too.  
• Bribery:  Skittles and M&M's have been my best friend.  At first, I gave her a "sweet treat" after she'd go potty, but had to change it so she'd get a treat after she went potty and her panties were dry!  This has worked the longest and best for her.  She's so proud when she can tell me, "Mommy, panties are dry!"  Encouraging words are given by me....but mostly I think she's just thinking about her yummy skittle or M&M that she'll be getting when she gets off the potty.  :)  
• Repetitively Asking the Question....:  "Savannah, do you have to go potty?"  I ask this about a million times every day.  I ask about every 10 minutes.  If she says no, I don't do anything about it--unless it's been a really long time since she's gone potty.  Then I'll say, "Maybe we should just go and try".  This has given her the "reigns" so to say and some voice in her potty situation.  This has been working well, along with the sweet treats, and we haven't had any #1 accidents in almost 2 weeks!  YAY.  Poo....is another subject all together, it scared her to go #2 on the potty.  Does anyone have any ideas to help with this fear?  We'll keep working--practicing every day! 

If you have any ideas that have worked for you--please pass them along to me.  I am always looking for new, fresh ideas.

Well, blog friends, this has been my world since my last post.  We had a wonderful holiday season and a great start to 2012.  I feel so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends and can't wait to see what the remainder of 2012 will bring for us!