I think about my Uncle Brad a lot these days. If he ever reads this I hope he'll understand why. See, I associate my Uncle Brad with poop. To many that might sound like a terrible insult, but really it's not, it's just something I've heard him talk about entirely too much, and lately I seem to spend a LOT of my time dealing with it. Lucky me.
Right now Payton is potty training, that is she's training Mommy and Daddy that she can do what she wants when she wants and where she wants. She's really good about pooping on the potty chair, now we're desperately trying to get her to do that deed on the big potty. Wiping the butt of a two year old, even my own, grosses me out.
Parker on the other hand doesn't see the need to poop more often than once a week. This stresses Mommy out. Thanks Brad for sharing that in the gene pool. The kid is perfectly happy and doesn't seem upset at all, but I wonder if this is at all OK. I have read that breastfed babies are regular if it's once a week, but now that she's drinking formula I continue my stress.
So, this post is dedicated to Uncle Brad, the man who taught me that it's okay to talk about our kids poop.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Firsts
Both girls had a first today. Probably not a good one, or the last, but a first none the less.
We were all in the living room together and I was looking at my phone while Payton played with her toys and Parker played on her play mat. One second all was well, then I looked up. To my surprise Payton had decided to pick up Parker. For those of you who recall the video of Colin and the puppy, you can almost picture what was happening. It was a very strange vision, but there's Payton standing with her arms wrapped all the way around Parker facing her. Then it happened, as Payton was trying to put Parker back down and I was in slow motion trying to grab them both, Parker dropped to the floor and bumped her head. I did stop myself from freaking out as I was right there and saw the whole thing, she really only fell 3 inches or so, but it was enough to scare both of us, while Payton looked on not really sure what the big deal was. Parker cried while I explained over and over and over to Payton that she's never allowed to pick up her sister, never, never, never. It took a while, but eventually I managed to get BOTH girls crying. At least with a few tears I feel like MAYBE Payton understands that she's not allowed to pick up her sister. And maybe Parker learned a little healthy fear of big sisters.
We were all in the living room together and I was looking at my phone while Payton played with her toys and Parker played on her play mat. One second all was well, then I looked up. To my surprise Payton had decided to pick up Parker. For those of you who recall the video of Colin and the puppy, you can almost picture what was happening. It was a very strange vision, but there's Payton standing with her arms wrapped all the way around Parker facing her. Then it happened, as Payton was trying to put Parker back down and I was in slow motion trying to grab them both, Parker dropped to the floor and bumped her head. I did stop myself from freaking out as I was right there and saw the whole thing, she really only fell 3 inches or so, but it was enough to scare both of us, while Payton looked on not really sure what the big deal was. Parker cried while I explained over and over and over to Payton that she's never allowed to pick up her sister, never, never, never. It took a while, but eventually I managed to get BOTH girls crying. At least with a few tears I feel like MAYBE Payton understands that she's not allowed to pick up her sister. And maybe Parker learned a little healthy fear of big sisters.
Suckers
Here's a recount of the conversation Miss Payton and I had in the car this afternoon on the way to Naples.
Payton: Sucker
Payton: Sucker
Payton: SUCKER
Darcee: Honey, we don't have any suckers. Would you like your milk?
Payton: Go to the bank
Darcee: We don't have any money to take to the bank.
Payton: I want some!
Me too kid, me too.
5 minutes later...
Payton: Bank tomorrow
At first I thought that Grandma Jackie and the bank tellers had ruined my non-candy eating kid, but I suppose a sucker at the bank probably never killed anyone. I actually think it's kind of cool that we live in a town small enough that everyone at the local bank knows us, our kids and even my monther in law. They love to watch my girls grow up and always have kind words for them both. Payton has learned to blow kisses and say thank you each time we go through the drive through.
Payton: Sucker
Payton: Sucker
Payton: SUCKER
Darcee: Honey, we don't have any suckers. Would you like your milk?
Payton: Go to the bank
Darcee: We don't have any money to take to the bank.
Payton: I want some!
Me too kid, me too.
5 minutes later...
Payton: Bank tomorrow
At first I thought that Grandma Jackie and the bank tellers had ruined my non-candy eating kid, but I suppose a sucker at the bank probably never killed anyone. I actually think it's kind of cool that we live in a town small enough that everyone at the local bank knows us, our kids and even my monther in law. They love to watch my girls grow up and always have kind words for them both. Payton has learned to blow kisses and say thank you each time we go through the drive through.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Parker's Becoming a Little Person
THIS is the fun baby stuff! I have to admit that I was beginning to wonder what it is about babies that everyone finds so exciting (maybe it was the sleep deprivation blocking my memory of Payton's good times). In the beginning there is so much poop and crying and sleep -well, sleep during the day at least. But now we've rounded the corner into the 3 month + and she's becoming so much fun!
Two weeks ago Parker learned how to giggle. It was a Monday morning when Payton was at Jim & Barb's and we were hanging out together on the sofa after her breakfast. I was talking to her and she started grinning and it broke into a giggle. Of course I tried to get it on video but each time I bring out the camera she gets very serious. Since then she's totally mastered giggling and has added lots of happy expressions and loves to smile at anyone who will talk to her. I'm including this little video of what I was able to get yesterday.
She's spending a LOT of time awake, way more than I'm ready for. Today she was up at 6:30 for the day, fell asleep while I was at the gym for 10 minutes and then was awake until late afternoon when she dozed for another 10 minutes until Miss Payton woke her back up. She took little 10 minute cat naps, but momma needs more than that! Tonight she finally gave up about 9:30 and passed out on the sofa, we'll see how long this lasts.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
It's Not All Fun and Games
Discipline sucks. I hate it. Hated as the kid, hate it maybe more as the mom. OK, maybe not more, but hate it now. I love to play with my girls, they are both so amazing to me, and Payton is really fun to be around when she's happy. She is awesome and lovable and sweet and cute and funny and wonderful. BUT, sometimes she misbehaves and I have to teach her that she can't do or act certain ways and it kills me to do it. I remember my dad spanking me once on the side of the road because CC and I were not doing what we were supposed to do in the back of the car. He had tears in his eyes and that made me feel worse than the punishment, but even seeing that and remembering it all these years later I had no idea how much it could hurt to have to be the bad guy. I don't want to tell her no, I want to play and give in to her every wish so that she'll be the happy kid that she can be, but sometimes I have to stand up to that darned two year old and it is no fun at all. It actually hurts.
Yesterday Payton was the biggest brat. I tried so hard to be the boss, although I think that she may have won, but I'll get to that. In the morning I had to meet with a client so the girls had to tag along. She threw a minor fit in the parking lot because she didn't want to leave the customers. Then in the car on the way to meet her friends at Kid Zoo, she was yelling and whining and waking her sister up. At this point I should have canceled Kid Zoo, but I had already made plans to meet another mom and her kids, so I kind of felt like I owed it to them to be there. So we met up with her friends and since we were there much later than nap time I thought we'd drive through BK and get her some lunch so that she could eat before she fell asleep. As I was trying to pull out of the parking lot she was crying and whining for nuggets. It went on and on as I was fighting to cross traffic and then waited behind 4 other cars in the drive through. Of course the whole time I was trying to explain to her that I was working on getting lunch for her. I considered pulling away as punishment, but I needed to get some food in her before she fell asleep. As a peace offering I ordered her a juice box which is usually only reserved for very special occasions. She was a brat about that as well telling me she didn't want it. She proceeded to eat her nuggets and drink her juice, but when we got home she would not go down for her nap. She came downstairs three times, and each time I carried her back up to bed with various tactics. I was nice, I was mean, I begged. One time she came down diaper in hand. I was ready to kill her. Eventually she did fall asleep. So on to the evening. She woke up happy and snugly. She asked for nuggets again, so in an effort to keep the peace, I made her more nuggets. I put her plate of chicken nuggets and green beans on her table for her as I normally do. She REFUSED to eat them. This is where I finally put my foot down. I was furious. I know that blowing up at her doesn't make her do anything, so I thought I'd try a new tactic. I told her that I wasn't going to talk to her until she ate her dinner. I was certain that the cold shoulder would bring her around, but boy was I wrong. For about 1 1/2 hours I ignored her. I put away all of the toys and turned the news on. She laid on the floor and played with her own feet. A few times she tried to get my attention, hugging my leg, being loud, walking in front of me. For the most part I just ignored, occasionally I'd remind her that if she'd eat her dinner I would talk to her and we could play, but not until then. The darn kid is stubborn! On and on until eventually Jason got home from tennis and I still wasn't speaking to her. Jason went upstairs to shower and that really set her off. She wanted to shower, but wasn't allowed to because she hadn't eaten her dinner. But she didn't break. Eventually she was put to bed without dinner. Here's the kicker. This morning as I was carrying her out to the car, she looked over at the kitchen counter where the plate still laid and said "No Dinner."
Brat.
Yesterday Payton was the biggest brat. I tried so hard to be the boss, although I think that she may have won, but I'll get to that. In the morning I had to meet with a client so the girls had to tag along. She threw a minor fit in the parking lot because she didn't want to leave the customers. Then in the car on the way to meet her friends at Kid Zoo, she was yelling and whining and waking her sister up. At this point I should have canceled Kid Zoo, but I had already made plans to meet another mom and her kids, so I kind of felt like I owed it to them to be there. So we met up with her friends and since we were there much later than nap time I thought we'd drive through BK and get her some lunch so that she could eat before she fell asleep. As I was trying to pull out of the parking lot she was crying and whining for nuggets. It went on and on as I was fighting to cross traffic and then waited behind 4 other cars in the drive through. Of course the whole time I was trying to explain to her that I was working on getting lunch for her. I considered pulling away as punishment, but I needed to get some food in her before she fell asleep. As a peace offering I ordered her a juice box which is usually only reserved for very special occasions. She was a brat about that as well telling me she didn't want it. She proceeded to eat her nuggets and drink her juice, but when we got home she would not go down for her nap. She came downstairs three times, and each time I carried her back up to bed with various tactics. I was nice, I was mean, I begged. One time she came down diaper in hand. I was ready to kill her. Eventually she did fall asleep. So on to the evening. She woke up happy and snugly. She asked for nuggets again, so in an effort to keep the peace, I made her more nuggets. I put her plate of chicken nuggets and green beans on her table for her as I normally do. She REFUSED to eat them. This is where I finally put my foot down. I was furious. I know that blowing up at her doesn't make her do anything, so I thought I'd try a new tactic. I told her that I wasn't going to talk to her until she ate her dinner. I was certain that the cold shoulder would bring her around, but boy was I wrong. For about 1 1/2 hours I ignored her. I put away all of the toys and turned the news on. She laid on the floor and played with her own feet. A few times she tried to get my attention, hugging my leg, being loud, walking in front of me. For the most part I just ignored, occasionally I'd remind her that if she'd eat her dinner I would talk to her and we could play, but not until then. The darn kid is stubborn! On and on until eventually Jason got home from tennis and I still wasn't speaking to her. Jason went upstairs to shower and that really set her off. She wanted to shower, but wasn't allowed to because she hadn't eaten her dinner. But she didn't break. Eventually she was put to bed without dinner. Here's the kicker. This morning as I was carrying her out to the car, she looked over at the kitchen counter where the plate still laid and said "No Dinner."
Brat.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)