I'm exhausted. Completely wiped out. Ready for a nap and looking forward to an early bedtime type of tired. Let me explain.
After confessing my cowardice I found myself completely and totally offended by my own self-proclamation. How dare I call myself a coward? Who in their right mind would call ME a coward? And so...today began Culley's training. When she woke up, we didn't even discuss diapers but instead pulled out her cute little undies with "neows" on them. To my amazement she was completely thrilled! Oh the excitement! We put one pair on...and then she continued to try to put EVERY pair on top of each other. She finally tried on three different ones before settling on the paw prints but only if I would let her carry the others with her. I figured that would make it easier to locate them after an accident, so we traipsed downstairs for the morning.
At first, she sat on the floor taking one pair off, putting another pair on, and so on for quite some time. When that became old hat, we sat in the kitchen and played with the cookie cutters that she has recently discovered. We practiced our ABC's, we danced, we made our grocery list, and so on and so on. At one point she went potty...received her treats...gobbled them down, claimed she had to go potty again and squeezed every ounce out of her body...received her treats...gobbled them down, claimed AGAIN she had to go potty, but this time came up dry.
All in all, she only had three "accidents" this morning. I will say that at this rate, I'm going to have to start a better exercise routine as every time she gets some goodies I seem to feel like I deserve them too! I honestly can't blame my tiredness on potty training...as much as I'd like to...because we actually had a fun morning. I know this is only the beginning...but I think she's off to a great start.
The only problem is I feel like my little girl is growing up too fast! Brian said if we can keep her in diapers she won't ever get married and leave. I guess he has a point there. :)
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Jodi the Coward
Yes...I am a coward. I have officially dubbed myself the coward of all mothers. I've suspected this about myself for some time now, but parenting has confirmed and solidified that suspicion. If I am sure I will be unsuccessful at something, I avoid it at all costs. If I'm not quite sure how to get something finished with the least amount of inconvenience to me, I don't attempt it. Some might call this selfishness, pride, or even fear. I call it being a coward.
What has brought this particular topic to my blog? Well, I believe in my last posting I mentioned something to the effect that Culley was ready to be potty trained. But I'm sure I didn't mention that this is one of those mommyhood tasks that I have dreaded since I've dreamed of being a mommy. Oh to skip potty training and middle school! But alas, it is not possible short of Jesus' second coming. So Friday after blogging I was determined that this week was the week. I called all experts, searched high and low for little underwear small enough for Culley's little bottom, and made all the necessary arrangements to purchase the vital bribe candy and I was set and ready to go.
Monday came...we had a scheduled play date so I knew this was not to the be fateful day. As Monday night approached and Tuesday morning came I thought...maybe there was a better way...and of course I came up with a better plan that would be less painful for me. Instead of putting her in her big girl underwear I kept her in her diaper until lunch time. When she was finished with lunch I placed 10 m&m's on her tray. She literally gobbled them up and I sat there thinking this was going to work. When she was finished I got her down and told her that if she went potty on the big girl potty I would give her more (with a huge, goofy smile on my face to indicate how exciting that would be). Here's how the day went...
Nap time:
"Culley, do you want to go potty so you can have some candy?"
"No."
"Well, you can try."
On the potty she sits and sits and then tells me her pee-pees went bye-bye.
Post nap time:
"Culley, do you cant to go potty so you can have some candy?"
"No."
"Well, you need to try."
Again, she sits and then tells me her pee-pees went bye-bye.
Multiple times through the afternoon I get that huge, goofy grin on my face and try to sound as excited as possible when I offer her some candy in exchange for pee-pees in the potty. All afternoon she tells me no.
Bedtime:
"Culley, let's go brush your teeth."
Pointing to her mouth she says, "di...di" (candy)
"You can't have candy unless you go pee-pee on the potty."
With a huge grin on her face she says, "OK!"
I put her on the potty and she goes pee-pee.
Now...I believe I need to rethink this. I'm not dealing with a normal 22 month old child who works for bribes...and I'm not willing to start until I'm sure it's going to work. BUT...unfortunately I think the little lady has me figured out. Coward? Yes...I believe I may just chicken out.
What has brought this particular topic to my blog? Well, I believe in my last posting I mentioned something to the effect that Culley was ready to be potty trained. But I'm sure I didn't mention that this is one of those mommyhood tasks that I have dreaded since I've dreamed of being a mommy. Oh to skip potty training and middle school! But alas, it is not possible short of Jesus' second coming. So Friday after blogging I was determined that this week was the week. I called all experts, searched high and low for little underwear small enough for Culley's little bottom, and made all the necessary arrangements to purchase the vital bribe candy and I was set and ready to go.
Monday came...we had a scheduled play date so I knew this was not to the be fateful day. As Monday night approached and Tuesday morning came I thought...maybe there was a better way...and of course I came up with a better plan that would be less painful for me. Instead of putting her in her big girl underwear I kept her in her diaper until lunch time. When she was finished with lunch I placed 10 m&m's on her tray. She literally gobbled them up and I sat there thinking this was going to work. When she was finished I got her down and told her that if she went potty on the big girl potty I would give her more (with a huge, goofy smile on my face to indicate how exciting that would be). Here's how the day went...
Nap time:
"Culley, do you want to go potty so you can have some candy?"
"No."
"Well, you can try."
On the potty she sits and sits and then tells me her pee-pees went bye-bye.
Post nap time:
"Culley, do you cant to go potty so you can have some candy?"
"No."
"Well, you need to try."
Again, she sits and then tells me her pee-pees went bye-bye.
Multiple times through the afternoon I get that huge, goofy grin on my face and try to sound as excited as possible when I offer her some candy in exchange for pee-pees in the potty. All afternoon she tells me no.
Bedtime:
"Culley, let's go brush your teeth."
Pointing to her mouth she says, "di...di" (candy)
"You can't have candy unless you go pee-pee on the potty."
With a huge grin on her face she says, "OK!"
I put her on the potty and she goes pee-pee.
Now...I believe I need to rethink this. I'm not dealing with a normal 22 month old child who works for bribes...and I'm not willing to start until I'm sure it's going to work. BUT...unfortunately I think the little lady has me figured out. Coward? Yes...I believe I may just chicken out.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Bourbonnais Update
Well, I have found a moment to sit and write. Levi is napping and Culley is sitting beside me with her "nack." I have only the time it takes her to eat her pretzels...or for me to eat them because she keeps feeding them to me. One for her...one for me...one for her...one for me.
So here we are in our new home...our new city. I wish I could say that through the adjustments and the transition I have glided perfectly along with no meltdowns or times of my sin nature winning over my new nature. But alas, I sit before this computer a sinner saved by grace and this season of my life has shown me just how incredibly tied to this world and our culture my default desires are...but with His perfectly completed promises He has shown me how infinitely great His grace is for me and I rest in that...plugging forward and begging Him to renew my mind and desires to be Christ-like...rather than Jodi-like.
On a lighter note...a few updates:
Culley is growing ridiculously fast. I really wish I could freeze her at this age. Watching her grown has been hysterical at times, rewarding at times, and quite honestly quite difficult at times. She loves her baby brother. I've actually turned around to see her holding him...and now I didn't pick him up and put him in her arms. I don't know how it happened and I'm sure I don't want to know. She loves to play with her kitchen set she receved for Christmas...loves to play in my cupboards, loves to watch Elmo, and LOVES to be outside. She is learning "obey your mommy and daddy for this pleases the Lord" and mommy is learning "love is paitent and not self-seeking." She can often be found with a hat on...any hat at all...and always a pair of shoes. Most recently she was spotted with a hat of Levi's on her head and her rain boots (much too big for her) on her feet.
She has her own style and I pray she stays that way.
She loves to help others...right now it's more due to her desire to be with people and not be left out, but I'm praying some day it will be because she sees others' needs and loves others more than herself.
She is ready to be potty trained, but we are waiting until her life has a bit more stability. She already has met new friends and we go to a play group at the grade school once a week. All in all, even with the increase in discipline, the joy of being her mother has increased even more.
Levi...or otherwise known as Ledi in our family...is growing just as fast. Even though he is four months old, his adjusted development age is two months. After completing a short survey of his development in various areas we see that he is actually right on schedule with his adjusted age. He is almost 10 pounds and I am VERY pleased to say he is sleeping through the night. He adores his older sister and I wish you could see his eyes light up when she walks into his line of vision. However, we have had a few challenges. Due to being a preemie, he has two hernias that will need to be fixed surgically. He was to have surgery on Februrary 28, but when they took a CBC, we found that he is anemic...which is common in preemies as well. So, he takes iron twice a day and a multivitamin once a day. His levels are up and as soon as they reach a certin point we will go ahead with his surgery. In spite of all of that, he is full of smiles and LOVES to play in the jungle (see picture).
That's an update in a nutshell...probably a bigger nutshell that some of you would prefer. I pray and hope that each of you chooses to live life intentionally as you bless those around you with the aroma of Christ.
So here we are in our new home...our new city. I wish I could say that through the adjustments and the transition I have glided perfectly along with no meltdowns or times of my sin nature winning over my new nature. But alas, I sit before this computer a sinner saved by grace and this season of my life has shown me just how incredibly tied to this world and our culture my default desires are...but with His perfectly completed promises He has shown me how infinitely great His grace is for me and I rest in that...plugging forward and begging Him to renew my mind and desires to be Christ-like...rather than Jodi-like.
On a lighter note...a few updates:
Culley is growing ridiculously fast. I really wish I could freeze her at this age. Watching her grown has been hysterical at times, rewarding at times, and quite honestly quite difficult at times. She loves her baby brother. I've actually turned around to see her holding him...and now I didn't pick him up and put him in her arms. I don't know how it happened and I'm sure I don't want to know. She loves to play with her kitchen set she receved for Christmas...loves to play in my cupboards, loves to watch Elmo, and LOVES to be outside. She is learning "obey your mommy and daddy for this pleases the Lord" and mommy is learning "love is paitent and not self-seeking." She can often be found with a hat on...any hat at all...and always a pair of shoes. Most recently she was spotted with a hat of Levi's on her head and her rain boots (much too big for her) on her feet.
She has her own style and I pray she stays that way.
She loves to help others...right now it's more due to her desire to be with people and not be left out, but I'm praying some day it will be because she sees others' needs and loves others more than herself.
She is ready to be potty trained, but we are waiting until her life has a bit more stability. She already has met new friends and we go to a play group at the grade school once a week. All in all, even with the increase in discipline, the joy of being her mother has increased even more.
Levi...or otherwise known as Ledi in our family...is growing just as fast. Even though he is four months old, his adjusted development age is two months. After completing a short survey of his development in various areas we see that he is actually right on schedule with his adjusted age. He is almost 10 pounds and I am VERY pleased to say he is sleeping through the night. He adores his older sister and I wish you could see his eyes light up when she walks into his line of vision. However, we have had a few challenges. Due to being a preemie, he has two hernias that will need to be fixed surgically. He was to have surgery on Februrary 28, but when they took a CBC, we found that he is anemic...which is common in preemies as well. So, he takes iron twice a day and a multivitamin once a day. His levels are up and as soon as they reach a certin point we will go ahead with his surgery. In spite of all of that, he is full of smiles and LOVES to play in the jungle (see picture).
That's an update in a nutshell...probably a bigger nutshell that some of you would prefer. I pray and hope that each of you chooses to live life intentionally as you bless those around you with the aroma of Christ.
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