Friday, January 30, 2009
To my surprise, Jackson did wonderful! He used the restroom at the mall and did not have any accidents. At one point Jackson and I (Garrett was at the table with Monica and Abbey) were waiting to go into the family restroom that has a small toilet for kids, but he said "Jackson go potty Mom," so I just took him into the women's restroom. I was proud of him for being able to wait until we were able to get to the restroom. However, I think he is learning that all restrooms look different and have different types of cool sinks which makes him want to see them all.
Tomorrow morning I get to go with Kristin, my best friend since 2nd grade, (Our Journey, can you tell I just figured out how to add links to my blog?) to her 3D sonogram. I can't wait to see little Payton in 3D! I am so excited about the fact that Kristin is going to have a baby. Once you have kids and your friends don't, you kind of drift apart because your lives are different. You still stay in touch, but it is different. So the fact that Kristin is having a baby makes me crazy happy!! I love it when she calls me to ask pregnancy and baby related questions. Most of my childhood friends don't have kids yet, so I am excited to be with Kristin through this exciting time in her life.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Boys....Much Different than Girls.
This morning I put Garrett down for his morning nap and I got in the shower. I always keep the bathroom door open so that Jackson can go in and out while I am taking a shower and I can keep an eye on him. As I was in the shower today, Jackson walks in with the stool from his bathroom. He puts the stool in front of our toilet, pulls down his pants, and hops on. (Now, let me inform you - he has been using his little training potty and "dropping the kids off at the pool" has been a challenge for him....feel free to google that if you are confused about the meaning) After a few moments, I looked over at him as he is sitting on the toilet and he is "reading" one of my parenting books. Then I hear, "Mom! Jackson poo pooed! Mom, turn that fan on!" So, apparently even though I was worried that Aaron isn't home enough to model male potty skills for Jackson, he is obviously still observing (Aaron of course) and doing as he sees.
This made me excited because he was REALLY successful sitting on the big potty. The big potty would be much easier to clean than his little potty and there are big pottys everywhere. I had planned on buying the little seat for preschoolers that can go on the toilet, but after talking with my mom she informed me that we (my sister and I) just sat on the normal toilet seat.
Before lunch today, Jackson went to use the restroom. He is currently into shutting the door while he is using the restroom, so I just let him have his privacy. I know 100% when he went into the restroom he was dry. I also know that he sat on the toilet (because I look at his feet under the door to see what he is doing....don't laugh at me!) However, when he came out of the restroom, his butt and underwear were wet. Normally if he has an accident, the front of his pants are wet, not the back. I was kind of confused, but I wondered if he didn't scoot back far enough on the seat which caused it to go on his pants.
To put an end to my confusion, the next time he needed to use the restroom I went in with him. I made sure he was scooted back on the seat and I sat close by (too close...). Once he began, I saw that it didn't matter how far back he was on the seat. The urine was squirting right under the toilet seat....where the seat and toilet meet. At first it was just getting his pants wet, but as the pressure increased, it started squirting me!
So, My Dear Mother of 2 Girls - I am glad that the normal toilet seat worked for Sis and I, however, I don't think it is a good option for our house of boys. HA HA!! But I still wonder, even with a little seat, won't it still squirt through the front? We did have to replace the seat on that toilet a few weeks ago, so maybe there isn't a seal like there should be. I don't know! Moms of Boys - HELP! What do I need to buy or do?? Let me know ASAP! I don't want to discourage the big potty, but we can't have urine squirting everywhere!!!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
There isn't enough time in the day....
I have been working on websites for my parent's company www.rosenelectric.net and our irrigation company www.hydrogreenirrigation.com Don't judge Hydro Green's website yet. I am about to redo the whole format. I don't like the links to the side, because some people (my husband....) don't see them over there. It's pretty plain and simple right now....but I am working on it. We bought the domain name and I didn't have a clue what to do next. So, at least there is something.
Garrett is getting into everything so chores that used to take me 5 minutes now take me....well....pretty much all day. The potty training is time consuming just because it is an added task on my part. It was much more convenient when he could just pee in a diaper. He is doing well. He DOES NOT want to even wear a Pull Up for bedtime. He only wants underwear. He stays dry all night, but last night I had to explain to him that he has to go to the bathroom FIRST in the mornings BEFORE coming to Mommy and Daddy's room. When he comes to our room first, he has an accident before making it to the restroom. So, this morning I woke up to his little voice saying "LOOK MOM! JACKSON PEE PEE!" while he was holding the little bucket of pee. Nice huh!? He has his good days and he sometimes has bad moments. It basically depends on his mood. If he is hyper or in a grumpy mood, he tends to have an accident. Other than that, he does great!
The boys got a bubble machine for Christmas from Randy and Dianne, so last night we decided to try it out. We need to get new batteries for it, so it wasn't as powerful and bubbly as I think it is supposed to be. The boys didn't mind though....they loved it!
Before turning it on, Jackson wanted to be at the back of the bathtub since he didn't know what to expect. When I turned it on, he stayed back for a bit, but his tough little brother couldn't get to it fast enough. Look at Jackson holding Garrett's leg back in this picture. He wasn't sure it was safe for Garrett yet....
Getting closer, but using Garrett as his protection -
This probably isn't too safe to have the boys this close to the fire.....Aaron's shirt isn't too appropriate....Jackson doesn't have pants on - BUT, I still thought it was a cute picture of them helping their Daddy.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
PERFECT!
I know we still have a lot more tasks to accomplish(like leaving the house....) and I know at times he is going to regress, but 30 hours (and counting) without an accident is something to be proud of. At least I know he is "ready." When I talked to my mom today I told her that NOW I can see why people say potty training is easy. Now that he wants to do it, it is easy! The first 2 days however, I was literally going insane. I won't lie....I HATED it. I don't know if it is the sticker chart or if it has just started to click, but he's getting it. Today I would find him in the restroom admiring his stickers. :)
Here are a few pictures from today:
Garrett and Jackson having a drink break after their naps -
Outside enjoying the beautiful day - I thought Jackson would for sure have an accident running around outside, but nope.....
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
FANTASTIC!
This picture is him with his chart (before the stickers) and all of his big boy underwear. He loves them, which is a good thing. He doesn't want me to put them away in his drawer, so as of right now he has them in the little basket on the back of his tricycle. He gets very mad at Garrett when Garrett decides to have a underwear party and throw them all around the room.
In the middle of all this, I didn't remember until around 4:00 that Garrett turned 10 months today!!!! Garrett has a new interest in "breaking it down," so here is a video (turn up the volume) of Garrett and Jackson dancing to Britney Spears. (Gosh....TV for Jackson, forgetting my child turned 10 months today, AND Britney Spears....what kind of parent am I?!?! It WASN'T the music video, just the song if that helps at all! Hey, we were excited about the potty!)
I also have to mention Garrett's expanding vocabulary. I am listing them in the order in which they came, so pay close attention to number one! (it wasn't this way for Jackson...Daddy was first....and ball....and doggie.....way later came Bobby, which later turned to Mom)
1. MaMa (this is his most used word and has been for awhile :) When he is mad he just crawls around saying Ma Ma Ma Ma Ma Ma. He also says it at happy times. He basically says it all day. It reminds me of when I was teaching and heard "Mrs. Jordan" all day long. MaMa is much better though. ;)
2. /D/ while quickly making his chin hit his chest (hard to explain) means Dog. Perhaps he is trying to bark with the whole chin thing. ???
3. /D/ without the chin to chest means Daddy
4. Bay-Bay for baby! He said this last night for the first time. He has been interested in our gallery of baby pictures around our house.
He also knows sign language for milk if that counts as vocabulary! (That's the only sign I taught him....)
Wednesday Morning.
So far, so good....but it is only 9:06am.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Update to previous blog.
Kandice, thanks for the timer advice. I think that is a great idea so that Jackson doesn't feel pressure from me asking him to go to the restroom a thousand times. It will be the timer telling him to go, not me. If he doesn't want to wear underwear tomorrow, then I may put him in Pull Ups and do the timer and see where that gets us.
Dear Diary, I need to vent.
Monday morning started off great. Jackson was excited about using the potty. He thought it was neat that his "yellow pee" came with an imaginary key that unlocked the container of M&Ms. Mommy didn't have the power to open the container without the pee pee key. He had a few accidents, but didn't show any signs of frustration. Things were going overall well.
He had only been wearing underwear, but for his afternoon nap I put him in Pull Ups which are still supposed to allow kids to feel the wetness. When he woke up from his nap, he could have cared less that the Pull Ups were wet. To him, it was like a diaper. He is always grouchy after his afternoon nap and this day wasn't any different. He didn't want anything to do with the potty which caused several accidents. After about two (LONG) hours passed, he was back to doing well. He would even occasionally stop playing to use the potty. Going to bed Monday night I still had hope that this may work.
Tuesday morning - he didn't really have an interest in the potty. He wanted to play with his toys and Garrett instead of using the potty. He would avoid me when I asked him if he need to go. He used the potty about 50% of the time, but the other 50% of the time were accidents. With his warning sign/sensation normally comes a little squirt of pee pee (sorry, I don't know a proper way to put that). It got to the point that even when he would hold it long enough to get to the potty, he was still frustrated about his wet underwear from the squirt. Ugh!
After today's nap, it all kind of continue going down hill. As much as I put on a smile for him, I know the both of us are frustrated. For me, it is emotionally draining and from what I hear it shouldn't be like that.
When I look online for tips, I don't find much. From what I have read and heard from others is potty training isn't bad if the child is ready. Well, there isn't anything that is "not to bad" here. Those are definitely not the words I would use. This just tells me that Jackson is not ready. I have read and heard from the pediatrician that most kids are potty trained between the ages of two and three with boys being towards the end of that range. Jackson is only 2 years and almost 4 months. I think I get down because it seems like kids used to be trained earlier, so they say. I wonder though, were they 100% trained? I find that hard to believe, but if it is true, please tell me the secret. When Aaron went to Wal-Mart to buy the Pull Ups, the check out lady asked if we were potty training and how old out child was. When Aaron said 2 1/2 (which he is actually younger than that) she repeated 2 1/2 in a strange voice. Aaron didn't know if she said it that was because she thought it was old or young. I am sure she thought it was old...
One readiness sign that they say to look for that now makes sense to me is that the child needs to be able to sit still for a few minutes. Although I used to think Jackson could do that, I now see what they really mean by that. It should say "Can your child sit still for several minutes doing a BORING activity?" To be successful at the potty, you have to stop, focus, and concentrate on what you are doing. Jackson will do this, but for a BRIEF period of time before he is off running around with his underwear around his ankles. I don't think he is mature enough yet and I feel weird saying that. He is 2, I don't expect him to be mature. But, I think he is still a little too much of a crazy toddler for this.
To put a stop to a long story, we are taking a break. I am okay with Jackson being in the same timeline as the other boys. In the meantime, I am going to buy some books (any good recommendations???) and pack my brain with tips. March 27 is my goal date to start. I think I am going to keep him in the Pull Up though so he can learn to hate feeling wet.
We have a playgroup on Thursday and I am very excited to be around other moms that have 1 and 2 year olds that pee and poop in their diapers. And now that I think about it, all the 2 year olds I know are still in diapers....so maybe I should crawl out of my little dark hole and put a smile on my face. My child is normal.
Pampers you win - The Jordan household is still buying double, but this mom comes with coupons!
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Milestones.
Even when he has shown an interest in the past, he wasn't physically ready to be without a diaper. I don't think he physically felt the "warning feeling" and it would just sneak up on him. :)
Right now he is currently in the phase of wanting to use the potty. Although I didn't plan on it, tonight after dinner I put him in big boy underwear and moved his potty in the living room for "fast access" whenever he felt the urge. From 6:00 - 7:15, he used the potty THREE times and didn't have ANY accidents. He was so funny - I asked him about 1,000 times if he needed to go potty just so he would remember to "watch for signs." He would smile and say "Not yet, Mom!"
It really seemed to me as if the whole concept was making sense to him tonight. So, although I wasn't prepared for this, tomorrow morning we will continue the training. If it works, great....but if not, that is okay too since I wasn't expecting anything until Spring (and that was being hopeful).
The toddler bed is working out great. We haven't had any problems....knock on wood!
Garrett easily adjusted to getting rid of his bottle. I think Garrett gets attached to things more than Jackson ever did, so taking the bottle away worried me. The best advice our pediatrician ever told us was that "Everything is easier to do when they are younger." Taking the bottle away, sleep training, dealing with behavior issues, learning to be respectful, etc. With that in mind, when Garrett started screaming the first time I wouldn't give him his milk in a bottle, that just told me that now is the time to give up the bottle. And so I wouldn't give into the temptation, the bottles went in the trash and he has been fine!
Just like Garrett's weird crawling techniques, I think he is going to show us some weird walking techniques as well. He will occasionally hold on to something and pull up, but what I have seen him do the most of is walk like a bear.
He doesn't like to be behind his little walker thing. When I try to make him stand behind it, he screams and quickly crawls around to the front of the walker to play with the toys. Even though he knows how to stand (holding onto something) for some reason when I put him behind his walker his legs turn into noodles.
I will keep you all posted on the potty training situation. He may wake up in the morning and not want any part of it. We will see....
If you have any potty training secrets, feel free to send them my way. :)
Friday, January 16, 2009
Our Dear 2 Year Old -
Here are some pictures that were taken of Jackson on Tuesday. I don't think these pictures need words, other than pointing out that he is Our Dear TWO YEAR OLD...
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Mommy, WOW! I'm a Big Boy NOW!
When I get a thought it my head, I do it...right then. I am not one to wait for my husband to get home to help me. I got out the drill and did my thing. It was going great until I had to drill into metal that didn't have pre-cut holes. Thinking that Aaron wouldn't be home until after the boys went to bed tonight, I called my Dad and luckily he was in Dallas and would be passing our house on his way home. He came over to help me and as it turned out, Pottery Barn Kids sent us the wrong conversion kit. It works for now, but the front bar is a little short as you can see in one of the pictures below. They are sending us a new one....
So far, So good! He is very excited about his "new" bed. When I put him to bed tonight, he acted as if nothing had changed. I never heard from him and he never tried to get out of bed.
He loves having the quilt on his bed. I tried giving him his blanket tonight and he said "No, Mom." Garrett gave up the bottle this week and Jackson moved out of his crib, I am not ready for Jackson to give up his little green blanket. The little green blanket was made by my Aunt Ruth and I had a little green blanket too made by Aunt Ruth. Me and the boys have a "blanket connection." If it were up to me, they would continue using their blankets when they are married. Tonight I just laid it at the foot of his bed in case he wanted it, and sure enough he had it on when I went to check on him. That a boy!!
Hopefully he will stay in his bed all night and we will not see 2 big brown eyes looking at us in the middle of the night. :)
This is not the best picture, but I had to take a picture of his first night "out of jail."
Dear Mr. Bottle,
Mr. Bottle, you and your whole bottle family have given me satisfaction for the past 9 months of my life, but it is time I say goodbye. If you are still interested in comforting a baby, try calling Suri Cruise (who is older than my big brother)....I think her Mommy will still let you comfort her.
Love,
Garrett
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
My Sister and Ricky's Wedding Pictures
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=2AYsnDFy5cMmEL
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
What's in a name...
Monday, January 12, 2009
Shelly and Justin's Mexico Wedding!
Arriving to the resort and checking out the place -
Heading to the Rehearsal Dinner -
The Family -
Aaron dancing like he knows how! Ugggh, the cigar! The resort had a cigar bar....
Shelly doing what she does best!
Superman Crystal -
The guys waiting for the wedding to start -
Here comes the bride -
Notice the lady in the "unnecessary" bikini in the background near the water. The best man fianlly had to ask her to move so that she wouldn't be in the pictures.