It's Gobbles Time!: poop

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Tuesday, March 4, 2014

For Love and Potty Training

Happy Valentine's day. from my butt.

Valentine's Day and potty words. Not two things one would usually want to use in the same story, but for our little family, it just worked out this way. The Lobster has shown interest in the potty at home for a long time and had some at school before it quickly faded. I decided that we'd try the three day method on her while we were cooped up for a long period to see if she'd take an interest in going full time and making life easier for us.

So, with an impending blizzard the night before Valentine's eve, hubs staying in a hotel by work for two nights, and me working at home with two kids who were already done with being at home, I decided it was time. We had basically four whole days to do some hard core potty training (or, as Gobbles referred to it, Potty Un-training, since we were essentially just going to let the Lobster loose in underpants without a safety net).

We began our little Valentine's Day break on a Tuesday night, prior to the last day of school before the storm and anxious to get the kids' valentine's delivered on time to the class parties that fell on Friday so they would not be attending. The Lobster helped out by scribbling on a few "Minnie Mouse tickets" as she called them. Gobbles took everything very seriously from carefully selecting
his Planes cards to choosing which friends get which card and bonus tattoo. Of course, after he signed his name about 5 times he was over it, but I helped him push through and sign the remaining 20 or so cards without too much complaining. He even wanted to write one friend's name that he knew how to spell, so I let him have at it. After the kids went to bed I finished attaching candy and assembling the tattoos in the little slots.

Checking this list is pretty easy when it's upside down!

Look Mom, I'm even writing teeny tiny to fit my name in the box!

Wine was the only cure for assembly

Thursday morning, try to the meteorologists' predictions, the blizzard had arrived. The Lobster selected her first pair of underpants and we were ready to start our day. By the time breakfast was over and the kids were settled in front of the TV so I could get some work done, we had gone through three pairs of pants, a roll of paper towels, and many disinfectant wipes. At least this was all on hardwood, for now. With each "accident" the Lobster got a little better at pointing out when she had to go (but was still wet each time).

That afternoon, when the dogs needed to be excused, I double checked with my girl if she had to go. Of course the answer was no, so I left her and Gobbles in the cozy nook they'd made of pillows and blankets and took the pups out. I returned to a horrendous smell. My big girl, who typically would go poopy on the potty regardless of wearing underpants or a pullup, had gone right there, in her underpants, while sitting on a couch pillow. After I cleaned her up and threw out the offending pair of panties (no way was I attempting to clean them!), I called my mom for advice. She told me that instead of having the Lobster have to go all the way to the bathroom each time, bring the potty into the room.

The trick seemed to work, and the Lobster was able to make it to the potty on her own and, by the time the weekend was up, was going without the need to change her pants each time! Success! Or so I thought. She got to school Monday and all was completely erased, because she didn't once ask the teachers to go. I suppose I can wait for her to catch up at school, she's still not old enough for the room they actually do the training in, and it's a lot for the teachers to take 5 other kids along every time the Lobster needs to go. On the weekends since her training immersion, the Lobster has only gotten better. Even in pullups she wakes up dry and asks to go potty, holding it until she gets there. She's even been going in public, holding it all the way until we find a bathroom. So, we'll stay in the habit of going at home and as soon as she switches classrooms (hopefully in June), she'll be ready for full time underpants!

I am the potty QUEEN!

Well at least I have pants on now...

Sometimes it's the only way I can get work done. And no, she's not wearing a pullup in this pic.
Those are the risks I have to take sometimes!

Did mommy mention there was a treadmill delivered right before the snow came?
it sat in the hall for 3 days while Daddy was away. it was my motivation to potty!

Now that the potty talk is out of the way, on to more holiday celebrating. With hubs knowing he'd be away for the two nights leading up to Valentine's day, he managed to get us flowers and chocolates on the Tuesday prior, and although I admired my flowers, I held the kids off from opening their cards and eating their chocolate until Friday. Then of course, when Valentine's Day arrived, it was all chocolate, all the time!

Each kid with the dog that matches their personality

Happy love day!

Oh I just LOVE getting my picture taken!

Really, we could let that camera roll all day!

Alright, now i'm getting antsy!

It was a very special Valentine's Day for us because my sister was announcing her pregnancy to the world, and I could start to talk openly about it with the kids. Gobbles of course wants her to have a boy, named after his best friend at school. The Lobster wants a girl, to be named, Lobster. My little narcissist. Regardless of the sex or name, we are so so excited to meet this kid!

Waahhh. I won't be the baby anymore!

Between working and shoveling the snow we also managed to make some chocolate covered strawberries for hubs and a few extras to bring to my sister and brother-in-law, who we were visiting later that night. The Lobster of course stole spoonfuls of sprinkles in between decorating the strawberries, but she did manage to get a few made with love. After the kids were bored with it I finished up and made a few clean ones since it wasn't just Daddy who was going to be eating them. The kids each got to sample one and of course were very proud of their own work.

So where are the goodies?

mmm. testing the strawberries, good to go!

First we melt the chips - don't touch the stove Lobster!

Then we dip the strawberries and spoon the sprinkles! Yum

You got it Lobster, GOOD JOB!

hey wait! get that spoon out of your mouth!

Wahhh! Mommy yelled at me for tainting half the strawberries.
I'm going to cover my eyes with my sprinkle-dyed hands!

MMM! well worth the effort!

ok, i'm better! bring on the chocolate!!

Next, it was time to make cards for Daddy. The lobster was just thrilled that I let her use markers but Gobbles got right down to work asking me to spell out the words he wanted to put on the card. It amazes me that he can write most of his letters without help, I can't believe how much he knows.

Daddy will be so proud of me!

Me too! I didn't even color my hands yet!

Sure, I wrote I love you NO Daddy. but it's just because no is the only
word I can spell other than my name, so I wanted to show you I could do it - I
didn't think about the context!

Ta-da! Happy Day.

Finally, we were off to my sister's for some pizza and Vday antics since hubs was still working. The lobster dressed up in her finest hearts and off we went. The kids were thrilled to be spoiled by their aunt and uncle with little treasures and, of course, more candy. They got their very first Pez dispensers, and just like their Daddy, fell in love with the candy. I think they gobbled it all up within the first few days (with some help from Dad!).

Sweater dress Friday!

Thank you, Aunt T!

I love you and this nifty bag to hold all my stuff!

Let's get these cars across the bridge!

Pez is good any time of day!

Seriously, get in mah bellay!

The Valentine's celebrations continued through the weekend when we met up with two of the kids' favorite school friends at Iron Hill Brewery. I had been discussing the Shokolad Stout release with their mother, and we decided we needed some chocolate beers, so we rounded up the kids and set a date for Sunday lunch. Gobbles enjoyed his "first date" with his gal pal, D, and the Lobster could not stop talking about how cool it was to see her bff K at the restaurant! The next day at school, the girls were thrilled to chat about how they shared chicken fingers and ice cream, and Gobbles asked to go back to preschool so he could hang out with D more.

Look Mommy! It's K!

Mommy was a little disheveled leaving so she didn't bring any toys. Can I see?

Cheese!

We'll have the mac and cheese please!

Man this chicken is good!

ya want some?

A selfie with my girl!

yes - ice cream time!

I promise I'll clean my plate!

What a fun date! thanks for coming!

Really? After all that I have to hold the Lobster's hand?

All in all, it was a weekend of love, family, friends, and food. All that was missing was hubs! But that's just February at his work, and it's over now - time for more family fun now that it's March!

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

18 Months!!

Dear Lil Lobster Roll,

Wow. You are a year and a half old already, I cannot believe how the days are flying by and how much you are growing. There are times when I pick you up eager to snuggle with my little baby and then you speak and I am reminded that you are no longer that, not in the least. You seem like you are 18 months going on 18 years with some of the looks you give, seemingly saying How DARE you tell me No! You have your own mind, and when it is made up, watch out, because you want what you want and there is no stopping you. You have become the tiniest version of me, just as my mother wished upon my teenage self oh so many times.

You are still my wee munchkin (21 lbs 13 oz, 31.5" tall; 25 percentile for weight, 65th for height) but are becoming more articulate with each passing week. Yes, your words, I'm amazed at the speech that squeaks out of your tiny mouth. . I have lost count at exactly how many words you say, because you repeat everything you hear. The only thing you can't seem to make clear is "milk", which you call note. You call us by name, mommy, daddy, no-no, cooli, and foonsie bear. You point out your body parts (as well as ours and the dogs), always starting with nose then moving to eyes, ears, hair, mouth, foot, knee. You're very inquisitive, asking Where'd he go? if someone leaves the room or we're looking for something.

You have a tendency to wake up early and when you do, there's no coming to our bed to sleep. No, you get into our bed no matter if the sun is up or not, grab the remote and hand it to us Mouse! you exclaim, wanting Mickey. If we're sick of that it's on to Pat pat like Rocket in Little Einsteins (you LOVE screaming blast off!). And finally, if it's not a Disney day, we'll watch Why, or Super Why, and you'll try to sing along the best you can with the ABCs.

Little girl, you are in such a rush to grow up, to be three and a half just like your brother, that you have to do everything he does. Including go potty. Now, I'm not going to say you are potty trained, per se, because there aren't even pull-ups small enough for your tiny tush, but you go on the potty more often than not, both pee and/or poop, and giving yourself the greatest round of applause as you go. We're not in a rush to get you into underpants just yet, because school is not ready for you. Your teacher told me that when she has the ratio she can take you down the hall to the potty, but since there's none in the classroom, it's not all the time. She said if you aren't able to make it to the potty, you still demand to be changed immediately, not wanting to sit around in a wet diaper, ever the diva.

Speaking of school, the baby genius, as your teachers affectionately refer to you, is giving them a run for their money. Having just moved into the young toddler room, the smallest child in the class, you have no problem beating up on the bigger kids and attempting to bite them. Your teacher said that when you talk to your friends they don't always listen, so you get frustrated with them. She told me that really, you belong upstairs, which is still two classes away - a room your brother didn't enter until two and a half. Hopefully before then you can learn to hold your temper more and communicate with your words more. I know Gobbles would appreciate that since he seems to be the victim of your physical altercations at home. You are getting very good though at apologizing Sossy! and following up with gentle touches Niiiiice (sounding like Borat of course). You've also started telling the dogs if they're bothering you not nice!, so now all you need to do is take some of your own advice, or use that same phrase with the kids at school and you'll be all set.

Despite being trouble sometimes, when you're not asking to be carried up pleeeease!, you are the happiest child on the planet. You are so affectionate with your hugs and kisses and are quite the little jokester making faces at dinner to get Gobbles to laugh, tickling everybody, and even running away and cracking up as you "hide". You still have your Daddy wrapped around your little finger, calling Daddy-oh! when you need him and insisting that you show him an outfit that you deem pretty! Daddy! You still have his taste in food, preferring barbecue sauce to ketchup and chowing down on corn right off the cob.

You are so close with your brother, I hope it will always be like this. He loves to go in and wake you up from nap, and he is the first person you ask for when you get up in the morning. If you happen to be in the car somewhere without him, you point to his seat with a worried look No-no! willing him to return. You will sit and watch your shows with him on the couch just sucking your thumb and leaning against him, your best buddy.

And with me, Little Lobster Roll, I just cannot get enough of your hugs, kisses, shout outs, snuggles, even mischievous slaps on the face. Those slaps are usually followed by a perplexed look wondering what I'll do next and I love to see the wheels turning in your head of when you should stop testing me and start rubbing my face going hiii mommmy knowing I can't resist your cuteness. I love am so proud of you for how much you have grown in just 18 short months and for the little spitfire personality you have, knowing there is never a dull moment with my wonderful and adorable little girl.

I love you so much Little Lobster Roll.

Love,
Mommy