Toilet Talk

We are so ready for Sully's strike against pooping on the potty to be over. So we spend a lot of time in the bathroom. Today, I am visiting the doctor after I suffered a bug bite. Here is my interaction with Doogie...

From the mouth of babes.

Just a little taste of some daily convos with this guy....

"What do you pee out of (as he smiles and giggles)?"

"The clock is in the poop.  Yeah, it is."

"I hit my face on the toilet!" (I don't even want to know how that happens)

Sul: "Hey, do you remember what my butt looks like?"
Me: "Um, is it brown?"
Sul: "Ha, NO ITS GREEN!"

Sul: "Fricken Mommy!"
Me: "Hey!  Dont say that!"
Sul: "Fricken Daddy!"

One night last week he climbed into my bed at 1:30 am.  He leaned over and whispered in my ear, "I like your room.  I like your bed.  I like your hair.  I like your make up.  (Pause)  Do you like my bed?"  To which I whispered, "I like your room.  I like your bed.  I like your clothes."  (Pause)  To which he responded, "WOW!"

"I turned into magic.  Its a guy."

"Does chocolate make me big and strong?"

"Are fruit snacks real food?"

At the WIAA boys state basketball game last friday, "OH!!  Did you hear them say my name?  They did!"  (Talking about the man on the loud speaker, whom did not say is name or anything close to it)

"Dragons have wieners.  All of them do."

 Pay no attention to that dirty glass!

"Does batman poop on the potty?"

"I have poop skids in my pull up."

I underestimated how much we would be talking about poop, pee, wieners and vaginas on a daily basis with a 3 year old.  At least it is entertaining.  This kid cracks me up!  And here I was worried he wouldn't get as much attention with a new baby around.  He sure knows how to get one's attention!

Coming soon, my spring vignette and a kitchen project!  Yes, posts other than those that focus on my kids or pregnancy!

Behavior Modification

The 3's have come in like a lion and are going no where fast.  I was really hoping that Poppy could help us out a bit here, but no such luck.  In order to save what sanity I have left, I was desperate to cut down the amount of whining, tantrums and negotiating I was doing on a daily basis.  Near the end of a particular trying day, I texted my friend Kaiti that I was just not sure how much more 3 year old drama I could handle.  She responded with solutions, which I wasn't expecting.  I was just expecting some fellow mom camaradarie, like "yeah, damn kids are ruling our lives!!"  But actual solutions are much better!

One of the solutions was to try "Bucket Fillers."  I had never heard of this so naturally, she had to explain it to me.  The basic concept is that you fill a bucket (or other container) with objects (balls, papers with compliments, rocks, whatever) when the child exhibits a behavior that is favorable.  Conversely, you remove an object when the child exhibits an unfavorable behavior.  When the "bucket" is full, the child gets a reward.  I had nothing to lose, so we are on day 3 of this.

Here is our bucket (small mason jar) and filler (felt balls).

Why did I decide on a jar with felt balls?  Because I already had them and we needed to start this IMMEDIATELY!!

So far he has a few balls in his jar from peeing on the potty, having a good day at Grandma's house today and listening to his parents.  A few more were added tonight after a very nice dinner helper effort and easy bedtime routine without crying. 

We are trying to get this first jar filled up fairly quickly to get him his reward as to give him more incentive to keep filling up the jar.  His reward is going to the Dollar General (his favorite place ever) and picking out a toy.  The toy can even be above the $5 shelf!!  Exciting!!!

Toddler Town 1, Mama 0

Oh Toddler Town has done it again.  Brought me to my knees.  How can one tiny little human make an adult feel so inadequate?  Parenting in Toddler Town is tough most days.

Now, I know that some people out there would give anything to be in my shoes, living in Toddler Town and expecting another bundle on the way.  I know, I have been there.  Which is why I continue to have an internal struggle between posting whiny parenting posts or only posting the positive parenting posts.  But even though I am so grateful for my blessings and sensitive to others who dream of the same fate for themselves, I try to remember that that does not make parenting any easier some days.  It is not all daisys and butterflies everyday.  Parenting a child is tough...and parenting a toddler it tougher.  And today was tough.  So this is a whiny parenting post, you were warned.

Exactly what set off the most recent round of toddler meltdowns is insignificant.  What is significant is the fact that my toddler is contrary to the nth degree.  He is so contrary that even when I get him what he just asked for 3 seconds prior, he suddenly does not want it and is utterly offended by my offering.  So contrary that he screams "NO" in my face two seconds after I tell him that it is not ok to scream in your mother's face while in the grocery store, just to see what I will do about it.

My toddler does not just observe life, he does not just live life, he feels life.  His emotions are so strong, sometimes I wonder if he is the pregnant one with out of control hormones.  He feels all his emotions to the nth degree.  Whether it is joy, anger, fear, happiness, sadness, love...they are all equal and all consuming.  Every cell in his body feels his emotions.  Sometimes I can't help but feel a bit bad for him.  Because he gets that from me.  Come to think of it, he gets most of his undesirable qualities from me, lucky him.  I know what he is in for.  It took years for me to calm my feelings enough so that they did not consume me and eat me from the inside out.  But it can be done.

And of course, like any toddler, he is trying to do everything "by myself" and exert his independence. He is testing his boundries...and pushing my buttons daily.

And sometimes, Mama just snaps.  And when Mama snaps, it is not pretty.  There may or may not be foot stomping and yelling and forced time outs.  There may or may not be banging of dishwasher trays and doors.  There may or may not be cabinet slamming while putting dishes away.  The dog may or may not be scared to leave her kennel.

But boy is it effective.  Some one was an angel the rest of the night.  Don't worry, we made up with me saying, "I love you" and him saying, "Lets be happy.  I am happy now."  And M&Ms.  M&Ms always help.

But we are ok.  We survived another day.  And we will continue to do so.

Tales from Toddler Town

Toddler Town has a special set of rules and regulations that I am still getting used to.  But there is certainly punishments and penalties for violating the laws.  Usually the punishment is in the form of a meltdown, a fall to pieces, a tension tantrum, a small pointer finger pointing in the wrong direction with a stern "stop it, no funny" to accompany it.

Of course these rules, regulations and laws are subject to change at anytime, day, minute or second.  You have to be on your toes if you are going to venture into Toddler Town.

For instance, today in Toddler Town, it is illegal to cut grilled cheese sandwiches in half and they must be eaten from the center.  They also need a side of ketchup that cannot be used.  See below.

On Sunday in Toddler Town, there was some coup activity.  No lie, it was the day I was dreading for months now.  This involved an overthrow of the previous sleeping arrangement that we were all so comfortable with for so long.  That's right, there was a climb out of the crib attempt.  The hubs and I did not feel comfortable chancing putting him back into the crib so we transitioned him to the big boy bed.  

It only took about 14 trips back up to his room to place him back into bed each time we saw him purposefully flip his little body out of bed (we were glued to our video baby monitor).  But he did fall asleep and slept all night until 6:00 this morning.  Nap time today was interesting.  I went in there about 10 times but he was relentless so I laid down next to him and he was sleeping in about 45 seconds.  He didn't even wake up when I got up and crept out of his room.  I also took a nap at the same time.  By the time realized he was up, he had been busy.  He had removed his pants and diaper, turned the light on and took the humidifier apart.  When I walked in, he says "I poopy."  You can imagine my panic and my mad search to make sure he did not drop a deuce on the floor and then stash it somewhere.  Luckily, there was no trace of such activity.  Phew.  We will see how tonight goes...

 Positive reinforcement for sleeping in the big boy bed (not bribery).

 He ate them one by one as fast as he could just in case I might change my mind and take them away.

 Then he had so much energy, he composed a delightful (loud) little number just for his Mama.

 No worries, I trimmed that hockey hair back to acceptable levels tonight during his bath this evening.

Happy Monday from Toddler Town!!

Coloring contest

I think I would like to enter an adult coloring contest.  I am not kidding.  I think I would have it in the bag.  So if any of you know of any, please let me know!

Of course, the coloring contest would need to include toddlers dictating what colors you are allowed to use and the duration that you are able to use them.  The toddler is also allowed to contribute to the picture in any way possible.

Some of my masterpieces:

If you think these are sub-par, I challenge you to a coloring contest with a toddler around.

Of course, if extra points are given for freestyle, the hubs would certainly trump me...

/Sometimes you are allowed some peace to finish and you are so proud.  But then you look over and see your little dictator dunking his Lightning McQueen car into your coffee and licking it off.