Potty Training

I've completed the 3 Day Potty Training program.  Day 2 seemed to be going well, she woke up dry from her name, went pee on the potty, and managed to poop on potty.  Day 3 didn't go so well... she woke up dry but then had accidents and pooped in her pants while carrying on with her day?!  When it's all said and done, she never told me "mommy, I need to go potty" once during the 3 days.

By end of day 3, I was becoming frustrated... I put everything I had into this program, I followed it to a tee, reading, and re-reading the book... I had to take a step back and realize Noa was also part of the equation.

3 Day Potty Training focuses on the child learning their own body signals.  The biggest point is to remind your child to keep their panties dry, and trusting your child to tell you when they have to go potty.   The method is not about asking a child if they have to go potty, going to the toilet on timed intervals, or sitting on the toilet and "trying" to go.  Purchase of the eBook includes mentoring by the founder, Lora Jensen.  I did contact her and she was responsive, even on her day off.

 

Recap of Potty Training: Day 1

Day 1 was full of accidents but she did manage to finish peeing on the potty at least once in the evening.  We kept ourselves busy with riding her bike in the house, playing with blocks, games, crayons etc...   It was hard to go to sleep without her cup but I didn't give in to her crying, in fact, I hid those nighttime cups.  She wet her bed and then came into my bed to sleep the rest of the night.  

This morning, she woke up dry and then peed on the potty.  Day 2 begins.  

I sure hope this process works... I can't afford to sit home and eat for 3 days!  I'm putting everything I have into it and I'm standing firm on not going back to diapers.

It's Potty Training Time!

Noa hides to poop and  afterwards she takes off her diaper, wherever that may be, and hands me the dirty diaper!  I have a friend that has used 3 Day Potty Training, by Lora Jenson, with success!  Yesterday, I went and bought lots of panties, prizes, pee-pads for the bed etc... I was so excited I began last night, according to the book, mistake number one!!!  Today, is truly day 1.  I will need to exercise my patience and positive words... wish us luck!

Www.3daypottytraining.com

Lice

A couple of weeks ago I pulled a bug out of Noa's hair, put it on tape and lost it!  I didn't

see any nits so even though I felt it had to be lice... I moved on.  Today, I bathed her and when I was doing her hair I found nits...  they are so hard to see but it's lice for sure.  Anyone itchy?! Lol

I had no idea you had to use vinegar and oil in addition to the special shampoo.  The vinegar loosens their sticky glue and the oil bath suffocates them... so stinking gross!

Childhood Memories

The first candy Noa ever had was M&Ms ... she recently discovered Hershey's "chocolate bar", her new favorite!  A student brought me one so I set it aside to bring home to Noa, doing so reminded me of how my dad used to come home with Hostess lemon pies or Nestle Crunch bars for me... to think I'm now bringing home treats to my daughter was my own special moment.  Certainly would have been nice to have my dad around.

Room Decor

I couldn't resist this...

Moorpark Underwood Farm

Noa and I have season passes to a farm in Moorpark.  It's a super cool farm that's only about a half hour away.  The farm has your typical farm animals, an animal show, petting zoo, big play area with a sandbox and you can pick your own produce... all for $6!  It's cheap entertainment, it gets us out and Noa loves it!  

This weekend we went with friends and once Noa saw her friend want to ride the pony, she wanted to ride too!  

Noa and Marshmallow, the pony:

Happy Halloween 2013

This Haloween was so much fun... we practiced trick-or-treating at grandma's bedroom door a couple days before and it certainly didn't take long for her to catch on!  Hearing her say, "tricker treat" in her cute 2 year old little way was the best thing ever, I just love listening to her use language. 

We were given a ghost mask at Farmers Market the weekend before Halloween and I put it on and went through the house making scary ghost sounds and it really scared Noa, she started crying.

Halloween night we had dinner at YaYa's with grandma, Jean and Jeanie. Noa was Minnie Mouse and we went "tricker" treating in the Historic District.  There were lots of kids and lots to see... Noa walked around saying "spooky."  

DNA: Part Lizard?

Noa's fingers and toes having been peeling for a week... Kaiser's nurse suggested I email the doctor a picture so I'm waiting for a response, at least she's not picking at it.

Dr. Browne called and said this was nothing to worry about and should be cleared up within 2 weeks. I'm surprised the email/photo was so effective, I expected the standard "we can't make a diagnosis without seeing her."  All is good!

Do I Have A Daddy?

I ordered the book, I Felt You Flutter In My Heart, written and created by Choice Moms and Choice Kids.  I previewed the book at a recent Choice Moms event and I figured it was something I should have in our library.

The book can be previewed and ordered on www.blurb.com

S-P-O-I-L-E-D!!!

Noa is so spoiled by Grandma... breakfast in bed this morning - on the menu: "cakes" (pancakes) ... yummers! 

Earache

Noa woke up crying at 5:15 a.m.  Last night, she had a runny nose but this morning she said, "me ear" so I knew I had to take her to Immediate Care.  Luckily it was early enough to get there before they opened, we were the first to be seen. The doctor said her eardrum was red and puffy, not moving as it should... a result of lying in bed with the runny nose.  End result, upper respiratory virus.  We got a prescription and we were on our way.  I've been giving her medicine for the runny nose and all is good.

She did such a good job at the doctors office.  As soon as we went in back she said, "stickers!"  She wouldn't step on scale but she let nurse take her temp. and put oxygen sensor on her finger.  The doctor looked in her nose, mouth, and ears.  She definitely deserved the Dora stickers, and on our way out, she stepped on the scale and weighed 33 lbs.

Just a few notes...

I know my memory will fade so I want to jot down a few things ... Noa, my little monkey, you enjoy watching Dora the Explorer - over and over again.  Your favorite episode is where babies are stuck in a run-away stroller and Dora has to save them from the gooey geyser.  You are so passionate about the babies going towards the geyser, which ends up spewing bubbles!

Noa, you whine.  You whine a lot. 

You love M&Ms, so much that grandma just bought an entire case of them.  I only give you a few but grandma gives you way too many at once!  Using your 'big-girl voice' you say to grandma, "candy please" and you get M&Ms, which you put in a bowl.  If they spill, which they do, you panic and say, "oh no!"

You love to sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and the ABC song.  You count, "1, 2, 6, 9." 

You aren't showing much of an interest in potty training but that's okay... I'm not going to push it.  I do hope you are potty-trained by 2 1/2 though... if not, you aren't able to go to Our Redeemer preschool, my wish is that you begin PreK in January, 2014. 

You love to dance and you encourage demand everyone dance with you... it's so cute.  I hope you sing and dance your heart away, for the rest of your life! 

You love go-gurt (yogurt in a tube), you eat one every night before bed and first thing in the morning.

You no longer sleep with your "puppy" (light-up, plastic dog) but you still sleep with your "kiki" which is a little pink and white blanket with a dogs face in the middle of it!

I love you baby.  I love you more than you know! 

Choice Mom Gathering

I attended a Choice Moms gathering in Santa Monica... it was a small gathering of about 15 women who were all at various stages: thinking, trying, and being.  It was nice to be able to meet like-minded women for discussion... particularly about the inevitable 'daddy question' - I didn't realize it was weighing so heavily on my mind until I began to cry.
The drive home allowed me ample time to process my thoughts... here's what I took from the night:

*Noa can create a flower (in lieu of a lopsided family tree) to acknowledge the important people in her life, past and present.  Thank you, Mikki, for this suggestion.


Sample taken from www.choicemoms.org

*It's not too early to read books to Noa about the many types of families... luckily she loves books!

*Psychologists recommend parents affirm their child's feelings about 'daddy' ... children need to be heard, and their feelings aren't in any way soothed by having them explained away.  We need to think less about "fixing" our child's grief and more about showing an appreciation for their feelings.

*Not only will Noa have 'daddy' questions, but other kids will have questions too... something I hadn't even thought of. 

No more dog and pony show for this mamma... I quit!

Even after switching to private swim lessons, with me in the pool, Noa was being ridiculous... I can deal with a few tears here and there but today was the last straw.  She flat-out refused to get in the pool.  I just don't have the energy to put a dog and pony show on to get her in the pool.

I completely felt like a parent who tells the teacher, "she reads at home, I don't know why she's not reading in class."  Anyway, I learned a long time ago that you can't "make" a kid do anything.  Oh well, I'm sure this won't be the last time she'll refuse to do something.

Choc. pudding... so yummy!

"Swim Lesson is Over"

I signed Noa up for swim lessons during the summer.  The first day she cried the entire time but the instructor, Melanie, said it was normal.  On the second day, Noa started crying as soon as we pulled up to Melanie's house... I knew it didn't look good.  Noa screamed and cried until she puked in the pool and Melanie, said "the lesson is over."  I was pissed off.  I was not pissed off at Melanie, I was pissed at Noa because normally she cries when she has to get out of the pool! 

Diarrhea and Destruction!

Noa's had diarrhea all weekend.  Friday she broke the screen to grandma's laptop, and today she broke the glass to the kitchen table.  I realize she doesn't understand the value of things, however, she knew she shouldn't have slammed the toy turtle on the table.  She picked the turtle up, raised her hand over her head, paused and looked directly at me (for a reaction), and BAM the turtle shatters the glass!  She didn't intend to break the glass but she knew it was wrong.  I was p'd. 

SpongeBob is so yesterday!

Noa still watches her SpongeBob DVDs but she's now in to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  She says, "K" for Mickey - "Donald" - "Pluto" - and "Oh Toodles."  She watches, listens, and dances along!  She recognizes SpongeBob and Mickey Mouse outside of the t.v. - I was surprised when we were upstairs in the mall and recognized the downstairs Disney store! 

For some, SpongeBob is controversial, and parents don't allow their children to watch it... I'm not exactly sure what the controversy is even over, I've never cared enough to worry about it... though I will admit Noa watches WAY too much t.v.