Two Kyles

It's especially cute when he starts kissing himself at the end.

Artiste.

Rhys painted this picture on my iPad, and when I asked him what it was called he said "Glowglee".

A Conversation With Warren

Our kids have been struggling to fall asleep lately, and I think it's because of the extra daylight we're getting. Their bedrooms are so bright all day long it's like we live on the Sun.

Kyle recently had two super-star naps while we were at friends' houses, and in both cases the rooms had blackout blinds/shades. So I've been talking about getting something like that for a while. Warren wants to shop around at places like Home Depot, Rona and Canadian Tire, but we never have time for that. Plus, he's not exactly the 'install-anything-other-than-a-lightbulb' kind of guy.

Today I was at my wits end, so I took matters into my own hands and called Budget Blinds (we bought solar shades and faux wood blinds from them back in 2009). They are coming tomorrow to see if there is room to put in blackout shades behind the wood shades and to give us an estimate.

Whenever we are getting a job estimated we, as a couple, try to agree on a price. What would be our top-end amount we'd be willing to pay, so that when the estimate comes in there is less arguing...

Amanda: So, how much do you think we would pay for blackout shades, professionally installed, in the boys rooms?

Warren: (holds up some fingers indicating his number).

Amanda: (shakes her head, and holds up HER number, which is higher than his).

Warren: Hmm...I don't know about that.

Amanda: Well, okay then. But let's think of it this way...if we end up NOT getting the shades from them, then what are our options? Especially considering you have...no...installation skills?

Warren: (raises his eyebrows thoughtfully) Garbage bags and duct tape!

Amanda: (slumps her face into her hands and tries not to weep)

Warren: Okay, okay...ELECTRIC tape, because it's black and would match the bags.

Amanda: (looks up at him, lips pouting)

Warren: How about flags? A Heineken flag, or maybe a British Flag?

Amanda: (still speechless)

Warren: I know! Tin Foil!

WTF?

So, after a week of being fully potty trained (meaning he's been pooping and peeing on the potty, and has been telling us when he needs to go, even when we're out) Rhys randomly peed in the living room, right next to me.

Grrrrrr....

Magic

These boys are magic.

Holding Hands

Zoo With Easton

Attempting to include Kyle, so he's not 'The Forgotten Child'

Potty Training Bootcamp: Day #3, Part 2

Rhys woke up from a 3 hour nap dry (so proud!!) and then didn't use the potty until like 5 or something. The afternoon was spent playing with lots of 'drink breaks!!' and creative ways to get him to eat apple slices. Kid has good bladder control (who knew?).

He had ZERO pee accidents today, and he never did poop again despite my force-feeding of apples and snap peas... I SO wanted another opportunity for him to actually go poo on the potty. I will be all over him tomorrow morning on that one. Because when that happens I would feel confident saying he is 95% potty trained. The next 5% will come when I can trust him to tell me every time, and not just when I've asked 1000 times.

Soiled/wet diaper count today: 1 (amazing!)

Potty Training Bootcamp: Day #3, Part 1

Today started off with a lot of promise.

Rhys woke up dry again. And he doesn't even need to go as soon as he wakes up (which is great, because then I know down the road that I don't need to rush to get him as soon as he wakes/stirs.)

Then he kept his undies dry ALL morning. He would nod his head when asked if he needed to go, and would hold it until he was on the potty chair. He was even saying things like 'yucky poo in diaper! Ewww! Goes in potty!' but he still hadn't pooed. He peed about 4 or 5 times in a row on the pot, keeping his undies dry. So proud!

Then we were downstairs and he got quiet and moved away from me...which is a 'poo' sign, but when i asked him he said no. So I scooped him up and there was nothing. Then, about 30 seconds later he moved away again, said no, scooped him and a big poo was coming out in his undies. DAMN IT! Rushed him upstairs to finish, said 'ewww gross your undies got dirty, yuck!' then forced out some positive comments as well...but it was hard. I was so optimistic because he seemed to have aced the peeing part (knock on wood), so I was disappointed.

Now I need to pump him full of fibre so he has another pooing opportunity today... Really want him to start and finish on the potty before the day is done.

Wow. I this really what my life has become?

Ugh.

Potty Training Bootcamp: Day #2, Part #3

Rhys napped for 2.5 hours and woke up dry. This was extremely thrilling. I was full of optimism for the afternoon. I prompted him when he woke to use the potty, but he said he didn't need to go. So I was on him like a hound after that, and then for the fourth time in a row he responded to a prompting and said he had to, and went pee on the potty. FABULOUS.

Then my mom came over and he started to have an accident but then started running to the potty with me hot on his heels. Discouraging, but still an improvement from yesterday. I think he was just too 'in the moment' playing with me.

At this point I was well aware that he hadn't pooped yet today. So I was encouraging 'baby whale' or 'horsey' or whatever animal he was at the time to eat some fibre-full apples. Then he began his tell-tale 'I am pooping' signs by running away from me, telling me not to come near him and hiding. So I scooped him up and sure enough he was starting in his pants. He did this twice in a row...obviously not finishing the first time. Oy. This poo business is a tough nut to crack.

He made me very proud when he peed on the pot before bath and before bed.

Lowlights of the day:

1) he asked to go potty, and then as soon as I got his undies down and his bum on the potty, he stood up suddenly (because he didn't really have to go, he was making a game of it) bashing his skull into my glasses and pushing them into my eye, sending a shooting pain through my brain. I wanted to shout expletives at him and throw him across the room. But instead I had to fight back tears and mumble something encouraging to him about 'maybe next time!'...

2) Kyle screaming my breast the way Rhys used to do right before he quit nursing, and Rhys and warren walk in and in total exasperated frustration I screamed 'I just need some PEACE!!!!'

3) since Kyle was refusing his bedtime nursing I hid in his room to feed him a bottle. My mom came in and said 'well let me feed him' (trying, I guess, to be helpful, because if he's having a bottle I don't need to be the one feeding him), but I just looked at her with evil-death-stare yes and said 'no!'. After the day I'd had I just wanted 10 quiet moments with my baby.

Highlights

1) watching Rhys run around in undies all day, looking at his adorable little boy legs.

2) as exhausting as the CONSTANT playing is, it is a joy listening to him express his imaginative play scenarios...his ideas flow so fast he can barely say it all fast enough.

3) wet/soiled undies count was 5.... Down from yesterday!

Potty Training Bootcamp: Day #2, Part 2

Quick Notes:

The bad...

- peed a HUGE PEE on the dog bed in the living room while I was trying to get him follow me to the kitchen to get something.
- peed a HUGE PEE in his crib while we were playing together.
- peed a HUGE PEE in his bean bag chair while we were watching tv together.
- it's hard to recognize his 'signs' because they happen when he is in the act, not before.
- it is so hard to fake the pride when deep down I am frustrated.
- each new clean pair of undies holds so much promise and gives me hope as I wait for the next 'learning opportunity'

The great...

- after the 200th time of prompting him to tell me when he needs to go, he says 'I want to go potty, then holds it until we get there and pees! It was SO EASY to fuss about it because I was proud to My CORE. did a happy dance, sang songs, hugged him and kissed him and gave him a big treat of smarties and kit kat.
- he did this THREE more times!!! I think he's 'getting it'.

The ugly...

- I stink like pee and sour milk and B.O.
- I feel sorry for myself and feel under appreciated in my life.
- I am scarfing down whatever I can while he naps because Kyle is crying for me right now.

We will see what the afternoon brings...

Potty Training Bootcamp: Day #2, Part 1

Rhys woke up dry!!!! When I made big deal about his dry undies he said 'yah mommy, I said bye-bye diapers.

Like, duh, of course I'm dry.

Oh, and he was awake early at 6:30a. I'm in for a long day. At least it started off well.

Potty Training Bootcamp: Day #1, Part 2

Rhys had a very short nap - 55 minutes. For a kid who often naps 2-4 hours, this was über short, but that was partly my fault. The 'method' I am following says to listen for the child to stir, so you can ask if they need to pee. So the first sign of movement on the monitor and I went into his room. He did not have to pee, but then proclaimed loudly 'it's wake up time!'. Damn it.

But the great news...he was DRY! And then he remained dry for the next several hours. Which was great. Sort of. But I was beginning to feel like I was in a starring contest with his crotch. Looking for the first sign of a dribble. Now I understand why pumping him with fluids is so important...he can't learn to pee on the potty if he rarely has to go. So freezies and Popsicles are an important reward/treat. Also, I found salty snacks (popcorn, chips, popcorn twists) made him thirsty so he'd drink more.

And then of course, Murphy's Law would dictate that as soon as Warren came home and Rhys showed him his dry undies, Rhys started peeing himself while Warren was in the locked bathroom going himself. Grrrrr....

For the remainder of the day I mostly caught him in the act. It was hard to praise him and remain positive when deep down I was disappointed. So I reminded myself that for the past 2.5 years he has just released in his diaper without thinking and needs to learn the signs himself.

I was really proud when he sat on the potty (fairly willingly) at bedtime, and pushed out a really great pee, without wetting his underwear.

He went to bed nice and early, 7:30pm, and when I counted the number of wet/soiled undies to be washed it was 8. Not too shabby for the first day.

Here's to hoping night #1 goes perfectly. I am exhausted.

Cheers!

Potty Training Bootcamp: Day #1, Part 1

For the past few days I've been telling Rhys we are saying goodbye to diapers on the weekend, and today was the day. Gramma Patsy came over at 9am, and we took off his last diaper and tossed it in the trash. Then Rhys threw all his unused pull-ups in the trash, and chose his first pair of undies. We showered him with praise and told him how big he looked in his big boy undies. Then he placed his new 'big boy' flushable wipes beside his potty chair and we were set.

Then phase one of training began: fill him with fluids! He drank apple juice, water and peach juice - a very special treat - out of a special new cup, throughout the morning. Every 5 minutes I would say 'keep your undies dry! Tell mommy when you need to potty!' I watched him carefully and caught him mid-accident 3 times, scooping him up and rushing him to the potty, still praising him. Once I caught a poop in the early stage, and got him to the potty in time to 'finish', giving him HUGE praise. He got a Dora puzzle for that one.

Then later in the morning he was getting grumpy, defiant and wanting to be alone...all of which I think are his 'signs' that he needs to go. Finally got him to admit he needed to potty, and he sat on the potty, emptied his bladder and his undies were still dry! Very exciting. For that one he got 2 gummy frogs, 2 gummy cherries and a vanilla Oreo, and TONS of praise.

Then Naptime rolled around. He said he didn't need to pee before bed, so I didn't force it. Into his crib he went, in dry undies. I watched on the video monitor as he pulled up the 'crib mat' I had placed in there to save his sheet if he had an accident. So much for that 'crutch'.

Now he's sleeping and time will tell if he wakes up in a dry bed.

Another update tonight, and throughout he weekend...

A Letter To Kyle: 4 Months Old

Dear Kyle,

At four months old your are pure sweetness. You are gentle and quietly observant. And when you're NOT quietly observant, you are finding your many different voices; cooing, screeching, blowing spit bubbles and giggling. I'm not sure which is my favorite, but I know screeching is my least favorite.

You have blended into our busy, extended family with ease. You can be passed from mommy to daddy to grandparents to cousins to aunts and uncles and to friends without a notice in the world.

You may not get the endless attention a first born gets, but the guy who is often stealing the show (your big brother, Rhys) is a source of endless entertainment for you. When you smile or laugh at him, or reach out to touch his hand, or start sucking on his nose when he goes in for a kiss...my heart melts just a little.

Your daily activities include laying on your playmat, chilling in your swing, snuggling mommy in the baby bjorn carrier, standing with stiff legs while someone balances you, outings in the carseat, naps in your crib, and just a couple days ago you started sitting in your Bumbo chair. Next on the agenda - the Baby Einstein activity centre! Momma needs things to keep you occupied while she chases Mr.Crazy around.

You nurse 5-6 times a day, with an occasional bottle of formula. You go from one to the other without a care in the world. You spit up a lot, but for some reason I have never put a bib on you. I think it's because you rarely barf on yourself. You almost always barf on the poor sap who is holding you.

Your eyes are a vibrant blue (you always get red-eye in pictures), and your lips are perfectly pink. Your 'hair' is fair.

For the most part, your nighttime sleeps kind of suck, but I'm trying not to dwell on that. On Mother's Day, and the two nights following, you slept from 7pm to 5am (10 hours) straight, and still went back down afterwards for another couple hours. But since then, you've been waking 3 or 4 times at night (eating once or twice). I'm awfully tired.

But despite how much I complain about your nighttime feeds, oddly enough those are my favourite. They are the most peaceful and quiet and relaxing. It's just you and me, in the dark, basking in the glow of my iPad Kindle App.

Until next month...Laters, Baby.

Your Mom xoxx

Not sure if this was taken before or after Rhys poked you in the eye, on purpose, with his finger:

These Bumbo Pics were taken today, at exactly 4 months old:

Rhys Makes A Birdfeeder

Mother's Day, 2012

Treated myself to a new dress from my new favourite store - Anthropology:

Rhys got a 'shark towel' from his Nana, posing here with Gramma Patsy:

JUST as I snapped this pic, Rhys decided that the slide looked like more fun than smiling for a picture:

Date Night @ Farm = DELISH

Kyle's First Poop (In The Bath Tub)

Tonight we were watching Rhys like a hawk in the bath, because it occurred to us that he hadn't pooped yet today...and that's usually when we get 'floaters'. Warren left the room for a second, and I was bathing Kyle on the counter top.

Amanda: Oh, god, oh, god...ahhhh!

Warren: What? What?

Amanda: One of our sons just pooped in the bath, and it wasn't Rhys!

Warren: (comes rushing back as Amanda is lifting Kyle out of the dirty water) Man! Poop, poop, poop. That's all my life is about any more. (he lifts the little bath and starts dumping the dirty water into the toilet).

Rhys: (still in the big tub) I wanna see! I wanna see!

Warren: No, Rhys. It's already gone down the toilet.

It dawned on me later, that maybe Warren wasn't referring to the poopy water, and was actually referring to his LIFE.

I Heart Instagram

I recently started using Instagram on my iPod. I use it as a camera, and not so much as a social network like it's designed to be used. I can think of a few ways to improve it (like having the filter icons actually displaying your current photo, rather than that generic 'tree' image, for example), but so far I love how easy it is to snap cool, artsy, emotive pictures, and share them instantly.

I'm excited to see what Facebook does with it, now that they've purchased it.

What I don't love is that I'm going to end up with a pile load of pics that are low quality, grainy and not really 'printable' because of their square shape. (maybe the Facebook folks can work on that, too).

Bit By The Sunshine Bug

With 25+ degree weather this past weekend, we rushed out to get some patio furniture. Now, it's raining with a chance of flurries in the forcast...Doh!