First Night Dry!!

We woke up this morning only to discover that my potty trained son, had a completely dry night!! No kidding. My husband changed him out of  his diaper and commented that it felt pretty dry, so when I went to go pull out the liner (we use cloth diapers by AMP) I discovered it was in fact dry.

I really can't believe this potty training thing was so easy.

One thing he's not doing yet is pulling down/up his gitches. I've tried teaching him but he'd rather walk around with them around his ankles than bother bending over to pull them up. He's never been into undressing himself & isn't as helpful with dressing as I'd like him to be.

Potty Training

I've read up a lot on potty training. When I read the 3-day method I was excited to get started. Only 3 days? That's awesome!! But first I had to figure out if my son was ready. He seemed to have some of the signs down. http://www.babycenter.ca/toddler/pottytraining/whenchildready/ He couldn't yet pull his own pants down, but I was ok  with that.

My in-laws got us a potty over a year ago (http://www.fisher-price.com/en_CA/brands/babygear/products/58894) and Asher had used it a few times then.

From previously trying to train him, I realized he didn't understand when he was peeing or going to pee so that was my first plan. He didn't seem to get it by just leaving him naked, so I put undies on him so that the wet feeling would last longer. It worked!

So, I started doing the 3-day method. Sit him down on the potty, give a treat. If he pees give him another, if he poos give him 2. Well, he did learn. He learned that if he said poopies he would get a chip (chocolate chip). Let's just say day one was a bust. He did manage to go in the potty a couple of times, but it didn't really seem to register.

There were a couple of days we had to scoop poop off the floor & one time *gross part* my dog ate it. Makes me gag just thinking about it, but for the most part it was easier and nicer than trying to wipe up smooshed up poop from his diaper.

Day 1 was October 23, 2012 and I can officially say that today Nov. 3, 2012, my son is potty trained!!!

Without any notice or anything he sat down on his potty and went to the bathroom. He didn't take his undies off (that's next on my list) but he did pee on his potty. And that's all that counts. I'm just happy the only time we have to deal with diapers for now is night time & nap time. And possibly long car trips.

I have to admit it was a lot easier than I thought. As a precaution I think I'll pick up some piddle pads from the dollar store. You never know when an accident will happen in the car.

I'm Pregnant!!

Week 19. So far fairly uneventful. Which some may say is lucky, but as this is #2, I was hoping I'd feel movement much earlier than with my first. Who knows, maybe what I thought was gas (lmao) was baby.

I am what some would call a "hippie" mom. I'm still nursing my first and hope to continue for awhile. I'm really looking forward to seeing sibling bonding during tandem nursing. I know it won't be an easy task but I think I'm up for it.

Here's a picture of the tank top I stamped myself to announce my pregnancy first to my husband than to family members and eventually posted of facebook.

My sister in law saw the top and was so excited that my son was wearing a "Big Brother" top (as in the tv show) she wanted a photo. 

She must've missed the "...in training" on the front and she hadn't seen was the back of the top which had "Only Child Expires March 2013".

Once she finally understood we all had a good laugh. But she also wasn't the first to not really get it right away.

My mother. Oh, my mom. There is no way I can explain her to you. I don't want this post to go on forever. hehe! I sent her a picture (see bottom left).
Here's my convo with her about it.

 She called me after. lol!
My son still doesn't understand. But he's only almost 23 mths old. I think once this little one is ready to start playing, he'll be super excited. He does not really play well on his own. He's always looking for someone to "walk" with him.
I can't wait to meet my new baby!!

Sweet Awakening!

I have woken up to many cute & adorable things from my son. He is now 20 months old and the sweetest little guy you could imagine. He's woken up sad or still tired, I hate those. He's woken up talking, love love love those. He's woken up wanting to go outside or to grandma's.
Today was the first time I woke up with kisses. On the lips. Kiss, kiss, kiss, after kiss. The most wonderful way to wake up. I love this pure & simple way he expresses his love. He doesn't use tongue, just gently touches his lips to mine.
Never did I imagine such unconditional love from another human being. I can't wait to see what tomorrow morning will bring.

Sweet Moments

I'm a firm believer in having a family bed. At first it was my way if getting more sleep when my infant son would wake up at night. Now, after 19 months, I've come to understand how a shared bed has many more benefits.

Tonight, after having some "malk" (my sons pronunciation), he fell asleep. A few moments went by and he chuckled a little, turned, and talked in his sleep. If he'd been in his crib and room, I would've missed it.
It's such a wonderful blessing to be able to share all of his sweet moments.
Sent from my iPhone 🎶

Breastfeeding an 18 Month Old

 My baby is 18 months old. I can't believe how the time has flown. And how little sleep I've actually had. I'm a proud mom who can say my son can read. Only about 8-10 words, but he can still read. Some days I can even get him to do pee pee on his potty, but usually he sits, goes "ssssss" gets off, then pees. It's quite funny, I think. Even though I have to clean it up.
He's also incredibly talkative. He can carry on five minute conversations. Of course, sometimes we can only understand three words. Such a comedian!!
Asher has 10 teeth. Four front top & bottom, & his first set of molars.

This photo on the right, I took after I finished feeding him. I was out of bibs, so I took an apron and put it on him. I made it when I was in high school. I'd asked my mom to bring me white material and this is what she brought. 

I'm happy to report that breastfeeding is still going strong. He loves mamas milk. I still love giving it to him. Well, most of the time. He's a frequent nurser, so it means I can't do a lot of things for long periods. When I'm cleaning, I've gotta take a break quite often to hold and/or nurse him.
Nursing at this age has many benefits still. On top of increased reduction in allergies, it aids in digestion, quenches thirst & hunger, & gives him cuddly time with mom that he needs among other things. Continuing breastfeeding into toddler years has added benefits including "nutrition, comfort, security, for a way to calm down and for reassurance." http://www.llli.org/faq/advantagetoddler.html
Your nursed toddler will have fewer dentist visits than a breastfed one. He will be  more independent. He will be more attached to his mom. He will be more behaved as nursing is an excellent disciplining tool. He will have less problems with his tummy and bowel movements. He will have increased immunity. I could go on for days.
Never in my life did I ever think I would have children. Never did I think about breastfeeding. Then when I did, I only thought it would last 6 months. Six months?!?! Seriously, at 18 months I'm still not ready to let go of the bonding I get from my little guy. If I didn't nurse, I wouldn't feel needed. I hope he goes until I'm ready to quit, which as it stands, won't be for a couple more years.

I AM!!

It's not every day I come across a quote I so truly agree with. Today, I did. 

We are all the Universal Energy that drives everything. 

We...

 become it with conception,

direct it with our lives, 

release it when we die.

More Posts, More Often!!

This post brought to you from the comfort of my living room using a laptop!!! Hooray!!
This weekend, I finally agreed with my husband to get a laptop. Well, technically, I've wanted to get one for quite awhile now. I just knew we couldn't afford such a luxury. Luckily for income tax season, we were able to spring for one. $498 later, here I am.
I'm not ungrateful, but I am still getting used to this keyboard. The shift key on the left & the return key on the right are so far away that I keep hitting a different key.I know I will be used to this in just a little while. Can't wait. LOL!!

Sleep?!?! What's that?

My baby is almost 17 months old. Throughout the course of these 17 months, I think I've only gotten about half the sleep I need. I'm up to about a pot of coffee a day or I can easily gulp two large McD's coffee's in a couple of hours.
Not great for the breast milk, but I don't notice that Asher is affected by it. He is a breast boy, but aren't all?
At the end of the day, even with all the sleep lost, still breastfeeding makes me super happy. It's a time that I get to cuddle with my little guy. I can stroke his cheek, brush my fingers through his hair, tell him stories, even make him laugh. It's so beautiful. I will never regret this time.
In the last few weeks, he's begun kissing. It's the cutest thing ever. I've caught him kissing the floor, eww; the dogs, even ewwer; and even himself on the leg or arm. But my favorite kisses are the ones he gives me during nursing. He releases his latch, moves away from my nipple and gently kisses my breast before re-latching. It makes me all warm and cuddly inside just thinking about it.
Sometimes, instead of kissing, he'll blow raspberries on me. As long as I keep laughing, he'll keep doing it.
Thinking about the day that he will no longer be breastfeeding brings tears to my eyes. But alas, I realize that it must one day come to an end. In a few years...

Pink Method Madness

Having lost quite a but of weight since the beginning of the year (14 lbs to be exact), I did a few preliminary measurements. Wow, I can't believe it!! I've lost a lot of inches too!!
It isn't my measuring time yet though. so that'll have to wait until next week for the final numbers.
I can't wait to go to my workout!!
Later, sexy bitches!!


Sent from my iPhone 🎶

Happy Birthday to Me?! Apparently not...

A little late, but better than not at all? My birthday was a week ago. Not a big one like 30 or 35, but it was my birthday none the less. I understand forgetting, life does get busy, but when you have multiple friends who have birthdays near one another, you expect at the very least a facebook wall post.

Well, apparently, not for this gal. I'm not sure what it means. Do these "friends" not care? Do they even consider me a friend? Maybe, but not a good enough one to throw a line to.

I know what my husband would say, "Stop feeling sorry for yourself!" But, it's hard when you try to remember things that are important to others, and they don't return the feeling.