Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Monday, October 8, 2012
"I'm Going to Halloween!!!"
Ah, October. The magical month for children of all ages. It's time for Halloween and my Little Man is VERY excited about the holiday. Only one issue: he thinks Halloween is something we are going to. He keeps saying "I'm going to Halloween!"
He definitely understands that you dress up in costume. And he gets the concept of saying "trick or treat" to get candy. In fact, he tried to do that earlier today. It didn't work. But the fact that Halloween is October 31st and is a day and not a place is not something he understands.
We went pumpkin picking this past weekend and he cannot wait to "decorate" them. I was planning a traditional carving for two of the three we picked up, and the smaller one can be painted by Little Man (if I am feeling brave). Maybe sparkles? Do boys do sparkles? And we decorated the outside of our house. I'm pretty excited about that, since this is the first time I've had lights out. It was really fun decorating. I think my husband would have liked to have gone all out, but it was a good first try.
Here are some pics from this weekend's activities.
In other October news, my father turned 70 on the 2nd. Due to my mom's health, it was very low key. My husband cooked filet mignon and asparagus. I made twice baked potatoes. And we got an ice cream cake for dessert. Sadly the disconnect in my family makes this milestone birthday quite bittersweet. A few years ago, things would have been different. A party perhaps? At least something more, that my mom could have been a part of. But my parents and sibling are not in touch with extended family due to a variety of reasons. It's quite sad. I try my best to keep in touch, but it isn't always easy when I live with my nuclear family and have to always go to them, as they cannot come to me. But it is what it is and hopefully things will change for the better soon.
I'm going to do my best to enjoy October. It's always a favorite month of mine. If weather cooperates, we'll see a friend of mine and her husband at the Bronx Zoo next weekend. Always a favorite for Little Man—he LOVES the animals.
He definitely understands that you dress up in costume. And he gets the concept of saying "trick or treat" to get candy. In fact, he tried to do that earlier today. It didn't work. But the fact that Halloween is October 31st and is a day and not a place is not something he understands.
We went pumpkin picking this past weekend and he cannot wait to "decorate" them. I was planning a traditional carving for two of the three we picked up, and the smaller one can be painted by Little Man (if I am feeling brave). Maybe sparkles? Do boys do sparkles? And we decorated the outside of our house. I'm pretty excited about that, since this is the first time I've had lights out. It was really fun decorating. I think my husband would have liked to have gone all out, but it was a good first try.
Here are some pics from this weekend's activities.
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| The chair by our front door |
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| Blurry iPhone Pic of the front porch |
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| Little Man |
I'm going to do my best to enjoy October. It's always a favorite month of mine. If weather cooperates, we'll see a friend of mine and her husband at the Bronx Zoo next weekend. Always a favorite for Little Man—he LOVES the animals.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Feed Me, Seymour...
I have a big confession.
I feed my son.
I am weak and haven't just said to him "if you don't feed yourself you just won't eat."
Why??????
Part of it is that I don't want to deal with the crying and whining and whatever tantrum he may throw. And part of it is that I don't want him to be hungry—which is ridiculous because he is in the 84th percentile for weight and is fine. I know I have to bite the bullet here. He is potentially the only three-year-old I know of who does not regularly feed himself. And he CAN! He just WON'T.
Sigh.
And there has been a poop backtrack with potty training. He flat out refuses to poop in the potty and prefers a diaper or pull-up. Pee backtrack too, but he is more amenable to peeing than pooping. I guess it's more scary to poop in the potty. I'm not rushing things... even though he is 37 months... not rushing them yet. But I guess eventually I'll have to press the issue.
I just want him to be more able to do for himself. I am hoping I'll find a new job before unemployment runs out (I'd better) and he'll be in daycare full-time and they won't do for him like I do and he just SHOULD be able to now.
No more, Audrey 2. No more.
I feed my son.
I am weak and haven't just said to him "if you don't feed yourself you just won't eat."
Why??????
Part of it is that I don't want to deal with the crying and whining and whatever tantrum he may throw. And part of it is that I don't want him to be hungry—which is ridiculous because he is in the 84th percentile for weight and is fine. I know I have to bite the bullet here. He is potentially the only three-year-old I know of who does not regularly feed himself. And he CAN! He just WON'T.
Sigh.
And there has been a poop backtrack with potty training. He flat out refuses to poop in the potty and prefers a diaper or pull-up. Pee backtrack too, but he is more amenable to peeing than pooping. I guess it's more scary to poop in the potty. I'm not rushing things... even though he is 37 months... not rushing them yet. But I guess eventually I'll have to press the issue.
I just want him to be more able to do for himself. I am hoping I'll find a new job before unemployment runs out (I'd better) and he'll be in daycare full-time and they won't do for him like I do and he just SHOULD be able to now.
No more, Audrey 2. No more.
Friday, September 7, 2012
The POTTY
My son will be 37 months next week, and I usually do not think in terms of months now, but it's relevant to this topic, and he is NOT potty trained. There, I said it. My 3-year-old son wears size 6 Huggies Little Movers and Overnites. He will pee on the potty if I put him there, but he has only told me and my husband twice that he has to go BEFORE he actually goes. As for poop... well he definitely knows he has to go, but he refuses to go in the toilet and insists for his diaper.
I know you cannot force this, but I am getting a bit anxious. I am currently unemployed and, therefore, have the time to potty train him. But if he isn't really "into" it, how do you do that? And when I DO get a job (had a promising interview yesterday for a temp to perm position), will those changes—going to daycare full time for the first time ever, me being gone before he wakes in the morning—ruin the small potty progress we've had so far?
At least he gets excited to have a new sticker on the potty chart I created for him, right?
Slow and steady... he'll pee pee (and poop) when he's ready.
I know you cannot force this, but I am getting a bit anxious. I am currently unemployed and, therefore, have the time to potty train him. But if he isn't really "into" it, how do you do that? And when I DO get a job (had a promising interview yesterday for a temp to perm position), will those changes—going to daycare full time for the first time ever, me being gone before he wakes in the morning—ruin the small potty progress we've had so far?
At least he gets excited to have a new sticker on the potty chart I created for him, right?
Slow and steady... he'll pee pee (and poop) when he's ready.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
The Balance
Lately I've been trying to find the balance. How to be me. How to be a wife. How to be a mother. How to be a daughter with disabled, Senior parents (who aren't even 70 yet). It's not easy and I haven't really found it.
Here is my nighttime routine in short:
*Note: I am currently unemployed and seeking full time employment. It has been a rough month or so and hopefully I will find something before unemployment insurance runs out this Winter.
So finding the balance between caring for everyone and digging myself out of a financial hole that I dug myself for the most part, is not easy. And when I do get that new job, I'll have to balance full-time daycare drop offs and being a working mother as well as a part-time caregiver (my dad actually does most of it). Add to the mix my sibling living here and not contributing and adding to emotional turmoil... well, I don't know how long we'll last and then my mother will suffer.
It's hard being in the generation I am in and being an "older" mother. My situation is a big part of why we chose to be "one and done" because if I had two, I think I'd be having a breakdown. I just cannot split my attention any further. It is not an easy road ahead of me... I just hope I have the energy to get myself where I should be and our family in a better place.
Here is my nighttime routine in short:
- Get Little Man upstairs
- Sit him on the potty and cheer if he pees!
- Get him in his overnight diaper and pajamas
- Brush his teeth
- Give kisses and pass him off to daddy
- Go downstairs to my parents' suite
- Help my mom go to the bathroom
- Help my mom into her adult diaper
- Help my mom out of her clothes/into her nightgown
- Kiss her goodnight
- Go upstairs to sit with my husband and job hunt*
*Note: I am currently unemployed and seeking full time employment. It has been a rough month or so and hopefully I will find something before unemployment insurance runs out this Winter.
So finding the balance between caring for everyone and digging myself out of a financial hole that I dug myself for the most part, is not easy. And when I do get that new job, I'll have to balance full-time daycare drop offs and being a working mother as well as a part-time caregiver (my dad actually does most of it). Add to the mix my sibling living here and not contributing and adding to emotional turmoil... well, I don't know how long we'll last and then my mother will suffer.
It's hard being in the generation I am in and being an "older" mother. My situation is a big part of why we chose to be "one and done" because if I had two, I think I'd be having a breakdown. I just cannot split my attention any further. It is not an easy road ahead of me... I just hope I have the energy to get myself where I should be and our family in a better place.
Friday, August 17, 2012
Stat-a-palooza!
So as I wrote earlier in the week, Little Man is 3 and today was his well child visit so I have stats to share. I think my husband is a bit disappointed by his height (he isn't as tall as we'd expected) but overall we're thrilled by how well he's grown.
HEIGHT: 38 inches (65th percentile)
WEIGHT: 35.8 pounds (84th percentile)
He is such a sweet kid. He totally amazed his pediatrician for correctly identifying an otoscope (thanks to Doc McStuffins!) and the fact that he is talking up a storm at 3 makes me feel that the year in Early Intervention was the best thing ever! He went from no sentences at age 2, to 9 words or more on average at age 3.
My sweet, sunshine boy is just a blessing.
I'm glad that the one child I have is so remarkable. I think I made the right choice to stop at one.
HEIGHT: 38 inches (65th percentile)
WEIGHT: 35.8 pounds (84th percentile)
He is such a sweet kid. He totally amazed his pediatrician for correctly identifying an otoscope (thanks to Doc McStuffins!) and the fact that he is talking up a storm at 3 makes me feel that the year in Early Intervention was the best thing ever! He went from no sentences at age 2, to 9 words or more on average at age 3.
My sweet, sunshine boy is just a blessing.
I'm glad that the one child I have is so remarkable. I think I made the right choice to stop at one.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
THREE!!!!!
Yes, once again I have sadly neglected this blog. Only two posts in 3 months... I promise I will update this week as a LOT has been happening in my life. However, the main thing I am going to share today is...
I can hardly believe how much time flies! I blogged HERE about his birth back in 2009. I can't believe my 9 lb baby is now a 37 lb boy. He is so big. He is talking up a storm! (And last year I was panicking about all sorts of things.) He is a super sweet boy who sleeps in a BIG BOY BED and has given up naps about 95% of the time. He loves his mommy and daddy and his dog, Casey. I have such a sweet, special boy. Everyone who meets him, loves him. He is just that engaging.
He doesn't go for his well visit until Friday, so I don't have any stats yet, but I can share his likes.
So, basically, anything DISNEY! He does watch far too much TV. And he LOVES animals! We had his 3rd birthday party this past Saturday at the Turtleback Zoo in West Orange, NJ. It's a great zoo and he had a fantastic time!
Here is the collage the Picture People created during his 3 year photo shoot a few weeks ago. (I bought the rights to the CD, so I'm sharing "legally". He is such a ham!
LITTLE MAN TURNS THREE TODAY!!!!!!
I can hardly believe how much time flies! I blogged HERE about his birth back in 2009. I can't believe my 9 lb baby is now a 37 lb boy. He is so big. He is talking up a storm! (And last year I was panicking about all sorts of things.) He is a super sweet boy who sleeps in a BIG BOY BED and has given up naps about 95% of the time. He loves his mommy and daddy and his dog, Casey. I have such a sweet, special boy. Everyone who meets him, loves him. He is just that engaging. He doesn't go for his well visit until Friday, so I don't have any stats yet, but I can share his likes.
- Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
- Little Einsteins
- Doc McStuffins
- Jake & the Neverland Pirates
- Octonauts
- Toy Story (1-3)
So, basically, anything DISNEY! He does watch far too much TV. And he LOVES animals! We had his 3rd birthday party this past Saturday at the Turtleback Zoo in West Orange, NJ. It's a great zoo and he had a fantastic time!
Here is the collage the Picture People created during his 3 year photo shoot a few weeks ago. (I bought the rights to the CD, so I'm sharing "legally". He is such a ham!
Happy 3rd Birthday, Little Man!!!!!
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