Tonight's bedtime battles with Dean will probably be a little funny to me when I don't have to deal with it anymore.
Dean is tall enough to reach his light switch, and recently figured out that he was capable of taking off and putting on clothes. I say figured out because I've realized for quite some time that he was capable, and was waiting for the day it dawned on him. I was curious to see what he would do with that information. So far he has the previously mentioned self diaper changing and tonight the PJ dilema.
Dean LOVES his PJs. In the mornings we go round and round about how Ms. Suzie doesn't allow PJ's at daycare and yes Dean must put on other clothes so we can all go. The most common phrase heard in my house early in the AM is "I want my PJs." Well, that and "No, mommy!"
Tonight daddy was having trouble talking Dean into putting his PJs on, so I thought I'd help. I off course just managed to make it worse. I thought that if I offered Dean a choice between two pajama's he'd have more ownership and daddy wouldn't have to pin him down. I offered a choice between the dinosaur pajamas and the train pajamas. He chose dinosuar, so I started to put the train away. Then he said "No, no dinosaur. Choo Choo!" I started to put the dinosaur away. Well, as you can guess he changed his mind again. We had to make the choice for him which of course he didn't like at all.
Well, as I previously mentioned the tall enough to reach the light switch and capable of clothing changes caused a long night of putting Dean to bed. When we would close the door, Dean would get up and turn the light on, begin to change his pajamas, and yell "I stuck!" He was too, stuck with an arm or leg in the wrong sized hole and unable to retrieve said limb.
Lucas had decided after their first battle to go to bed himself, not realizing the light, changing, and getting stuck situation. I ended up in there with nursing baby in tow changing a toddler's PJs and trying to tell him he MUST stay in bed and go night night. It didn't work out so well and I had to go get lazy bones out of bed to help. This whole experience left me wondering how in the world to get the two of them to sleep when I'm here by my lonesome. I'm seriously considering having Lucas move Dean's dresser to the living room.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
It Tickles
Some things that Dean have been doing that give me a good giggle.
Nursing his baby doll after pulling his shirt up like mommy.
Running to find me, then squatting and making pee noises while he pees in his diaper.
Oh dear goodness, there are more, but my mind is all muddled up and tired. I'll try to remember the others for another day.
I've returned to my kiddos at work and miss my kiddos from home dearly while I'm gone. I can't seem to get enough time to spend just playing with them and certainly have said good bye to time when I can relax.
Nursing his baby doll after pulling his shirt up like mommy.
Running to find me, then squatting and making pee noises while he pees in his diaper.
Oh dear goodness, there are more, but my mind is all muddled up and tired. I'll try to remember the others for another day.
I've returned to my kiddos at work and miss my kiddos from home dearly while I'm gone. I can't seem to get enough time to spend just playing with them and certainly have said good bye to time when I can relax.
Monday, January 5, 2009
I Miss You Both
Today I brought the boys to daycare. I had a glorious two weeks with both of them and found myself enjoying motherhood immensely. Well, except the parts where the eldest was naughty and I had to actually be The Parent. That was unfortunate.
I missed both of them so very much. With Dean it was a bit easier for me to cope because we've been through this before. After about a week or so he'll be upset when I make him come home because he's enjoying himself so much. Also, Miss Suzie (his daycare provider) is awesome. She teaches him so many things of which I find myself ignorant.
With Jack I found it very hard to go all day without him. VERY HARD! I remember going through this with Dean on a different level. So, I know I will get used to it and so will he. Today though, it was like a piece of my body was missing, or like I was mourning the death of someone very important to me. I wanted his little snuggly body right next to mine always. Because I know that before too long, his little body will get much bigger. He will be moving with Dean-like energy. The time for snuggling will become less and less. I want to soak up every minute of this stage. My dear readers, please remind me of these feelings when I am totally exhausted, at the end of my rope, and complaining of how he STILL DOESN'T SLEEP through the night. Because, night time snuggling is still...well...snuggling.
I missed both of them so very much. With Dean it was a bit easier for me to cope because we've been through this before. After about a week or so he'll be upset when I make him come home because he's enjoying himself so much. Also, Miss Suzie (his daycare provider) is awesome. She teaches him so many things of which I find myself ignorant.
With Jack I found it very hard to go all day without him. VERY HARD! I remember going through this with Dean on a different level. So, I know I will get used to it and so will he. Today though, it was like a piece of my body was missing, or like I was mourning the death of someone very important to me. I wanted his little snuggly body right next to mine always. Because I know that before too long, his little body will get much bigger. He will be moving with Dean-like energy. The time for snuggling will become less and less. I want to soak up every minute of this stage. My dear readers, please remind me of these feelings when I am totally exhausted, at the end of my rope, and complaining of how he STILL DOESN'T SLEEP through the night. Because, night time snuggling is still...well...snuggling.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Diapers
It is high time to potty train Dean.
As many of you already know, Dean can pee in a toilet. In fact he has on many occasions, but due to one thing or another (I don't know what those things are) he is not potty trained yet. We have been seeing the signs of his readiness to use the big boy potty since some time last spring. He knows when he wets or otherwise dirties his diapers. He tells us before he does it, while he's doing it, and after. He hates (always has) to be in a dirty diaper. He finds the toilet, toilet paper, and process of hand washing to be a fantastic adventure. One such adventure led to an entire roll of paper in the toilet recently...while we had company for Christmas. He is beyond ready to make the switch.
Today in his latest demonstration of wit, charm, and general awareness of all things potty he set the mark a little higher. We went through our general nap time routine and I left him to drift off into a slumber. He has actually been drifting off into a slumber regularly for almost a month now at both nap time and bedtime. Today he did not drift off. I could hear him doing God knows what as I nursed Jack in dumb hope that they would actually both be asleep at the same time. Finally, I went to check on his mischief. As I peeked under his door one thing stood out as odd. The dirty diaper that was haphazardly placed in my line of sight. Then I spotted his tiny feet as he pranced in circles near said diaper. The one that threw me for a loop though was his bum which was halfway covered with a pull up. That's odd. I wonder if daddy put a pull up on while I was gone. No wait, I took him to the potty before I put him down for his nap and put on a diaper. I distinctly remember putting on a diaper because he'd just be sleeping anyway.
When I opened the door I was greeted with a hearty "I go poo poo!" In Dean talk that could mean he's pooped, peed, or sneezed a juicy sneeze. I frantically looked for all signs of poo poo and was relieved to find a diaper that was full of urine only. The little tyke peed in his diaper (immediately after mentioned trip to big boy potty) and then decided to change his own diaper.
A clear sign that your child is ready to use the big boy potty. HE CHANGES HIS OWN DIAPER.
As many of you already know, Dean can pee in a toilet. In fact he has on many occasions, but due to one thing or another (I don't know what those things are) he is not potty trained yet. We have been seeing the signs of his readiness to use the big boy potty since some time last spring. He knows when he wets or otherwise dirties his diapers. He tells us before he does it, while he's doing it, and after. He hates (always has) to be in a dirty diaper. He finds the toilet, toilet paper, and process of hand washing to be a fantastic adventure. One such adventure led to an entire roll of paper in the toilet recently...while we had company for Christmas. He is beyond ready to make the switch.
Today in his latest demonstration of wit, charm, and general awareness of all things potty he set the mark a little higher. We went through our general nap time routine and I left him to drift off into a slumber. He has actually been drifting off into a slumber regularly for almost a month now at both nap time and bedtime. Today he did not drift off. I could hear him doing God knows what as I nursed Jack in dumb hope that they would actually both be asleep at the same time. Finally, I went to check on his mischief. As I peeked under his door one thing stood out as odd. The dirty diaper that was haphazardly placed in my line of sight. Then I spotted his tiny feet as he pranced in circles near said diaper. The one that threw me for a loop though was his bum which was halfway covered with a pull up. That's odd. I wonder if daddy put a pull up on while I was gone. No wait, I took him to the potty before I put him down for his nap and put on a diaper. I distinctly remember putting on a diaper because he'd just be sleeping anyway.
When I opened the door I was greeted with a hearty "I go poo poo!" In Dean talk that could mean he's pooped, peed, or sneezed a juicy sneeze. I frantically looked for all signs of poo poo and was relieved to find a diaper that was full of urine only. The little tyke peed in his diaper (immediately after mentioned trip to big boy potty) and then decided to change his own diaper.
A clear sign that your child is ready to use the big boy potty. HE CHANGES HIS OWN DIAPER.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Moving...again
Well, I guess we've gotten too comfortable in our current home. About the time we usually get settled in, Lucas' employers like to shake things up a bit. It seems that most of my worries revolve around children sleeping through the night and my family moving. This time, it's another move. Lucas leaves in February to work near the house we bought a while back.
What does that mean for the boys and I? Well, we get to stay put and see daddy on the weekends. My contract doesn't end until June. After that I suppose we'll move back into the house we own and I'll be looking for a job again. I'm not thrilled about parenting two very young children by myself for the next few months, but I'm glad we're looking at a move to a place we've already been.
What does that mean for the boys and I? Well, we get to stay put and see daddy on the weekends. My contract doesn't end until June. After that I suppose we'll move back into the house we own and I'll be looking for a job again. I'm not thrilled about parenting two very young children by myself for the next few months, but I'm glad we're looking at a move to a place we've already been.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Oh Christmas Tree
You want a Christmas full of stories? Well, you've come to the right place. Except that somewhere between when I thought of a ton of stories to write about and now, I seem to have forgotten a few. Let me start with a really good one and see what we get from there.
So as you may have read on my last post. We were without a Christmas tree on the eve of the big holiday because there weren't any left in town. Then, an angel whom we'll call Sarah (otherwise known as Lucas' sister and Auntie Sarah), appeared for her visit with a beautiful tree in the back of her truck. There were still trees where she lives, so she thought she'd bring an extra present. I have to say that I was nearly moved to tears by her kindness. I had never realized how empty and nonfestive a house would be without a tree. The other decorations should be enough, right? Wrong...wrong...wrong. A tree is such an important part of setting the mood. How silly! Thank you Auntie Sarah for helping to make this Christmas such a special holiday.
This Christmas is the first present related celebration that Dean learned that presents have really cool things inside. That made it extra fun and eventually overwhelming for him. He was really excited about so many presents, but the funniest one was a red dog (stuffed animal) that he got from the same auntie mentioned above. When he opened it, he started barking and rolling around with hysterical spasm-like energy all over the living room floor. I tried to get it on camera, but failed. Oh how I failed. It was pretty funny to watch though.
The only other story I can remember is not a funny one. Lucas was pulling the ham out of the oven and managed to spill the liquid on his thigh. Well, ok maybe it was a little funny when I heard him yell ouch and came into the kitchen to find him with his pants around his ankles. That's my preteen since of humor I suppose. After running cool water over it for a bit it turned out fine. Poor Lucas.
So as you may have read on my last post. We were without a Christmas tree on the eve of the big holiday because there weren't any left in town. Then, an angel whom we'll call Sarah (otherwise known as Lucas' sister and Auntie Sarah), appeared for her visit with a beautiful tree in the back of her truck. There were still trees where she lives, so she thought she'd bring an extra present. I have to say that I was nearly moved to tears by her kindness. I had never realized how empty and nonfestive a house would be without a tree. The other decorations should be enough, right? Wrong...wrong...wrong. A tree is such an important part of setting the mood. How silly! Thank you Auntie Sarah for helping to make this Christmas such a special holiday.
Though it's not a story, we did have Lucas' parents here for a visit as well. I enjoyed their company, fine cooking, and help around the house. Dean enjoyed their company and creative ideas. I think Lucas was just as excited about being surrounded by his family as he was about the helpfulness of them being here. We were truly blessed.
This Christmas is the first present related celebration that Dean learned that presents have really cool things inside. That made it extra fun and eventually overwhelming for him. He was really excited about so many presents, but the funniest one was a red dog (stuffed animal) that he got from the same auntie mentioned above. When he opened it, he started barking and rolling around with hysterical spasm-like energy all over the living room floor. I tried to get it on camera, but failed. Oh how I failed. It was pretty funny to watch though.
The only other story I can remember is not a funny one. Lucas was pulling the ham out of the oven and managed to spill the liquid on his thigh. Well, ok maybe it was a little funny when I heard him yell ouch and came into the kitchen to find him with his pants around his ankles. That's my preteen since of humor I suppose. After running cool water over it for a bit it turned out fine. Poor Lucas.
A picture of the family (and tree). As always, double click the picture for a larger image.
The boys...
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Less Decorating
Well, the idea of waiting until Christmas Eve to set up the tree seemed great. No fighting toddler to leave the tree be, fun entertainment for the in-laws, and a discounted price as the tree sellers try to get rid of their last trees.
Until tonight when we found out that there were no trees left in our town. None. So, uhh...we don't have a tree this year. We are hosting Christmas for Lucas' family, but thankfully they're not too upset. I do have to say that it doesn't quite feel Christmas like here in the house without the tree. I DO have a sented candle that is supposed to smell like an evergreen. It's something.
Until tonight when we found out that there were no trees left in our town. None. So, uhh...we don't have a tree this year. We are hosting Christmas for Lucas' family, but thankfully they're not too upset. I do have to say that it doesn't quite feel Christmas like here in the house without the tree. I DO have a sented candle that is supposed to smell like an evergreen. It's something.
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