I thought I was done. After 9 1/2 years of changing diapers I really thought I would be rid of them, at least until Kirby gets old and gray (and, let's face it, next year he turns 40...it will happen sooner rather than later). But then, we had the opportunity to welcome Little Miss into our lives.
We are blessed. And we are, again, potty training.
In July came the underwear and the temper tantrums. I really thought Andrew was awful but at least I knew that he wasn't capable. Charity IS capable she just doesn't want to. I have been told boys are easier to train than girls. I beg to differ.
Yes, she has had an "interesting" 2 1/2 years. Yes, she has had very little stability in her life. Yes, she has dealt with more than any 2 1/2 year old should have in her short little life. And, yes, she is as stubborn as a mule.
Me: Do you have to go potty (as I watch her holding herself)?
C: Nooooooooo!
Me: I think you should try.
C: NEVA' EVA'!
Me: Go potty right now.
C: Nooooo! I neva' eva' go potty again.
Me: Hey, Drama, go potty right now!
C: (she sighs, throws her hand to her forehead, and stomps to the bathroom....) I not go potty again!
Since July we have done this. And, honestly, she is getting better. It has been a few weeks since we have had any accidents while wearing "undies". She still wears diapers for nap time and still wears diapers at night. Which means, I clean up a dirty diaper twice a day.
Me: Charity, do you have anything in your diaper?
C: Nooooooo, I go on da potty.
Me: Let me check. Charity! You need to be changed! Why?
C: I go on da potty?
Sigh. The year long break from diapers was nice. But I am beginning to feel that I am destined to change diapers "foa-eva'". 'Cause you know, as soon as she is completely trained, Kirby will be old enough to need help...
9/30/10
9/28/10
Liar, liar.
I love that little kids can't tell time. I think it is an amazing gift provided by God.
I have no idea what time Little Miss got up this morning but I do know that by the time I got up she had already been through the house, "stealing" little bits and pieces (including Andrew's glasses) and making a mess.
I also know that since she got "caught" this morning and tried like hell to charm her way out of it (which did not work) she has cried. "Go potty"..."noooooooo, neva', eva'". "No, you may not watch TV, you were playing with the computer", "noooooooo, can I watch TVs? Let me 'pologize to you".
Thankfully, at 2 1/2 Little Miss still naps. She always naps after lunch. And, thankfully, at 2 1/2 Little Miss can't tell time.
So by 10am she had eaten her "lunch" and is now napping nicely in her bed.
Liar, liar....
I have no idea what time Little Miss got up this morning but I do know that by the time I got up she had already been through the house, "stealing" little bits and pieces (including Andrew's glasses) and making a mess.
I also know that since she got "caught" this morning and tried like hell to charm her way out of it (which did not work) she has cried. "Go potty"..."noooooooo, neva', eva'". "No, you may not watch TV, you were playing with the computer", "noooooooo, can I watch TVs? Let me 'pologize to you".
Thankfully, at 2 1/2 Little Miss still naps. She always naps after lunch. And, thankfully, at 2 1/2 Little Miss can't tell time.
So by 10am she had eaten her "lunch" and is now napping nicely in her bed.
Liar, liar....
9/24/10
What's that smell?
Much to Brian's dismay, this post is NOT about the Potty Wars. Though, I promise I will do one regarding that specific topic very soon (and perhaps the title will be the same...).
As I was switching laundry today, I noticed a horrendous smell coming from the laundry room. While I know clothes get dirty when you wear them, we only wear them once...they don't get THAT dirty (and if my kids smell that bad obviously I am not bathing them enough...though I was sure once every two weeks was enough...).
I pulled the two baskets of dirty laundry down and checked behind the washer and dryer where I found no less than 4 pairs of dirty underwear (I couldn't understand where all the new underwear I bought was disappearing to), 5 lonely socks and a shirt....none of which was the source of the smell....
I decided that the best idea was to just start washing. Eventually the smell would come out in the...well, the wash.
As I am loading the washing machine I grab a towel and find the source. Somebody (KIRBY!!!!) wiped up spilled tuna juice with a towel and left it to sit.
So now a load of laundry is running on the hottest water possible with both laundry detergent and Pine Sol (to kill whatever may be living on that god awful smelling towel).
Awesome.
As I was switching laundry today, I noticed a horrendous smell coming from the laundry room. While I know clothes get dirty when you wear them, we only wear them once...they don't get THAT dirty (and if my kids smell that bad obviously I am not bathing them enough...though I was sure once every two weeks was enough...).
I pulled the two baskets of dirty laundry down and checked behind the washer and dryer where I found no less than 4 pairs of dirty underwear (I couldn't understand where all the new underwear I bought was disappearing to), 5 lonely socks and a shirt....none of which was the source of the smell....
I decided that the best idea was to just start washing. Eventually the smell would come out in the...well, the wash.
As I am loading the washing machine I grab a towel and find the source. Somebody (KIRBY!!!!) wiped up spilled tuna juice with a towel and left it to sit.
So now a load of laundry is running on the hottest water possible with both laundry detergent and Pine Sol (to kill whatever may be living on that god awful smelling towel).
Awesome.
9/21/10
I miss you!
Yesterday was Andrew and Zachary's first time with their new babysitter. Kirby and I have always done our best to arrange our schedules so the kids don't need sitters, but as my business grows and since he started driving for the school district, things have had to change.
We were so lucky to know a young lady who has the time and desire to watch our two monsters for an hour or so after school. She is fantastic and I am so thankful she was able to make it work with us.
Back to the story.
Yesterday was her first day. She picked them up at school, brought them home, got snack and started homework. I walked through the door before 4:30 - they have only been home for 45 minutes. Andrew runs to the door, jumps in my arms, "Mooooommmyy!!! You're back!! I missed you!!". You'd think I had been gone for days.
God I love that kid.
We were so lucky to know a young lady who has the time and desire to watch our two monsters for an hour or so after school. She is fantastic and I am so thankful she was able to make it work with us.
Back to the story.
Yesterday was her first day. She picked them up at school, brought them home, got snack and started homework. I walked through the door before 4:30 - they have only been home for 45 minutes. Andrew runs to the door, jumps in my arms, "Mooooommmyy!!! You're back!! I missed you!!". You'd think I had been gone for days.
God I love that kid.
9/20/10
Little things I want to remember...
Today, on the way to my doctor's appointment, Charity and I have the cutest conversation.
C: You breath, Erica? The doctor listen to your heart?
Me: Yes, baby, the doctor will listen to my hear. How did you get so smart?
C: At Grum's house.
________
Last month we went to camp. At camp the boys are allowed to pee wherever boys want to pee. A week after returning, Kirby and I were sitting on the front porch and Andrew came flying out the door from the house. He runs behind a bush and drops his pants.
Me: WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!
Andrew: I had to pee.
Me: You can't do that at home, only at camp.
Andrew: But I had to pee!
_________
Tonight as I am putting Andrew to bed we have a quick conversation about his crazy behavior.
Me: Andrew, what is going on with you tonight?!
A: I'm outta control.
Me: Yes, I see that, but why?
A: Because it's a full moon, or a half moon or a crescent moon. It's some kind of moon.
_________
Andrew walks into the house last week, sees that it is clean and says "are we having company". Shit.
C: You breath, Erica? The doctor listen to your heart?
Me: Yes, baby, the doctor will listen to my hear. How did you get so smart?
C: At Grum's house.
________
Last month we went to camp. At camp the boys are allowed to pee wherever boys want to pee. A week after returning, Kirby and I were sitting on the front porch and Andrew came flying out the door from the house. He runs behind a bush and drops his pants.
Me: WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!
Andrew: I had to pee.
Me: You can't do that at home, only at camp.
Andrew: But I had to pee!
_________
Tonight as I am putting Andrew to bed we have a quick conversation about his crazy behavior.
Me: Andrew, what is going on with you tonight?!
A: I'm outta control.
Me: Yes, I see that, but why?
A: Because it's a full moon, or a half moon or a crescent moon. It's some kind of moon.
_________
Andrew walks into the house last week, sees that it is clean and says "are we having company". Shit.
9/17/10
I'm in love.
Yes, folks you heard it right. I am in love. And I am not talking about Kirby (though I do) or my children (though I do) I am talking about my favorite website of all time (and, no, I am not talking about Facebook).
For those of you that love to read I highly encourage you to check this out. Truly, it is amazing.
I LOVE to read. I love getting lost in a book and forgetting my world for a while. And though many have encouraged me to get the Kindle or the like, I love to HOLD a book. I love the way it smells and feels...I love to turn the pages and use a bookmark. That is one piece of technology I have no desire in owning.
Every week I hop online, go to my Swap.com page and update my list. I have one list of books that I want and one list of books that I am willing to part with (I often save books to reread so not all of my books are listed). Then I initiate some trades.
Most recently I received The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I am not one of those people that reads things just because everyone else is reading them (it took me almost a year to pick up The Twilight Saga - not that I regret a minute of taking the time to read that..). But this book intrigued me. I wasn't sure why but the moment I saw it I wanted to read it. So, I put it on my want list and traded it for Ecology of a Cracker Childhood (honestly, I hadn't read it, it didn't grab me). Within a few days I received my "new" book and I was off and running.
It was a tough start and I was thinking I shouldn't have traded for it but about 100 pages in I was hooked. The female lead is the girl I want to be (for those of you that have read it, please don't think ill of me...). I loved it and have gone on to read the rest of the series (well, I am halfway through the 3rd book The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest).
Honestly, swap.com is not the only place I get books. Sometimes I just can't wait for a trade of exactly what I am looking for (like the last two books in the series previously mentioned). I still shop at the local bookstore (partly because I want them to stay in business) but for the books that I want to read and I can wait a bit for, I head over to swap.com. And it is certainly a whole lot greener than buying new books (and I usually reuse the shipping packaging that the book I receive was sent in and use it for the next book I ship out.).
For those of you that love to read I highly encourage you to check this out. Truly, it is amazing.
I LOVE to read. I love getting lost in a book and forgetting my world for a while. And though many have encouraged me to get the Kindle or the like, I love to HOLD a book. I love the way it smells and feels...I love to turn the pages and use a bookmark. That is one piece of technology I have no desire in owning.
Every week I hop online, go to my Swap.com page and update my list. I have one list of books that I want and one list of books that I am willing to part with (I often save books to reread so not all of my books are listed). Then I initiate some trades.
Most recently I received The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I am not one of those people that reads things just because everyone else is reading them (it took me almost a year to pick up The Twilight Saga - not that I regret a minute of taking the time to read that..). But this book intrigued me. I wasn't sure why but the moment I saw it I wanted to read it. So, I put it on my want list and traded it for Ecology of a Cracker Childhood (honestly, I hadn't read it, it didn't grab me). Within a few days I received my "new" book and I was off and running.
It was a tough start and I was thinking I shouldn't have traded for it but about 100 pages in I was hooked. The female lead is the girl I want to be (for those of you that have read it, please don't think ill of me...). I loved it and have gone on to read the rest of the series (well, I am halfway through the 3rd book The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest).
Honestly, swap.com is not the only place I get books. Sometimes I just can't wait for a trade of exactly what I am looking for (like the last two books in the series previously mentioned). I still shop at the local bookstore (partly because I want them to stay in business) but for the books that I want to read and I can wait a bit for, I head over to swap.com. And it is certainly a whole lot greener than buying new books (and I usually reuse the shipping packaging that the book I receive was sent in and use it for the next book I ship out.).
According to my stats I have saved $235 (I don't know if this takes shipping expenses into account but I media ship everything and it costs less than $3 for each book) and decreased my carbon footprint by 339 pounds for only 40 trades. It's amazing.
So, if you love to read, want to be a little greener (and save yourself a boatload of money) check it out.
And that's the end of this advertisement. Please move on to your regularly scheduled programming...
9/14/10
Why bother?
"Cleaning your house while the kids are still growing is like shoveling the sidewalk before it stops snowing"-Phyllis Diller
Yeah, this has become my new favorite quote. I am supposed to be in a cleaning frenzy as we have a new babysitter coming today. Instead I am wasting time on Facebook, writing a blog, making phone calls....everything BUT cleaning.
And this quote makes complete sense to me...Why clean it? They are just going to mess it up anyway!
What HAVE I done?
Well, I vacuumed up all the little crumbs off my living room carpet. The week old goldfish, the pieces of thread torn from their sweatshirts, the cat hair and tracked in pebbles...
I have mopped the bathroom and rid it of boy smell...in the process completely singing my sense of smell and taste (does anyone else have that problem with bleach) and wiped down the sink and counter...
I have swept and spot mopped the kitchen (mainly under the table where the food that nobody likes ends up or the spilled milk)...
And what do I have left?
Laundry. A couch full of washed and dried laundry that needs to be folded. The toys should be kicked back in the playroom. The windows should get cleaned.
And then I wonder...why? The laundry will get worn one day and end up right back in the same spot. The toys (no matter how we try) never stay in the playroom, the windows will have fingerprints within hours of washing them.
I WILL NEVER WIN!
Yeah, this has become my new favorite quote. I am supposed to be in a cleaning frenzy as we have a new babysitter coming today. Instead I am wasting time on Facebook, writing a blog, making phone calls....everything BUT cleaning.
And this quote makes complete sense to me...Why clean it? They are just going to mess it up anyway!
What HAVE I done?
Well, I vacuumed up all the little crumbs off my living room carpet. The week old goldfish, the pieces of thread torn from their sweatshirts, the cat hair and tracked in pebbles...
I have mopped the bathroom and rid it of boy smell...in the process completely singing my sense of smell and taste (does anyone else have that problem with bleach) and wiped down the sink and counter...
I have swept and spot mopped the kitchen (mainly under the table where the food that nobody likes ends up or the spilled milk)...
And what do I have left?
Laundry. A couch full of washed and dried laundry that needs to be folded. The toys should be kicked back in the playroom. The windows should get cleaned.
And then I wonder...why? The laundry will get worn one day and end up right back in the same spot. The toys (no matter how we try) never stay in the playroom, the windows will have fingerprints within hours of washing them.
I WILL NEVER WIN!
9/13/10
Navigation...
Yesterday was a reintroduction. Today, how about a little navigation?
I think it is easy enough to explain. This is my blog. I use this blog to share our life. Not all of it, of course, but what I find interesting enough. I try to keep it light-hearted and funny, sometimes I get a little "deep" but, mostly, it is stories of our life.
To the right of the actual blog you see a picture of a little boy praying with a ribbon. That is the Autism Awareness Ribbon. I chose this as my profile picture because, as you now know, Andrew is on the Autism Spectrum. Next to that you can read a little about us (or, mainly, me).
If you scroll down a bit you can see who "follows" me. These people get a notification whenever I update the blog. It's easy enough to become a follower...try it out :)
A little further down is a traffic map. I don't know how accurate it is, but it looks pretty cool to me. Supposedly, I have visitors from all over the world. Australia, South America, even Africa. Who knows how true it all is, but I like it.
Further still is the blog archive. You can see blogs from when I started this until now. There are plenty so whenever you are bored (or I haven't updated) check those out. And, just below that, there is a list of some of my favorite blogs. These are posts that I find funny myself or ones that generated a lot of feedback.
And past that is a list of blogs that I follow. I know some of these people, but mostly they are blogs I came across that I find humorous or ones that I find I can relate to. I encourage you to check them out and leave some comments (all bloggers LOVE comments).
Oh, and, in between each blog is an advertisement. Now, I cannot encourage you to click these (in fact, I may have signed a contract stating that). I cannot click on them myself (I am SURE that was in the contract). But know, those ads are a good thing.
In the past I have had lists that included books I have read, books I want to read, things I want to do...and I may get back there. But, for today, it's about the blog and keeping up with it.
If you have suggestions, things you would like to see in this blog, questions you would like to ask, or maybe you just want to tell me to shut up...click "post a comment". Let me know how you really feel. As I mentioned, all bloggers love comments. Why else to we do this but to feed our own egos?
I think it is easy enough to explain. This is my blog. I use this blog to share our life. Not all of it, of course, but what I find interesting enough. I try to keep it light-hearted and funny, sometimes I get a little "deep" but, mostly, it is stories of our life.
To the right of the actual blog you see a picture of a little boy praying with a ribbon. That is the Autism Awareness Ribbon. I chose this as my profile picture because, as you now know, Andrew is on the Autism Spectrum. Next to that you can read a little about us (or, mainly, me).
If you scroll down a bit you can see who "follows" me. These people get a notification whenever I update the blog. It's easy enough to become a follower...try it out :)
A little further down is a traffic map. I don't know how accurate it is, but it looks pretty cool to me. Supposedly, I have visitors from all over the world. Australia, South America, even Africa. Who knows how true it all is, but I like it.
Further still is the blog archive. You can see blogs from when I started this until now. There are plenty so whenever you are bored (or I haven't updated) check those out. And, just below that, there is a list of some of my favorite blogs. These are posts that I find funny myself or ones that generated a lot of feedback.
And past that is a list of blogs that I follow. I know some of these people, but mostly they are blogs I came across that I find humorous or ones that I find I can relate to. I encourage you to check them out and leave some comments (all bloggers LOVE comments).
Oh, and, in between each blog is an advertisement. Now, I cannot encourage you to click these (in fact, I may have signed a contract stating that). I cannot click on them myself (I am SURE that was in the contract). But know, those ads are a good thing.
In the past I have had lists that included books I have read, books I want to read, things I want to do...and I may get back there. But, for today, it's about the blog and keeping up with it.
If you have suggestions, things you would like to see in this blog, questions you would like to ask, or maybe you just want to tell me to shut up...click "post a comment". Let me know how you really feel. As I mentioned, all bloggers love comments. Why else to we do this but to feed our own egos?
9/12/10
Maybe a reintroduction?
I am having a hard time figuring out how to restart the blog...
It's been so long and now I remember why I stopped. I got "writer's block" (or, perhaps, "blogger's block"?). I couldn't figure out how to keep going. Sure my kids are hysterically funny, yes there is plenty of drama to share and, positively, I know how to write about these things and put a certain spin on it to make it even funnier or dramatic (no, I do not have any sense of self confidence..). But, I had lost my flair. And, maybe, I just need to weasel it out of myself.
So, maybe today we will have a bit of a reintroduction.
Kirby and I have been together for 12 years in October. Together we have raised his two children (who are off on their own now), we have had two boys of our own, 10 and 8, (who play a starring role in this blog) and now we are raising his daughter's daughter as well, 2 (and, I am certain she will take a starring role as well).
We live in the downtown area of a small town in New England and adore it. Everybody knows everyone (which has it's downfalls), my kids (and I) get away with NOTHING (because the gossip spreads like wildfire), we are within walking distance of anything we could want or need. But, most importantly for us, the school system is amazing (our youngest son has an autism spectrum disorder).
Our life is busy. Kirby recently started driving bus for the school district, I run my own massage business and we are raising 3 children (how did THAT happen?!). Lately, we are encountering life problems that we never thought we would have to deal with...I guess that is where the blog will start.
Keep an eye on this...we have a roller-coaster
It's been so long and now I remember why I stopped. I got "writer's block" (or, perhaps, "blogger's block"?). I couldn't figure out how to keep going. Sure my kids are hysterically funny, yes there is plenty of drama to share and, positively, I know how to write about these things and put a certain spin on it to make it even funnier or dramatic (no, I do not have any sense of self confidence..). But, I had lost my flair. And, maybe, I just need to weasel it out of myself.
So, maybe today we will have a bit of a reintroduction.
Kirby and I have been together for 12 years in October. Together we have raised his two children (who are off on their own now), we have had two boys of our own, 10 and 8, (who play a starring role in this blog) and now we are raising his daughter's daughter as well, 2 (and, I am certain she will take a starring role as well).
We live in the downtown area of a small town in New England and adore it. Everybody knows everyone (which has it's downfalls), my kids (and I) get away with NOTHING (because the gossip spreads like wildfire), we are within walking distance of anything we could want or need. But, most importantly for us, the school system is amazing (our youngest son has an autism spectrum disorder).
Our life is busy. Kirby recently started driving bus for the school district, I run my own massage business and we are raising 3 children (how did THAT happen?!). Lately, we are encountering life problems that we never thought we would have to deal with...I guess that is where the blog will start.
Keep an eye on this...we have a roller-coaster
9/11/10
It's time.
Yes, it's time. Time to start updating regularly again. Be prepared. I am back and, boy oh boy, do I have stories to share!
Don't get your shoes!
A friend of mine posted about her nose blowing experience on Facebook today. She was 2 miles from home and had to use an oak leaf.
For some reason, her story reminded me about peeing in the woods with Andrew (who I also had to teach how to poop in the woods this summer...but that's a different story).
A few years ago, while we were at camp, we were fishing at the lake and I had to pee. The lake is about a mile and a half from the camp so I was stuck peeing in the woods. I had to take Andrew with me for fear he would fall into the water while I was gone. To keep him occupied I gave him the toilet paper and asked him to hold it.
As I was squatting, arrange my pants and trying to ensure I didn't pee all over myself, Andrew kneels down. He gets real close to my stream...
Meanwhile I can do nothing unless I want it to end up all over me (and him).
He reaches out and puts the toilet paper right in the steamy stream of pee. Awesome.
These are the things I want to remember forever so I can absolutely mortify him at 23, when he brings home his fiancee.
For some reason, her story reminded me about peeing in the woods with Andrew (who I also had to teach how to poop in the woods this summer...but that's a different story).
A few years ago, while we were at camp, we were fishing at the lake and I had to pee. The lake is about a mile and a half from the camp so I was stuck peeing in the woods. I had to take Andrew with me for fear he would fall into the water while I was gone. To keep him occupied I gave him the toilet paper and asked him to hold it.
As I was squatting, arrange my pants and trying to ensure I didn't pee all over myself, Andrew kneels down. He gets real close to my stream...
Meanwhile I can do nothing unless I want it to end up all over me (and him).
He reaches out and puts the toilet paper right in the steamy stream of pee. Awesome.
These are the things I want to remember forever so I can absolutely mortify him at 23, when he brings home his fiancee.
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