Archive for September, 2008

Potty Mommy training

Cross your fingers folks! I have been hesitant to post about this, lest I jinx myself. But…I think our dear boy, Aidan is getting the hang of potty training. Well, really at this point, it is more like Mommy training.

I really want to instill a sense of self confidence in Aidan surrounding this issue, so I don’t want to be too pushy. But I was getting the sense that perhaps Aidan needed a gentle nudge in the right direction.

I felt lost as to what to do. It seems there are a million different methods of potty training with no one method being right for every child. I decided to start with the easiest thing to deal with. Going peepee at home while awake.

I have tried Pull-ups on him a few times and he seems to think they are just a diaper. So, last Monday I went to the store and just bought some “big boy underwear”. I put them on him while he is awake and at home. On the first afternoon (last Monday), he just wet them every time and didn’t even seem distressed. Ugh. Did I really have a child who just doesn’t care if he feels wet?

The next day, I set up more of a schedule…or mommy training as I have heard it called. He goes as soon as he wakes up in the morning or from a nap, before meals, and at set intervals in between. I am surprised to say this has been going pretty well. We have had very few accidents in that 8 days time. Maybe 4 peepee accidents and 2 poop incidents. He is elated to put a Disney Cars sticker on his potty chart every time he goes peepee.

I attempted to have him do a bowel movement on his potty, but he got scared. It seems he is not ready for this step yet. I can’t believe his ability to understand things sometimes. I told him, “Mommy understands you’re scared about pooping in the potty. Just go peepee, Mommy will put on a diaper for you to poop in, and then we can clean you up and put your big boy underwear back on.” He looked relieved and that’s exactly how it went.

Now I am looking for advice. How long might it take Aidan to start coming to me to tell me he needs to go potty instead of me scheduling him more or less? Or is this how it works for a while? Does anybody have any ideas for getting over the poopy fears other than the 3 books we already have? ;-) Other general helpful ideas about this….I feel like I am flying blind! :-)

And since I have a hard time posting without including a cute Aidan pic, here are a couple from a couple of Saturdays ago when he heard me blowdrying my hair and came in to try it. He said, “Aidan do it. Mommy watch.” Toooo darn cute!

Let's see...how does Mommy do thisHis technique is better than mine!

It’s inevitable

We’ll be getting a dog someday.  Not right now.  We are still in the hunt to relocate to Phoenix in the next year or so, and I don’t want to move us, a toddler/preschooler, two cats, AND a dog across country.  But Aidan LOVES dogs.  Big breeds seem to be his preference.  He seems drawn to hunting dogs, sporting dogs, etc.  Our dear friend Catherine has a beautiful 9 year old Viszla, Bela.  Aidan and Bela have become very good friends over about the past 9 months or so. 

Aidan has NO fear of dogs whatsoever.  He wants to pet every dog we see.  He loves it when his face gets licked.  Most kids are annoyed or scared by this, but not our boy.  I am trying to instill respect for dogs he doesn’t know, but not fear.  So we are working on him asking the owner of the dog if the dog likes to be petted.

Last Sunday, Catherine and Bela met up with Aidan and I at the park.  Catherine brought Bela’s ball thrower and Aidan was simply giddy. 

I have a feeling that 3 years old is going to be a ton of fun.  :-)

Mommy and Aidan watching the ducks.

Watching all the ducksI like hanging out with my Mommy at the park

Mommy and Aidan getting ready to play fetch with Bela.  “Come on girl!”

Us with Catherine's Viszla, BelaCome on Bela, let's go!

“How exactly does this work, Mommy?  Show me.”

Aidan is loving throwing the ball to BelaMommy showing Aidan how it works

This is one of my favorite pictures of the whole summer!  Doesn’t he look like he is having a blast?

One of my favorite shots of Aidan...holding Bela's ball thrower

Overheard at the playground

I am painfully aware that I am far from a perfect parent, but I am always a little sad when I see a parent who doesn’t seem to know how to let loose and have fun with their child. Story upcoming. Let me set the stage.

We have had a great week here in Seattle as far as the weather goes.  It was in the high 70’s and it was perfect weather for sneaking in a few more glorious days outside at the park.  I went online and found some parks we had not yet been to in the area.  I get bored going to the same ones time after time.

We went to one park on Thursday afternoon and then different ones on Friday morning and then Friday evening when Brandon got home.  Aidan is in his element outside.  He loves to have the freedom to run freely.  He really seems to love the open space.  I have heard that children learn differently just from playing outside and I don’t doubt it a bit.

On Friday morning, we found a park with a sandbox.  Wow, does Aidan love sandboxes!  Here comes the thing I can’t believe I heard at a playground.

Mom to boy about 2 years old who is picking up bark and scooping sand with his hands, “Eww!!!  Don’t do that!  That is dirty!  Come over to the swings.”

Ummm…SERIOUSLY?   I had to exercise a lot of self restraint not to blurt out, “You do know you brought him to a playground, don’t you?”  Yikes.  I feel sorry for a kid who is not allowed to explore and get dirty when he is playing outside.  Isn’t that part of the point?

Here are some cute pictures from our recent outdoor adventures.

A peekaboo through a tunnel on the playground equipment.

Peekaboo at the playground

A really tall slide he LOVED.

On a REALLY big slide

I loved this picture because he was going back and forth on this little “bridge” several times letting both his hands graze the bars and listening to the musical noise he made while going across. I love watching children explore and learn like that.

Listening to the clanging noise the bars make

Showing Dad some of his climbing skills.

My climbing skills are good

Fun in the sandbox.

I love the sandbox!Drawing a road in the sand

He gets such grownup looks sometimes when he is thinking. Brandon captured this gem.

What should I do next

We ended the Friday of park outings with a trip to Red Robin. By the end, Aidan was resting on Brandon and telling me “I’m so tired.” I actually managed to tire him out! Pat me on the back! :-)

Tired after a long day out at the parks

I’m 3 years old!

A longer catchup post to come.  We have had two trips away in two weekends and I have not had the chance to download all of the pictures and put together a proper blog post in honor of Aidan’s 3rd birthday.

My brother and sister-in-law threw a wonderful birthday party for Aidan and once he figured out we were singing Happy Birthday to him, he was so delighted!  Check out the excitement on this kid’s face. 

Life is so good it hurts.  :-)

Happy Birthday to ME!