Mommy 101

We officially started training today. By officially I mean I started it twice before and gave up. And last week I planned on officially starting it on Black Friday and I was going to rename the day Bleak Friday, but Josie woke up having uh....incontinence issues so I postponed it until today. 

Things I've learned so far....

Even if you've potty trained before you don't really know if its going to work again. (I've potty trained 2 of my younger siblings and Kendyl. Means nothing.)

Everything I learned in college about the evils of rewarding behaviors goes out the window. Stickers,  praise, bribes, candy, money, cars? Sorry Alfie Kohn--whatever works goes.

Some kids will do anything for a jelly bean.

Some moms will do anything if it means their household budget will expand by a diaper box worth of money.

Always pick a candy reward that you won't eat. The chocolate chips and marshmallows didn't last long here. Just keep Dad away. Dads like everything.

It's easier to train them when they have a bigger sibling who also gets a jelly bean every time the 2 year-old is successful. They start being extremely encouraging. 

After a few hours all of a sudden your child is in love with wearing diapers. (Mine keeps bringing me them begging to put it back on her.)

For every child I potty train I should earn one trip to a place of my choosing. (And I don't even ask that for going through a pregnancy and labor.)

Just don't mess with Momma.

(Or please, please just don't mess your pants!)

But really how did the pioneers do it? In all the hundreds and hundreds of journal entries we have, I don't believe anyone recorded a single potty training mishap they had on the trail. Makes you wonder...

So far the training is hopeful. I'm highly motivated to get it done before we move into our new apartment with rooms and rooms covered in new clean carpet. 

P.S. If anyone has the manual How To Train Your Three Year Old To Go To Bed Before Ten Thirty I'd love to borrow it!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm in a funk. I don't feel like cooking, cleaning, taking pictures, or blogging. Nate might say that that's not much different than normal except for the last two. But don't believe him. 

And I also don't feel like finding my camera to post the one picture I did take. 

(Imagine shaving cream and 2 girls our 2 girls.)

So instead here's one from the archives. 

Kendyl looking like how her mama feels right now.

But Happy Thanksgiving!

 We are celebrating with store-bought pie, ham, frozen rolls and a bottle of Martinelli's. 

(Three weeks until we move to an apartment with a full-sized kitchen.

Three weeks to come up with another excuse why I shouldn't cook.) 

Disclaimer: Nathan read this post and thinks that everyone will think that he thinks his wife doesn't do anything. Got that? But he wants everyone to understand he thinks his wife is amazing and does everything. Just had to clear that up. (And that's why I married him.)

things to report of no consequence. don't believe me then just read it.

1. We survived Sandy and fared much better than the predictions. Our power only flickered off for about 15 seconds. Some of our friends were out for a couple days and it was pretty cold. But I could get used to hurricanes as long as they don't knock out power, kill people, flood cities, destroy houses, shut down transportation etc. We had Nate home for a whole 2 days and it was heaven (for us). And I feel really guilty admitting that considering what the rest of the coast went through. 

2. I "worked out" for the first time in a year. And that was only one week last year. I've been putting it off since my foot hurts really bad when I walk and especially when I run. Thanks to google I self-diagnosed it as Moron's neuroma and got a shoe insert. And then I finally signed up for the community center's gym. Hopefully I'll feel more motivated. Even though I only made it to running speed for a whole minute I did feel rather toned and athletic compared to all the other people using the gym (two 70 year old ladies). 

3. The girls actually took a nap! The girls actually took a nap at the same time! Oh how I wish I could have joined them. Instead how did I celebrate? Did dishes and watched a little Property Brothers. Nate came home to this:

Don't look too closely at the 20+ year old couch we inherited. It takes the brunt of the damage that the girls inflict on the house. Stains. Tears. Super nasty! But better on this than someday when we have new ones. 

4. I died my hair again. I like it. After last time I wasn't expecting it to go so dark but I like drastic changes. But it's weird whenever I see myself in a mirror. Kendyl now wants pink hair after she watched "Nate paint Mommy's hair black." 

5. Kendyl went to bed one night. Or so we thought. Instead she was locked in the bathroom painting her entire front self black using my new liquid eyeliner pen I had just bought. Also the toilet, door, and sink. 0.05 oz goes way farther than you think it would. Way, way farther. Mom and Dad=not very happy. Not very happy at all. I have a new love for magic erasers. They need to invent one that works on skin. The stuff took forever to come off of her. 

6. It's November. When did that happen? (One year ago Nate graduated with his masters and we moved from Denver. Crazy.) We are very excited for the holidays. It will be our first ever not going to either of our parents. So the pressure is on for us to not have a lame Christmas. Kendyl is super excited and so we have to start thinking of some fun traditions we want to do in our family. Good thing I left our box of Christmas decorations in Denver. They did not make the cut (☹) so we are starting off all over again. (Don't worry Mom--we still have our stockings!)

7. It's getting colder. I don't know if that's just because of the hurricane weather or if it really is colder in November. I am not motivated to go to the park at all. So if anyone who reads this wants to get together for a play date let me know!