Monday, August 10, 2009

bits and bites

Tasty little morsels too small for their own blog post, but too good to forget...

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We were discussing getting a dog while having supper around the table. We were explaining to Liam that a dog would need to be walked EVERY DAY, even when it's hot, even when it's raining, even when it's cold and snowy.

He paused then asked, "Do dogs sleep all winter?"

Me - "Do you mean hibernate?"
Liam - "Yeah. Do dogs hibernate?"
Me - "No, they don't."
Liam - "Too bad."
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Although I'm slightly scare of tempting a backlash by the Universe, I'm going to risk it and hesitantly, hopefully state that Simon is...

Ready for it? Should I really be doing this?

...Simon is potty trained. There! I said it! It's out there and I can't take it back. Although he still wears a diaper at night, he's only had one accident in the last ten days. We don't even have to remind him anymore. He just goes on his own, sometimes telling us first, sometimes not.

Our recipe for success?

A 2.5lb bag of Swedish Berries.

One berry for pees, two for poops. Yeah, we're those parents. Some might call it bribery, I prefer to think of it as "positive reinforcement". The other thing that helped with motivation, was that each time Simon earned a treat, Liam earned one too. Guess who Simon's biggest encourager was? Guess who clapped and cheered the loudest when Simon has success? Can you guess? If you guessed his six year old, treat-loving older brother, you'd be right.

Cost of potty-training one 2 1/2 year old? $8.99 at Costco.

I'm actually pretty proud of myself.

(Except that I'm sure I've eaten about a pound of them myself. I have NO self-control.)

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I posted this video a few weeks ago, showing Andrew crawling at 6 1/2 months. I haven't mentioned yet that, a few days later, he started pulling himself up to standing... at the couch, at his excersaucer, on our legs, in his crib, even using only the knob on our cabinet doors.

Unfortunately, while able, he is definitely not stable. He falls often, usually hitting his chin on the way down or his head on the floor. He also has four teeth, so has had no fewer than six bloody lips in the last two weeks.

Given the bloody, swollen lips and the bumps and bruises on his head, we don't look like the greatest parents. Problem is, there's just no stopping him.

WE. ARE. IN. TROUBLE.

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After three brutal, tear-filled, sleep-less nights, I've decided to try cutting dairy out of my diet for Andrew's sake. Ugh, I hate this part of breastfeeding... the worry that things I'm eating might potentially be hurting my baby. He's over seven months, so some would say to just wean him, but I really do LOVE nursing my babies. A sacrifice on my part is worth it to be able to keep breastfeeding... even if that sacrifice means no milk, ice cream, cheese, ice cream, yogurt, ice cream, milk chocolate (I'll still let myself have a bit of the 75%+ dark stuff)... ice cream.

I really shouldn't lament the ice cream too much (I'm being dramatic) since I made some D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S. ice cream on the weekend out of coconut milk, honey, eggs, real vanilla bean and raspberries. I'll take pics next time I make it so I can share the recipe.

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I really have to do better about making a meal plan and shopping with some control a grocery list. After being SO focused on paying off our debt and SO determined to save every possible penny, we've gotten a bit lacks with our budget. Actually, I think it would be more appropriate to say that there's been a bit of a budgetary hemorrhage.

Once you starts, it can be hard to stop spending.

It's not like we've been out shopping and buying whatever tickles our fancy, but with my birthday, a few dinners out, grocery shopping without a clear plan and a list, needing to buy some work clothes for Peter, etc, it has DEFINITELY ADDED UP.

We really need to recommit to spending carefully, saving, and being good stewards of what we have.

(Especially if we decide to get a dog.)


Maybe I'll start by making a meal plan today.

11 comments:

  1. I am totally laughing about the Swedish berries. Before you even said anything I thought to myself, "There's no way I'd leave any for the kid, I have no self control." I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one.

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  2. Great idea with the Swedish berries! Sounds like all the positive reinforcement really worked! Liam cheering for his little brother was a plus!!! Love ya, A. Dianne

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  3. we used m&ms! i never thought to give them to the older boy...he just naturally cheers and encourages the younger. i call him my potty policeman. my thing two would only eat the yellow ones, leaving the rest for me (yay!). we are at exactly the same place with potty training. he's staying dry at nap time but still in a diaper at night. almost there!!!

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  4. I love the idea of having Liam cheer him on. I am going to have to remember that when the baby is potty training. We are still experiencing the occasional accident ourselves so maybe I will have to buy a bag now.

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  5. Congrats on the potty training!! My little one is not cooperating at all, except for eating the M&Ms part - she wants those of course!!

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  6. I love that you've used brotherly love (of treats) to help you with this. I'd go with positive reinforcement, if asked. I "trained" Reid by modeling the behaviour I wanted - mostly because I didn't want her to be crawling away when I was in the bathroom. But if I ever had another, I'd be sure to use Reid to back me up.

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  7. We are having a budget hemorrhage too....grrr... time to start saving those pennies again!

    Oh, and I feel you on the whole cutting out dairy. I had to do it while nursing our oldest, and it was brutal, but worth it! Hang it there! You're a great mom!

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  8. I wish my parents "bribed" me with Swedish berries! Yum!
    Definitely post that recipe for dairy-free ice cream. I have lots of coconut milk at home and it would be nice to make a dessert with it.:)

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  9. Oh, that is a great potty training technique... I may give it a go on my lil one! And lol about dogs hibernating (hahahahaha)!

    Your lil one isn't the only one to constantly bang himself. My lil girl has no fear... and has been climbing up everything since 8 months old... it's crazy. She has had so many bruises, but that's ok. Kids hurt themselves. I think most people who've had kids know that. :)

    Good luck with the dairy... I wouldn't be able to do it too easily... mostly with cheese.

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  10. We're totally bribing our son to get potty trained ;) We're almost there.

    I keep trying to convince myself to meal plan too. Maybe this weekend.

    And I'm off dairy and soy for breastfeeding - it's very hard so I sympathize. But if it makes a difference to them then it's totally worth it right? Good luck!

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  11. I'm not above bribery, whatever works!

    I need to plan our meals better too. I hate wasting food but we do, often. Besides that, we also need to curb our spending! Don't you find once you spend a bit it's like the flood gates open? We have more than the usual expenses for the next five months and sticking to a strict budget will be necessary....but sooooooo hard to begin I find!

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