The Off Day

Today started out pretty well. Dan went to work. I got up, worked, took care of Ethan. We went and hung out with Jenny and the kids. It was fun, especially since I hadn't seen Jenny for a week or so. I was looking forward to having our usual relaxing time together. Then Ethan decided he was tired an ornery and that he was going to be difficult today. He's not usually like that, but when he is....it's not pretty. He couldn't tell me what he needed, what he wanted, and what was wrong. Everything was drama. He was just driving me crazy. I suppose it doesn't help that I'm hormonal right now either...no I'm not pregnant...just hormonal.

Anyway, why is it that sometimes they can be the sweetest blessings in your life and other times you just want to beat the ever living crap out of them? (Not that I would actually do that, but that doesn't mean I can't feel that way sometimes.) I just hate it. Sometimes I wish I could skip this whole toddler tantrum phase. I know when he's older I'll miss it though. Ah, the conundrums of being a parent. You always want what's ahead until you've got it and then you miss the past.

Memo To Mommy

I was reading my Parents magazine and they had an article called "Memo to Mommy." It had some really neat things to think about...especially when dealing with a toddler. Maybe Ethan would say these things to me if he could.

1. Stop freaking out about the mess! There's always time to clean - but how often do we get to make mud pies?

2. Love me, even when I'm naughty. I'll only be this age once.

3. Be patient. I do everything for a reason, but I don't know enough words yet to give you an explanation.

4. Don't try to reason with me when I'm having a tantrum. Trust me - I can't hear you over my own screaming.

5. Don't expect too much of me. I want to do what you ask and make you happy, but I'm still little.

6. Set limits. I can't actually eat a whole box of cookies - I just want to see if I'd get away with it.

7. Don't let me think that you're perfect. I feel a lot better knowing I'm not the only one who makes mistakes sometimes.

8. Let me do it. I know you can do it faster and better, but sometimes experience is the best teacher.

Anyway, I really enjoyed the article. It really helped put things into perspective. Sometimes I forget that Ethan is only three and he's still learning. Sometimes I need to stop and remember that.

Feeling Good

I'm feeling a lot better than I have in the past few days. I think some of that has to do with the fact that I've been exercising the past couple of nights. The other part is that Dan has been home. He will be working a lot less hours for more money now that he is an actual nurse. He has his first day on the job today. :) I think he's going to like working there. He got up early and everything, not something Dan does lightly. He is definitely NOT a morning person AT ALL.

Anyway, like I said, things seem to have calmed down in my mind. I'm a lot more centered. Sometimes to get that way I have to beat myself down by exercising. It makes some of that stress go away.

We're going to the zoo today with Abby and Debi. I'm excited. I haven't seen Debi in a while and it will be nice to catch up...especially since she's having her baby in like 4 weeks!

Until next time...

Progress???

Well, Ethan has made some progress on the potty training front I guess. We've figured out that every time he has to go No. 2, he goes upstairs and flushes the toilet, then, even after we have him sit on the potty, promptly goes in his diaper. Then, after his nap today, he was successful in escaping from said diaper and I went in to see that he had peed on the floor...I guess being aware of the bodily functions is progress???

Please say that it is...

Enjoy The Randomness

As you can see in my sidebar, I finally started to use my Twitter account. I think it's a fun thing. I'm mostly going to use it for random thoughts I'm having and stuff that's going on. It will probably be pretty random stuff, so enjoy.

This is my new mousepad. Rather fitting isn't it?

Well, Thanks Alisa!

Alisa's suggestion of a potty box for Ethan has really been a hit with him. He's doing a lot better today and it's really helping with the incentive for him to actually sit on the potty. I have a hard time getting him to hold still sometimes but the potty box and singing songs with him to pass the time while he's on the potty really seem to be helping.

Ethan actually told me when he had to pee today! It was the best feeling! He looked at me and said, "Oh no! My poopy!" I asked if he had to go potty and we went up. After he relaxed a bit he actually went pee on the toilet. There was a little bit of pee in his diaper so I know he realized what was happening and stopped it! Amazing progress for only being at this for a few days. I guess we'll continue on this path. I think it's working okay. I still have him "try" about every half hour or hour. As long as the potty box is full, hopefully his bladder won't be.

Reporting from the trenches....

A Step Back

Well, I've taken just a little step back in the potty training thing. I was cleaning up pee and poop right and left and Ethan really wasn't sure what I wanted him to do. I don't know why I thought the "jump in with both feet" method would work for Ethan. He has always done things on his own time. Right now we're going with a suggestion from my niece, Alisa, who has a little boy a bit older than Ethan. She used a potty box. Basically you take a box and let the child decorate it with whatever they want. I let Ethan pick out some cute stickers at the store. You then fill the box with little trinkets and treats. I also let Ethan pick out what treats he wanted in the box. Ethan, and a lot of kids, do better, with most anything, when they feel their opinion matters. Whenever they "try" on the potty, they get one item from the box. If they "go" they get two. Eventually you wean them off of the treat for "trying" and just give a treat for "going." I think this may work. I don't know. The cleaning of the poop and pee and the stress it was causing was definitely not good for me or Ethan. I really hope this works...

Here's hoping...

BTW...the picture in this post was taken by Jenn. It's one of my favorites of Ethan.

Poop Doesn't Happen At Our House

Who knew bodily functions that aren't my own could be so stressful. Since Ethan turned three I've been trying to figure out how to start him on potty training. I've done some things, but have had no success. He just doesn't "get" how to go on the toilet yet. I know he's smart and he'll get it eventually. I'm just sick of the weird looks I get when my three-year-old-who-is-the-size-of-a-five-year-old has to go have his diaper changed. I just want to know how to explain this to him. I somehow feel like him not being potty trained is somehow a personal failure on my part. I know logically that's not true, but it's still frustrating.

Any ideas?

Now That The Craziness Is Over....

I feel like we've been gone forever on vacation and so busy. I'm was so glad to go, but now I'm glad it's over. I'm finally able to get back to some semblance of a normal routine at my house. I've been doing some cleaning, and I think I'm in hormonal/OCD mode. I scrubbed, yes scrubbed on my hands and knees, my floors yesterday. I just wanted it done, so I did it. Sometimes OCD can be a beautiful thing.

Let's see, what has been going on with us...well we went up to East Canyon with my family last week for part of the week. We really had a great time. We went swimming a lot, which Ethan loved. He wasn't as scared of the water this time. He actually was trying to swim. It's funny though, whenever I told him to kick his legs it looked more like he was trying to run in the water. Funny, I don't think anyone on this earth now can walk on water...maybe he's just too young to know that yet.

We also went to Park City and Ethan and I went on the Alpine Coaster. It is so much more fun than the Alpine Slide. You don't have to ride the tram up, which what mom wouldn't be nervous about doing THAT with a three year old, you just ride in the car the whole way up. You're also bolted to the track and bolted in. We went so fast. A couple of times it was too fast for me, but Ethan loved it. He even cried when I made him get out of the car and come back down to where everyone was waiting. I also got to do a bit of shopping at the outlet stores in Park City. I could've spent SO much money there, but I showed some restraint. I really wanted to get some Vans for Ethan at the Vans outlet. They were so cute! But who knows what size shoe he'll be wearing in the next few months, so I didn't get them. It only took him two months to grow out of his sandals. All in all, we had a really great time.

As far as me, things are still about the same. I have my good days and my bad days. I'm still taking the Clomid, and it's still giving me hot flashes like a menopausal woman. I'm willing to tough that out though for the final result. It's just terribly uncomfortable when you're completely fine one minute and the next you're drenched in sweat. I have a new found respect for any woman going through the hot flashes. They're just strange. I've still been going to the gym. I wasn't able to go during vacation and when we were up at East Canyon though so it's been a bit to get back to where I was. I think I'm almost there though. I'm really achy today, partly because of the gym and partly because of the scrubbing the floors with a sponge thing. Oh well, at least it's good exercise.

Until we meet again...

I Hereby Declare Today...

International Embarrass Your Husband With His Freaky Weird Mullet Picture Day! Celebrate with one you love. Enjoy your new holiday people!

Counting cars.

More Graduation Pics

I wanted to share some of the graduation pictures that we're getting from the professional photographer that was at Dan's graduation. By the way, Dan has a job already! He starts on August 25. He'll be working in the cardiac unit at the new Intermountain Medical Center in Murray! We're so excited. We also got his license copy from the state in the mail so it's all official with paperwork and everything now.

Well Today's The Day

Today is my eight year anniversary. I can't believe it has been that long. Sometimes it seems like I can't remember when I wasn't married, others it seems like we're still newlyweds. I love Dan more everyday. We are friends and confidantes to each other. We are together forever. I am so glad we got married and that we have continuing love everyday. Times haven't always been easy, but I wouldn't want to share anything, good or bad, with anyone except Dan. He is caring, loving, and a wonderful father and husband. He works so hard for our family. I love you Dan. Happy anniversary!

So I'm Back...

We got back from Bear Lake on Saturday and we're relaxed now, at least for the time being. I also wanted to brag a little...I've already finished the last in the Twilight series, Breaking Dawn. It was such a good book! I won't give away anything here, but I was really pleased with the way the story was written.

In other news, Dan has three, hopefully four, job offers coming to him. Once we hear on the last one, he'll make his decision on which one he wants. :)