Potty Praise

Reagan, who is beginning to potty train, often follows me into the bathroom. Yesterday, she came in when I was using the restroom. I said, "Mama's using the potty," and she began to clap for me. When I said I was all done, Reagan waved into the potty and said, "Bye bye, pee pee."

Potty Training 2

This whole potty training thing is harder than I imagined. Reagan is happy to sit on the potty for long periods of time, providing she doesn't actually have to use it. Once she really needs to go, she begins to get up, try to sit on my lap, hug me, run across the room--anything to keep from having to go on the potty.

At least twice she has cried after finally going. And it's not just a little cry; it's a "I can't believe you're making me do this, and if you really loved me you would stop this nonsense right now" cry.

And the potty doll...well, we decided to go for the deluxe electronic model. Only problem is, it totally freaks Reagan out! You "feed" the doll a bottle of water, and after a couple of minutes she begins to say, "Mama, pee pee." Then you put her on the potty and she drips into it. When she's all finished, she's supposed to say, "Dappa," as in "diaper," but we've never reached that point yet. We had to turn it off because Reagan was scared.

So, let's see. We spent around $20 on her potty chair. Then there was $25 for the potty doll and $15 for a potty video (which, by the way, she actually likes). Oh, and we also bought a potty seat to go on the big toilet for around $10. So that's a total of about $70 on potty training supplies, and we're no closer to being potty trained than before. In fact, with all the crying, we may have actually regressed!

Potty Training

We've only just begun potty training and I'm already exhausted. I spend most of my time trying to keep a squirmy toddler seated on a plastic potty. I use bribes--something I am philosophically opposed to. I ply her with liquids. I tell her everybody does it. And I beg.

Today, Reagan actually did use the potty once. She promptly began to cry--howl really--afterward. Was she afraid? I don't know. Perhaps she was mourning the loss of babyhood. Maybe she knows that once she starts using the potty, the baby gig is up. She'll be responsible for keeping herself dry and clean.

I'm starting to search for the perfect "drink and wet" doll. This is Dr. Phil's recommended method for potty training. I also plan to get a couple of books on the subject for Reagan to read while she sits. If anyone has any other brilliant ideas, I'm all ears.

(Helpful Hint: Reagan seemed disturbed by the fact that her bottom kept sticking to the seat. Scott suggested putting baby powder on the seat, and it works great. The only problem is that when Reagan gets up--as she so often does--she makes white imprints of her bottom on the sofa.)

Reagan Used the Potty!

OK, so it was only once. And she probably had started before I got her seated. But she did use it! Of course, she cried immediately after, as if she were afraid of what she had just done. I hugged her and praised her and did everything I knew to let her know that what she had done was a good thing--a wonderful thing!

It's not much...but it's a start.

Growth Spurt

Reagan must be going through a growth spurt, because she has been eating a ton lately. For toddlers, eating is usually sporadic--eat everything at one meal, nothing at the next. But she has been eating consistently for several days now. Yesterday, for lunch, she had two pickle spears (that's half a cucumber!) and a cheese sandwich. When she was finished, she asked for another pickle! (I didn't give it to her. I figure, two pickles is enough for any not-yet-two-year-old.) As I was putting her down for her nap, she said, "Hungry." I decided she was probably trying to stall, so I just ignored her. However, her first word upon waking was, "Snack."

In addition to her recent eating habits, her sleeping habits have been odd. After we got back from vacation, she actually cried a few nights in a row when we put her to bed. (Reagan is one of those kids who usually can be put down completely awake and not make a peep about it.) But then, last night, she tried to put herself to bed! Without a word, she walked up the stairs, into he room, and started trying to climb into her crib. Needless to say, we kissed her goodnight and lifted her into the crib. Too bad she doesn't do that every night!

My Guilty Pleasures

Days of Our Lives (Been a on-again, off-again fan since high school)

Brat Pack/John Hughes films (Forget Two and a Half Men--Jon Cryer will always be "Duckie" to me)

Point of Grace's Life, Love, and Other Mysteries (Not so much "guilty" as "totally sing-alongable")

Trashy fiction (I don't mean dirty; it's just that it doesn't have to be well-written or clever)

Snack Cakes (Little Debbie, Hostess, anything that won't decompose for decades)

Shopping (but I only buy bargains, and I'm really good at it!)

King of the Hill reruns

The Latest

Here are some of Reagan's new favorites.

Favorite food: Pickles, Kosher dill spears (She ate TWO last night at dinner!)

Favorite entertainers: The Wiggles (replacing Barney as #1)

Favorite toy: Fisher-Price Dollhouse (handed down from cousin Melanie)

Favorite beverage: Juice (She used to be a big Milk girl)

Favorite activity: Coloring

Favorite words: Stuck (as in, "I'm stuck!"); All done (complete with sweeping hand motions); Eggo! Mine! ("Let go! Mine!)

My New Favorite Activist

I've just discovered a new writer/radio host/political activist who really interests me. I first caught an interview she did on James Robison's show. Her name is Star Parker, and she's the president and founder of the Coalition on Urban Renewal and Education (CURE). Parker, a single, African-American mom, was once dependent on welfare. She addresses the issues of poverty and the welfare system in her book, Uncle Sam's Plantation.

Having "been there, done that," Parker has a unique understanding of the flaws of the welfare system. She presents the differences between the truly needy who simply need a "hand up" and the lazy poor who only want a "handout."

I loved reading Parker's personal story and how she overcame her dependency on welfare when she became a Christian. Her transformation from a promiscuous drug-user to a respected business owner is truly inspirational. Above all, she speaks with authority to those trapped in the system: You can rise above. You can escape the tyranny of Uncle Sam's Plantation.

With appearances on Larry King Live, the Oprah Winfrey Show, and Politically Incorrect under her belt, Parker is certainly a rising Star in the political world.

Back from Vacation

It has been weeks since I have written, so I'll try to cram all our activities into one entry. After everyone in our family finally recovered from sickness, we were able to take a short vacation. The first several days were spent in Indiana with my parents. We visited with family, held a yard sale, and even went to Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana. Reagan is totally Grandpa's (or "pawpaw," as she say) girl.

Reagan enjoyed seeing "Ho Ho" in Holiday World (Santa is a big part of the theme park, which was once called Santa Claus Land). She also loved riding the carousel, the kiddy planes, and the fish. But her favorite part of the day had to be the water park. She wore all the adults out by running around tirelessly through the gated area of sprinklers and various water elements. She is a brave little girl and doesn't like to hold hands while in the wave pool, either. We watched "Elmo in Grouchland" at least twice through in the car on the way there and back.

We were home by Tuesday but decided to go camping for a night on Wednesday. We went to Cedars of Lebanon State Park, only an hour from home. Reagan loved camping and kept calling the tent her "house." We made a fire and had hot dogs and s'mores. Surprisingly, Reagan didn't care for the chocolatey treat. She preferred the plain graham crackers. The camping experiment went pretty well, except that it took about an hour for Reagan to fall asleep. She was so wound up and isn't used to sleeping with anyone else in the room with her. Overall, we decided that camping with Reagan is fun, but it's also a lot of work!

On Saturday, my brother, Dave, his wife, Sharon, and their kids, Matt and Melanie, came in for a NASCAR race. Reagan had big fun with her cousins, and she can say everyone's name very well. Uncle Dave seems to be her favorite, since he lets her play with his cell phone. They actually got to stay a little longer than planned, since the race that Scott and Dave were going to got rained out on Saturday night and had to run on Sunday.

Packed in between the trips and visitors were little outings, like Reagan going to play with her cousin Ashley on Wednesday, and then going to visit Nana and Gran on Friday. It was a busy, action-packed week.

Today is Monday, and it's a somber day in our house. All the visitors are gone. Daddy went back to work. It's just Mama and Reagan. Things have gone surprisingly well. Reagan really does thrive on routine, so I think she's even a little relieved to have life back to normal.

All Is Well...Finally!

It has been about three weeks now, and the sickness in our household has finally subsided...sort of. I think I was the carrier this time, running a low-grade fever with few other symptoms. Reagan caught whatever I had, which then developed into an ear infection. Then Scott caught it from her, and while her ear infection was healing, she re-caught the virus from him and ran a high fever for several days. She seems just about well now, and Scott is much better, although he continues to have a hacking cough.

While she was sick, Reagan had her every whim met. If she said "juice," we delivered. If she then decided she wanted milk instead, we made the exchange. If she asked to color eight times in one day, we obliged. You get the point. Now we're paying the price. If she hears the word "no" in any context, she immediately "throws a fit," as they say here in the south.

We're remaining strong, not giving in to these tantrums. But, OH, how we'd love to have our kind, sweet child back. Could this be the start of the "Terrible Twos"?

Crisis Averted

This new napping plan is really working! The first day, Reagan stayed awake the entire hour that she was in her crib--no nap at all that day. On the second day, she was still going pretty strong, but she did eventually fall asleep within the hour. By the third day, Reagan had realized this new system wasn't going away, and she fell asleep within about twenty minutes. Now, about a week later, she has been consistently falling asleep within minutes, without whining or crying, just as she does at night. Hooray!

Reagan's First Ear Infection

Well, we managed to get through almost two years without one, but Reagan now has her first ear infection. After a couple of days of a runny nose, not eating, and goopy eyes, I took Reagan in to see Dr. Lee. (Of course, by the time we got to his office, Reagan had perked up and was acting almost well. Isn't that the way it always goes?) Dr. Lee assessed her symptoms and guessed an ear infection, which was confirmed when he looked in her ears. (Have I mentioned that I love my pediatrician? He is so good!) He prescribed an antibiotic, gave Reagan a butterfly sticker, and sent us on our way.

Three days later, Reagan is a different child. She's back to her normal appetite, and she's much more energetic. But after several days of having her every whim catered to, we are having to deal with a few temper tantrums when we now say no. Hopefully we'll have our old happy-go-lucky Reagan back soon.

Reagan Might Be a Genius

Well, probably not. But she did count to ten this week--well, sort of. She skips 4 and 9, but gets the rest of the numbers in order. Not bad for a not-yet-two-year-old, I think. At the end of the numbers she says, "Here I come!" which leads me to believe she learned to count by watching the "Journey to Ernie" segment on Sesame Street. (It's the game where Big Bird hides and Ernie seeks.)

Reagan's language skills are exploding these days. She is using new phrases and sentences every day. She continues to sing her favorite songs in the car, while swinging, in her crib, or wherever the mood strikes. And she loves to dance--although Scott mentioned that she does dance a bit like Elaine on Seinfeld. A little frightening.

The most exciting thing is to see Reagan's emotional side developing. She now says, "I love you," without being prompted. She also willingly says she's sorry, and she loves to give hugs and kisses. We can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Help! Reagan Won't Nap!

We have been so blessed with a baby that has slept well from a very early age. At night, we simply put Reagan down in her crib--awake--and she drifts off to sleep. Naptime, however, has be a struggle recently.

My usual routine has been to snuggle with Reagan on the couch to get her down for a nap. Lately this process has been failing, with Reagan simply refusing to fall asleep. It usually involves me making several trips back and forth from her room, putting her in the crib, taking her out, etc. I have tried rocking her, letting her play for a while before putting her down, giving her milk, playing music for her, all to no avail.

After spending yesterday afternoon researching our little problem, I have come to the conclusion that I must employ a similar method to what we're doing at night. So, just after lunch today, I told her that it was nap time. I handed over her favorite cow and her pacifier (getting rid of the paci--now, that's a subject for another day!) and put her in the crib.

That was almost exactly one hour ago. She has been pretty calm for the entire time, but I can still hear her in there talking to herself. I have committed to following this plan for at least one week before trying something different. (I think it takes at least a week of consistency for a child to adjust to a new system.) But if anyone has any other bright ideas about how to get a toddler to nap, I'm all ears.

Addendum to the Addendum

OK, I was wrong again. I don't actually have links on this site. (I do, however, have them on my other blog.) Anyhow, you can read the below-mentioned post at:
www.valsmomblog.blogspot.com

Addendum to The Stripper Strikes Again

I realized that the previous post I referenced in the post below is actually from my other blog, Val's Mom Blog. That post is Raising a Stripper. You can reach it by clicking the link to the left.

The Stripper Strikes Again

On Monday, per my usual schedule, I put Reagan in her crib at 10:00 (between Sesame Street and Barney) so that I could get my shower. I put her Barney CD on "repeat" and headed for the bathroom. When I returned, just fifteen minutes later, she was standing, completely naked, clutching her stuffed cow and smiling that guilty sort of smile usually seen on psychopaths. Beside her in the crib were her pajamas, her discarded diaper, and a puddle.

Keep in mind my earlier post in which I mentioned the PJs with that one important snap--the snap that had previously kept her from unzipping and removing her pajamas. Apparently, that snap no longer does the trick, since these were the very PJs she was wearing. Is there nothing that can stop my child from indulging her exhibitionist side?

A Good Read

I read constantly, both for work and for pleasure. At any given time, I have about four or five partially-read books on my desk. And I read a lot of bad books. I very rarely will NOT finish a book. (I just can't stand leaving something undone.) But few and far between are what I consider to be the real jewels of my treasure hunt for a great book. Eats, Shoots & Leaves is one of those rare gems.

If you're in any way involved in writing, editing, or even teaching, you should read it. It's a book about punctuation--its history, its usage, and, most notably, its mis-usage. To the non-stickler, it may sound a bit boring, but I assure you it's anything but. It is a delightful look at one woman's frustration at the growing ignorance--and even the complete absence, in some cases--of punctuation usage in our society.

Now, I have to admit that getting past the British rules was a bit of a challenge to my CMS-driven brain. (That's Chicago Manual of Style for you non-grammarians.) But the sentiment of author Lynne Truss is near and dear to my heart. I am, in her words, a stickler. I tremble with indignity when I see a billboard that reads, "Your Welcome Here" or "Whose Doing Your Taxes?" (If you didn't get those examples, please stop reading now. You're one of them.) I break out in a cold sweat when I see a hyphen where an em dash belongs. And possessives...well, don't even get me started.

I realize that by recommending this book, I am opening myself up to all sorts of criticism for any punctuation "errors" on my blog. First, I will say that this is essentially my journal. I'm writing in a free-form, off-the-cuff style. I do try to at least spell-check before posting, but I'm not doing a full proof or edit. Second, many times what are considered "errors" are actually simply differences in style. I can respect other styles--as long as there is consistency. (Take, for example, the serial comma debate. I prefer the final comma before the "and," but I can respect someone who omits it consistently.)

Final word: If you enjoy words, language, or even just a healthy argument, read Eats, Shoots & Leaves. (Notice the omission of the serial comma. Not my usage, but the author's.) This tops my "Good Read" list for now.

This and That

Yesterday, I had a tickle in my throat and was coughing. Reagan came up behind where I was sitting, started patting me on the back, and said, "Y'OK? Y'OK?" (as in, "Are you OK?").

On our daily evening walks, we pass a yard that has recently been re-mulched. The first time we went past, I mentioned that it smelled pretty gross. A couple of days later, while passing that same yard, Reagan waved her hand in front of her nose and said, "Tinky! Tinky!" Of course, by then the smell had dissipated, but she remembered that's where it had been stinky before.


A few days back, Reagan was playing with her Magna-Doodle. She paused for a moment, said, "Hug," and hugged, then kissed, her Magna-Doodle. She really loves her toys.

Back from the Mountains

I returned from my retreat to find Reagan basically unscathed (although she did have a couple of new boo-boos) and the house in pretty good order. Reagan seemed happy to see me and just kept jabbering at me for the first hour or so.

I have mixed feelings about my retreat time. On the positive side, the Cove is a beautiful facility. Having worked with some of the Grahams in their publishing endeavors, I can see how their perfectionistic tendencies really do produce excellence. I did also enjoy getting to know a few people that I didn't have much of a connection with before. So that was good.

Now for the negative. The sessions themselves were pretty disappointing. Because we were instructed to read the speaker's first book, I had hoped we would go deeper into the material. Instead, most of the time I felt as if I were being read to (yes, he was that kind of a speaker) from a book I had already read myself. He was a kind, softspoken man, but he just didn't do it for me as a speaker. I need a little more energy and excitement.

And now for the neutral, but interesting. It snowed while we were there! And not just a tiny snow that dissipates when it hits the ground. There was actually some accumulation. It was beautiful on the mountains, and, fortunately, it didn't cause us any driving problems.

All that said, I'm glad to be back. And I don't see any retreats in my near future. The anxiety of leaving Reagan (and Scott) far outweighed the benefits for me. Perhaps others were inspired, edified, or drawn closer to God. For me, I'm drawn closer to God when I watch Reagan sleeping peacefully, or when I spend quality time with Scott. I didn't need to drive ten hours to find God or myself. We're both here, together.