I have realized lately that there are times when the girls can happily play together for extended amounts of time. I still keep an ear on them. But I do not have to have my eye on them. They could not only be in another room, but be on a different floor of the house.
Usually this playing involves numerous outfit changes, dancing, and playing with babies (dolls, stuffed animals, etc). And this always involves some amount of Addie telling Etta what to do.
It feels wrong sometimes to just continue siting in front of the computer (or whatever task I am doing). But if they really are having fun together, why would I need to sit in the same room? They have their squabbles, and I intervene when things get too loud or someone starts screaming. Etta is good at instigating, and Addie gets fed up and hits or pushes. There is always a mess after they are done playing. But over-all they play together well. That (and their patience) will be truly put to the test when baby comes in early Sept!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Mid-winter break
This week is mid-winter break and it is going by really fast! It ends up that I am actually glad this year for this generic & non-necessary Seattle school break. I have realized that I really get sick of all the back & forth driving for co-op. So it is nice to have a break from that.
It is also great to have less on our schedule because this is underwear week for Etta. So far things are going well. Over all she is having a really good attitude about it and not giving me power-struggles. A big part of the success so far is setting a potty timer. She has to sit on the potty about every hour or a pee accident is inevitable.
Addie has an amazing ability to hold pee for numerous hours. To the point that I still wonder at times how she holds it all in or if she is not drinking enough water. Even when we first started potty training Addie she held her pee for long amounts of time and quickly transitioned to underwear at nap and bedtime because she could go all night without needing to pee.
Etta seems to be another story. She does small pees more often. She is respecting the timer and following through when I tell her it is time to sit on the potty. But I know to be truly potty trained will require her to listen to her own body and get herself to the potty in time.
I am only doing underwear at home for her. I told her that once she gets good at wearing undies at home & listening to her body, then she can wear them out. I just need to be careful not to get stuck in the trap of her wearing undies at home then pull-ups outside the house and peeing in the pull-ups because she knows they can hold it. Sometimes wet clothes are necessary to help a kid remember the importance of listening to their body.
It is also great to have less on our schedule because this is underwear week for Etta. So far things are going well. Over all she is having a really good attitude about it and not giving me power-struggles. A big part of the success so far is setting a potty timer. She has to sit on the potty about every hour or a pee accident is inevitable.
Addie has an amazing ability to hold pee for numerous hours. To the point that I still wonder at times how she holds it all in or if she is not drinking enough water. Even when we first started potty training Addie she held her pee for long amounts of time and quickly transitioned to underwear at nap and bedtime because she could go all night without needing to pee.
Etta seems to be another story. She does small pees more often. She is respecting the timer and following through when I tell her it is time to sit on the potty. But I know to be truly potty trained will require her to listen to her own body and get herself to the potty in time.
I am only doing underwear at home for her. I told her that once she gets good at wearing undies at home & listening to her body, then she can wear them out. I just need to be careful not to get stuck in the trap of her wearing undies at home then pull-ups outside the house and peeing in the pull-ups because she knows they can hold it. Sometimes wet clothes are necessary to help a kid remember the importance of listening to their body.
Speaking of babies...
I have been lazy about blogging the last month or so. Which means I am almost 3 weeks late announcing a birth (bad auntie!).
My sister Allison had her beautiful boy Isaac on Feb 2. He joins big brother Asa.
And if babies could be special ordered (with no ethical or moral implications), I would request one with the personality of baby Isaac! Who knows what he will be like when he gets older, but right now he seems to be the best sleeper & do the littlest crying of basically any baby I have met. Oh what I would give for a content baby who is an amazing sleeper! And while I am at the special order counter, I would have to say that Etta with her baby chub and full head of dark hair was a spectacularly good looking baby, so that would be on the order form too. But really, as all parents can agree on, what matters most is having a healthy baby. So many things can go wrong. Some you could find out about before the birth, so you might not. Some could take multiple surgeries , some might heal themselves, and some might be beyond repair. I try not to think about it because so very little of it is in my control, but each and every healthy baby born is an incredible blessing not to be taken lightly.
My sister Allison had her beautiful boy Isaac on Feb 2. He joins big brother Asa.
And if babies could be special ordered (with no ethical or moral implications), I would request one with the personality of baby Isaac! Who knows what he will be like when he gets older, but right now he seems to be the best sleeper & do the littlest crying of basically any baby I have met. Oh what I would give for a content baby who is an amazing sleeper! And while I am at the special order counter, I would have to say that Etta with her baby chub and full head of dark hair was a spectacularly good looking baby, so that would be on the order form too. But really, as all parents can agree on, what matters most is having a healthy baby. So many things can go wrong. Some you could find out about before the birth, so you might not. Some could take multiple surgeries , some might heal themselves, and some might be beyond repair. I try not to think about it because so very little of it is in my control, but each and every healthy baby born is an incredible blessing not to be taken lightly.
1,2,3
1) A baby boy due to Mike & Becka in late March (to join big sister Ellie).
2) A baby due at the end of July to Myron & Lori (to join big brother Coen).
3) A baby due to Matt & I in the beginning of Sept (to join big sisters Addie & Etta).
So that is 3 new grandchildren for Papa Loren & Grandma Karen.
And that will be 3 kids for us!
2) A baby due at the end of July to Myron & Lori (to join big brother Coen).
3) A baby due to Matt & I in the beginning of Sept (to join big sisters Addie & Etta).
So that is 3 new grandchildren for Papa Loren & Grandma Karen.
And that will be 3 kids for us!
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