Hoooray Potty Training!

Last night after bath time, Markus was running around the house naked. He comes running into the bathroom in a panic screaming, "I have to go potty! I have to go potty!" So, the little red kiddie potty that has been sitting in my way too small bathroom for the last 6 months going unused and driving my poor husband crazy, finally gets put to use. He went pee pee in the potty and I started jumping and screaming and telling him what a big boy he is. Alex joined in the fun and started saying, "You are a big boy like me now, brother!" Then Markus folds his arms on his chest and says, "We are two big boy brothers now." We got all of his big boy underwear out and he was so thrilled to be just like his big brother. When it was time for bed, Markus went crazy when I tried to put a diaper on him and I tried to explain that when big boys learn how to go pee pee in the potty, they still have to wear diapers to bed. Alex, who has been standing by in support of little brother all night says, "Aw, mom! I don't want to wear diapers to bed!" So, I think the hardest part about potty training the second child is trying to explain to the first child that none of what is going on applies to him. Alex was even trying to poop this morning so he could have a jelly bean.

This morning we have gone through 3 pairs of underwear so far, but Markus has actually been going in the potty most of the time. Both of the boys have been wearing only underwear all day. Alex kept begging me to make them twins so I said, "Sure, we can pretend that you guys are twins." He gets really upset and says, "Mom, I don't want to pretend to be twins, I really want to be twins!" I wish I could dictate all of our conversations onto here but since we talk all day long every day about every possible thing, I think the internet would run out of space.

The second hardest thing about potty training are the every five minute false alarms. I have been running into the bathroom all day at five minute intervals and (**poop joke alert**) since I am gluten free now, not one time has been to go potty myself. Only three people I know would laugh at that but I think it's funny.

Anyhoooo, my little baby is growing up and I am so excited to be diaper free for the first time in over 4 years! Markus is standing next to me screaming that he has to go potty again...it might be a long day.

All Better!

After a fun night with a badly missed friend and a nights sleep, I am all better! I feel empowered to conquer the world and tackle any crazy thing my little boys might throw my way. It helps that they are riding their bikes in circles around the patio table with Alex singing to the tune of the Drunken Sailor song, "What do you do with a scurvy pirate, what do you do with a scurvy pirate, what do you do with a scurvy pirate?" And then Markus follows singing, "Make them walk the plank." I love that they are best friends!

Not Winning or Conquering...Learning Maybe?

There are times when I feel like I am a first time mom just figuring this whole thing out. There are times I know things can go terribly wrong but I insist on doing it my way instead of doing it the way that makes the most sense. Today, I did it my way. The day started out nicely. We went to my bible study where the boys get to go into a preschool like classroom for over two hours. They love it and I love it. Afterwards we hung out with our friends and while the boys ran around playing, I ate lunch with my friends. So far, a wonderful day. Once we were done with lunch we packed up and I decided I really wanted to go to Costco to return the running shoes I bought and a shirt I bought for Phil. It was 12:30 when we left what Alex calls Brown Church. 1:00 is nap time. I know you can see my mistake...I saw the coming doom and I didn't care. We got to Costco, I did my returns, and then I figured we could get a few items we needed and the right sizes we needed for the shoes and the shirt. We got everything, plus some since it's Costco, and we headed for the checkout. I went to pull Alex out of the cart and he started to scream at me, "No, mom! I want to stay in the cart!" A few people turned their heads but no big deal. I tried to explain to Alex that the cart needed to get filled with all of the stuff we were buying. He decided he didn't care about anything and completely lost his mind. He started screaming so loudly now that I knew it was all over. I paid quickly as the lady behind the checkout tried to smile and make me feel better. I pulled the cart to the side and pulled Alex over to me so I could try to calm him down before we walked out the door. He calmed down enough to tell me he had to go potty. At this point I could feel all those eyes of people who have never had kids staring and glaring at me. Alex began to freak out again and I dragged Markus, the cart, and Alex to the potty. He calmed down enough to potty by himself and I thought this whole embarrassing moment, well 10 minutes was over. We went to wash our hands and I accidentally splashed a drop of water on Alex's shirt and pretty much he decided I did it on purpose and began to chastise me. I gave him a paper towel and told him he was fine, that it would dry. He insisted that he must also use the hand dryer. I said no. Then he began to freak out so badly that I realized that my only way out of this was to leave and leave quickly. I tried to pull my cart out of the bathroom and Alex, while screaming, tried to pull the cart back into the bathroom. I tried to pick him up to put him in the cart and he started kicking and fighting me and we were pretty much wrestling. Some poor lady was trying to get the heck out of the bathroom and timed it just right to slip out with out being kicked. While the wresting was happening I thought, maybe someone will call CPS on me. I remember seeing moms go through this before I had kids, and I judged them so harshly that I can't even put on here what I thought of them. So, I did finally get Alex in the cart. Prior to this I had been talking to Alex to try to calm him down but at this point, I gave up. The children, the groceries, and my purse were all in the cart so I began to walk as quickly as I could to the front door. Alex started freaking out worse than I have seen him do in a long time. I had to walk past every single checkout to get to the front door and every single person was looking at us with that judgmental look I used to give moms long ago. It was like slow motion torture. Alex was screaming so loudly I could hear it echo through Costco. I have to admit I just began to laugh. I was so embarrassed and there wasn't a darn thing I could do about it so I just laughed. Everyone must have thought I had lost it right along with Alex. Laughing Mary, screaming Alex, confused Markus. One of the funny things Alex kept screaming at me was, "Mom! You didn't obey me!! You need to stop right now!! I wanted to use the dryer to dry my hands! You didn't obey me!!" As I approached the front door check-er-out-ers I yelled over Alex's screaming, "You better go fast and check me out quickly!" Alex screamed and jumped up and down in the back of the cart all the way to the car and people looked and jeered the whole way. I strapped Markus in his seat, put Alex in the trunk of my car, unloaded the groceries, and jumped in the trunk along with Alex slamming the door behind me. Alex got "in trouble" in the back of the car. What I really wanted to do was leave him at Costco...maybe with those meanies who were making mean faces at me. We talked it out and we got in our seats and we actually made it home alive. He is sleeping now and I probably should be too. Maybe I should go on a walk...to the liquor store...no, no, no just kidding. I know that people have truly horrible things happen in their lives and I am so grateful for my life and my children but sometimes, I just want to put my head in a hole in the ground like the ostriches in the cartoons do.

This was therapy for me. You didn't have to read the whole thing but I so had to write the whole thing. Plus, I need to read this story over and over to remind myself that when it's almost nap time and we have already had a full day, I just need to go home.

Conquering

HA HA! You stinkin' brown widows don't stand a chance against me! Hi-Yah!!

Beginning Again

I have decided to begin my blog again. I am not sure how I will do it this time...just pictures, just funny sayings from the kids, just complaining from me? Today is Monday and I usually try to accomplish everything I need to get done this week, today. It's a fabulous way to torture yourself if you would like to try it. I figure we will go to Costco, clean the floors, clean the bathroom, clean the backyard, weed the backyard, plant my seeds, teach Alex to write his own name, teach Markus to potty in the big boy potty, play in the sunshine, make a menu plan for the week, and get in some exercise. Maybe since I needed to use spell check to figure out how to spell exercise I should put that at the top of the list.

I am trying to stay positive today since Alex decided that he "didn't feel tired anymore" between 2am and 5am. Kids are a lot of work and I feel like if I could only sleep again I would be the most amazing mommy ever. Maybe I am not staying positive...I'll try positive again later, maybe after Costco.

Big Boy Undies!

Alex asked for his big boy undies this morning and he has been running around the house with just his undies on!! The only glitch is that he won't try to use the potty unless his bladder is completely full. See, the problem with this is I only have a very small window of time to get him to the bathroom. We are praying for no pee pee in the house. We've been watching Nemo this week and I have to admit it is such a great movie. P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way Sydney...so freaking funny. Phil has the day off today so we are looking forward to our 3 day weekend with Daddy!

It's only 9am and already...

my couch is now pink, blue, and green with chalk...my back door is green with marker...my blender has rice crispies in it...