One Proud Mommy!

Disclaimer: There is a lot of Potty Talk in the following post so be fair warned.  Do not read if you are the least bit upset by the use of the words pee-pee and poo-poo....

This is a knight in shining armor any girl would love!

I have been dreading potty training.  Dreading it with all that is in me.  I thought it was an impossible feat- something that I could never actually get Jackson to do.  As ridicules as it sounds, I was so afraid Jackson would be in diapers forever.  But I listened to all other mom's that have already done it, and the one big piece of advice I decided to run with was this "Don't Rush Them".  Turns out they were right!  The first time we started thinking about potty training was March of last year.  He went in the potty for the first time March 6th, 2009 and then promptly wanted nothing do with it.  Every now and then we would talk about it.  He liked reading books about it, and see his friends do it.  But him doing it- no way.  So I relaxed, didn't push it.  Left the potty in the bathroom for him to see every day and just waited.  It is now June 2010- 16 months later and he is finally ready!  It's amazing how patience and truly watching the cues of readiness pays off.

Yesterday Jackson spent the day with and had a sleep over party at Auntie Bon Bon's house so that Scott and I could go on a fun date night.  I knew he would have an awesome time- but a part of me was so worried that being away from home only 3 days into potty training would give us a huge setback.  But Bonnie assured me that things were going to be fine (and of course I trusted her!  She successfully potty trained Anna.  She is a veteran. lol)  The brave woman she is took the two 3 year olds (both in clad in underpants) plus Anna as her little helper, to the zoo.  Bless her soul she said she saw more bathrooms then animals, Jackson and Sophie had to check out every single one!  But with only one mutual accident at lunchtime they did great.

Jackson, the "Super Spy"

The rest of the time at the Stenger house, Jackson was sure to go in the potty each time.  Only one accident while playing outside (too busy to take a break I am sure!) otherwise he was super careful to use the potty.  I am even more proud to admit he did a poo-poo this morning (on his own even, not even needing to tell Bonnie about it first) and then another one when I came to pick him up in the afternoon.  He was very proud to show me that he did "a really, reallllly long one!"  I am sure he will loooooove this story when he is older... haha.  The first two days he refused to go poopie in the potty, we had to put a diaper on until he was finished and then put his underpants back on after.  I know this is very common, so I took it in stride.  Never did I expect him to do it on his own this quickly.  But then again Jackson has done everything on his own, in his own time.  Weaned himself off of nursing, stopped the bottle, stopped the pacifier, moved into a big boy bed.... this kid does what he needs to do when the time is right for him.  And no sooner.  And you know what, the more we realize this the easier the big stuff has become. The dreaded potty training has really turned into not that big of a deal.  I am sure we will have plenty of ups and downs along the way, but so far I am one proud Mommy.

Captain Underpants

OK, so here it is-  Real Deal potty training has begun!  I have finally decided that it is just time to start up again.  Only this time we are really doing it!  No more messing around, no more doing it half way.  We've tried Pull-Ups, and for Jackson they just don't work.  They are the same as diapers as far as he is concerned, and uses them as such.  So we needed to pull out the real guns.  Big Boy Underpants time!  We have decided that there are going to be no more diapers except at bedtime- and here is where my job comes in for I know that consistency is key.  As hard and difficult as this is I need to stick with it and not give in.  It will only hurt him, not help him in the long run.

Yesterday was day one, and I think it was a pretty good day overall.  We had three in the potty and three accidents outside of the potty.  It is definitely a start.  The one thing that I was most nervous about was could I possibly be doing this a tad too soon.  Age-wise he is right around where he should be, he has all of the other signs like waking up from naps dry, very few wet diapers over the course of a day, not liking being in a dirty diaper, telling me when he is going to go potty.... but we encountered a new thing when we started potty training.  And that was as soon as he told me he had to go potty, he had a hard time controlling himself until he got to a potty to actually go.  The moment he told me he had to pee, he already had an accident.  We just couldn't get there fast enough.  But we are working through it, and I am determined that he can do this.  He just needs to learn some new tools he didn't have to know before.

The best news is he looooves his big boy underpants.  The first hour, he tried on every single pair he had to see which ones he liked best.  And he is thrilled that we are going to the store to be able to pick out the coolest ones he can find.  We have six pairs, and that clearly isn't going to be enough!!  I was a little nervous he wouldn't want to do it again and it would be a bit of a fight, but he woke up today excited and ready to put them on again.  We had one accident this morning.  But we kept trying and he was a great sport, constantly sitting on the potty and giving it a "go".  But unfortunately no go.  For some reason today he was ready and willing to sit on the potty but he had a fear of actually peeing in it.

Then this afternoon he had the beginning of another accident but was able to stop himself in the middle.  We sat on the potty for a reeeeaaaallllyyyyy long time, but he refused to go.  I decided to just take a little break and get some lunch going.  I didn't want to stress him out too much.  Well all of a sudden he jumped up, stated he had to go potty and ran to the bathroom.  "Stay there Mommy!" he yelled from the bathroom.  Two minutes later he comes running back into the kitchen screaming "I did it, I did it!!  Mommy I went pee-pee in the potty come look!"  And sure enough, this time it was for real, empty the bladder pee-pee!  Yay!!  He was soooooo excited, I got a huge hug and he was full smiles.  It was awesome.  He right away wanted to dump the potty into the big toilet and give it a flush.  We washed hands and then he just had to call Anna to tell her the exciting news.  And she was so awesome!  She was so excited for him, and by the end of the call he was walking on air.

Isn't this the cutest dupa you have ever seen?!  

This is exactly what we both needed to know that he indeed was ready to do this.  I know this is only the beginning- but it is a great start and I am so proud of my Little Man.

First Gender Dream and Big Ultrasound Scheduled!!

So for the last two weeks or so I have been suffering with what I thought was just bad allergies, just to find out on Tuesday that was indeed a sinus infection- ugh!  I have been so congested and miserable.  Definitely not fun.  Thank goodness I was able to get some antibiotics from my doctor and today I am starting to finally feel like a real person again.  On Saturday night I went to bed feeling really bad. I popped two Benedryl and off to snoozeland I went.  And on came the wild dreams!

I had a dream that I was so sick I needed to go to the ER so I could have a chest x-ray.  While I was laying on the x-ray table, the technician told me, well since you are here do you want to see if we can tell the sex of your baby?  I of course said sure, and immediately the x-ray table became an ultrasound room.  She put the goop on my belly and started looking around.  All of a sudden she shrieks and says "Congratulations Mommy, you are having a little boy!".  And then i woke up.  It was such a vivid dream.... almost seemed real, aside from the magical changing of rooms and stuff. hahaha.

Well the great news is that we won't have long to wait!  I made the BIG APPOINTMENT to determine the sex of our little avocado.  We go in at 9:45 on Monday, June 14th! Only 10 days away!!!!  Yayyayayayay!   So what are all of your guesses?!!

Jackson is very excited about becoming a big brother.  Every day it changes as to which he would rather have, a baby sister or a baby brother.  Last night at the library he picked out a Berenstein Bears book,The New Baby and we have already read it 4 times today.  He loves how Mama Bear's tummy is big like mine.  And also how Small Bear loves becoming Brother Bear.  He said that Sister Bear was cute when she was a baby.

Jackson loves to tell us what he is going to teach the baby how to do when it is born.  At first it starts out serious and sweet.  Like "I am going to teach the baby not to spit out food." or "I am going to teach the baby how to line up cars and play with swords."  And then he starts to get silly...."Mommy, I am going to teach the baby not to eat hairdryers!"  And then he laughs and laughs.  Always the comedian. So far no real jealousy yet.  Wait and see Little Man, your life is going to change unlike you could ever believe!!!

Our 3rd Doctor's Appointment

We had our 15 week doctor's appointment today and FINALLY got to hear the babies heartbeat! It was like music to my ears. The little one was at 145 today and when they saw it on my early ultrasound it was at 144.... could this be another boy?! We shall see! I got the go ahead to make my ultrasound appointment to find out the sex- SO EXCITED!!! I think one of the neatest things about today was the validation I got. For the past 2 weeks I have been feeling the baby move, the first week just twice, last week twice and this week every day. Well when i was laying down on the table for the nurse to use the doppler I thought i felt the baby on my lower left side. When the nurse was checking around she was looking on the middle/center right and not finding anything. I just thought to myself how i just felt it on the way lower left, so I told her to check much lower so she moved the doppler there and found the heartbeat right away!! So I haven't just had a lot of gas :) I really am feeling the little one.

Dr. O'Neill came in then and she gave us the OK to get our BIG ULTRASOUND!  We get to make our appointment within the next 2-3 weeks!!!  Oh man, I am so excited.  I can't wait to find out already.

------------------------------

How your baby's growing:

Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

You Know You're Pregnant When....

NORMALLY all you buy is granola, Special K or Kashi.... and you come home from the grocery store with not only Cocoa Pebbles but also Lucky Charms. (oh boy! hahhaha)

Guess Who's Made a Comeback

Nausea!!  Wouldn't you know it?!  It seemed to go away around 12 weeks or so, I was feeling great!  But as soon as i get into the second trimester it came back with a vengeance.  I woke up yesterday morning and was so sick.  I couldn't leave the bathroom from 7:00 am until after 10:30.  I finally called my mom and she came right over to pick up me and little man, so she could help if I needed anything and also to keep Jackson busy so I could rest in quiet.  Well once she got over I honestly didn't think I could drive anywhere in a car.  I. Felt. Like. Crap.  So she took Jackson with her and I stayed home.  I was able to rest some, and finally even get in the shower.  By 1:00 I was feeling much better, good enough to head over to my mom's.  After getting there and seeing Jackson was having an absolute blast, I decided I need to lay down a bit.  2 hours later(!!!) I awoke, and aside from feeling a bit groggy and only slightly nauseated I was doing much better.  I had spoken to my doctor and she told me that unfortunately when a woman still feels nausea this bad into the second trimester she very well may have it throughout the rest of their pregnancy.  Lets all hope and pray that this is not the case!  Yikes!

14 weeks, in my parents backyard

I Felt the Baby Kick Today!

This morning was my Mother's Day Brunch for my MUMs group.  Bonnie and I invited my mom to join us today, and right in the middle of a very moving, very beautiful presentation I felt the little peach move for the first time!!  I am 13 1/2 weeks along, so I felt this baby about a week sooner then I felt Jackson, but it makes sense since I already know what to expect.  On Tuesday night, after work i was sitting on my couch trying to unwind a bit on the computer and I thought I might have felt the little one.  But it was late, I was tired so I blew it off.  Well two days later while sitting still in my meeting there was no denying that this was indeed the baby.  Let the acrobatics begin!!

Good news, my nausea has seemed to subside a bit.  Hopefully for good!  Finger's crossed.....

-----------------------------
How your baby's growing: 13 weeks

Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce.