Out with the old and in with the new (year)! 2012 is finally here, like it or not, and the Strongins are ready! We spent the last few days of the year together, organizing our playroom, running errands, having playdates, participating in classes and hosting a low-key New Year's Eve party. Being home without our beloved nanny for 10 days didn't allow for as many opportunities to clean and organize as I had hoped, but it did allow for some brief time to look back on 2011 and look forward to 2012.
The year had its share of ups and downs - with Jason not employed, it was financially stressful on us, but rewarding with him being more involved in the kids' everyday lives. We started the year off with Zach barely able to roll over and ended it with him talking, running and climbing (all over furniture, I might add). Abby began 2011 barely potty trained and I could not be more proud of her for her accomplishments in the bathroom as well as in the classroom, where she is working on reading, writing, spelling and excelling in arts & crafts. As for me, I changed jobs early in the year and I look back on it with no regrets.
I am optimistic that 2012 will bring good things for us all. With huge milestones this year like Abby graduating preschool and starting kindergarten, Zach beginning preschool and Jason hopefully becoming employed, the year looks bright and hopeful (at least 2 days in). I'd like to get (back in?) shape and lose the few holiday pounds I put on, and maybe even start a workout regime. I also hope to reinvigorate my passion for writing, if I can squeeze that in as well.
Now if we could only get Sadie to stop peeing on our couch, we'd be off to a great start!
Showing posts with label potty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label potty. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Thursday, February 10, 2011
A New Start
Today was Day 4 of my new job at LG Electronics and so far, I have survived. It is a HUGE change from where I worked previously in the beauty world and in the city, but I have to say, it's rather nice to be able to drive to work and work with more men than women. I am learning a lot and adjusting, but overall doing pretty well and looking forward to some of the exciting programs I'll be working on (i.e. I get to go to the NCAA Final Four in April!).
I very much enjoyed my week off in-between jobs (could have used more time, honestly!) and Jason and I escaped to Atlantic City for a few nights. The time we had there with no kids and no "real" obligations was amazing! We slept, ate (a lot), got some spa treatments, shopped, worked out and even hit the casino. It was a lovely escape.
When we came back from AC, we had Abby's CPSE evaluation meeting where we learned that she does not have any speech (or any other) disability and she won't be receiving services. We had her tested because we (and others) often have trouble understanding her, but the evaluators said it's within normal range for kids her age. She apparently is in the "superior" range for quantitative reasoning (numbers), high average verbally and below average for "visual spatial processing" (i.e. puzzles, shapes, etc.). They said she is smart, "adorable" and doing great. While I wasn't surprised to hear that news, I was a little surprised that they thought she wouldn't benefit from speech services.
Abby's been doing GREAT with the potty - peeing and pooping with little to no accidents! And she is in underwear at night and 9 out of 10 nights makes it through without waking up to go until the morning. Amazing accomplishment in such a short time!
Zach turned 9 months old at the end of the month and is doing great. He is still not a big guy - only 12% in height and 14% in weight - but cute as a button and happy as a clam. We got the go-ahead to try yogurt and cheese, both of which he loves. While we are still waiting for his EI evaluation results (late next week), the evaluators' initial thoughts were that he would not qualify for services. But with him being over 9 months and still not doing some big physical milestones yet (i.e. sitting up on his own, pulling up to stand, etc), I am hoping they'll qualify him! We shall see soon.
All in all, the past few weeks have been busy and exciting for everyone!
I very much enjoyed my week off in-between jobs (could have used more time, honestly!) and Jason and I escaped to Atlantic City for a few nights. The time we had there with no kids and no "real" obligations was amazing! We slept, ate (a lot), got some spa treatments, shopped, worked out and even hit the casino. It was a lovely escape.
When we came back from AC, we had Abby's CPSE evaluation meeting where we learned that she does not have any speech (or any other) disability and she won't be receiving services. We had her tested because we (and others) often have trouble understanding her, but the evaluators said it's within normal range for kids her age. She apparently is in the "superior" range for quantitative reasoning (numbers), high average verbally and below average for "visual spatial processing" (i.e. puzzles, shapes, etc.). They said she is smart, "adorable" and doing great. While I wasn't surprised to hear that news, I was a little surprised that they thought she wouldn't benefit from speech services.
Abby's been doing GREAT with the potty - peeing and pooping with little to no accidents! And she is in underwear at night and 9 out of 10 nights makes it through without waking up to go until the morning. Amazing accomplishment in such a short time!
Zach turned 9 months old at the end of the month and is doing great. He is still not a big guy - only 12% in height and 14% in weight - but cute as a button and happy as a clam. We got the go-ahead to try yogurt and cheese, both of which he loves. While we are still waiting for his EI evaluation results (late next week), the evaluators' initial thoughts were that he would not qualify for services. But with him being over 9 months and still not doing some big physical milestones yet (i.e. sitting up on his own, pulling up to stand, etc), I am hoping they'll qualify him! We shall see soon.
All in all, the past few weeks have been busy and exciting for everyone!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
And, She's....TRAINED!
The Christmas Miracle to end all miracles: Abigail Jordan Strongin is (mostly) considered potty trained (during the day)!!!! Yes, folks, you read that right. My 3.5 yr old child who adamantly refused to so much as sit on the potty a week ago, is now wearing underwear during the day and telling mommy and daddy when she needs to pee! My dreams came true!
Here's how it all went down: On Thursday night, Dec. 23, the Diaper Fairy (aka mom) sent Abby a box that containted Kandoo flushable wipes & Pull-Ups, with a note to Abby that she was to take those items and put her diapers and wipes in the box to send it back to the Fairy to receive lots of great presents in return. So Abby threw her remaining size 4 diapers and wipes in the box and left it outside for the DF to pick up that night.
When Abby woke up bright and early on Christmas Eve morning, Jason "answered" the door to find the huge box from the DF with a million "B" and "C" presents in it (more to come on that). It also contained a letter from the DF, a potty chart and sparkly star stickers. Abby put on her big girl underwear around 7:30 am and we waited. And waited. And waited. The 3Day Potty Training lady told us to tell her to say "Tell mommy when you need to pee" and wait for her to have an accident and then rush her to the potty. By 1:30 pm, she still had not peed! Then, she had her first accident and we did as we were told. Some crying ensued as she did NOT want to use the potty, but we convinced her (ok, an M&M convinced her) to at least sit on it. A little while later, she told us she needed to go and lo and behold, she went and peed on the potty! OMG. And guess what - she did it 1 more time that first day and had one more accident, but 2/4 isn't bad for Day 1.
Day 2 came around and she only had one accident and made it to the potty 3 successful times! I have to say, this kid has a huge bladder - she held it in for 4-6 hours each day! Every time she'd pee in the potty, she would get an "A" present - an M&M, hershey kiss, chocolate-covered raisin, etc. and a star on her chart. 6 stars = a big "C" prize. The "B" prizes were for poops.
Day 3 - no accidents, more stickers and finally a "C" prize! Still no poops.
Day 4 - no accidents, more stickers and finally a poop - in her underwear. Another "C" prize!
Day 5 - no accidents, more stickers and another poop in her underwear. Another "C" prize!
Day 6 (today) - no accidents, more stickers, no poop and another "C" prize.
You see where this is going?! We are almost out of "C" prizes but still have LOTS of "B" prizes for when she decides to poop on the potty eventually. We even sing her favorite "pooping on the potty" song (thanks to Clara & Emma for that!) and she knows where she should do it but seems afraid to. But regardless of the poop issue, I am beyond thrilled that she is in underwear ("nighttime underwear" or Pull-Ups, are for night). Hopefully she will figure out that pooping in her underwear is not so fun and will try to go in the potty. And hopefully, the transition back at school next week will be a smooth one.
Not to neglect my second child - happy 8-month birthday, big guy! Zach got shots today and barely cried, weighed in at 17 lbs, 13 ozs, and finally decided to roll over from his back to his tummy (about time, dude!).
As we come to the end of year where we became a family of 4, welcoming a baby boy into our world, I recognize that it was a great year. Abby became a big sister and transitioned to a big girl bed; Zach was born and has spent the last 8 months of his life laughing and smiling and I became the mommy of 2 amazing kids and can only dream of what's in store for 2011. Happy New Year!
Here's how it all went down: On Thursday night, Dec. 23, the Diaper Fairy (aka mom) sent Abby a box that containted Kandoo flushable wipes & Pull-Ups, with a note to Abby that she was to take those items and put her diapers and wipes in the box to send it back to the Fairy to receive lots of great presents in return. So Abby threw her remaining size 4 diapers and wipes in the box and left it outside for the DF to pick up that night.
When Abby woke up bright and early on Christmas Eve morning, Jason "answered" the door to find the huge box from the DF with a million "B" and "C" presents in it (more to come on that). It also contained a letter from the DF, a potty chart and sparkly star stickers. Abby put on her big girl underwear around 7:30 am and we waited. And waited. And waited. The 3Day Potty Training lady told us to tell her to say "Tell mommy when you need to pee" and wait for her to have an accident and then rush her to the potty. By 1:30 pm, she still had not peed! Then, she had her first accident and we did as we were told. Some crying ensued as she did NOT want to use the potty, but we convinced her (ok, an M&M convinced her) to at least sit on it. A little while later, she told us she needed to go and lo and behold, she went and peed on the potty! OMG. And guess what - she did it 1 more time that first day and had one more accident, but 2/4 isn't bad for Day 1.
Day 2 came around and she only had one accident and made it to the potty 3 successful times! I have to say, this kid has a huge bladder - she held it in for 4-6 hours each day! Every time she'd pee in the potty, she would get an "A" present - an M&M, hershey kiss, chocolate-covered raisin, etc. and a star on her chart. 6 stars = a big "C" prize. The "B" prizes were for poops.
Day 3 - no accidents, more stickers and finally a "C" prize! Still no poops.
Day 4 - no accidents, more stickers and finally a poop - in her underwear. Another "C" prize!
Day 5 - no accidents, more stickers and another poop in her underwear. Another "C" prize!
Day 6 (today) - no accidents, more stickers, no poop and another "C" prize.
You see where this is going?! We are almost out of "C" prizes but still have LOTS of "B" prizes for when she decides to poop on the potty eventually. We even sing her favorite "pooping on the potty" song (thanks to Clara & Emma for that!) and she knows where she should do it but seems afraid to. But regardless of the poop issue, I am beyond thrilled that she is in underwear ("nighttime underwear" or Pull-Ups, are for night). Hopefully she will figure out that pooping in her underwear is not so fun and will try to go in the potty. And hopefully, the transition back at school next week will be a smooth one.
Not to neglect my second child - happy 8-month birthday, big guy! Zach got shots today and barely cried, weighed in at 17 lbs, 13 ozs, and finally decided to roll over from his back to his tummy (about time, dude!).
As we come to the end of year where we became a family of 4, welcoming a baby boy into our world, I recognize that it was a great year. Abby became a big sister and transitioned to a big girl bed; Zach was born and has spent the last 8 months of his life laughing and smiling and I became the mommy of 2 amazing kids and can only dream of what's in store for 2011. Happy New Year!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Ready...Set...Trick or Treat!
One day from now, my little man will turn 6 months old, and to celebrate, we thought it would be fun and appropriate to dress up and go trick-or-treating! (I can only imagine how much fun it would be for a kid whose birthday really falls on Halloween!)
Spoiler alert: Abby and Zach are going as a ladybug and bumblebee, or Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy from one of Abby's favorite books. We got a taste of how cute a bumblebee could be when Zach wore his costume to Barnes & Noble's dress-up storytime yesterday. He looked as sweet as honey :). And my little ladybug-to-be, who caught a school cold and kindly passed it on to her brother and mommy, is ready to rock her black and red dress, tights, turtleneck and boots on Sunday. Frankly, I haven't been this excited for Halloween in a LONG time!
Hopefully if we are all in good health and spirits, we'll make it to two parties, Stew Leonard's (trick-or-treating and free ice cream for kids in costume on Sunday!) and to our neighbors doors all before we collapse in a sugar overload. In a half-ass attempt at bribing Abby to use the potty, we already planted the seed that she will only get candy if she goes to the bathroom. We shall see how long that lasts!
I'll post pics after the weekend and I hope everyone has a fun time!
Spoiler alert: Abby and Zach are going as a ladybug and bumblebee, or Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy from one of Abby's favorite books. We got a taste of how cute a bumblebee could be when Zach wore his costume to Barnes & Noble's dress-up storytime yesterday. He looked as sweet as honey :). And my little ladybug-to-be, who caught a school cold and kindly passed it on to her brother and mommy, is ready to rock her black and red dress, tights, turtleneck and boots on Sunday. Frankly, I haven't been this excited for Halloween in a LONG time!
Hopefully if we are all in good health and spirits, we'll make it to two parties, Stew Leonard's (trick-or-treating and free ice cream for kids in costume on Sunday!) and to our neighbors doors all before we collapse in a sugar overload. In a half-ass attempt at bribing Abby to use the potty, we already planted the seed that she will only get candy if she goes to the bathroom. We shall see how long that lasts!
I'll post pics after the weekend and I hope everyone has a fun time!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
A First in 2010
Happy New Year!
We said goodbye to 2009 and welcomed 2010 with our friends Lauren & Dan in Bethany Beach, Delaware. It wasn't exactly beach weather, but it was nice to get away for a few days and Abby had a great time with her friends Sammi and Jordan. And did I mention she is still paci-free??? It's very exciting!
Last night was a very big first for Abby....while running around naked after her bath, we suggested that she sit on the potty and she actually made a pee-pee! We were just as (if not more) surprised than she was! We have been gently asking her if she wants to sit on the regular potty for a while now and she sits but never does anything, so last night she went in the potty seat that sits on the ground. Hey, whatever works, right! While I don't think this is the official start of potty training, I am excited that there could be a light at the end of this particular diaper-changing tunnel....
Next up is the chocolate ice cream cone I promised her if she poops on the potty. It worked for the paci, so ya never know!
We said goodbye to 2009 and welcomed 2010 with our friends Lauren & Dan in Bethany Beach, Delaware. It wasn't exactly beach weather, but it was nice to get away for a few days and Abby had a great time with her friends Sammi and Jordan. And did I mention she is still paci-free??? It's very exciting!
Last night was a very big first for Abby....while running around naked after her bath, we suggested that she sit on the potty and she actually made a pee-pee! We were just as (if not more) surprised than she was! We have been gently asking her if she wants to sit on the regular potty for a while now and she sits but never does anything, so last night she went in the potty seat that sits on the ground. Hey, whatever works, right! While I don't think this is the official start of potty training, I am excited that there could be a light at the end of this particular diaper-changing tunnel....
Next up is the chocolate ice cream cone I promised her if she poops on the potty. It worked for the paci, so ya never know!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
One more day of the one's
I am saying goodbye to the ones - in about 12 hours, Abby will turn TWO! What a mix of emotions I'm feeling - excitement for the next phase and seeing what she'll learn and do and nervous for the challenges this stage of toddlerdom will bring.
My hopes for her this next year (in no particular order) are:
- to love and prosper in preschool
- to become potty trained
- to sleep in a big girl bed (later rather than sooner)
- to learn colors (seriously, not everything is "red"!)
- to learn to share
These tasks seem minor in comparison to what she learned to do this year, including walking, talking, feeding and dressing herself!
In the meantime, we have her birthday party this weekend and then her big 2-year check-up at the doctor on Monday. Grandma Sheryl is coming in town and Abby's friends will all be able to help her celebrate this milestone.
Happy Birthday, sweet pea! Mommy and Daddy love you so much!
My hopes for her this next year (in no particular order) are:
- to love and prosper in preschool
- to become potty trained
- to sleep in a big girl bed (later rather than sooner)
- to learn colors (seriously, not everything is "red"!)
- to learn to share
These tasks seem minor in comparison to what she learned to do this year, including walking, talking, feeding and dressing herself!
In the meantime, we have her birthday party this weekend and then her big 2-year check-up at the doctor on Monday. Grandma Sheryl is coming in town and Abby's friends will all be able to help her celebrate this milestone.
Happy Birthday, sweet pea! Mommy and Daddy love you so much!
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