Growing up & Day 51. 314 Days Left.

Addison was looking for one of her loveys today. The “friends” that are not being used are lovingly arranged in a huge basket. They wait for her return… which is never a long wait.

She decided she wanted two friends given to her by her Uncle. They were named Bruno and Sly by her cousin Erin; amazing, even at three years old the names stuck. She came running out with Bruno in a panic because Sly was missing. “Come mommy, we have to find Sly.” She runs into her room “Sly where are you? Sly come out, come out where ever you are.” Huh, where did she learn that?

Jackson, on the other hand, has discovered a new word- entirely my fault. As I went to kiss him on the cheek the other day, he pushes my face away and says “GO” as he points to the side. Perhaps I should find a different way to yell at the dogs. Maybe I should remind him he is still only one and those fat chubby kissable cheeks still belong to me at least for the next 17 years.
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Day 51
They Will Always be My Babies

A Day with the Not So Potty Trained Toddler & Day 50. 315 Days Left

Toddlers are gross.

I wrote about some of my most disgusting toddler experiences thus far.

However, none can compare to this past weekend…

We went to a good friends baby shower. It was at a park so I packed a diaper bag accordingly. I must say after two children I am a diaper bag packing pro- I digress.

I decided to not only pack Jackson a spare set of clothes (he would definitely need it) but I packed Addison one just to be safe. It must be mommy’s intuition.

I will elaborate in a bit.

Addison is potty trained- she has been for a year; mostly accident free and very good about telling us when she needs to go potty. In addition to packing the change of clothes I decided to throw in a pair of pull-ups (which are only used for nap & bedtimes. Just taking precaution. I figured if she did have an accident (I was thinking more along the lines of pee) wet underwear and pants combined with dirt would make an awful muddy mess… little did I know what she had in store for mommy.

We get to the park and I remind her to let us or an adult know when she had to go potty- she was doing great. I was enjoying my time with my girlfriend, Justin was hanging out with Jackson and Addison was playing with her new friends. It was a gorgeous day. Perfect.

Suddenly I hear Addison… “Mommy, Mommy, Mommy hurry I got to go poopies.” I grab Elmo potty seat and take her into the surprising clean bathroom (which was five feet away from the party pavilion). She goes, I wipe her, she sit back and I notice shit on her shirt. After a certain age it is no longer poopies, it is shit. It is not cute. It is gross. Well, how the hell did that happen? I then notice her underwear, her pants, her leg, her Elmo potty…what is going on? She had shit everywhere- all over the inside of her pants, her clothes were covered. It. Was. A. Mess. A disgustingly huge and smelly mess. We were in a tiny cube and there was shit covering everything. I run and grab the diaper bag while Addison is waiting and crying about being covered in poop. I begin the clean up process which takes 20 minutes. Finally, getting her clean, putting her in a change of clothes (which were soaking wet because one of the sippie cups leaked all over… so much for my pro status) and cleaning the Elmo potty seat. Women coming in and out and laughing hearing the conversation Addison and I are having. We leave the cubical and I begin drying her juice soaked change of clothes under the hand dryer. Addison is standing there in her new pull-ups when my expecting girlfriend walks in and asks “what happened, you guys have been in here a while, is everything ok?” I ask her “do you really want to know?” I get her dressed and it is as though nothing happened.

An hour later, my hubby comes up to me. “We have another problem.” Are you fucking kidding me. What the hell is the matter with this girl? The bathroom is literally five feet away. So here we go again. Me, Addison, a tiny bathroom and more shit.

I have had my fair share of poopie moments, as most mothers have. I have been pooped on, cleaned up a dog poop eating infant and my share of finger-painting experiments; but this by far was the worst. I can handle "when shit happens" while at home. No one sees the mess; I have a shower, change of clothes and washing machine fully available. At the park I had nothing but the hope that no one smelt the remains of shit on Addison or me.

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Day 50
January Water Day in South Florida

Lets Play Catch –up & Day 49. 316 Days Left.

It has been an adventurous, perhaps even hilarious year. Just when I think I have finally hit a Mommy rut, life throws me a curve ball that keeps me on my toes.

2010 has brought me so many experiences, good and bad.

I have experienced a few bah-humbug moments this Christmas and vow to do better and be less stressed over the 2011 holidays. Allow me to elaborate… as with most stay at home mamas routine is the key to a happy home. Routine! However, with all the hustle, bustle and excitement of the holiday’s routine becomes a bit obsolete. Except for naptime. Naptime is enforced. Always.

I discovered my UPS & FedEx delivery times were roughly between 12-2pm (naptime). The doorbell rang (at least twice…why?), the dogs barked, the kids woke up (cranky) and me, I shouted FUCK. Finally, after receiving all the packages, it was back to our naptime routine, uninterrupted. No such luck…

One afternoon (five days before Christmas) the door bell rang; three times; WHY?
The dogs carried on, the kids woke up and I shoved everyone away from the door to accept a random package I was not expecting. I finally get outside and the UPS guy asked if I would accept a package for my neighbor. Suddenly I morphed into this Grinch… “Are you kidding me? You woke my kids up to have me accept a package for a neighbor I do not even know?” He is starring at me pen still held out. “Why, would I take a package for someone not knowing when they will come by to pick it up? I have SLEEPING BABIES!” He was still standing there as I closed the door. Poor guy.

That perhaps was my worst holiday moment.

So where do I see this stay at home mommies adventures going in the next twelve months? How will I survive, enjoy life to the fullest with the maximum amount of enjoyment and the least amount of embarrassment and stress?

I will not embarrass myself by setting a stupid goal to lose weight. It is not going to happen. I will instead try and embrace who I am, enjoy all that life has to offer, in moderation, while perhaps doing a little more TV watching from the bike vs. the sofa.

I could set a goal to be a better mom and wife but I think that is something I strive for everyday. Maybe I could vow to yell at the kids and animals less...but that would benifit my neighbors more than me. Perhaps I could try and actually write a post everyday but I have to admit I am pretty darn lazy and rather be sitting on the sofa, sipping coffee and playing catch-up on any TV shows I missed.
What are your resolutions and how is your progress?

Meanwhile there is so much to look forward to and be thankful for!
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Day 49. Christmas Photos.
The Train set