Elimination Communication AKA Early Potty Training

I made a few videos recently on the benefits of early potty training and decided I’d follow them up with a written blog for those of you who would like to be able to refer back to it. Potty training is a lot of work no matter how old the child, but I’ve found that when it’s done earlier, before your baby can talk back or run away from you, the better! It’s really a simple thing, using the potty, but training your child to do it can feel like anything but. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you want to try:
-First, make sure you can commit the time and energy to begin. Consistency is everything. Don’t bother starting if you can’t follow through.
-Expect to take baby to the bathroom every fifteen minutes to begin.
-Choose a sound to make every time you take baby so they can begin to make an association with the sound and go more quickly.
-Be prepared for extra laundry in the beginning! Babies will have accidents at first so be ready. Have lots of cotton pants and shorts handy and don’t bother with any clothing items with fussy buttons or zippers. Quick access is important!
-Enlist help if possible. 15 minutes go by very quickly and you will get tired of taking baby. Even now that my son goes every 30-45 minutes, I appreciate every time my husband volunteers to take him.
-Be confident! People may look at you weird in a public restroom, you may end up covered in pee at some point and your friends may think you are crazy but remember the goal!
There are so many benefits to potty training your baby early including saving money on diapers and preventing nasty diaper rashes. I honestly can’t think of a reason not to do it! Please let me know your thoughts and what worked for you!

What Failure Looks Like

This afternoon, as I got my seven month old down for a nap, I couldn’t help but think “Man, I’m failing today!” There are still dishes in the sink from lunch, I haven’t spent one on one time with my older kids who are home on Christmas break, my hunny and I left on not so great terms as he left for a work meeting (because I bit his head off out of exhaustion) and once again I’m feeling guilty for napping while baby naps, leaving the big kids to fend for themselves. I feel like I should be crafting with them or baking or...something but I’m just too tired. I feel like I should have done my makeup and hair this morning and chosen something other than leggings and a sweatshirt to wear...again. And I constantly worry that I’m not paying enough attention to my hubby, that the soup I gave him was too cold or that the lunch I packed him for work wasn’t good enough, and that it's been far too long since date night. Seriously, these are things that prey on my mind!
But then I had a thought. What if I change my definitions of failure and success? WHY do I feel like I’m failing? What standard am I using? So as I sat and nursed my son, I made a mental list of all the things I had accomplished in the day.
First, I read scripture. I always try to start my day off by reading my bible and I’m so glad I did! Next I took a shower then headed to the grocery early and got in and out before my kiddos even knew I was missing. Next I made a big pot of soup and got a few meals prepped for the week while I caught up with my hunny over coffee. Then I made the kiddos chicken sandwiches for lunch and watched some tv with them. While I did bite my hubby’s head off for not “validating my feelings” (poor guy..) I quickly sent him an apology text and he reminded me that he just wants to be my hero but is at a loss for words at times. All was forgiven. I kissed my kids a thousand times today, administered antibiotic to the sick ones, read with them, played Scattegories and showed interest in the myriad of projects they were into. I guess I didn’t do half bad.
I think it’s high time I start looking at the good and forget the idea of perfection—it’s just not happening. Kids are kids. Families are messy and life is always in flux. I may not always look or feel my best but God knows I’m trying. And God meets me right where I am...tired, cranky, empty and He fills me right back up! I want to be supermom and superwife and I think if I used a different measuring stick, like the one my husband and kids use, I would be hitting it out of the park. They think I’m pretty awesome so I think it’s time to believe it for myself!
Ever struggle with feelings of inadequacy???

Getting My Groove Back..Again!

Understandably, postpartum is not the sexiest time in a woman’s life. Case in point: As I sit here typing, I have my seven month old nursing on me while milk is dripping down my stomach, I haven’t showered yet and I was finally able to eat dinner...at 10:30 at night. I’m in a pair of tattered sweatpants, a breastmilk stained t-shirt and I am sporting a mom bun. There is just nothing sexy about this..unless of course, you ask my husband. For some reason, he’s still got it for me. He believes that pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum stage are all extremely beautiful. He loves seeing me nurse, take care of the baby and often looks after our little one so I can nap.
I, on the other hand, am having trouble being as good to myself. Now, after seven months, things have definitely improved but having a baby is hard, period. Maybe it’s because I have unrealistic expectations of myself or maybe because I bounced back quickly with my other kids that I can’t seem to let go of the idea that like a brand new rubber band, I’m just going to SNAP! back...physically, emotionally and mentally. As much as I look like myself on the outside, I don’t feel like I’m quite myself yet. My energy hasn’t returned and I’m still not sleeping through the night.
I think us new mamas need to be better and kinder to ourselves and try to see ourselves as others do. Here are a few things that are helping me stay sane:
- Nap when baby naps. I know, I know..it’s easier said than done because if you’re like me, you have a million things to do and it’s easier when baby is asleep. Or maybe you just want some quiet time to watch tv or read or shower in peace. I hear ya! But if you are not rested, you will be no good for anyone. Because babies sleep a lot, designate just one of their naps for your nap time as well. Maybe it’s when hubby is home so he can watch other kiddos or when the other kiddos are at school. I like to nap first thing in the morning after dropping the older ones at school. Just make it happen. You’d be surprised what good a power nap can do.
- Let baby cry. Again, I know this is easier said than done but if my son is fussing and I know he is just tired, I let him cry a for few minutes before soothing him. If I run to pick him up every time he cries, I’m teaching him bad habits and constantly have to stop in the middle of things to tend to him. So I finish loading the dishwasher, folding the clothes or taking my shower before coming to his rescue.
- Speaking of coming to the rescue, let people help you. I have a hard time with this because I like to do things my way but if you don’t let people help, you will burn out very quickly. Teach older kids how to do a few household chores and let your husband run the errands. If a neighbor offers to make you dinner or watch your kids, let them! You can’t do it alone.
- Take time for yourself. Read a book, take time to pray, talk to a friend on the phone, go for a quick walk or paint your nails. Taking care of yourself is so important and you will be better equipped to take care of others if you put the oxygen mask on yourself first.
- Learn to say no. You cannot possibly have the same life you had before baby, that’s just the way it is. Accept it and move on. Life is going to be messy for a while so you need to prioritize. Babies have so many needs and are so demanding that you will not have the energy you used to have so you may have to say no to things you were able to do in your past life. With the exception of a few visits here and there, I have basically been a recluse. One of these days I will be able to take on more but for now, I have to take it easy. So stop feeling guilty!
- Make time for other kiddos, letting them help you, nap with you or sit and read next to you while baby nurses. Just do your best to make sure they feel involved.
Good luck and hang in there! How do you manage your new baby?

It's Cookie Time

I am all about all things homemade, natural, organic..etc., etc., etc. Not that I say no to a nice, juicy double-double now and then but overall, I think carefully about what I eat and as the gatekeeper of my family's health, what we're all eating. That being said, I had a hankering for a simple chocolate chip cookie the other day and after some drama regarding cats using the area under my house as a litter box, cat trapping, offended neighbors, conversations with offended neighbors...well, let's just say nothing says "peace offering" like a plate of warm, chocolate chip cookies.
I fully intended to make them from scratch but as I was perusing the baking aisle of Stater Bros, a box caught my eye. Pillsbury "Purely Simple" chocolate chip cookie mix had an appealing box and though I'm skeptical of items promising to be simple, only to then be laden with preservatives, additives..etc., I was pleasantly surprised at the relatively short ingredient list. At $1.99/box, it was a bargain too! Into my cart it went. (Well, two boxes went!)
Let me tell you, this cookie mix did not disappoint. The cookies were moist, chewy, had plenty of chocolate chips and baked evenly. I sprinkled about a half a cup of instant rolled oats in there because I LOVE oatmeal chocolate chip cookies even more than regular chocolate chip cookies and they were a hit! I would definitely use this mix again!

             

 Yuuuummmmy!!!!!

Bread

On a mission to get back to the basics, I decided a good, homemade loaf of bread was in order. I was chagrined when my daughter pointed out that technically, the bread I buy isn't even considered real food because of the loooong list of ingredients and preservatives and that's when I realized that I had been cheating my family. Being a stay-home mom is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, I have lots of time to keep a clean house, make my kid's lunches, cook dinner every night, get my nails done while my kids are at school...etc. but the flip side of that is because I have lots of free time, I have very high expectations for myself. While I was working 40+ hours and juggling like a mad woman, nobody would question my getting take-out, being tired or letting the kids buy lunch at school. If the house was a mess, my husband was nothing but understanding. I did my best and that was that.
Now that I have time because I'm home all day, I feel this tremendous sense of pressure. There's no good reason that the house shouldn't be spotless at all times, that dinner can't be made every night and laundry isn't folded into neat little piles for each member of our family. Except for the fact that I am, after all, human. I get tired. I get PMS. I don't feel like cooking sometimes and guess what?? I don't like doing dishes! But this is my full-time job. This is what I chose. So to make the best of a very fortunate situation, I've decided that my family deserves better. No, not perfection, but little steps towards bettering our health and ensuring that the COO of this family stays sane.
Baking bread, I have realized, is not only a delicious venture, but a therapeutic one as well. The kneading, rising, baking...the process of it all gives me great joy. And the taste! Well, if you've never tasted fresh from the oven bread with butter and jam, you haven't lived. This small accomplishment motivates me to strive for more. No, I'm not earning a huge bonus at the end of the year or making important business decisions. I no longer earn a paycheck or contribute to a 401-K and we can't afford a home remodel, minivan or fancy vacation.
But what we lack in material things, we make up for vastly with the intangibles. I am there when my kids awaken in the morning and when they go to sleep. I take care of them before and after school. I get to be the first to hear about their day, their struggles and if there is an emergency at school, guess who's the emergency contact?? ME! If they're sick, I don't have to call off work to be with them and if they get an award at school, I get to be there, no matter what. For these things, there is no price tag. I would never go back to a full-time job, no matter how many sacrifices I have to make. So for all the struggle, there is bread. For every tear, there is a homemade cookie and a hug. When my husband has had a long night at work and just needs to vent, I'm all ears, coffee in hand. It's the little comforts of life that keep us feeling loved, warm, safe and secure. The aroma of bread baking in the oven smells like home. Try a loaf today and see where it takes you! Here's the recipe for my tried and true, versatile bread dough:

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup warm water
1 packet instant yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons oil

First, mix warm water and yeast in a bowl and let sit for one minute so yeast can "wake up". Add all the remaining ingredients and then mix well. Transfer to a loaf pan and cover, allowing to rise on your counter at least one hour or until dough has doubled in volume. Once ready, place in a 400 degree oven and bake for about 30 minutes, or until browned on top.
This recipe is great because you can easily mix in Italian herbs and brush with garlic and butter at the end or use it as pizza dough. You could also shape into bite sized pieces, bake then coat with melted butter, cinnamon and sugar. Once you've got it down, the possibilities are endless! Enjoy!
How do you make your house a home??

Disconnecting to Reconnect

Sounds a bit like an oxymoron, right?? But I think I need to disconnect to get reconnected...with myself, my family, my husband and my life. OK, so you're probably wondering where this all began. The past few days, I've been feeling a bit restless and honestly, a bit disappointed in myself. I've gotten a little lazy around the house, a little lax with the kids and just a little...dismayed. I wasn't enjoying things like I used to. Then it hit me. When was the last time I made a big, homemade meal? A loaf of bread? Created a photo collage or decorated a room in my home?? Too long ago, that's when. I have a restless, antsy, busybody personality and doing things that are productive, even in small ways (organize a junk drawer to relax, anyone???) keeps me calm, centered.
I LOVE being a stay-home mom, LOVE being with my hubby and kids and love taking care of my family. I just haven't been doing that much to show it. The times we live in contribute to a general malaise that has swept over our country like a bad flu. This 'anything at your fingertips, instant gratification' world we live in has caused an epidemic of selfishness, ingratitude and impatience because we are being bred to believe that we can have it our way, 24 hours a day. I mean, I don't even have to leave my house anymore if I don't want to because Amazon Prime will deliver any item I need overnight--with free shipping!
So recently, I've been on a mission to get out of my doldrums and do you know what the prescription for that is?? Getting busy! You must have a dream to stay hopeful, a purpose to feel purposeful or else...we simply atrophy, concede to the notion that it's just easier to go ahead and get take-out again, to let the kids watch another hour of TV, to zone out on social media and see what our "friends" are up to rather than sit on the porch with our neighbors and actually talk!
Well, I've found that for me, the more there is to distract from the good white meat of life, the more I end up consuming a junk-food diet. But not anymore.
Today, while on errands with my family, my husband received a group text from a co-worker about what he was up to on his day off. My husband and I were befuddled. Why did he feel the need to reach out on his day off to tell the people at work, whom he sees four days a week, what he was up to?? What's wrong with this picture? Why do we feel the need to capture a selfie on our phone of what were doing, eating, playing, just to post on social media instead of just...capturing the moment? So we had a crazy idea. What if we get rid of our cell phones and order up a good 'ole land line?? No more interruptions, no more distractions. Yes, this will make roadside assistance and googling good restaurants on the fly a little more difficult, but maybe it's time to go back to planning ahead, seeing friends face to face and getting more done in a day. I know that when I leave my phone at home, it frees me to notice the small things: the way the breeze rustles the leaves on a tree, the smell of grass in the air, the sounds of birds chirping...all the beautiful music God intended for us to listen to in the first place. Join me. Find ways to disconnect from electronics, social media, screens and reconnect with the things that really matter. I'll let ya know how it goes!

Dressing Room Drama

Have you ever attempted to clothes shop with your kiddos?? I'm here to tell you that no matter their age, it is usually easier to just go alone. Why don't I do that, you ask? Well. I have several reasons:
A) My children are home all day during the summer so there's really no ditching them.
B) My hubby has crazy work hours and is usually attempting to sleep during the day so it would be really cruel to leave them whilst I shop in peace.
C) They need things too and unless I wanna go back and forth to return ill-fitting items, they must come along.
Yesterday I had an itch to go to Old Navy. We have a beach trip planned next week and we are all in need of shorts, flip-flops...etc. I wanted to go because I've never been to the one near my new house, kids were bouncing off the walls and Daddy just got paid! So off we went! It was an interesting trip..
For starters, the boys suddenly developed an interest in fashion on the way over and were choosing outfits in one dark color. Black shorts with a black shirt, grey shorts with a grey shirt, navy shorts with a navy shirt...you get the idea. Would it kill them to wear a pair of khaki shorts with a fun graphic tee??? I gave them a few simple requirements. First, they had to agree on something to match (Because that's so cute. Duh.) And it couldn't be in funeral colors. So after what felt like a million hours, we fiiiinally settled on a white polo with navy shorts. Apparently, they were attempting to look "golf pro chic". My children are weird.
My daughter is at a funky age where she's a little too old for the children's section but too young for the ladies so we were on the verge of discouragement when she found a rack of adorable, a-line, stretchy dresses with plenty of fun patterns to choose from. Success!
I was miraculously able to sneak into the dressing room with my daughter while the boys searched for yet another monochromatic ensemble and chose a pair of light skinny jeans, a cardigan and a pair of tailored grey shorts (the thing I went for in the beginning.)
Overall, the shopping trip was a win although it took four times as long as I planned but still...I came out ahead. If you are a mama like me who, unless there is a vacation, wedding or special occasion in the near future that requires new duds, avoids clothes shopping at all costs, let me tell you, it was actually fun. I have been in need of refreshing my wardrobe for quite some time. Proof of this is that the other morning when I decided to shower and dress before my hubby came home from work so that, you know, he sees his wife in something other than pajamas for once, my kids asked "Mommy, why are you so dressed up??" Sad. So it was time. Just because I stay home with kids all day, there's no reason I can't feel good doing it! I hope you take it from me and once in a while, buy yourself a little something. Old Navy has great prices. I spent $129 on three dresses for my daughter, an outfit for each of my boys and a pair of jeans, shorts, and a cardigan for myself. Not bad!

          My daughter...having fun making faces in the mirror. The boys were outside running amok!