Babies Born ~ September 2007 #72

[Artechim]

MD, not at PIL's yet, we leave in a 9 days and will take two weeks to make our way down there. BIL won't be an issue, he will most likely leave town or the ever present possibility that he will check out early.
Good on you for getting your own presents

I have been attempting to TT Amelia while we are at home with no obligations. Yesterday went well but today is a total fail. She won't even sit on there now without screeching and has just peed all over the floor all day. I will keep going though, she knows what to do but just won't do it.
ETA, as I was typing she went on the potty on her own accord. Perhaps we may get somewhere.

[AnyDream]

Arte, oh I get it, it's a stop on the caravanning holiday. I was a little confused, I thought you were heading down for Xmas. Re the TTing, is there a particular bribe you think might work? We used lolly bribes for DD1 (and I'm not afraid to admit it) and it worked a treat. It might also be a good idea to find out what exactly she objects to. Is the potty seat uncomfortable? We bypassed the potty and just did toilet, that way they can aspire to going to the toilet just like mummy does. DD2 wouldn't sit on the regular toilet seat OR the fancy one with the steps and handles but she was quite happy to climb up onto one with a soft cushy cushion. So we invested in the soft cushy foldup one and she would happily go using that when we were out and about.

[Trillian]

Ladies, I think there's only one solution. Some pre-New Year online shopping, Trillian-style! I'm going to order myself a difficult-to-get collection of essays and articles by the now-deceased Diana Wynne Jones. Take that, Santa!

OH YEAH BABY!! I'm planning on doing the same for my birthday in a few weeks LOL.

MD, I'm not surprised in a way that this is only just starting to *click* with H now, because she's a 'good' kid. She's not typical for those dx's and doesn't have the massive meltdowns or the destructive behaviours. She's able to toe the line at school and pretty much fly under the radar probably because there would have been worse kids than her that needed dealing with kwim? I guess taking it further would be the difference between you just wanting her to have some skills and strategies for helping herself and rebuilding her confidence etc or actually getting funded help for school. And I'm not surprised by your DH either. Now that you mention the ADD, it makes a lot of things make sense doesn't it? I know there have been times when you've posted about things he's done around the house and it would just seem like a man who didn't do a lot around the house, but deep down there may be an underlying issue. And if it were me, I would have had a meltdown too

Arte, she will probably get it eventually, but at her age because she's still so little I would expect there to be more accidents etc than if she were older kwim? She isn't old enough to have the communication skills to explain it to her properly so she consistently does it.

Cass, those lollies are even worse than the birthday effort I had one year when I got an outdoors thermometer, a gas lighter for the BBQ and a bottle of mortein bug spray - you know those big grey bottles that you get from the supermarket to do DIY pest control . Lucky for DH that he got me a Pandora necklace the following year

Christmas was OK. I felt a bit blah for most of it, just felt super super tired and sluggish. I think the late nights with all the storms etc the nights before caught up with me. The kids were all super excited though of course and they did quite well - even BIL and his wife who are the champions of dodgy gifts came through with some pretty good presents this year. Which I know makes me sound ungrateful, but I would rather they just didn't spend money at all instead of buying crap gifts kwim? A nice surprise though was from MIL and FIL who gave us a $500 cheque to go towards the bathroom reno. It paid for our new bathtub LOL. So we're just taking it easy now. P and A start swimming lessons on the 2nd for 4 days and other than that we have no plans for anything.

[Artechim]

She gets a smartie when she uses the potty. She objects because she doesn't want to be a big girl. She likes her little lifestyle of being a baby and having everything done for her. She would rather squeal and scream for half an hour rather than admit that she can put her own shoes on (which she does all the time at kindy!). She is playing us and wants to stay on easy street lol. She has a (teeny tiny) bit of motivation atm since E is starting to surpass her in things.

[AnyDream]

Yeah, re DH...soooo makes sense! Classic example: his dad was fixing the shower (which DH had tried to "fix" a number of times this year, meaning: one time he didn't turn the water off and it sprayed all around the bathroom; one time he forgot he owned a re-seating tool; one time he put completely the wrong washers in and it dripped even worse than when he started; one time he turned all the wrong bits of water/hot water off and got a terrible airlock in the pipes which eventually I had to fix) so he turned the hot water off. Then turned it on again. At 8pm when I said the water wasn't hot, he insisted he'd turned it on. Then he went out and checked, said it was on. Got cranky with me when I demonstrated evidence of water coming out of taps not hot enough. In the end, I went out there in the middle of the night, with a torch, and guess what? Hot water switch was in the OFF position. LE SIGH. Then, the very next day, after I'd explicitly reminded him at least TWICE that he needed to pack BOTH of the layered icecream Christmas desserts (with and without alcohol) he packed one of ours and one that his mother made and so there was no dessert for the kids on Christmas day. And then they all accuse me of being obsessed with details and double-checking!! NO ****! BTW he's a lovely person who does a LOT around the house, but it's often done crazy, or he just doesn't finish it.

Sorry, just a bit of venting left in me...

Arte, we had the objecting re shoes and getting dressed for a long time with E too. I would just ask her once, reward her massively when she did do it, but then just do it myself when she didn't with a minimum of fuss/attention/energy. You can use rewarding E for doing things as a positive motivator for A too.

How do all the kidlets like their christmas haul? E's been playing with her monster high dolls continuously, and riding her scooter heaps. Other winners (with all the girls) include the tangle teezer brushes, the magic slushy cups, and DVDs and books.

[Artechim]

Trill, sorry, we must have posted at the same time. I don't think A is particularly young for TT - she is nearly 3.5. Yay for bathroom renos!

MD, vent away! I do use E getting rewards to get A to do stuff - there would be no way she would attempt the potty if E wasn't having a go and getting a special treat for it lol.

Fish and chips tonight, DH worked late and I can't be bothered cooking

[Trillian]

Sorry Arte, I thought you meant E brain fart. With A for sure keep up what you're doing. And TBH maybe even a little tough love. L was soooo stubborn and refusing to use the potty or the toilet so we had a masive screaming match and I made him sit there. It wasn't pretty but it worked and got him using the toilet.

Yep, super happy kids here. Especially L getting his ipod touch. He had no idea and even though he'd unwrapped the dock that came with it, I just told him it was for his shuffle and he was a bit meh about it, but I'd hidden their ipods in the tree and gave E's to her first and she's unwrapped it and showed L and he's looking a bit confused and a little disappointed, but then I said 'oh look, here's another present in the tree for Lindsay' and seriously it was like Charlie Bucket unwrapping the wonka bar - a little slow at first and then when he realised what it was he got quicker then he jumped all around the room in excitement. Parenting Win. He's thanked me at least 5 times a day since he got it.

[Artechim]

Ipod touches are very cool. And they last well - ours is over three years old and still looks and works like new. Even with the kids playing with it all the time.

A managed a poo on the potty and I may have gone a bit overboard with the praise: as she was going to bed she told me she was 'really proud of that amazing poo' lol

E is attempting TT but I am not expecting her to pick it up completely given her age. She has never wanted to be a baby. At 15.5 months she has over 100 words and she is stringing them together now. She is more advanced than W was.

[Cassius2]

Trill: that is so sweet how excited L was about his pressie! I love that! Sounds like your DHs present ideas were all about the outdoors that year
and awesome score on the $500 gift card! awesome stuff

MD: I am thinking that the girls (in particular Miss L) are excited by the haul. they both tell me that they dont want to go out, but just stay home and play lol.

That could be quite telling about your DHs activities

Arte: your Miss A sounds alot like my neighbours girl. just refuses to TT despite knowing how and being capable of it. she totally defies any attempts and will even wee on the floor in front of you lol. i am thinking that is about attempting to control their environment...classic 'three-nager' behaviour lol.

[AnyDream]

Trill, you have no idea how reassured I am to hear you admit to screaming matches at your house! LOL. That's so gorgeous that L loves his ipod, what an awesome reaction! H loves hers too, it never gets old. Glad the SIL/BIL came up with the goods (for once LOL).

Arte LOL at "that amazing poo"! At least you've made an impact. You might find you get some progress now. Feeling proud is such a good motivator . How do you feel about E's early language etc?

Cass, that's excellent your girls just want to stay at home and play with their loot. How are you finding the juggle now with three little princesses?

Well Christmas is well and truly over now. I think the ILs are starting to get a bit bored. I'm going to have to poke DH and get him to plan some outings for them. I'm totally over having people all over my house, leaving a constant stream of noise and mess in their wake!

[Artechim]

MD, you deserve a medal for having IL's crowding up your place for this long! How much longer are they here for? When mine are around everyone says they are happy just to relax and after about 2 days the kids are going batty and I end up having to plan outings to keep everyone happy.
I'm fine with E's quickness. I really love the new talker stage with the new words popping out constantly

Day 4 of Toilet Training Bootcamp and we seem to be having some success! Only two accidents all day. I can't believe how much a small child can pee. I put her on the potty every half hourish and she goes nearly every time! I spend the whole day feeding them all and cleaning out the potty!

[AnyDream]

Nutso. Facto.

[Ozstar]

Will catch up later but just wanted to quickly pop in and say happy new year. I hope that 2013 is everything you want and more! xxx

[Artechim]

MD, hope you are surviving! How much longer are they there?

Happy New Year's to you all. I sincerely hope that you are all having a better one than me - I am sitting alone half watching Titanic. Where is that tiny violin smilie lol

[AnyDream]

Oi! Arte! Happy New Year, luv!! It's prolly well after midnight there already but consider this a retrospective pash at midnight! LOL

Oz,my dear, the very happiest new year to you. And to all our September Sweeties!! MWAH.

And tomorrow you can all regale me with tales of your resolutions/plans/dreams, ok?!

[Artechim]

MD, resolution already achieved here - AF arrived this morning so I am free and clear of another September baby lmao! Really though, I don't really have any expectations of the year. I hope to enjoy the kids getting bigger and leaving the baby stuff behind. More uni, kindy, school, toddler activities. Hopefully E will start sleeping through the night.
I have been meaning to ask - did you go ahead with a summer paper or take the semester off?

Trill, how much longer do you have to go?

[Trillian]

18 months and counting! but only another 9 months until I can teach so it feels like I have less time to go. I lol'ed at there being no september babies for you Arte.

I really hope that this year is is good to us all

had a BBQ at a friend's house last night which was nice. The big 3 cracked the ****s because they wanted to stay there with DH who was staying the night. We were in separate vehicles because DH was working and doesn't get home till 7.30 and they live an hour away from us so it would have been super late by the time we went there together so I went with the kids on my own and he joined us later and planned to stay the night anyway because he was drinking. Nothing planned for today. DH isn't home yet anyway and it feels like it's going to be hot. Plus we have swimming lessons start tomorrow so don't want the kids overtired for that.

[Cassius2]

Hi girls!

our last day of 2012 was pretty hectic, and as usual since my Oma passed a bit of mixed feelings. We had a really fun BBQ afternoon with friends and the kids had a swim in the pool (which was freezing as we just havent had enough sun to warm it up lol).

I had an absolutely fabulous 2012...travelling, adventures, road trips, snowstorms, tornado nights in the basement, celebrity spotting (even if i didnt know the names hahaha), gelato, good wine, surprise pregnancy, baby, new awesome friends...I am hoping that 2013 doesnt seem too boring in comparison hahahaha.

But, with Miss L starting school, Miss M starting childcare and DH starting his new promotion I am sensing that it will be a homely year of growing and establishing new journeys and basically preparing the ground for new family adventures. watching the grass grow kinda year IYKWIM. I will start putting feelers out for more consultancy work. will get my qualifications in human trafficking prevention stuff and hopefully start applying for postdocs and grants...