The Infant-Toddler Experience

What's THAT in her mouth??

2010-12-13T08:48:00.000-08:00

Its her first tooth!!
Elly cut her FIRST TOOTH!!
Which would explain the puddles of drool and the sleepless nights... but she's also been sick for the past two weeks with a cold and I had my short but annoying bout with it as well. Mimi and Zix are starting to show symptoms, which means I should probably gear-up for round two for me!! (yeaaah!)

Mimi, got up to go to the toilet in the middle of the night for the first time on Saturday, I guess this means she's fully toilet trained. One down two more to go. Zix did #2 on the toilet for the first time last night too. Its been a weekend of toilet victories. They are growing up so fast. I was even talking to my husband about the girls weddings....he set me straight quickly by reminding me that Elly needed diapers...LOL

Since September ALOT has changed...

2010-12-08T11:16:00.001-08:00

Now into the mix we have added a third member 'Nana' as her brother affectionately calls her. She's our very busy 6 month old. It never ceases to amaze HOW MUCH she can actually do and even more amazing how much she attempts to do. She is small in stature but I don't think she realizes that she is the smallest one, because she gets down, rough and tumble with rest of them. She has already sustained accidental kicks and hits, sometimes in the face, sometimes she's been fallen on (by her big very ACTIVE brother) and she kinda just shrugs them off...sometimes she'll squeal (as if to say "hey buddy, watch IT!) but she is really a tough cookie.

She's already trying to ...get this... STAND UP (what?) Yes, she's trying to get and run with these guys I guess. For the most part she's still tummy cruising and is very quick and determined! I WISH I had video evidence of her awesomeness... Hope you don't mind as I gush about her for a while...she just cut her FIRST tooth and I think its to accomodate the LION sized appetite that she has. Needless to say my nursing career with this one is pretty much drawing to a close.

On to the other little sweeties...Mimi: I often have to remind myself that she is only 3, because she speaks to me in such a mature way, I find that I forget that she still doesn't have reasoning capacity past her age. But I love going out with her on our mall adventures, she is so much fun! We have decided to homeschool and now she's learning phonics and a little math. She caught on so quickly and as a result she sounds out almost EVERY word she says and tells which letter they start with. She is positively excited to learn and she can 'read' quite few three letter words and sound a few of them out as well. She is such a burst of sunshine!

Zix: He loves to tell knock-knock jokes. Well only one in particular, it goes like this'

Knock, knock
Who's there?
Nana (banana)
Nana who?
OOh! (orange)
(then he repeat about this about 3 or 4 times and then laughs really hard)

He's about a week away from being 2, and he is really starting to speak more. He still likes to make the sounds of most things, but strangers can even understand some of his words and he's starting put two words together. His favorite passtime is making spit bubbles though. Why...I just don't know, and he makes on by accident, he gets really excited and starts making them again.

I'll try to be more regular, so that I don't write a novel per post but...there's a brief summary of my infant-toddler-preschooler experience in the last little while!

Who says Mugs are just for Coffee?

2010-09-14T09:39:00.000-07:00

I have debated long and hard with myself if I should lead many down the this path but I can't resist!! This little treat is SO delish I have to share. **WARNING** don't make this more than once a day, it could be detrimental to your hips and waist line.

What You Will Need:

6 TBSP flour

4 TBSP sugar

1/8 TSP baking powder

TINY pinch of salt

3 TBSP water

3 TBSP vegetable oil

1 egg

DASH of vanilla extract (or whatever flavor you like)

1 Large Mug

I mixed the wet ingredients together before adding them to the dry. And just mix EVERYTHING until you have a smooth batter

Pop that 'bad boy' into the microwave for 3 minutes (1000 watts). Let cool and ENJOY!!

This can easily serve 2 to 4 people. But if you eat the whole thing by yourself...your secret is safe with me!!

My chicKIDees loved it, and me too (maybe a little too much)

A Cookie you can feel good about giving your little people!!

2010-02-18T14:41:00.000-08:00

I love Raisin Oatmeal Cookies, but not so much in love with all the butter and sugar that goes into making them. So I happened upon this 'Toddler Oatmeal Raisin Cookie" (courtesy of Canadian Parents Website) They turned out a little different from what I expected, but the were soft and chewy enough for even Zix to enjoy with his five and half teeth. The bonus: NO butter, not alot of sugar and loaded with good stuff for your little people and even YOU!!

So here are the 'gredients and directions:

INGREDIENTS

1 cup whole wheat flour

3/4 cup wheat germ

1/2 cup rolled oats

3/4 tablespoons baking powder

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 cup of apple juice concentrate (I used regular apple juice and added 1/4 cup of white sugar)

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 whole egg -or- 2 egg whites

3/4 cup raisins

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375 degree (farenhiet) and coat cookie sheet(s) with vegetable cooking spray

Mix flour, wheat germ, oats, baking powder, cinnamon and sugar (if adding it) in a large mixing bowl.

Combine juice, oil, egg and raisins in a blender

Blend until raisins are chopped. Pour mixture into dry ingredients and stir together

Drop batter by heaping teaspoons (the measuring teaspoons not regular teaspoon)

Bake, being very careful not to let cookies brown and become crispy - About 8 to 10 minutes

Let the cookies stand and cool for a few minutes (until you can at least touch the baking sheet without getting burned) and place them into a plastic bag. Do not seal bag until cookies are completely cooled off (This step is to keep the cookies from getting dry and hard.)

And there you have it!!

I loved these cookies and so did my little people, I would definately make them again! Warning, they are not as sweet as regular cookies, but it sure does feel good knowing that I'm giving them cookies chalked full of goodness!!

Playpen Escape

2010-01-07T07:09:00.001-08:00

I guess he had enough of being confined in the minimal square footage of the play yard when all of a sudden Mimi came rushing into the washroom (where I was doing my hair) and with a tone of panic in her voice "Mommy, look what happened!!"

Seconds prior to that I heard a crash of toys, but I hear the noise so often that I've become immune to it, unless its followed by blood-curdling screams. Anyway, I come rushing out of the washroom, to investigate what the panic was about...

and who do I see walking my way with tears streaming down his face... Zix, whom by the way was supposed to be playing with the toys that were selected with care for his stay in the play yard!

Needless to say, I knew this day was coming!! He climbs on just about anything he can get his toes dug into...so today he finally made the great Play Yard escape...I just hope he doesn't pull that stunt in the middle of night and try to make a Crib Prison Break, but I have seen him plotting, think I'm going to have to post some surveillance guards to make sure he doesn't make it too far!

Viewer Discretion Advised, this post contains graphic content

2009-12-05T20:27:00.001-08:00

LOL....
So Mimi is up to her tricks again!
Last week, she was on the toilet and she called me into the washroom with a sound of urgency in her voice. I ran, because I thought she may have been finished and need some help cleaning up.

But when I got there she wanted to share something with me. The conversation went like this:

ME: Yes baby, are you done?
MIMI: No, mommy...
Me: Ok, do you want me help stay?
Mimi: No mommy, I still need to make a poo-poo
Me: Ok, honey, call me when you're done
Mimi: Ok, mommy, I want to make a big, big, big, huge ice cream poo-poo

Did she just say "ice cream poo-poo?" Honestly, I don't where she got that one from, and for the record, it was of an ice creamy consistency...LOL

A Little Working out before bed...

2009-12-05T20:19:00.000-08:00

Last night my little lady was gearing up for bed and the unexpectedly pulls out my excercise mat and weights, laid down on her back and proceeded to pick up the weights and extend her arms above her chest and did a complete chest press. As she pumped her arms, she exhaled as if she were really feeling the strain of the workout. Then she looked over at me, and asked "Mommy, like this?"

Its amazing what your children are actually recording. Even more surprising is what they actually end up doing!

My 2 piece marching band

2009-12-05T20:13:00.000-08:00

Today I was chosen to be Dr. Mommy the bandleader. This was nothing official but for some reason, I had two little people following me around ALL DAY (literally) When I would sit, they would sit on top of me, if I stood up they would fall in line right behind me. Even when I needed to use the bathroom, the waited patiently infront of the door, so that as soon as I opened it they would be there to assume their positions.

The bigger one (Mimi) seemed to be horn player os some sort, I think it may have been a trumpet and the smaller one (Zix) kept shouting at me some foreign language, which I suppose the thought I understood. He kept saying "ddaaa, aaaadaaaa!"

At any rate, they followed me the entire day and I was happy when bedtime rolled around!

Just add WATER...

2009-11-13T10:47:00.000-08:00

This afternoon while I was preparing lunch for Zix, Mimi happened to still be eating her lunch. So I made for the little man a mix of sweet potato, an egg yoke and broccoli (trying to keep it balanced, ya know!) Anyway, it was a little on the heavy side, in terms of consistency so I added a little water to it, when I got to the table (where miss Mimi was sitting)

So the little lady says to me, "Water for Mimi please, mommy?" So I gave her the bottle of water, under the assumption that she wanted to sip it. I turned my back for a total of 3 seconds, no lie, and then you the sound that water makes when its a plate, well ya, I heard that sound coming from the table...I look and guess who decided that their spaghetti with chicken ALSO needed a little water too...

Well, that indicated to me that it was definately time for a nap...that's what I'm going to work on as soon as I finish up this post!

All the Funny things she says!!

2009-11-06T06:13:00.000-08:00

I don't know if I've said this before, but I LOVE to hear preschoolers talk, they have such an interesting take on the world around them. And the way they make sense of things is just incredible.

My daughter is 2 1/2 and she is one of the funniest people I know, so I just wanted to share with you some of the funny things that she says. This is an abbreviated list, simply because there is just SO MANY things, I can't possibly remember them all

1. Daddy was playing 'yummy tummy' and saw the opportunity for some well placed affection

Daddy says: Mimi, give daddy a hug

Mimi says: No daddy, you need to save (shave) yourself

Daddy: So I can't get a hug?

Mimi: No, first save you-self

2. Mimi and Zix are taking a bath together, and daddy put some shampoo on his head. Mimi starts to laugh hysterically.

Daddy asks: What's so funny Mimi?

Mimi: (choking back her laughter) Zix, look so funny!!

Daddy: Why does he look soo funny?

Mimi: His hair...hahahaha, Zix looks like frampa (grampa)!!

3. My sister bought her a toy pony, well a unicorn and she was calling it a horsey. So my sister says to her...

Aunt Roxy: that's not a horsey its a unicorn

Mimi: No! Its a horsey, not a HORNicorn!

Oh Mimi....what will you say next?

I MIGHT be bias BUT...

2009-10-08T17:48:00.000-07:00

I think that my lil man has the best big sister in the world!! She is such a darling to him (when she's not putting him in a choke hold or pressing his face with a pillow) She treats him so tenderly MOST of the time (the aforementioned behaviour usually only occurs right before nap and bedtime, when reasoning and rationale return after a rest).

But for instance, at bedtime, if she looks into his crib and his blanket has somehow become displaced, she CANNOT go to bed unless she tucks him in nice and snug. Honestly it is her routine. She checks the crib, fixes him up and then curls up snugly under her covers. Some nights she even gives him a kiss!

Last week, he sustained an injury (more on that another time...maybe...) at any rate Mimi poured over him like he was dying. Her face was so full of pity and concern. She covered her mouth and gasped...repeating "Ooh, you aright? Ooh..." brows creased and everything...then she looked at me..."Mommy, put ice in it? Oooh" gently stroking his face. I almost started crying!

Honestly, my prayer is that this lasts. They enjoy each others company so much, they literally go looking for each other during the day (whenever one is out of sight)...she makes him laugh and he makes her smile...I'm brimming with tears even as I type...

*sigh*

A Big Brother for Mimi

2009-09-27T01:29:00.000-07:00

Its so funny that no matter how often we tell Mimi that Lil Man is her baby brother she insists on calling him her big brother!

Whenever she introduces him, she'll tell people "That's my big brother!"

When he wakes up from his naps she will ask "Mommy, I go see my big brother now"

When he's tired and ready to go to bed before she is she will say to me "Nooooo Mommy! I want my big brother!"

And the way he looks at her, with eyes of adoration! It truly warms my heart to see the relationship developing between Mimi and her "big" brother!

Her Empathy

2009-09-27T01:10:00.000-07:00

Couple evenings ago, while feeding L'il Man he got a little excited and lunged forward and ended up with an eyeful of oatmeal cereal. Mimi winced with him in discomfort, she moved in close to his face and stroked his cheek gently and with the voice of utter concern she asked "you ok?" Her brows were creased and she looked as though she were on the verge of tears herself!

Last night driving home from church, L'il Man had finished his bottle but wasn't quite satisfied yet and add the mix a little tiredness. So if you follow through that equation, you get the result = a crying baby!! But as I listened carefully, I heard a small pity filled voice beneath the crying saying "Oooooh, Isie...oooooh Isie" I looked back and it was Mimi again, with her face filled with sorrow as she looked out the back window. She looked as though she was fighting back tears, she looked at me and said "Mommy give Isie milk?" I explained that he had already finished his bottle and there was no more milk left. What she said afterwards surprised me...she waited a couple of minutes and then replied "Mommy, Isie wants your breast, Isie wants milk from your breast!"

I looked at my husband, and I asked him if he heard what she had just said, he confirmed that he did and that I wasn't just hearing things...LOL!! Needless to say, L'il Man eventually fell asleep and when the crying had finally ceased she burst out of no where and said "Isie all better now? No want milk anymore!"

What a gal....*sigh*

I "NEED"...

2009-09-11T06:53:00.000-07:00

Pottying is in full swing, we've even done an outside of our home potty adventure and it was successful. She's communicating now that she needs to "use the toiyet" so thats a great help

We are now experiencing that peak of what is commonly known as the terrible two's. OOOOMG!!

I often ask myself....when is this going to end? Why does EVERYTHING have to be a struggle, why is my two year old daughter what to send me to an assylum? I'm learning that repetition doesn't bother a two year old as much as it bothers an adult!

Here's a sample: "want some milk mommy! want some milk mommy! want some milk mommy, want some milk mommy" Try hearing this first thing in the morning EVERY morning...

Then there are the I 'need' statements. Here is my fav: "I need to not go a sleep mommy!"

...and the all important response to almost all requests: NO! No Mommy, I not do it!

Sometimes she reminds my of that old nursery rhyme "I know a girl, with a little curl right in the middle of her forehead. When she is good, she is VERY VERY good but when she is bad she is HORRID"

I know this is just a phase, and honestly, this is what keeps me from calling the nearest crazy house some days. With that being said, I really think my life would be rather boring without her and her little brother...I wouldn't change a thing... for now (just kidding, I love em!!)

Please pray for us!

She's doing push-ups!

2009-08-11T08:05:00.000-07:00

I've been working out really hard these past few weeks and Mimi the observer has been watching! Today, she pulled out my workout mat, took off her shirt and starting doing 'push-ups', complete with the grunting sounds! LOL...this litte girl gets me all the time! I never know what she's going to do!

He's Bottle Broken!

2009-08-11T07:58:00.000-07:00

For the longest time, I've tried with my son to get him to drink from a bottle. He was plain...NOT INTERESTED!!

Well the hubby and me went away for the weekend to celebrate our 5 year anninversary (yay us!! Praise God) and guess who learned really quickly that its bottle or starvation!

My mom reports: "He fought me hard with the first try, but by the second time around he was even holding the bottle like he had been doing it all his life!" He's a smart cookie, he probably put two and two together, and realized that mommy milk truck wasn't anywhere to be found and if he didn't drink the bottle he'd be really hungry. (I wonder if he rationalized that way, it would be pretty cool if he did)

At any rate, he's FINALLY drinking from the bottle and I feel just a little more free after this weekend!! Thanks mom...couldn't have done it without you...Thanks Lil man...you have made mommy a bit more happy!!

7 Months and STANDING??

2009-08-04T18:20:00.000-07:00

Sooooooooooooo...tonight at bedtime, I placed prince charming down in his crib, as usual and headed over to pray with Mimi. I'm pretty used to him crying and screaming in the background, but for some odd reason the crying seemed to sound louder and filled to room more. I looked back, only to find L'il man, not only standing up but also hanging over the side of his crib. He was steaming mad and looked as though he was about 5 seconds away from straight, jumping out of the crib to tell me about it!

LOL....I don't know if he was so upset about me putting him down, or that he hasn't figured out how to get himself back down...what a card that little guy!

Potty-Training: By George I think she's got IT!!

2009-08-04T09:15:00.000-07:00

SUCCESS...victory is sweet!!

So we looks like our little princess had the potty thing down to an art! The only thing I worry about, is that she doesn't tell me when she needs to go, she just goes (why does that worry me, you ask?) Because, if she's not letting me know ahead of time, when in public, with no visible potty, we may just have a problem!

So we're going to start the outdoor training this week. I anticipate a few seat-soakers and couple of mishaps, but hey!! Its all apart of the process. I can't lie though, I am NOT looking forward to the public washroom part of training ewwwwie...my skin gets itchy just thinking about it!

Now I'm wondering where I can get some seat liners, for the car ride??

Bedtime Wars and Adventures

2009-07-31T07:53:00.000-07:00

I have come to realize that my favorite and least favorite time of the day is bedtime for the children. I look forward with great anticipation for the time alone, to unwind, to take some well deserved me and hubby time. I tell you this though, the road on which we have to travel to get to that serene place...VERY BUMPY at times.

IT can be anything from, Mimi wanting to tell us about how she wants to kick her soccer ball with Humpy-Daddy (Humpty Dumpty) to L'il Man almost swallowing the antennae on his monitor/nightlight. OMG...when I say that every night is something new, I really mean it!!

Lately Mimi, has been testing the boundaries, which is expected, she wants to know how far is too far. I've had to give her little derriere a 'gentle reminder' of where its supposed to stay at bedtime it is.

She pushes and pushes and pushes, pulling out every possible trick she has in her bag, until, words are no longer enough. She'll ask for a kiss on the head, then one on the cheek, until she is literally asking me to kiss her bum....I mean really (no pun intended) she really asks me to kiss her bum too...and me, totally enamored by her requests, keep kissing her until I finally clue in that I'm being hoodwinked!

So we've come up with a compromise where, we leave the bedroom door open as her a reward for her going to bed by herself. But again, lately I've had to do the "I'm going to close the door if you come off of the bed again..." Of course she has to test the validity of that statement and as soon as I finally find that comfy groove on the couch, guess who is peeping her curl covered head and charmingly long lashes out of the door with some 'very important' story!

Needless to say, when she pushes too far, that's when D.E. (Daddy Enforcement) comes into play, and she usually gets to sleep land relatively quickly after one stern warning from D.E! The funny thing is, all the while, L'il man is in his crib, peeping over his bumper and then burrowing his face into the mattress with shrieks of sheer enjoyment! As if he were being absolutely tickled by all of the excitement.

That's why I love 'em!! *sigh*

The Great Band-Aid Obsession!

2009-07-30T11:03:00.000-07:00

Ok so, I'm sure we went through this phase when we were her age(2)...but really, what is with toddlers and bandages?

I think I must have gone through almost a whole box of Dora bandages in about a month. Honestly, if Mimi bumps her arm on the wall and it turns a little white, guess what she's asking for!!

Its funny because she has the sad face and the pitiful voice down to an art. She'll come to me, all sad and looking terribly distraught and she's like " Mommy...band-aid peeze, it really hurts alot mommy!" So often, I just want to break out in a belly-splitting laugh, but you know, every crisis with toddlers is a huge one, so I carefully examine the area and give her the prognosis. More often than not, there is no need for the bandage, but sometimes, just to humor her, I let her have one!

LOL, like for instance, she got a boo-boo about 4 weeks ago while at my mom's house, and ever so often, she remembers that its there, and as if it JUST happened all over again...she comes with the face... and says "My boo-boo hurts again mommy, (you guessed it) band-aid please"

What a little gem, all covered in bandages!! She's currently sporting a clear one on her face (right beside her nose), its covering a week old scratch! I've caught her twice checking herself out in the mirror, and then calling from the bathroom "I'm looking at my band-aid mommy"

What can I do...she's too cute

SO many things, so little space!

2009-07-28T06:53:00.000-07:00

OMG...so much has happened since the last decade that I actually wrote something!!

Potty-Training:

It was an ominous task that was inevitable...and we have now embarked on it!! And surprisingly, its going VERY well. I know every mom thinks their child is somewhat of a genius, but I am convinced that Mimi is advanced in development (that's a whole other blog post)! So anyway, we started spontaneously last week by not putting a pamper on her, she wet herself (of course) but for the rest of that day, she went to the potty all by herself ( the only time she called for help was for the clean-up)...ummm you're telling that all we had to do this whole time was take that darn pamper off?

I was honestly anticipating many wet spots on the carpet and a few 'other' spots (if you know what I mean). I don't think that I should be that surprised, I'm sure the memory of the feeling of having wet pants was enough to deter this little 'princess' from ever having that happen again!

At any rate, we're very proud of her and she even has her own potty song-n-dance!

Little Hercules:

So I'm thinking that our little man HAD to come early or he was going to kick or punch a hole through my abdominal cavity. He is SOOOOOOOOOOOOO strong. I actually have to exert strength to hold him back some times. He reminds me of Bam-Bam from the Flintstones. Would you know that he almost pushed his 2 years sister over. He's only 7 months old!!

Yesterday, I was on the computer and he was just roving around like he often does...then I heard my printer make the sound it makes when its powered up or down, so I look down and guess who I see not just fiddling with the buttons but ummm....standing up!! Yes he pulled himself up to his feet and was doing some technical work on the printer. I can't believe it...if he starts walking anytime soon, that's it, I'm calling MENSA and getting both Mimi and him tested...LOL

It has been such a joy having the both of them, I want to chronicle EVERYTHING that they do, but there is just so many funny things that they do during the day, I would have to practically live in front of this computer to catch them all. Whether its the way that Mimi acts like she's a mommy or the way L'il man stares adoringly at his big sister, there are some many things that make being a mom the most enjoyable experience of my life!

Have a created a Sleep Stealing monster?

2009-05-19T12:56:00.000-07:00

Our son was born 4 weeks early, so he spent the first 7 days of his life in the special care nursery, so I'm guessing he was indulged in sleeping in any comfy position that he desired (because he was hooked up to a bunch of monitors). I know one of the sleep position that 'preemie's' like is on their tummy's.

Well when we finally got to bring our munchkin home, I think he was spoiled by all the 'comfy-ness' of the nursery, that he refused to sleep on his back. Literally he would sleep for no longer than about 5 minutes at a time.

Being so happy to finally have him home, we never tried to curb that preference we just let him be.

SO NOW, he's 5 months old and the 'rollover' KING! In the middle of night when he somehow rolls onto his back, he wakes up and does not know WHAT to do with himself. Sometimes, he'll just lay there flailing his limbs around, or he'll start babbling REALLY loudly (I'm sure the neighbours can hear him clearly) or he'll just resort to his most reliable form of communication, the good ol' bawl!!

Ok, so what do I do now!! At first this was a good thing. Him sleeping better on his tummy. BUT NOW... arrrrrrrrrrgh! I'm literally up every hour and a half trying to get him to settle enough to go back to sleep. And the thing about our son is, he's very social, so anytime his eyes open he thinks is party time. Quite honestly, as cute as his immensely large dimpled smile is during the day.... its NOT SO MUCH at 3am when sleep is dripping from my eyes like raindrop in a heavy storm.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!!! I'm so TIRED!!!!!!! Sometimes I contemplate putting him in a box on the couch and then going back into bed...

...that was a joke (for everyone who may be taking offense to that statement). But seriously I wish there was a way I could just, maybe put heavy duty Velcro on the front of his sleeper and then a strip on his mattress and just peel him free in the morning... heeey, I never thought of that before, maybe that's something I could... oh forget it!

I guess I will just have to endure for now, but does anyone have any suggestions? I'm totally open at his point!

Don't let that man touch me & The Needle Surprise!

2009-05-16T06:13:00.000-07:00

Oh the joys of pediatrician visits, they are always an adventure all by themselves!

I don't know if its the waiting room full of little infectious disease carriers, oh, I mean children or the long, EXTREMELY long wait times, or the way that your two year runs away from the doctor as if he had a chainsaw in his hand, and a scary monster mask on!

At any rate, the hubby and me took the muchkins to the doctor yesterday. It was time for the little guy's 4 month shots and my daughter has been having a strange rash on her back and tummy, so we wanted to that checked out too.

So we got there (almost an hour late) and were in a room in less that 10 minutes. Maybe we should try being late everytime, that way we don't have to spend all that time in the waiting room. I dunno...might be an idea. But anyway, as soon as my daughter made sense of the surroundings, she became VERY uncomfortable. Last time we went to the doctor was 2 months ago, when BOTH of them got their shots and she wasn't very happy about it and hasn't forgotten the experience since. So when she saw the nurse come in...she began to panic and fuss and ran to her daddy and clutched his leg tightly repeating in total desperation "up pees daddy, up pees!" She relaxed a bit when realized the nusre was after her brother and not her.

When the nurse exited, she left the door slighty ajar, with intense determination, she dismounted her dad's lap and ran to the door a gave it a slam and turned around to look at us and then exclaimed "Yay!! I did it!!" and clapped her hands. But then... Oh no, enter that nasty man (aka the doctor)! She scurried up my leg like a little squirrel and nearly choked me to the point of semi-consciousness.

The doctor bypassed her but she kept a very sharp eye on him to make sure she wasn't going to be caught off guard like the last time. "So about that rash" my husband mentioned. The doctor began to make his way over to her; now, she's squeezing me to tight, its a wonder I didn't just pass out. He extended his hand to raise her shirt from the back, and "aaaaaaaaaah!" (that was my ear drum screaming as it was brutally assaulted by HER shrilling scream)...she's crying "no, no! No, nooooooo mommy!" BUT quickly as it began it was over, and he left the room to go get the needle prepared. She arose once again, ran to the door and passionately slammed it again. As if to say "don't let that man back in here"

The nurse came back again...you can guess what my daughter did. But now its my son's turn. (This is the part where I became mushy). I hate getting needles, so I can imagine what its like for a little person who doesn't know how to really process the meaning of the pain.

Out came the first needle, I'm holding my son's knee down, on the inside I'm about to cry with him, and in it goes! The floodgates opened up *no not me* then what happened next utterly floored me. The second needle, here it comes... and... in it goes and.... silence. Um, silence? Baby? are you still alive?

That's right!! my little champ clenched his fists, held his breath, turned as red as a turnip but did not cry at ALL! Uh, aren't babies supposed to cry when then get needles? Well instead, I pick him up, checking for his breathing of course, and what is my little guy doing? Smiling with the nurse! What a flirt. I guess he was trying to show her what kinda man he is: "I'm strong, I'm calm and I can take a little pain" What a little man, already!

Trying to Sleep here!

2009-05-12T11:29:00.000-07:00

Nothing too adventerous these past few days. Nothing topped the bathroom pool incident yet!

However, we did celebrate our daughter's 2nd birthday and mother's day on the same day!

No party this year, we figured at this age, the parties are more the grown-ups than the child so we decided to have something a bit more intimate. And she enjoyed herself all the same! She especially had a ball diving into the chocolate chip ice cream cake we bought for her, which in my opinion was waaaaay too expensive, but she DID request an "ice feeem booday cake".

I'm in the process of sleep training our little guy. So that means there are 'cry-out' sessions at naptimes and bedtime. Well today, I kept him awake until 2ish (which the time my daughter usually takes her nap) *reason for this = I NEED SOME ME TIME TODAY* but...that's besides the point. So anyway, they currently share a room, so I put him in the crib and of course he was giving it his all, belting out from the pit of his diaphragm as if someone was after his kidney, and I left her on the her bed and closed the door behind me.

LOL...well after a few minutes of silence, I like to go check to make sure she isn't sleeping on her head with her feet at her nose (its funny how toddlers can be comfy in the strangest of positions) and when I peeked in on her, at first glance it looked as though she was sleeping daintly with her hands resting on her cheek, but upon closer examination, she was actually sleeping with her fingers in her ears.

What a card...even when she's napping!

Washroom or Swimming Pool?

2009-05-09T08:43:00.000-07:00

OH WOW!!

That's all I could really say as I followed my naked little monkey back into the washroom where I had left her in the tub, while I dressed her little brother.

I was extremely concerned when I rounded the corner and all of a sudden my feet were soaking wet. But then as I proceeded further, I found out I should have brought my swim suit, because my daughter had converted our washroom into a very shallow wadding pool.

Here's how it happened:

Earlier that day, our pooper-star (4 month old son), shall we say, put on one of his famous productions and so I had his onesie soaking in a little bucket. Well this little bucket also happens to be her favorite 'mini-tub' (kinda like those expensive little 'bathed with love' baby tubs that supposed to simulate the womb) anyway, she folds her long legs into that bucket like nobody's business.

So I'm supposing that, she wanted to use the bucket, but it had the onesie soaking in it, so she decided to do the most 'logical' thing and emptied the water out (on the floor) to obtain usage of her bucket. I guess she liked the way the water sounded as it hit the floor, or maybe she just like the way the pooling water looked, OR, no, this must be it!! She liked the way it felt under her feet soooooooo, she decided to fill the bucket, and then empty its contents again and again.

Mind you, I'm still getting her brother dressed in the bedroom at this point. Then I heard (you know the sound that poodles make when the kids jump in them)ya, I heard that all to familiar sound heading my way. She called to me "mommy, go, go" which means, she wants me to follow her somewhere.

And that thus brings us back to the initial reaction. Oh WOW...

I almost drowned in my own washroom!!

has this ever happened to anyone else?

Welcome to the Infant-Toddler Experience

2009-05-09T08:30:00.001-07:00

A place to share, to vent sometimes rant but mostly to express my undying love for my little ones! I AM learning now that with a toddler around, there is always a new adventure everyday!

So I wanted a place where I could keep a chronicle of these adventures daily. Almost like my online babybook.

Warning, the content my be graphic at times (as we embark on the potty training experience) and brutally honest. So while I don't intend to be offensive, I will do my best not to drive y'all away!

If you're willing, walk with me, share with me, encourage me and teach me through the shared experiences of motherhood.

I'll share my recommendations on products and gadgets when I can, give my opinion and would love to hear feedback too! Let's make this a community 'thingy'...moms always have so much to share, especially when it comes to our little ones!

Hope to see you soon again...you can follow me if you like, don't feel obligated. BUT I love meeting new people and making new friends!