I am lazy-I will admit it

We should start potty training-I know it, but I am lazy. There, I said it. I know that you should wait for your child to take an interest in it and watch for signs.

Well, Lucas is clearly demonstrating signs he is ready. He has been interested in the potty-curious when we are in there, has seen and sat on his potty. At daycare he has been dry for most of the day on several occasions. And now we have the joy of watching him grab himself when he is clearly going to the bathroom.

After our friends visited with their almost 3 year old who is potty trained, I thought Lucas would take more on interest in the whole process. We started asking him if he wants to sit on the potty and he does, but only because he likes to flush the toilet. After a messy diaper, I recently flushed the unmentionables and Lucas thought that was the best thing ever! i even printed out a potty calendar with characters from Toy Story on it to help mark his progress.

I don't want to force it on him. I have heard from other moms that different approaches can work-having them wear underwear and feel being wet; sitting them on the toilet every 15 minutes to get them used to using the toilet. I would love to be off for a week and just be able to focus on this. But that isn't going to happen. So I will just need to do it. Hopefully if I set the goal for us to well on our way by the end of August, just before he turns three.

The Daily Groove

At some point in my web travels I came across a parenting daily affirmation site called the Daily Groove by Scott Noelle. Every morning there is a nice little parenting piece in my inbox. Somethings they really speak to what I am going through, sometimes not so much.

The one that I received on Monday was titled, "Unconditional Presence: The Oak Tree." Scott asks us to imagine an oak tree-that the great oak tree stands tall not because it is taking a defensive stance against the world, rather, it is simply just present and there. It is focused, rooted-unconditionally.

He challenges us to take the same attitude when it comes to parenting. When our children challenge us with their behavior, don't resist, just be present. Be rooted in how you handle and respond to the situation.

Another Baby Item Gone

Lucas has been out of his high chair for about 2 months or so. I knew he was ready for the booster chair, he knew he was ready for the booster chair, Marc on the other hand . . .

So the high chair has sat in our kitchen, up against the wall, all this time. It is a good thing we have a big kitchen! While preparing for our friends to visit, I covered the big thing up and moved it down to the basement. I will sell it at the next consignment sale or post it on Craigs List. I wasn't necessarily sad to move it downstairs but it has been in our kitchen since September 2007. I remember the first time we fed Lucas in it (January 2008). I remember struggling to put it together all those nights I had insomnia-pieces and parts all over the family room. One morning Marc got up to find me crying, so frustrated that I couldn't figure this stupid chair out. It felt like just another thing I was failing at as a new mom.

So now it is officially out of our living space. Next on my list, the crib . . .

Sweetness

I think I fall more and more in love with son every day. Even when he wakes up at
5am on a day that was already going to be a bit chaotic. Lucas normally sleeps until 8am so when we heard the cries on the monitor, Marc and I were a little surprised. Marc got up with him so I could try and sleep another 45 minutes but that wasn't going to happen. When I finally came downstairs ready for work, Lucas heard me and excitedly called out, "Mommy!" With his hair sticking up and in his slightly too tight pjs, he was the picture of beauty and love. And when he did a little dance in the kitchen when I was getting his water, I couldn't help but think, will he always be this cute? But the kicker was when I was ready to leave the house, Lucas looked at me and said where are you going? I told him work. He said, "No, I want to go." and took my hand. Sweet, sweet boy, my Lucas.