January 9, 2009

I need way to encourage Elliot's independence...

They told me at daycare this morning that they are considering moving him into the Toddler Senior room, even though he's not potty trained, because he's getting bored in the junior room and that's what they believe is contributing to his aggression and lashing out, especially with the younger kids. He's among the oldest kids in his current class. He's been there since early September, the classes were blended until November.

So, I need to work with him on some things. (Not a prerequisite to getting in the class, just stuff I feel it's time for him to start learning and stuff that will help with the transition). Stuff like putting on/taking off his own coat, shoes, boots and/or snowpants. Or showing an interest in dressing/undressing himself. Right now, he shows almost no interest in doing it on his own. Not even curiosity. He just says "No I can't do it. You do it." when asked... or he runs and hides.

Of course, the potty training would be a great one to have underway. He knows the basics, but he's stubborn. If we're out shopping, he'll often say "I want to go pee in the bathroom." So we go, get everything off and then he'll say "NO! Maybe tomorrow." Often, we'll only get as far as the bathroom before he says that. I want to encourage it, but usually I know it's just going to be a big pain and he's going to balk at it anyway, so I distract him.

At home, if I ask him if he wants to sit on the potty (or toilet) or bring him to it or it to him, he gets defiant. He's peed on it a few times, but shows no desire to continue. I think I might make a big deal of getting him big boy underwear and spend a day letting him have accidents.

He's great at self-play and feeding himself (they don't even use sippy's at school - it's all open top cups. I know we should use them more at home.) I will be making more a point of getting him to dress/undress himself. Make it a game or something - no pressure. Just see what I can get him interested in doing...

January 6, 2009

I was giving Felix his bath last night. Jay went to reheat his supper and called up to ask me why there was a container of blend cream in the microwave.

???????????


When I heated up my lunch and then reheated my coffee and added the cream to it, I guess I put it away in the microwave instead of the fridge. I don't even have the vaguest memory of doing it.

After the bath, I came downstairs and discovered that the oven was still on. I'd forgotten to turn it off after taking supper out 1.5 hours earlier. At least with that one, I can remember taking the supper out and moving on to the next thing without turning off the over. Silly me.

This morning I filled the coffee maker with water, put in the filter then went to the fridge for the coffee. And got distracted rearranging things in there so there was a better bit. Then closed the fridge and wondered why i even looked in there in the first place.

I think I need more sleep.

December 26, 2008

Elliot got several floor mats with different roads/buildings/houses on them. One is called "Funky Town". He was saying it almost perfectly for a while. Now he's dropped the 'n'.

Oops!

December 11, 2008

Thirty-minute naps SUCK!!!!!!!!!

Felix usually has 1 or 2 half hour naps in the morning, a 1.5-3 hour nap in the afternoon (on me) and often another half hour nap around 5/5:30 and then is asleep for the night (on me) by 7:30/8.

Today has ONLY been half hour naps. And only 4 of them so far, too. He's flippin' exhausted. Of course, today isn't a daycare day, so E is home. No lounging on the couch with a sleeping babe for me! Usually, he gets an ok but solid nap when E goes down. Today, E was down for 3 hours but nope, F still did a 30-minute stint on me. Little bugger.

December 9, 2008

Elliot threw his cups on the floor this morning, so I made him pick them up. He looked at my face and said "Mama happy?" so I told him it doesn't make me happy when he throws cups. He blew me a kiss and said "There. Mama all better. Happy now!"

He's been doing this lately... he'll say "Mama, be sad!" So I'll pout and pretend cry and then he'll grab my face and give me a big kiss and say "Mama HAPPY!"

Silly monkey.

December 7, 2008

We were in the nursing room at Sears, and they've recently added another recliner so more moms could be in there at once. I've never run into another mom in there before, but this week, it was a parade! Anyway, I'd just finished nursing Felix (the other mom came in just as we were sitting down) and then Elliot started asking for mama milk. We generally only nurse one per day (in the morning) and I tend to try to discourage him if he asks at other times... except now he's taken to saying, very petulantly, "But I said PLEASE!" if we ignore him or say no to a request. So I gave in, I figured, why not? And told him he could have just a bit of milk. So he latched standing up and sucked for about 10 seconds, then unlatched and said thanks...

I felt weird - I've haven't BF'd him outside of our house in over a year! (Not a conscious decision, it just happened that way...) Not weird as in 'I'll never do it again.", but I was worried that the other mom would be judging me or something. She didn't say anything - but I didn't really look at her to see if she was looking at me oddly.

Then again - I was at a party today where someone was nursing a 4 year old... not my thing, but I found myself judging her. Bad me.

December 5, 2008

Two napping boys. At the same time, and neither one is ON me!!! Holy crap! And Felix isn't in the swing - he fell asleep, on his own, in the pack 'n play! Holy moly crap!

Poor Elliot has a fever, though. 102. He's very whiny and clingy, but still has lots of energy. Says his ear hurts. And his penis. And his knee. So we'll watch that and see where it goes. I hope he doesn't have an ear infection. Of course, he may have said his ear hurts simply because he didn't want me to take his temp again - he's smart & sneaky like that.

~~~

Must have been viral - we had a rough night last night, but he's much better today.

After a looong wait at the walk in clinic this morning, no ear infection. Lungs are clear. Throat is fine. And since he's also been complaining of a sore penis, the dr checked that, too, and his abdomen in case if might be appendicitis... He's in great shape.

Could also have been a reaction to the flu shot - he had that exactly 10 days before the fever set in.