Tips For Dealing With Potty-Training Regression

Just when I think the kid is ready to trade the diapers for big boy pants, he pees on me. Twice...

I just don't get it, he seemed so happy to use the potty, now he wants very little to do with it.

Gone are the days of him asking to use it.
Gone are the days of him going to the potty 100% of the time when I let him run around diaper-free.
Gone are the days of me feeling like I have ANY control over the situation.

DAMMIT!

I am so sick of diapers!

Unfortunately, my toddler is not.



I was so sure things were going in the right direction. I was so sure I was on my way to cutting diapers out of the budget. But then again, I was foolish enough to think he would be out of diapers by is second birthday. The wild-child is now two years and eight months old, and coincidentally, I feel like we are two years and eight months from him being potty trained.


It's true, when you push a toddler to potty-train--especially a boy--you are essentially pushing in the wrong direction. Knowing this, I haven't really pushed him, but more like, kindly encouraged him to use the potty, and still it backfired!

Speaking of backfiring, he runs off to the bathroom or an empty room to crap his pants now! THE KID HIDES! I know it's not a direct slap in the face, but it's a little annoying since he KNOWS it's coming, yet still refuses to use the toilet.

WHAT THE HELL??

There must be something to it. He is a super smart kid. He knows what he needs to do, and still won't! To add insult to injury, when I ask him why he hides, or why he won't use the potty, I get a blank stare. Even though I tell him not to worry, and that I love him, inside I am screaming, SHIT IN THE POTTY KID! DOOOOO IT!!!!!!

I reached out to my community and did a little research on potty training regression and found a few good tips; some new, some old...

1. Show him that his turds rival an elephant's. One mom said, her daughter's poops were the size of bananas, so one day she showed her... "I spelled it out: 'Your poop is too big for a diaper. It needs to go in the toilet.' It was a start."'

2. Stay positive and respectful. Completely giving up is not the way to stop making him feel pressured. I need to stay consistent and offer potty breaks regularly. If he takes me up on one, then I GO WILD with praise and excitement!  If he doesn't, be patient because he will eventually. 

3. Chart the Shart! So many people swear by potty charts. I bought supplies for a 'potty chart' craft project this week. If these charts are so great, maybe letting Ollie be a part of it's creation will really make the thing work.

4. Easy killer, this is not about you, it's about a MAJOR change for a toddler. I'm feeling like I need a slap, because for the hundredth time, I've been told to wait it out. One mom said, "It wasn't until he was 3, and then he got it in two minutes. It was on his timeline and it worked for us!"

 PLEASE, LORD... Let my son figure it out in 3-minutes!!!! PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! 

I wouldn't say the little man is in a full potty-training regression, but he is certainly not moving forward. As much as I want to throw a tantrum over this, I understand this is not about me-- or him messing with me--it's about a big confusing scary change for my toddler.  

He is going to be just like every other child in the history of children, he will go when he is damn well good and ready; all I can do is give him the tools and encouragement he needs to make it happen.




10 Fun Facts About Daylight Savings, All Parents Should Know...


 “This review was made possible by Double Duty Divas and Pampers. I was provided the featured product free of charge to facilitate my review, but all opinions are 100% mine." 



That's right, Daylight Saving Time (DST) ENDS this Sunday, November 2, 2014 at 2am, whether you like it or not! In honor of the future parental sleep depravation event, I thought I would share a few fun facts and tips to help parents deal...






Without further ado, 10 Fun Facts About Daylight Saving Time...


1.  Daylight Saving Time (DST) actually ENDS this Sunday, November 2nd at 2:00am. Most say it  Daylight Savings Time begins both in spring and fall, but really, it begins in spring to and ends in fall.  Still, for parents, both cause the same confusion for our children.


2. FYI: It's Daylight "Saving" Time, not daylight Savings time. That's right, no 'S' I still think saving is a horrible word, since in the fall no parent is saving anything, since no child cares!  If your child wakes up at 6am on Saturday, chances are, your child will wake up at 5am on Sunday... never fails. 



3. Daylight saving time, in the modern sense, was first proposed by an English entomologist, George Vernon Hudson, in 1895. Clearly, this man did not have children to remind him that the clock means nothing to a child. 



Fun Fact:  Sleep contributes to well-being in many ways, from physical and cognitive development to sociability and day-to-day mood. A sleep deprived child is no different than a gremlin! 



4. Daylight Saving Time was first observed on April 30, 1916, by Germany and Austria-Hungry to conserve coal during wartime. So basically, DST has been making parents cry for nearly 100 years! 



FUN FACT: Researsh shows trying to adjust your child's sleep by 15 minute increments the week leading up to the time change, will help your family adjust to the new time.




5. The entire state of Indiana did not observe Daylight Saving Time until 2006. Arizona and Hawaii still will have nothing to do with DST. I wonder if this is because all of the lobbyist are parents?


FUN FACT: After the fall back, it’s not uncommon to feel out of sorts the first few days of November. Exercise can help to improve mood, energy, and yes, help sleep! Take this opportunity to start family walks before or after dinner!



6. Always wishing for an extra hour in your day? 25 hours are observed on the day when Daylight Saving Time ends. So take advantage of this, and nap when your kids do!


7. Going to sleep at your normal bedtime on Saturday, should help you to get the extra hour of sleep most need.

FUN FACT: A 2013 survey conducted by Pampers found that nearly one-quarter of mothers (24%) felt that a dry diaper was the number one thing that enabled their baby to sleep through the night. So encourage your child to take advantage of that extra hour by putting on a Pampers diaper with THREE absorbent layers that provide up to 12 hours of overnight dryness protection!

8. Observing DST year round would annually prevent 195 motor vehicle deaths of occupants, and 171 pedestrian deaths, according to a study reported by USNEWS. It turns out we are much safer drivers during daylight hours.  

9. Children can be the most negatively effected by the time change. What about parents? Experts say to begin the nighttime routine up to an hour early on Sunday to help prepare your child's mind and body for the early bedtime.





10. In 2005, Kazakhstan did away with daylight saving time. The country's government reportedly calculated that 51.6 percent of Kazakhs responded badly to the time change. Really? 51.6 percent of Kazakhstan are toddlers? 



May the force be with you this weekend my fellow parents. May the force be with you...





For more tips for helping your child adjust to the new time, join the Pampers Twitter Party on Wednesday October 29th at 9pm EST.



Twitter Party Prizes Include:

·         Prize 1 - Twinkles Nightlight in Blue, 148 ct of Pampers diapers and a pack of wipes.

·         Prize 2 - Pottery Barn plush security blanket, $50 Barnes & Noble gift card, a pack of Pampers diapers and wipes.

·         Prize 3 - A gift card to The $125 Children's Place for pajamas, a pack of Pampers diapers/wipes

·         Prize 4 - A Kindle Fire so parents can purchase baby bedtime books, an $100 Amazon gift card to purchase the e-books, a pack of Pampers diapers and wipes.

To RSVP for the twitter party, Click Here

To learn more about Pampers, connect with them on Facebook and Twitter


Want more chances to win? Win a free pack of diapers Pamper 12 hour protection diapers ($13.99) and Pampers Wipes ($3.99) sign up below! 

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10 Random Things That Make Parenting So Much Easier.

While talking with a girlfriend about all of the contraptions, toys and crap kids want and need to make their life complete, it dawned on us, that some of the most basic random things are all we want need to make our life as a parent complete. Without further ado, today's 'Top 10 Tuesday' is all about 10 Random Things That Make Parenting So Much Easier.


1. A good case for my Smartphone- I know it's probably bad to kick off the list with talk of my phone, but I'll be honest, right now my toddler is OBSESSED with it! Because of that, a good sturdy case has saved my phone on so many occasions. If the kid is not dropping it, or putting sticky finger prints on it, he is smacking it because he is pissed at a game. (We are working on reeling in the latter.)  A good phone case is key in my kingdom. Since my phone is also key in my kingdom for buying 15 minutes of peace and quiet out of my toddler.


2. The ghetto DVD car player- Just because I don't drive a fancy car with a fancy home theater in the back of every headrest and drop down DVD players, doesn't mean I can't get the same effect with a little creativity!  When stuck in traffic or on a long drive, I find Mickey Mouse Club House or Caillou on YouTube, then shove it between the headrest and seat. That way Ollie can see it, but not hold it, which inevitably leads to him screwing it up and begging me to put Mickey back on.


This is a fancy iPad holder.
I still prefer to shove my phone in the space between the headrest and the seat.
It works and it's free.

3. The safe place. Even though the wild-child is old enough to sit in his booster chair at the table without the tray attachment, I still stick him in it for snack time so I can steal a few minutes to get things done, or catch my breath. Plus, if I let him eat in a regular chair he is up and down and up and down... It drives me crazy! The safe place is safe for him to eat, and safe to stay put while I do something around the house. You know there is nothing more dangerous than taking your eyes off a toddler. Especially, mine.

4. The white noise machine. Who knew the sweet little white noise Giraffe I got at my baby shower would still be an essential part of my child's bedtime routine nearly three years later? Mr. Giraffe has been a life saver so many times for getting Ollie to sleep in a noisy house, or just to comfort him with it's soothing noises. I have a feeling we will have Mr. Giraffe for a VERY long time.  In fact, I'd probably cry right along with the kid if we lost him.

5. BABY WIPES! I love baby wipes. FREAKING LOVE THEM! There is no limit to what they can do for me in a day. From cleaning up messes, to wiping down the messy counters in a pinch, to cleaning up my car, to wiping up paint drops when I'm renovating, baby wipes are for WAY more than wiping my kid's butt.

6. Pre-planned activities. Being that my kid has the attention span of a blowfly, in a single day we can go through a ridiculous amount of activities. Anyone with a toddler knows the minute they are board, hell breaks lose. So in an attempt to keep order in my home, I always have back-up activities to do; preferably, things Ollie has never done. I stock up on cheap crafts and busy toddler activities at the dollar store and craft store, so when the kid gets crazy, I can talk him down with a paint by numbers. Works every time!


7. Child's day out program. I would be SO freaking lost without my two-day a week break from my toddler. For three GLORIOUS hours a twice a week, Ollie is at church playing, coloring and learning, while I am doing whatever I want. #Bliss #Fabulous #ThankYouJesus #WouldLoseMyShitWithoutIt 

8. The greatest invention ever, the Magic Eraser! My house would look like a toddler run shithole without those magic little white sponges. Between Ollie's art projects with my make-up, to crayon on daddy's brand new TV, to PB&J smeared on EVERYTHING, to even Sharpie on my ugly ass counter tops....the Magic Eraser never ceases to amaze me.



9. Playdates. I LOVE playdates. For the hour or so that the playdate is going on, my kid plays happily with his friend, while I chat with my friend. It's so much easier for me to have another kid over, than just having Ollie. When it's just us, he needs ALL of my attention. When his playdate is over, I might as well be meatloaf. He could care less about what I am doing. I get to sit on the couch chatting away while he plays happily at my feet with his little friend. If I could, I would have a playdate daily.

10. The Reset Button.  Above all, the greatest thing is the Mommy Reset Button. When I'm at the end of my rope, I hit it HARD! What is it you ask?  It's a night out with my girlfriends! When it's over, I feel refreshed and amazing! Here is a photo from the last time I SMASHED the reset button... (Read all about it, here.)


I'm Hiding The Truth From My Son For As Long As Possible.

Prior to meeting FTD, right after my 30th birthday, I was sure I would never have children, for two really good reasons:

1. I thought I was just too selfish to be a good mother. (What? At least I'm honest!)
2. I felt like the world was just too jacked up to bring a child into it.

Then... I saw how FTD lit up around children, and what's more, how wonderful he was with them. I'm sure it helps that FTD is a super big child himself... I knew there was no way I could keep FTD from having a child of his own. I also decided where I thought I'd lack in the parenting department, he would make up for it.

I was right, he is AMAZING with our son, and a better father than I ever could have imagined. I also have to say, I'm a much better mother than I thought would be! I think it's the overwhelming love I have for my son that has turned me from selfish, to selfless.

All of that being said, all the love we have for our child, doesn't change how jacked-ass-up the world is. But if my son has taught me anything, it's that when we are alone together, the world is perfect, peaceful and wonderful. I plan to keep it that way for as long as possible, by shielding him from the horrific realities of the world.  What he doesn't know, can't worry or scare him.


Family Fun Ideas To Make The Winter Weekends Less Blah...


Vote For Me!

With the winter months looming, it's time to look for some indoor activities to make those cold days a little less blah.  In an attempt to be prepared, I have scoured the internet looking for fun and easy crafts and activities to make those days a little less blah!

Before I go any further, I want you to know I am a very realistic mother, with realistic expectations of my child.  I have a toddler, I expect something a few notches below this...




And as for FTD ... the last time I asked him to help me with a review of organic Play-Doh, he made a huge penis. Needless to say, I have VERY low expectations of him too. Still, those two are going to play arts and crafts with me or else! 

Knowing that the pressure was on to find a fun family project that Ollie could safely do, you know not eat the glue, choke on the candy or finger paint the house... and that FTD can do without making huge penises, I found a couple of fun projects where I kind of prep the whole thing, then they come in  to put their stamp on it.  

Without further ado... a few of my favorites to beat the blah....
This is a perfect perfect holiday gift!
 Maybe find a way to incorporate a picture and a frame?

First of all the snacks, because snacks are necessary... 

I was thinking I could have FTD and Ollie do something like this, because they are boys, and boys like food. 


So cute!
Any idea what the eyes and nose are made of?
Now on to the crafts...


 A Bird Feeder made with crap already laying around the house!
#LOVE
This is great.
I can get FTD to poke the holes for the spoons,
and let ollie help me fill the bottles.
That's family fun!
Plus, I really like the idea of making something that will actually be used.

I have always loved this idea.
I am just afraid I will have a trail of little red toes
running through the house.

This one is GOLD!
No, I am not on drugs, hear me out...
I plan to go get glue and popsicle sticks and see what we all make...
in a few years.
Or at least when Ollie gets to the point that he does not want to eat the glue.
I think this is the one... A salt-dough stepping stone... or really, I will probably just go to the craft store and buy the kit.  I was thinking I could do one every year, then build a path or garden border in the yard with them. I do not have any hand prints of Ollie yet, so this project gave me the motivation I needed to make it happen! I bet I can fit both feet and hands on a heart! There is also the possibility of doing one with all of our hands, or feet... The possibilities are freaking endless!!!


And last...  tow ideas for the big kids....

For you glue gun owners. This idea is AWESOME!  Providing you have extra Scrabble tiles laying around begging to be glued together...


  



Not following us on social media yet? You're missing out on our behind the scenes tips, DIY, humor and nonsense, and trust me, it's complete and utter nonsense.

The #Renovations Are Complete! Wait Until You See The Before And Afters... #Havenly #DIY

Remember how I started working with the interior design firm, Havenly, as a brand ambassador to overhaul my big strange front room? I am so excited to report, I'm finished! After three weeks of back breaking scrubbing, spackling, sanding, painting, DIY and renovation nightmares, the dining room, entry way and sitting room are finally ticked off my list! The most amazing thing is after all of that, I'd say I came pretty close to matching the interior designers renderings...



Are you ready for some seriously amazing before and afters? 

For those of you just joining me, Havenly interior design, is an eDesign firm that offers incredibly affordable interior design services! All you do is sign up, answer a few questions, send over photos of the room(s) you want designed, and then within 48 hours, your personal interior designer is calling you to make a game plan! 

It's a three step process:

1. Consultation.
2. Concepts
3. Rendering



This is what I sent Havenly to work with...




This is how it turned out...



Now... the details...

Lets start with the entryway, since that's the first thing you see when you walk in the front door... 

We began the renovations faced with evil green walls and doodoo brown trim. To each their own I guess... (Read: WTF WAS THAT LADY THINKING???)  

Once we primed the walls and trim, we patched, sanded and painted... We patched after priming because the filthy color covered the imperfections so well, I kept having to go back over areas, I finally got frustrates and paint everything with white primer to easily show the MILLIONS of flaws.  The house is nearly 100 years old, so it's to be expected...

As you can see, before working with Havenly, I was having a horrible time picking the colors for the room. I just kept painting colors all over, which I learned was a fail since the green skewed the look. Thankfully, Shelby, my interior designer, steered me in the right direction! 




OK, so it's not the same, but as much as I wanted that table, or really one similar to it I found at Pier1 Imports--that I visit from time-to-time. For now, the buffet that matches our dining table will have to do. Which is not such a bad thing! I'm still on the hunt for a similar mirror... or if I win the lottery, I can just buy that one!

Next up... our beautiful dining room!

This room needed so much work! The former owner put a massive built-in in this area. Being that I think it's a crime to block windows, we restored the walls, cleaned up the floor, primed and painted. 

This room was a true labor of love...



Even though the room is rather bare, I love that it lets plenty of air and light pass through the room. I now spend a great deal of time working at the table with the sun shining on my face. #Bliss



We still need to put in a light fixture, but other than that, we did great matching the rendering I'd say!

I did add a plant in the corner, and had to leave out the curtains from the rendering, because we had to buy new mini blinds for all SIX windows and the front door.  

FYI: The painting on the wall was painted by my grandmother, and hung in her dining room for years. It means the world to me to have it in my dining room now. Oh, and once we buy the right table for the entry, I'll move the buffet back behind the table. 

Last, but OMG, certainly not the least amount of work! To add insult to injury, the fire place was FILTHY! The former owner used furniture polish weekly for 50+ years to keep the Rookwood tiles shiny. Then she she stopped... 10 years later, the buildup is FUNKY! It took me hours to get the first few layers of gunk stripped back. I'm probably halfway finished cleaning it. I finally quit and decided every week I'll work really hard on a few tile squares until I have the fireplace restored to it's original beauty.


I'm SO happy with the final result. It was worth the blood, sweat, cuss words and tears. With six windows, one door and a ridiculous amount of trim, I will NEVER paint this room again! 



What do you think?  I know the rooms are not exactly like the renderings, but our budget was tight, so some of the accessories had to be left out.  I did spring for the rug, and a couple of Surefit covers until I can afford fabulous chairs. I was thinking I would do an update in a year to see how much has changed.  For now, I am in love!

So what's next?  Our bedroom, because I am exhausted and need a sanctuary. Next Friday, I'll post the pictures and the plan! Which pretty much amounts to new everything. Paint, furniture and most of all, a new Mattress! I need a king size mattress to fit my entire family comfortably, since it's clear, the toddler is not going anywhere... 

If you would like to have a Havenly designer help you with your next room design, it's $185 flat fee per room. To read all about the process, click here.  Or to just get started, click the banner below! 


To read more about the DIY and Renovations we have done to our recently purchased 1920's fixer-upper dream home, click here!

10 Ridiculous Things I Do At Bedtime To Get My Kid To Sleep

In my house, bedtime is bittersweet. Even though I want my son to go to sleep, the lengths I have to go to make that happen are painfully ridiculousness. For today's installment of Top 10 Tuesday, I thought I would share the, Top 10 Ridiculous Things I Do At Bedtime To Get My Kid To Sleep.

1. Retrieve more things than a dog. It never fails that the minute I get my toddler in bed, he needs water, Mr. Giraffe, Mr Penguin, Brownie the Horse, his red blanket, more water... And like a dog, I fetch every single thing just too keep him in bed.


2. Read 4million books. Even though I say, "Only two books.", my kid must hear, "Bring me as many books as you can carry."  

3. Survive a sleeper hold.  When I get up to leave, my son takes the opportunity to put me in a choke hold hug and beg me to stay.

4. Play twenty (thousand) questions. I'm pretty sure my kid banks his questions throughout the day then pulls them all out at bedtime.


5. Make empty promises.  I will promise the moon and stars to get my son to go to sleep. Yep, I'm THAT mom.

6. Play Dead. After answering every question fathomable about farts, cars, and play doh, I play dead hoping boredom will induce sleep. Nine times out of ten, he pokes me in the eye to see if I'm really asleep, then starts asking more questions.

7. Ohmmmmm gonna lose my mind. While playing dead, waiting for my toddler to loosen his death grip and fall asleep, I try to meditate. Think: Find my happy place.


8. Channel a Navy Seal. After breaking out of Alcatraz sneaking out of bed, out of fear I've stirred the beast toddler, I crawl out of his room like I'm on a covert operation.

9. Fall gracefully. It never fails the second I make it out of my kid's room, in the dark hallway I trip over the cat, kick a fire engine, step on a shoe and slip down the first stair trying to avoid a Hot Wheel.



10. Rinse Repeat. Multiple times. Every night.




Halloween Humor Even Your Dog Will Laugh At...

With all of the spooktastic Hallowen stuff going around, I thought I would lighten the mood with some mostly funny, yet slightly disturbing and completely tasteless Halloween humor... 


Halloween Jokes:



Q. Why couldn’t the mummy attend the meeting?
A. He was all tied up
Q. Why did the ghost go into the bar?
 A. For the Boos
Q. Why is a ghost such a messy eater?
 A. Because he is always a goblin
Q. Why couldn’t the skeleton go to the dance?
 A. Because he had no body to take
Q. Why wouldn’t the skeleton cross the road?
 A. Because he didn’t have any guts
Q. What kind of makeup do ghosts wear?
 A. Mas-scare-a
Q. What do ghosts put on their morning cereal? A. Booberries.
Q.  What is the problem with two twin witches? A. You never know which witch is which!
Q. What Do Witches Use To DO Their Hair? A. Scare Spray

Halloween Pets: 





LOVE IT!

Five bucks says they pissed in every bed and shoe in the house for payback.





Halloween Crack: 




I see it!
Am I going to hell now?  


HALLOWEEN CARDS: 






Halloween Cartoons






And finally... I'm not sure what to call it... Other than JACKED UP!





HAPPY HALLOWEEN!