Our annual family picture adventure took us an hour from our home this year because sadly our local photography place closed. I packed picture clothes, a couple toys, diapers, pull ups, change of clothes, etc. I thought I was set!
We were one hour early, good I thought, bathroom breaks, pull up change, and clothing change. I didn't want an accident. My son was doing great and probably didn't need to be in a pull up, but we weren't going to take any chances. I got the kids changed into their jeans and black shirts. We were going comfy and clean. I had to do one shirt change during the photo take and we were going to wear Santa hats for our Holiday pictures, nothing major.
The kids settled into a Toy Story movie in the waiting area while a family finished up before us. They called our names. Good. Daddy just wanted this done. The kids were tired, it was almost their nap time and their snack just wasn't cutting it. The kid was great. I found his technique was a little odd, but he was wonderful. We got some maternity pictures in too. We did the holiday pictures with a little help from an assistant, because the kids were beginning to drag. Daddy and I totally forgot about kid pictures. That's okay. It was over. Daddy got them parked back in front of the movie with toys. I went through the pictures with the assistant and paid for a CD and got a few freebees.
I could hear the kids talk about food from where I was. Daddy took the stuff to the van and I took the kids potty. I was so glad it was right around the corner! The lunch idea was great, yeah, sure, where? I was sure done! We were at the mall. We found RT's right as we entered it. Perfect I thought.
The kids were beyond tired, so they didn't eat much of their chicken and fruit. Daddy and I had lobster tails, steak, and the salad bar. I regretted not going home when I went to get up for salad. I couldn't even take a step. Dinner was wonderful though, no complaints there. Great idea Daddy!!
I took myself and the kids potty just before leaving. My hip was beyond done! I couldn't even get up from the table. I think it was the picture positioning.
Thank goodness the car ride was quiet all the way home! I didn't mind waiting until they woke up when we got there either. They were angels.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Our Shopping Adventure and Potty Training!
We finished a potty training weekend as I talked about in my last post, but didn't ramble on about. It has been a few weeks since then and still we are somewhat training. I know this will go on for awhile. I decided to brave the outside world and go for it. We spent the day doing some Christmas shopping going from store to store and stopping at a restaurant for a bite to eat. My parents did join us but didn't help with the bathroom situation.
So, our adventure...It began at 10:30am. I was a little anxious. I packed enough clothes for one accident along with some pull ups. It took an hour to get to our shopping destination. We stopped at a rest stop along the way. The kids decided they wanted to eat some lunch first. We chose Denny's. I took my son potty three times there. I didn't know how low I could squat at 22 weeks pregnant, how well my back or hip would hold up, but I was going to do this! Every time he went, I of course told him, "Good job, Bud". He was great. Next stop was for Mommy, I needed more pants. I had no luck. "Mommy, I need to go potty." "Ok, lets go." I tried finding a shirt. Potty time again. Patience Mommy. I knew I could do this!
Ok, my mother needed to find another gift for my husband. Time to go! I was so glad I brought movies.
Off to a craft store we went. I took the kids to look for some kind of cute Christmas iron on for a family photo to announce the pregnancy. My mother was in the next row. "I have to go potty, Mommy." I announced to my mother we were off again. I expected her to take the cart and my daughter, no luck. I took them both to the restroom. It was tiny. I squeezed them in to a stall. We both went. I even got a "Good job, Mommy" from my kids. So far so good no accidents!! We went back to find my mother. She took the kids and I found some Santa hats for our family photo. I decided we were done there. We checked out. I changed a diaper in the van. All I could think about at that moment was my back. My dad was wonderful. He strapped in my son. Yay, thanks Dad! I was crawling through the back of my van to strap in him. I know he struggled with the buckle, but that was great! I pulled my hip in and took a water break. The Mall was the next stop on our list.
Bathrooms were first on our list. I had both kids in a tiny stall again. I wish my mother had taken my daughter at least. With Potty time finished we checked out maternity clothes again. My mother wanted to get me something and I wanted to checkout a shirt. I found 2 that were perfect for the pictures and I wouldn't need an iron on. We couldn't find a sweater for my mother to buy for me. Another trip we decided.
It was getting late and my daughter was exhausted. My parents suggested ice cream. Perfect idea I thought, sugar crash in the van on the way home. We ate and stopped one last time for a potty break for Mommy and son. We were on our way home!
There were no accidents. I had picked up an extra water when we got ice cream. My parents buckled in the kids. I turned off the video and turned on kids music for about 5 minutes. The van was quiet and peaceful. Perfect I thought. When I got home my husband was there to greet us. I took off for the bathroom myself. I can't last an hour, but if I stopped the kids were going to wake up. My husband emptied out the van and put it away. He was great. Dinner was even cooking.
I braved the adventure and was glad I did it! So, Mom's if your kids are dry all day long, even with reminders, go for it! Explore the world!
So, our adventure...It began at 10:30am. I was a little anxious. I packed enough clothes for one accident along with some pull ups. It took an hour to get to our shopping destination. We stopped at a rest stop along the way. The kids decided they wanted to eat some lunch first. We chose Denny's. I took my son potty three times there. I didn't know how low I could squat at 22 weeks pregnant, how well my back or hip would hold up, but I was going to do this! Every time he went, I of course told him, "Good job, Bud". He was great. Next stop was for Mommy, I needed more pants. I had no luck. "Mommy, I need to go potty." "Ok, lets go." I tried finding a shirt. Potty time again. Patience Mommy. I knew I could do this!
Ok, my mother needed to find another gift for my husband. Time to go! I was so glad I brought movies.
Off to a craft store we went. I took the kids to look for some kind of cute Christmas iron on for a family photo to announce the pregnancy. My mother was in the next row. "I have to go potty, Mommy." I announced to my mother we were off again. I expected her to take the cart and my daughter, no luck. I took them both to the restroom. It was tiny. I squeezed them in to a stall. We both went. I even got a "Good job, Mommy" from my kids. So far so good no accidents!! We went back to find my mother. She took the kids and I found some Santa hats for our family photo. I decided we were done there. We checked out. I changed a diaper in the van. All I could think about at that moment was my back. My dad was wonderful. He strapped in my son. Yay, thanks Dad! I was crawling through the back of my van to strap in him. I know he struggled with the buckle, but that was great! I pulled my hip in and took a water break. The Mall was the next stop on our list.
Bathrooms were first on our list. I had both kids in a tiny stall again. I wish my mother had taken my daughter at least. With Potty time finished we checked out maternity clothes again. My mother wanted to get me something and I wanted to checkout a shirt. I found 2 that were perfect for the pictures and I wouldn't need an iron on. We couldn't find a sweater for my mother to buy for me. Another trip we decided.
It was getting late and my daughter was exhausted. My parents suggested ice cream. Perfect idea I thought, sugar crash in the van on the way home. We ate and stopped one last time for a potty break for Mommy and son. We were on our way home!
There were no accidents. I had picked up an extra water when we got ice cream. My parents buckled in the kids. I turned off the video and turned on kids music for about 5 minutes. The van was quiet and peaceful. Perfect I thought. When I got home my husband was there to greet us. I took off for the bathroom myself. I can't last an hour, but if I stopped the kids were going to wake up. My husband emptied out the van and put it away. He was great. Dinner was even cooking.
I braved the adventure and was glad I did it! So, Mom's if your kids are dry all day long, even with reminders, go for it! Explore the world!
Never planning, Always living
My husband and I never really plan much except for vacations and even then we don't really plan. We have learned to have a bunch of activities set for each day and then pick one or two that morning and then go from there. We find it works best for us. No one ever wants to hike 10 miles in the rain. (That was before kids.)
Having our children has been a total adventure. They are 2 and 3. I find we must live in the moment and sometimes that is enough for me. The one time one of them laughs in a particular day, that might be the highlight of the day. Another day might be when the oldest child takes the youngest potty. It only happened once. I stood there and watched just to make sure everyone was okay, he did great by the way!
We planned for both to be potty trained at the same time. Yeah, right, I tried. We even did a potty training weekend. It was a total adventure! Our 2 year old just wasn't ready. That's okay. It was perfect though, I don't think I will have to do it again later for her. She goes when she wants.
Having our children has been a total adventure. They are 2 and 3. I find we must live in the moment and sometimes that is enough for me. The one time one of them laughs in a particular day, that might be the highlight of the day. Another day might be when the oldest child takes the youngest potty. It only happened once. I stood there and watched just to make sure everyone was okay, he did great by the way!
We planned for both to be potty trained at the same time. Yeah, right, I tried. We even did a potty training weekend. It was a total adventure! Our 2 year old just wasn't ready. That's okay. It was perfect though, I don't think I will have to do it again later for her. She goes when she wants.
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