GOING INSANE

Potty training sucks!!!!!! I have been trying to potty train this kid since last June. We were fairly successful even last October, (went trick or treating for two hours in a monkey costume and underpants!!) but of course it fell apart. I have tried rewarding her with stickers, prizes, m & m's, and new underwear. I have encouraged her to do it because all the big kids do it, including her nieces and nephews (whom she idolizes). I have completely lost my cool and yelled at her and given her timeouts for having accidents. I have given it several week and month long breaks. I have tried making her try every half hour regardless of whether she says she has to go or not. She sits there for twenty minutes and won't go, then gets off and goes in her diaper! When I put her to bed she purposely goes pee pee or poopy in her diaper and then yells out that she has a dirty/wet diaper because she knows she'll get to get out of bed for two minutes to get it changed. I have tried going straight to underwear and letting her sit in it wet for ten minutes or so.  I have tried pull ups, I have tried underwear with diapers. I have tried telling her she can take ballet classes if she goes. I have tried special wipes and special soap, and letting her flush and a big girl step stool and being endlessly patient and positive and praising her successes. I have sang and dance and cheered when she got it right, but it never sticks for longer than one time. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WORKS AND I AM GOING TO LOSE IT! I am pretty sure everyone around me is really sick of hearing me complain about it and I'm sorry. She's almost 3 years and 3 months old, seriously. I know it has to end sometime, I know there are kids who are older and can't do it (where they are, I have no idea), I know she won't go to college in Pampers. I am just so lost as to what to do and feel like a really big parenting failure. There's my little rant for the day. I apologize to all. 

Do you speak Nataliese?

How well do you speak three year old? Check out these phrases and see if you can figure out what she's talking about?! Answers to follow shortly.

Night Gum

Roller Coaster

Vinny Van

Opi meal

Strawbareries

First Boat Ride of 2009

We are friends with Adam and Andrea for many, many reasons. One of them is their boat, which is named BOAT! Here are some photos from the first ride of the season, and Garrett's first ride ever!  Andrea and Natalie, smiling AND looking at the camera, WOW!
Baby G!
Could he BE cuter?!
Not quite ready to drive yet.

Garrett apparently did not want to share the drivers seat.

You know you're a momma

We went to swimming lessons the other day, and when we finished, I looked in the diaper bag to get a diaper for Nat and alas, there were none.  She had wet the diaper she was wearing on the way to the gym, so we had three choices; 1)a soaking wet swimmy diaper 2) commando with a non-potty trained kid and 3) pull the peepeed diaper out of the trash and put it back on. What oh what, would you do? Well, I choose to pull the peepee diaper out of the trash and put it back on. Truly gross, I know. I did change her asap when we got home.

While driving along with a nap deprived kiddo, I tried to make her happy by suggesting we sing songs. "How about Twinkle Star, will you sing with me?" She responded, "Yes, mommy but I'm just a little bit crabby right now." Oh how true.

I bought her some Pez candy today to go in her Pez dispenser the Easter bunny got her.  We put it in there and she said "Oh mommy, I'm just like Rowan now!" Needless to say, my nephew Rowan has a Pez dispenser too and she idolizes him and anything he has, does or says. 

I got home from a 6 hour shift working in KidsCare at the gym on Monday with two cashed out children in the back seat. I too was exhausted, so I weighed my options...I could try to bring them both upstairs and hope they stay sleeping or at least go back to sleep quickly and catch a quick nap on the couch.  Not likely.  OR I could recline the seat in my van and sleep with them right there in the garage. Bingo. Half an hour of peace, quiet and darkness attained, nevermind that it was in the garage, I'll take it where I can get it.

In the grocery store today, Natalie shoved a goldfish in her brother's mouth to stop him from whining. I thought he was still too little for them. It worked, so apparently not. Thanks Natalie.

If you have ever done anything like the above stories, you may be a momma. (Probably of two or more children)

May 9

We were blessed to be able to travel back to the Fox Valley this past weekend to visit our parents.  Saturday  May 9th we spent the day at David's mom's home in Freedom. Even though the weather was nice for only a short time and the babies naps prohibited much in the way of activities it was still a great day to enjoy the company of family and celebrate David's birthday and Mother's Day.  We relaxed, ate wonderful food and even got to sleep in on Saturday since we arrived so late Friday night. Garrett slept late and David's mom Joni took care of Natalie for us. Sleeping in is such an extremely rare blessing for us, we are SO grateful!
Uncle Tony (David's brother) and his son Henry, David and his son, Garrett. Awww.
Aren't they cute!!

My whole family, together on Grammy Joni's front porch.

Auntie Lillie and baby Henry, who is only a few months younger than G, but already bigger!
Lillie and I opening Mother's Day gifts from Joni, yay for girly good smelling bath stuff!

May 10

We spent Sunday of this past weekend at my parents house and farm, Sunrise Ranch, back in Sherwood. We celebrated my sister Shawn's birthday, David's birthday and Mother's Day. It was a glorious day for many reasons, most of all the time with my family, but also the wonderful weather, fun activities and the chance for us to escape Madison.  Not that we don't love it here, but we look forward to livin' in the country!

Natalie in the middle of a 12 acre alfalfa field that we hope to build a home on, someday.
Close up of my beautiful girl
My guys, daddy David and baby Garrett
Daddy and Nat
Checking out the baby kittens in the barn at my parent's farm
My dad and Natalie on the barn swing, they may have exceeded any recommended weight limits, due to Nat I'm sure.
Rachel and Nat on the swing
My brave little one!
Dancing a jig with her cousin Max in the hayloft
Rolling down the big hill by the barn
Garrett on the phone with my sister carefully keeping an eye on him
Rachel and Garrett
The first fish out of the pond this spring!

Things are Bad

You know it's bad when... your brother ate your Mrs. Potato Head
...the Easter bunnies, Piggy-Piggy and Elmo are all on time-out at once (they hitted each other)
...Mrs. Potato Head is contemplating suicide.
...Babyzilla is attacking the dollhouse.

In the Cave

Natalie has always loved to play under the desk, her "cave", and now she's teaching Garrett to love it too!

Garrett escaping!
Look at that smile, WOW!
Me under the cave with Nat, trying mostly to prevent Garrett from eating the printer cord.

Fun with Hats

Garrett in Natalie's rainbow hat, I had to hold down his hand to keep it on! I guess it's not manly to wear a rainbow hat!
I see a supermodel here...oh no!
He didn't love this one either, it was from last year's Easter basket.
Natalie posing again...she calls it a "call girl hat", let's hope she means "cowgirl".