Here I go again

.....Complaing about Potty training.....
Can I just say that I don't think Lilly is finding this very frustrating....I am.
She still hasn't mastered the science to "determine" when she pee pees....but she can sure tell you when she has to po po.....having said that....she can't tell the difference between a po po and a "toot". (I hope you know what I mean when I say that)
So my day begins after breakfast. We race up and down the stairs 20 times in the morning just to be sure to get there in time. I think she thinks it is funny....cause I say or sing Gotta go, Gotta go go go go go......(Ala Backyardigans) and we take off racing. Then we get there we read, or sing and talk while she "toots" or does nothing.
I find this very frustrating. Cause usually by the time we are done doing nothing upstairs (10-15 minutes) I have Tanner feeling very lonely where ever he is. Lately I have brought him with us and I think that too has developed into a game.

I also think Lilly has been getting jealous of Tanner. Lately if Craig or I are holding Tanner, she needs to sit on the other leg or right beside you. Which is fine...but I didn't think she would feel that way. Lord knows I have tried my damnest for her NOT to feel that way.

Tanner is very well. Waiting for those teeth. His rash is still on his cheek...which I think will stay until he has a full set of choppers. Everything goes into his mouth and if there is nothing around both hands will do. That is why it is so raw there. Doesn't bug him or me though. So that's fine.
Craig is now calling him Tanner the Hammer.....I don't think this is any better than Tanner the Tank.

We are trying to hype up Christmas for Lilly. She sees Santa and says Ho Ho Ho. She still doesn't get the whole thing though. Next year we are in trouble though. I guess I should savour this year then.
We went to the Santa Claus Parade a few weeks ago and had a blast. Then last Friday "Auntie" Di and I took the kiddies to the Downtown Christmas Walk, which was fun. Not really Christmasy cause there isn't any snow. Diane's Mother in Law joined us and bought a toy for Lilly....which made her night. She also got to talk to Santa. All she could say to him was Ho Ho Ho though. I think it was cause she didn't recognize him. He was the skinniest Santa I have ever seen.

I didn't complain too much I guess. I just have to be patient, which for me is very hard. But a couple deep breaths with my head between my legs, and then looking at the beautiful face of Lilly (on the potty) with her lips puckered waiting for a kiss....and I melt.
Then coming out of the bathroom to hear Tannerman laughing uncontrollably at himself in the mirror....I melt all over again. That is what makes it worth while.

Cheers
Leelee

Potty training trials and tribualtions...

We had a rather eventful weekend.
This was the weekend that Lilly was suppose to take one step closer at being a "big girl." I had it all planned out last week. It began when she informed us she had to "po po" and to my surprise she "pee pee"ed instead. I was soo happy and proud of her, and she was so proud of herself too. For most of last week she either "po po"ed or "pee pee"ed. So it was decided (by the CEO of "Casa Del Wallace"....aka Lian) that this would be the weekend we concentrated hardcore on the business of Potty training. (She has "po po"ed for us daily since the summer)
Guess I should have warmed up my staff better. Craig woke up grumpy (eventhough he got to sleep in) and Lilly wasn't her usual peachy self either. No obstacles were standing in my way though....I set to business.
Lilly got to wear her "George"panties....she was showing them off to Tanner every two minutes and Craig and I asked her every two minutes if it was "pee pee"time. The same answer was "NO" (Which is also good to note that "NO" was the word of the week....and upcoming weeks I think.)
I even set the timer to make sure we sat on the potty every halfhour. The panties lasted 15 minutes...both pairs. She peed in the first ones (I didn't catch her intime...just turn your back for a sec...and WHAM!) and was totally embarrassed with herself that the second pair didn't stay on....she took them right off. Fine....that was fine....She can run around pantless. Which she did....and had a blast at it.
So an hour or so passed...no "pee pee" yet. With all the water she was drinking and us sitting her on and off the potty, her constantly playing with the potty (Getting so sick of the cute little songs it sings....english and french version...you choose) we missed the next "pee pee". I saw her out of the corner of my eye start to crouch, then I bolted her towards the potty...leaving a trail behind us. That was the final straw. No amount of stickers, "pee pee" happy dances, or smarties would do. That was it. She was embarrassed, tired and mad at us. It was noon. I gave up.

I then felt like a total failure. After cleaning up everything I went upstairs for a little Mommy alone time. (I changed the sheets on our bed) I cried.
It is unbelieveable the pressures Mothers are under to do things when or as other children achive goals. Lilly has a friend Ella (Our friends Kara and Travis) who is exactly a month younger than Lilly that is fully potty trained already. I am not saying Kara throws it in my face, but I feel Lilly should be a step ahead of Ella. Lilly is just "po po" trained. She is backwards. For some reason most kids have trouble "po po" ing on the potty....but not Lilly. So I am at a loss. I have just decided to slowly train her in my own way. When she is ready to learn and wants to, she will tell me.

Another huge scary thing happened this weekend. I will only talk about this once. Then I am done. It was that scary.
I gave Lilly a piece of bacon that I cut up (she has been eating bacon forever) and she was chewing on it with her grilled cheese. She was done with her sandwhich and was moving on to the Rice Krispie square when she started to choke. And by choke I mean, can't breathe, red in the face choking. Craig was sitting beside her and I was across from her so he had her standing in her chair in no time and was trying to do the "hymlich" (SP) on her. I was standing across the table from her so all I could do was smack her back and recite 911 over and over. Since that wasn't working, Craig stuck his finger down her throat and pulled the bacon piece out. Then she was fine. Then I sat there stunned, as did Craig and we both began to cry...without Lilly seeing us of course. After we thought and talked things over, we thought that probably wasn't the best idea....for Craig to stick his finger down her throat...he could have pushed the bacon down further.
Even weirder....I saw a sign when we were out and about last week that was advertising first aid and I made mention that we should sign up for a course....guess we are doing that for sure now!

We are expecting Jodi and Brad next weekend. That is always good for a laugh. We have some of the best times with them. TP (Trivia Pursuit) or Scene it and some "pops", Santa Claus parade and some good-old-fashion-late-night chit chats.

Cheers
Leelee