To pee or not to pee…

As you may or may not recall, recently we decided to try to push the potty training. It really didn't go well. So we took the potty away totally, pulled a 'Tom Sawyer' move and told her she couldn't use the potty. That seemed to work mostly. A couple of weeks ago, she started occasionally telling us that she wanted to use the potty. We got it back out, and she would sometimes go in and use it. Then, she started telling us more frequently (weekends only, not at school) that she wanted to go potty in her potty. We would go in, take off her diaper, and more often than not, she would be successful. She seems to really like pooping especially. Now, she is getting really good at it. She will sit down, get a very sly look on her face and say, "It's coming! Here it comes, pee-pee!" then when she potties, the potty makes noise and plays a little song. She looks very proud and of course we cheer and make a big hoopla. AND she gets to flush. Thats the big reward.

She kept improving on weekends, so last weekend, we told her that we were switching to pull-ups and that she wouldn't wear diapers anymore except at night. She was very excited and all the reports from school have been excellent! Her teacher was very surprised and said that Lily was really doing exceptionally well staying dry. Her daily report sheet yesterday indicated only once that she went to use the potty and was already wet. Sooo….this weekend, we are going for it. Lily will get to put on underpants for the very first time! I asked her yesterday if she was excited about that, but she was busy playing rocks and told me so in as many words. Not sure what to think about that, but we are going for it anyhow. I figure one of two things will happen:

1) She will be so thrilled to be in underpants, love the feeling, and she will do really well. I figure an accident or two and she will be mostly done. I have a feeling she will be really mortified by peeing her pants. She doesn't like going potty in her pull-ups so I think this will be a good thing.
2) She will be so freaked out if/when she has an accident that she will immediately want to revert back to diapers.


Fingers crossed its the first one! We will let you know how everything…ahem…comes out.

A change in routine might be good!

This morning, John had to go to work EXCEEDINGLY early. So Lily's normal routine was a tad disrupted. She woke up about 6:15 which was great because Mommy woke up at about 6:00 and was able to perform her morning ablutions, let the dog out and back in, and get Lily's milk before she awoke.

After we watched the end of The Wiggles, we watched the "kids" on Hi5 before she said she wanted to go into the other room. I said that we would have to get her dressed first, so we picked out clothing for the day. Then, I offered her the choice of playing in her crib while I showered or watching Wiggles in the Family room and she opted for the latter. However, she attached the condition that I provide cereal in a snack cup for her, and more milk, to which I agreed. She proceeded to eat the cereal, and asked for more. I provided that, and she put it in her pumpkin and stated she was going bye-bye. Then, while I dried my hair and did makeup, she took all of the cheerios out of the pumpkin and carefully stuff them up her shirt. She was quite surprised when she stood up and all the cereal fell out of her shirt onto the floor and the dog leapt on it like a ravenous hound. It was VERY funny. She was so mad she scolded him, "No-no PUPPY! That’s my cereal!"

Where's Lily?

So I used to think that kids outgrew that whole "peek-a-boo" thing. For us, it has ceased to amuse her when we "peek-a-boo", however when she is the designated 'peeker' she really seems to enjoy it. In fact, when Lily hides her face, and we don't immediately say "Where's Lily? Have you seen her?", she starts giggling and says, "Where's me? Mommy, where's me?"

Sick baby follow-up

Well Lily's night in the hospital has come and gone. Her pneumonia is much better. For the first 24-48 hours, we did breathing treatments every 4 hours, night and day. After that, she had her follow up appointment with her pediatrician. He said that if we wanted to reduce it to twice a day (morning and night) it would be fine and once we thought it seemed under control, we could just do it as needed. Right now, we are doing only one treatment, and that’s right before bed.

John has been sick now. After I got over my sinus infection and chest cold (which I now question), John had to go to the doctor and was treated for Bronchitis and a sinus infection. Our neighbors are sick, my mother is sick, even Isaac has been a bit poopy. I wonder if some biological weapon has been unleashed on Topeka?

Lily's devastating wound...

Lily has a terrible wound on her hand. We aren't sure how she received it but here, she points out the wound for all to see.....below...I have highlighted the wound so its full magnitude is understood.


As you can see, the wound is nearly the size of a pin head...or maybe a freckle. Lily has spent the greater part of the last several days walking around pointing it out to everyone. Its really terrible.....NOT.

Bedtime snack? Maybe not a good plan.

Lily hasn't been eating very well lately. We don't know if its teeth, or maybe a touch of the flu that Mommy had, or something totally different. Anyhow, we thought that maybe some sugar-free pudding would be a good bedtime snack and help her sleep a bit.

After her bath, we got her ready for bed and went to do snack. Turns out, that may not have been the best order to do that stuff in....for more Lily pudding pics, check our Flickr.

She was a MESS.

Lily is a great helper!

This week, Mommy hasn't been feeling all that well. Finally, on Wednesday night, Mommy finally came down with what she was going to come down with....the flu.

Usually in the morning, Mom gets Lily dressed while Daddy takes a shower. Then Daddy takes Lily to school while Mom showers and gets dressed for work. On Thursday, however, Mommy was too sick to get Lily dressed so she went and laid on the couch (conveniently located in baby jail) so when Dad finished getting the girl dressed, he could plop her in baby jail and she could talk to mom as she convalesced on the sofa.

It was pretty obvious to Lily that Mommy wasn't herself that day. She was just laying in one spot not moving or smiling, or anything. Lily knew that the only thing that made her feel better was her soft blankie. So she retrieved it out of the laundry basket (Daddy hadn't folded it yet) and brought it to Mommy and covered her up. Then Lily patted Mommy's arm reassuringly.

Such a thoughtful girl and a good helper!

Mom making Lily laugh

Mom was playing with Lily and Lily thought it was great fun!

I blame the education system.....

This evening, just a few scant days since Miss Helen and Miss Cathy predicted it, Lily Rose proved that she, too, can walk.

Over at Grandma & Grandpa Leamon’s house this evening, our little princess let go of Mommy’s leg and walked 5 WHOLE STEPS across the room. Very sturdy, steady steps too. This very day, when we went to pick her up at school, Miss Helen commented that she thought walking was going to be very soon. When I laughed and said that I thought (hoped?) it would be at least another couple of weeks, she said she thought it would be sooner. I mentioned that Lily really doesn’t stand on her own very much. Just bolt upright in the middle of the room, without hanging on to something, like I have seen Isaac do. Miss Helen looked surprised and said that Lily had been doing that A LOT today.

Then lo and behold, Lily showed us that she can walk just like Cousin Ike! Oh dear, she's a big girl!

Lily's first Christmas

Lily's first Christmas is past. On Christmas eve night, she gave her mom and dad a very special present, she slept over 3 hours at a stretch! This was amazing! Unfortunately, she was awake for a long stretch during Mom's shift. All in all, she woke up well rested at 6:45.

We had to get ready right away to go over to Grandma's and Grandpa's house for the traditional Christmas morning activities. Grandpa always make a very delicious Christmas Bread for breakfast. We then open our presents starting with what Santa has left in our stockings. Mom and Dad opened most of Lily's gifts but she helped with a few.

Everyone was so generous in buying clothes as she has pretty much outgrown most of her 9 month clothes and has moved onto the 12 month wardrobe. There were a few toys to add to the excitement. Lily was so well behaved and hardly fussed during the 3+ hour marathon unwrapping sesson.

Once we were done with the unwrapping of presents, we went home for a few hours so that Lily could take a nap with Dad. She and I slept soundly for almost 2 hours. It was then time to go back to Grandma's and Grandpa's for Christmas dinner -- turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, peas, and cranberries. It was all DELICIOUS! Even Lily thought it was good, eating her share and then smearing her food in her hair.

By the time we got home, it was time for Lily to go to bed and she was more than ready!

Lily's Christmas Program

Last night, Lily had her Christmas Program at school. She is the baby on the left side of the lady with blonde hair. If you listen closely, as the camera pans away, a big laugh from the audience can be heard. Lily the Ham started kicking and jumping and dancing to the music. Everyone thought that was very funny. The more they laughed, the more she danced! I believe we have a performer!