Camden Says / 06

I swear.  The things this kid comes up with just slay me.  Me and probably only me.

Reading his Washington ABC's book before bed.

Me: M is for (wooly) mammoth.

Cam: No, Mommy.  It's a mastodon.

(thank you, Bubble Guppies)

Ryan trying to encourage Camden to give me a compliment.

Ryan: (whispers) say, "Mommy, you're beautiful!" really loud.

Cam: Mommy, you're beautiful really loud!

In the car on Zoey's first day of daycare.

Me: Buddy, I want you to protect your baby sister and take care of her today if she's sad.  Can you help take care of her for me?

Cam: No, Mommy.  Ms. Debbie do it.

Turning on a play computer at daycare.

Cam: Hold on, I need my gwasses (glasses).

After Ryan found the lost iPad.

Cam: Thank you, Daddy.  You a sweet boy.

On our way to the doctor.

Cam: Where we going, Mommy?

Me: We are going to see Dr. Bronald!

Cam: Oh.  Where is Broctor Donald?

Hear's Zoey crying on the monitor after she woke up from a painfully short nap.

Cam: Mommy!  Baby Zoey crying!

Me: (trying to fold the last bit of laundry) I hear her buddy.

Cam: Go get her!!

(Cam and I go upstairs)

Cam: It's ok Baby Zo Zo.  We here.

Picked Cam up from daycare right as school-aged kids were getting off the school bus and he was very upsets that he didn't get to ride the school bus too.  Called my parents to report on the kids' day.

Cam: (hysterically crying)

Dad: What's wrong with my grandson?

Cam: (hysterical crying)

Me: He wanted to get on the school bus so he's not very happy right now.

Cam: (stops crying) Yes, I am!

Talking about best friends.

Cam: Mommy, you my best friend.

Me: (speechless because my heart skipped a beat and then melted) I am?!!!

Cam: Yeah!  And Bastian my best friend.  And Amber my best friend.  And Maddy my best friend.

Me: 

In the elevator at the hotel in Hawaii, a Japanese woman bent down and spoke to him in Japanese.

Cam: What?! (emphasis on the T)

Also in the elevator at the hotel, he would strike up a conversation with any other people in there with us.

Cam: Hi!

Person: Hi, how are you?

Cam: I'm good.  I got swimming.  How you doin'?

If we were ever in the elevator alone.

Cam: There are no peoples in here.

In Hawaii and continuing his fascination with cities.

Me: What city are we in?

Cam: Honowuwu

A typical conversation in the car on the way to daycare.

Cam: I wike (like) sharks!

Me: I like sharks too!

Cam: I wike whales!

Me: I like whales too!

Cam: I wike polar bears!

Me: I like polar bears too!

Cam: I wike basketballs!

Learning the months of the year.

Cam: Januwawy (January), Febuwaway (February), March, June, Juwy (July), August, September, October, Novemberrrrrrrr!

Me: What about December?

Cam: 

Me: When is your birthday?

Cam: December ewebenth (eleventh)!

Hearing me use Siri to voice dial Ryan.

Me: Call Hubby.

Cam: One hubby, two hubby's, awotta (alotta) hubby's!

Talking about daycare/preschool friend's birthday that was celebrated.

Cam: Mommy, I want a present!

Me: What kind of present do you want?

Cam: A big one!

After Ryan buzzed his head for the second time.

Cam: (sees hair on the bathroom counter) Oh, no!  My hairs!

Talking about colors:

Me: What's your favorite color?

Cam: Blue cars.

Being a rascal in the car.

Cam: (removes socks and shoes, throws one sock at me while I'm driving)

Me: Please do not throw socks.

Cam: (throws second sock)

Me:

Cam: I'm funny.

Until next time.  And you know there will be a next time.

Take Luck,

LP

Mariner's Game

Back in August I had an idea for taking Camden to his first baseball game.  I knew I wanted to do a day game and due to our travel schedule and commitments, the only day game left was the Mariner's last game of the season.

We told Cam about it and when he would ask when we were going to the baseball game, our answer was always "October, buddy."

Well, October 4th came and this little guy was excited.  And newly obsessed with his tongue.

I had no idea how long he would last because he's quite the busy child and the first pitch was scheduled for 12:10pm (aka nap time).  Thankfully, we were on the main level and only a few rows up from right field so he could see everything.  He was in awe.  And it helped that whenever an adult got up to use the bathroom - Cammy tagged along to stretch his legs and distract himself from being tired.

Of course, Zo Zo was there too and (hallelujah) didn't make a peep the whole time.  She was happy to eat, sleep, or watch the game.

Again with the tongue!

There is a Seattle Children's Hospital-sponsored playground at the ball field, but being that this game was "Kid's Appreciation Day," you can imagine how crowded it was.  It was so crowded that you had to schedule a time to play.  Yeah, sorry buddy. 

Instead we walked around a bit and got our picture taken with the Dave Niehaus (Mariner's announcer from 1977 - 2010) statue.

One of Cam's favorite songs is "the baseball song" (Take Me Out to the Ballgame) so my goal was to make it to the seventh inning stretch so we could sing it loud and proud.  The look on his face when the song started playing was hysterical and full of confusion.  It was like "whyyyyy are all these people singing my song?"

I took a video of it but you can hear me singing horribly off-key (as if there was any other key for me to sing in?) so I will absolutely spare you.  He sang off and on (again, because he was distracted by all the other people singing) but gave me a big and enthusiastic "... at the old ballgame."

We wanted to catch the 3:00 ferry so we fled the stadium and walked briskly to the ferry terminal.

The poor kid was falling asleep in his carseat on the way home but it was after 4:15 and I wanted him to stay awake so he could have an early bedtime, so every time he would start to nod off I would wake him up.  I'm so mean, but seriously - early bedtime.

It was a great experience and I hope to get him to more than one game next year.  And the Mariner's won!!  How about that?  Such good luck charms, we are.

Take Luck,

LP

Potty Training {Day Four}

Warning: This post is allllll about potty training.  Stop reading if you don't want to hear about my kid's bodily functions.  I'm writing this mainly so I can document progress and have something to look back on when we go down the potty training road with Zoey.

I know, I know.  I said that yesterday's recap would be my last.  But you guys - he's got it.

I was up with Zoey at 5:00 to nurse and had a hard time getting her to fall back asleep.  I had set my alarm for 6:00 so I could be awake before my little potty trainer.  Well, thank you Zoey, because the little man was awake at 6:00 on the dot, sitting at his door in a heavily wetted pull up chanting "Mommaaay!  Mommaaaaaaay!"

I retrieved him from his chambers and escorted him to the potty, but nothing.  I wasn't expecting anything but wanted to try so he knows that's what you do right after you wake up.

Two hours went by without any - no successes and no accidents and I was getting worried that he starting to rebel or something.  He finally went and I breathed a huge sigh of relief that maybe he was in fact "getting it."  He even pooped on the potty again!  Ryan has taught him to "shake off" the last of the pee once he's done and I'm not even kidding he sings "shake it off" to the tune of his favorite lady singer, Taylor Swift.

Ryan buzzed his head again and it was less traumatizing for me this time, thank God.  Afterwards I gave him a bath (where he promptly peed in the drain, and I counted that as a success!) and after that he insisted on running around the house in his "shark cape."

He went down for his nap (in a pull up) no problem and knocked my socks off when he woke up and it was dry.  Not only that but when I took him down to potty right after he woke up - he peed!  The dry pull up could have totally been a fluke, but whatever - I celebrated him and the accomplishment.

A couple times today, after successes, I even heard himself say "Keep 'em dry, bud" (talking about his undies) - so he is actually listening after all.

Did I mention during any of this that following the 3 Day Potty Training method means not leaving your home for three days?  You can imagine how stir crazy we were all getting having this little tornado child cooped up for four days.

My parents just got a new kitten so I thought it would be a good test to go over there and see how he did in a 15 minute car ride there, a visit, and the ride home. 

I was a little nervous when he said he had to go potty twice before we even left our neighborhood.

We got to my parent's house without any incidents or accidents and once inside he kept a death grip on the sweet, innocent kitten... That he kept calling "Nicey."  Her name is Macy.  Poor Macy couldn't decide if she wanted to play with him or hide from him.  Cam loves going over to his Grammy and Papa's and was quite rambunctious while we were visiting and I know it was because he was so excited to be out of the house.

My mom got Zoey out of her carseat and almost immediately said, "I think she pooped."  Not only did she poop, but she blew out her diaper and had poo all over her pants and onesie.  Mother of the year over packed two extra undies and a pair of shorts for Camden but not a darn thing for the spit up and I'm-going-to-poop-in-my-carseat-so-it-goes-up-and-errrywhere queen.  My mom was able to salvage the onesie by way of baby wipes and a lot of baby powder.

After whacking his head on the door frame of their bathroom, a success pee on the potty, and bonking his head on the coffee table - I decided it was time to call it a win and get back home.

We got home and had dinner - the usual.  He had two more successes on the potty after we got home from Mom and Dad's.  His last prize blew his little mind - a glow stick.

He was pretty excited about it.

Dare I say "he's done it!"?  I don't know, but shoot - today he continually told us he had to go potty, had many successes, and no accidents.  Part of me wants to see how tomorrow goes with him being back at daycare before completely shouting it from the rooftops, but the other part of me wants to say "hell frigging yeah, he's (daytime) potty trained!!!!!!!!!!!!"

End of Day Four tally:

#1 Successes: 8

#1 Accidents: 0

#2 Successes: 1

#2 Accidents: 0

 

{Potty Training Day One}

{Potty Training Day Two}

{Potty Training Day Three}

If you're lucky (or is it unlucky?), I'll keep you posted on progress.  Let's just hope our daycare ladies follow our strategy and directions and that he doesn't completely undo all the progress we've made in the last four days.

Take Luck,

LP

Potty Training {Day Three}

Warning: This post is allllll about potty training.  Stop reading if you don't want to hear about my kid's bodily functions.  I'm writing this mainly so I can document progress and have something to look back on when we go down the potty training road with Zoey.

 

Today was not so great.  It wasn't bad, but it sure wasn't as good as yesterday - even from the get go.

I'm always awake before Cam and I assumed last night would be no different.  But aside from many trips to give Zoey her pacifier, she slept great last night - and I slept in a lot later than normal.  I was woken up at 6:30 by hearing Camden crying from his room and immediately felt a sense of dread/fear.  I went into his room and got him to the toilet to see he had a crazy full pull up, complete with poo.

Just the way we wanted to start our day.

I assured him that it wasn't his fault and that it was "mommy's fault."  I felt awful that I wasn't awake and prepared for him to wake up.  There's no way for me to know if that would have made a difference - but I'm really confident that it would have.

The morning got better after that.  Cam had a couple successes (and no accidents) while we watched the Seahawks game.  We could tell he was getting super restless and stir-crazy from being inside for the past two days, so I put some pants on him, took him outside for a little bike ride around the drive way "race track" and to play some soccer on the back deck.  In between "I gotta go potty's" of course!

Ryan put him down for his nap so I could go buy a used (and amazing) glider for Zoey's room and it sounds like Cam insisted on wearing a pair of his fleece footy pajamas because "I feel safe" wearing them.  Whatever, buddy.

Potty training must wear a guy out because he slept for three and a half hours and we had to wake him up from his dead-to-the-world-slumber.  No surprise that his pull up was pretty dang wet when he finally got up.

A ba-zillion more "Tell Mommy when you have to go potty's!" and "Keep 'em dry, buddy's!" later and he had a couple more successes and a couple accidents in the evening.  The accidents were really discouraging to me because he had done so well on Day Two and in the morning (aside from his early morning accident).  But I realize that this is still very new to him and overall, he's doing really well.  He had the first accident while watching the iPad - I told Ryan I didn't want him watching it while potty training because he starts watching Donald Duck (or the dreaded Surprise Egg videos) on YouTube and gets totally sucked in.  I'm not really sure why the second accident happened.  I was sitting right there playing trains with him and then all of a sudden I noticed he was peeing.

Anyway, it wasn't the greatest day - and certainly not how I thought our Day Three would go based on the success of yesterday.  Ryan and I are both off of work tomorrow for Columbus Day, so we'll take advantage of one more day of training before heading back to work and daycare on Tuesday.

End of Day Three tally:

#1 Successes: 5

#1 Accidents: 2

#2 Successes: 0

#2 Accidents: 1

Thankfully there were more successes than accidents, right?

{Potty Training Day One}

{Potty Training Day Two}

I'll spare you any updates after today and resume talking about other super important things in our life.  Ha.

Take Luck,

LP

Potty Training {Day Two}

Warning: This post is allllll about potty training.  Stop reading if you don't want to hear about my kid's bodily functions.  I'm writing this mainly so I can document progress and have something to look back on when we go down the potty training road with Zoey.

Today was great.

Cam woke up with a pretty wet pull up so I was glad we went that route.  No telling how many times I would have been up and down to help him and/or change his sheets - and let's be honest... I'm already up enough times with Zo Zo.

Part of my strategy has been to keep Cam as engaged and entertained as possible so it's easy for him to recognize that he needs to go to potty, tell us, stop what he's doing, and go.

On a side (and personal) note... This sounds awful but I have really loved how this process has forced me to be incredibly attentive to him.  It's not that I don't pay attention to him - because I absolutely do, but a lot of times I'm paying attention to him and interacting with him while trying to do some thing else (or sometimes multiple things).  The past two days have refreshing (and exhausting) and among other things - shown me that I can stand to put some of these other things aside and focus more of my undivided attention on these babies.

I saw a pin on Pinterest about putting paper and paint inside a Ziploc bag, taping it with masking tape to a table, and letting the child finger paint mess free!  I decided to give it a try today and he was interested in each bag for about two minutes.  But hey, that was four minutes of his day that he wasn't asking me to watch the iPad. 

The big highlight of the morning was when I was talking to my mom on the phone (half listening to her, half watching Cam like a hawk) and he said he had to go potty!  He's been amazing at telling us, but some times he sits down on the potty and almost immediately says "I'm all done" even though he didn't do anything.  I don't mind because although it's exhausting, I would much rather he was trying that having accidents.  Anyway, while talking to my mom I set him up on the toilet and a few seconds later I hear one big plop, followed by one little plop.

He frigging pooped on the potty and I was squealing with delight and pride!  He immediately peed and said he was "all done," so he got three M&Ms, a sticker of his choice on his chart, and a surprise egg.  A few minutes after his reward I realized he wasn't quite done peeing yet and had had a little, tiny accident, but again - he pooped on the potty and that was our focus.  That little accident went on to be his only accident of the day! 

Here's an example of the small toys/prizes that I've been putting in his reward surprise eggs - little Minion figurines from The Minion Movie.

After he woke up from his nap (with only a mildly wet pull up), we broke out his matchbox cars and we lined them up so they could go "shopping."

And then after we practiced counting his cars and sorting them by colors, Cam was happy to (pretend) demolish/destruct the cars with this monster truck. 

At bedtime he was really resisting wearing the pull up and just wanted to wear his undies, but again tonight I feel like it's in all of our best interests to wear the pull ups just for a little bit.  I'll re-evaluate if he continues to do well and resist.  He's a hard little sleeper and I just cannot see him waking up in the middle of the night to pee.

Today I probably said the phrases "Tell Mommy when you have to go potty!" "Are you dry?!" and "You're such a big boy!" about 300 times.  Each.  I mean - I'm annoying myself at this point but I really think it's helping him be successful.  So, I'll continue to annoy myself (and him, no doubt) for another day or two.  Tomorrow will be Day Three and I am so excited and proud of him.  It really seems like it's "clicking" for him and I hope tomorrow is another successful day.

End of Day Two tally:

#1 Successes: 9

#1 Accidents: 1

#2 Successes: 1

#2 Accidents: 0

I know, I know.  You can't wait for Day Three either.

{Potty Training Day One}

Take Luck,

LP

Potty Training {Day One}

Warning: This post is allllll about potty training.  Stop reading if you don't want to hear about my kid's bodily functions.  I'm writing this mainly so I can document progress and have something to look back on when we go down the potty training road with Zoey.

 

I decided to take advantage of a long weekend and dive head first into potty training Camden. I've been reading a lot about it and asking moms that have walked this road before me. Almost all said that with boys, it's best to let them lead and to not push it before they are ready.  

I felt like for the past several weeks, Cam has been showing signs of being ready, other than outwardly saying "I don't want to wear a diaper anymore."   He's been saying "don't change my diaper" after pooping, and immediately peeing in the drain of the bathtub on bath nights. Just this past Monday, he went pee on the potty for the first time. 

 

To me, he seemed ready. As ready as he is going to be, anyway. 

 

I bought and read the 3-Day Potty Training e-book and set off for Graceland, I mean, Target, for my supplies. 

 

I bought Thomas, Minion, and Superhero undies, stickers, m&m's, matchbox cars, light-up bouncy balls, and little Minion surprise bags. I may or may not have also bought some extra carpet cleaner.  Ya know, just in case.

 

I was excited. Like, so excited I was dreaming about potty training.

 

I woke up early to make sure everything was ready to start the morning off right and re-read Lora's method.  Basically, other than encouraging patience, consistency, praise/reward and love - she stresses not asking the child if they have to go potty, but that the parent tells the child "Tell Mommy when you have to go potty!" so they learn the cues/signals from their body and can then rush off to the bathroom.  She suggests asking the child if they're dry as a way to praise and acknowledge their success before they even get on the potty.  (So far, at the end of Day One, I really feel like both those approaches/techniques are really helping.)

 

As soon as he woke up this morning I was making a big deal about him being a big boy, not needing to wear diapers anymore, and getting to wear awesome undies.   He took my bait and chose the Superman undies first. I was shocked because I thought for suuuure he would chose Thomas. 

We started off strong with one successful pee on the potty. Soon after I could tell he needed to poop but was uncomfortable and anxious about doing it on the potty. I took him off and watched him very closely - and before long I could see that he was in his typical poop stance and ready. I scooped him up and rushed into the bathroom and was able to get it in the toilet. I hoped this would make him think he did it all himself and ease some of his anxiety. He peed in the potty again right after. 

It was time for nap and after many attempts of getting him to pee before laying down, he was resisting. The method I read said to put him down for naps and bed in his undies and to not use diapers or pull ups or anything! Ha. Well, I gave it a go and after many trips up and down the stairs - I couldn't get back up fast enough and he peed while waiting for me at his door. I waved my white flag and put him in a pull up because I was exhausted and knew he was too. 

He slept for two hours and I had to wake him up (because I never let him sleep past 4:00). It's always a double-edged sword. I wake him so he'll go to sleep but he's a complete grump. Anyway, Mister Grumpy was not happy with me and didn't want anything to do with the potty. This was evidenced by the four accidents he had over the course of the next hour. 

Ryan came home from work and I was overjoyed to have some backup.  I wasn't frustrated in the least bit - just exhausted, and poor Zoey was not getting very much of my attention because I was so focused on Cam.

The kid came back around and had two more successful pees in the potty in the evening.  Even though I washed off his legs after his accidents - the kid needed a good bath.

I didn't hesitate one second to put a pull up on him at bedtime.  The pull ups have Buzz Lightyear on them and he said "That's my Buzz Lightyear to the rescue?!"

 

As I was typing this I heard him upset and crying from his room.  I went in to see what the problem was and he had grabbed a pair of clean (but worn) undies out of his laundry basket and was sobbing "I need to wear dees!"  I'm not convinced he would keep those babies dry so I compromised and put them on over his pull up.

 

End of Day One tally:

#1 Successes: 4

#1 Accidents: 4

#2 Successes: 0

#2 Accidents: 1

Hoping for his typical good night's sleep and I'll be interested to see how wet his pull up is in the morning.

 

I bet you can't wait for tomorrow's update on Day Two.

Take Luck,

LP

Zoey - 4 Months

It's starting to feel like the more I ask time to slow down, the faster it goes.  Not only can I not believe that it's October, but my little sweetheart is now four months old.

- At her four month well check today

Weight: 11 pounds 6 ounces (4th percentile)

Length: 23 3/4 inches (21st percentile)

Head Circumference: 15 1/2 inches (17th percentile)

Zo Zo has only gained six ounces in the last month and much like her brother, isn't moving too fast along the growth curve.  We will go back in for a weight check in three weeks and hopefully see some improvement!

For comparison, at four months Camden weighed 12 lbs 11 oz (15th percentile), was 23 1/2 inches long (11th percentile) and had a head circumference of 16 inches (18th percentile).

 

- Wears 0-3 and 3 month clothing still.  This shouldn't be too much of a shock considering the six ounce weight gain.

- She continues to be a happy, content and smiley baby.  Her daycare ladies tell me that she's a joy to care for and knowing that makes it slightly easier at drop off.

- Her eyes haven't changed much - I'd call them a dark hazel.  We'll see if they stay or take a turn for brown.  Sister is definitely sprouting some hair on the top of her little noggin and it may be lightening in color a little bit.

- She rolled from her tummy to her back on Monday, September 28th and I cried a little inside.  I consoled myself by saying at least she wasn't rolling from back to belly yet and continued to get stuck on her side.

- Hah.  Jokes on me, as always.  Zo rolled from her back to her belly on Wednesday, September 30th and I cried a little on the outside.

- Was sleeping consistently excellent overnight for several weeks, but since this week's new rolling over discovery - it hasn't been as excellent.  Hoping we can get through this milestone and the dreaded four month sleep regression all at once.

- Naps are becoming (overall) less craptastic.

- She's a total drool machine and has been for quite some time.  Bibs keep me from changing her clothes six times a day.

- She went off the continental United States and had her first introduction to the swimming pool.

- Is a total Chatty Cathy - jabbering constantly (and sometimes even in the middle of the night) and giggling/laughing more frequently.

-  Continues to be super ticklish and it's a guaranteed way to get a good squealing laugh out of her.

- Zoey has found her feet and loves to hold onto them and put them in her mouth.

- She's figuring out that milk comes out of a bottle faster (and more plentiful) than it does from Mommy.

- Has really started to respond to Camden and it's the cutest and most swoon-worthy thing ever.  She clearly thinks he hung the moon.  And you can tell he feels the same.

- When looking back at pictures of Camden in his first year, I saw a picture of his profile and about fell out of my chair because their profiles are eerily similar.  Saying they are identical is a bit of a stretch but I was blown away.  I'll have to try and get a decent picture of Zoey to compare and share.

Oh, my sweet Zo Zo.  I love you more than words can say.  Let's make October go by a wee bit slower than September, eh?

Take Luck,

LP