traveling with kids

Several of you have asked if I would share my tips on traveling with kids, and I am finally getting around to entertaining that request.  But before I delve into what works for us, there are a few things you need to know and remember...

• I have never traveled with the girls on my own.
• We have never been on an extra long car trip, only flown to our destination.
• We almost always are visiting my parents house, where almost every baby gear item I use at my own home is available to me.  And my parents are pretty much the bomb, super helpful, and will do almost anything to make my life easier.
• I am a notorious over packer.

Ok, with all that out of the way, here is how we survive traveling with a toddler and an infant.  I tried to make it really organized, but, um, I quickly start jumping from one thing to another.  Good luck following a long :o).

say hello to the bag lady.  and my underwhelmed toddler.

Do what works.
First and foremost, do what works for you.  I used to try and pack books, coloring pages, crayons, toys, etc, to keep Ryann entertained.  But the truth is that the iPad and snacks go a long way.  A LONG way.  So I gave up on my urge to have Ry utilize as little technology as possible, and just keep her quiet with the iPad and snacks.  Lots of snacks.  And headphones for the iPad.  She is so content to sit and watch Dinosaur Train or play games, that she doesn't make a peep for the majority of the flight.  And she has just gotten used to the fact that we can't use the iPad at the beginning or end of the flight, and if she is fussing that is when I break out the food.  But stickers, a new coloring book, or one of these travel aquadoodle mats are all relatively portable and would be a good distraction too.

This past trip the only reasonable flight time for us, left us stuck on a plane for five hours over lunch time.  I used these Easy Lunchboxes to pack food for Ryann and I.  They're great.  I'm also a huge fan of the Zoli Sumo Snack Stack.  You can pack a lot in that thing.  I usually put fruit (grapes and blueberries) in one compartment, nuts, raisins and oatmeal squares in the next, and some sort of cereal or cracker she usually doesn't get in the bottom one, to break out if she is starting to lose it.  The only downside to packing in these kind of containers versus disposable baggies, is that you don't lose any bulk as you finish food.

In regards to a drink on the plane, I just pack an empty kid's Camelbak, buy a big water after I go through security, pour some into Ry's cup and drink the rest.  Also, during take off or landing, or both, I'll give Ryann a squeezy pouch.  It helps her ears pop, and I know she is getting some veggies in her.  Oh and someone asked if the girl's ears seem to be bothered?  Usually only on the way down.  Ryann has told me that her ears hurt.  Usually when she seems uncomfortable or tells me they hurt, mine are popping or bothering me too.  So I tend to use that as reference.  If my ears start to twinge I encourage her to drink some water or pass her a squeezy pouch.

Getting through security.
Alright so you've got everything but the kitchen sink packed in your bags and you've made it to the airport, but now you have to get all that stuff inside and yourself through security.  My first piece of advice?  Bring your stroller.  Your full size stroller.  Your giant double if you've got it.  Yes it can seem like kind of a pain, but the ability to strap your kids down while checking in is vital.  And when you do decide to let them out, you now have a vehicle to carry all your crap.  I just check my stroller (and my infant seat) at the gate.

I have never brought a car seat on the plane.  Neither of my kids likes to sit in one, so it would be more of a hassle to lug it with me and keep them happy.  As I mentioned above, I check my infant carrier at the gate.  Though it is controversial, I check my convertible seat with my luggage.  So far we haven't noticed any damage to the seat, but some claim checking your seat is like it being a car accident, so to each their own.  Do what you feel comfortable with.  To protect my seat a bit, and help me lug the dang thing around, I got one of these backpacks.  Frequently I am traveling with my mom, and there is just no way either of us could actually carry the seat in our hands.  There are some products that would put your car seat on wheels so you could roll it around, but for me having a diaper bag with a cross body strap and the car seat on my back was more effective.  It leaves my hands free to push the stroller and pull a suitcase.

When we get to the front of the security line, I leave the kids in the stroller while I unload all of our bags on the belt.  I have to pull out my laptop, my plastic baggy of liquids,  and my baggy of squeezy pouches.  Then I take off my shoes (wear something you can slip on and off without your hands!  flats, flip flops...).  Once everything is on the belt, I get Elsie out of the car seat, Ry hops out of the stroller, and whatever adult is with me gets those items either on the belt or pushed up to be hand checked.  The infant carrier will fit through the scanner, my stroller frequently does not.  I usually just tell them it won't fit and they hand check it without issue, because otherwise it gets really beat up trying to make it fit.  So far only once have they made us take the stupid stroller completely apart and fit it through the scanner piece by piece (we have the City Select).

Now if your infant likes to be in a carrier such as the Moby, it might work really well for you to have it on when you get to the airport so you can transfer baby from the car seat to there, and still maintain use of your hands.  Elsie doesn't much like the carrier so I avoid it for the most part.

  

Your Carry-ons.
In regard to the bags I carry, I generally travel with the car seat, a suitcase for me and one for the girls (it's a lot, but we are usually gone a week or more), the diaper bag (I recently got this one and love it!) and my Kelly Moore bag.  The suitcases and the car seat get checked at the desk, the other bags I carry on with me. 

The Kelly Moore bag holds my camera, a lens if I take an extra, my laptop, phone, iPad, Ry's headphones, some snacks and my wallet.  In the diaper bag I keep all of the baby essentials (diapers, wipes, nursing cover, change of clothes, etc.).  Make sure to have at least one change of clothes for each child (I bring two for Elsie, sleepers or rompers so I don't have to carry multiple outfit pieces) and it isn't a bad idea to have an extra shirt for yourself.  Diaper blowouts, leaks or a pukey baby are bound to happen, and you don't want to be left wandering the airport in a poop stained shirt.  Pack your extra clothes in a plastic bag or a wet bag so that you have somewhere to put the soiled clothing if you need an outfit change.  It's also a good idea to have a plastic bag on hand (or one of these) for any diapers you have to change while on the plane.

Speaking of changing diapers, I came across a travel pad that I love.  It is called the Ah Goo Baby Plush Pad.  I won't lie, it is bulky and takes up a lot of room, so I won't keep it in the diaper bag on a daily basis.  But some of the airports diaper changing areas are a rock solid counter top, so the memory foam in this thing is great.  It has little elastics on each end to keep it rolled up when it isn't in use which is nice.  And it came in handy when we had to change a diaper on the plane, as well as when we were just sitting around during our stop.

We also make sure to bring a blanket and a lovey for Ry.  For the most part we don't have to get it out anymore, but it came in handy helping to convince her to take a little nap on the plane.  And she always surprised me and up until this trip, pretty much always took at least a 30 minute nap on the plane.

Sleeping Arrangements.
I was asked about how our sleeping arrangements work on vacation, and again, this is an area that I have some luxury in.  My parents beach house has plenty of bedrooms, so Ry has always been in a separate room.  When all the rooms needed to be occupied, my parents let her sleep in one of their small room sized closets on an inflatable mattress.

Nearly every time we've stayed at a hotel, we've gotten adjoining rooms with my parents, so that we could put Ry down in our room, leave the door cracked, and hang out after she went to bed.  Adjoining rooms are also super helpful at nap time.  We used to bring our pack 'n play for her, and at Christmas we put her on the fold out chair with a pillow fort all around her to keep her from falling out.  This past weekend in Nashville, Ryann slept on the inflatable mattress in my parents room and Chris, Elsie and I were in an adjoining room.  Chris and I slept in one bed, and we put Elsie in the dead center of the other double.

Keeping their schedule.
For the most part, while we are on vacation, I still try and stick to Ryann's schedule that we keep at home.  If there is something we want to be out and about for during nap time, we do it, she is relatively flexible.  But usually in Georgia we are just hanging out enjoying the weather, and it isn't tough to bring her back in to rest for a bit.  I've always tried to keep her on central time (so we eat lunch at 1 instead of 12, quiet time at 2 instead of 1), but again, she doesn't really seem to notice if we do things a little different than the norm.  Toddlers can't tell time :o).

To aid with rest time and bed time, we bring a sleep buddy with us wherever we go.  She is starting to care less and less about following it, but it is still a great indicator of when she should be quiet and resting.

Beach Tips.
Kristin asked for some beach tips on facebook, but I'm sorry to report that I don't really have any good ones.  My parent's home is literally steps from the beach, so we just lather up with some sunscreen and drag our beach toys down there.  When we get bored, someone has to pee or gets hungry, we just walk back up to the house.  I have yet to try the baby powder trick (I have no idea why) but maybe next time.  I would suggest not bringing a bag or towels you use on the regular, because ohmygawd sand EVERYWHERE.  EV.REE.WHERE.

Not sure if that covers what people have been wanting to know, but hopefully it helps!  Traveling can be really stressful (I still get incredibly stressed out, because I'm ALWAYS running late), but remember the situation probably isn't as bad as you think, and if your toddler is tormenting the other passengers on the plane, well, you probably will never see them again :o).  If you  have any other questions feel free to ask and I'll do my best to answer them!  

that's what she said

Ryann:  walking into Grammy's house "I'm so happy to be home."
Yes, she prefers their place over ours.  I would too.

Me:  "Are you done going potty?"
Ryann:  "Hold on, I'm pushing out some brown stuff.  It's called poop."
I know she'll love me for recording that one.  :o)

Me:  "I'm going to go take a shower."
Ryann:  "AGAIN?!?!?  But you showered yesterday!"
My toddler has observed the fact that I rarely manage to shower two days in a row.

while in the bathroom, after she had woken me from a very VERY deep sleep at 5:30am 
Ryann:  "Those are some nice pajamas you have on!  I like the polka dots."
Me:  groggily "Thanks."
Ryann:  "I'm going to pretend the polka dots are different colors so they can be circus pajamas."
and then she proceeded to sing the 'afro circus polka dot' song from Madagascar 3 

while I was in another room nursing Elsie I overhead the following conversation between Ryann and Christopher's Uncle, while they were eating lunch with the rest of Chris's family on Mother's Day
Doug:  "Ryann, do you like tomatoes?"
Ryann:  "Oh, no no no no.  I don't like tomatoes."
Doug:  "Does Elsie like tomatoes?"
Ryann:  giggling "Oh no!  She's too little to eat tomatoes."
Doug:  "Well it's a good thing I'm not feeding her, I might have given her a tomato."
Ryann:  "You can't feed Elsie, you don't have boobs!"
Dead.

ryann - three years

Oh man.  I went back to look at Ryann's two year post to see what I had written and give me an idea of where to go with the post and I cannot believe how much she has grown.  I'm sure I say that all the time, but at 24 months she still had a little baby left in her.  Not so much anymore!

Ryann really has grown so much.  We were at my parents house over Easter weekend and she wanted to sit at the table in a regular chair, not her booster.  I started to say something to affect that she wouldn't really be able to reach the table, but she plopped herself in a seat and was just fine.  It surprised me.  At her doctor's appointment she weighed 31lbs and was 36.3 inches tall.  Ry is wearing mostly 3T clothing, except for some tees and jeggings from Target.  Those always seem to run small.

People always ask me if Ryann is a good sleeper, and my first response is no, she isn't.  But I suppose that isn't exactly true.  When she is asleep for the night, she is out, generally sleeping from about 9pm until 6:30am, and toss a one to two hour nap around 1:30 in there as well during the day.  So yes, she sleeps.  But she almost rarely sleep in, and actually getting her in her bed is quite the chore.  She stalls during bedtime like it is her job.  And now she comes out of her room about a million times asking for this or that or wanting to tell us something.  It drives me nuts.  She used to be so good about staying in her room when Sleep Buddy was on.  Thankfully when she wakes up in the morning she stays in her room until it goes off.  And even though she never really sleeps until 7am, we've changed it so Sleepy Buddy doesn't go off until then.  There isn't much benefit to her being out of her room before then.

pink chocolate chip pancakes, per the birthday girl's request

Nap time has been renamed 'quiet time', and I no longer expect her to go to sleep.  But for the most part she does.  Sleep buddy is on from 1:15pm to 3:30pm so I'm supposed to get a couple hours in the middle of the day free from toddler duty.  But lately she is having a party in there for about an hour, and pops out to request something multiple times before finally falling asleep.  Since she has been falling asleep later I'm often having to wake her from nap.  I won't let her sleep past 4:00pm.

This kid's picky eating habits have gotten out of control.  She definitely prefers junk food, even though I try to limit it.  Ryann eats a peanut butter and jelly sandwich nearly every day for lunch.  She loves fruit, and will eat almost any kind of fruit.  Other favorites are muffins, honeynut cheerios, almonds and pickles.  There isn't a single veggie that she will eat on a regular basis.  She'll tolerate a few bites of carrots, corn and bell peppers, but that is it.  We still resort to squeezy pouches and smoothies to get any veggies in her.  We used to have a rotation of four things that she would eat for dinner that we would make, but now she even refuses most of those, so for dinner her plate consists of whatever we are eating.  Which she never eats.  I know we should have been doing that from the start, but... hopefully she'll start to try and like more foods soon.

Ryann is unbelievably smart, and would know more if I would be better about working with her.  Her Grandma 'Nita has bought her some preschool workbooks, and she plows through them like crazy.  She is beginning to understand some basic math concepts and is pretty great with letter sounds.  She is also starting to get a grasp on rhyming words.  She LOVES doing the little worksheets.  For a variety of reasons we opted to keep Ryann at the church preschool where she has been going to MDO.  I'm hoping it wasn't the wrong choice.  She has plenty of years to learn academics, but I'm worried that there won't be enough to keep her interest.  I know they don't really focus on letters and letter sounds and such until the kids are in the 4 year old room there.  Oh and Ryann can also write her first name pretty convincingly.  So proud of her.

Ry is quite the little problem solver when it comes to wanting situations or events to go her way.  For instance, the other day I told her the twins were playing at Sarah's house (if you're new here Sarah used to nanny them and we played with them a lot).  We used to go to Monkey Bizness with them often, so Ry got all excited and said "Hooray!  We can go to Monkey Bizness!"  Now Sarah has a home daycare so she can't really get out, and I tried to explain that to Ryann.  "Well, it's ok, she can bring the other kids too.  I don't mind."  "Honey I don't think she can, that is a lot of kids to take care of, and I think her car is too small to drive them all."  "Well... we can take our car there and someone can ride in our car!"  "With you and Elsie in the car we don't have any extra seats, because kids your size can't sit in the front."  "Well... we could probably all take a bus to Monkey Bizness."  There is a solution for everything, of course!  :o)

The little miss is also trying to become a master negotiator.  We'll often tell her if she does something, such as "If you eat three bites of vegetables and two bites of fruit you can watch an episode of Dinosaur Train."  She'll come back with "Well, how about three bites of fruit and one bite of vegetables?"  Actually she'll usually say "I'd prefer..." with her finger pressed to the bottom of her lips, her little thinking face.  I'm fairly certain this trait comes from me.  I can vividly remember being in dance rehearsals, bargaining with my instructor for how many more times we had to do the dance full out. 

Ryann is a very strong headed, opinionated little girl.  She isn't the least bit afraid to tell you what she wants, and is even less timid about letting you know when you're doing something she doesn't like.  Parenting her can be a very tough thing, it definitely tests your patience.  Some days she is great and sweet and what not, but unfortunately when she gets mad it escalates very quickly, and her first reaction when she isn't getting her way it to throw something or hit someone.  I hate that.  I know she is young and that is very normal, but it is so hard to keep my cool when she starts doing that.  We talk regularly about using our words and talking about our feelings, but she just hasn't come around to it yet.

sometimes you just have to jump out of your car and dance to your jams

Currently Ryann is OBSESSED with dinosaurs, mostly Dinosaur Train.  We are regularly pteranadons or T-Rexes.  Christopher ended up purchasing all of the seasons of Dinosaur Train on his iPad, and now that is all Ryann wants to do, sit around and watch it (which of course I won't allow all the time, therefore we have another thing to battle about, but you know).  Ry has definitely learned a lot about dinosaurs from the show, and can name several different kinds.  The other week when we were at my parents house, she picked up a shark and said, "Look Dad, a cretoxyrhina!"  We had to look it up to see if she was right, and sure enough.

Before Ryann had every episode of Dinosaur Train at her fingertips, we were forced to watch all of the Madagascar movies on a repeating rotation.  I regularly have the afro circus song stuck in my head.  Now all lions are named Alex, hippos are Gloria, zebras are Marty, and giraffes are Melvin, because we didn't realize at first that they were actually saying Melman in the movie.  Thankfully if you have to watch a set of movies over and over again, they are pretty good ones.  Chris and I both agree the third one is the best, I love the penguins.  Oh and Ryann's favorite song is still 'I Like to Move It.'  Actually Chris bought the soundtracks from the movies, and if you play a song Ryann can tell you which movie it is in.  We have quite the awesome Madagascar dance parties in our house.

  

Miss Ryann has become quite possessive of her little sister.  If we are out and about and anyone so much as looks at Elsie, Ryann is quick to tell them that it is HER baby.  Yes her baby, not her sister.  :o)  Ryann is seriously just so cute with Elsie.  I love it.

Whew, this post has gotten long enough so I guess I'll try and cut it off there.  Ryann really just is such a special girl.  Almost everyone who meets her says something to the effect that they have never met a little girl quite like her.  When she is in the mood to be sweet she is SO sweet.  When she is excited she is SOOO excited.  And when she is pissed, well...

Miss Ryann, you are going to keep me on my toes for the rest of my life, I can guarantee it.  But I love you to pieces and I'm so incredibly happy that I am your mother.  I can't wait to see where life takes you.  But please stay little just a bit longer, ok?  I love you.

that's what she said

Ryann:  "I want someone to put these pickles in my mouth.  Ahh..." opening her mouth really wide
Christopher:  "Well aren't you a little princess?"
Ryann:  "I don't want my hands to get all pickley!"

Ryann:  "You tickled my bum, and I liked it!"  can we say awkward?

Ryann:  "It's foggy and rainy today."
Me:  "Yep.  We need the rain, it is good for the grass and the plans and the trees.  But I sure hate having to walk in it."
Ryann:  very straight forwardly "Mom.  You have an UM-brel-YA."

Me:  "Aw man.  We need gas.  That stinks.  You know why?"
Ryann:  "Why?"
Me:  "Because it's like two degrees outside and I don't wanna get out of the car."
Ryann:  "But we have to get gas cause the car needs gas and if you don't get gas the car won't go and I can't do it cause I can't reach!"

Ryann:  at 6:48am  "Morning.  You need to vacuum."
Me:  "Do I?"
Ryann:  "Yeah.  There are kitty hairs on the floor."
Me:  "Well good morning to you too."

And the crown jewel for this post...
Me: singing a song out of a book she has "When you grow older...... you will be loved and precious to me."
Ryann:  "Nooo!"
Me:  "What?  What is wrong?"
Ryann:  "I'M NOT PRECIOUS!"
Me:  "Yes you are.  You are precious to me.  I love you!"
Ryann:  "NO.  I wanna be a CEO!"

And then I had to try really hard to contain some of my laughter.  I think Ryann thought 'precious' was something she would be when she grows up.  And she claims she wants to be a CEO like her papa.  So apparently that pissed her off.  I had to try and explain the use of precious.  Poor kid.   

that's what she said

Ryann:  "Oh, I think you're right mom."
Me:  "I usually am."
Ryann:  "But you're not always right."  thanks for pointing that out kiddo
Me:  "You're right.  Not all the time.  Nobody can be right all the time, nobody is perfect."
Ryann:  "Oh, I know someone who is perfect."
Me:  "Oh yeah?  Who?"
Ryann:  "Papa!"

Me:  "You need to pick up that spoon and take it to the kitchen.  We do not throw silverware on the floor."
Ryann:  "That's not silverware.  That's plastic."
touche little one, touche.

Ryann:  "Ooo, I like your hands!"  in reference to the fake nails I had put on

Ryann:  "Tell me a story about pigs.  And snow.  Now."
the very first thing she said to me when I woke her up from a nap 

Me:  "What are you doing?"
Ryann:  "Just laying here.  Yooking at the yight.  It has three eyes.  And wings."
you should probably stop staring at the light...

 

that's what she said

Me:  to my mom on the phone "If these cats don't stop meowing at me I'm going to throw them outside."
Ryann:  "That isn't nice mommy."
Me:  "What?  Oh right, it's not.  We don't throw."
Ryann:  "You should place the cats gently outside."

Ryann:  singing "Hark the herald angels sing...... God and gingers reconciled!"
no one get offended, if you don't remember, she calls gingerbread people 'gingers'

Ryann:  "Mommy if I eat all my lunch I'll get big and giant and can cover all the couch like you!"

Ryann:  "My belly tooted!"
Me:  "Your belly tooted?  What does that mean?"
Ryann:  "My belly TOOTED!  It was awesome and crazy."

Ryann:  "ALRIGHT.  Let me tell you what we're gonna do."

Me or anyone else:  "Thank you!"
Ryann:  "Oh!  You're totally welcome!"

that's what she said

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!  We had a good time, Ryann got spoiled, I ate too many cookies, and now I'm exhausted.  That about sums it up.  I'm sure tomorrow you'll get a big ol' dump of Christmas photos, but for now just some more ridiculous things my child has said in recent days.

Ryann:  "Mama, what's a roary bore-e-ell-us?"
Me:  "What?"
Ryann:  "What's a roary bore-e-ell-us?"
Me:  "Are you talking jibberish?"
Ryann:  "NO!  What's a roary bore-e-ell-us?"
Me:  "I have no idea what you're talking about, ask Daddy."
Ryann:  "Daddy?  DADDY!  What's a roary bore-e-ell-us?"
Christopher:  "What?"
Ryann:  "A ROARY BORE-E-ELL-US!"
Christopher:  "Oh, aurora borealis?  The northern lights?"
Me:  "Well of course.  baffled Where the heck did you hear that?"
Ryann:  "Dinosaur Train."

Me:  "Ry please come get your jammies on."
Ryann:  "MOM!  We DON'T wear giraffe jammies at CHRISTMAS TIME!"
Me:  "But you only have two pairs of Christmas jammies and they are both dirty."
Ryann:  "Oh..."

Ryann:  "I can't see our house."
Me:  "Nope, we aren't there yet."
Ryann:  "Why?"
Me:  "Because we still have to drive a little farther to get there."
Ryann:  "Why?"
Me:  "Because I can't fly us home.  I'm not magic."
Ryann:  "Why?"
Me:  "I don't know.  Because God didn't make me that way."
Ryann:  "Why?"
Me:  "You'd have to ask God."
Ryann:  "When I'm in heaven?"
ohmygawd how long does the why stage last?  so annoying...

Me:  "Look there's some Christmas lights."
Ryann:  "Over there?  Are they Christmas lights?"
Me:  "No, they're Halloween lights.  Yes they are Christmas lights silly!"
Ryann:  "Dude.  Who has Halloween lights?"

that's what she said

Ryann:  "I don't want a dinosaur glitter party.  I want an ocean party."
Me:  "But I've gotten excited for a dinosaur glitter party!   Come on!"
Ryann:  "Ocean party."
Me:  "But we could have glitter everywhere!"
Ryann:  "Everywhere?  Like even all over the ceiling?"
Me:  "Ok maybe not the ceiling.  I don't think we could get it up there."
Ryann:  "If you got a steppy stool you could reach the ceiling..."

Me:  "You can bring something in the car, but not a hanger.  Pick one of your smaller toys."
Ryann:  "But it's my exceptional bracelet!"

Ryann:  "MAX.  GET DOWN!"
Me:  "Yeah Max, get off the table."  Max moves to the couch.
Ryann:  "MAX!  GET!  DOWN!"
Me:  "Sweetie he can be on the couch or the chairs.  I just don't want him on the tables."
Ryann:  "I don't want him on the couch."
Me:  "Ry he can sit there.  I said it's ok, and I'm in charge."
Ryann:  "Hey, I'm in charge lady."  Ahem, no.

Christopher:  "What movie do you want to watch tonight?"
Ryann:  "Boogers Pickin'."
Christopher:  "Oh?  What's that movie about?"
Ryann:  "The history of the United States."
We haven't the faintest idea where she got that from.

Me:  fighting with Ryann about staying in her bed during nap time
Ryann:  arms crossed  "I am NOT getting in my bed until you let me have some books." 
and that is when I had to walk away and give up before I smacked my child.  two-year-olds, who the heck do they think they are??

upon first glance that may look innocent and cute, but I'm thinking mischievous and evil... :o)

that's what she said

Ryann:  speaking gibberish and expecting me to understand, because she thinks it is funny
Me:  "You are probably the craziest kid I know."
Ryann:  "I'm not a skittle!"
Me:  "What??  What are you talking about?"
Ryann:  giggling "You and the dolphins."
Me:  "What?!?!  Seriously.  You are a nut."
Ryann:  "But I'm not crunchy!"  laughs hysterically

Ryann:  "I need to go potty!"
Me:  "Ok, let's go."
Ryann:  "You need to take my pants and underwear all the way off."
Me:  "Why?"
Ryann:  "Because they're wet."
Me:  "Why?"
Ryann:  "Because I pottied behind the Christmas tree."
thankfully there was no puddle behind the tree, but her pants were a bit wet

Ryann:  "Do we still have pumpkins?"
Me:  "No, we don't have any more pumpkins."
Ryann:  "Why?"
Me:  "Well, pumpkins are more for Halloween and Thanksgiving, and those are over."
Ryann:  "Is it Christmas time now?"
Me:  "Yep, it is getting to be Christmas time."
Ryann:  "Well, we better sing some Christmas songs then!  Sing."

Me:  saying our bedtime prayer "God bless Mommy and Daddy, Grammy and Papa..."
Ryann:  "And cake.  Don't forget to bless cake."

Me:  "Did you know you're my favorite?"
Ryann:  "Yeah."
Me:  "Am I your favorite?"
Ryann:  "Yeah.  And fruit snacks."

In general Ryann's conversations and sentences are becoming so mature (in structure and form, not in topic).  She says things like "I haven't quite decided," and "Sure, just give me a minute."  I'd say at least once a day I she surprises me with a phrase that makes her sound so old.  And then she makes farting noises with her mouth and laughs hysterically and I remember she is two and a half.  :o) 

And I have to throw in this little tidbit.  I was a little irritated when I heard Ryann awake on the monitor at 5:45am this morning.  She had 'school' yesterday (which = a crappy nap) and she didn't fall asleep until nearly 9pm, so I thought surely she'd sleep in for me (for the record she has since gone back to sleep).  But I watched her for a minute, and she arranged all the 70 bajillion buddies she has accumulated in her bed into a neat little row by her pillow.  Then proceeded to give them each a kiss and told them to sleep tight.  Dead from the cuteness.

that's what she said

Me:  "That is a fuel truck.  It is carrying some sort of fuel that makes things go."
Ryann:  "A fuel truck?"
Me:  "Yep, a fuel truck.  Like cars use gas as fuel.  Some trains use steam or coal.  You use fuel too you know.  Food is your fuel."
Ryann:  "Food?"
Me:  "Yep, food gives you energy."
Ryann:  "Energy for, my bum?"
Me:  dumfounded

Me:  "What kind of birthday party should we have this year Ryann?"
Papa:  "How about, a T-Rex party?" they had recently downloaded talking T-Rex on the iPad
Ryann:  "Yes!  A dinosaur party!"
Me:  "A dinosaur party? through gritted teeth Thanks papa."
Ryann:  "A dinosaur party."
Me:  "Well, let's look at pinterest and see if there is anything you like." starts scrolling through my celebrate board
Ryann:  "What's that?!?"
Me:  "That?  Glitter."
Ryann:  "Can I have that too?"
Me:  "Glitter?  You want glitter?  So, uh, dinosaurs and glitter?"
Ryann:  "Yeah."
Me:  wheels start turning "I think we can work with that."

And I have two stories I have to get written down... On Sunday (when it was 80 degrees in Georgia, not 60!) we went to the beach.  Ryann had a blast, and got completely covered in sand.  It was also the first time she had worn a swimsuit without underwear, so there was sand, well, everywhere.  When we got back to my parents' house we stripped off all her clothes so we could spray her down with the hose before bringing her inside.  Surprisingly she really enjoys being blasted with the hose.  I have no idea why.  Well this time she started dancing around while getting sprayed, shaking her butt and singing, "tushy tushy bum bum! tushy tushy bum bum!"  Oy, my kid.  But then, then when my dad had stopped spraying her and was cleaning something else, she bends over sticking her butt out as far as she can says, "Do it again Papa.  Spray my BUM!"  Seriously, how does the ridiculous obsession with bums and potty humor start so early??

Recently I purchased a sight words video for Ryann.  Last night we were out to dinner with my parents and some of their friends.  In an attempt to keep Ryann entertained, I started writing sight words on the table.  The first one I wrote down was and.  My dad, being the funny guy that he is, says "watch this," and proceeds to add a y to the end of the word.  "Now it says my name, Andy."  And then Ryann completely lost her shit.  She was crying harder than I'd seen in a while, completely distraught over the fact that my dad had 'ruined' her sight word.  He tried scribbling it out.  "It is still there!!!!!"  More sobbing and tears.  I tried covering it up with the kids menu.  It worked for a second before she peeked under the menu and broke down again.  We tried writing the word again, we said Papa would never write another y, a million other things, but she was pretty much inconsolable for a good five or so minutes.  All the while of course I'm trying not to laugh because seriously.  This much drama over a freaking y?  When we were finally getting in the car after dinner, my dad said something to the affect of Ryann not liking y's.  Her response?  "Well, I still like the letter.  I just don't like it in that word."  Sheesh.

just some random shots off my phone, since I haven't shared those since, um, August?

the big bed transition

Transitioning Ryann to a 'big girl' bed has been a huge fear of mine for quite some time.  She first attempted to climb out of her crib at 21 months.  But I scared the crap out of her and she didn't try it again for a while.  So we put off the issue.  Then when she started to try and climb out again threatening to take away her sleep friends did the trick.  But with Baby Sister on the way, and no reason to have a three-year-old and an infant both in cribs, it was time to suck it up and get her in a real bed.

post last nap in the crib

About a month ago we ordered the Sleep Buddy training system.  We figured it would be good for when she was out of the crib, and at the time she was waking up butt early and wanting to get up for the day.  So we started before she was ever out of the crib teaching her that the Sleep Buddy indicated sleep time versus wake-up time.

Now the Sleep Buddy isn't cheap.  Just under $40 + shipping.  There are several similar sleep training products that cost a lot less.  But we liked the simplicity of this product.  The parent sets the sleep and wake up times on the under side of the light, there is no clock feature or pictures or anything for the child to look at.  When it is a designated sleep time, the light turns on.  When it is wake up time the light turns off.  You are able to set separate times for night and nap.  Some of the other products we looked at seemed as though it might be difficult for the child to differentiate between the two times.  This was incredibly straight forward.

awake time on top, sleep time on bottom

The Sleep Buddy system also comes with a little story you can read to your child, sort of describing the concept, as well as a rewards chart you can use to encourage staying in bed.  We have never used the rewards chart, but the story was kind of nice.  I think it helped Ryann grasp the idea a little better than us just telling her.  Granted at the time we read it she was still in the crib, and it is geared at actually staying in bed, but it gave her something to go with.

While Ryann was in her crib, we were hoping the light would teach her to be quiet when it was on, and try to go back to sleep.  Yeah, not so much.  She stopped asking for me at 5am, but was still having a party in her crib, which of course equaled me not sleeping.  But nonetheless, she stopped asking for me.  So even if I was just laying in my bed praying that the 23rd round of itsy bitsy spider would be the last, she wasn't needing my attention.  Sometimes as soon as the light would go off she'd stand up and yell to me, "Mommy!  It's wake up time!"  Eventually she stopped waking up so early, so I'm assuming that was just a phase (although her wake-up time does seem to be affected by how much she naps, if only she didn't nap so freaking well... what are you going to do, right?).

playing on her bed after we had it all set up

Well, back to moving her to a big bed.  We were still dragging our feet, so one afternoon I decided we were going to the mattress store and not leaving until we had purchased a new bed.  We found one that we all agreed was comfortable and was in a price range we were willing to pay, and placed our order.  The delivery date was set, October 23rd, and we had our 'deadline' so to speak.  The weekend before the bed was going to be delivered Ryann and I were staying with my parents.  So I thought it might be a good time to give the big girl bed thing a try (while I had someone to help me during the day and save my sanity if she didn't sleep).  They had a mattress on the floor in the room she slept on.  We got all pumped telling her "hooray!  you're big enough to sleep in the big bed!  woohoo!"  "No, I don't wanna.  I'll sleep in the baby bed."

Say what?  That wasn't what I was expecting at all.  For the last couple of months she has been begging to sleep in that bed on the floor.  We finally offer up the goods and she turns me down?  Well that scared me even more.  I was worried she was going to push back on anything involving being big, and try to stay the baby.  We decided not to push the issue and let her sleep in the pack 'n play that weekend (even though she doesn't really fit in the darn thing anymore).  The bed was coming and that was that.  I kept reminding her that her big girl bed was going to be there Tuesday.  We picked out sheets at Target, all that jazz.

Tuesday when the bed came around 4:00 in the afternoon, I tried to get her all excited for Daddy to set it up that night.  She wasn't interested.  When Christopher got home he wasn't sure we should do it.  He didn't want her to be anti the bed and really resist the transition.  But I had my mind made up and if we didn't do it then I knew we'd put it off more and more.  So I made him take down the crib.  Once we got the bed all set up (we just put the boxspring and mattress on the floor) and the sheets on we brought Ryann in her room to show her (we didn't let her watch him taking apart the crib because we thought that would stress her out).  And she was excited :o).  We made a huge deal out of how the bed was just her bed, not mommy's or daddy's or baby sister's.  Told her she could tell everyone about her new big girl bed and how awesome it was.  She started to get pretty pumped.

That night when it was time to go to sleep I could tell she was a little apprehensive.  But she pulled through and surprised the heck out of us.  It was funny to watch her trying to go to sleep, because she didn't know what to do with the sheets (I probably should have just started with a fitted sheet and a blanket...).  We could tell she was frustrated.  But eventually she got settled in, and stayed in her bed all night long.  Well, almost all night anyway.  We knew that she had dropped an animal or two out of the bed before she fell asleep, and when I went to get her in the morning they were back in the bed.  So she must have gotten down to get them.  And she slept in really late for her that first morning (7:30) so I'm guessing she was up in the middle of the night, but I didn't hear her.  Or the bed is just that awesome.  One of the two.

But really the transition has been a breeze.  The second night she sat on the edge of the bed for a while, swinging her legs, considering the possibility of getting out.  I could see the wheels turning while watching her on the monitor.  At one point she stood up on the floor.  I called into her, "Is the sleep buddy on?"  She scrambled right up into the bed and hasn't gotten out again.  And she stays in bed until the sleep buddy light goes off, sometimes after.  She has become pretty obsessed with her bed, always wanting to play on it and sit in there and read books.

love love LOVE having a video monitor so I can spy on her

Even while we were at my parents' house this weekend without the Sleep Buddy Ryann did great, not getting out of the bed until we came back in the room to get her.  So I'm not sure she really needs the Sleep Buddy, but I still think it is a great tool.  It is great for us to be able to reference it if she is having a particularly tough time settling down for bedtime or nap ("Sleep Buddy is on, do you remember what that means?").  It helps her to not have any wiggle room as far as when the appropriate quiet times are.

I love the amount of light the Sleep Buddy puts off.  Not too bright, but enough light to provide some security for those kiddos who might be scared of the dark.  We do still use a second night light in the room, because one morning when hers wasn't on and the Sleep Buddy went off, she freaked out because her room was pitch black.  So something to think about.

I frequently catch her sleeping sideways

Whew, that was a novel!  But I had a couple of requests for info on the sleep buddy and how the big bed transition was going.  Overall?  Way way WAY easier than anticipated.  I hope it stays this way!  I think between the Sleep Buddy, and the fact that she has been sleeping on a cot at MDO (helped teach her boundaries in the bed while she was sleeping) she was prepped for the transition.  So I'm glad we waited.  If you have any other questions about our experience so far ask away!

that's what she said

I've been terrible about writing down some of the funny thing Ryann says, but I have a couple now so I better share them before they are completely forgotten about.

Me:  "I'm going to go make some lunch."
Ryann:  "No!  Stay and play with me.  Don't make lunch."
Me:  "Well sweetie if I don't make the lunch, no one will, and then we won't get to eat."
I walk into the kitchen...
Ryann:  "NO!  Stop it!  STOP IT!  Stop the lunch making!"

Ryann:  "I wanna jump off everything!"

Ryann:  Hanging from the counter at the gym while I check in.
Male Gym Employee:  to Ryann "Are you going to do some pull-ups?"
Ryann:  "I'm not wearing a pull-up.  I'm wearing UNDERWEAR!!!!"
Male Gym Employee:  Gives me the WTF look.

Me:  "No, we are not climbing on the couch.  It is time to get ready for nap."
Ryann:  "But the couch wants me."


Also, the kid has been dreaming a lot.  It is rather funny when she is recapping, because sometimes you have no idea if she is describing a dream to you or something she really thinks or really did happen.

Ryann:  "I was eating something in my crib."
Me:  "What?  What were you eating?"
Ryann:  "White glittery food.  With Ginger."
Me:  "What are you talking about?  Did you dream this?"
Ryann:  "Ummm... yeah."

Ryann:  While somewhat sobbing in the middle of the night, "Mama!  Mama!"
Me:  Go in to her room, "What is the matter Ryann?"
Ryann:  "Finish the song."
Me:  "What song honey?  I wasn't singing.  It's night time."
Ryann:  "FINISH THE SONG."
Me:  "Sweetie it is night time, I think you were dreaming."
Ryann:  "FINISH THE SONG!!!!"
Me:  "Uh, twinkle twinkle little star..."

Oh little miss, you are a character.

the day daddy broke the balloon

I've been meaning to share the story for a few weeks now, but I kept forgetting (how I have no idea).  And hopefully by now Chris won't kill me for telling it, because in the long run it is hilarious.  So here we go...

A few weeks ago Chris had a weekday off, so we decided to head to the mall.  I've been wanting to get Ryann a new pair of Toms, but I wasn't sure what size to get.  We went to Nordstrom, had fun riding the elevator up to the kid's shoe department, tried on shoes (Ry is between sizes, of course), and the little lady was lucky enough to score a balloon.

 

Now before I go further I have to mention that Chris had recently purchased sweet tea Mio, and Ryann thought it was the most delicious stuff ever.  She managed to chug an entire kids cambelbak worth before we made it to the mall.

Anyway, we've got our balloon, and for some reason we decide we want to eat lunch at the mall, even though you know there isn't anything little miss picky will actually eat.  Not to mention Ryann was starting to get a little antsy or something.  Chris was carrying her when we went up to order our food, and during the process her diaper leaked all over him.  Fun stuff, so he put her down.  Well of course she wouldn't stay anywhere near us, and takes off running through the food court.  I'm trying to finish paying for our food, Chris is trying to catch Ryann, she is smacking him in the face with her stupid balloon, they are both covered in pee...

And then I hear the loudest most obnoxious balloon pop I have ever heard in my entire life.

Apparently Christopher got a wee bit frustrated, and in an attempt to reign Ryann in and control the situation, he um, got rid of the balloon.  Unfortunately he did so in an area that apparently could echo a whisper 1000 feet and every single head turned our direction.  Which was made even better because Ryann started screaming and crying the most terrible cry I think I have heard from her in a long long time.  The lady at the food counter thought she got hurt.

There is a bit more after that, but it isn't all that relevant.  For the next several days Ryann would randomly bring up the fact that Daddy broke her balloon.  I would send Chris tallies via text throughout the day, "it is getting better!   she has only mentioned the incident four times this afternoon!"  But now, if she is ever giving us a really really hard time, we can just ask if she remembers the day Daddy broke her balloon.  And if she wants that to happen again.  :o)

Wasn't Christopher's proudest parenting moment, but I laugh every time I think about it.  You seriously should have seen everyone's faces.

Got any great parenting stories to share? 

this and that

::  Thursday morning we were out of diapers (because not buying diapers until I absolutely need them is just my thing...), so I told Ryann we didn't have anymore and she needed to be a big girl and wear underwear.  And um, she did.  And we went to the park, and we ran a couple of errands, and played around the house, and she didn't freaking pee on the floor.  I put a diaper on her at nap (ok I had one in the diaper bag) but beyond that she was in underwear all day.  So why was it when we actually tried to potty train her she peed on the floor four times in an hour?

The minor dilemma is that she can't actually go to the bathroom by herself.  She gets frustrated with her pants and she can't reach the sink.  So for now I'm putting her in a pull-up at the gym because they will not assist in the bathroom, and if she knows she can get me to come back if she tells them she needs to pee she will do it a million times.  Not sure how we'll deal with that situation, but whatever.  We've gone two days without diapers (with only two accidents).  She isn't telling me she needs to go (unless she needs to poop of course), but she is making it one to two hours without having an accident and just goes when it is opportune.  I hope this sticks.  That would be awesome.

::  We're supposed to get our house painted this week (there is a slight chance for rain, not sure what that will do to it).  Maybe we should decide for sure on colors...

::  I'd be ok if it did rain some, seeing as we had our yard seeded yesterday.  Not sure if I've mentioned it, but we had some foundation work done this summer and they absolutely DESTROYED our yard with their machinery.  It was insane.  So woot to hopefully having a yard again in a month or so.  The really crappy part?  I'm playing move the sprinkler all freaking day.  The guy suggested we water the entire yard 2-3 times a day for 30-45 minutes.  I have to put the hose in at least two spots to cover the front yard, and I honestly haven't figured out how many in the back, at least four.  So yes, this is so much fun.  This grass better grow.

::  You know what happens when you plan a bunch of home improvement projects?  Stupid things happen.  Like your fridge breaks.  A guy came out to look at it today, and it actually happens to be a part in the freezer (which is nice and cold) that isn't working.  So in order to fix the fridge we need to turn the freezer off for two days so it will defrost and he can put in a new part.  You see where I'm going here?  We have already lost all the food in our fridge, except some milk and a few things we could fit in the beer fridge in the family room.  And now we might lose a lot of the food in our freezer.  Fun freaking stuff happening over here.  I guess the only benefit is that I just made my giant 'to do and clean before baby' list, and take everything out of the fridge and freezer and clean them is on there.  Just not exactly how I wanted to go about doing it.

::  Alright, that is enough rambling, I have a million things I should be doing.  I'll just leave you with a picture of my little miss sassy pants.  This girl.  I'm pretty sure she is out to kill me.  First with being the most annoying, stubborn and defiant child on the planet, and then by following that with being the cutest little human I have ever seen.  Thank God for the latter because there are moments I am definitely searching for the return policy...

::  Oh wait!  A quick thank you for all of your input on our sleep issues as well as the whole kid won't eat anything issues over on the facebook page.  They are much appreciated.  We are taking things slow, and I plan to talk all of our concerns over with the pediatrician at our appointment this month, but for now we are trying to limit naps to 90 minutes, and if she doesn't eat what I serve her, she doesn't eat.  Last week Ryann did go to bed one night without eating anything for dinner, and we all survived.  She didn't ask for anything else that night, nor did she wake up earlier than usual, or fuss at all really.  So maybe she just plain wasn't hungry.

Have a good one!

oh sleep (the lack of, of course)

It was a toss up whether to talk about sleeping or eating today, but seeing as a certain little miss woke me up well before the butt crack of dawn we will go with sleep.  And yes, I'm aware I've probably already exhausted both subjects, but what is a girl to do?  We've got issues.

napping like a champ at MDO... seriously, everyone else was awake & picked up by their parents, she was still out cold

::  Please please PLEASE tell me it is not time to drop my child's nap.  I can't do it.  I CAN'T!  Ryann has been periodically waking up at 4:45am, is almost always up by 6:15am (except yesterday, when she slept till 6:45am, that was amazing).  This morning she was again up at 4:45am, but she just lays there and pushes her seahorse over and over again.  Finally at 6am I told her to go back to sleep and she did, but do these early wakings mean she needs to drop her nap?  She rarely fights going to sleep at nap time anymore.  I mean, yes, she'd prefer I let her stay up, but once she is in her crib for the most part she is out in 15 minutes or less.  20 minutes max.  And then she'll sleep anywhere from 1.5 to 2.5 hours  Sometimes 3 if it has been a rough morning (or night) and I let her.  I try and make sure to wake her by 3:30pm, so she is ready-ish for bed at 8pm (but it can take 25 minutes - an hour for her to fall asleep at bedtime).  The sleep patterns of this child really confuse me.

::  To help Ry understand when it is time to sleep (especially since the transition to a regular bed is coming this month, hold me) we are considering getting the Ok to Wake Clock or the Sleep Buddy Training System.  Does anyone have any experience with those items or something similar?  I know a couple people have mentioned them to me since Ry tends not to be the best sleeper, but we are definitely in need now so I have to pick one.  I don't think we need all the 'stuff' that comes with the Sleep Buddy, but I like the simplicity of the sleep aid.

::  Transitioning to a regular bed, any tips for me?  Ryann officially climbed all the way out of her crib this weekend, so it is time.  We're planning to go straight to a twin bed, as opposed to a toddler bed, and our thoughts were to just start with the mattress on the floor.  How has this worked for other mama's out there?  Would it be better to just start with the bed off the floor so she has to learn how to stay in?  Has anyone tried the pool noodle trick on pinterest to keep the kiddo from rolling out?  Pillow suggestions for a toddler?  The (less than a) handful of times Ryann has slept in our bed she hasn't wanted to sleep on the pillow, I think they're too puffy or something.

::  With your toddler in a regular bed, do you enforce staying in bed at sleep times?  Or do you let them roam their room until they go to sleep?  Christopher said that is a battle he doesn't want to fight, and as long as she stays in her room he doesn't care, but I'm just not so sure.  I feel like she will never sleep and be doing who knows what at 3am.

::  IF (ohmygawd please say it isn't so) we drop the nap, I will have to enforce a 1.5 to 2 hour quiet time.  Nap time is when I work (if anyone didn't know I design custom wedding stationery and do other random design projects), and yes ok when I blog too and other random non important things.  But with a toddler who doesn't go to bed until between 8 & 8:30pm and is up by 6:15am and a husband who works a lot, that doesn't give me a whole lotta time to myself, be it personal or work.  So yes, quiet time, it has to happen.  How do I enforce this and not make it seem like a punishment?  I'll have her in her room, obviously allow her to read books and such, but if you do quiet time in your house how does it work?  Right now Ry still hasn't figured out how to open the doors in our house (I'm sure it is only a matter of time) so I'm not too worried about her escaping, more so just anticipating her wanting out and letting me know about it in a not so polite manner over and over again.

If you've made it through my novel of questions and have any insight to offer, I'd greatly appreciate it.  I'm sure some other mamas out there would too.  I don't know what I'd do without all you seasoned internet mommies, you definitely make this whole parenting thing a touch easier!

embrace the camera

So this little toddler of mine?  She is a crazy nut.  One minute she is so nicely coloring by herself, telling me that the sky is blue and elephant starts with an E and other random captain obvious facts (which really means she is just learning and turning those little brain wheels, but you know, obvious facts for myself).  The next minute she is bouncing off the walls climbing on this or that and trying to get under my skin as much as possible.

Independent play isn't her strong point.  Ryann always wants one of us there with her.  Relatively engaged with her.  You can't just be in the room minding you own business while she goes about her stuff.  Nope you need to be sitting next to her, playing right along too.  And man she is demanding sometimes.  "Let's do this.  Here mommy, you put on Baby Abby's clothes.  Now give her a bottle.  It's bedtime, change her to pajamas.  Change her diaper..."  It goes on and on.  Same thing for coloring, or doing puzzles, or playing trains, "Color her hair, color the trees, put that piece here, make Thomas go down the hill..."  Any suggestion of her doing it herself is met with much resistance.

I do my best to try and step back and make her do it.  But if I act disinterested, or like I'm not paying attention (or heaven forbid I have to take a phone call, go pee, or make a meal) that is when she does anything and everything she knows she isn't supposed to do, just so that I almost have to engage with her.

So sometimes?  Sometimes you just do what you're told.  And wear the headlamp.

yes she looks a little drugged in that last one... I still love it

And I've heard the phrase that three is really just two with intent.  Well if that is the case, then my friends, I am screwed.  This kid already has more opinions than I ever thought possible from a toddler.  She is, to put it nicely, a handful.

Yep. That's my kiddo.  Crazy, exhausting, and the tiniest little person that has stolen my whole heart.  Love you Ryann :o).

that's what she said

Me:  "Alright, lets get ready for nap."
Ryann:  "But I wan to to go to Grammy's!  And Going Bonkers!"
Me:  "Well maybe you can dream about going to Grammy's and Going Bonkers."
Ryann:  "Like Spencer dreams about winning races?!?!"

while doing a puzzle
Ryann:  "Oh, a parrot!"
Me:  "That is actually a toucan.  It is a bird, like a parrot, but see the toucan has a much bigger beak."
Ryann:  "Like you have a big belly."

Me:  "Ryann, please don't jump on the couch.  A better place for jumping would be on the ground, or in a bounce house or something."
Ryann:  "Well... The couch is kinda like a bounce house..."

Ryann:  "Daddy tell me a story!!"
Christopher:  "Oh come on.  How about mommy tells you a story, you never make her do it."
Ryann:  "Well, she isn't the best story teller."

Ryann:  "Here, you get a sticker because your the best best mommy.  Happy Valentine's Day!"
Me:  melts into a puddle because that was so freaking cute.  and no, I have no idea why she thought it was Valentine's Day.

oh my little goober.

just call me rosie

Lately Ryann has been very into pretending.  VERY.  To the point where I'm pretty much not allowed to call her Ryann anymore, and I get zero say on who I am for the day.  It all started when she became slightly obsessed with Thomas the Train.  She has played with the train set at Barnes and Noble several times, and Chris got her some track and a couple of trains for her birthday.  When Ryann filled up her potty chart she got to pick a new toy from Target.  She had a tough time deciding, and struggled between accessories for her doll and a new train, but ultimately picked Rosie, the train.

Well then Chris and Ryann went shopping together while I was taking a shower, and came home with a DVD of Thomas the Train episodes.  Ryann had only seen one other episode before, but after this DVD she is hooked.  This is a text I sent my mom recently:

Yes, for the majority of the day I tend to be Rosie, and have to call the wee one Thomas.  But a few days after that she has taken to changing it up.  Sometimes I'm Jake from Jake and the Neverland Pirates, she is usually Skully.  The cats get in on the action too, she pretty much always calls Max Captain Hook now, and Soph is Mr. Smee.  It is hilarious.  "Mama I'm going to sneak up on Mr. Smee!  Captain Hook is being naughty, he stole my toy."

Yesterday she took it to a whole new level of awkward though.  We watched an episode of Doc McStuffins, and on it the little girl fixed up a dump truck, and there was some sort of yellow truck too.  I wasn't paying much attention of course.  Well, the rest of the day Ry was the dump truck, and I was yellow truck.  Seriously.  If I wanted her to do anything I'd have to call her dump truck.  "Dump truck, your lunch is ready."  And the fun doesn't stop in public.  If I tried to get her to listen to me, such as "Ryann, please come stand by me."  "I'm not Ryann!  I'm dump truck!"  Ok, whatever, dump truck, get the f over here...

The only nice thing it about it?  For some reason she is much more affectionate and polite when we are pretending to be someone else.  "Oh Rosie I love you!  Thank you Rosie!  Rosie, you're the best!"  I mean, yes, I'd appreciate getting some love as mommy too, but I'll take what I can get.  :o)

Completely unrelated to that, I just had to share my awesomeness.  Yesterday I was getting ready while Ryann was taking a nap.  I plugged in my straightner and then when to get dressed.  The shorts I wanted to wear (ok all my shorts) were a little (a lot) wrinkled.  Especially the cuff.  I was throwing a little mini fit because I didn't want to go all the way to the basement to turn on the iron and iron the stupid shorts, when it hit me.  I could totally use my flat iron to iron the cuff.  So I did.  Genius I tell you, genius.  It totally worked.  And yes, I'm sure I'm not the first person to do it, but I was pretty proud :o).

potty training irony

Yes.  Potty training and toddler bodily functions.  If you have no interest feel free to move on.

This weekend we weren't supposed to have any real plans.  So I figured it was probably the perfect time to suck it up and potty train the wee one.  She has been pooping in the toilet for over a month (asking me to use the bathroom when she needs to).  She regularly pees in the toilet when I sit her on there, and will sometimes tell me after she wets her diaper.  Readiness signs, no?  Not to mention we know this kid is smart, so I figured she would just get it.

Now, ok, I didn't do a ton of research or anything.  I read Erin's posts about potty training Annie, I've seen a few other posts here and there, I figured it couldn't be too hard.  I talked it up all week, "Oh Ryann, do you want to be a big girl this weekend?  You want to start wearing underwear?  It will be so awesome!"  I let her pick out some Minnie undies (which kills me, because I would prefer nothing character, but hey, you do what you can right?), I grabbed some prizes from the dollar bin, made a potty chart, stocked up on m&m's, read our potty books a few times.  We were set.

Saturday morning when Ryann woke up I got her all hyped up, "Today's the day!  Do you want to be a big girl today?  Yes?  Hooray!  No more diapers!"  She dropped a number two in the toilet, we pulled on some Minnie's, talked about keeping them dry, etc.  Yes, this was going to be great.  I kept reminding her to tell me if she needed to go, asking her if she needed to go, etc.  Finally after about 90 minutes we made her try.  Woot!  Potty in the toilet!  Minnie was still dry!  Success!  Stickers!  M&M's!  Life was awesome.  We grabbed some juice (ok flavored water) and settled in to make a craft.

Not 20 minutes later I told Ryann to remind me if she needed to go potty, and asked her if she did.  "No."  Ok, I mean we did just go.  And two minutes later she peed on the floor.  And proceeded to have 3 more accidents quickly after that.  If you want to keep track, it was four accidents in about an hour.  WTF?  I'm pretty sure little miss smarty pants did not want me to even talk to her about going potty, at all (I know I know, that is pretty much what you said Erin, I'm a terrible listener!).  If I would mention the bathroom she would pee on the floor.  And she didn't give two shits that her underwear got wet.

But stick with it, right?  Yeah not so much.  We had a few successes, but that was only by setting a timer and forcing her to go.  She was resisting.  And really just didn't get the whole sticker chart to get bigger prizes reward system I set up.  She just wanted stickers and prizes NOW.  Duh.  We threw in the towel by 7pm and had her in a diaper.

This morning I asked Ryann if she wanted to wear undies or a diaper, and she picked diaper.  Whatever.  We can try again in another month or so, and maybe I'll try to figure out a different approach.  I'm hoping that we can potty train her by the time she is two and a half (at the end of September), but I know some kids take longer than that.  I just thought that my child who was telling me at 14ish months that she had recently pooped or was going to poop would have figured it out by now, you know?

Now the ironic part?  She has kept her diaper dry and peed in the toilet every time I've taken her today.  What gives child, what gives?!?!

that's what she said

On the Fourth of July at dinner
Christopher:  "Why don't you try a bite of turkey.  It is pretty good!"
Ryann:  "I don't want to eat that.  I don't eat animals."
Ok which vegetarian has been talking to my child?  :o)

Ryann:  while laying on the floor "I'm dead.  I'm a spider."
errr, a little morbid, but alright

Me:  "Ryann stop climbing on the crib.  I don't want you to fall."
Ryann:  "But Spiderman can climb cribs!"
where the heck did she learn about Spiderman?

Ryann:  referring to her blue ruffle swimsuit "I want to wear my swimsuit that looks like a mermaid."
Me:  "Well that one is dirty, can we wear another one?"
Ryann:  "Ok.  I can be a mermaid tomorrow."
Me:  "Ok, are you going to swim like a mermaid?"
Ryann:  "Yeah!  And I can go underwater like a mermaid!  When I turn 26."