Sometimes I feel "too tired to parent". Last night was one of those nights where "anything goes".
I told the boys to get in the tub and I started the water. Instead of taking them into the bathroom, and putting them in, the process drug out and I waited for it to just happen. Finally Cooper got in, so I went to Carver, stripped him naked in the living room (all the while thinking...I shouldn't be doing this) and walked away...repeating "Carver, let's go potty and get in the tub."
I went to the bathroom to turn the water cooler for Cooper, and finally decided to pick Carver up and take him to the bathroom before he peed on the floor. By the time I got to him in the living room (no more than a minute or so could have passed), he was holding a toy covered in...yup, poop. And at his feet? Several small addition piles, one stepped on. He looked up and me and said, "yucky?" ...oh, child!
I apparently didn't get it wiped off very good before putting him in the tub either, because by the time the bubbles settled, Cooper was screaming, "MOM, GET ME OUT. CARV HAS POOP COMING OUT OF HIS BUTT!!" (It was really just some left-over!)
Monday, October 31, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
The $1 bike...$11 investment...PRICELESS!
At city-wide garage sales earlier this month, I was on the hunt for a bike for Cooper. He still enjoys his "big wheel", but I knew by next summer, that would be Carver's and thought if we could get some practice with Cooper on a bigger bike yet this year, the transition next summer would be easier. I went through the ads and went to two sales right as they started to get first dibs on the bikes advertised. I went with a $10 budget.
The first sale had a red boy's bike, EXACTLY what I thought I was looking for...$10!! I was sold, but another lady was already looking at it. She had already browsed the sale and was paying for her items and I heard her say, "I'll take the bike, too." COOPER WAS ALREADY RIDING IT! I didn't tackle her, although I would've liked to.
The second sale had a John Deere kid's bike advertised. It was small and $30...AT A GARAGE SALE!? No thanks! I was super bummed.
I picked the kids up from daycare and we decided to hit a couple sales that were within walking distance from the house, not really looking for anything specific. The last sale we went to before heading home had a bike laying on the ground right as we walked up the driveway. The sign on it read, "$1 OBO". I turned to the owner and said, "ONE DOLLAR?!?! ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?!" She confirmed and said they just wanted to get rid of everything. There were no training wheels and the back tire needed some air, but I was SOLD!! Cooper was thrilled!
The first sale had a red boy's bike, EXACTLY what I thought I was looking for...$10!! I was sold, but another lady was already looking at it. She had already browsed the sale and was paying for her items and I heard her say, "I'll take the bike, too." COOPER WAS ALREADY RIDING IT! I didn't tackle her, although I would've liked to.
The second sale had a John Deere kid's bike advertised. It was small and $30...AT A GARAGE SALE!? No thanks! I was super bummed.
I picked the kids up from daycare and we decided to hit a couple sales that were within walking distance from the house, not really looking for anything specific. The last sale we went to before heading home had a bike laying on the ground right as we walked up the driveway. The sign on it read, "$1 OBO". I turned to the owner and said, "ONE DOLLAR?!?! ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?!" She confirmed and said they just wanted to get rid of everything. There were no training wheels and the back tire needed some air, but I was SOLD!! Cooper was thrilled!
Proud as a peacock on his "new" bike!
Grandpa Tom took car of the air issue.
(Don't tell my dad I put his crack on my blog!)
I had a sore back after doing this for two days!
The Monday after we got the bike we went to Walmart and spent $10 on training wheels. After I read directions and installed them myself, he was set. He's been tearing up the school parking lot every since!
I never thought I'd say/hear these things...
Growing up, didn't we all say things like, "I'll NEVER say that to MY children" and "I'll never be THAT kind of parent". Well, guess what? Reality sets in when you have children of your own.
When Cooper asks me to do something for him that he is completely capable of doing himself, I often joke, "Are your legs broken?" (Something my parents used to say.) So this morning, Cooper (from the couch) hollered at me (in the bathroom), "Mom, I'm done!" (With breakfast I served him on the couch...something I probably vowed I would let my kids do because it was allowed growing up!) I said, "So? Bring your plate to the kitchen counter then." His reply? "I can't. My legs are broken!" (Out of his sight, I couldn't help but crack a smile.) And then I went and got his plate.
Last night I served supper, knowing that Cooper didn't like the main dish. I only put 2 bites on his plate, determined to enforce that everyone eats what's being served or no snacks later (something that was sometimes torturous as a child and is A LOT harder to make a rule that one might think!). Right off the bat, he said "Mom, I don't like that." I explained the consequences of not eating it, and he didn't argue. Carver was done eating supper and getting into the tub when Cooper asked if he could also get in. I said that was fine, and I would leave his supper on the table because again, there would be no snacks until it was gone. When they got out of the tub, Carver asked for fruit snacks and I told Cooper to get his supper finished so they could both have them. He hurried to the table and finished everything except the main dish. He whined a few times about what it was and finally said, "Mom, can I just have a meatball for supper?" (Knowing they were in the fridge from the night before.) I finally agreed to it, warmed up a meatball, and served fruit snacks when the "supper" was gone. (Oh, and of course I ate those two bites of mashed potato casserole myself...I always was that kid who "rescued" others from "cruel and unusual punishment" :) Maybe tonight we'll work on enforcing that rule...oh, and before school Cooper already asked, "Can we have meatballs for supper tonight?" (Hoping casserole wasn't on his plate again tonight!) HA!
When Cooper asks me to do something for him that he is completely capable of doing himself, I often joke, "Are your legs broken?" (Something my parents used to say.) So this morning, Cooper (from the couch) hollered at me (in the bathroom), "Mom, I'm done!" (With breakfast I served him on the couch...something I probably vowed I would let my kids do because it was allowed growing up!) I said, "So? Bring your plate to the kitchen counter then." His reply? "I can't. My legs are broken!" (Out of his sight, I couldn't help but crack a smile.) And then I went and got his plate.
Last night I served supper, knowing that Cooper didn't like the main dish. I only put 2 bites on his plate, determined to enforce that everyone eats what's being served or no snacks later (something that was sometimes torturous as a child and is A LOT harder to make a rule that one might think!). Right off the bat, he said "Mom, I don't like that." I explained the consequences of not eating it, and he didn't argue. Carver was done eating supper and getting into the tub when Cooper asked if he could also get in. I said that was fine, and I would leave his supper on the table because again, there would be no snacks until it was gone. When they got out of the tub, Carver asked for fruit snacks and I told Cooper to get his supper finished so they could both have them. He hurried to the table and finished everything except the main dish. He whined a few times about what it was and finally said, "Mom, can I just have a meatball for supper?" (Knowing they were in the fridge from the night before.) I finally agreed to it, warmed up a meatball, and served fruit snacks when the "supper" was gone. (Oh, and of course I ate those two bites of mashed potato casserole myself...I always was that kid who "rescued" others from "cruel and unusual punishment" :) Maybe tonight we'll work on enforcing that rule...oh, and before school Cooper already asked, "Can we have meatballs for supper tonight?" (Hoping casserole wasn't on his plate again tonight!) HA!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Miss Debbie says...
Everything Cooper comes up with these days either begins or ends with, "Miss Debbie says...". That darn preschool teacher is so smart! Yesterday he got in the car when I picked him up from school and said, "Mom, today we learned about fire. Stop. Drop. And roll. Miss Debbie said!"A couple other things he's said this week:
"Mommy, OBEY YOUR PARENTS!"
An excuse to stall bedtime, "I NEED to brush my teeth so they don't fall out!"
Another stall, "Mommy, I need lotion. My legs are dried out."
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Ava & Cruz
Our friends, Ava & Cruz were home from Texas this month so we spent several days playing with them. We went to the park, visited the Amish farm, and took lots of pictures:) Cooper & Ava are 5 weeks apart, so there were plenty of 3-year-old conversations making everyone laugh. Cooper loved baby Cruz and wanted to take him home; Carver, on the other hand, wasn't so sure he liked it when his mommy was holding another baby! The Amish farm brought cart rides, a buggy ride, and a puppy Carver wanted to take home! Overall it was a great week and half!
Potty!
We've been sitting Carver on the potty every night before bath. Nothing happens, other than I make a fool of myself trying to get him to perform. Last night...HE DID IT!! He actually peed!! He didn't have a clue what he was doing and afterwards grabbed himself and wanted to touch the toilet water. (While Cooper & I celebrated around him!!)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)