Potty Training

I’ve debated writing this post for the past few days. I don’t want to jinx anything. BUT, I can’t help it.

Cole is well on his way to becoming a potty-trained member of society. No more relieving himself in diapers… it’s all toilets from here on out!

I feel like we’ve been in a constant state of “training” for like 3 months. No kidding. He’s been doing great at school. Rocking his pull-ups. Using the potty about 80% of the time. Not at home though. Seriously. It’s like there was something wrong with the THREE different potty options we had.

Then last week we realized he was batting near 1,000 at school. Add to that the fact that I had to change a poop-filled diaper at the hockey rink and the kid didn’t fit on the changing table, we knew it was time. Bring on the under-roos.

This week:

• Monday: Rocked pull-ups this day… not sure why.  
• Tuesday: One accident at around 4:30 when he was moving into a new classroom for the evening. One accident when we got home. Success before bed! We decided to rock nighttime diapers for the week…
• Wednesday: Dry diaper in the morning and a morning potty-pee! There may have been jelly-beans consumed before 8am! No accidents (anywhere). Evening was a huge success with 3x uses!  
• Thursday: Again, dry morning diaper and successful morning. NO accidents AND used the restroom at our fav Mexican restaurant.
• Friday: Dry again (think we might ditch the nighttime diaper after tomorrow morning) and fingers crossed for the day.
• As you’ll notice, that there hasn’t been any bowel movements outlined above. Yep, that’s a problem. Poor kid is holding it in. I’m hoping the prune juice I pumped him full last night (and the pound of refried beans he ate) will get that poop a flowing today!

Stay tuned for more updates. I know how you all LOVE getting a detailed outline of Cole’s bathroom antics.

And yes, I will print and hand this blog post out at his High School grad party. J

Venting

I’m mad at my friends who have two kids. Why you ask? Because they never gave me any insight into how much harder/suckier the second pregnancy is than the first. I refuse to think it’s just me who have noticed these glaring differences.

So for all you ladies who are thinking about having another, here are some hard truths (because I’m a good friend and will tell you):

1. Weight Gain. Like instant weight gain. There’ no delay like the first. Your body has already made the epic shifts, so it’s old hat to have that belly pop. And thighs. And ass. Not to mention you don’t have the luxury to go to the gym every night since you have baby numero uno at home.
2. Veins. I had NO issues with weird vein things my first time around, but this one! I’ve got fun little splotches making themselves known on my feet and ankles. Not cool body-circulation-system. Not cool. 
3. Bowel Movements. I’m not going into any detail here except to say “stool softner”
4. B.I.T.C.H. Yep. I wrote it. I wrote it because hormones make you a raging one. Again, since none of my so-called-friends told me any of this, I don’t know if these mood swings are due to it being my second, or if I just skipped this part with the first. In any case, I’m sorry Jason.
5. Tiredness. This was way worse for the first five months (yep, not just the first three like with your first). And it’s the this total body, wrap me in a blanket, put a fork in me because I’m done, type of tired.
6. Swelling. Again, something I didn’t have with Cole, but most mornings I wake-up with fingers that would make Oscar Meyer proud.
7. Non-nesting. I looked back at where I was in the whole nesting thing with Cole at this point in my pregnancy. I had the nursery painted. Clothes washed in Dreft and hung neatly in the closet. Baby book started. Infant diapers purchased. Books read. Named picked out. Hell, I was even talking to my stomach. This go ‘round. We still have an air mattress in the nursery, old books, a space heater, some random purses, about 5,001 wire hangers from the dry cleaners and unknown stains on the carpet. This poor kid is already getting the shaft and he’s not even born yet!

Wow. That was cathartic.

As much as I complain, there are some things that are better the second go around.

1. Clothes. You already have prego clothes from your first 9-months of chunkiness so you don’t need to buy too much.
2. Time flies. I’m already in my third trimester but it feels like I just peed on a stick yesterday!
3. Peace of mind. You have more of it since this ain’t your first rodeo. You take things more in stride and you’re not calling your doctor with every little nuance.
4. Understanding. This is mainly from your significant other. I feel like they understand what you’re going through, and what a horrific-event you have to look forward to (labor for those who didn’t catch that. New baby/birth is amazing. The act of getting that pumpkin out… not so much), so there’s a deeper level of “looking the other way/biting ones tongue”. For that, I’m grateful.

I’m sure there are more things that are lovelier this go around… but probably not. I’ll just count my blessings that through all of this, I’ve had a strong stomach, a high pain tolerance, low glucose levels, perfect blood pressure, a kick-ass kid who understands that he can’t form-tackle mama, and a healthy munchkin in my stomach that likes to do the polka during client meetings. 

Cars and more

These two crack me up. Both have very big imaginations!!!

Sick day

What you do with a sick kid who's really not that sick (strep without any "sick" symptoms)

My boys

My boys

New Ride

A boy's first truck... Puppy not included.