Pottytraining Standstill (dun, dun, dun)

I would say that Josiah is 80% pottytrained. If we are out and I'm consistent it taking him he does GREAT. And he's 100% going poo on the potty - w/ or w/o underwear on. When we are home & he's naked he is probably 90 - 95% but when he's got underwear on - forget about it! I think we both just get busy w/ the day and forget! But the lights will click for him one of these days ...

The last few days he's been a little stinker by peeing whenever he feels like it ... even if his potty is RIGHT there! It used to be that he would have an accident and I would "find it" now he's been going and telling me about it!! I can't wait for this to be over so I can get my carpets steam cleaned and move on!

I think I probably started him a bit on the young side - would be easier to train them when they are 2 1/2 or 3 - like I did Ellie, but I was just done w/ diapers and having him poo in the toilet is a WAY better trade off!

the Boba Organic 2G

I got to pick out a new baby carrier for my birthday ... the Boba Organic 2G! After having the Ergo carrier for the past 3 years it was fun to try something new! I chose the Boba mainly because it has the foot-rests for a toddler.

Here are the pluses that I found:

• Super comfy ... straps have a lot of padding and make it nice to wear!
• Adjustable buckles that are attached onto the straps. They move up and down easily and won't fall off!
• Adorable, fun designs!
• The hood can come off! A definite plus for those with toddlers who don't need this feature very often.
• The ergo accessories also work w/ the Boba. I have the front pouch & backpack.
• Extremely comfortable (did I already mention that?). I have carried up to 40 lbs without "feeling" it.
• My children (3 1/2 and 2) both love it too!

Cons:

• Cannot be used for a brand new baby (unless maybe you use the ergo insert or a blanket to help keep baby in? Didn't try as I don't have a little baby) so perhaps this is not a con?
• Can only be used on the front or the back unlike the ergo which has a side option ... but I honestly have not missed this feature
• Does not have a pocket in the front like the ergo ... I do miss this a little bit

As for those foot-rests? Well, I found that they weren't too helpful unless we were going on a hike. Otherwise Josiah doesn't want his foot in them - at all! But they don't get in the way and for the times that we hike I use them, but otherwise ... not so much...of course then there was last night and the boots that are just a tad bit big for Josiah - kept them on perfectly!

All in all an AMAZINGLY comfy carrier that I really like and am glad that I have it. We use it all the time (the Ergo has taken a backseat for now) and I would definitely recommend it to others!

Where can YOU find this carrier (and others)? Check out my best friend from Junior High (yes, we go that far back) Amber's site, Heavenly Hold. She is a knowledge of wealth on all subjects related to baby-wearing and has excellent customer service! She is EVEN selling the Boba Classic which is just like the 2G but is a bit less expensive and not organic. Don't settle for the Baby Bjorn ... there is WAY more out there to choose from!

THIS is why my children can't share bedrooms ...

Josiah.

My son "sings" himself to sleep. And the last 3 nights he has fallen asleep on the ground. I've been able to transfer him to his bed on two of the nights but last night I couldn't even open the door to get to him!

Early mornings (usually between 7 and 7:30) he comes out, asks to go pee and then I bring the rocking horse back to his room for him to rock on until his monkey wakes up. This morning I heard him come out of his room so I walked down the hall to intercept him. Instead I watched from the bathroom as he went into our room, grabbed his horse, pulled it down the hall to his room, shut the door and started riding. Yaaay!! He's SO my sweet little boy.

Gotta LOVE the monkey ... eyes closed: it's not time to get out of room, eyes open: come on out!

check out my new blog

I'll be the first to admit that this blog has been a bit messy at times. But that's ok!! I've recently begun a blog about my homeschooling experience ... that's right I'm homeschooling my little kiddos! I thought it would be fun to write about my experience as well - and be a bit more "focused".

I will still write down my random thoughts here but I also want to share with you my homeschooling experience so check it out over at "Schooling that shines".

tara :)

a new way to exercise

I find that working out with two kids is near impossible - without a gym membership and/or childcare. I try, I really do, I'll get up at 5:30 3 days a week for pilates - that might go on for a week or a month but eventually I'm burned out. I tried jogging in the stroller with them - I have a flat now and haven't fixed it yet ;) Trying to find time and the energy to do anything in my "spare" time is exhausting and obviously not working!

This past Friday we walked to a house 2 miles away to get lemons. A gal who is apart of my freecycle group and was giving them away for free - yaay, lemonade!! We started out w/ Jonathan (the boy I babysit) in the double stroller (not jogger, cuz remember that one has a flat), Josiah riding his "tractor" and Ellie on her trike. 1/4 of a mile into it Josiah decided he was done so I loaded him up and hooked his tractor onto the stroller. 1/2 mile into it Ellie decided she was tired so with one hand I pushed the boys (about 60 - 70 lbs) and pulled Ellie (her bike has a handle on the back). For the remainder of our walk every time we went uphill I pushed and pulled, every time we went downhill I got a break! The last 1/4 mile I had Ellie in the stroller w/ her trike and Josiah's tractor riding along and Josiah on my back - I felt a bit like a pack mule! By the time we got home I felt amazing and ready to get out there again!

Tornado Jo

Elizabeth was yelling at us from the other room this evening while Chris and I were getting dinner ready. As we made our way to the livingroom we heard a loud "boom". There was Josiah, bottoms off (which is usual since we are potty training) and t-shirt soaked, the portable white board fallen over on the ground, "I hurt myself" he said to Chris as we walked into the room. That was when I heard the water running ... walked into the hallway to see the toothpaste opened, soap out, etc on the ground. Turned the corner to walk into the bathroom. Water POURING out everywhere. Apparently that is why Ellie was yelling for us to come!

10 minutes and 3 beach towels later I had cleaned up the mess, emptied the entire under-the-sink area, including 4 soaked toilet paper rolls & Ellie's container of hair supplies. At least I got a head start in cleaning the bathroom - it was on the agenda for tomorrow anyway!

Then we ate dinner. The whole time we were eating Josiah was complaining about his tummy hurting. He asked to go pee twice ... the second time he threw up in the hallway. No fever, no other symptoms and he was ravenous right afterwards. Our thoughts are that he drank some of the water, ate some of the toothpaste and maybe even some soap? and then felt "yucky". He certainly keeps us on our toes!

watching movies on the BIG screen

Today we went to the movie theater to see Charlottes Web starring Dakota Fanning with Julia Roberts as Charlotte. Our local theater does children's movies twice weekly throughout the summer for free. A few weeks ago we went to see Curious George. The kids LOVED it! Today was equally as fun. Elizabeth did wonderful, of course. Sat in her seat the whole time, eating popcorn and then having a lollipop. I had to take Josiah out twice to go potty (way to go Jo!) and by the last 30 minutes of the movie he just wanted to run around. As SOON as the credits/song came on Josiah ran right up to the front and was dancing his heart out! Ellie soon joined him, which quickly led to them running circles around the middle seats! We were almost the last to leave! It was a very fun outing for us to do together. I'm thinking about taking them to see Muppets in Space next week ... but we'll see!