Macy’s Mom

Looking back..I now realize Macy was very easy to potty train. She showed all the signs..way before I was ready! Around 18months..I noticed, (and ignored) that she was waking up in the morning dry. A little over the age of 2..I dropped her off for a play date at Audrey’s house..when I picked her up..Audrey’s mom commented on how she stayed dry for 4 hours..I pushed that aside too. At around 2 1/2- 2 3/4 I left for a trip. Dad threw out his back cleaning the carpet when Macy tried to change her own diaper. Ok..it was time. I am all about the bribe. I took her to the video store to pick out a video to potty train too. “Beauty & the Beast.” I bought a potty chair for the living room and a potty seat for the bathroom. I dressed her in a big t-shirt..nothing underneath. Commando! I explained what we were doing..and would only let her watch the video if she sat on the potty seat. And shortly after she became addicted to the video..I promised to buy it for her after she was potty trained.  I planned on staying home until we were done. We really didn’t have  any major accidents..She caught herself mid-stream a few times and ran for the potty!  Same with #2.  We only stayed home for 3 days!  Yahoo!

As for the promised princess video..I was a clueless new mom who didn’t realize that Disney doesn’t just sell videos when you want to buy them..I ended up buying one on e-bay from China!

Last summer..we had a constipation drama/comedy. Macy, who never gets enough roughage..couldn’t poopy. “whaaa!!! my poopy won’t come out..whaa..it hurts..it’s too big..whaa..” During this whole drama..I plugged in a few “that’s why you should eat your vegatable/drink more water.” (and anything else I thought she might actually hear for a change!) This went on for what felt like hours! (actual time..about 20 minutes) “I want my Daddy!” So, we ended up calling daddy at work..Daddy suggested I read her a book. Daddy sure is brilliant! I read..Macy calmed down..the humongous poopy came out! Hhmmm..so that’s why people read on the potty…

Like all toddlers..Macy loves potty talk!  And it got worse after she started pre-school.  I tried to constantly monitor it..but it was getting out of hand!  Another mommy had a great suggestion..potty talk belongs only in the bathroom.  I sat down with Macy and explained the new rule.  Anything potty related can only be said in the bathroom.  Now if she slips up..I ask her if she’s in the bathroom?  “No, Mommy..sorry.”  It’s working great!  And sometimes when the build up is too much for her..she’ll run to the bathroom..shut the door..and yells out “poop!poop!poop!”  All the while laughing hysterically..and I can’t say anything because she following my rules!

We really love the Burien Library! When Macy was a little younger..we would go every week to Cinnamon Bear’s Toddler story time with librarian Sandra. (ages 12mo-24mo) She would start with songs..read a book..make a craft..end it with “ring-a-round the rosies.” All this in a 40minute time period!

The other day, I went online to see if they had anything for Gavin. Yes! Baby’s Blanket Time with Librarian Karen! (ages 6mo-12mo) Karen had baby blankets out for everyone. She went around and met the babies. We started with bouncy/tickle songs..short story..ended with Karen singing on the guitar! Afterwards, she invited us all to stay and hang out! Fun!

I encourage everyone to come to our library, or check out your own! It’s so much more than just books! www.kcls.org

I love the Britax Roundabout convertible car seat. My peps group arranged for Sue from Regina Providence to come and show us how to correctly install all of our various types of car seats. She told me that all carseats are safe nowadays..but the britax is the easiest to install! Yeah, it costs more than the average car seat..but you won’t need to roll up towels under the car seat to get the right angle! Now, I bought the Roundabout.($219) It was a little less than the Marathon ($269)..I second guessed this choice until I saw my girlfriends Marathon installed. Yikes! It’s huge! Even when you rear-face the Roundabout..the front passenger seat is only usable by small people! And Macy was a large baby! I worried that I would have to buy another converible car seat with a higher maximum weight than the Roundabouts 5-40lbs. Now in hindsight..I know the Roundabout was perfect for us! We moved Macy to a Booster seat when she turned four. (37 lbs) Not because she outgrew the Roundabout..but, because she’s 4..and that makes her a big girl!

Macy loves to bake with me. With the new baby..we don’t have alot of time anymore. Betty Crocker Warm Delights are a great/quick baking option for toddlers! I let her add the water..mix..put it in the microwave..push the button..squeeze on the frosting. Time together baking..5 minutes.. another 5 minutes eating together and talking.. That’s 10 minutes of quality “Macy & Mommy time.”

Macy was born with a head full of dark..straight hair. At one point it stood straight up..even when it was wet. Nobody was more surprised than me when it started to curl around her first birthday. Not tight curl..more of what I would call ‘fluffy’ curl. I do not have curly hair. I did not know how to care for curly hair. We have a few pictures of baby Macy with what looks like a bush of hair! Then we found Sophia at West Seattle Kids...She has curly hair. She knows how to cut curly hair..and gave me some golden rules of curly hair care! This is something I feel needs to be passed on to other mom’s of curly headed toddlers who love the curl..but don’t really know how to encourage it..here are Sophia’s rules…

1. Don’t wash it everyday. About twice a week is enough..you can rinse out clumps of food..condition as often as you like. Shampoo just the roots.

2. The brush is not your friend. Only comb when it’s wet.

3. Fill a spray bottle with half conditioner/half water..spritz on in the
morning to tame the bush. (I like to use Infusium 23..about $5)

4. You don’t have to get curly hair cut as often..we go about 3 times a year.

I’ve pretty much been growing Macy’s hair out since her birth..only trimming it to keep it healthy..it’s finally past her shoulders. I don’t know if it will always be curly..but for now she likes her curly hair…
If it’s still curly when she’s a teenager..I’m sure I’ll spend a fortune having it straightened!

I love reading this book! Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner. Macy and I find it very humorous when I read it in my “best Spanish accent”…(she likes my Spanish accent better than daddy’s..) We bought this book last year when she was 3..and she still asks why the Siamese cat thinks he’s a Chihuahua…funny!

Pick up a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser…it’s a must have for parents of toddlers!  Crayon on the walls..gone!  Ball point pen on the tan leather seats in the truck..gone!  Sharpie on the cabinets..gone!

Mr. Clean-3          Macy-0

Macy (4 1/2 years) has just finished episodes 6-12 in Dinosaur world! She got to read another book. I’m amazed at her progress! She can read 14 words and according to the progress report I received..she can potentially read 67 words! In episodes 1-5 she learned.. s, ee, v, an, n, cl, c, l. Episodes 6-12 was all about.. fr, f, r, cr, sl, sn, ip, p, pr, sp, pl. When she is involved with the ‘game’..I love to watch her clicking the mouse and speaking with the characters. She can’t wait to start the “Ocean game” next!