Burden

This blog is feeling more like a burden than a blessing right now.  Part of me wants to just wipe it clean and start all over, this can be said with a lot of things in life right now.  I'm at a point where I'm trying find balance in my life, my home and my relationships.  Some things are going to get neglected and it's pretty obvious that this is one of the things that has been neglected.  I'm just feeling a little overwhelmed right now and keeping up on this blog is just one. more. thing. to think about... and I'm learning that it's okay to let some things go and I don't need to have a reason why.   It's not forever...but it might not be anytime soon.  You're lucky I didn't delete my facebook too, it's all just becoming too much, and I feel like people are losing grasp of what real communication and relationships are without blogs/facebook/twitter.  So maybe I'll be back tomorrow, maybe a year from now. Right now what's important is me, my husband and children..trying to find the balance and peace post deployment/pre cross country move.

Day 11: makes me happy

“We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”

Day 9 & 10

Day 9: Front Door

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 10: Self Portrait.
This was taken on my phone on 11-7-11. The morning Kevin came home from Iraq. I had just finished getting ready and sent this picture to Kevin :) It wasn't until a few hours later that we saw each other even though we were now in the same state!

Day 7 & 8

Day 7:  Button

Day 8: Sun
After several cloudy days and freezing temperatures, I had to get a little creative with this one and now I'm behind! I promise that I will catch up this weekend! 

Days 5 & 6.

Day 5: 10am
Snack time !!

Day 6: Dinner fried potatoes and onions.  You can't go wrong! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 4: Stranger

It's strange, it's daunting, it's a little bit scary..it's the POTTY CHAIR!!  And after 3 days of toddler/parent hell..it was a big fat FAIL. 
I thought after day one and a few tinkles it was going to just continue to get better and better, but Lauren seemed to regress on Day 2 & 3. 
We thought Lauren was ready, we thought we were ready.  Clearly neither parties were fully aware of what was in store. 
We expected accidents and  we had a few but after day one and a few accidents, Lauren decided that she didn't like the feeling of an accident in her big girl underwear and instead of going on the potty she would hold it.  I'm not talking just for a little bit, I'm talking, ALL. DAY. LONG.  Poop & Pee, she held it in.  She had to go so bad and she would be grabbing at herself and running to the potty and sit on it for about 10 seconds and probably when it was about time to go, she'd clinch up and jump off until her next trip about 2-5 minutes later.  Several times throughout the day she'd beg and cry for a diaper and we just kept bribing and putting her on the potty.  Occasionally she'd get excited and say she peed and when we'd check it out, there was about a quarter size little teeny tiny puddle of pee.  We'd still reward her and get excited but it still didn't change things.  Day 3 we started and we tried again, but she seemed to be regressing and begged for a diaper even more.  After jumping out of the bath tub 3 times to go to the potty and no luck and her whining to no end, we walked into her room and before I turned around with her diaper, she was already laying on the floor with her legs up in the air and saying "Diaper!"  I put it on and in less than 2 minutes she had filled it with a days worth of poop and pee.  Oh dear. 
We knew at that point we were putting away the potty for a few more months, most likely until after our move in June. 
She just doesn't quite react to rewards so that doesn't work, bribes don't work, and quite frankly, she may shows 98% of the signs of being ready to potty train but the other 2% she's not and that 2% is a big deal.  She needs to be really 100% ready and so do we.  I'm praying that this failed attempt doesn't make her regress even more.  I think that is why we are going to wait until closer to 3 yrs old, until maybe she gets a better understanding of what's going on. 
I sometimes forget that she is a baby.  She had to grow up so fast because of Kaelin coming along.  She is a baby but my baby talks in full sentences and knows her full alphabet and can count to 20 and loves to draw circles and has a wild imagination and is such a big sister that I completely forget that she is still so young. 
If anything, I'm learning what to do and NOT to do when it comes time to potty train Kaelin.  Afterall, parenthood is a learning experience..right?  Why does it feel like a race & competition?  By far this is the most challenging stage we have had to deal with.  I'm sure we'll look back on it some day and laugh but right now...holy freaking cow!  Phew! 

Illinois Photo Update

You may remember a few weeks back I wrote about our trip to IL but did not have the photos to go with it.  They are up now if anyone is interested!  Just go HERE!  HAPPY FRIDAY!