Hannah: 35 Months

Hannah,

Sickness, oh sickness. I am SO sick of sickness! You had yet another cold at the beginning of this month. I started something new this time - elderberry syrup and echinacea drops. I'm not sure if it worked or not, but it did seem to speed up the sickness, which is huge! I will definitely try it again next time you are sick, which I'm sure will be very soon!  This sickness was the final straw and the catalyst for a big decision....homeschooling!  We pulled the trigger and decided to take your out of preschool.  Homeschooling was something we had seriously considered but when enrollment began (January 2012) we decided to sign up at the very last minute.  With your little sister coming, I knew it was going to be a crazy time and I thought it would be a good break for both of us.  You loved school, but unfortunately your immune system did not!  You spent the entire time sick, from one cold to another.  Every time you got sick, your sister did to and it was just too much.  Since I had always been on the fence about preschool (especially two year old preschool) I knew it was time to pull you out.  It took you a few weeks to realize you weren't going back because you kept saying, "When I'm better I will go back to school."  But now when I ask you about school you say, "Mommy is my teacher" and you tell me that you would rather be home with me and Emmie.  Love that!  Here's to hoping the sicknesses will subside now that you are away from all the germs!

Our first 3 weeks of homeschooling were great.  I found a "curriculum" online that is bible based and I love it.  You have been excited about "doing school" every day and I have loved watching your eyes light up with excitement when you learn something new!  I think I am really going to love homeschooling!

Another big transition this month was to a full size bed.  You were getting way too big for your toddler bed, so we knew it was time.  We had recently purchased a new bedroom set for the guest room (finally upgrading from a full size bed to a queen) so we moved the old mattress into your room and converted your toddler bed into a full size.  We pushed one side up to the wall and have a guard rail on the other side, in hopes of encouraging you to stay in the bed.  So far you have done great with that.  You have gotten out a few times, but never left your room.  Let's hope that continues!  You look so big in a full size bed and definitely more comfortable!

The age of fears is upon us! You have suddenly started being afraid of everything - the potty, the stairs, sitting on something high (like the counter), anything or anyone touching one of your "boo-boos", pulling a shirt over your head, and more.  The potty fear is still very much an issue and you continue refusing to pee or poo on the potty.  The other day you did trick us into giving you a lollipop by saying you would poop on the potty while you ate it.  I'm willing to try anything to get you potty trained, so why not!?  5 minutes later and you came walking out to give me the stick and said, "I don't want to go potty."  Oy vey!  You kill me child!  You may very well end up being the oldest child in diapers.  However, we did tell you that when you turn 3, the potty fairy will be coming to take away all the diapers.  Can you tell we are getting desperate!?

We started using a chore chart this month.  You have two chores - feeding Bubbles and helping with laundry (pulling clothes out of the dryer, matching socks, putting clothes in the dryer, and "folding" washcloths).  You have really enjoyed helping out around the house and I have enjoyed the help!  Overtime we will add more chores to the chart.  Right now you are perfectly happy with a reward of putting another magnet sticker on the chart, but eventually I think we will have to figure out another incentive to keep you motivated.

Your sisterly love continued this month.  A few days ago Emma was playing with your baby doll stroller and pulled it down on top of herself, falling backwards onto the wood floor.  She was crying and upset when you ran over and grabbed the stroller and said, "Let's get this out of here so Emma doesn't get hurt.  I'm so sorry Emma."  Oh my big girl, you are just so sweet!  Emma is blessed to have such a great big sister!

Your favorite foods this month were pancakes with syrup, "kashi" bars (any cereal bar), apricots, sweet potatoes, cottage cheese, and shredded cheese.  Your favorite snack continued to be the Clif Bars and fruit snacks.

Silly, silly girl.  Your latest favorite saying is "Aka Whack".  Huh?!  I pray that you never lose your silliness!

Other 35 Months Stats:
-You wear 3T and 4T clothes (size 4-6 leotard and size small tights)
-You wear size 8.5 shoes (size 9 ballet shoes)

-You wear size 6 diapers

I am so excited to begin this homeschooling journey with you and be able to watch you learn every single day.  I know just how fleeting these young years are and I will never be able to get these years back.  We may not decide to homeschool forever, but I know that I will absolutely never regret keeping you home this year!  We will just take it one year at a time.  I love you precious girl....oh, and can we stop this whole "mom" and "dad" business!  You are way too young to be using those names!  Let's stick with "Mommy" and "Daddy", okay?!

 

Potty Training Nightmare

Call me crazy, but we have embarked on the potty training wagon over here.  YIKES!  Hannah will be 2.5 in less than one month and it is time!  She communicates in full sentences and can have a complete conversation with you (has been doing this for several months) and shows all the signs of being ready.  She tells me every single time when she pees or poops in her diaper and wants me to change her constantly.  Could she be more ready?  If only it were that easy!  For some reason, Hannah has a deep fear of going on the potty.  It is not a fear of the actual potty (she will sit there for a LONG time with no results), it is an actual fear of producing something on the potty.  She is also resistant to trying to go on the potty or even sitting when told.  That I understand - what two year old willingly does something when told (terrible two's, remember?!).  But the fear of producing I don't really get.  Today was our first day wearing "big girl panties" (again...we tried this two weeks ago) and she managed to hold her pee from 9am until 1:30pm and then again from 2:30pm until 6:30pm.  She didn't have one accident, but also didn't have any successes either.  Her diaper at nap time was absolutely drenched (and so was her entire bed) and then when we went out to dinner tonight she peed in her pull up (with panties underneath), after holding it for 4 hours.  So frustrating!  I did nothing but praise her today and stayed 100% positive (not easy when you can see her doing the pee pee dance all over the house and knowing that she is obviously uncomfortable!) so I'm not sure where this fear is coming from, but it's annoying.  I have been going back in forth in my mind of weather I should just put her back in diapers or press on with the "big girl panties" not letting her know there is another option. 

I realize that we have had a lot of big transitions around here lately and this may not be the ideal time to potty train, but what am I supposed to do when she is asking to wear "big girl panties" and constantly wanting me to change her diaper every time she pees?  She is cognitively well aware of her bowels and should be able to easily take care of business on the potty! 

Can you tell I am frustrated (never a good time to write a blog post)?  I would love to hear all your suggestions or words of encouragement!  My plan for this weekend is to press on with the "big girl panties" and load her up with tons of liquids.  Pray for us!  I do not do well with messes and I can just envision the puddles of pee we will have all over our house tomorrow!  UGH!

I will be thrilled when this is something I look back on and wonder why I was so stressed about it!  But for now, I will live in this reality and suffer through it.  ;-)