Potty training... Yikes!

We're starting potty training this weekend with B.  He is almost 29 months old, and is finally starting to show the signs of telling us when he needs to use the bathroom.  We've sat him down on his little potty a few times, before bathtime, and he LOVES it.  He's even gone #1 and #2 a few times on there, too.

I'm kind of really nervous.  I know it's going to be challenging, and my patience isn't really that high right now (shocking with two kids 2 and under, right?).  I know to expect lots of accidents, and I know the first few days there are going to be A LOT of those, so I hope I'm mentally preparing myself.  Always prepare for the worst, right?  

Here is where I'm starting with this whole new step in my 2 year olds life:

• Every 15 minutes on the potty, no matter what
• Give a reward for going #1 and #2 on the potty
• Be a cheerleader to him when he does go
• Ready Potty themed books (guess I need to hit up the library!)
• Be consistent (I feel like this will be the hardest thing for us; we get lazy!)

I've got to say, part of me is excited for this journey, though.  Why?  The undies.  The tiny tightie undies that look like little men underwear, with the band at the top that says "gap" or with the adorable little Mickey Mouse characters on them.  I just hope he doesn't poop in them and stain them up! ;) Wish us luck!!

How to win over your Father-in-Law (through food)

I've been with my husband for 12 years, and married for 4.  So let's just say I've known my FIL for a long time.  While we don't have much in common, there is a mutual love and affection between us.  We both love my husband and kids, and we know that the other one would be there for us should we need them.

My FIL is picky, though.  He doesn't say much about the food I cook when he's visiting, but this changed on sunday night.  My in-laws were out for a bit in the afternoon, so I decided to surprise them with some apple crisp for dinner.  I set out to make it knowing that my MIL is a fantastic baker, so I was a bit nervous to see if they'd say anything once they tried my recipe.  Two bites in, my FIL looked up with a big smile on his face and COMPLIMENTED my recipe!!  Win!!  Here it is folks:

Apple Crisp

4 cups apples, peeled and sliced

1/2 cup light brown sugar

2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

1 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 egg, slightly beaten

1/3 cup butter, melted and cooled a bit

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1. Mix first 3 ingredients together in bowl and arrange in a shallow baking dish, about 10x6x2.  

2. Mix next 4 ingredients.  Add egg and mix until crumbly.  Sprinkle on mixture in dish.

3. Drizzle with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon. 

4. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.  Serve warm with ice cream.

Attachment issues

I love being a stay at home mom. I get to experience it all with my kids; the ups, the downs, and the moments that have you calling up your husband at work to tell him about such and such that one kid did or said. I can't imagine being the parent on the other end of the phone, not getting to see whatever happened in person.

That being said, we had a meltdown around there this weekend. We don't have any grandparents that live around us (drive 700+ miles north and you'll reach them!), so my kids don't get to see many other family members a lot. Also, being a stay at home mom and one income family, we don't have the luxury to pay a babysitter to watch our kids so we can go out. I also don't get the kids out enough to play with other kids and other moms (it is something that I always regret, but that's for another day). Well, my husbands parents came to visit us this weekend, and the hubs and I figured that would be the perfect opportunity to get out of the house.. just the two of us. We spent 5 hours early in the day at the state fair, enjoying all the fresh air, fatty food, and getting to spend the time together. Here are some pics..

5pm until bedtime was husband and wife time, though. We made reservations to a wonderful restaurant we'd been meaning to try, and made our way out the door at 5:01pm. Little did we know what happened when we left.

Our 2 year old, B, is really attached to me. I'm with him everyday, and when I have to leave him, he tends to scream. A lot. My MIL told me that the moment we walked out the door, B went screaming upstairs, alone, and hid in his little sister's room (all while K sat in her high chair, content to be with whomever is feeding and paying attention to her). MIL said that after a few minutes, B made his way (screaming) into our bedroom, slamming the door shut. Fast-forward to Sunday morning. I'm getting ready upstairs, hubby is about to take a shower, and B realizes that he's going to be outside, alone, with his grandparents. Cue screaming, banging on the back door, stomping up the stairs (once MIL let him inside), and running into my arms, sobbing and holding on for dear life.

Ok, ok, truth be told, I kinda love it. It's awful, but I love being the one that B runs to when he's hurt or upset, or happy! but I also know it's not good that he's so attached to us, and can't be with anyone else without pitching a fit. If we had the money we'd send him to a daycare for a day, just to get used to other people, but we don't. and I'm at a parenting loss. I'm picturing him 16 years old and still screaming on the first day of school because he's going to be separated from me. Yikes.