CRAZIER. (Post 2 of 3)

I'm about to get real up in here.  LONG WINDED REAL.  

Not to be funny (though some might be). Not to be mean, ungrateful, or self deprecating.  Simply to capture in words the past few months of my life so that many years down the line, I can see the evidences of God's faithfulness... of His strength in my weakness.

TAG.

He'll turn 3 this month, and is 75% potty trained.  We started in October 2012 just introducing the potty.  It was fun.  We'd use it occasionally before bath time.  Some times we sat in front of the TV with it... just to get to our first pee.  Enter holidays.  Lots of fun, forgot about potty training, but that was OK.  February 2013 we turned up the heat.  We stayed in diapers/pull ups but still went to the potty at regular times during the day (say morning, before nap, at bath time).  March 2013 we had our first poop.  YAY!  OK, maybe this will be do-able.  I even told (bragged) about his first poop to a mom at the school carnival.  She told me her daughter (Tag's exact age--days apart), hadn't had any success there.  I immediately thought my kid a genius.  Fast forward 4 months (July), nary a poop in the potty since.  (In your face, Jo!)  But a good number of accidents at school and home.  At this point, he's in underwear and just asks us for a diaper when he needs to poop.  We oblige because when we force him to sit on the potty and poop he screams his head off and refuses saying screaming, "I will NEVER poo poo on the potty."  We offer treats--toys, candy, ice cream, staying up late with mom and dad and sleeping in our bed, you name it!  None of those things are enough to entice him to even try.  

End of July.  GIANT disaster at friends house (saving the details to spare the integrity of those involved).  Beginning of August we removed the diaper as an option (except at nap and bed time), so it's pretty much accident in underwear or potty.  After many 10-15 minute sessions of screaming, crying, watching shows on the kindle or iphone, playing Toca games (Toca Boca, Toca Band, Toca Doctor, Toca Birthday), we have had 2 or 3 victories in this area.

Now even Story is joining the fun.  Here's Tag on my kindle and Story sitting on a trash bin playing Peek-a-boo Farm on my iphone.  I just figured out how to lock my iphone on an app so she can't go emailing my colleagues or sending texts.  

  

I swear I don't let my kids play with the kindle and iphone all day long.  Only during the times at which I cannot function.  Like 6am for instance.  Tag learned how to open doors this summer, so at some point between 5:45 and 6:45 I get a wake up call from an adorable little man who says "mommy, can you come to the couch with me?" or "mommy, I need to pee pee."  or "mommy, can you fix me some bakefast?"  it's sweet, right? so i either lay with him on the couch (when it's the earlier hour) and let him watch a show on the kindle.  or, I'll get him breakfast and we'll sit at the table.  I'll drink my coffee and read, while he eats and talks and watches the TV.  He is TOTALLY a morning person. 

This morning while I was about half way through my first cup of coffee, Tag was playing a letter game on the kindle.  Then all of a sudden, Blue's Clue's comes on.  I jump at the noise and look down... low and behold he's figured out how to get to the videos.  Blue's Clue's episodes are free to watch via wi-fi for Amazon Prime members, which I am... OK relax.  No harm done.

Except minutes later, I get the familiar email of Amazon telling me what I purchased.  A whole season of Blue's Clues for $17.  When I already had them individually for free. Awesome.  Good thing it wasn't end of the month ;) AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

  

STORY

Second children are amazingly different from the first.  In addition to the fact that she's a girl (which is so different), she requires a lot less than Tag in the way of attention at present.  That bothers me so much though, because I want to give her attention, even if she doesn't seem to "need" it like Tag.  I miss her being a baby and the time that I had devoted to her. Now she's miss independence.  

Story is a sleeper (praise be), and loves Angelina Ballerina.  She spins in circles when she sees the show on TV.  She loves music too.  When we're in the car listening to a song, she will sing along, even though she speaks no real words.  Ok, maybe she says "mama" and "dada" and "dog" but that's it.  She loves to read books but is terribly impatient and wants to flip to the back in a hurry, then start over a little slower.  She brings the crazy to our house in a whole new way.  She's quiet, so unlike Tag, when she's doing something she's not supposed to, you don't know it until it's too late.

(My second little dare devil)

I realize she's out of sight and go looking to find her playing in toilet water with a few pieces of cat food in her mouth.  Or Occasionally, after I put the kids down for nap, I might find the toilet paper in the downstairs bathroom completely unraveled. When I take things away from her like ink pens or my phone, she'll stomp her foot and make a mean face and cry a fake cry.  

 

(Story blowing a kiss)

She's THE MESSIEST eater I've ever seen.  For whatever reason, she insists on playing with her hair while in her high chair.  So every night bath time is not just a routine, but a must.  Though she's not talkative, she understands things I say and usually obeys.  I can tell her to go upstairs for bath time, tell her to get into the car, or even tell her when it's time to put clothes on and she responds accordingly.  This may seem silly, but it's the little times like this when having to pick a child up and make them do things can get tedious and frustrating.  I still have to do these things with Tag... because he's into doing what he wants instead of what mommy asks.  It's nice having Story's obedience (for now).

THE REALITY OF 2.

This past weekend, I had the bright idea to do some visiting with the kids.  My original agenda went something like this: 

1. Leave Durham at 8am 

2. Go visit grandma/grandaddy/great grandaddy at truck stop for breakfast at 9am 

3. Leave to visit aunt Gaye at hospital in Greenville at 11:00am4. Everyone knows kids can't stay at a hospital room longer than 15-30 minutes, so we'd grab lunch and leave Greenville by 12pm  

5. Drive slowly to friend's 1 year old birthday party at 1pm in Wendell so kids can nap.

6. Leave party in Wendell when kids melt down around 3pm and head home to Durham.

[Entire plan hinges on kids napping during several drives]

Here's how it really went.  

1. Left Durham at 8:30

2. Visited with grandparents and had breakfast.  grandma decided to accompany visit (yay, help!) 

3. Didn't leave truckstop until 11:30.  decided to take kids to her house for nap.  story fell asleep in car for 10 minutes and woke up at gma's house NOT to go back to sleep in pack n play as planned.  it's too early for tag to sleep.  

4. 12:15  Put pack n plays, diaper bags, shoes, sippy cups in car, go to potty, get kids in car. leave grandmas house for party 30 minutes away.  Kids start fussing, so decide to grab some happy meals.  Start looking for places to stop and grandma realizes she doesn't have shoes on.  She left her shoes at home.  (I laugh because now mom knows why I'm neurotic about schedules and sleep)

5. Realize there is a Belk and McDonald's on upcoming exit so drop grandma off at Belk to get shoes (with MY shoes on), while Jodi takes kids to drive through.  kids eat, but are tired and it's NAPTIME for real.  but we're 15 minutes away from party.  pick up grandma and her new shoes.

6. 1:45 head to party.  arrive 1 hour late.

7. Kids spend first 30 minutes plundering the 1 year old's room. But at least they are contained into one area.

8. Tag has accident in underwear.  Pull out spare pair, thankfully it's not terribly messy.  

9.  Time to eat cake and open presents.  Story has one shoe on and is running in circles.  Tag is trying to open the birthday boy's gifts.  I sees definite signs of impending melt downs and agrees with grandma--must leave now.

9. Take Tag to potty before we leave, incite MAJOR meltdown.  Crying, screaming, you name it... just to pee.  I say, OK, forget it, lets go.  He loses it again screaming that he NEEDS to pee.  Back and forth until eventually, I pull his pants up, wash his hands, and carry his crying body to the car.  Not sure if he peed? 

10.  Kids get in car, 3 minutes later:

10. Drive back to Greenville while kids nap to visit Aunt and get great talk time with grandma.  Jodi realizes she hasn't eaten in a while, 4 coffees, one giant diet coke from McDonald's later... head ache!  

11. Aunt Gaye and Grandma Audrey are so happy to see us!  Nurses laugh and love to see the kids...even if they are running up and down halls, almost pulling out her catheter, wanting to push buttons everywhere... NEED TO LEAVE.

12. 6:30pm Stop at Mexican restaurant for dinner.  They put us in corner table where Tag just jumps on the seats the whole time, and Story eats cheese dip by handfuls.  Clean them up and get out ASAP.  

13. Drop grandma off at home, and head to Durham.  

14. Need gas.  Remember there is a Sonic near a gas station a few exists away... PTL for milkshakes with reeces.

15. Arrive at home in Durham 9pm.

Not every day is this chaotic, but I'd say more days are chaotic than not.  Traveling anywhere takes time, effort, planning.  Even going to church can be an exercise of endurance and patience.  I know that one day, I'll look back and wonder how in the heck we survived from one day to the next.  And, I know that in that moment it will be clear that it was all by the grace of God.  I say that not as a cliche but as truth that I cling to.  And, Miss Molly.  Gosh I love Molly.  

  

A nice Friday treat with JR and Katrina

Fun at the Museum of Life and Science... LOVE this place!

A little superhero reading before bed time.  

  

 Melt down face 

Happy little trouble makers!

Can't leave out SK's melt down face!

When I begin to think that some how I'm amazing for having these two kids, and I'm super amazing for catching such a fox like B for a husband/baby daddy, for holding down a decent full time job, for eventually getting my kid fully potty trained, for doing anything that anyone could some how think was great... my bubble is burst, and reality sets in. And, I know that I don't deserve any of these people, this life, this chance, this job, this home... every single moment of the CRAZY is a wonderful gift from God.  And any credit goes to Him.  Any strength I have to accomplish anything, comes from Him.  I bring nothing but selfish ambition and weakness to the table.  

And, heaven help me if I look sideways to see how other Moms are making out with their pintrest inspired snacks, pre-school play activities, size zero stylish wardrobes, and clean cars. With their amazing birthday parties, professionally taken kid photos at each milestone.... Well here's to you imaginary Pintrest mom-- I say, Ain't nobody got time for THAT!   

Lord, I am weary!    

PS A friend sent me this post which was so encouraging.  And, I'm totally one of those folks who probably won't be good friends with others who think there is only one way to do things!  I fervently believe there is, "more than one way to skin a cat," (right Grandma Audrey?)   

Don't read the comments from other readers though, that will tick you off!  ha!