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September 25, 2003
Toilet training—is this progress?
Toilet training has been an interesting/ frustrating experience up to this point. I have definitely not been laying on the pressure at all, but have been gradually introducing concepts and laying the framework for this big milestone. At this point I would say just about all the steps are in place. She can always tell me when she is pooping in her diaper and, if she is not wearing a diaper, if she is peeing (ie on the floor, in the yard, or in the bath tub). Ella loves to take off her pants and diaper and sit on the toilet, usually while I read and hang out with her. She will talk to me about how she is going pee and doing “Big poops’. Sometimes I can even see her straining. She likes to take the TP and wipe herself and then throw it in the toilet. She loves to flush her TP, as well as anything I produce in there. She likes to take her poops she has done in her diaper and put them in the toilet and then flush it all down.
Sounds pretty good, huh? The only problem---THERE IS NOTHING GOING IN THE TOILET!! For all this work and talking and arranging and role playing, it has literally been months since a drop has actually been put into the toilet. And she has never done a poop in there, which I understand usually comes later. It is very frustrating since we go through this routine probably 4-10 times a week. Maybe I should start doing it more—I guess it would certainly increase the chances of catching something—but I really don’t want to waste everyone’s time for nothing. Ella doesn’t seem frustrated by this at all—either way she wipes and flushes and washes her hands and I’m not about to remind her that this wasn’t a complete success. Sigh… any advice?
Guess who’s back!?!
We got some very promising news a few weeks ago, but I have been afraid to get excited or say anything until we knew for sure. But now the paperwork is all signed and the date is set so we can rejoice—Jamie’s parents are moving back to Cape Cod!!! As a reminder, Jamie’s parents moved from the Cape to Maine a few months ago. They did this since they thought it was too expensive and too crowded on the Cape and, while we supported them outwardly, Jamie and I were very dismayed at the news—it would be a much longer ride to visit them, plus my mom also lives on the Cape so it was SOOOO convenient to be able to get down to see everyone regularly. Well, a few weeks ago they said they just couldn’t adjust and realized they had made a horrible mistake and wanted to move back. I was cautiously optimistic, since their behavior has been pretty sporadic lately, but last weekend they signed on at the same complex they were in before and they are moving in two weeks!!! WA-HOO! They have given us permission to smack them if they ever mention moving again, so I think this should be the end of this chapter. I think they are embarrassed by the whole thing but the way I figure is—if this is what it takes for them to feel happy with their decision to stay on the Cape for the rest of their lives—vs. always being unhappy or wondering “What if?”—then it was time and effort well spent. Sometimes we all could use a reminder that, while the grass may seem greener on the other side of the fence—it often is the same shade of green/brown with some crabgrass but also some clover and flowers, as we are living in ourselves.
Halloween—yes, I know I’m a little early!!!
Yes, I have to admit that we have already started to get excited for Halloween. In typical Bonnie fashion, Ella has no less then three options for costumes this year (which I have to admit has been pretty much the norm every year so far). But, also in line with my frugality, the grand total I think I have laid out for all three is $6. One is an ADORABLE home made very grand lion costume which was a hand me down from her cousins Kirsten and Madeline. I have been itching to get Ella into it ever since we acquired it but, for some reason only Ella knows, when I put the costume on her she just hated it. She immediately wanted it off and would only grudgingly stop tugging on the mane and whining to glance at herself in the mirror before continuing on her quest to get it off her body ASAP. So much for that. Fortunately I think it will still fit her next year as the legs were pretty long and the whole thing is fairly loose so maybe I will have a little Lioness next year.
The second outfit is an adorable Dalmatian that I picked up at a yard sale for $1. It would be perfect if she hadn’t been a Dalmatian last year. Oops! Someone got a little ahead of herself when she saw a red hot bargain and didn’t think things through…
The final outfit is a red devil full body jumpsuit that I got on clearance last year at Old Navy for $5. Ella loved this outfit immediately upon seeing it on the hanger so I think we have a winner! She has already requested and dressed up in it a number of times. The only thing that exasperates her is when the hood falls down and she can’t feel her horns. I will probably get her a cute little pitch fork to carry with her and paint her face red, although really she is adorable in just the suit.
This is the first year that Ella will be going trick or treating. At least, we hope she will be going, as she often gets shy and very un-enthusiastic about new events and strange people and needs lots of support before she can fully embrace an unfamiliar event. For this reason, I have been discussing trick or treating with her and she has gotten very good at shouting trick or treat. One problem, however, is that she has decided that, instead of candy, which she is only so-so excited about (not a lot of exposure, I am proud to say), she has decided that she would like to be given BAND AIDS (in her life a MUCH more exciting, MUCH bigger treat)! Jamie thought he was being helpful when he took Ella through a whole dry run of trick or treating, in which he and Ella rang our door bell and, when I answered, yelled out TRICK OR TREAT! But, upon her request, he had agreed that she would get a band aid when she held out her little pumpkin bag. I complied, but later pointed out to him that, if we didn’t break her of this pipe dream we would be stuck carrying a container of Band-aids around on Halloween night and slipping them into confused homeowners’ hands at the door with a pleading whisper to play along. Time will tell, I guess…
Miss Bossy moves on to less suspecting suspects
I am pleased that lately Ella’s bossy tendencies seem to be less directed to myself and Jamie and more towards less animate objects, with some very cute results. The other day for instance, we were strolling by a house when a yappy dog started in on us. Ella happened to have a stuffed dog with her so raised it up and answered back ‘woof woof!’ Then, however, she got a disgruntled look on her face, poked at her dogs face a few times, and ordered it, louder and very sternly “Open your mouth, dog!! C’mon! Woof woof!” Too funny. On another occasion she was mimicking washing her hair in the bath tub and ordered “Close your eyes, toes!!! I pour a water on you!” So precious!!
This stout resolution has definitely come in handy with the new kitchen set Ella received for her birthday. Talk about bossy—this little stove starts barking orders the moment Ella touches it “Lets wash our hands… okay, now lets fry an egg… time to boil carrots, their good for you”. Sometimes Ella will rush around trying to follow the orders but the other day I heard her admonish it “No, kitchen, I read a book now!” Good for you Ella, you go girl! Her teacher at day care told me that, while she is the smallest in her class, she has no problem sticking up for herself and I have to admit I was pretty proud of her, particularly since I know that, while she can stick up for herself, she is not a bully or rough about it.
I have finally updated Ella’s website with some shots from her birthday party and other fun summer time activities.
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/e/ellarosew/
As always, thanks for reading.
Bonnie
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