Dawn's Diary Entries Diary Navigation: Choose A Diary Entry -------------------- Latest Entry: 7/31/04 -------------------- 6/20/04 5/5/04 4/25/04 3/28/04 3/13/04 2/20/04 2/3/04 1/15/04 12/7/03 10/31/03 10/26/03 10/17/03 10/11/03 9/22/03 9/15/03 9/1/03 8/19/03 7/30/03 7/14/03 7/11/03 7/3/03 6/27/03 6/23/03 6/12/03 6/3/03 6/2/03 5/26/03 5/1/03 4/26/03 4/14/03 3/31/03 3/21/03 3/12/03 2/28/03 2/19/03 2/15/03 2/9/03 1/28/03 -------------------- Dawn's Introduction

July 31, 2004

It's noon on a Saturday and too hot to go outside. Until of course we hit the beach after lunch. July has been filled with lots of trips, visitors and activties, it's no wonder the the winter months seem to long and drawn out, when there are fewer things to do.

We began the month by (William and I) by going to my mother's house for a week. We celebrated Canada Day there, had lots of family get togethers (backyard fires, bbq's, and playtime with my younger cousins) and all 11 of my mother's siblings were home at the same time. No, only one was missing, my mistake. William adores his cousin Julia (who is 9), and they got to spend a lot of time together on that trip. She even had a sleepover with us one night. However, he was only happy about this fact in the morning when he woke up and she was in bed with us... the night before he wanted her to sleep on the floor!

After spending a week at home, my uncle drove us back to GFW on his way home, and we spent a total of four days there before heading out on our family vacation. Will's busiest time of year is the summer so he takes very few holidays during this time, but we try to go for a week every year to New Brunswick where his mother grew up and they have a family cottage on the ocean that has been in their family for 50 years. Well, this was our second trip there, with WIlliam anyway. Will's mother joined us from Montreal and his sister from Vermont, as well as my brother from Halifax for 2 nights (whom WIlliam hadn't seen since February). One of WIll's aunts and her two children were also there. I love the preteen cousins...they make great sitters! We got to see most of his family, visited his cousins petting farm, and spent lots of time swimming etc. At the farm William was very excited to be allowed to brush on of the horses and he tried to feed the llamas a carrot but they wouldn't take it from him. The little pot bellied pig was happy to eat from him though, so I guess he was content enough with this. There were also some one week old labrador puppies that we got to see. William loved holding them and was so gentle with them. I hope this is a sign that he can be gentle with the baby as well.

When we left New Brunswick we went to Halifax for two nights to visit with my brother. He's staying with one of my mother's sisters so we stayed there as well. Plus I have another aunt there who came over for a delicious seafood feast one evening. William was in his glory as he LOVES fish, and helped himself to a large portion of both salmon and cod.

During the day while we were there we drove to the coast to visit with Jeanette and her family. She always told me what a beautiful place she would visit every summer, which was her mother's childhood home, and she was right. The yard was filled with beautiful trees and two swings tied from this lovely apple tree (one for each toddler). It was so nice to see William playing with Isabella. He seemed to be quite smitten with her, wanting to push her on the swing, give her hugs and kisses (to which he was denied). But he got her back (hee hee). WHile we were in the house, she asked him to draw pictures with her. Being a boy and playing with some neat trucks he simply replied, "not now, I'm busy". They had a great deal of fun that day... and William did get a kiss in the end!

When we returned from vacation, Will's aunt Kim and her daughter Katie were at our house as Katie had gotten her tonsils out and needed to stay in town for ten days. It was sure nice to come home to a clean house, lawn mowed, flower beds watered AND weeded, laundry done, and supper cooked when we got there. They styed another 4 nights with us and it is Kim and Katie who I have to credit for getting William to use the potty. We discussed his readiness, willingness etc and when I should start that evening when we got back. I told her that we tried a couple of times but I was always leaving it up to him, and still using pullups and pampers. SHe suggested that I just jump right into it, putting on underwear and not turning back. Since I had gone with treats before I felt I couldn't do it without this time as he remembers getting them before, so we made up the "potty fairy". SHe would leave two jelly beans under his pillow after every pee, and whenever I wanted him to try and pee I'd say, "the potty fairy thinks you need to go to the bathroom". Having Kim and Katie there the first few days really helped as well. As they helped take turns bringing him in to try, and were able to grab him and run (like I couldn't) when he said he had to go. After the first few days he was better able to control it and when he said he had to go all I had to do was walk with him to the bathroom. THe first day after they left was the worse, as he had a number of pee accidents, even when we were in the house (usually he only wet himself outside as he claimed there was no potty to go to), but the next day he was right back on track again. Poos have been a little harder to teach though, but he has had three success to date (it'll be two weeks tomorrow). I think this time it worked becasue I was ready as well. I have a different attitude about accidents than I did before. I think I thought that he would magically be able to start going to the bathroom and not wetting his underwear etc, and so everytime he had an accident I would put on a pull up, where of course he knew he could pee. NOw I don't care, I just tell him to try and remember the next time, and they are usually few and far between. As for number 2 I know it will take time, and I've realized cleaning him up is no different than if he were in papmers, and if I were a cloth diaperer I'd have to wash out the mess anyway!

Last Sunday Will's father was in Springdale to visit his parents, so we went out for the day on his boat with most of the family. IT was a great day. WE got to see an iceberg and a whale (right together), and we went for a wonderful at this lovely waterfall, where the water is suprisingly warm. William got to steer the boat (which is about 40 feet long) and called himself a fine fellow. NOt sure where he got that from.

We had more visitors that week, as my Aunt Darlene dropped in for two nights on their way back from the big city (along with Julia and Gregory). We went for a couple of great swims at Thunder Brook and Beothuk Park, and William was in his glee with two playmates. THe only drawback with having older cousins as playmates is that they often teach him bad habits, like playfighting. But I guess this is somehting that can't be helped. They day they left we went to Burnside for two nights while Will worked from that area. Will's grandparents were there, along with Kim and her family, so it was another great time. Burnside house is where William Augustus the 1st raised his family (will's grandfather), it is on this huge piece of property right on a little cove, about 2 hours from where we live. IT was William's first visit there,a dn he had a great time helping his cousins catch connors and flatfish and crabe from the wharf, and swimming at the beach. We took the tent to sleep in as I knew the house would be too warm and stuffy for me, which was fun as we haven't had much tme for campping this summer. ONe night I was putting William to sleep and having one of our talks. HE was asking about the baby and if it will be as big as him etc. I said not for a while yet. I said it will have little feet and won't be able to walk until next summer. William then said, "I should bring him to this house next year, he would like it". I thought that was so sweet I almost teared up.

We are home now, but are planning to go to my mom's again next Friday for 4 or 5 nights. As much as I enjoy lots of activity and people around, I do enjoy the comforts of home and a little quiet itme in between as well.

Before I go I wanted to mention a little about the pregnancy. I remember when I was nursing William and couldnt' drink milk that mixing orange juice and calcium pills would make me instantly throw up. Well, I still have that problem. NOt sure why. So I gave up orange juice at pill time,b ut sometimes my belly still feels queasy from the pills. Is this normal? At the Burnside house when I was forgetting to take all the pills I had a back attack of leg cramps. Will was already gone to work in hte morning, and I was in the ten asleep with WIlliam. My calf knotted up so bad, but I couldn't get it out because I couldn't stand up int he tent and there was no wall to push against. I was in so much pain, but I didn't want to wake up William, but finally I called out help (I'm not sure who was going to help me), but it woke WIlliam up and he being worried about me, unzippered the tent and helped me get outside to stand up. He then wanted to hpld my had as we walked into the house. He's so caring.

Other than that I have been trying to keep cool. The baby is moving lots now and although I have been having some back trouble, frequent allpications of cold packs seem to be doing the trick.

Dawn