Potty Training

Warning:  This post is filled with "TMI" statements.

I've had some questions about how we potty trained Alessandra so quickly, and the answer is - it wasn't quick.  It took almost 18 months.

Birth - 6 months:
That's right we started potty training Alessandra when she was just a couple weeks old when we put her in her first cloth diaper.

• I truly believe that cloth diapers help babies potty train sooner.  It's simple - they can feel when they are wet.  They let you know that they're wet so that you put them in a dry diaper.  And they quickly learn that being dry is more comfortable than being wet.

Jon and I tend to be an open door family.  We don't make a big fuss about making sure the doors are closed even when using the restroom.  That means Alessandra has seen Jon and I use the bathroom  since she was born.

Surprise - Surprise, Jon and I are talkers.  Which means we have talked to Alessandra about everything (including potty talk) since she was born.  We told her when we needed to go, if she was with us we told her what we were doing, when we were done we told her what we just did.  Going to the bathroom has been something she has known about since day one.

7 - 10 months:
When Alessandra started on solid food she didn't like pooing in her diaper.  It was too much work and uncomfortable.  So, when she started pooping she started fussing.  What did I do - I opened up her diaper and rubbed her little belly.  Well, then I realized if I'm going to take off her diaper for her to poo then why don't I take off her diaper and put her on the potty so I don't have to clean up the poop.  So - that's what I did.  She was happy and I was happy.

11 - 13 months:
Alessandra decided it wasn't a big deal to poop in her diaper anymore and she started doing it without a big fuss.  I didn't stress - I didn't feel like we were taking a step back this was a part of her process.

12 - 15 months:
With Alessandra's increased mobility she was able to get around the house easily on her own.  Which led to her "telling" me that she needed to go potty.  She would toddle into the bathroom and bang on the toilet lid and say "poop - poop"  I went along with it and played her potty game.  I'd strip her down and put her on.  Sometimes she'd do something - sometimes she wouldn't. It was a game.  It was like when we played with her dolls or other toys.

When I would go to change her diaper after meal time or nap time I was finding that she was often dry.  On those occasions I would march her into the bathroom and put her on the potty.  If she didn't do anything right away I would "encourage" her to pee by making the pee "psssssss" sound.  Sometimes it worked sometimes it didn't.  Once again - I didn't stress.  She was learning what the potty is for.  And for crying out loud she was only a year old, she didn't need to be potty trained yet.

16 months:
Alessandra started "telling" me more often than not that she needed to go potty and more diapers were dry than wet.  So I decided it was time to start - officially - potty training.  We spent a week in the house.  I rolled up all of the rugs.  Put changing pads down on the furniture or under her for nap time.  And Alessandra was naked or bottomless.  We did use food treats as rewards for when she 1. told us 2. put something in the potty and 3. was still dry.  I know this is a big debate with parents but it worked for us.  So we did it.  (We used mini Smarties - for all of you American's think mini M&M's.  So they are tiny little chocolate treats.)

After the week was over we resumed our normal life.

A day in the life of potty training Alessandra looked like this if we were home:

• wake up  - go potty
• eat breakfast - go potty 
• play - go potty
• nap - go potty
• eat lunch - go potty
• play - go potty
• snack - go potty
• play - go potty
• eat dinner
• get ready for bed - go potty

The only way I changed her schedule when going out was: 

• put pants on Alessandra
• go potty before we left the house
• go potty as soon as we got where we were going
• go potty before we left
• go potty as soon as we got home
• take off Alessandra's pants
• resume above schedule

17 months - now

Alessandra was introduced to panties.  It took this long because I couldn't find any that would fit her here in Germany.  She still wears pull ups for nap time (when I remember) and bed time.  Alessandra has had good times - like when she went a fully week without a single accident or wet pull up.  And bad times - like the day she didn't pee in the potty once (so frustrating and it was this past Tuesday).

When she is having an "off" day I just resort back to the good ole days of potty training and strip her down and then have her "help" me clean up the mess if she has one.  

So that's that.  She still has accidents. I still have to bring changes of clothes when we go out.  But, for the most part she's dry.  The norm for her is to go pee and poop in the potty.  And every once in a while I have to remind myself that she's not even two yet and has been out of diapers for 5 months now.  So she's doing pretty well.

If you have any specific questions feel free to ask.

Charmian 

"New" Red Shoes

On our way out the door after a quick visit with my girlfriend Jackie and Alessandra's girlfriend Charlotte, Jackie gave Alessandra these little red shoes.  

She was still in a daze from her nap so she didn't know what she had until we got home and I was unpacking our bag.  They came out of the bag and went on her feet.  Not to be removed until bedtime.  

And what did she ask for first thing this morning.  You guessed it, her "new" red shoes.  

It's pretty obvious that she loves her hand-me-downs.  

Charmian

Biking Up the Rhein

Last night Jon got me a bike.  A brand new bike - out of a box.  

I was willing to settle on the Comfort bike but Jon was set on getting me the TREKKING 400.  

Sounds pretty impressive huh!  

In a nutshell it's a cross over.  

Not quite a mountain bike and not quite a cruiser.

Which I guess is perfect for me since 

I'm not quite a country bumpkin and not quite a city girl. 

  

Jon, the stud, actually assembled it with his few little bike tools in the parking lot.

And to celebrate our new found mobility 

we went on a 20km bike ride from our house up the Rhein and back again.

Here we are at the half way point getting ready to turn around and head home.  

Next time I'll have to stop and take some more pictures.  

Jon still needs to adjust a couple things 

and I really want to get a cushy seat 

but otherwise it's AWESOME!!!!

  Love it and I can't wait to ride it again tomorrow!

Yes, you read me right, I said tomorrow - I love my bike!

Charmian

Fears

It's amazing how things change.  

When I was a tween/teen you couldn't get me off the phone.  My daily routine was get off the bus, hustle home, and call my best friend Reagan.  And then proceed to talk to her while watching 90210, or cartoons, or while doing homework, or... well you get the idea.  If I wasn't on the phone with Reagan it was with one of my other friends but the long of the short of it is, you couldn't get me off the phone.

Fast forward 20 years.  Become an Expat.  And BOOM! - I have a new fear.

I am scared of having to make a call.  Ordering a pizza gives me the sweats and I can actually feel my heart rate rising just thinking about it.  This leads me to my confession.  I've been a really bad wife and mama.  Alessandra needs to get in for her 21-24 month check up and Jon has had a toothache for about 3 months now.  I have the phone numbers so I can't use that as an excuse, it's just that I'm afraid to call.  The first thing I say when I call is "Hallo, Sprechen Sie Englisch?"  And usually they respond "Nein"  That's when the sweats and shakes start.  How the heck am I going to do this.  I usually do my research before hand so I know the words I need to say but the problem isn't me saying the words it's me understanding their responses.  

{UPDATE - We have our dental appointment set for October 10th at 11.}  
{UPDATE - Alessandra has her appointment set for her check up.}

My biggest phone related fear is that one day I may have to call 112 (Germany's 911).  Okay, I have to stop thinking about this my hands are shaking, my palms are sweaty, my heart is pounding.  UUUGGGHHH!

The funny thing about this new fear is that it has started to melt into my everyday life.  I now prefer texting to calling even to my English speaking friends.  Talking on the phone isn't the pleasure it used to be.  I wonder what else has/will change as I settle even further into my Expat life.  

I guess we'll just have to wait and see.  

Tschüs,

Charmian

Photo Source:  http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/victoria-derbyshire-on-the-art-of-conversation-as-texting-1148929  

Autumn Approaches

It's getting colder.

Blankets have been pulled out of storage and are lying on the couch and bed.

Windows are being closed for the first time since spring. 

Sweaters are being pulled on.

Jon's Homemade Veggie Soup is on the stove.

Soon the leaves will start to fall.

Autumn Approaches. 

Charmian

Photo Source:  allthingseurope.tumblr.com for the beautiful photo.  

Last Minute Dinner

A quick stay over in Leipzig before our little biking adventure left us with the tiniest bit of time to be able to see our GKS's.  We had a great dinner, some good wine, great homemade beer, stories, and lots of laughs.  

I was amazed how well the girls got along.  It's been over six months since they've seen each other and they played just like they did when they were seeing each other every week.  Is it possible that they remembered each other?  

They colored.

How stinkin' adorable is Sophia?!?

Look at those curls - too cute!

We finished off the night with Ring Around the Roses.   

Too much fun.  I can't wait until next time.  

Charmian

Ga-bye Ommy!

It hit me today.  

This is what I have to look forward to for the rest of my life.

A steady stream of goodbyes.

But, I guess that's what my job is now.  

It's my job to raise Alessandra the best that I can so I can LET HER GO. 

 Let her go to kindergarten, 

to her friends house for her first sleep over, 

for a school trip, 

college, 

marriage.

I just pray that I get all of these goodbyes and many more that I didn't think of.  And that I never have to say goodbye to Alessandra for good like I had to with Pearce.  

WOWZERS!!!

Why didn't anyone warn me how hard this motherhood thing was going to be.

Ga-bye for now.

Charmian