EC: Our Journey

As some of you know, I've been doing Elimination Communication with Blaine since he was 2 weeks old. Some people say "it isn't really potty training", but it absolutely is. I've basically been potty training Blaine since birth.

The peak of his potty effectiveness was definitely 5 months to 10 months. In that time period, he often had "one diaper days" where every single poop and pee went in the potty. It was awesome!

Then he started walking.

I think walking opened a whole new door of adventure and freedom. He suddenly was way too busy to sit on the potty and unless it was at a wakeup AND he was "in the mood" to sit, there was no way he was going to sit on that potty. He would kick, he would scream, and I wouldn't push the issue. I was changing poopy diapers for the first time since he was a newborn and I would always say, "Blaine, you pooped in your diaper. You know poop goes on the potty!". Then one day about 14.5 months old, it clicked again. He started pooping on the potty regularly but only in the mornings. If he had an afternoon or evening poop, it would go in the diaper. Even if I knew it was coming and tried to put him on the potty, he would just sit there, and then get up and poop in the diaper 10 minutes later.

That is pretty much where we stand now. It is currently 2:30 pm and he's had the same diaper on since this morning. He's peed twice on the potty and pooped once so it has been a good day so far.

So let me explain my 'disappointment' [I use quotes because obviously I'm thrilled he knows how to use the potty and uses it so much, so I don't want anyone to think I don't appreciate that]. I thought by now he'd be more communicative. I've taught him the ASL sign for potty and he has never used it. I thought he would walk to the potty when he has to go. He never has.

In conclusion: I still think EC is pretty much the BEST THING EVER and I would do it all over again with child 2. I just thought by 16 months we would be further than we are with him initiating the communication regarding when he has to go.

16 Months

16 months old today. My little [no pun intended] outdoorsman, lover of animals, obsessor of "gak gaks" [tractors], tool-man, daddy's boy, Blaine is amazing! It is crazy how much he understands and how much he remembers. OH, and how ornery he is and how he tests boundaries. ;)

Blaine can do so many great things now that he's 16 months old, but for some reason I'm hung up on a few cannots:

HE CANNOT SLEEP FROM BEDTIME TO MORNING! Never once, has not happened. Mommy and Daddy are sleep deprived. He will still cry up to 2 hours at night when he wakens.

HE CANNOT SAY "MOMMY". Or pretty much anything other than daddy, gak gak, and moo.

HE IS NOT POTTY TRAINED. Both his parents were by this age and I hear about it often.

Am I simply expecting too much? Is Blaine doomed because his mother is too negative? Is his mother negative because she hasn't slept all night long since October 2009?

:)

HAPPY 16 MONTHS LITTLE BUDDY! I COULD SQUEEZE YOU ALL DAY EVERYDAY I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

Our Oompa Loompa

Not all hand-me-downs are created equal. Or as Blaine would say, "JUST BECAUSE IT WAS FREE DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO MAKE ME WEAR IT!!"

Let's hope he never sees these pics when he's older! LOL.

Tests Tests!

Here's an update on how things are going in the "Blaine is little" department. We had to go to the hospital to visit a nutritionist, get a blood test, and then go back two weeks later for a sweat test [checks for Cystic Fibrosis]. As you can tell, he's a champion sweater and he passed all tests with flying colors.

In conclusion: I'm still not sure how much money I'll owe the hospital, I had to listen to Blaine cry waay more than I would have liked, and I knew he was fine all along. At least everyone can rest easy now! :)

M.F.M.F. - Poison Ivy

This new MFMF moment is brought to you by Phase Three of Life. Every Friday she does a "My Favorite Moments Friday" and all I can think when I see MFMF is "MOMMY FAIL! MOMMY FAIL!" I always expect a funny mommy fail story but realize I've got the acronym embedded in my head wrong. ;)

Well here ya go with my week's mommy fail: Blaine, my little adventurous outdoorsman just came down with poison ivy for the 2nd time in his short life. ON HIS FOOT. You know, WHERE HIS SKIN IS ALWAYS COVERED BY SOCKS AND SHOES! Bizarre. Definite mommy fail.

I don't even think I have had poison ivy two times in my life. That kid is going to have a long, itchy life; I haven't even taken his on a REAL geocaching adventure yet! Stinging nettles, thorns, poison ivy, OH MY!!

Funny Boy!

TRACT-OR TREAT: Farmchick's Farm Pic Friday

When you are a country kid, you go trick or treating on your tractor! ;)

Tract-or Treating! hardy har harrrrrr.

Blaine was the scarecrow and his girlfriend was Dorthy! Totally precious!