Fevers and Potties

We are sick.

Michael brought home a virus Sunday.

He is such a lovely sharer of things.

The last two days we have spent at home...

drugging it up, cuddling on the couch and watching TV.

Well I only get Tylenol... but ever one else has options.

After the weekend with our friends...

and sharing potty time with her bestie Allie...

Eva started asking to go to the potty.

Today she asked to be naked.

Since we all were feverish and no plans of leaving...

naked she became.

Then... like magic she started going potty on her own.

So we started giving her M&M's.

After 2 days and a larger bag of M&M's...

we have been doing well.

We are still in diapers for nap and bed.

She is still in a crib, so that will be hanging on a while.

There have been just a few accidents...

one during dinner and one during rousing time with play dough.

She has even been stopping on her own running to the potty.

Without me asking her if she needed to go.

The #2 part is still a toughie for her.

She likes to hide...

so she has waited until we have put a diaper on.

Tomorrow we are going to stay close to home again.

Stay naked and see how things go...

Maybe go pick up some big girl undies.

So long as these fevers go away...

       

Go Guys

 

Go Guys Go!

The Monster's first Clipper's baseball game.
She cheered, danced really liked their "chicken" mascot.

    

     

This face

She makes me smile...

even when all I want to do is nap.
Things are slowly getting better and better.

The ironic part of all of this...
she would barely sleep with us when she was little.
Even as a newborn.

There would be the immediate "milk coma" pass out sleep right after nursing.
But, if we were holding her, her sleep would be short lived.
Only swaddled and on her own, would solid chunks of sleep happen.

No matter how much I wished for a nursing/nap session.
Or hoped for her to snuggle up and sleep with me...
she never would go for it.

Now, as we are looking at big girl beds,
and a little one to arrive soon...
all she wants to curl up and sleep with us.

Almost harder than hearing her cry...
is fighting the urge to give in.

Mostly driven by wanting to sleep...
but a tiny part of me wants to let all those previously dreamed-of-snuggly sleeps finally happen.

    

   

Big Potty

For a few weeks now, you have been asking...

I sit on big potty?

Usually, right before nap-time and before bed.

It is a good stall tactic, and one we won't say no to.

This week though, you have actually been going potty while sitting there.

Four days in a row!

You still won't take a break in the middle of playing.

Looking at me like I have lost my mind when I suggest it.

Today, you did leave time-out to go.

Imagine that.

    

   

Monstering

Grumbly cave...

that is what you call any place that is smallish and dark.

Under tables, in cabinets and lots of places in our basements are caves.

Your closet is your favorite grumbly cave.

Last night you were afraid to go in.

But today, before nap time, we sat in the floor of grumbly cave.

Together, just talking.

We talked about bears and owls.

How you really like owls and caves.

      

Hunter

Michael is a terrible finder.

If something is missing, he might not be who you want on the case.

Send him to get something from a drawer, closet or cabinet...

many times he gets there and searches and searches and then says...

It isn't in there.

Then I go to the drawer, closet or cabinet, and there it is.

A lot of times staring at me from right on top.

Maybe it is the whole Hunter-Gatherer thing.

He can spot a moving object from the corner of his eye.

But, if it isn't moving - it does not exist.

Good hunter, bad gatherer.

Sometimes, it is hilarious.

I will leave the object of interest in the drawer, just as I found it...

so he can see where it was, and how bad he missed.

Other times, it drives me crazy...

As in, when I really need something 

and would love not to have to get it myself.

Today...

 I love, love his bad gathering skills.

We don't keep soda that often.

So, when we have it, it is a bigger deal.

Before he was leaving for work...

he looked for the last Fresca in the fridge, and came up empty handed.

We both assumed it was gone.

Then, I was organizing the fridge tonight.

There, behind the strawberries, was the last can...

all for me.

Thanks Michael.



    

First

First worm meeting.

    

Her Daddy's

She has her daddy's lashes.

  

Progress

The monster has been asking to sit on the potty.
And she will let me take her diaper off first.

The book was her touch.
She insists on a toy or book when sitting there.
I guess I would too, if I had no plan on actually going to the bathroom.

See that look?


Yeah, okay mom... 
I am just siting on the weird chair. 
Calm down

Okay, your right Eva Monster.
I will stop clapping, dancing and cheering.
You're right - I do look ridiculous.

On a side note...
We are not finding out if Deedle is a girl or boy.
We are waiting until birthday.

We waited with Eva and it was a lot of fun.
So we will all find out near July 4th.

 

Made it

It should be illegal for mommies to be sick.
There is no calling in, and no back-up.

I sat on the bathroom floor at 3 am wondering...
How am I going to make it?

Things that normally would not happen... just have to.
You go into survival mode...

Breakfast is a buffet line off the couch.

Dry cereal, graham crackers, fruit snacks and an almost full sippy of milk...

Yeah, today was supposed to be grocery day.
We are running low on a lot... including milk.

Monsters are still sporting bed heads at noon.
Wearing whatever was clean and on top... even a way too big sweatshirt.

Giving hugs on my feet.

and pats on my head.

Mommy sick?  Cracker?

She tries to feed me some of her breakfast selections.

Waiting at the bottom of the stairs for me...
as I disappeared into the bathroom.
Over and over.

I get a play by play of the birds in the front lawn.

Since the trees have no leaves...

she can see last year's nests.

She says there are eggs, mommies and babies in those nests.
Tweet tweet tweet
she sings.

She colors by herself in the floor.

Tearing the paper off the crayons and showing me them one by one.

There was lots of TV and lots of lots of books.

She gave me hugs and kisses...

And we made it through the day.
She helped me make it through the day.

 

Socks

This was how we spent most of yesterday...

cuddled up on the couch in stripey socks.

We read books, looked at flashcards and watched Elmo.

After a nap, we ran out to restock on ibuprofen.

I think we both needed to get out of the house for a few.

Back home and back on the couch.

There were a few more smiles tonight...

a giggle even.

Thinking we might be on the upswing.

Go away nasty virus.

The Paper Mama