Time is ticking away

So in my experience having one two year old and moving into a two level apartment town home with plenty of closets, takes two weeks to get organized to my standard. However, being pregnant, having a one year old and four year old while moving into a three level (ugh) town home with very little closet space, takes five weeks to get organized to my standard. Tomorrow is the five week mark :D
I can't believe how quickly the weeks are passing. I'm blown away. Between putting my energy and focus into my girls, managing our home (including grocery shopping and food prep which are huge time tasks), doctors appointments (including chiropractor, because pregnancy rocks my lower back), Karalines' swim lessons; gymnastics and the daily routine of nap time/rest time, along with mommy/Karaline preschool hour, and meeting up with friends (I still haven't seen everyone I know in this area), all starting with my mommy Pilates and prayer time at 5:45 (because if I wait til after 6am I can't creak down the stairs w/o waking the girls up), the days pass into weeks so quickly I'm stunned. Ok, I said all that to lead up to the fact that somehow Audrey has already been in training panties for 3 weeks. She's doing great at home, but I haven't attempted it outside the home (she will at least use public potties). She still doesn't always tell me she has to potty at home, mostly I just put her on the potty often enough that she doesn't have to. Although there are times I'm to busy and she ends up wet, but more often than not she's dry. Karaline has now learned Audrey's I've gotta poop grunt which is helpful. Oh the other day Karaline says "mommy Audrey's said uh but I have to poop super bad" then she runs to the potty and hops on. Audrey chases after her then stands by the potty rocking her hips and signing please. They are often on the same schedule, which also helps. I'm glad that I started this so young with Audrey because it's helped me to continually be aware of my need to focus on her and teach her things, but from a potty training stand point I still think that 16 months (when I started with Karaline) is the best potty training age. Although, because of our potty breaks Audrey knows a lot of her body parts and can answer yes and no to my questions. We spend potty time showing her lots of things. Karaline has also gotten very in tune with teaching Audrey and reading Audrey's needs. I'm sure there would be other ways to make a point of this type of investment, but potty parties have been our way. So, the task is still a work in progress, but we are at least making progress. In the meantime I'm moving on from move in organizing to gonna have a baby in about six weeks prepping mode. Here's to the adventures of mommy hood.

Keep on keeping on

Is this square one? Maybe....right before our move Audrey was doing great telling me when she needed to go potty. It was more of a run to mommy grunt three times then I put her on the potty and there you have it. Now three weeks later we've moved, Kevin's started working super long hours and Audrey hardly uses the potty. However, I think this is not square one because two steps back don't eliminate the previous steps forward. So, I'm still morning my inability to use cloth with Audrey and I really wish I could use cloth when our baby boy comes. Although, I have come to understand that (due to research, mommy conversations and my own experience) purchasing a HE washing machine was the end all of my cloth diapering.

So now where to go from here? I could do the naked baby route, I could put her in panties or I could keep diapering and putting her on the potty. I'm gonna start with panties, can't hurt to try. Although I was surprised to read that some people think your kid will have issues later in life if you potty train to early. I personally doubt that, but figure you're gonna run into opinions on everything so, to each their own. Speaking of to each their own, I read a blog the other day where a mon was talking about life as a stay at home mom. She was saying you're going to have chaos, stress and disorganized living so get used to it and get over it. Man, If my house is chaotic, disorganized, or my life isn't structured I can't relax. My big thing right now is trying to figure out the best way to invest in Karaline individually (daily), continue potty time in a relaxed manor, re-establish a yoga/Pilates routine, take walks with my girls nearly daily, maintain a clean well organized home, continue to prepare and plan healthy tasty meals, including quality lunches for Kevin and bring Karaline to her weekly gymnastics and swimming all without taking a nap (nap is something I long for daily and get a few times a year). These things can be done and done well, but I have to remember my key, the key is early to bed early to rise so that I can start my day off alone with God. God created me for this and I won't make agreement with "ah it can't be done well so just relax". Ok having said all that let me also say, if and when these things aren't all in line it is hard for me to leave my home for a play date or something social. So, I do know that a certain level of balance must be achieved, I do need to allow myself a little slack. I'll get there again, I had a balance in Pennsylvania, I will find it again in Virginia. You know there were two days last week that ended with me being so tired my body hurt, one day that ended with me in tears simply because I was so tired, one day I wished for a reset button on my day and actually used the tv sitter for an hour of escape ( i seriously limit and dislike tv) and all but one day I wondered how my energy would last through bed time, but at the end of the week I know that my girls are healthy, happy and growing so life is well lived. I'm excited about this phase of mommy-hood. I can't wait to tell you more of the adventures this panty party will hold, but for now I have a few organization projects to take on. Oh yeah I got a nap today for the first time in a long time, I feel almost normal :)