Birth story

So several months ago Kevin's dad said he wanted to go to the penn state Ohio state game in state college. This game fell on October 27th my 38 week gestation date. Now pregnancy is technically 40 weeks, but any time past 37 weeks you're supposed to be prepared for a baby right. So, to make a long prefix to a story a little shorter I didn't want Kevin to leave town, then found out if he didn't he would be pretty much just as unavailable to me on the 28th due to work. So I encouraged the fun option. Then an hour and a half into the game with Kevin out of reach and 5+ hours away my water broke. I was quite nervous, but I put the kids to bed, prepared my help and went to bed to pray for no labor. Labor didn't come..,phew and Kevin got home at 11 am Oct 28th with still no labor. Kevin's mom got into town at 3pm....still no labor. So, we headed to the hospital. At 4:30pm they started my pitocen drip and we began our slow acceleration into labor. I was dancing next to the bed doing squats anything to get this party started and at 6pm the party turned to breathe, relax and progress. My nurse was amazing, she had 9 children of her own all delivered w/o epidural and she was so helpful. She continually gave me new positions to help progress my labor and even taught Kevin proper counter pressure. It was an amazing difference with the counter pressure it almost completely relieved the discomfort. Also thanks to some hypno birthing techniques the "pain" of the contractions really did just feel like intense pressure and I was able to stay in a much more relaxed state physically and mentally. Another thing that made this time around easier was that I knew how to tell I was in transition so instead of the signs bringing fear they brought hope. Then my neighbor stopped by to bring dinner expecting that we would be in the beginning stages of the game, but instead she walked in right as I said I was having some involuntary pushing followed by me screaming "I feel like I have to take the biggest shit if my life!" So, Juli held my right hand; I was on my left side as Ethan crowned and that's when my serenity left and I began pushing while screaming. Then they told me if I wanted to pull him out to lay on my back so I rolled to my back and pushed/pulled him out onto my stomach (I'm pretty sure he was delivered in three contractions) Ethan Wiley was born at 7:28 pm. I'm much more wounded than I was with Audrey, but much less than I was with Karaline. Ethan is nursing well and we are all adjusting well to our new life. Also big bonus Audrey's still 98% potty trained :D and I'm still in shock I'm not pregnant.

Party on

I'm two weeks and two days from my due date. This final trimester of pregnancy has left me super tired, my body is now at the point of continual discomfort, I'm super excited to meet this little man despite the challenge the new born phase will be......but, I am two weeks into a potty trained Audrey and so I would like a little more time to ensure it sticks before I bring a baby into the mix. Oh well, whatever will be will be. Bottom line I'm happy to report that except for an accident or two when we can't get to the potty on time all waking hours potty happens on the potty. Audrey even tells me when we're shopping or at friends houses :D.. Although the last time I left her with Kevin she peed on him twice, so who knows what me in the hospital for two days post delivery will bring. Only time will tell. On a side note before I go, my right leg was seriously hurting today, no clue why. However, I could only laugh at myself limping while nine months pregnant and Waddling with a one year old and four year old in tow just to get a few veggies in the grocery store. It ended up taking me nearly 40 min. These are the little adventures that make life more entertaining. Oh yeah and I almost laid out my comfy pants to wear again tomorrow and then remembered that when I couldn't waddle/limp to the bathroom fast enough one time Audrey peed on me a little. Ok enough randomness from me, I have a nice comfy bed waiting for me.

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 :)

Sike

Ok so no plunge taken. I ordered everything I need: travel potty seat, gerber training panties and car seat piddle pads. Then the day the final item came in the mail we left on a last minute trip to see my family, so I never went diaper free. However, the travel potty seat ensured for the first time since we started potty use that a trip didn't eliminate potty progress so far. So, Audrey is still using the potty regularly, just using her disposable diaper too. So the new plan was to go diaper free when we got home, but we came home to orders to move in about a month so now I don't know. We are also going to be spending a week at the beach in between now and when we move so I'm thinking of just treading where we are and progressing once we have moved. In the meantime, we're living the great life. I wish this summer could last a year.

I'm taking the plunge!

Here goes nothing, I'm stocking up on potty Patty training panties and plunging into a diaper limited world (I'll certainly still diaper at night).
      The beginning of another yeast rash is my final motivator. How will this go? I don't quite yet know. We may have to try for a month or a year, but we will eventually succeeded. Bottom line disposable diapers make me less motivated to keep up with potty time and cloth diapering is not functioning perfectly like it did with Karaline, so training panties are my option of choice for now.
    I have to tell you a few fun stories:
Kevin has now learned to recognize the poop face, today it saved him from a major bath time clean up. Great job super daddy!
Last weekend at Audrey's first birthday party at a lake I was holding her naked on my hip well I prepped her change of clothes when I saw what looked like a possible poop face and at that second realized she was beginning to poop on me. Luckily I was able to hold her out and remain mostly clean, but what a laugh. Apparently she's not quite at the point to boldly inform me of her poop intention every time. Oh another thing, if you've trained your one year old to go pee when you say "ok go pee pee" don't use that same line on a two year old you're watching for a friend while holding your one year, who is only wearing a swim diaper (they don't hold pee) on your hip. Yep that's right in the last week I've been pooped on, peed on, and even used the underside of my dress to wipe my daughters mouth. I am all mom and Kevin can still find my appeal, even in the moments when I feel like it's unimaginable.
   Well, I'm going to go enjoy a productive night to myself as one happy wife and mama.

Three's a party, so baby lets potty in a hurry

I just have to say I am so excited right now. Summer has come to Pennsylvania, I'm four days into cloth diapering again with no rash issues and Audrey's potty party is still going well. We're eating a lot more berries now that she's one and the season allows, so that has made for a few diaper messes but still most potty happens on the potty. I would venture to say if I were more diligent to make potty breaks consistent I believe I could be a diaper free baby mama. However,  I have always said that if potty time is a stress its not worth it so I'm not stressing. I do have to say that these potty time chronicles will continue long after Audrey's potty story is a thing of the past because I'm currently incubating baby number three. I am due November 10th and unless the ultrasound tech was wrong we're going to have a boy. We're very excited! I must admit I'm slightly nervous about the closeness in age (17 months) but mostly about having a boy. Although any nervousness Kevin may have had about the closeness in age went out the window when he read BOY!
So I'm on cloud nine, this summer is going to be great, my girls are amazing little gifts and I love being their mother and we get to have another little blessing.

I'm enjoying project baby lets potty and as my brother says we're filling up the mini van. Cheers buddy! (Oh wine sounds nice right now)