You'll love the view

I sent a message to a friend this morning, and then thought perhaps she wasn’t the only one that needed it.  I hope she doesn’t mind me passing it along to a couple thousand other friends as well, because we’re all in the middle of something, and each of you could probably use a bit of encouragement for something.  I shared this with some other people recently, because they were upset that someone had said their fight was a "harder fight" than the one these people were going through:

                                         

You'll get through this. You will. The way I see it, whatever you are going through RIGHT NOW is the biggest battle you've ever dealt with…or anyone has. Your battle RIGHT NOW is huge. But in a little while, you'll be past this (at least for a bit) and it won't feel quite as huge...and your NEXT thing will be the biggest battle ever. We're still in the middle of the "battle" with Bugsy, but since we're kind of in a lull, I don't think about it much. But when Stinky broke his leg? That was the hardest thing I've dealt with as a mommy...because I was in it RIGHT THEN. When I look at them side by side, obviously the 6 surgeries Bugsy’s has had, particularly the three 12+ hour skull surgeries, are WAY bigger than a broken leg.  But in the thick of it?  THIS battle is the hardest.

I don't know if that's helpful. Maybe not. But I guess I just mostly want to say hang in there, because in a year...2 years...10 years...you'll likely look back and remember that this was the hardest thing you'd ever dealt with to that point...but you'll have come out a stronger, better, fiercer mama because of it, and you'll be at a point where you'll be able to see where God's hand was all along. Your perspective will have changed, and while you will probably never be "grateful" for this journey, you'll be able to see some beauty in what it's done in your life.

I'm praying for you. It's HARD to be "that mom." Super hard. There are so very many emotions EVERY minute of EVERY day. There are some things you just have to learn to accept, and that is terrifying. But you'll make it out. You'll get to the other side. And you'll love the view from there.

It's Potty Time!!

A hundred million years ago, when I was a little girl, my parents’ good friends also had a little girl.  Her name was Rachel and she was as precious of a friend to me as her parents were to mine.  I remember cookouts and bonfires and Toss-Across.  I remember countless hours of fun, often way too late into the evening.  I remember listening to Rachel’s daddy play his keyboard.  And I remember that Rachel couldn’t hear me.   Rachel’s parents became huge advocates for the deaf community, founding an amazing organization called Silent Blessings and being a blessing to more people than they will ever know!

During our growing up years I had my first experience with sign language as a form of communication and it has always fascinated me.  Perhaps it’s because I am a lover of the written and spoken word.  Maybe it’s because I have just always been a talker.  Perhaps it was really preparation for the job I would have raising my boys one day.   Whatever its purpose or motivation, I cannot begin to describe my gratefulness for organizations that promote communication in those that can’t quite find the words themselves!

One such organization is Two Little Hands Productions.  You may have heard of Signing Time.  It is a really neat set of videos and resources that incorporate sign and the spoken word.  I love that the videos give a voice to children who don’t have words, and at the same time open the ears of those with words to “hear” their non-speaking (and often non-hearing) counterparts!  My kids have always loved Signing Time videos.  I love the catchy tunes as well, and I love being able to pick up some simple sign myself!

Two Little Hands has another program as well: Potty Time!   Potty Time is an excellent video for use during potty training! 

Now, I know that a lot of you are EC (elimination communication) believers.  Guess what!  Potty Time is PERFECT for you!  Before your little one can talk, he will be able to sign to you that he needs to go!  You’ll still have to watch his body language, of course, but pretty soon he’ll have signs, and maybe even before he can talk he’ll be letting you know when he needs to go!

I know, too, that some of you are “go with the flow-ers.”   You may have tried potty training and it wasn’t successful, or you just follow your little one’s lead from the beginning.   She doesn’t seem interested yet, so  you’re not pushing it.  She’ll be ready when she’s ready.

Some of you, like me, have toddlers that walk and talk (and climb everything) and sometimes tell you they’ve pottied in their diapers.  You’re desperate to be rid of the diapers (even the adorable cloth ones) and are trying to get into the potty training routine.

No matter what your feelings on the potty training process, Potty Time is the perfect addition to your “line-up!”  Before he can talk, Potty Time will teach him the signs.  If she’s not interested yet, Potty Time will help her get excited about it.  If he’s already got the words and the “moves” for pottying, Potty Time will re-enforce the Potty process!

At my house, not only does 28 month old Stinky love the Potty Time video and get into the dancing and signing, but his (almost) 5 year old brother adores the videos, too!  In fact, Bugsy often says things like, “I need to listen to my body!” before running to the potty!

If you haven’t heard of Potty Time yet, you should look into it.  You’ll be impressed by the video and your kids will have lots of fun singing and signing along!  Potty Time is very worth the price!

I was provided this product at no cost in order to facilitate a review.  I was not compensated in any other way.  All opinions are 100% my own.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

...speaking of potty training... (Potette Review and Giveaway)

If you've ever potty trained a toddler, you know that they're unpredictable.  Sometimes they refuse to use the potty for days, and then all of a sudden they have to go RIGHT. NOW.  Sometimes when they have to go, you're at home.  Sometimes you're at the grocery store.  Sometimes you're driving down the road in the middle of nowhere with no bathrooms for miles!

Kalencom has a great solution for the "I gotta go!" emergency.  I'd like to introduce you to the 2 in 1 Potette Plus, a portable trainer and potty seat, and its accessory, the disposable portable potty liner!

The Potette Plus is a really neat little folding potty seat.  It comes with a plastic carrying bag to make it portable!  The legs of the potty seat fold up into the seat, making it just a could inches high.  It can easily be thrown into the back seat of your car, into the diaper bag, even into a large purse!  The legs also fold out, so the Potette Plus can be used on top of a regular toilet, either at home or in a public restroom!

When we first received the Potette Plus, Stinky was super excited to sit on it.  What a fun new toy, and all for him!  Then, after a couple weeks, he accidentally peed in a different potty chair 3 times.  (Yes, I said accidentally.  It scared him!  He cried.)  He's been a little afraid to even try the potty for the last week or so, until yesterday, when he suddenly took an interest again, but to the big potty.

 While he was brushing his teeth on the toilet (doesn't everyone?) Bugsy had to go.  NOW.  You see, it's not just when they're potty training that they have to go immediately, but well into their preschool years.  So when Bugs had to go NOW, I pulled out the handy dandy Potette Plus!  (Ah, for another bathroom...)  The Potette Plus worked perfectly!  Bugsy's 4, so he doesn't have those super short toddler legs anymore, and it was a little harder for him to actually sit on the Potette Plus, but it worked great in a pinch!  Bugsy was a little unsure about using a baby potty, until I told him I wanted to take a picture of his pee.

The disposable potty liners have an absorbent padding in the bottom to catch the pee.  This would be great for traveling, as you wouldn't have to worry about finding a place to immediately dispose of the bag of urine! 

Just remove the bag, tie it up, and toss it in the trash can at your destination!  Easy as pie!

There are a couple of things I'd love to see improved with the Potettee Plus.  I'd love to see a higher "splash guard" for little boys.  Bugsy didn't have a problem, but he's been using the potty for quite some time and knows how to make sure his pee goes into the potty.  I anticipate Stinky having a bit of trouble with that at first.

The other thing I'd love to see is reusable potty liners!  I think it'd be GREAT if there were snap in liners that went into a washable bag!  That may not be the most convenient way to do it, but for cloth diapering mamas, it would be a nice improvement.  A PUL lined bag with a snap in liner would be great!

I really like the Potette Plus!  It's great for travel and for an extra potty seat around the house!  I love that it can be used on the floor or on the toilet!  It's really adaptable to your situation.  The Potette Plus is a great asset to our potty training line-up!

Oh, and after Stinky saw his big brother having a "go" on his Potette Plus, he needed off the toilet and onto "mine potty!" right now!

You can purchase your own Potette Plus from Kalencom (or several other fine retailers) for just $16 and liners for $5-$12!  It's a great deal for such a versatile potty!

Interested in winning your own potty seat?  Here's your chance!  Kalencom has offered to give a Potette Plus to one of my lucky readers!  Enter below using the easy Rafflecopter form! 

Getting ready for potty: FluffyRumps review and giveaway!

I'm a perfectionist.

A rule follower.

A list maker.

A planner.

Some of you have other names for people like me.  A lot of them are probably true.  Some probably aren't.  It doesn't really matter.  You've got the picture.

I'm telling you this because, as I said, I'm a planner.  I make lists of rules for myself (I don't write them down) and I insist I follow them.  It's both a blessing and a curse.  I have this little "rule" for myself that says I will potty train each of my children before they turn 2.  This has worked so far...once.  Only Little Lou really potty trained herself, I was just kind of along for the ride.  Bugsy was...different than Little Lou.  If you have been with me from the beginning, you know that Bugsy wasn't fully potty trained a year ago.  In fact, he was 3 1/2 before he was trained!  I'll admit, there were days I felt like a failure in the whole situation.  So, I promised myself that we wouldn't go that route with Stinky.  I decided Stinky would definitely be potty trained by 2!  After all, I'm home with him all. day. long.  It should be easy, right?

Except Stinky will be 21 months old next week.  In case there's any question, 21 months is almost 24 months, and 24 months is TWO!

So, here we are, almost 21 months old, and thinking very seriously about the whole potty training "thing."  (Plus, when this is happening at your house on a regular basis as soon as a diaper is soiled, it's probably about time, right?)

One of the tools I've decided I'll be using to aid in our journey is FluffyRumps fleece longies!  I've been in communication with FluffyRumps for quite some time, and when we agreed I'd review a pair of fleece longies, I was a little concerned.  I've never used "longies" of any sort...other than just plain old long pants.  I honestly wasn't sure how you're supposed to use fleece longies.  So here I was, a fleece longie newbie, trying to review a product and compare it to--what?  My idea of what they should do?  I'm not saying I couldn't do it...it was a new experience and I LOVE it!  (We all have to start somewhere, right?)

Let me tell you about the longies.  They are cute.  VERY cute.

They look SO comfy.  (Trust me...The Hubby and I each want a pair!)  When paired with a fitted diaper, they leave Stinky dry as a bone!  I LOVE that they're breathable and that stinky doesn't break out from urine being left on his body!  They're VERY well made!  You really would almost think they were "manufactured," not handmade.  They're that great!  My ONLY complaint in the structure of FluffyRumps fleece longies is that no matter which way I put them on him, the front is a bit baggy.

So, I got thinking.  If fleece longies kept Stinky dry when he was wearing a fitted diaper, what would happen if he wore them over undies?!?  After all, I've never used pull-ups with the others, and although I really want to try cloth trainers, I'm also a firm believer in moving straight from diapers to underwear.  I wanted to give the FluffyRumps a try as a "training" pant.

Let me tell you, first off, that Stinky will often go to the bathroom after he's soiled his diaper and try to take off his diaper.  It's my "cue" that he needs to be changed.  

I put Stinky in the FluffyRumps fleece longies, and within about 10 minutes he came crying to me, "Nee...elp!  Nee...elp!"  I got up off the chair and followed him to the bathroom, where he tried hard to pull down those longies.  He was poopy AND wet...but his legs were dry and the longies really didn't feel wet inside!  His socks were wet, so I know urine had run down his legs, but I couldn't feel it!  Since his pants still felt dry and I wanted to try another pair of undies, I put them back on.

Fast forward 10 minutes.  Stinky comes crying, "Ah poo.  Ah poo!"  Stinky was wet!  There was a puddle on the floor!  And he NOTICED!  He had climbed down from the chair to come to me AS he was peeing!  I could tell by the trail.  

Friends, I am going to be using longies this winter, so that Stinky's legs stay warm and my floors stay dry(er)!  FluffyRumps is going to help!

Do you love longies?  Shorties?  Soakers?  Teething necklaces?  Whatever it is, FluffyRumps probably has it!  Shipping is always free at FluffyRumps, and the prices are fantastic!

 

 
AND one of you gets to try out one of their items for free!  Hooray!  FluffyRumps has agreed to give away one item from her albums!  Winner gets to choose the prize, but it can't be trainers, skirties, or applique work...unless you're willing to pay a little to get one of those things.  Then she's open to it if you are!

This contest is open to US and Canada, and will end December 1, 2011 at 11:59pm EST.

I was given this item at no cost in order to facilitate a review.  I was not compensated in any other way.  All opinions are my own.