Glutton for Punishment
I’m really just piling it on deep, this week.
We had a houseguest all week. A very nice, low-key friend, but an extra soul in the house nonetheless.
I had a nasty head cold.
A friend needed someone to watch her kids for most of the day, Wednesday. They’re friends of ours, and we go to the same music class on Wednesday morning, so I happily volunteered. At just before 7AM, I welcomed another pair of 2.5-year-old twins into my house. I fed all four of them breakfast, took them all to music class, and then took them all to Starbucks (because it was cleaning-ladies day and I had to keep them out of the house). I fed them all lunch, and miraculously got them to all take a nap at the same time. And then wanted to fall down, dead. They were all well-behaved and, despite my van resembling a clown car, the day went well. But holy crap was that exhausting.
Thursday, we went to Trader Joe’s and I decided to let the kids push their own carts. Daniel tipped his over five times, splitting his lip and prompting the nice manager to ask if I wanted a bag of peas for his face. Instead, we got balloons. Which they spent the rest of the day fighting over.
Friday, I took the kids (by myself) to their first dentist appointment. As expected, Daniel was super outgoing and cooperative, if a little wriggly. I had made the appointment out of a concern for Daniel’s bite (turns out his front teeth simply do not come together when he bites down). Dentist says it’s a result of him chewing on his blanket, and will resolve itself when we get rid of the habit, which she didn’t seem to think was of immediate importance.
Rebecca talked a big game about it when we were at home. Got to the office and she didn’t want to leave the lobby. Come to her turn in the chair and she had a complete freak-out. At least when she’s crying, her mouth is open. So as long as I held her forehead in the right direction, the super-kind hygienist was able to do a quick teeth-cleaning. It was great.
But, you know, I’m really not quite exhausted enough.
Tomorrow morning, M is going to leave the house as early as he can, and take Daniel to the museum. Because Becca and I are having potty-training boot camp this weekend. That’s right. Cold turkey. Goodbye diapers. We’ve got the undies, the potty seat, and the M&Ms. Wish me luck.
And if you don’t hear from me by Monday night, send a St. Bernard with a barrel of whiskey or something. I’ll be the one passed out in the corner.
Tags: dentist, potty training
January 30th, 2010 at 9:11 am
Good luck with the boot camp … it totally worked for me to split them up and do one at a time … I just did this over Thanksgiving weekend. Regretfully, my son is still holding out … but … yippeee .. daughter is diaper free.
Have a good weekend.
Merri Ann´s last blog ..Why I’ll never be "Mother Of The Year"
January 30th, 2010 at 9:52 am
gl liz – i’m going to try over feb vacation. so i’ll be eager to read your post! btw, where is your trader joes? i love those little carts and graham would be in heaven!
January 30th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
My goodness! What a week! Can’t wait to hear how the potty training goes.
reanbean´s last blog ..A Healthier Me: Goal Assessment
January 30th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
I watched one 2yo child for a friend of mine the other day and between my own 2yo and her little one, I was completely stressed out. Clearly my daughter is destined to be an only child.
Good luck with the potty training. We’re on the brink of it around here, too. I just want to fast forward to done with it. Sigh.
Carabee´s last blog ..iLove
January 30th, 2010 at 5:37 pm
oh. my. goodness.
January 30th, 2010 at 10:02 pm
Oh my gosh. As tired as I am with two 2 1/2 year olds and a newborn, reading about your week just made me more tired. Give yourself a major pat on the back and a big glass of wine. You might need it during potty boot camp! I’m not brave enough for that yet!
Shelley´s last blog ..6 weeks old
February 1st, 2010 at 12:35 am
I feel like I am reading about my life and just had to laugh. Took my two 2 1/2 year olds to Sesame Live this week and the dentist this week. Also tried the grocery carts for the first time . . . daughter did great, son lost the cart option 5 minutes into the experience. You have inspired me to give the potty boot camp a go . . . but I am probably just too tired and it would interfere with my sewing time. Thanks for the laugh and knowing others are living this life. When will it get easy again like when they were infants?
February 1st, 2010 at 8:01 am
I saw your tweet about potty training and thought I should mention that “I feel your pain”. Mine is not so much in the practice of it yet but the dread of having to do it. The boys are going to be 3 in April and today starts my 2nd official attempt. I don’t think they were ready when I tried a few months ago. Good luck. May all the potty gods smile upon us!
becky @ our sweet peas´s last blog ..What a week
February 1st, 2010 at 3:09 pm
where-are-you-ooooo? I don’t have a St. Bernard. *wringing hands* I hope you survive. Eventually the boys will have to come home. I remember the days. I hope they don’t come again too quickly for me. And I hope they’re done fairly quickly for you.
JourneyBeyondSurvival´s last blog ..STRONGER
February 7th, 2010 at 11:43 pm
I’m so jealous you got a kid in the dentist chair! I had to get in the chair and have Emilia lay on top of me. Of course, I had Mateo with too, so there I was laying in a dentist chair with a crying baby and squirming toddler on top of me. And the dentist didn’t even have enough toddler skills to get a good look at her teeth, let alone put anything in her mouth. We’re going to a pediatric dentist next time and crossing our fingers. And I’m leaving child #2 at home.
Tara´s last blog ..Visit to Spain in Photos
February 9th, 2010 at 6:43 pm
Ooooh, dentist appt! I need to make one for Jack. Tell me, do the chairs come with straps to tie down a thrashing child?
Beverly´s last blog ..Cute, even if I do say so myself