Mom2Bella

One of her newest hobbies is telling stories that are not true, never happened, or that she wishes happened or will happen.

Take for instance the other day, while I was at work and Bella was home with Daddy. Apparently he was fixing her lunch and asked if she wanted peas or corn with it. Her response was, "My Mommy says I can't have any veggies"

Or later that afternoon, when I got home and was changing her out of her clothes (that didn't match)... "My Daddy took me to the gym today" to which I said, "Really??!!" (knowing that they couldn't possibly have gotten farther than the end of the driveway in the Jeep which has since been repaired) and she responded, "Yeah...we went inside, and saw all the people and then I met all the people. Then he bought me an ice cream."

How does she come up with this stuff?

Isabella will be 3 in a month... and still wants to use potty training as a control issue. I know part of this is MY fault for trying to start too early... but now I KNOW she knows when she has to go, but likes to have the control of saying no when we tell her it's time to go potty. If you ask, she will ALWAYS say no. If you encourage her (sometimes bribing with stickers and treats works) she might go along with it. But it's not consistent, and I blame her daycare 100%. It's a Bright Horizons center on the grounds where we work, and their philosophy is not to push it. AT ALL. We've tried sticker charts at home, and had great success. We tried it at school, and it worked - for a week. ONE of her teachers is very encouraging, but now she's at the point where she flat out refuses to use the potty at daycare. EVER. So at home, we're back to the drawing board again.

When I know we're going to be home, like on a long weekend, I'll try panties and if she wets, we change her and start over. If it's warm enough, we'll let her go bare-bum, which seems to work very well. She'll pee in her pants but not if she's naked. She come up to me with her legs pressed tightly together and tell me she's got to go potty. SO we go. But this isn't practical all the time, and even if we do it for 2 days straight she's back to peeing in her pants when we stop.

We've tried everything. I'm so frustrated, because I know she knows. It has nothing to do with a lack of urinary control - it's 100% mind control. Scolding her only embarasses her and doesn't help. Acting like it's no big deal doesn't help, either. She'll just use her panties or pullup. WHAT GIVES???!!!!!

I kid you not, my daughter is wearing dirty pajamas to daycare today. Question is - is this my fault or my clueless husband's? Today was his day to get her up and ready and bring her to daycare, and I came into work early. When he got here, I emailed him to see how the morning went. He said she slept late, until about 8:50, but would hve been later if he'd let her sleep. (Why can't she sleep that late for me...EVER??!!) and that he got her changed, and put the clothes on her that I had laid out on her bureau.

I did not leave any clothes out for her today.

Turns out the clothes he saw were actually DIRTY PAJAMAS that she had worn the previous two nights, to bed. She's a "sweater" at night so I'm sure they were stinky.

Here's the second catch: she tried to TELL HIM (mind you, she is almost 3). He thought she was joking with him. I can just imagine... "Daddy! Those are my PAJAMAS, Silly!!!!" So - do I blame myself for #1 not putting dirty clothing into the hamper that is 10 feet away in the bathroom... #2 not laying clothes out for her like I usually do. OR do I blame him for #1 not recognizing the top says Old Navy and has a big gold snowflake on it (might have been ok to wear in December...) and #2 for not listening to his intelligent not-quite-3-year old daughter. ??

I will let you decide. I have no clue. All I can say is - thank GOD I don't have to bring her anywhere this afternoon.

There's a new little baby at our house - an 8 week old ball of Himalayan fluff. She is full of spirit and for some strange reason has really taken to Murphy. Now just imagine a 110 pound dog, of St Bernard and Golden Retriever parents...and this fluffy little adorable kitten, playing together, the kit not afraid for one moment of this beast 200x her size... it's incredible to watch, and quite funny. We have to sternly remind Murphy sometimes that he cannot simply pounce on her, or he'd break her in two. He will then lay down on his belly and nudge her body with his nose. Little Reilly Panchita is smaller than Murphy's head.

So I get an email from the nurse at daycare this morning...with "Isabella" in the subject line. Now, normally this is the first sign that she has puked all over the playdough or has a fever of like 700 degrees and we have to pick her up to go home. However, today was extra special. I will paste it for your reading pleasure here:


She is fine...but I wanted to relate a cute thing that happened.
She was going into the bathroom..no one was near her and she pinched the end of her thumb in the door...it was iced. After she was back to eating her lunch Jennifer asked her if it felt better...she said "No, it will feel better after I get home and mommy kisses it." HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
Elizabeth (Betsey) Dauzier
Great Expectations V Nurse

NOW - if that doesn't bring you to tears, I don't know what will! I just love being her Mommy!