Don't Click This

http://grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com/2009/11/handmade-dress-patterns-guest-giveaway.html

You should probably know I really don't want you to go enter this giveaway over at Grosgrain. I really, really don't. I want to win it all for myself, so maybe go peek, but don't enter.

Don't lie to me, I know you're entering. Jerks.

I've been up to things

Yes, indeed, I have been up to things. They are even Almost Productive Things. No, no, not cleaning my house. What are you, crazy? I've been maintaining a steady level of mediocrity in my house. Good enough that it's hygienic, bad enough that it would be embarrassing if a friend popped over, except friends did pop over and I was too busy shiffling around from sewing machine to serger and back again from under a pile of fabric scraps to be embarrassed.

So I created this lovely from an Ottobre pattern. It is, of course, too big. Also, the perfect front pleats got a bit skewed when I sewed it. So then I realized I had enough fabric left to piece together another slightly smaller skirt. Which is amazing because I started off with a woman's calf-length skirt, here. The new skirt is, of course, a bit too small. Or at least it's a bit tight. I was frustrated at the time though so I'll go back and press and reassess. The pleats on the second skirt are perfect though. I didn't photograph the second skirt.

I also took a pair of women's black linen pants and drafted up a pattern for elastic waist linen pants for Nicole. They look nice but I'm going to make another pair a little bigger because the purpose was to wind up with pants she could take off and put on easily herself, and these are a little too snug for that. You like how two year olds make fantastic models? I even gave her a candy to unwrap and figured that would have her standing still. No, no it did not.
No, I haven't been beating her. She took a trip into the bathroom and came out like this, a la mascara. I couldn't even get mad because I was too busy trying not to laugh my butt off when she skulked out of the bathroom looking fierce, narrowed her eyes at me mischievously, and went "ROAAAAAAARRRRR!" At least if she had declared herself pretty as per norm I could have scolded. But today she was a monster, which gave me the giggles.

I also spent hours putting together a christmas dress for nicole in black velvet with red accents, but then it was too small and I ate chocolate and now it's on the table waiting to be salvaged into a skirt. Daddy picked out the cutest little black sunday boots for her, suede with fur and pompoms and the like. I think it's cute how strong an opinion and loose a wallet her daddy has when it comes to her winter sunday gear. Still looking for the perfect winter coat, may need to make it. Will be red, or black faux-fur with animal-print accents.

Rawk On

Went to a costume party last night. I was a rocker. Ahaha. So here's a picture of me kissing my love goodbye... (this also happens to be what my butt is made of. mmm, coffeemate.)here's a horrible picture that my hubby took of me, but its the only full-body shot I have. lol. I am a bit embarassed to admit that the only thing I bought for this costume was the spray for the red 'tips' for my rocker-hair. lol. No, I have never worn those pleather pants before. I bought them for less than a dollar on ebay and I was like SWEET. Because you never know when you could use some pleather pants.

And this is me getting my angry-rocker-face on. Yup. Over the course of the evening I learned that I cannot stay in charactor and an angry-rocker I am not. Shucks. lol. Too much fun. I love playing dress-up.

and today I cried

Today this little baby, this little girl...

...today she went on an outing in big-girl panties and pants, and she stayed dry the whole time.

and she was so full of confidence in her newfound big-girl-ness that she suddenly started playing peek-a-boo and starting up conversations with random strangers, whereas for the last few months she has been shy even with her (indirect) family

Today she did not need help with the potty, or with her seatbelt, or with much of anything under three feet, for that matter. (four with a stool)

And I have encouraged and treasured and pushed and encouraged again for this tiny thing to grow and flourish. And today I cried as it struck me how clearly my baby is not a baby.

Oh, Lord, I have been trying so hard to treasure every moment, but please please help me to stop being such a big brat when I don't. Who cares if there are crumbs on the counter, tomorrow I will sit and play ponies.

Please help Chris and I to hold on to this time when we are everything to her, and help us to create the foundation of love and trust that will get us through the years when she'll be pretty sure we're quite the opposite.

That Girl...

A few days ago, I was living on the bathroom floor, doing everything to keep my daughter on the toilet. She has been ready (physically) for potty training for a long time. She only 'goes' a few times a day... she can hold it for hours if she wants to (which she proved time and again during previous potty-training attempts by holding it in until exactly when my back was turned and she was off the potty)

It took large doses of patience and lots of conversations about everyone who goes pee on the potty. Mommy goes pee on the potty. Papa does, too. So does Grandma, and Grandpa, and her aunties and uncles. So does x and x and x, many of her little friends.

A few days ago, she peed on the toilet for the first time. I nearly passed out. She got rewards, praises, song and dance, lets phone Papa at work and tell him. The whole kit and kaboodle.

She still didn't really WANT to be potty trained. Very inconvenient, you know. Diapers are much simpler. However, I stuck to it and didn't give up, even when I wanted to flush MYSELF down the toilet, and/or just diaper her forever. I told her firmly and simply, no more diapers. Pee all over yourself if you must, but diapers are for bedtime.

Yesterday I had to run errands, so I shall confess, I gave up for the day and used pull-ups. She used nothing but pull-ups all day, but I noticed when she peed, she would get an alarmed face and do the pee-dance-pose. Didn't want to potty, though.

Today, however. Today. Today I let her run around in a shirt and that's it, with the potty in the livingroom. And you know what? You know what this kid did? The same thing she always does, the monkey. We can't teach her a darned thing, she's the smartest little widget, but she has to do it HERSELF. So. Let her run around half-nekkid, and she potty trained herself.

Not a single accident. Not a one. She's peed on the toilet less times than I can count on one hand before today. But today, perfection. Sometimes we were in the room. Sometimes we were not. One time she didn't remember where the potty was and ran to me in alarm to ask. But every time, she ran to the potty, did her thing, then hollered for the attention that such a magnificent act deserves. (Including the need to phone Papa at work to inform him every time, and receive her due praise from him as well.)

That girl. She bowls me over, every time.

No doubt we will have troubles and we will fall back yet. But for today, a perfect score. (Aside from pooping, which is another creature all together, and will be dealt with in the future. However, no magical mid-air yoga poopies, today.)

Sarah's Story

Wow. I was totally blown away by Sarah's Story this morning (found via backreading a bit on Adding Zest To Your Nest) and just had to pass it on. A short story about a house built on sand, a marriage crumbling, an affair, and then forgiveness and grace. Powerful. More so because it strikes close to home, not my own but close by. Warning: this story will likely bring you to tears. And watch the video after you read the story.

And How Was Your Day?

Why yes, that is a poopie. Why, no, I haven't the foggiest idea was sort of magical yoga-move-bowel-movement was involved. All I know is when I walked into the room she was standing on the little pink chair you can see there, so this was a magical mid-air yoga-poopie.

Magical-mid-air-yoga-poopie. Not a phrase I ever thought I'd use.

This was the highlight of a long day of bathing in pee and frustration and faux-cheerfulness. But, a victory... she took a big pee on the toilet! THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. This is the first time in all the times I've tried the potty training thing that she's actually gone pee on the toilet. We struggled with the hours of Amazing-Bladder-Control, Please-Use-It-For-Good-And-Not-Evil; that was expected. But finally, after a firm talking-to where I told her NO more diapers, we are wearing panties now and NOT diapers, WE GO PEE ON THE TOILET. Next time I spotted her doing the pee-dance, she actually peed on the toilet instead of holding it until I gave up and then peeing on the floor! VICTORY DANCE!

And then after that she peed in my cutting mat and pooped the magical mid-air-yoga-poopie. But still. PROGRESS!

I know I swore I wouldn't touch pullups but a friend gave me a big bag full from her son, and they have the images that dissapear when the kid pees, so then since I was out of panties anyways, I decided to chat her up about these 'panties' and how the picture would go away if she peed. Then I showed her the one she had peed in (I ran out to get rewards, so on went the pullups while the friend watched her) to show her that the picture was gone. She seems very concerned about the picture going away and she kept checking to make sure it was still there (and then fell asleep on my lap so we'll see what tomorrow holds) so we'll see how that goes.

POTTY TRAINING IS NOT MY FAVOURITE. Like, for serious, when this is a distant memory I will go back to wishing/hoping/praying that Chris and I can have more kids. But as long as I'm actively potty training? I'm considering getting myself spayed. JUST IN CASE. Because HOLY MONKEY BARS, BATMAN. I DO NOT LIKE.

This is why I don't have pets. I don't DO housetraining.