Back to the grind

I'm finally back at work after a 10 day break/vacation. I have lots to share but also lots of work to get caught up on.

Here's the reader's digest version:

Stef is about 85% potty trained now. She was doing really really well, but then went on strike Thursday and Friday. Back on track now.

We had a great time visiting the Philly Zoo. And Stef and I had a fabulous week together!

Our neighborhood yard sale is this Saturday. I'm anxious to clean the spaces being taken up by all the baby stuff and collect some cash for it all, but it's bitter sweet. I don't really want to be getting rid of any of these things. Sigh.

More later in the week as time permits (go figure! they actually expect me to do some WORK in exchange for use of their high speed interenet connection!)

Problem solved

My 18 yr old cousin is coming to watch Stef tomorrow. Whew!

2 year checkup

Last night was Stef's 2 yr checkup. She got to stand on the "big girl scale" and use the "big girl heighth measuring thingy". She was not impressed. But then again, she refused her nap but fell asleep in the car on the way to the doctor, which always makes for a very grumpy Stef.

She weighs 28 lbs and is 33" (which will make her 5'6" fully grown if that theory holds true). She's developing wonderfully, normal in all aspects. The development sheet they gave us says she should be saying I, ME, and YOU, which she doesn't, but it'll come in time. She should have at least 50 clear words in her vocabulary. She has well over 50 words I'm sure, but I didn't actually sit and count them. We're supposed to go off the whole milk and toddler toothpaste now. The doc was impressed with her progress in potty training. Next week is my vacation week to do intensive potty training with her.

My mother-in-law was very frustrated with Stef's potty training yesterday. She kept refusing to keep her pull ups on. Everytime she tried to put pants on the child, she'd run screaming "potty potty". Put her on the potty and nothing. Later she pee'd on the carpet, pee'd on the floor, and pooped on the floor (right next to the potty!!) Agh! I think Stef was just full of herself yesterday. My little Miss Independence.

Crap Crap Crap! Now my mom just called. She's sick and won't be able to watch Stef tomorrow. I can't take off work because my niece is supposed to career shadow me tomorrow, plus I have all next week off. My sister is busy, Wendy can't take off, Von is working. The last hope I can think of is Megan. I left her a voice mail. I know she's working at a Wendy's but don't know her schedule. I hope she calls me back really soon! I have one other thought but I don't think Steve would be comfortable with it. We shall see.

Funny little girl

Stef was with me in the bathroom yesterday morning as I was getting ready for work. She grabbed me and pushed to make me turn around. She was saying "Tail? Tail?" She's looking for my tail!!! I tried to explain to her that people don't have tails. Grandma says she's been looking at all her babies and animals trying to find the tails too.

For about the past 2 wks, Stef has been saying Omi (German for grandma) for my mom. Well actually she's been saying something more like Aaah-mi. All the sudden Sunday afternoon, she starts calling her Emmo (her word for Elmo)! Omi was not very amused (on the outside anyway. on the inside I think she thinks it's hilarious). She kept asking Stef "Do I look like I'm red and furry?" I just had to say "Well Mom, you did have your hair dyed red not too long ago" :) She's gone back to calling her Aaah-mi, so now Omi wonders if Stef was making a joke? Can they do that this young?

Party party party

Stef's birthday party was GREAT! We all had lots of fun. Here are some pictures.

The cakes I made:

Daddy pushing Stef in her favorite present:

Having fun with the game leftovers:

eating some cupcakes:

her 4th cupcake!!

Another Prozac day

I finally admitted to myself yesterday that my Prozac needs to be adjusted. I haven't felt quite like myself for about 5 weeks now. I've been either short tempered or on the verge of tears and getting upset over stupid inconsequential things. Five weeks ago would be about when we decided to give up trying to conceive and I expected to feel down from that. I was giving it some time to see if I would get over it, if it was just a situational temporary depression. Five weeks later, it's not better. And the kicker that made me the call the doc was that my new boss called me Terrisa to a co-worker and I was gonna jump down his throat! Not a smart move for a no-big-deal offense. Wake up call!

So the doc approved increasing me from 40mg to 60mg and if that doesn't work I need to call them in about 2 weeks.

On the potty training front...Stef made poopoo for me today. She kept saying poopoo (as I'm getting us ready to get out the door of course) so I sat her down on the potty. She had a little poo in her diaper but she kept pushing and saying poopoo. Nothing happened so she got up and was running around the kitchen diaperless. I had to take the messed diaper up to the diaper pail and get a fresh pull up for her. When I came back downstairs, there she is, squatting under the table. She got SO excited to tell me she made a poopoo (on my kitchen floor!!) so I couldn't possibly be mad at her. She's too cute to get mad at her anyway. ;)

Almost ready

I only have about a dozen details to settle for Stef's 24 month birthday party now. Lets see...

Cover the puzzles (printed out from the web) in plastic and cut pieces apart
Draw a face on the last Shovel and Pail
Make one more Handy Dandy Notebook and put it and the last 2 already made together.
Order the food Friday for pickup Sunday.
Make bean bags for the game.
Make the cakes/cupcakes.
Buy the last few things like napkins, small plates, hamburger, Manwich, condiments.
Make hamburg BBQ.

Okay, so that's only 8 things. I must be missing something.

And I got a phone call this morning that Stef made poopoo in the potty!!!!!!!!!!!! She made peepee 3 times yesterday! I think she's gonna be a thankfully easy train. (knock wood)

Why doth she vex me so?

My mother-in-law was jumping up and down on my last nerve yesterday. I'm trying really really hard to just let it go. It's not that important. Honestly though, I have enough trouble maintaining my self-esteem. I sure don't need help from her in tearing it down further.

Serenity now!!!!!

We might not make it....

to my vacation week of May 22, scheduled with the intention of intensive potty training.

I say we might not make it because Stef made peepee in the potty last night!! She asked to go. I didn't believe her but she insisted so I sat her down. And she filled it with peepee!!!!! Stood up and said peepee in a different tone of voice like she was saying "see mom mom?!? told ya so!"

Freaking hilarious! What a great baby! Yes I still say baby. She's not turning 2 this Sunday. She's turning 24 months. As long as I can still say months, she's still a baby. Right? LOL