Potty Training

Right before my parents left for Poland, my dad fixed K's portable toilet seat so that it would fit our toilet seat perfectly. As a result, K had a couple of successful 'goings'. Since then, however, she has refused to sit on that thing and hides when she needs to go.

We don't pressure her but kindly remind her every now and then about the toilet's existence. And, here is the outcome:

a. When getting ready to go to the park with the girls, I asked K to come to the bathroom with me (main reason - not to leave her with M unattended). While I was going to the bathroom, K said with a lot of enthusiasm in her voice and a big smile on her face: Mommy, you're going pee pee! Good girl!

b. K has been trying out my patience recently - for some reason she likes to slap M around when she feels like it. One morning after I had asked numerous times to simply stay away from M, K poured a bucket of water on M's head. It was in the bathtub while taking a bath, so it seems like not a big deal, but again it was after multiple happenings, and it did cause Maya to freak out). Anyway, I got upset and told K that there would be no TV for her that day. She was heart broken.

When done with her bath, K ran to the bathroom and asked me to help her sit on the toilet. Without saying a word, she peed and pooped. When finished, she asked with the most angelic voice: "Mommy, are you happy now? Can I please watch Dora?"

Critters

The snake season has officially started. Two days ago I saw two little snakes on the road on my way home from the grocery store.

Lent, Strong Will Power and Radiation

A few weeks back I was impressed by a friend who gave up facebook for Lent. I, too, decided that giving something up for 40 days could only make me a stronger person and started weighing my options.

I could remember from my 'religious' classes in elementary school back in Poland that if you participate in Lent, whatever you choose to give up has to have some value to you. So, things like "I won't go to Africa" or "I won't drink milk with honey and garlic" within the next 39 days (yes, I started a bit late) wouldn't work. On the other hand, I quickly made a decision that I wouldn't be giving up things that are essential to living like coffee or bubble tea. So, sushi it was.

Not to be alone in this exciting endeavor, I asked Len to stop drinking wine. As strong of a person as he says he is, he didn't last even 12 hours.

I proudly was doing very very well, and then the earthquake in Japan happened. Radiation from a nuclear reactor started spreading reaching California within just a few days. It was suggested that we have more iodine in our diet, and the things to get it from (other than supplements) are veggies from the ocean like kelp and seaweed (and more other things that I know little about). I saw kelp at the store once but have no clue how to prepare or eat it. Seaweed, on the other hand, conveniently wraps sushi rolls. It was a hard decision to make, but as a nursing mother, I didn't want to wait any longer and decided to sacrifice and get some iodine in my diet ASAP. Lent happens every year - I'll have plenty of opportunities to show off my extremely strong will power in the years to come.

Right now my family and our health are my priority. Iodine (so sneakily hidden in sushi rolls) - here I come!

Teething

A week and a half before turning 10 months, Maya has finally started teething!