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!

Unforgettable Vacation

Since my parents have been helping us so unselfishly for the last 6 months, we decided to take them on a nice vacation - a cruise to Mexico. Last time Len, Klaudia and I went we had a wonderful time and thought this would be a perfect gift for my parents.

We planned on going the beginning of January when Len and I usually have some time off from work. Our ship unfortunately caught on fire back in November, and our cruise got canceled. The next available was first week of February, and even though it was the first week of my semester (probably busiest time of the school year) and quite a busy time for Len at work too, we decided to take it as it was the last chance for my parents before their departure to Poland on March 1st.

We drove to South California the day before to avoid the LA traffic. We showed my parents our favorite places - Santa Monica, Laguna Beach, had dinner at the best sushi restaurant - Mosun's, went to the beach and unpatiently anticipated the next day cruise. A bird pooped on me when walking to the hotel, and I remember thinking it must be for good luck.

The next day, we dropped our car off at Len's friend's place in San Diego and went to start the trip of our lifetime. I was so excited that I kept thinking that nothing, absolutely nothing could ruin this day.

After waiting in line for a while moving slowly towards the check in desk with tons of luggage, two kids, two strollers, backpacks, nursing in the meantime, we finally got to talk to the attendant. He took our passports and asked who was the permanent resident. "I am" - I proudly said. He then asked the question of the day: "Can I see your green card?". With a smile on my face (it only proves how I had NO clue about what was coming), I responded: "No, I only have my passport, but I can show you my ID if you'd like."

A lot of things happened within the next 3.5 hours. To make the long story short, they didn't let me on the ship. We had 10 minutes to decide what to do - pull our luggage, go home and forget about the trip, or have me go home get the card and join them in Mexico at the first port stop two days later. We went with the second idea. At first I wanted to take Maya with me, so that I could nurse her, but our travel agent reminded us that without a passport she could not get on the plane. Another option was to get her formula across the street and let them all go; I would use my pump to keep the milk supply going. We went with it.

To justify our decision, I'd like to add that we only had a few minutes to make it. As soon as they all left, that decision didn't sound as good as a few minutes ago. What they and I went through within the next couple of days before I was able to join them in Puerto Vallarta is hard to describe in words. This was the first time I was away from my girls for so long, and I actually felt physical pain. Every time I closed my eyes I saw my munchkins. Every time I saw a kid, I had tears in my eyes.

Len and my parents had a hard time communicating. Len is getting pretty good in Polish, but he's not fluent yet. Klaudia was doing well, but poor Maya was not into her new milk. She refused to drink the formula and was so traumatized that didn't want to eat or drink anything. Len had to take her to the doctor twice. She got weak and dehydrated.

When we finally got reunited, we did our best to enjoy the rest of the trip. We went to 5 different cities in Mexico, we went on tours, snorkling, tried really good food and rested as much as we could. Maya nursed the first two hours non-stop and spent the rest of the trip catching up with her food supply. She got her energy back soon after she took a few sips of her mama's milk.

And yes, I did learn my lesson to take my green card everywhere I go. I thought that if my parents could go to Mexico only with their Polish passports, so could I. The idea of bringing my card had never occurred to me; otherwise, I would have taken it. And next time I will.

Another New Milestone!

For the past two days, Maya has been pulling herself up to a standing position next to a couch, coffee table or stairs. She's so into it that this is all she wants to do now even in the middle of the night.

Last night she woke up at 3am (she woke up many times before and after 3 - she's been doing so for the last couple of months leaving me absolutely exhausted) and started to crawl. She covered the length of the bed back and forth a few times. Unable to get off the bed on either side, she tried to unsuccessfully climb over me. After an hour of a hard core exercise, she laid her head next to mine on a pillow and fell asleep still in a crawling position - on her fours with her butt up.

Sitting Up

At 8.5 months, Maya learned how to sit up on her own.