Infant Potty Training

When Chloe was about 6 months old, I was introduced to the concept of Infant Potty Training, or Elimination Communication. I ordered a book, tried it sporadically for a few months, and ended up not really going with it - though it did convince me to change to cloth diapers so I would know as soon as Chloe was wet and could change her.

Now that we've got a bit of a routine, and everyone is used to having Kara around, I've decided to give it a really good try with Kara. Starting when she's only one month old, I've already noticed the cues she gives before she empties her bladder or has a bowel movement. Based on these, I can take her to the bathroom and hold her over the sink or the toilet and let her eliminate there instead of in a diaper. I still put Kara in cloth diapers because I know there are bound to be misses (times when I misread a cue, or am just too busy to take her to potty). We started on Friday, and since then (while at home), we have caught most of her pees and all of her poos. It is SO nice to not have to change a poopy diaper! I'm loving it, though taking it easy, and not worrying about it too much when we're out, or at night.

I highly recommend all parents of infants look into IPT/EC. It might not be right for you, but it sure makes sense to me. My baby is more comfortable, I'm putting much less waste into the environment, and in theory, Kara will be potty trained by 18 months or so.

One month, and the CBC

Kara is one month old tomorrow. WOW! She's still a little sick, but is doing better. We're not quite to a routine yet, but we are more settled in general. Although, we're still severely lacking sleep (and by "we" I mean all of us).

http://fishyre.blogspot.com/2009/04/and-some.html
I love the CBC. I was very dismayed when they lost the bid to broadcast the 2010 and 2012 Olympics. Now I learn that they aren't getting money (which has happened often and has caused more job cuts), but the government I voted for is set to give money to the big-wigs at the companies that own Global (boo!) and CTV (meh). These companies also own many of the larger newspapers and radio stations, and they're billions of dollars in debt. I really don't want my tax dollars to be used for ANOTHER bailout. PLEASE send your MP an email regarding this issue (especially since many of you live in a riding with a Conservative MP). Maybe we can at least help the CBC get some money as well?

I'll post some pictures later.

Sick

Chloe got a cold, which means that inevitably, Kara got it too. It is so hard to see babies SO young suffering, not able to breathe properly because they're stuffed up. And because she's not even a month yet, the only things I can do are use Saline solution in her nose (which isn't working all that well), and comfort her lots. I took Kara to a walk-in clinic today, and had to wait almost 2 hours to see the doctor. Though I suppose the visit was good - the doctor asked if I was giving Kara Vitamin D supplements, which I haven't been. NO ONE had mentioned it to me before today - not the midwife or the public health nurse!

Anyway, I'm gonna finish up my lunch and then go have a nap.

Thanks!

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who came to Kara's baby shower yesterday. I had a great time, and it was really nice to see all of you. Lots of cute clothes to be had, as well as yummy food and an awesome cake made by Briana!

3 weeks of Kara in our life, and all is seeming to go pretty well. Though Chloe had some sort of illness on the weekend. She threw up once on Friday, and had a fever from early Friday afternoon until some time on Saturday. She's still trying to catch up on sleep too, I think.

Oh, can someone please let the various (fictitious) weather gods know that its SPRING now?!?

cute pics

2 weeks

Kara is two weeks old today (and Chloe is 31 months today as well). We're slowly settling back into a routine with Chloe, and incorporating Kara into it. Having trouble with Kara sleeping long stretches (3.5-4 hours) during the day, and then max 2 hours at a time at night. It's quite frustrating, and I know its affecting Mark's sleep as well.

On a happier note, I got a baby wrap, and I will now sing its praises! With Chloe we tried both a Snugli and a baby sling. The sling was far superior to the Snugli, but still wasn't comfy enough to facilitate full-time babywearing, which is so great for babies. Anyway, this time around, I'm going with a wrap from Phat Baby Wraps, a company out by Cultus Lake. I am so impressed, and so comfy! Kara sure seems happy in the wrap, and I love that I have both hands free!

Also, we're getting cable today. Haven't had it in over a year, and actually haven't paid for it period since we got married. The first place we lived in gave us cable free, and somehow we also got free cable on one of our cable outlets at this place until April or May of last year. I assume that the guys upstairs switched to satellite or some other form of TV programming provider, since we only ever got it in the one spot. Oh well, it will be nice to have channels to flick through again, since its so easy when you're as tired as we are.

Sisters

Chloe had a great time playing on the floor with Kara today.

Welcome Kara!

Kara Gwendolyn Nicholson, born March 10 at 1:24pm, 7lbs 3 oz.

A much shorter labour than Chloe's. We tried for a home birth, but ended up going to the hospital for the last half hour. We came home 4 hours after Kara was born - I really like having a midwife instead of a doctor. Overall, things went well, and mom & baby are both doing very well, but are very tired.

Typing one handed is hard :P

SNOW?!?!?!

I think this is officially the last thing we expected the weather to do today, especially given the fact that it was sunny when we left for groceries at 2, and its now 3:40 and snow has been falling for at least 20 minutes.

I hope you all remembered to set your clocks forward, Daylight Savings started today. I still don't quite understand why we still have DST... I understand why they put it into practice, but that was over 50 years ago, and the "war effort" has long since ceased. Oh well, one of those (many) things we have to live with even though it doesn't really make sense.

Mark and I went to see "Watchmen" yesterday afternoon. It was a good movie, though I don't think it will ever make it onto my "great movies" list because of its 18A rating.

Also, for posterity/interest, here is a picture of me from earlier this afternoon with my huge belly. That way I can say "oh wow" in three weeks :P

C is for Cookie (and Chloe, and chocolate)

Chloe and I made chocolate cookies this evening. Making cookies with Chloe is one of my favorite things to do. She loves putting on her apron (which my mom made), helping dump all the ingredients in, and mixing stuff with the beaters. Of course, she also likes eating the dough and the cookies too!

I just put Chloe to bed... I know this is one of my last few nights where I'll have free time before I go to sleep... the baby is coming any day now. I think Chloe is excited to meet the new baby, but I know she doesn't quite understand HOW MUCH TIME new babies take. It will be a big adjustment for all of us.

I'll go relax now, I'm not gonna pass this opportunity up.