Strawberry Mountain

I think I'm Leaving Babyville Behind...finally...

So, I've been sitting here thinking tonight, that I think we are about to leave baby-ville behind forever.  I'm not sure how I feel about this, at all.  I mean, I love my kids, but I'm never having another one, so there is no need to keep the stuff.  But....but...I'm not ready to let it go. 

I have a few things I've been hanging onto tight, not yet ready to let them go.  It's not that I even want another baby, but I've been in constant babyland for over 5 years now.  I'm used to babies.  I'm used to packing things around all the time.  The idea of going someplace without carrying 80 gazillion things "just in case" is appealing and frightening all at the same time.

1st on the list.

My highchair.  I'm saying mine, because Leslie is ready for the table, and I'm not.  I love this stupid ugly green and white highchair.  It was given to me by a neighbor when Brian was a baby, and both my kids have used it.  It sits in my dining room, an ugly behemoth staring at me.  Rick threatens to get rid of it on a daily basis, and I'm just not ready.

2nd

 

My double stroller.  I have the jolly green giant of strollers.  My beloved Phil and Ted's E3.  It really is beautiful.  It's lime green and I can spot it in crowds.  It pushes like a dream, and cost me my kids inheritance.  But, it was worth it.  When we bought our 1st double stroller, we bought a Graco Duo-glider, which I suppose did do what it is supposed to do.  But the thing weighed about a ton, and took up the entire back end of my Tahoe.  The only time it was an acceptable ride was in the mall with smooth floors, any bump  and it freaked out.  It did carry Leslie's infant seat along with Brian but I hated it.  I knew I wanted a nice stroller, and I finally got it.  It took me months of talking to Rick before he gave in and said OK.  He had originally thought we didn't need it, but after one push of the E3, he changed his mind. 

When we did the March of Dimes Preemie walk, he grabbed the kids from me and ran off with that stroller like a bat out of hell.  Dad's kept asking him where he got the "cool" stroller.  I swear you would have thought it was his idea, and I just let him think that.  So there you go, I'm having an especially rough time giving this up.  I haven't used it in months, save using it for a wheelbarrow at Brian's soccer games, to haul chairs and stuff to the field, and just on the off chance I would need to bolt Little Miss down so she wouldn't run, but honestly, I know we don't really need it anymore.  What's a girl to do?

3rd.

My Ergo Carrier. I packed Leslie all around Seattle in this thing last year, and I love it.  Unfortunately, she doesn't love it and screams at me constantly when I try to use it.  I'll tell you, nothing is more fun than an angry toddler screaming "mommy let me down" and hitting your back while trying to walk and keep up with your 5 year old.

4th.

My grocery cart cover.  I haven't used it in ages, but as the mom of 2 preemies, you can bet your britches that I did use it constantly for years.  I'm just not as freaked out about the kidlets getting sick anymore.

5th.

My Lands End backpack, diaper bag.  I still use this thing, after 5 years, it still looks very new.  I just don't use it as a diaper bag anymore.  So there you go, things I need to get rid of at some point.

Most of the baby paraphernalia I've been able to let go of, but these few things are really giving me a hard time.  Maybe when I have my grandkids I'll be able to finally let go, after all my E3 might just make a nice wheelbarrow.

She pooped in the potty!!!!

OK, so she did it, finally.  I took the cutest video of her laying on the couch telling me that she "pooped" in the potty, and then Rick looked at me with the look. 

You know...... "THE LOOK"??? 

He said to me, you aren't really going to put that on your blog are you????

I said, "yes, I am, it's cute.  She's dressed, she isn't on the potty, and I don't see anything wrong with it". 

See this is the guy who never even reads my blog. 

When I ask him why, he always says the same thing, "because I already know what's going on". 

Drives me crazy.

But I'm digressing here...

Back to Leslie.

So, I am not putting my cute video of my daughter proclaiming that she 'POOPED ON THE POTTY" on my blog.

I will tell you however, that when I took her to preschool the next day, she ran up to her teacher, and said in her loudest, proudest voice, "Miss M...I pooped on the potty!" without any coaching from me.  I was so proud of her, and best of all, she was so proud of herself. 

I think we may be at the brink here.  I'm scared to really say it out loud, but it is like she really understood the mental connection of pooping on the potty, and not sitting in crap.  She liked it, she knew she was being a "big girl" and was super proud of herself.

Last night, Little Miss and I went to Walmart, and bought her big girl panties (Dora The Explorer and My Little Pony) which she picked out all by herself.  We also bought 2 big packs of "princess pull ups", one for home, one for school.  I tell you, I'm going to run with this if she is.  I pretty much suck at potty training, and I know I should, but really don't care when they do it.  She was so proud to carry in her pull-ups and give them to Miss M this morning.

In Brian News...

Brian is having "bike day" at school today, so we had to haul in his bike and his helmet.  We had to take in his Light Sabor (from Star Wars) for show and tell.  He insisted on being dressed in complete Spiderman garb today.  Today he has on, a Spiderman t-shirt, a Spiderman Sweatshirt, Spiderman underwear, and Spiderman shoes....

It's supposed to get warm this weekend, we are hopeful, so that we can have our first campfire of the year.  We also need to go get the kids their trampoline.  We saved all the gift cards they received from Christmas, along with a  few for ourselves so that we can buy them a trampoline to jump on.  I'm excited to get that, I think they are going to love it, and it will get them outside.

Brian has been getting really good at driving his little quad around the yard, and has learned to do it with Leslie on the back.  I'm having so much fun watching them learn to do this.  Don't worry folks, this thing is from walmart, it's not a "real" quad, it only goes 5 miles an hour, you can walk faster than it goes, but they are really having a blast on it.  I will try to get some pictures of them riding it this weekend.

News from me, my knee is continuing to do wonderfully.  I'm walking better every day, and faithfully doing the excercises from the Dr.  I'm hopefull that by summer, I will be totally recovered.

Rick is really enjoying his job, and I'm so happy he likes it.

Over and out from Strawberry Mountain.