Potty Perfection!

About a half hour ago, Justin installed a new combo toilet seat that includes a regular-sized seat, a smaller child potty seat, and a cover[photo tbp]. We have been thinking about potty training for a few months, and I just finished perusing some literature to get some clue on different methods. We have also shown V an Elmo's Potty Training video the past two weeks as well as Once Upon A Potty [for her] just this morning. Meanwhile, we have always modeled going on the potty, how to use toilet paper to wipe, pulling up our pants, closing the lid, flushing, and washing and drying our hands.

Just five minutes ago, V says "peepee, peepee," so I ask her if she has to go and she replies "yes." We take her to the potty and within thirty seconds, she pees in the potty for the first time!!! I can hardly believe it. I have been concerned about how she would respond, if she would reject it, if she would fall in the toilet!, etc...but I should have known better than to underestimate my daughter. She has some kind of internal adjustment mechanism where she transitions into the next phase of her development seamlessly [i.e. starting solids, weaning, drinking whole milk, sleeping early, falling asleep alone, sleeping on a pillow, you name it!]

Thank you Lord for an anxiety/stress/mess free potty moment!

working moms stand the heat

Sarah Palin is the VP on the Republican ballot, with 5 kids, the youngest several months old with Down's Syndrome. Will she be able to kick it in the White House?

Tough one. Since she is already governor and has been in public office before with her children, it seems like she will do the job that needs to be done. I don't really know what goes into being VP, but so far, it seems like not much when I look at the ones we've had!

With Clinton off the ballot, can we still have a woman in the WH? I'm not convinced as of yet. Please try to sway my vote from the Obamas! [if you can!]

BPA Bottle Unofficial Recall

BabiesRUs is doing an unadvertised voluntary recall of BPA bottles such as Avent, Dr. Brown's, Playtex and others. They will either give store credit or exchange BPA bottle for non-BPA bottle so call your local store to check. Thanks for this tip from my friend Kristel and for other mom blogs confirming it! Go get yours!

*edit* spoke too soon! i called my local BRUS [Yonkers] and they said I can only return my bottles with proof of purchase, either by receipt, gift registry or credit card and only withing 90 days of purchase! But they also said I could contact the bottle company to claim a merchandise credit. I emailed Avent and got an email reply saying I need to call them to further discuss...

WINNER!

I was chosen to be the third runner-up winner for the babytv.com Dream Big, Win Big! Contest!!!!!!! The entry was a brief write-up of my fantasy Mother's Day [to view it, click on this post's title]. I have been entering contests sporadically since becoming preggers hoping to get some necessary items [sometimes costly] and today I WON! So moms, soon-to-be moms, and friends of moms - ENTER! Because YOU CAN WIN!

I have to say I am pretty satisfied with my prize with the exception of the electric breast pump [because what mom doesn't need this?]. But who cares?! I WON!

money well spent...on money

why are there constantly developing luxury high-rises [that no one normal can afford] and storage spaces from abandoned warehouses and lots [for stuff that people don't need and keep hidden until they die and a family member has to come and throw everything out so they don't have to keep paying the rent on *junk*], when there are still people in need of homes? so basically, nyc is a place that houses the rich and the inanimate.

my daughter walking

sorry it's sideways! happy easter!

finally here

i decided to use this blog to record my thoughts into the indefinite future. if i have time, it will be mirrored in my wordpress acct. but for now, this is our new home! welcome.

old skool meatballs

tonight i made meatballs for the first time from scratch. it was actually kind of fun even though i had a tummy ache. i just had all the ingredients on hand and we decided it would be a good new thing to do. turns out, our whole grain bread slices are a lot bigger than regular ol’ wonder so there was too much bread in it! but it was still yummy. woops, no photo!

i also made meatloaf the first time this week which justin loves and has always wanted me to make so i finally did. bought two packages of ground pork and beef combo at mitsuwa [we were surprised they have combo packs..what do japanese people eat that requires combo packs of ground meat?] and the flat leaf parsley [at least i think it is - it had a japanese name on the label]…hence the leftovers for the meatballs. voila! or what is the “voila” equivalent in italian?

gerber lil' snackin' bowls

Baby products always carry the potential to cause a headache and push you towards Starbucks, or in our case, Slave To The Grind. Especially in our household, where my husband and I slave over our computer trying to read as many reviews as we can so as to obtain the best bang for our buck.

This time, it was actually a cinch. Because, I chose to visit our local Babies R’ Us store instead of the all-inclusive BuyBuyBaby, where I know there will be enough variety to make my head spin. Normally, I would have gone with the latter since the more choice the better, right? But for the sake of my 15% off coupon and our tight budget, I caved. Strolled right on in, toddler in carrier, coupon in bag - no reviews read, no research done, no headache…yet. Or ever?

At the display filled with bottles, and sippy cups, utensils, and other feeding supplies, there was surprisingly only a handful of snack bowls. And only ONE with the rubber slits that I wanted so that my daughter could grab the food herself [we got tired of handing her the snacks and thought that she was old enough to indulge herself].

In the double package is one pink bowl, one blue bowl, one pink lid, and one green lid. Easy enough to match any lid to any bowl and still look tasteful. The cover is a relatively soft rubber with a wide fringe-like opening so your little one can stick her fingers in without scratching her hand. Since the fringes move, I noticed if my daughter sticks her entire hand in, her hand gets caught on the way out - this taught her to only use her thumb and index finger to pick up the snack. Despite the “trap door,” it does not hurt her one bit nor discourage her from going back for more. The cover also fits on any other Gerber Bung-A-Bowls to boot [which we already own]!

Downside: Sometimes, really small snacks fall out of the door when the bowl is turned upside-down. Also, you can’t prevent dust or other small unwanted fragments from getting in if you put it in your diaper bag, etc. [But you can always cover it with a Bunch-A-Bowls cover, then switch it when in use.]

Price: $4.29 Price PAID: $3.65 [15%off] (before tax)

Store: Babies R’ Us, Yonkers

Thumbs: 5/6