mish mash

I was spoiled this morning because the girls slept in until 9am. The renovations have been tough on everyone. Yesterday Vanessa had her first nap since a couple of weeks. It was a great surprise during her quiet time. We had gone to the JazzFest to meet Julie and Laura for lunch. We watched a fun Jazz class performance. We would have liked to check the outdoor stuff but it was cold and wet and the only one with a raincoat was Vanessa soooo next time. We had lots of fun with lunch but I think the girls liked the fountain the best. 

On the renovation front, we moved back into our bedroom and slept in our bed for the first time in over two week. It was heavenly. The bedroom is not done and the closet needs a little more work but we'll focus on the bathroom and finish the bedroom later. The closet is Huge! Lots of extra storage and maybe Eric can get dressed in there in the morning. It’s still got a lot of tools and some of our clothing is still in Vanessa’s room but one day it will be done!

 

Last night my mom, dad and Eric grouted the tiles around the bathtub. It cleaned it up nicely. Any possible imperfections disappeared with the white grout on the white tile. The blue glass stripes stand out beautifully. Eric is very proud and grateful at the same time. Next we’ll be plaster, sanding and painting. Oh and some caulking. We should be able to use it by the end of the summer… hehehe.

Potty training is still in progress. We have good days and bad days. The most dramatic accident was Vanessa peeing in the stairs creating a waterfall. I asked her to stop but she said she didn’t know how. Sigh. She’s getting there. It’s nice to be able to hop in the pool without changing diapers.

We’re all out of time so I’ll see you later.

Potty Training, Renovations and More…

I'm exhausted! Things have been eventful in the past couple of days. (let the ramble begin because I can't think straight)<div>Vanessa has been having very few peeing accidents since we took her pull ups away (except for nap/bedtime) and none in the last week but poo was a different story. I didn't know what to do. I kept her in underwear to incourage her and give her the power but she still refused to use the toilet. One day last week I had it all timed that she would need to poo and the signs were there so I sat her on the potty in front of the TV. She sat there happy for 20 minutes. I went upstairs to get my phone and when I came back there was poo on the floor directly in front of the potty. I was really discouraged at that point but didn't change my routine because I didn't really know where to go next. It was all up to Vanessa. I went online for help and found a book. It hurts when I poo! The reviews were amazing. Suppose to be the cure all for Vanessa's issue. It's a story of a boy with the exact same issue and how they resolve it. It goes through the mechanics of it all. I went to Indigo and they were sold out so I went online and bought it for cheaper. It arrived on Friday. We read it two or three times that day to her insistence. She went to Christina's for the day on Saturday and Vanessa asked where poop came from. Christina was lucky enough to have to explain it all to her. We read the book a few more times and the next time she went poo on the potty. I was so extactic! Her reward/bribe was chocolate on a stick (fudgesicle to you and I) which she got promptly and for breakfast the next morning. She hasn't gone back since. There might be a few more accidents but we're done with the 18 months of potty training! Awesome! The light bulb went off.

View Full Album

In other news... we're renovating the bathroom and the closet in our bedroom. Eric's been working really hard with lots of help from my dad and Tim. My mom has been helping out with Hailey and Vanessa. Today was a turning point. We're done demolishing and are ready to put things back in. We're relieved to have very little mildew. It was only around the the tub spout. We figured it was all around the tub behind the wood paneling and in the sub floor but we saw nothing. Eric is feeling much better about the project. Studs have been put up and most of the electrical has been run. It's getting it's own circuit with our closet. We'll be adding more plugs and lighting than before and this new run won't be in aluminum wiring. </div><div>We've been sleeping in the living room since our bedroom is "the war room". I've been trying different sleeping options since our bed didn't fit down the stairs. I'm hoping the bathroom will be done before the bedroom but that's ok as long as it all gets done. Eric is off for two weeks and I'm crossing my fingers for it to be completed by then but there are no guarantees. </div><div>Tonight we went over to Jo-Anne's for showers. I got to bring Hailey and Vanessa and bath them and I. It all went pretty well until Hailey lost it. When she does that, there's no turning back. Cut your losses and go home. She either needs a walk or to be put in her swing. A car ride might work too as long as it's only highway. Lately I've been dreaming of long car trips to Ottawa where Hailey sleeps and Vanessa watches a movie. </div><div>Time has been flying. Vanessa's finished school and we're starting day camp next week. I'm really looking forward to it. The program is run outside for 6 weeks where the councillors run activities 3 whole days a week. The parents are require to attend and are responsible for their safety. I've heard it's well run and I'll be able to sit back and enjoy watching Vanessa play. It's a nominal fee for the whole time for the entire family. We already know 4 of the kids that will be there.

Hailey is growing really fast. She's still a fast nurser and long stretches between. She doesn't getting agitated when she's hungry but if she's tired watch out! You better have a way to help her sleep. She likes walks in her wrap and her swing. Sometimes a walk in the stroller or a car ride works but it better by highway driving. She's very alert these days which is lots of fun. She loves to lie on the floor on her back and look up at smiling faces. She doesn't really like to be cuddled but would prefer to see the world. </div></div><div>Playgroup year end party and shopping tomorrow. Sprinkler park on Friday with friends. This week-end we watch Pamela run and have the last swimming lessons.

I've been busy. There's a fellow blogger who designed a baby swing. It's really simple but fantastic. I really wanted to make one for Hailey. She's a great sleeper but requires constant motion through her naps. This swing is portable and can hang in most door frames and some trees.

I talked to Jo-Anne and asked to buy one of her 5 sewing machines off of her. She said yes but after having looked at the two she was willing to part with she decided they were too heavy and required a lot of regular upkeep. I said, "ohh that's too bad". She then very very generously offered to buy me a new one. She said I needed a nice basic machine and I agreed and thanked her.

A week later I went over and she gave me said machine. After working on industrial machines my whole life, I was surprised to see what features "basic" gave you. I can do button holes and buttons, embroidery and patching along with 70 odd other features. I was excited to have a new hobby of my own.

I brought it home and made Hailey's swing. It went very well.

I posted these pictures on Facebook and someone actually requested to buy one. She hadn't even seen Hailey's live. We agreed on a price and I went to work on hers and one for Nathan, Paul and Murielle's son. The projects went smoothly and I loved working on something of my own in the evening. I gave my friend, Anne hers and she has since sent me a message that her daughter was sleeping in it. Awwwwwe. Today I met Nathan and gave them theirs. I hope they get as much use out of it. They seemed very pleased with it. If they get lots of use out of it it was totally worth it.

Only one issue with this new hobby. Currently, I've been working on the kitchen table. This doesn't work for our family. It requires me to work only when Vanessa is out or sleeping and I have to clean up each time. When the renovation is done, I should get a small fold down table to work on in our bedroom with a small shelving. It sounds pretty exciting. I can't wait.

Past your bedtime Hailey

Tonight was one of those rare occasions where Hailey was awake at 10:30pm and happy about it. Cooing and smiling at least until you put her to bed. At about 9:30, Eric took her for a walk in the stroller at first she cried and then she's thought, "This isn't so bad but I'm not ready to sleep." (giggle, giggle) Eric walked for an hour and came back with a very happy and alert baby. She was thrilled to be awake and get attention but I pulled out the heavy artillery, my Momma Kangaroo. I rapped her up tight against me and took her for a walk. I'm not sure she was awake to see the next house on the street. I walked around the block for good measure and came home and put her straight to bed.

I really need to bring my iPod and go for a longer walk. She won't mind if since she's sleeping.