Exhaustion...has...set...in

I tell you, I used to be one of those people who would tell you that I require about 9 hours of sleep to get by. I LOVE to sleep. But, then I had kids. I began to get by on 6 hours consistently. I guess now I'm back up to around 7 hours because most nights, both of the kids sleep through the night. But I am usually so thoroughly exhausted by the time they go to bed that all I can do is sit and watch T.V. The really sad thing is that I realize that I would be better off going to bed early, but once I sit, I can't get myself roused to make it upstairs. Plus, I feel that I need some adult time and some "unwind" time. All this adds up to my being really tired all the time. And being tired makes me cranky. I'm not scared to admit that. I'm sure that Corin would heartily agree. I don't like to be cranky. It makes me feel like a bad mother and a bad wife. And I overreact a lot.

I know you are worn out from hearing me go on about potty training. Believe me - I'm worn out from living it. That little daughter of mine is just the most stubborn child I've ever known. We have issues with her trying to retain control, so she refuses to go No.2 in the potty. We have issues with her milking the system, so she says she has to pee about 2 minutes after she got done peeing (usually this coincides with the disappearance of the skittle that she got as a reward for peeing the first time). But, you can't refuse to take her - even if you know she's just in it for the skittle - because you are so afraid that she'll have an accident and upset the whole course of your day. It is enough to make me insane. And I have to admit it might be doing just that.

So, if the next time you see me, I have giant bags under my eyes, I seem a little loopy, and I also appear to be a bit cranky, please cut me some slack. It is not personal. I promise I am trying to get back to my old delightful self. :-) It just may take me a while. This motherhood thing -- as rewarding as it is -- sure does take a toll.

Reminder: It wasn't that long ago that all my posts were about the Great Furniture Reorganization of 2008. I finally stopped talking about that, so you can rest assured that there is also some end to the potty training obsession (please, please, please) just around the corner. Then, I'll no doubt move on to something else I'll beat like a dead horse...

I'm not ready for this

I went to the elementary school today for a kindergarten open house. I cannot believe my first-born child will be going to kindergarten this fall. Can someone please slow down the clock??

Our neighborhood elementary school is excellent. In fact, you may have seen it featured on the news last spring when it came into the spotlight because of the 40 families camped out for days on end to get their children into the school's pre-k program. We toured the school with the PTA president, met one of the kindergarten teachers, the principal, the art teacher, the music teacher, and the P.E. teacher. It was great to see the school and get a mental picture of what Evan's life will look like next year. But. I'm am so not ready to have a child in kindergarten. Just for the record.

On the walls outside the kindergarten classes were bar graphs - created by the children - depicting the favorite foods of their classmates. Outside of the second grade classes, tables held home made mud huts and bead necklaces made (apparently) during a unit studying native Americans. Have I mentioned I'm not ready for this?

Southern Snow

We have had a fun weekend. Yesterday we had a couple of the kids' friends over for a play date. It was a whirlwind of a play date having two 4 year old boys and two 2 year old girls. When Everett and Cary got here, Pressley came running from the back of the house as Cary ran toward her from the front door and they met in a huge embrace. It was the cutest thing ever. And just when you thought it couldn't get any cuter, Pressley took her hand and they started up the stairs together. P: "Do you want to see my bed? It is pretty. It is riiiiight here!" Before long, Evan and Everett were dressed like superheros, doing what boys do (jumping off of everything) as the girls were both dressed like ballerinas with their clicky-clacky dress-up shoes and tiaras on. They had a ball.

Everett and Evan as superheroes.


Cary and Pressley as ballerinas. (Though P had already taken off her ballerina skirt.)

Today, of course, was the snow. No one really believed there would be snow today since it was near 70 yesterday. And those who did believe there would be snow scoffed at the idea that it would stick. We could not have been more wrong. This is the most snow we've seen in a while. Corin and Evan had a ball in it. They made a snowman and went sledding. Pressley got all bundled up and went out onto the porch. She even ventured approximately 2 steps down the front steps. Then she was done. I got all bundled up and went out to take photos of the merry-making. Then I came in to get carrots and raisins for the snowman. Then I was done. P and I watched cartoons and made hot chocolate for the cold, wet boys.

The boys stayed out long enough that when Evan came in to put on dry clothes, we had to do a bit of Internet research on frostbite. His feet and ankles (and bottom, for that matter) were BRIGHT red and he was crying hysterically saying that his feet itched. Corin took one foot and I took the other and we rubbed them with aloe until he calmed down; then put two pairs of socks on him. Minutes later, he was ready to go back out. Boys!

Has it really been two weeks?

Where does the time go? I can't believe it has been two weeks since I posted. I guess I've been a little uninspired lately. Which is sad, because my kids are so precious, they really inspire me every day. As I'm typing, Pressley just came walking in wearing her clicky-clacky dress up shoes, a proper shirt, no pants, a diaper, oh, and a tiara. Yep. Inspiring. She appears to have some sort of stomach bug. Thus, the diaper. She had been doing really well with her potty training and I trust that we will be able to pick right back up where we left off after the bug leaves her poor little body. (Please, please, please...) But, Corin and I have now each cleaned up messes in public restrooms that I dare not speak of in any great detail, so we've resorted to the diaper. Lil' P is not happy about it, but she'll get over it.

What can I tell you about Evan? Yesterday, we were at lunch with my parents after church, which is our Sunday routine. We were talking about a paper that Evan brought home from Sunday school. It has a picture of him taped to the middle and we are supposed to hang it on the fridge and write in the margins the things that make Evan special. So, my parents were listing some things: Evan is so smart, Evan is a good big brother, etc. When they paused, Evan added: Evan has a great mommy and daddy. Just made me melt into a little puddle. He is just the sweetest little boy. He still has his Irish temper and stubbornness, but he just can't help displaying his sweet and sensitive side as well. I love that child!

I'll try to be better about posting. I may even have a picture or two next time.

Hooray for Pressley!

Status update on the potty training thing:

We made it through the whole day yesterday with only ONE accident. It was at the zoo on the children's playground, so she was distracted. Understandable.

Today, we made it through church and lunch without incident. She did have a little accident at the Candler Park playground (are you seeing a pattern developing here?), but overall, I am calling this potty training weekend a HUGE success.

Yeah Pressley! I could not be more proud of you, baby!

And, for putting up with all the potty talk, I've included a few photos of the kids from the zoo yesterday. I know it has been a while since I posted any pics...

What a difference a day makes

Well, in this case, what a difference a month makes. You may recall that one month ago, almost to the day, I was lamenting my potty training woes. But last night, after discovering that Pressley was suffering from a diaper rash, I decided that today we would try again. My friend Tricia had told me that a couple of weeks could make a world of difference, so I decided to give it a go. This morning, as soon as Pressley got up, I got out the big girl panties and took her to sit on the potty. Miracle of all miracles... she peed a little bit. I cheered and hugged and gave her a skittle. We told Evan and he gave her a high five. She was very proud of herself. I'll be darned if she didn't do it again about 30 minutes later. So, in summary, the child has been up for about an hour and 20 minutes and she has pee-peed in the potty twice! That is such significant progress, I think I can handle cleaning up the many accidents that are bound to occur today.

Wish me luck...!

Nap nightmare

May I just complain for a second? Thanks.

Pressley is desperately trying to convince me that she no longer requires a nap. It is very frustrating. She is not even three yet and I'm certain - 100% - she is not ready to give up her nap. But every day, I put her down for a nap at 12:30. If she falls asleep, it isn't until sometime after 1:30, which means she is just getting into her good deep sleep when it is time to wake her up to go pick Evan up from school. On days like today, she doesn't go to sleep at all. She lays in her bed and plays until 1:45, at which point I might as well get her up because if she falls asleep that late, she will be really grumpy when I wake her up to pick Evan up. On days like today, she has to go back to bed for another shot at it after Evan gets home. So many things wrong with this scenario: a) She doesn't get to play with Evan; b) A nap that begins at 3 p.m. messes with night-time sleep; c) At 3:00, she is so over-tired, she is beside herself; d) This schedule gives me no down time. I always have a child awake and demanding things. I love my kids, but come on! Don't I deserve a little time to myself??