jess and the gang

Isla's Room

With day two of potty training behind us, I think it is safe to say that this truly will be the end of diapers for Isla...and me. This means, that it will be time to pack away the changing table. I have mixed emotions about this and fully leaving the baby stage behind us. Maybe it is because I am not really willingly leaving it, though I am willingly potty training Isla. But the whole "another baby" thing...yeah, lets save that for another time.

This is uncharted territory. I never really removed the changing table from Connor's room. It got packed up and shipped when we moved back to California. And, since it took months for our things to arrive, by the time we unpacked it, we put it right into Isla's room. So, that was one less hard piece of evidence to move out of Connor's room as he was growing.

My kids rooms change on a ~~daily~~ semi-regular basis. Isla isn't even in the room that we set up as her nursery. The green walls went with the bedroom set Connor had. But, when they switched rooms, I didn't want to repaint the whole thing, so I went with it. And, oddly enough, it really has grown with her.

Though I am super sentimental and a total sap, I don't hold on to much. I don't keep stuff forever and ever just because it has memories tied to it. But pictures don't make me have to keep it, right?! I know that slowly over the next couple years, the younger kid toys will be replaced with older kid ones. And, before I know it, Isla will be hanging posters on her walls and decorating how she wants. But I will remember this room.

I will remember the countless hours I spent nursing her in the chair. I will remember working to get her to sleep through the night in here. I will remember switching her out of her crib. I will remember potty training her. I will remember sitting on the floor coloring with her. I will remember reading book after book, until we have read them all. I will remember so many things, even though she won't. This room, just as it is, has been the scene for a lot of good memories.

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Potty Training

Today was the day I decided to start potty training Isla. I figured it was far enough out from the start of preschool that if it goes all wrong, I could try again. But I am thinking this time will work, as long as I stick with it. Just as I did with Connor, I am choosing the cutting off diapers cold turkey route. Isla really, really likes her My Little Pony undies, so I think this is a good thing.

^^ Would you believe that a little girl is sitting on her potty under that blanket? Oh, and she brought 20 of her closest friends with her for the occasion too!

I am pretty sure potty training is one of the hardest things to do as a parent. Well, at least a parent of young children. It is a bit like torture. And let's just say there was a poop incident I had to deal with. Isla has never even pooped in the bath, so to have to deal with poop on the ground (and on her feet) on the first day of potty training was a little much for me. But we got through it. Tomorrow is a new day and if I remember right, day two was way better than day one with Connor. So, I'm hopeful.

I am now trying to remind myself that once I do start venturing out of the house, I will need to bring a change (or three) of clothing for Isla. But, I am giving myself a sold three days at home, hoping the worst is behind us before we head out into the real world again. But day two is going to be a good one and day three will be the best yet. See, I'm still positive. This day of potty training hasn't gotten me down too much...it is just giving me more laundry and Isla more baths!

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Homemade Baby Wash

I would like to say that a lot of my crunchiness comes from my wanting to keep harsh chemicals off my children, and that would be true...to an extent. It's also because I am extremely cheap and making your own anything is much cheaper than buying it. So, there you have it. The deep thoughts of Jessica!

Homemade baby wash is about the easiest thing ever to make. I shouldn't even call it "make", because it is just mixing a couple ingredients together. I put mine in an old foam hand soap dispenser so it makes the baby wash foam when coming out.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup - Dr. Bronners (baby) Castile Soap
3/4 cup - water
8-10 drops of essential oils of your choice. This one is completely optional.

Dr. Bronners baby castile soap already has a nice scent to me, so I really don't think essential oils are necessary. But I have put them in before. Lavender really complements the scent nicely.

One thing I would like to point out is this needs to be kept out of kids eyes, as it isn't "no more tears". I could give you a lesson on how the whole no more tears thing is actually numbing agents, but you can research that yourself. That being said, I have used this for a year or so without either one of my children crying out in pain from soap getting in their eyes.

And even though I have labeled this "baby" wash, this is what my kids use as shampoo and body wash. It works great for us. And they (especially Connor) love pumping out the "bubbles" and washing themselves with it.

I know there are a ton of slightly different baby wash recipes out there. If you happen to use a different one, please share it, as I am always up for trying new things.

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The 4th of July

^^ His minion is holding an ice cream cone with an American flag on it...so it's patriotic, right?!

Like normal Americans, we spent out 4th of July running around in corn fields. Ok, so maybe my mom thought it would be a fun photo op, so we drug my kids and my nephew over to a corn field (which is right by my parents house) to take some pictures.

Our day was busy, filled with family, food and fireworks. We took the kids to a fireworks stand where my parents friend hooked us up with way more fireworks than needed for a two and four year old. Especially, when it turned out, Connor is still afraid of fireworks and Isla only tolerated the loud ones...though loved herself some sparklers and illegal fireworks in the sky. My parents neighbors put on quite the show with illegal fireworks. They were incredible. Like I said, Isla loved it, but hated the noisy little ones we set off in the street. Connor spent the evening in the house. We tried letting him watch from the car for a bit, then he asked to go inside.

We ended up staying out until 11pm...because who can leave in the middle of a ~~war zone~~ crazy fireworks display?! The kids were all happy until we told them it was time to go home. Then the fun meltdowns began. Thankfully, we had a totally chill Saturday to recover from our long day.

On the subject of the 4th of July, I would like to add how thankful I am for my freedom and for the men and women who risk their lives everyday to protect that freedom.

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Connor: He loves to make silly faces and touch bellies...yep, he thinks it is so great to lift up people's shirts and touch their bellies. Not cool kid, not cool...because well, said people give this mom a dirty look!

Isla: She does so incredibly well at independent play and her imagination is coming alive so much. That makes me happy. I love hearing little crazy toddler stories.

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014."

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Growing Up

Your legs are getting longer. You grow out of your shoes before a season is even over. When you fall asleep on the couch, you look so much bigger than you used to, taking up so much of it. Everyday you seem to be doing more and more on your own, putting your clothes on, picking up trash, taking showers and even brushing your teeth without much of a fight.

And yet, you still need me. You still want hugs from mom when you are hurt. You still want me to cuddle with you at night. You still hold my hand in public.

With every new accomplishment, I swell with pride, but also push back the feelings that these young years, the years that you needed me, just haven't lasted long enough. It has been the only season in my life that I vividly remember not wanting to end. But, at the same time, I can't wait until you are adults and I have the type of relationship with you like I have with my mom, a friendship.

I feel so privileged to have you two in my life. But, I have to admit, I am still learning to deal everyday with the joy of seeing you do new things but the tinge of sadness at seeing you leave a stage behind.