Saturday, July 30, 2011
Officially potty trained
Monday, July 25, 2011
Is he potty trained already?
My stance on the potty training thing has been not to push Carter (why bother? he'll likely regress when Coen gets home anyway), but to make the potty available IF he wants it. He's been going on the potty consistently when he gets up in the morning and after naps for about a couple of months. More and more, he has been asking to use the potty. Now, he even asks when we are at the store. Some times we go, other times I ask him to wait until we get home and *surprise* he does and goes right when we get home!
So today, he was having a hard time with #2. He kept running to the potty and asking to go, but nothing would happen. He'd give up and we'd go back downstairs. After the 3rd time, I told him he was on his own (mommy was SICK of those stairs) so, he headed up there, took of his diaper and tried again. Back down he came. Once more on his own, but this time I took him a book to read and Viola! Success!
So, it occurred to me:
I didn't change a single diaper today and there is no evidence of any accidents
I never asked if he needed to potty - he notified me each time
He was determined NOT to poo poo in his diaper and made several potty trips to be sure
IS HE POTTY TRAINED?
It's possible I'm missing something with the diapers so, I guess I'll be moving him to big boy underwear to know for sure, but it definitely seems like he gets it. I hope Coen coming home doesn't make him do a 180.
So today, he was having a hard time with #2. He kept running to the potty and asking to go, but nothing would happen. He'd give up and we'd go back downstairs. After the 3rd time, I told him he was on his own (mommy was SICK of those stairs) so, he headed up there, took of his diaper and tried again. Back down he came. Once more on his own, but this time I took him a book to read and Viola! Success!
So, it occurred to me:
I didn't change a single diaper today and there is no evidence of any accidents
I never asked if he needed to potty - he notified me each time
He was determined NOT to poo poo in his diaper and made several potty trips to be sure
IS HE POTTY TRAINED?
It's possible I'm missing something with the diapers so, I guess I'll be moving him to big boy underwear to know for sure, but it definitely seems like he gets it. I hope Coen coming home doesn't make him do a 180.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
The Best 2 year old...
Carter FINALLY had his first dentist appointment and he NAILED it big time! He showed no fear and did everything he was asked to do - x-rays, complete teeth cleaning, you name it! It was like he was born to go to the dentist. The hygienist even said that he was the best 2 year old and she has never been able to do so much on a 2 year old - just watch the video.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Carter's first movie!
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
Yes, we're a little crazy
When I got back from my first trip to Ghana I started looking into how we could host a student for a school year. Crazy, I know. I'm getting ready to add a one year old to my daily life and I want to add a teenager too? If you've been to Ghana, you probably already "get it". There are children everywhere needing an education, any education. It makes you want to bring them all home where they can attend public school for free!
Well, it's not so easy. I got home, made some calls and found out that in addition to their airline ticket of about $2000+, you have to work with an agency to get their visa sponsorship and this costs another $2000-3000. If we were going to spend that kind of money, it would be better to send it to Ghana to help more children. There were teenagers with family who could afford this, but it just didn't really feel right. We wanted to host a student who would give us better insight into Kwasi's life and culture. A family who can afford $5000 to send their child abroad, would be coming from a very different life than our little man.
A couple months after making these calls I was contacted by AFS. They had a couple of students from Ghana who had won an amazing scholarship - all expenses paid (air fair, visa costs, etc.) and they just needed a family to host them. These were students who would not be able to participate otherwise.
It immediately felt right to me, but as a mom, I had to think about it for 5 minutes. Would it be good for Kwasi? Would it be good for our student? Our AFS coordinator and I decided that if it didn't work out for our student, they would assist in finding her a better situation. As for Kwasi, we think it can only help. Seeing how our student adjusts will help us understand what our 1 year old who can't verbalize his thoughts might be thinking. What about our culture is overwhelming to him? She can also teach us about his culture and how to make some yummy Ghana food.
OK. I was all in, but I had to talk with Chris. I got my list ready and by that evening, he had agreed with my crazy idea.
So, I'd like to introduce you to Esinam! Esinam is 17 years old and the best word I can think of to describe her is delightful! We got to meet her whole family during our Ghana trip and they are wonderful people. She is very driven, top of her class, in almost every club she can join, etc. She seems very excited to teach us about Ghana and we can't wait to have her! She is even excited about having 2 little brothers. Right now she shares her room with her 3 sisters so she assured me that the boys won't be too much... We'll see :) She'll be arriving in just a few weeks - actually before Kwasi gets home :)
Esinam and her moms :) I'm having a heard time adjusting to her calling me mom. Afterall, I'm only 12 years older than her.
Well, it's not so easy. I got home, made some calls and found out that in addition to their airline ticket of about $2000+, you have to work with an agency to get their visa sponsorship and this costs another $2000-3000. If we were going to spend that kind of money, it would be better to send it to Ghana to help more children. There were teenagers with family who could afford this, but it just didn't really feel right. We wanted to host a student who would give us better insight into Kwasi's life and culture. A family who can afford $5000 to send their child abroad, would be coming from a very different life than our little man.
A couple months after making these calls I was contacted by AFS. They had a couple of students from Ghana who had won an amazing scholarship - all expenses paid (air fair, visa costs, etc.) and they just needed a family to host them. These were students who would not be able to participate otherwise.
It immediately felt right to me, but as a mom, I had to think about it for 5 minutes. Would it be good for Kwasi? Would it be good for our student? Our AFS coordinator and I decided that if it didn't work out for our student, they would assist in finding her a better situation. As for Kwasi, we think it can only help. Seeing how our student adjusts will help us understand what our 1 year old who can't verbalize his thoughts might be thinking. What about our culture is overwhelming to him? She can also teach us about his culture and how to make some yummy Ghana food.
OK. I was all in, but I had to talk with Chris. I got my list ready and by that evening, he had agreed with my crazy idea.
So, I'd like to introduce you to Esinam! Esinam is 17 years old and the best word I can think of to describe her is delightful! We got to meet her whole family during our Ghana trip and they are wonderful people. She is very driven, top of her class, in almost every club she can join, etc. She seems very excited to teach us about Ghana and we can't wait to have her! She is even excited about having 2 little brothers. Right now she shares her room with her 3 sisters so she assured me that the boys won't be too much... We'll see :) She'll be arriving in just a few weeks - actually before Kwasi gets home :)
Esinam and her moms :) I'm having a heard time adjusting to her calling me mom. Afterall, I'm only 12 years older than her.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
The first photo of my holding Kwasi. At this point in the trip, he still wasn't thrilled to be held by us so his foster mom passed him along after he fell asleep :) By the end of the trip, he was toddling into our room in the morning and would let us hold him for long stretches. HUGE progress!
We've made it home safely and are smothering Carter with hugs and kisses and gifts "from Kiki". We are headed out of town again this weekend so photos might have to wait a bit more!
We've made it home safely and are smothering Carter with hugs and kisses and gifts "from Kiki". We are headed out of town again this weekend so photos might have to wait a bit more!
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