Heather's Diary Entries Diary Navigation: Choose A Diary Entry -------------------- Latest Entry: 1/14/08 -------------------- 4/20/07 4/13/07 4/6/07 3/30/07 3/12/07 12/5/06 10/10/06 8/25/06 7/24/06, Entry 3 7/24/06, Entry 2 7/24/06, Entry 1 7/5/06 6/6/06, Entry 2 6/6/06, Entry 1 -------------------- Heather's Introduction

12/05/06 - A big recap of the past 2 months

December 5, 2006

This may be a bit rough, since I'm writing it completely off the cuff with no re-reads or edits!  I'm sitting in a hotel room in Indianapolis during the VERY LAST NIGHT of my traveling stint!!!  WOO HOOOOOOOO!!!

So.............here's what we've been up to in the last two months (the condensed version, that is):

THE TRAVELING

While traveling has its perks (nice dinners on the company dollar, quiet hotel rooms, free cable) I really miss home when I'm away.  There's nothing that makes me happier than being home with my boys!  It's so hard to listen to that little voice saying, "I love you, Mommy!" from another state. 

Being away from home once a month for the past 4 months has made me appreciate my husband a little more, that's for sure!  I miss having him to cuddle up to on these cold winter nights.  I miss not watching Boston Legal with him and listening to him crack up at Shatner.  I miss just having him in the same space with me. 

THE GOOD NEWS

We've had lots of good news here lately!

I've been promoted at work, from an administrative level to a professional level with a really nice raise.  When my boss told me what my new salary was going to be, I think my eyes bugged out of my head (not because it's so extravagant, but for me it's big!).  Along with the raise, I also get a higher percentage bonus each year and I also get a few other little perks.  Definitely a big deal for me!

Steve has gotten a job with the same company I work for.  He starts on the 11th and will be doing some proactive customer follow-up stuff.  This is also great news because it pays very well and he can still do freelance video work on the side, while getting all of the benefits that I have (401k, paid vacation, bonus, etc.).

THE BOY

So what's up with Aidan, you ask?  Why, he's entering many interesting new phases lately!

He's very into the alphabet lately.  He loves to play with his letter books and has made of game of reciting the alphabet.  At any time or place he'll say, "A, Mommy" and that signifies the beginning of the game.  It's then my job to say, "B, Boo Boo" and then he'll answer with "C, Mommy".  When we finally get to Z he'll say, "Sunshine!"  I have no idea what that means!  After that, we have to start all over again.  He never tires of this game!

He's also very big on saying "just" - as in "I just want to sleep in your bed, Mommy" or "I just want to watch Elmo, Mommy". 

He's such an affectionate little guy.  He'll come over to me, give me a big hug and say, "I'm your sweetie, Mommy".  Steve was outside building a fire in our new fire chimney (that my parents bought us for our anniversary) and Aidan was outside helping him.  Aidan was getting all excited about the fire and he said, "I'm your fire sweetie, Daddy!"  Ha!  That cracked me up.  A few days later, he was walking down the stairs and he said, "I'm your stair sweetie!"  he he

Aidan's Favorite Things Right Now: 

Favorite Song - "Everybody Everybody (le freak mix)" by Black Box.  He calls this the "ow" song (listen to it and you'll know why)

Favorite video - "Elmo Visits the Firehouse".  He wants to watch NOTHING else right now when he's home!

Favorite food - frozen blueberries

THE POTTY TRAINING

The potty training is coming along, but it's a long process.  He's really getting comfortable with the peeing (even using the BIG potty) but he does NOT want to go #2 in there........and there have been a few unfortunately accidents, like the pee-on-the-couch incident. 

What works - putting him in either Big Boy Underpants or letting him run around naked.  The naked method works GREAT because it's most inconvenient for him to have an accident.  He'll start to pee and stop himself immediately (except for said incident above).  We have hardwood floors, so a quick mopping corrects any little slips.  Underwear are a close 2nd, but.......

What doesn't work - Pull-ups.  I had read this in the SuperNanny book and my sister confirmed that Pull-Ups don't seem to provide the, eh, proper motivation (or should I say discomfort).  They're just too much like diapers, I fear.  So we use the Pull-ups only when he's going out in public......just until he gets the hang of it.

The potty training has also brought about is a certain, eh, awareness of a very uncomfortable nature.  Aidan seems to have not only discovered where the pee comes from but has developed quite an appreciation for the body part that produces it.  This has been quite a shock to me!  I had seen links to articles in my monthly development emails but stupidly assumed that it didn't pertain to MY little boy!  Now that's denial at its finest!!

After reading said articles, though, I was reassured to know that this is perfectly normal and doesn't signal that anything is wrong.  As the article put it, without a diaper on, my little guy is free to "explore", etc.  So it's normal......but it is still a bit uncomfortable!!  As the article said, though, the only thing I can really do wrong is make a big deal about it and shame him or freak him out.  So as weird as it is, we just subtly redirect him when the issue presents itself. 

Did I do a good job of presenting that in a non-gross way?  I tried REALLY hard. 

THE SEASON

Tis the season and I am LOVING it!!!!  Ooh, I love Christmastime.  I've gotten some shopping done and I'm really looking forward to Aidan's response to Santa this year!

We tried to go see Santa a few weekends ago but he was having none of it.  I sat next to Santa with Aidan on my lap and that was even too close for him.  Ah well, maybe next year.......

It's getting late here in Indy and I have another long day of training tomorrow so I have to sign off before I'm really finished.  I'll post again after Aidan's 3rd Birthday on 12/16/06. 

Wow - 3 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Christmas Greetings to you all,

H&A