Two weeks back, I seized the opportunity to try out Lilli's potty proficiency when a cold effectively grounded us. We cranked the heat and relished watching Lilli go about her daily activities half-naked from her waist down. Toddler bellies, bottoms and legs are wonderfully delicious. By day 3 she was running unprompted to the potty to pee. She refused to go near the potty on day 4 and 5 - why I have no idea, but needless to say it was exasperating. Now, two weeks later she's a pro at peeing on the potty. We've only experienced a few misses which have been completely understandable, such as peeing in the little red car at the local playroom was a more preferable choice than leave the car open to thievery while she dashed to the potty. If only it had central locking. Pooping on the potty is not so easy and neither is poopy pants in public. Bear with me while I describe one of our first diaperless public poops and you'll understand my reluctance to leave the house when I know one is brewing. Lilli is playing with the train table at the local shopping center when she turns to me with an "ut-oh poop" and a look of panic. The offending article rolls down her leg and comes to a standstill at the top of her shoe, I dash her to the bathroom after obtaining the door code from a store owner, sit Lilli on the travel potty while I gingerly remove her trousers. She refuses to stay sitting and stands up squishing one socked heel in the poop. She runs around the bathroom in her poopy socks, I give chase. A woman is trying to get by me to a stall yet my massive jogging stroller, the potty, my exploded diaper bag and myself grabbing hold of a protesting poop-covered toddler is blocking the way. I find my wipes, clean her bottom, legs and feet, and dress her in one of the many spare outfits I now tote around. Now Lilli is off exploring every nasty nook and cranny of the bathroom while I try to clean up the mess. I finally wash her hands and strap her into the stroller. At which point she realises she is not going to return to the train table she was so enjoying and a tantrum ensues. Twenty minutes has easily passed now since we entered the bathroom and we need to get home for supper. I discover it's snowing outside and Lilli is shoeless and sockless. I was seriously stressed and exhausted by the time we arrived home. These are trying times!
The stuffy nose that prompted the potty training also forced another big change in our lives. Lilli's nose was so blocked that she was unable to breathe while nursing. It seemed to be the right time to call it a day. We both miss the comfort of the bedtime nurse. Lilli has found it much harder to fall asleep, but tonight she finally seems to have fallen asleep quickly. But perhaps that's because she has refused to nap for the past three days and she is exhausted!
I hope the recent spate of poor sleeping isn't entirely the result of the potty training and weaning. Her brain is buzzing with new words and we hear her long conversations with her teddies over the monitor. She is pushing limits with me in particular and consequently I feel as though I am saying NO all day long. Channeling her to a sedentary task such as puzzles and drawing is almost impossible right now - not so last month! Her favourite games are all so active - playing chase around the chair, hide and seek, building forts, jumping and spinning to music, bouncing on the couch, jiggety-joggity on Mummy's back. She loves cooking supper with Daddy and cleaning the house with me. Her blossoming language is allowing me wonderful glimpses of her world. At the garden store the other day she was transfixed by the colourful Koi Carp swimming around the pond. Some were as big as Lilli. Every once in a while they would surface and open their wide mouths at Lilli, probably hoping for some tasty tidbit. Lilli loved them. She tried hard to strip off her clothes so she could join them in their watery wonderland. She was insistent they were having a bath. We have many debates that run like this:
Lilli pointing at fish: "Bath, bath"
Mummy: "That's a fish pond."
Lilli: "Bath, BATH"
Mummy: "The fish are swimming in a pond. They live in the water. It's different from a bath."
Lilli, undressing: "BATH, BATH"
Mummy, pulling clothes back down over Lilli's big round tummy: "You have your bath after supper, this is the fishies pond."
And so on ....
Which reminds me of yesterday's animal meeting between Lilli and the Coot. Arriving with a few minutes to spare before our playdate I decided to see if I could coax Lilli to the lake to see the ducks. She was reluctant to venture far for it was early in the morning and the ground was still frozen and our breath was curling in the cold air. At the lake shore an old woman was throwing bread crumbs to a large crowd of ducks, coots and gulls who encircled her, shoving and dancing around each other for prime positions. She was talking to them as if they were old friends. Lilli was delighted by the birds, in particular the noisy gulls, which she tried to follow much to their consternation. Whenever Lilli turned her back to the quacking flock, one particular coot would break away and waddle hopefully after her, almost tripping on her heels. When Lilli turned around and found herself red-nose to beak with this persistent coot she squealed with delighted excitement.
On my next post I will have to tell about Lilli's obsession with her two friends, Juni and Reed, but now it's time to settle in front of the TV with my feet tucked under Jon's legs and warm my hands on my cup of fruit tea.
