Politics and Running and Jibberish

This morning as I was watching MSNBC news, Michael caught wind of the heated discussion in regards to the debate.  And he said, "It's politics if you don't run, Mom.  So that's what it is."  He took the words right out of my mouth, you know?  : )  Josh overheard this conversation and he said that Michael is definitely his mother's son: running and politics all in one sentence.  

I'm so proud.  

Dry heaving...

The conclusion to the previous post:

Obviously, Michael needed to use the restroom at the cross country meet.  It didn't seem "appropriate" to take him to the bushes, so Josh reluctantly took him into a Johnny Blue for the first time.  I refused. (I'm pregnant and all, and subject to vomiting at the drop of a hat. How I love playing the pregnancy card!)  

As soon as Josh and Michael got into the Johnny Blue, Josh clearly and firmly told Michael to keep his hands to himself.  And, sure enough Michael reached out for the urinal. And, even rubbed his hand in it!!!  (EWWWWW!!!!) Josh wasn't fast enough to grab his hand!  (EWWWW!!!)

By the time the two of them got out of the Johnny Blue, they were both greatly stressed.  It was hysterical.  Michael was horrified by the conditions of the Johnny Blue.  (Truly, he was sickened!) As Josh and I were dousing him in purell and putting on his shoes, Michael stated that, "We need to buy them water, Mom. The potty did not have any water, Mom.  Why it not have water, Mom?"  

Towards the end of our excursion, Josh declared that he needed to use the restroom before we began the journey home.  Michael announced that he would NOT be going back in "one of those things."  He was pretty much traumatized.  Thank goodness for Josh that day because I would have marched Michael over to the woods if I were by myself in that situation!  Taking a child to a public restroom is bad enough, but a Johnny Blue is just unacceptable in my mind.

Never in my life, did I think that I would be writing about the adventures in a Johnny Blue!  I just hope this is the last time... Josh and I sure did have a good laugh about it, though.  

While we were at the meet, Michael made "hay bales" for his cow, Moo.  Thankfully, we talked him down from bringing all that grass in the car.  I really thought he was going to have a temper tantrum when we told him that the hay bale needed to stay in the field.  

Works like a charm!

From time to time, I watch Jon and Kate Plus Eight.  Last week I caught an episode on "Discipline".  And, I'm happy to say that I really, truly learned a little something about how to discipline this little rascal of ours!  As I've mentioned before, we're a time out family.  : ) Michael has a special time out chair on the first floor, as well as on the second floor. Time-outs generally involve an escalation of emotion (on both parts), with lots of screaming, crying, kicking, spitting, and so on.  It's UG-GGGG-LY!  

As I was watching Jon and Kate, they showed how they do time outs.  And it's soooo much more effective than the way that I have been implementing time outs.  They have a time out corner in every room, and instead of making a big production of giving a time out, they just simply say, "Go to the corner."  Of course, the child still cries, kicks, and screams, but it seems to be much less of a production.  

I've been working on this with Michael over the past few weeks, and it really-really-really works!  Why, just this evening I gave him a little time out and made him sit on the rug in front of the screened in porch!  There was no crying, no carrying him to the time out chair. He sat quietly, and then got up after three minutes.  I like the idea of having a time out spot in each room, for whatever reason it's just easier to say, "Go sit in the corner, RIGHT NOW!!!"  than to ensure that he's sitting on the time out chair for three minutes (or, until he's quiet, calm, and apologetic.)  

Josh distributes time outs without hesitation, and I'm learning to implement his strategy, as well.  I give Michael way too many chances.  Now that I've learned the "corner technique", maybe I can turn a corner with discipline.  Let's hope, anyway.

Is this what we're in for?

A friend from school recently told me that the "three's" are the most difficult age.  He has two children, a son three months older than Michael and a daughter who is in kindergarten.  I smiled politely and thought, "Whatever!  I don't believe it.  My son is so cute and sweet!" (Ha.)

  

Actually, though, my friend is right!  It's been two weeks since Michael's third birthday, and I believe that friend's theory.  Wholeheartedly.  From the lack of potty training/voluntarily pooping in the underwear (makes me want to VOMIT!!), to the night time temper tantrums, to the refusal to share, and to this newfound sense of independence/big boy-ed-ness (made up a word...):  I believe that friend.  

In fact, I think a number of people have warned me about the "three's".   I just put those negative comments out of my mind because we were blissfully living in the land of the "terrible two's".  Maybe I'm just especially tired and cranky, but I think that we've hit a little speed bump, or a maybe a deer in the middle of the road.  I'm not sure really sure what you'd call what we've hit, but I do know that it's been a difficult two weeks since we've hit the three's!  And, if your child has not hit the three's?  Beware.  : ) 

This photo is indicative of our current situation, he chose to wear a winter hat (that doesn't fit) on a walk around the neighborhood.  The temperature has been in the 90's for the past week.  My thought on the matter:  Fine, Michael.  You want to wear a hat that is going to make you miserably hot?  Fine.  I'm trying my best to pick only the very best battles.

"It's your choice."

When Michael is about to make a decision that is "time out worthy", I often tell him that he needs to "make a choice".  This is also something that I say daily to my middle school students.  Children need to know that they always have  a choice, one might be better than the other, but there's ALWAYS a choice.  I think this is important for even two year olds/three year olds to understand, it teaches self determination.  For example, when Michael tries to play chase prior to his bath, I tell him (actually, loudly state) that he has a choice.  He can either come by the time that I count to three OR I will come pick him up (he is now at the point where he does not like to be picked up).  In most situations, he comes by the time I get to two. This happens frequently throughout our day, I won't go through the huge list of examples when this "parenting" (aka...manipulation) tactic is used.  

This evening, Josh and I were told TWICE by Michael that we had a choice.  While Josh and Michael were slurping down chicken noodle soup for dinner, Michael asked Josh for more toast.  Josh told him that he needed to eat more soup before he could have another piece of toast.  He then told Josh, "you have a CHOICE, Dad! You have a choice."  Michael then proceeded to tell Josh that he would tell his Mom and his Nina, if Josh didn't fork over the toast.  I could not help but laugh! 

We just might have another attorney in the family... keep the practice running, Granddad for a few more years!!  Michael is learning quickly....

A Stubborn Streak

Michael seems to be a little bit on the stubborn side. 

 For weeks, actually months, he has convinced himself that he can not put his shoes on without help.  When Josh and I instruct him to at least try, he moans, groans, and pouts.  There have been a few occasions where he has mastered this skill without help, though he quickly forgets that he was, indeed, able to put his shoes on without help.  

However!  We have finally made progress!He is now a "pro" at putting his shoes on.   Thank goodness (!) because bending over at the waist isn't as easy as it used to be!  Michael can now put any type of shoe on his foot:  crocs, sandals, and even sneakers (he calls them "tennis shoes").  He is so proud of this newfound skill.  In fact, he is so proud that he has to put his shoes on before bed, right after his bath, as soon as he wakes from his nap.  Anytime this boy is barefoot, he reaches quickly for his shoes!  In the above picture, taken on his birthday, Michael snuck out of his room, grabbed his sneakers, put them ON, and hopped back into bed and fell asleep with his shoes on. (Notice that they're on the wrong feet!  : ) )

Now, if we could only convince him to poop on the potty; we'd really be in business!  He's convinced himself that he simply CAN NOT  poop on the potty.  In fact, he's been "holding it" as an attempt to AVOID the number 2 on the potty!  Fun stuff, we've got going on in three year old land, I tell you!!  This is just another reason that I can't wait for summer break:  potty training boot camp.  I'm hopeful, though, that once he catches on (like with the shoes!) that we'll have no trouble getting this kiddo potty trained.  We'll see, though.  I have to convince him that he can do it first, which is no easy task! He always does things when he's good and ready, and not a moment too soon.  And, boy can he be stubborn!  : ) 

On the road again.

"On the road again. Just can't wait to get on the road again. The life I love is runnin' with my friends. And I can't wait to get on the road again"

Last Tuesday as Michael and I were walking to the car at the sitter's house, he asked me a very sweet question. He looked at me and point blank said, "Are you a runner, Mom?" I couldn't help but giggle. I was sick as a dog at this point, still, and couldn't possibly think about running one single step last week.

Yesterday was my first day back to my running "regiment". It was a miserable and exhausting run, I honestly can't even pretend it was fun. I took about a week and a half off, and with being sick, my stamina was nil. Today was a different story, however! I met two running friends and we ran about five miles, or so. I felt, surprisingly, stronger than yesterday AND I wasn't ready to fall over with exhaustion today at school. It seems I have finally recovered from the virus, thank goodness! I have a few running goals for this spring: a half marathon in April (the 20th) and a 10K in early May. In order to run another half, I've got to start running on the weekends again and increasing the distance of my "long" weekend run. I love the half marathon distance, and I really do enjoy running a little bit longer on the weekends.

Michael is also a runner! Check out the following pictures from this evening. This is his starting position for running in a race. He runs races against himself every evening. We're a quirky family, I know. I love how the start of his race is all about the pointer finger placement. Don't you? He says the finger placement cuts down on his time.

"On the road again Goin' places that I've never been . Seein' things that I may never see again, And I can't wait to get on the road again."

Quirky

He's a quirky little thing!  

This morning, when I got home from mass, I walked into the playroom and saw this:

Immediately, I asked Josh if he helped Michael create this line.  He said no, apparently Michael came up with this configuration on his own accord.  If you notice, Michael lined up his trucks and cars from biggest to smallest. To top this off, he added a frog to each truck or car.  (Before our San Antonio trip last summer, I bought Michael a set of frogs and butterflies from Target.  He forgot about these guys until this weekend.) You might need to click on the picture above of the cars and trucks to see the frogs, it's so funny!

All day he has been creating all sorts of configurations and lines with the frogs and cars.  It's quite hilarious.  I think what catches my eye the most is that he lines his toys with such care and perfection.

Maybe all this lining and organizing means that he'll do well with patterns in math.  That would make me happy.  : ) Tomorrow I'm going to work on creating a few albums for the blog.  I've got some wonderful pictures of this little guy to share.  And, thank you to everyone for the get well wishes!  I'm feeling 100% better.  Thank goodness we didn't have school on Friday.  All the rest (and, no running!) has helped me bounce back quickly.  (Yay!)

Time Will Tell:

It seems as though we've got ourselves a little winter weather advisory, Yummy...Yummy!! In light of the advisory and the snowy forecast, Michael and I decided  to bake chocolate chip cookies.  Why? Not real sure what the correlation is between snow and sweet treats, but it seems to work for this family.  And, besides, I don't think you ever need an excuse to bake cookies.  Right?

Unfortunately, though, the cookies weren't all that great. They were flat, kinda like pancakes.  I did make the mistake of letting Michael stir the flour/baking soda mixture.  I'll have to find something else for him to "help" with the next time we bake.  I have this hunch that a good bit of the baking soda was stirred right out of the bowl, just like 1/4 cup of flour! Oh well.  We'll just have to try again, right?  

I'm really hoping for a snowy run tomorrow morning. Those runs are my favorites, w

hen the world is so quiet and beautiful.  It's funny to me how much

 I've changed since I've be

come a mother.  At this point I know that I'm not going to sleep in regardless, snow day or not. So, I might as well take advantage of the peaceful morning and run in the snow.  Pre-Michael?  I would have woken for the snow report (or cancellation) and then hopped back into bed and slept until 10 am or so.  Those days are long gone!  I like things better this way, I was missing out on a lot in our pre-Michael days.  

What day is it again?

The holidays have left me in a haze lately. The past two evenings I have found myself to be more tired than usual, and I'm blaming my exhaustion on the laundry that is coming out the "Wha-Zoo" and the late nights from last weekend. I think I'm starting to make a dent in the laundry, which is good.

Today Michael received his flu shot. We were, of course, late by ten minutes. The nurse graciously took us back, however. On our way to the ped's office, I talked to Michael about what was going to happen; basically, I just told him that he was going to get a flu shot at Dr. Dan's office. As we talked about the appointment in the car, he asked why he needed to get a shot. And, my response was, "so you won't get sick with the flu, Michael." Naturally, the smarty pants boy said, "I not sick, Mommy. I not sick. " I tried my best to skirt around the issue by saying things like: the flu shot will keep you healthy, it's just time to get the shot, so you won't get sick, etc., etc, etc! At one point we were still going round and round about the fact that has WAS NOT SICK. At that point, I finally said, "Can you say Pre-VEN-ta-TIVE medicine, Michael? This is preventative medicine. It prevents you from getting sick." He seemed to understand (yeah right, I know...). However, he did sound out the word with me and we used it a few times later in the day as an attempt to build his vocabulary.

The shot went fine. He freaked when he saw the needle, but was happy as a lark 30 seconds later. After the appointment at the ped's we went to a bball game near our house. We know a special seventh grader who had a game this evening, so we went to cheer for him and to see his parents. The seventh grader melted my heart this evening when he thanked us for coming to watch him (TWICE!). I absolutely love manners, especially in teens.

Our school week is quickly passing us by, it is Thursday...Right? ; )