Wordless Wednesday ~ Glad We Started Saving for School

The Nukie Fairy

The "Nukie Fairy" came to our house last night and exchanged Maaike's Nuk for a present, and a lovely note. It actually wasn't by my choice, although I'm not upset to see it go. The Nukie Fairy was an idea I got from a friend, and something I've been procrastinating in dealing with. After a few friends had mentioned they were getting rid of their kid's pacifiers, Maaike & I were having a chat about it when she decided, out of the blue, that last night was the night that she wanted to leave her Nukie for the Nukie Fairy. I explained that her Nuk would go to forever live with the Nukie Fairy and she would never see her again. She seemed to be okay with that, but I still gave her an "out". I told her that if, after she tried to get to sleep, she still wanted to exchange her Nuk for a present from the Nukie Fairy, all she had to do was leave her Nuk under her pillow and fall asleep without it. Well, wasn't I shocked when I went to check on her later that night: the Nuk was still under her pillow and she was fast asleep ...

And she has only mentioned it in passing once today ... didn't mention it at all at bed time tonight. I'm utterly surprised. I thought this was going to be the fight of my life. Funny how they surprise you just when you think you've got them all figured out ...

Birthday Brunch

This morning we had a birthday brunch/party for Maaike's 3rd birthday with her friends!

Here are some photos from the event. It was so much fun & she was spoiled rotten once again.

I've been saying she's going to have to go to "present rehab" when this Christmas and birthday present bonanza is finished, and I sincerely believe it to be true.

Thanks to everyone for joining us and helping us celebrate!

Ballerina Birthday Girl

Our beautiful little girl is 3 today!

Can't believe how time has flown, and how big she's grown! The difference a year makes is indescribable. Our little princess is a walking, talking, interactive child who loves to pretend and play and jump and dance; who loves to read and sing and swim and be tickled. She tries to be independent, but is also sometimes shy and a little insecure as she takes some steps out into this big new world. So glad I can be here to hold her hand and support her. We are so blessed and I am SOOOO proud to be her Mom!

Our 3rd Christmas in Moncton

A little glimpse into the O'Connells' life as it leads up to Christmas:

Christmas party at Eileen's (sitting with her "boyfriend", Felix)

Our nightly walk to check out the Christmas lights in the neighbourhood.

Cleo's new fave spot (I think she's hoping to catch Santa in person, and maybe be the hero leading his sleigh -- no more Rudoph books for you!)

Our little Christmas baking helper.

Our girl is SO EXCITED for Christmas to come! I love seeing the newness of it all through her eyes. From Santa to the "real" Christmas story, she is lapping it all up. Although it's actually her third Christmas, it's the first Christmas where she seems to really understand what's going on and that she's interested in all the festivities. Despite her fear when confronted with him directly, "I love Santa" is a familiar phrase in our home these days; and she was quite disappointed not to see "Baby Jesus" at church last Sunday.

I love this time of year so much more, just having her to enjoy it with us.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

The "P" Word

A topic my friends and family are tired of hearing about, but I need an outlet or I'm going to go berserk!!!

The "P" Word. It's the first thing the docs want to see from your babe before you leave the hospital, and forever after becomes a big deal in the life of a momma. What colour it is, its texture, and how often your new little cutie is making one. Then there comes a point when you want your LO to put that "P" word in the other taboo "P" word, hoping that, at least eventually, life will become easier. HA!

In our house, you can use either "P" word separately without much ado; however, using both "P" Words anywhere near each other and the tiniest member of our family will go into hysterics.

The "P" Words of which I speak are "Poop" and "Potty". Two seemingly normal words which, when training a 2-year-old, can wreak havoc on the lives of an entire family.

I am so incredibly frustrated with this situation and am feeling so alone in my struggle to find the answer. You would think SOMEONE out there has gone through this, has dealt with a little anti-poopster who squeezes her little bum cheeks together so tightly when she needs to go she makes herself blocked up to the point of needing enemas. Everyone's situations are different. I've been told/read everything from "don't talk about it" to "hold her down on the potty when she's holding it in and she won't have a choice" (which, in dealing with a child with a stubborn streak that matches only my own, only serves to strengthen the muscles of her little sphincter!). In other words, so far, nothing is working.

I have promised (and delivered) sweet treats, have rewarded little successes with great events and fabulous presents; I have sat with her for seemingly endless periods of time while she sits on the potty reading her books & singing songs. I have bought a special "magic" Dora potty seat that doesn't "allow" it to hurt; I've kept my lips shut for weeks on end, saying absolutely nothing; I've changed her diet (a diet that was already pretty good) to help things "move along"; I've offered for her to sit on the potty with her pull-up on; we've done panties full-time and pull-ups full time ... and here we sit after having had to give her yet ANOTHER enema over the weekend due to an intestinal blockage.

I want to cry.
I want to scream.
I want to (and have unsuccessfully tried to) explain things to her at her level.
I want to do it for her.

And, ultimately, I want to give up ...

Unfortunately, in our situation it's not a choice of giving up and just allowing her to poop in her pull-ups. Because she's holding it in DESPITE the fact that she's wearing a pull-up. She won't sit down to poop, she needs to stand and hold it in. Even after administering the enema, she wants to stand and tries desperately not to let it out. She hates the enema and I tell her that until she learns to poop on the potty, she's going to end up having more and more "bum medicine" (as she calls it). She agrees to do whatever it takes as long as she doesn't have to have more "bum medicine" ... until the time comes that she needs to poop. Then it's a major tantrum and she doesn't want to cooperate, no matter what the outcome.

This thing is obviously bigger than I am ... I'm at a loss.

There's gotta be something SOMEONE can tell me that will help. SOMEONE MUST have gone through this exact situation before. I'm ready to take out a full-page ad nation-wide just to get an answer and resolve the problem once and for all!

Maybe next time she gets a blockage, I'll drive the 3.5 hours to the IWK Children's Hospital in Halifax and see if THEY can help me. I'm desperate!!!!

Sunday Search

Can you find the cutest little mouse amongst these snuggly stuffed animals?