The boys use Much Less Fancy words. Polite for them is "going to take a crap." We had a discussion about this before staying the summer next door to grandma. Now when Brendon asks to "please be excused" from the dinner table we all crack up then he adds, "because I need to go to the restroom, to do stuff." And we lose it again while I explain to mom that it is an improvement.

Sorry to interrupt the potty talk - but I must SQUEEEEEEEEEE.

I slugged into work this morning, late, grumpy. The usual. Opened e-mail and slugged through all the requests for work until I hit something odd. A message from one of my most demanding project managers. Now, I must say that while he is demanding, he knows what he wants, knows the company procedures, and is very clear in his instructions. I don't mind working with him at all - rather his requests than the half-assed requests I get from others. But I digress. His project is coming to an end. This thing has been a MONSTER. And he sent me a $200 gift certificate as a thank you for my efforts.

WOOOOOT!!! Ok, will likely spend it on kids school clothes, but still WOOOOOOOT!!!!

Happy Katie Bee Day!

I tremble at the prospect of potty training.

Our current thing is that Matilda is now (mostly) sleeping through the night (one or two brief awakenings, but a hug and a kiss and she goes right back down), but she's no longer eating solids. At least, not at home, not for me.

Her day care provider reports that she is a contented and enthusiastic eater; my mom reports no trouble at all; when I plop her in the chair, or prop her on the couch, or set her in my lap, and attempt solids, she clamps her lips, waggles her head, and then starts wailing and trying to flee. I can usually get two or three mouthfuls in her while she's sobbing, and she'll swallow them with a brief Hmmmm, that was tasty! expression interrupting the screeching, but two or three mouthfuls is it.

I'm trying not to stress, since she's eating something somewhere and she's continuing to take the bottle without a fuss and I've read from many sources that making feedings an Issue just sets you up for Issues with Food. But then I worry that I should be more worried. Someone, please, tell me it's normal.

Also, I'm madly taking notes on all the Buffista potty training techniques, and vibing hard for Owen to give his poor folks a break and get with the program before school starts.

So tired of applying for jobs.

So tired of children's television.

Trying to work up energy to take Em to stupid Treehouse.

Going mad.

I'm trying not to stress, since she's eating something somewhere and she's continuing to take the bottle without a fuss and I've read from many sources that making feedings an Issue just sets you up for Issues with Food.

In my experience, I think this is totally true. I have had two friends with little girls with major food issues (one doesn't eat anything but yogurt, pediasure and french fries). I think food and potty issues are the ultimate control issues - parents just can't make stuff go in our out of their kids.

MM, I totally sympathize. Towards the end of my time home with Ellie, I was so ready to be anywhere but home with her.

My mother used to say micturate all the time (funny, my spell checker says its not a word) but we said "tinkle". My MIL, who was a nurse, used to say "void".

I have had two friends with little girls with major food issues

You don't have to be a parent to feel the effects. We hosted a family July 4 party. Numerous picnic food options. 8YO niece wanted cold cereal.

OK, she'd just had her tonsils out a couple of weeks before. But we had enough things there to make a soft food meal out of.

I've already decided that future meals will involve mac&cheese.

Yay Suzi! Nice to be appreciated. Also, agree with you on the demanding but clear preference. Just tell me what you want from me.

Just tell me what you want from me.

Perzactly. I get so frustrated with unresponsive project managers, or ones who have no clue even though I have walked them through various processes numerous times. Snarl.

Being appreciated is VERY nice and really made my day. HAH - watch out world.

Steph L.'s little girl from the FAC is almost exactly my daughter, with both the pul-up pooping AND the "I need my privacy." But happily we got Casper to poop in the potty before 4 (3.5, I think). Potty training was so stressful for me. Ugh.

JZ, there's a good book called Why Won't My Kid Eat? that I liked a lot. Basically, they can subsist on very little, and there is a big weight plateau from 9-18 months, so unless the ped is worried, no need to be worried, and forcing a baby to eat is baaaad.

MM, I suggest a playgroup. What, there's not stay-at-home-dada support group in MI? There should be!

And in conclusion, I know a 4 year old who said to mr. flea as he picked her up to put on a swing, "I'm heavy, because I'm fat." So sad. She has a stocky build, but has been that way since birth, and in no way is currently fat or even chubby. She's just built square. I am pretty sure it's her grandmother who has made her think this, so even talking to her mother won't accomplish much. Still - ugh.