Embarrassing Moments

Tali's at the age where there are quite a few embarrassing moments for me (I'll get to embarrass her in about 10 years). Putting down the potty in the driveway of someone's house doesn't bother me. Neither does getting a bit messy at a restaurant (as long as she's well behaved). But within the past week there have been two distinct moments where I wanted to hide.

Last week, at the end of our shopping trip at Whole Foods, Tali told me she had to go potty. So I brought her into the bathroom and sat her on the toilet. She went and as I was washing up, I heard the alarm go off. I peeked outside to see if everyone was evacuating and no one seemed to notice. Then Tali told me she had to go again. I put her back on the potty and someone knocked on the door to ask if everything was okay. Turns out she pulled the emergency string next to the toilet! Ugh, I just wanted to disappear.

Yesterday, we were in a cafe picking up some salad and Tali walked away from me. I told her to come back and she walked back towards me with a giant ginger cookie that she'd taken a bite out of (plastic wrapper and all). I told her she couldn't just take things, that she had to ask and I took the cookie away from her. As I picked up my salad, she walked away again. I turned around to see her with two sugar cookies in one hand and munching on a piece of rugelach in the other hand! At this point I was both embarrassed and angry. So I paid for all of the cookies along with our salad and left. The entire way home, I explained to her that I was mad and she cannot just take cookies (to be fair, they were all on tables right at her height), that she must ask me first. When we got home, she began to repeat what I said in the car. It's hard to stay mad when she's being so funny!

(Apologies for the jumpy video. Jackson was trying to get me to play tug while I was recording.)

Ginger

In one of the many food documentaries I've convinced H to watch over the past few years, there was a scene that's had a big impact on how I raise Tali. The cameras and narrator went into a first grade classroom with a basket of fresh produce and other healthy foods. When asked to identify things such as potatoes, chicken or broccoli, none of the kids could do it. But, they could instantly identify French fries and chicken nuggets. I was horrified - guess the documentary made it's point. I have vowed to teach my children to recognize and eat as many healthy foods as possible.

As Tali and I are at the grocery store at least twice a week, I use some of that time to teach her about these different foods. When we walk through the produce section, I quiz her on what I am putting into the cart. By now she's pretty good and often identifies things that I am not buying. Today one of the items was ginger. I don't use it that often so I didn't expect her to know what it was. I was right. But once I told her it was ginger, her response was "try ginger." I explained to her that I had to cut it first and she could try it later at home. She quickly went back to the mango she was eating and I assumed that was the end of it. Nope.

This afternoon Tali saw a few ingredients for tonight's dinner sitting on the counter. Without me asking, she said, "that's a pepper" and "that's a onion" but then she pointed to the ginger and asked what it was. I told her it was ginger and again she asked to try it. Since I always encourage her to try different foods (and I never tell her she won't like something as I believe she can determine that for herself), I cut her a tiny piece. She ate it, made a face and asked for some milk. After she washed it down, she left the kitchen for a few minutes. Then she reappeared and asked for more ginger! She ate another small bite and again drank some milk.  I had a few more pieces ready for her but I guess that was all she could handle. Even though it was just two pieces, I am impressed. That's a lot of flavor for a 2-year-old!

They Grow Up So Fast

This was taken immediately after Tali said "Come on Jackson, let's go."

Potty Training

Inspired by the (never updated) signs in the NYC subway, I have created a new sign that is now posted on the door to our downstairs bath. Too bad Tali can't read yet. But she is a rock star in her new "someglasses."

Potty Training By Accident

On Friday morning, I began potty training Tali. This happened by total accident as I didn't really think she was ready yet. But, she'd developed a terrible diaper rash and I needed to keep her diaper free for a few hours. So I figured if she was already going to be diaperless, I might as well take out the potty and try.

I'm happy to report that we had success right away! Although Tali's been peeing on the potty after her bath each evening, I haven't done more than that. But on Friday, she used the potty consistently throughout the day. There were no accidents on Friday or Saturday (I put a diaper on her when we went out of the house and for nap/bed time) and we had our first, and so far only, accident this morning.

Initially, Tali wasn't even excited that she went on the potty. Now she gets it and is a bit more excited as she's figured out it's a good thing. So far it's been pretty easy but that's all going to change on Tuesday when she goes to nursery school. I think I will attempt to send her without a diaper (and extra pants!) and see what happens. But, who knows, by then I might change my mind.


P.S. I took a great picture of her reading on the potty last night. But in order to save on future therapy bills, I am not going to post it. Use your imagination. =)

Behind the Line

(Tali standing behind the line, which is right in front of her puppy.)

About four or five days ago, I was on the phone with Aunt Ilana when our conversation was constantly interrupted by me telling Tali that she was too close to the TV. So Aunt Ilana suggested I put a line on the carpet and tell her that she has to stay behind it. Great idea! And it's working! I am using masking tape to draw a line on the carpet each morning. Tali still goes in front of the line sometimes, but she's not touching the TV as often. And she'll even say "Tali behind the line" now.  I love things that make my life easier.

Making Himself Known

It's been quite an interesting week for me and Baby D2. I haven't written much about this pregnancy because I've been too busy with Tali but this week is worth reporting on. (Sorry this is so long.)

Last Friday, I had my monthly check-up and my glucose screening. The test is now about 2 1/2 hours and they draw blood three times. Luckily, there is a lab two floors above my doctor's office that can do the screening so I decided to get it done there in between my appointment. After my first round of blood drawing and drinking the sugar drink (cola flavor - yuck), I went down for my appointment. As my doctor is looking at Baby D2 on the ultrasound, her face suddenly gets very serious. She tells me that his heart rate is dropping very low. She watches it for a minute or two and then tells me I need to get down to the hospital right away so that the baby can be monitored for a bit. As far as the glucose test, she tells me, I can try to get them to draw my blood there, but I might just have to start it over another day.

I drive down to the hospital, check in, and managed to find someone to do my blood. I then wait for an ultrasound technician to take a look. She watches for a while and the heart beat seems okay. Then a doctor comes in and looks for a while. He says it's okay as well and it was probably a combination of fasting for the glucose test and laying too flat at the doctor's office. But, I still need to have the heart rate monitored for 15 minutes. So I go back to the waiting room and I realize that my babysitter won't be able to stay with Tali until I get home. I make some phone calls and find a friend in our complex who can take Tali. I get my blood drawn again and then go for the heart rate monitoring. But since I was only 25 weeks, the baby is still moving a lot and it's near impossible to monitor for 15 consecutive minutes so they do 30 - moving the lobes around from time to time. Before I can leave the hospital, I have to pick up my blood and drive it back up to the lab where my first blood was drawn as all three samples have to be sent for processing at the same time. I finally made it home just in time to put Tali down for her nap.

The weekend was uneventful but then Monday rolled around. I get an e-mail from my doctor that I don't have diabetes but my platelet count is very high. She asks me to call my GI doctor and see if one of my medications could cause this. He explains that my count could rise if I am having a minor flare-up (even though I have no symptoms) and that if it's between 450-500, there is no reason to worry. He asks me to get the exact number and call him back. I learn my number is 531 and call him back. He then says it should be fine and if it gets over 600 then we'll worry.

Later that evening, I had some cramping. I never had any cramping when I was pregnant with Tali so I looked it up but it seemed to be normal so I went to bed. I woke up with cramping again and then began to have some discharge (another thing that never happened with Tali) that continued for a few hours. I called the doctor (right as she was walking into surgery - I felt so bad!) and she told me I should come in and get checked out, just to be safe. After the heart beat dropping and the platelets increasing, she wanted to make sure everything was okay. Once I secured care for Tali - some time with the babysitter and then off to another friend's house in the complex - I went to the doctor. One of the other doctors in the practice checked me out and everything was okay. My doctor called me later that evening to see what her colleague had said and then told me that she's had patients give birth at this stage so they don't mess around. Yikes!

Yesterday, while at the grocery store, I had my first ever Braxton Hicks contraction. I actually had to stop for a minute until it passed. I didn't have any more contractions that day so I'm not too worried. They can start this early but hopefully that one was just a fluke.

Out of all this, the one good thing is that I've learned Tali can go play at a friend's house without me. Both friends said she was perfectly fine at their house. She played with their daughters (same age as Tali) and ate (of course). No crying, no misbehaving - just an extra toddler running around.

Jackson's Advocate

On Sunday, Tali took on a new role - Jackson's advocate. When she woke up in the morning, I told her that we were going to Saba and Savta's that day. Her response was "Jackson come with us." We hadn't planned on bringing Jackson so I told her that Jackson would stay home. All morning, she said "Go to Saba, Savta's, Jackson come with us." So, we decided to take him.

But before we went to Saba and Savta's, we had to go to a camp orientation. As soon as we got in the car, Tali said "Jackson in the car." I explained to her that Jackson couldn't come with us to camp but we'd go back to get him. As we were leaving camp, she reminded us that we needed to go get Jackson. We stopped home and picked him up.

As soon as we arrived at Saba and Savta's, the first thing Tali said was "Savta, get Jackson water." So she did. It was Aunt Judy's birthday so everyone was there and Jackson had a blast. His tail wagged for a few hours straight.

It's a good think Tali convinced us to take Jackson because we ended up staying there pretty late as H wanted to work on our taxes with Saba. Jackson was able to get walked at his normal time and wasn't home alone all day. She really loves that dog and he owes her a huge thank you.