Potty Training

Oh Potty Training. How I loathe the.

We have been doing this potty thing for over a year. Today a lady told me her daughter, who is 4 days older then Amali, has been potty trained since she was 18 months. I felt so upset that we are so far behind. Yes, I know that many are not trained until they are 3 or even older. And that is fine for them. I feel like a failure because I have been trying so hard at something that is not happening. I realize she will learn when she is ready, but I feel like so much of it is my responsibility. What am I doing wrong?

We will keep trying. And trying different things.

New Car!

Yes, I am very excited. The Rodriguez family (that's us) bought our first car together this week! Mauro has had the same truck for a few years before we were married, and I had been given vehicles from my parents and sister. But this week, we grew up a little. Our fancy new (used) car is a 2005 Subaru Outback Limited. WooHoo! Mauro had been searching Craigslist for a few months now, we knew it was time for something bigger with another bebe on the way, and all of the 'stuff' that comes with them! The car has a rack (storage, not boobs,) leather, huge sunroof, huge hatchback, heated seats, great stereo, plenty of space for our soon to be family of FOUR! We had to do some serious scrubbing, but it now smells and looks beautiful. One more cleaning of the leather and I'll be happy. No used car comes from Craigslist without needing a few things, but we worked that knowledge into the price and feel like we got an amazing deal. Over the next month we will put new tires, new O2 sensor, and a few other technical things that Mauro knows about. I am so thankful for how smoothly the deal worked out, except for getting lost in Houston to look at it. We will sell our car and truck, but have some time to get the price we want, which is great. Happy!

Needless to say, this week has been completely off schedule! Not only did we buy a car on Tuesday, on Wednesday Mauro didn't have to go into work so we got to spend the day together. We snuggled, cleaned, scrubbed, talked, and had a wonderful day as a family. Amali was thrilled that Pape wasn't at work.

Thursday was interesting. Mauro was working late into the night, and when I brought the dogs in Zelia had a hugely swollen face. I had no clue why. It was giant. I tried to get a picture but couldn't capture the craziness of how huge she was. I gave her 2 benedryl and hoped for the best. She is fine now, after a few days of redness, swelling, and a big tounge.

Friday I got to spend the afternoon with Jenne and Teresa, two of my very favorite women. Jenne and I saw "One for the Money," the first movie in the Janet Evanovich series of books. We share a love for this series, so planned an afternoon (opening day) to see it together. It was great! Then Teresa, Jenne, and I went to HEB Blooms to figure out the flowers for Cody and Jenne's wedding. Just a couple months away! Jenne has beautiful taste, and it was fun to hear her vision for the big day! She also asked me to make her a gown/cloak/coat/robe/sort of/dress cover. So we went to JoAnne's to find a pattern that at least kindof fit what she wanted. We found it! Phew! It is a pattern for a coat, but it'll work! We also got a pretty blue crepe to make it out of. I read the pattern last night, trying to figure it out. I am not a fan of patterns. But I think I get it now! I'm also making a belt to go with it, and going to trim it in something spectacular. It will be beautiful! So I am very excited to make it for her, and I hope it's even better then what she had in mind. I was thankful that Amali spent the afternoon with a friend, she had a blast and momma did too!

Today Mauro spent the day cleaning the garage, and got so much done. Then we went to Brooklynn and Alyssa's birthday party, and had a blast! It's nice to have great friends so close.

Laughter

Am and KeKe!



Brooklynn and Amali



Devon helping Amali

Overall, it was a great week! The usual didn't happen, and extraordinary filled its place :).

Bath and Garden

No it isn't a new magazine, it is the 2 things we have focused on as of late! Mauro finished demoing out the second bath, short of the cabinet. He will pull out the cabinet and put it in the garage once he has made space. No walls, no floors, except a small area to walk on. Wow! I didn't get a good picture, the area is so small. You'll just have to take my word for it :).

The garden got tilled, fed, and planted! We put in sage, oregano, onions of all kinds, carrots, broccoli, brussell sprouts, cilantro, and radishes. Amali was a big help! She loved getting the grub worms and feeding them to the chickens, much to the delight of the chickens as well!

just a swingin

cute girl

adding rocks around the newly tilled area

planting seeds

strong girl carrying rocks!

happy

plant it here?

tilling the ground, Lucy is inspecting

whistle while you work

Sick Baby

 This has been a rough week for all of us. It started with Amali and I getting a cold over last weekend. Everyone was cranky. Then Monday evening, Amali started coughing so bad she couldn't breathe and was vommiting through her nose and mouth. Ouch! Mauro and I got really scared so called her MD, who advised us to take her in so someone could listen to her. She calmed down a lot on the way to Dell Children's. Everyone there was just great. The MD who saw her (who we love) diagnosed her with Reactive Airway, again, and an ear infection. This is her 5th episode. He put her on a treatment plan of nebulizer (breathing treatment) and antibiotics. Plus benedryl to break up the mucus and saline nasal spray to get the mucus out and draining better. Sick lasted all week, but she definitely improved since Monday. We are both almost back to normal. Phew!

sick Bubbs

silly Pape

We did get a few good things done though! Pape planted two trees, Peach and Plum! We got the garden worked on and all of the brush burned. The weather was beautiful so when Am was feeling better we went to play in the park! She is a much happier girl when she gets to spend her days outside! The meds have made her cranky, but put her outside with a swing and she is happy as a bug!

Peach tree in back yard

 

 

 

Plum tree in front yard

our monkey

hi ma!

got a card in the mail from Walsie and Noe!

bike riding

she loves the flowers!

helping ma make breakfast

two peas in a pod

Spring Semester 2012

The spring semester in the Rodriguez home school program will start next week! Last semester I planned too much and it was impossible to get everything done. This semester will be more simple. I downloaded the Pre K TEKS and have used them as a basis. There is also tons of great information about creating the classroom environment and how to teach. I will start with a curriculum next semester, but want to continue to encourage Amali's early education. So this semester will be more loosely applied. We are working on getting the office turned into a classroom, with different learning centers and focus areas. This continues to be a process, as I am still figuring out what I want where and what makes sense for us.

Potty training has been the buzz word these past few weeks. We feel like we're making headway! At home she uses the potty almost exclusively with very few accidents. We started out naked, and have now moved on to wearing panties. She's doing great. Now we are focusing on her knowing she needs to go without reminder when she's distracted, when someone is over to play, or something else is going on. Today she refused to wear a diaper during naptime. I love her determination! If all goes as has been, she will be fully trained soon! I still take her out in pull ups, and put a diaper on at night. That will be one of the last stages of training to conquer!

hope she never grows out of the helpful stage!

pb&j lunch!

Day	Amali	Momma
	school mornings alphabet and shapes numbers and counting animals and sounds	daily study and prayer animals and garden exercise and stretch
Monday	school art	tidy
Tuesday	storytime free play	library and groceries
Wednesday	school sport	sew, craft, or project
Thursday	free play make a treat	clean house
Friday	school free play	laundry
Weekly	set a goal	set a goal

Where have we been

country girl

lunch with auntie kayla

riding the horsey at HEB

necklaces and earings

smile!

pretty girl

wanna go for a walk?

sharing cucumbers

Christmas at PopPop and YaYa's!

playing together

cute kids

all these for us!

Christmas again!

Bingo helpers

Playing Bingo

Jenny's baby shower

baby shower

making a tent in the living room

can you see them?

Dialogue

We start each day snuggled in bed all together. This was our dialogue this morning:

Amali: Hi Momma
Me: You called me Momma!
Amali: Yeah, Hi Momma!
Me: Hi Amali
Amali: Hi Mom.
Me; Oh wait, I like Momma better
Amali: Hi Michelle
Me: WHAT!?!?!
Amali: (giggles) HI MICHELLE! 
Me: No way, I'm mommy or momma!
Amali: Hi Michelle!
Me: (sigh) 


Stubborn yes. Smart yes. Growing up too fast. YES.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! 

running at the park

what's under there? Amali's imagination provides great entertainment for us all

looking for deer at the land