I Know I'm not Supposed to Compare Children, BUT...

In my Memorial Day post, I described how Wyatt moved away from his bedtime bottle and how we were awaiting his next major accomplishment which I thought would be at least 6 months away: Potty Training or Moving into the Bottom Bunk. When Wyatt was born, I went through the guilt and fears that I’m assuming every parent goes through with multiple children, “How am I going share my attention equally?” “How can I spend enough time teaching both of them?” “The second child will get the short end of the learning stick because there’s no way I can devote the amount of time with him as I did with the first...”


We have had to make a concerted effort to sit down with Wyatt to read/teach him things. It’s even harder because this boy does not like to sit, he is always on the move. We’re lucky if Wyatt makes it through 2 baby books without squirming out of our laps! I figured Wyatt would probably learn things at a later age than Will did and his milestones may be later as well because he’s not an only child like Will was during this age. However, Wyatt is doing just fine by his independent little self. He’s showing us that he doesn’t need coddling or lots of demonstration time. I have underestimated his intelligence most of his life. He is one smart, mischievous kid which has proved to be an exhausting combination!

We just returned from a 2 week vacation camping in Grand Haven (GH). I brought the pack n play just in case but I had planned on not using it because it would be too bulky in the camper and a hassle to put up and down twice a day. We rented a camper that had 2 bunk beds in the back. Wyatt thought this was really cool. I’m realizing he LOVES doing things the big boys can do. The first night, he got out of his bottom bunk about 25 times at bedtime. After the first few times putting him back in bed, he knew he needed to stay there, but thought the game was fun. I’d hear his little footsteps inside the camper, I’d go inside, and find him running back to his bed climbing back in with that devilish grin he always has when he knows he’s doing something he shouldn’t be. The second night, it took about 10 times chasing him back into bed before he finally stayed there and fell asleep. The third night, he didn’t get out of bed at all and fell right asleep! This was a great lesson in persistence!

He did great the rest of the 2 weeks sleeping in his big boy bed. This past weekend when he needed a nap at my mom’s, we put him in the double bed and he went right to sleep without getting out of bed once. I was so impressed. Will has a bunk bed in his room and although we don’t need Wyatt to move out of his crib yet, I think we will allow him to sleep in Will’s bunk bed 1-2 times a week to keep him used to the big boy beds.

So, my theory in my Memorial Day post about potty training Wyatt would be easier than keeping him in bed was shot down. However… on to Potty Training!

While in Grand Haven, I was in the public showers with both boys. I was optimistic to say the least that I thought I could get them both showered along with myself getting clean. HA! Wyatt spent half his time slip and sliding on the gross floor, and Will screamed the entire time. Then there was the panic of Wyatt deciding he had to poop. While I was bathing Will, I looked over my shoulder to see Wyatt in a full squat, butt cm from the floor, face flushed, and then the grunts came. I will stop right here and reinforce to all of you that ever use a public shower, please wear flip flops and never touch the floor! Yuck. So, I put him on the toilet in the shower and he went #1 and #2! I was very proud of him as Will took awhile (2 weeks) to actually “do” anything when sitting on the toilet. Then I thought, yup, typical Wyatt – thinks he can do anything.

Then this little boy surprised the heck out of me when 3 days ago, he woke up, we read a story, I put him on the changing table to change him and he started saying “poo-poo.” Wyatt has this intense way of staring into your eyes when he REALLY wants you to understand something. I said, Do you have to go poo poo? He nods. Now I could have brought him to the toilet to sit and wait for him to go but we had to get to the babysitter’s house so I could get to work and I didn’t have 10 minutes to spare. Sure enough, he pooped within 5 minutes and I was up changing his diaper again.

The next day, he did the same thing. So I asked him, do you want to go on the big boy toilet like Will does? He nods. We go in, without a potty seat, and sit him backwards on the toilet. There was no waiting or reading a book to him while we wait for “something” to come out. The little man did his business - #1 and #2!! Again, so proud! He was, too!

Yesterday, same thing – but no #2. We hit the potty twice yesterday before I had to be in to work in the afternoon. Immediately, I start thinking, wow – could I actually have a break in diapers before we have a hopeful 3rd child? Is he ready for this? Am I ready for this? I don’t know why, but I feel as though there’s some mental preparation for a parent to start potty training as well. Maybe it’s the watchful eye that is needed for the next month or all the cleaning I’m in for! Do I need to bring out the potty chair or potty seat? He seems to be doing just fine sitting backwards? I can’t help but tell myself not to get too hopeful that this is going to be the end of the diapers for Wyatt…I just feel I can’t be this lucky, his readiness was unexpected.

I know we aren’t supposed to compare our children’s milestones because they will vary, but I can’t tame my curiousity, so here’s how Will and Wyatt compare with some of the big milestones:

Rolling Over
Will – 4 mos
Wyatt – 4.5 mos

First Tooth
Will – 4 mos
Wyatt – 5 mos

Sitting up
Will – 6 mos
Wyatt – 6 mos

Crawling
Will – 8 mos
Wyatt – 9 mos

First words
Will – 9 mos
Wyatt – 10 mos

Walking 100% (all walking/no crawling)
Will – 13.5 mos
Wyatt – 12.5 mos

Gave up the Bedtime Bottle
Will – 13 mos
Wyatt – 16 mos

Sit at the table without highchair
Will – 20 mos
Wyatt – 18 mos

Moved out of the crib
Will – 2 yrs 2 mos
Wyatt – 2 weeks in GH at 18 mos, ready now (18 mos)

Started using the Toilet
Will – 2 yrs 5 mos
Wyatt – 18 mos

If Wyatt continues to potty train, I guess we’ll be ready for baby #3 since my checklist will be complete: Move Wyatt out of crib and potty train!

Happy Birthday to ME!

Jeff left for his big Canada fishing trip yesterday morning. He won’t have TV, cell or internet for 10 days. He has been looking forward to this for 5 years and I’m so happy he’s able to go. He’s such a wonderful husband and father, he deserves it!

However, this trip left me and the boys to plan my birthday alone this year. Will has been excellent, saying Happy Birthday to me and drawing me pictures for my birthday all week. Jeff and the boys celebrated my birthday on Wednesday before he left so we don’t need to celebrate today. However, Will knows it’s my real birthday today and I feel like I need to do something festive for him on my birthday!! I have to work today but I’ve been contemplating what to do with the boys after work to celebrate.

In the last year, I’ve noticed the ice cream shops and restaurants advertise free things on your birthday, I thought – hmmm, I wonder what is out there to cash in on my birthday? I googled “free birthday meals” and after a few attempts, found this great site Free Birthday Treats that will provide you with all the freebies and discounts you can get on your birthday. I was shocked to see all the things you can get! I found this site to be the best because you simply choose if you are a kid or adult, your state, and then click on “entertainment,” “restaurant,” or “retail.”

Here are just some of the things I found for FREE!

Free round of golf – 18 holes (this was in Madison for my Madison family and friends!)
Free ice cream – Cold Stone and Baskin Robbins, Ben & Jerry’s
Free gourmet burger – Red Robbin
Free birthday gift from Sephora (I’m going there at lunch today!!)
Free bowling
Free meal at Noodles and Company

This was just in my area. The site also advertises that in some areas there are discounted hotel stays and travel discounts, and spa treatments. There were several restaurants that gave out free meals.
So, on your birthday or a friend or relative’s bday, check out this site and CASH IN!!!!