All Things Toddler

I thought I'd write a little bit about what the girls are up to right now in All Things Toddler. You know, like eating, drinking, peeing, pooping, sleeping...that sort of thing. Certainly not very exciting to many of you, but really right up my alley. When you are the mom of a toddler (or two), these things are fascinating. And if you have a kid who isn't doing things that are "developmentally appropriate," it might help to make you feel a bit better, cause we're right there with you!

Eating and Drinking: Ahhhh. My favorite topic. Not. I hesitate to say that we are doing better in this area, because I might jinx myself, but we ARE doing better.

The girls are still drinking 16-17 ounces of 27cal formula per day. This is a very expensive habit that I don't see us outgrowing any time soon. I do have a slight problem, because they are still drinking it in three bottles a day. Yes, BOTTLES. I have no idea how to break them of this, or if I should even try. The real goal is for them to drink it, and we have had no success in drinking milk out of a cup or straw. They will drink water, juice, pop, etc. from a sippy cup or straw very well, but if I try to sneak some formula in they are NOT having it. So, I really haven't forced the issue. I guess I should probably get motivated to work on this, but I just don't want to add any more stress to my life right now.

In addition to three bottles, the girls are also eating three meals a day. Breakfast is around 10, a six ounce bottle at noon, lunch around 3, a four ounce bottle around 4, dinner around 7, and 6-7 ounce bottles at 8:30ish, then bed. I know it seems like a weird schedule, but it's what works for them...and I've tried a LOT of different things. For example, just TRY to feed them breakfast before 10. They WON'T EAT! So, we just do what works.

Holland is definitely a fruit and veggies girl, like her daddy, while Eden is all about the carbs, like her mom. You'd think Eden would be a bit chubbier with her love for bread and doughnuts and ice cream, but you know...it's not WHAT you eat, it's HOW MUCH of it you eat! They are doing better though, and with our many tricks they are slowing beginning to work up an appetite. Of course, they insist on a circus sideshow to eat anything, and although I was one of those moms that said I would NEVER do it, I do.

Peeing and Pooping: Everything is pretty normal in this regard. Holland's constipation issues have pretty much been resolved, and both girls are fairly regular. They are both taking Augmenten right now for double double ear infections, and boy does that bring on the poop. I changed four really nasty stinky diapers today. Okay...too much information I know.

The only thing I really wanted to mention on the peeing and pooping front was potty training. Haven't started and don't have any plans to. MAYBE when they are three. I'm hoping that eventually one of them will show some interest, but honestly they have NEVER complained of a poopy diaper. They would seriously sit in it for hours and not make a peep. I have a well trained nose, so luckily they don't have to. But really, how do you potty train a kid who doesn't care if their diaper is wet or dirty??? It'll be interesting to say the least.

Then with Eden there is the whole disability issue. She won't be able to take herself to the bathroom, or get herself on the potty, or even sit on the potty, blah blah blah. I don't want to worry about it now. I'll just cross that bridge when I come to it. I do know that eventually they will BOTH be potty trained. At this point I have no reason to believe otherwise.

SLEEPING: This is where my kids are stellar. Finally, I have something to BRAG about! Besides their insane cuteness of course...

They go to bed so easy now, and sleep all night. We have bottles in my bed around 8-8:30, then I put them in their beds around 9 and they go to sleep. Easy as pie.

Holland has been waking up in the morning around 8-8:30. Around noon she takes a 2-3 hour nap like clockwork. That's easy too. She finishes her bottle, I scoop her up, put her in her bed with a blankie and a teddy, and within minutes she is snoozing. She's such a sweetie about going to bed.

Eden prefers to sleep in in the morning and skip the nap. She often sleeps until 10-10:30 in the morning if I let her. If she sleeps in, she won't take a nap. That's kind of a bummer, cause I really enjoy nap time, but it's also kind of nice to have a couple of hours of Holland time in the morning, and a couple hours for Eden in the afternoon, when there isn't a jealous little sister trying to hog all the mommy time! On days I work, and get Eden up at 7:30, she does take a nap at Nana's house.

I've can finally say that I've gotten fairly comfortable in our routine. I'm not constantly worrying and second guessing every little thing I do. We're just plugging along slowly but steadily. The only nagging fear I have now in the back of my mind is that they will be 2 1/2 at the end of next month. Should I be working on these things, like getting rid of the bottles, and trying to potty train? Ugh. I like things the way they are. I'm comfortable. I know what I am doing. Why do they have to go and GROW UP on me now???