Where did June go?

I cannot believe that we are almost in July. The first of June was just yesterday, wasn't it? One clue that it is not the beginning of June is the weather. We are actually having August, dog days, lawn burning, instant sweat, miserably hot days of summer.

Baby bear and I have been spending every spare minute in the pool. She is really getting it. Grandma Bear said that I was able to swim across a pool at age three. I don't think we are going to make that but Baby Bear can be under water for about 5 seconds (without my holding her) and do the back float for about 10 seconds (with me holding her). Just can get in and out of the pool without assistance. My goal for the end of summer is for her to be water safe. In other words, if she were to fall in, she could either float for a bit before someone gets to her or crawl out of the pool herself if she was near a wall.



I am loving this age. (OK...I have loved every age so far.) Her favorite sayings are "let me do it" followed by "help me mommy" (if it turns out she can't do it). She is pretty good with her "Please" and "Thank you." She is fairly close to counting to twenty and has her ABC's down cold (and even knows most of her letters by recognition). We read books. We sing. We do puzzles. We are becoming masters of playdo. Life is just grand. Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.



I just realized yesterday that I have not taken a single photo in June. So, yesterday when we were playing, I finally snapped a few june photos.

What would you do for a cookie?

We have been been potty training in fits and starts. A couple of weeks ago, I thought we were on the home stretch. Then we had an accident on the floor, which scared little one. Kind of like..."that came from me?" Since then, we have been at a stand still.

This morning, Baby Bear and I were chatting while I was putting on my face. All of a sudden she said, "I do not need to poo." Which in toddler parlance means, "I have to go poo but don't want to sit on the potty chair." So, I suggested that we retire to her bath room, where we have her little pink throne. She was adamant that she did not want to sit on her chair and did not have to go poo. I enticed her by offering for her to sit on the big potty. While she sat, we chatted about the upcoming day.

After awhile and no action, little one wanted to go about her way. She stood up but was standing with her legs locked together with buns tight. I suggested that she sit back on the potty. Oh NO, she did not want to do that. (Since this was the situation we were in when she had her accident, I resorted to desparate measures and offered a cookie.) "If you sit on the potty and go poo, you can have a cookie." I could not believe these words came from my mouth. (We have worked very hard to NOT bribe little one to do anything.) Sure enough, however, sit ... and success!

Trip to the Dentist

There are so many "firsts" with a little one. Now that Baby Bear is two and a half, the firsts are slowing down a bit...so have to savor each one. So even though work is crazy, stressed, overwhelming....off we went to the dentist.

I have been feeling guilty about little one's dental care. We brush morning and night; though, sometimes this is just chewing on the toothbrush or watching Daddy and me brushing our teeth (does that count...clean teeth by osmosis?). Anyway, I dutifully found a Pediatric Dentist to ensure that Baby Bear's first dental visit would be with someone who understands the Rug Rats of the world. Our insurance plan has no Pediatic Dentists close by, so I made an appointment with one down in Houston ...and the wait for an appointment was three months!! Which, was today...finally.

Off we trundle, Momma Bear, Daddy Bear and Baby Bear. We all have to share in this first, as we are sure it is going to be a special occasion to celebrate for one and all. We filled out the requisite paperwork for a first time patient and then sat in the waiting room reading kiddie dentist books. After awhile, little one got bored and unpacked her diaper bag. She found my swim goggles (left in there from our last trip to the pool) so she had to wear those around (mighty funny looking...where is the camera when I need it).

The nurse came to take us for X-rays. I wasn't sure how that would go. She climbed right into the chair. When the nurse showed her what would happen (where the machine would go and then how to bit on the X-ray), Baby Bear started to crawl off the chair. I asked her is she wanted to sit in the chair by herself or with me, she chose to sit with me. Thus, we sat in the chair together. She bit on the X-ray and sat still for both shots. She was great!

Another wait in the waiting room. Then, finally they came for us for the exam. Little one again crawled up on the chair. She put on the sunglasses they offered her. Then....the nurse went away to get the doctor.....five minutes later, no doctor. Ten minutes later....no doctor. What are they thinking leaving a 2 year old in a room with lots of scary tools and nothing to do. Finally, when little one would no longer sit still, we went back to the waiting room and asked them to come get us when the doctor was actually ready to see us. Another 15 minutes and finally she was ready. Little one scrambled up in the chair. She opened her mouth when asked. The doctor looked at her teeth, brushed them a bit ....and all of three minutes later, we were out the door.

One, we were very happy that little one was so brave. Two, the title of pediatric dentist is highly over rated as I was disappointed in the way they handled the wait in the room. Will likely just stay close to home for our next foray to the dentist.

Back home again....

OK...I gave up writing down everything we did in London. Let's just finish that trip by saying, if tourism were an Olympic sport, my mom would be on the winner's podium! I believe all had fun.

Back home, Daddy Bear and Baby Bear survived without me. I missed them a lot. After every trip, I am simply amazed at how much little one changes. The big news was that little one has had many successes with the potty. Looks like we are on the road to no-diaper-land! (Tonight, she had a success in front of me.) Her favorite potty-book is Clifford does good deeds. Don't know why but that is the book that she MUST read while doing her business.

So, we signed up for swim lessons. I thought Baby Bear would love these. She has had three so far and is no loving these lessons. Last Saturday, she did not even get her head wet. I am not sure what to do. When I am with her, it is hard to keep her out of the pool. She will dunk herself. She will kick her feet. She will lay on her back (does not float yet but getting close). What is going on? Daddy thinks that she is afraid of the teacher (who has a prosthetic leg). Will see how it goes this week. If it does not go well, we may then try private lessons (she is in a class of two) or just give up and have Mommy lessons.

Funny story of the week: Last week at swim lessons, Baby Bear was on the bench changing out of her suit at the same time a little boy was changing from his suit. She says, "look mom, he has a tail." Yes, mommy turned red and we departed as soon as we could. Out of the mouths of babes.