Potty training update

I am here with a Potty training update! I started potty training kayden shortly after he turned 2. He was going through less diapers and i thought it was a great time, and we could also save some money. We decided to go the pull up route. Worst decission i ever made. Kayden never 100% got the concept down. What i mean by that is, some days he would go through 1 pull up and other days it was never ending.

It wasn't untill the beginning of July that i hit my breaking point. I couldn't change another pull up. Kayden knew to pee in the toilet but he was scared to poop. Luckily it was a long weekend and curtis decided we were going to switch over to underwear. We were both home and would be able to help each other out. I will admit i felt overwhelmed. We had about 5 pairs of underwear for kayden, and he wet each one. I felt like i was washing underwear out all day. But atleast he understood the concept of using the toilet. He didnt like how pee, and most importantly poo felt in his underwear. The first 2 days were tough but he slowly got better. There were less and less accidents everyday.

The day before we started we let him pick out a treat at the store, kayden chose skittles. Whenever he used the toilet successfully he got a freeze or skittles. He was so excited to run over and pick out a sweet treat. Keep in mind, kayden doesn't eat a lot of junk so this extra amount was the best thing that could've happened to him.

He slowly realized if he used the toilet there would be a treat for him. He got the peeing down fast. It was the pooping that proved to be a struggle. He knew what it felt like to have poop in his pants, but he was also scared to poop in the toilet! It got to the point where he would hold his poop for 3 days straight. I could tell he was bloated and uncomfortable. He did this for about a week. One day he pooped 2 days in a row!. The first time he pooped he screamed and cried. I tried telling him it was okay and everyone poops in the toilet. His dad even sang a whole song and celebrated. As a reward we took him to McDonald's ( his favorite spot). I explained to him he is getting McDonald's because he pooped in the toilet. I honestly thought he got the concept down. But another 3 days went by till he did it again. I honestly feel Kayden beleived the discomfort wasnt worth it anymore. He stopped crying and started being happy whenever he pooped. He loved flushing the toilet and pulling the toilet paper. I told him he could only do so when he pooped.

Ever since he has gotten a handle of things he has become more independent. He wants to do everything himself now. It is bitter sweet to see him grow up. 2 weeks ago he needed me for everything and now he doesnt need me at all.

If i have learned anything about potty training, its there is no one way to do it. Every child is different, which makes them learn differently. Its all about learning what works and what doesn't. I have been trying to potty train Kayden since September. I couldn't understand what i was doing wrong, and i believed pull ups were similar to underwear. In fact pulls ups feel like diapers to toddlers. When they have an accident, they don't feel the same discomfort/any discomfort which could potentially hold back their training.

Its been 3 weeks and i haven't had an accident in two and a half weeks. I am so proud of kayden, but i also know accidents can still happen. Now on the weekend, we let kayden pick a place to eat at. He usually wants McDonald's or tim Hortons so its never anything expensive. This allows kayden to have a reward and have an incentive for staying dry.

Our next step is night time potty training. Kayden does wear a diaper at night and when he takes a nap. He has expressed that he doesn't want to wear it anymore and he consistently wakes up dry. That will be another challenge for us, and i cant wait to update all of you on it! 

Swiffer Duster Review

Hey Guys,

Am i the only one whose house gets dusty within 2 days of dusting it? Ever since having kayden i try to be more on the ball with keeping the house looking clean, emphasis on looking. I always feel within 5 minutes of me cleaning, it gets messy again. Having a toddler makes life a little bit more challenging. The less time i can spend on cleaning, and it actually looking clean the better it is for me.

When i lived at my parents house i loved swiffer products. I will never forget when my dad came home from work and said "why does this house smell like dog" i was disgusted. I knew what a house that smelled like dog was like, and its not pretty. You never want to smell your dog before you see it. The first product i ever bought was the swiffer wet jet. I am telling you, it was like it was sent from the God's to me.

Unfortunately when i moved in with my boyfriend he swore against it. He thought the old fashion way was so much better, and that it was a waste of money. It took me 3 years to convince him to buy a swiffer product, even then he didn't listen to me. He didn't buy my holy grail swiffer wet jet (the jokes on him, because i still refuse to mop the floors). As a result he didn't fall in love with what he bought and thought he made the right decision all along.

Thank goodness for walmart. As you all know i am love with their grocery pickup service, and lately they have been giving out free samples. I got a basket full of goodies, and one of them being the swiffer duster.  The first thing curtis said to me was "you are going to love this"  and this time, he was correct.

It claims to be able to trap and lock in more dust then a regular feather duster. I opened the kit one day and it was the easiest thing to use. It has a mild scent to it, which wasn't over powering or even noticeable. I used the product on my electronics (TV, android box, xbox), and it cleaned it in less then a minute. It really does trap all the dust. It doesn't fly all around, and i can wave it like a crazy person, and it stays put. Kayden saw me and had to join in, and i didnt mind, since i knew no dust would fall. He ran all around the house and dusted everything, and i mean everything,  His bed, toys, and windows.

This product is used weekly and has honestly made dusting fun (if that's even possible). It cuts my cleaning time in half. All i do is sweep it over the furniture and all the dust is gone. I really do mean all of it. I didn't have to go over it twice and there was no residue. This is great for my busy life.

The only thing that i didnt like was assembling it. I had such a hard time putting it together. The insert for the wand blends in seamlessly with the duster that i couldn't find it. It took me a few minutes to actually put it together. Once you get past that, it is a life saver.

The swiffer starter kit retails for under $5 at walmart and it comes with 5 refills. The refills cost $13.87 for 16.

How to deal with a shy toddler

Hey guys,

As kayden has gotten older it is becoming more and more evident that he is shy. As a child i was the same way. I remember questioning whether or not i was dealing with kaydens shyness efficiently. I tried to think back to how i was as a child. I was so embarrassed whenever my mom tried to push me to talk to others or made a scene about it. I slowly see kayden warming up to people faster, so i decided to share my tips.

1. A few days before we are going somewhere i always talk to kayden about it. I tell him where we are going, who will be there and what we are doing. After 2 or 3 days kayden starts to tell me we are going to go there. This allows kayden to know what is going on. He is mentally prepared for an outing and i am able to ease his mind.

2. The day of and the car ride over i let him know that we are attending the event. I know this sounds redundant but it all adds up in Kayden's head. We have talked about going somewhere for a few days and now we are actually going! Kayden is usually excited and cant wait to get there.

3. Once we arrive i never push kayden to much. We all say hi and i encourage kayden to do the same. I never make a big scene if he doesn't but rather i act like its no big deal. Sone may think this isn't a good idea, but i remember when i was a child my mom use to make a big scene about it. I was so embarrassed from that alone i didn't want to talk to anyone. I never want kayden to feel the same way. Usually by the time we leave he is so comfortable he waves goodbye and gives hugs.

4. I let kayden warm up to people at his own pace. Honestly it doesn't take long. He watches for a bit and when he feels comfortable (usually 10 minutes max) he will go and play. I never want kayden to feel like im forcing him to join in or make him feel bad for holding back. I watch at a safe distance so he knows im right there if he needs me, but also give him space to do his own thing.

I never tell kayden he is shy. I don't ever want him to feel as though he is in a box or that he is doing something wrong. This may be a phase with him, or it may be part of him for life. Either way there is nothing wrong with that. Curtis and i are complete opposites, he is outgoing and will talk to anyone. I take a little longer to warm up people, but then i don't stop talking. I want kayden to know its okay, and hopefully he sees our dynamic and knows that. I do chat with people when we are out and about, and i heard that's important. When your child sees you interacting (as small as it may be) with the cashier, waitress, people at the Park etc. Children follow by example, even though they may not chat the next person up, it opens up their eyes to the idea of it.

Insight into being a SAHM

Hey Guys,

Is it just me, or do stay at home moms have a bad connotation behind it? People believe we are lazy, we watch tv all day and do nothing. My dad even thought i sit on the couch all day.

I don't know why we don't get more credit for what we do.

Being a stay at home mother was the best choice i ever made. My mom worked when i was baby ( i was to small to remember) then she made the decision to stay at home full time. My brother and i are 5 years apart, so it was just me and her at home. Looking back i loved coming home after school and having my mom there. She always had a snack ready, and her life was dedicated to her children. She knew my friends, and what i was doing (for the most part) in school etc. I am not saying if you work you wont be all of these things, its just different when you stay at home. I want kayden to have the same experience i did.

Prior to being pregnant i worked with working mothers, and they struggled a lot with balancing home and work. They were working to pay for before and after school programs, missing out on their child(ren) lives and always getting looked down for not staying late or having to rush out.

I always sympathized with him because it must have been hard to figure out what was less important that day. Sometimes it meant getting pulled into the boss office the next day.

I didn't want to have that struggle. Curtis and i don't have family we can count on. At the end of the day if we are running late or had to stay late we don't have anyone else who can help with kayden.

I don't ever regret the decision to stay at home with kayden. I will be honest with you, i did have moments where i questioned if i was doing enough. I felt guilty for not being able to bring an income in the house, i felt as though i was holding the family back. If i worked, would my family be further in life? Thank goodness for Curtis. He reassured me that this was the best decision for kayden right now, and if i continued to feel this way in the future, i can always explore getting back into the workforce.

Being a stay at home mom requires me to wear many hats. I am a nurse, caregiver, teacher, life coach etc. I will never say i have had an easy day, because a little one keeps you on your toes. I remember when kayden was a baby, and he would never nap in the daytime, i spent an hour walking back and forth just to have him nap for 10 minutes. I dealt with endless crying while trying to figure out how im going to get the laundry folded.

Kayden has a lot of energy, he is go go go until nap time (even then he will attempt to convince you he isn't tired) which means i always need to have him occupied. I need to have an endless list of activities, and i have said this a billion times, when you live in an apartment, if you leave you have to commit. I cant just open the door and have kayden run in the yard. I need to haul his bike downstairs and have him outside for a significant amount of time.

As time has passed i have embraced my role as a stay at home mom. I may not do my hair and makeup every morning, and wear nice clothes but i am doing something which fulfills me. Im there when my son wakes up and goes to bed. I work hard to ensure kayden is well behaved and stays on track with the children in daycare. I don't get any off days, there were times when i was extremely sick but i still had to look after kayden.

From the time kayden wakes up and takes a nap or goes to bed, i try to fill his day up. It is the most tiring and rewarding job. I know this life isn't for everyone, and there are plenty of mothers who envy me. Even though i may not receive a paycheck or get bonuses every year, i will always believe my job makes a difference.

My day starts at 6am every morning. Kayden runs in the bedroom, wakes me up and demands we make room for him in the bed. I wish i could say he goes back to bed, instead the list of demands begin. He's hungry, cold, he cant find his stuffed dog etc. Everything is life ending in the morning. I try to stay in bed till 6:30am but that doesn't always work. Half awake i start my morning. I buy some time with kayden and tell him to give me a few minutes. I brush my teeth and use the bathroom. I then pray the coffee machine has gone off, so i don't have to wait 10 minutes for a cup. Curtis gets up, and i pack his lunch and he's gone by 7am. Kayden has had his breakfast by now (after changing his mind 5 times). I clean up breakfast, play with kayden for 30 minutes before he demands another snack. It takes him about 10 minutes to pick out a snack. He never wants what is in the cupboard. After he eats i get him ready to spend about an hour outside.

I hate to say it, but im still not half way through my day. I live for lunchtime because that means nap time is knocking on my door.

Whether you are a working parent or you are at home, it is a personal decision. Both choices require sacrifice and sometimes never feel like you picked the right one. We are all in this struggle together of balancing raising kids, having alone time and feeling self fulfilled.

Why I started Blogging

Hey Guys,

It wasn't untill a few weeks ago that i realized i have been blogging for a little over a year. I couldn't believe it. I started blogging during a tough time in my life. My boyfriend wasn't working and we were counting pennies. He started a job where he worked night shifts, so our schedules were opposite. I spent many nights alone, and barely saw him. Even when he was off, he slept all day ( i cant blame him).
A lot of people would ask me for advice/ my opinion on products. I decided to put my opinions to good use and start a blog. I will admit early on, it was a complete disaster. I copied other peoples structure and blogging schedule. This made me put out poor content and i felt forced to blog. This was suppose to be a hobby and something i was doing for myself, and it was slowly turning into a chore. Once my boyfriend started working ' regular hours' i took a break. I will admit i thought about whether or not it was a good idea, and my friend told me to get back to it. She made a good point, it was a little part of my day that i was doing fir myself. I decided to change up my content and how often i posted. I would post once a week about topics that were popular and ones i was passionate about.
What i love about posting once a week was i able to take my time. I would do a little but everyday. If i ended up being busy, who cares.
Blogging is great for me, because i am and English major. There is so many ways i can apply this in my everyday life, but i feel like i am able to use my creative writing skills in a positive way. I love reading blogs, and seeing what everyone is passionate about, and the different writing styles.
I love being able to feel as though my voice is being heard, and most importantly i feel valued. It is not about how many views i get (but just for the record, i would love to get more) or how much money i am making, but feeling as though i am more then a mother. I know that may sound odd, but it is so easy to loose yourself once you become a mom. Your life revolves around your family, and it is so easy to put yourself on the back burner. I love feeling like i have a job and a purpose in life. Lets face it, Kayden is going to be in school soon, and i would hate it if i felt lost and sat at home twiddling my thumbs.
After blogging for a little over a year I see my blog growing. It has taken me awhile to find my niche, but i am so excited to see where this endeavor takes me.

Tips to get you through those rainy days

Hey Guys,

With Kayden getting older, it is becoming more important to keep him occupied during the day. With the warmer weather here, we are loving spending our days outdoors, but mother nature likes to change it up a bit and give us rain. This keeps us indoors, which can get boring and depressing.
Here are a few of my go to rainy day activities:

Movies
Kayden wont sit down for a whole movie, but it will keep him occupied for about an hour if he is into it. We have Curious George DVD's and some popular Pixar and Disney movies. It is always fun to curl up under the covers, and make some popcorn. Kayden absolutely loves popcorn, so any excuse to eat it, he is down!

Crafts
I usually save painting for fridays and rainy days. As you parents know it takes a lot of effort and your full attention when your toddler paints. Since we rarely do it, Kayden always has a blast doing it. I have some wooden letters and Kayden picks a letter and paints it. It helps him work on the alphabet which is great as well! Kayden loves coloring and drawing. Nothing beats a classic coloring book or plain paper. I have tried crafts in the oast but Kayden didn't have the patience for it. If your child(ren) can ( I envy you) , that is a great way for them to do something creative, while working on their motor skills. We also have playdoh in about every color you can imagine. Kayden loves squishing it and rolling small balls.

Reading books
Kayden loves reading books, and he is even more in love with the library. I cant stress how happy i am that this is one of his joys. Whenever there is some quiet time in the house, he goes and grabs some books from his room and flips through them. On rainy days, we go in his room, sit on a chair and go through a few books. Kayden loves picking the books we read (he has his favorites) and can sit for a good 30 minutes. Since Kayden is close to 3, he points everything out in books and relates it to his life.

Rough housing
Some parents think you shouldn't rough house (my mom being one of them) but there are some things that come with being a mom to a toddler boy. Kayden loves to rough house. I don't let him knock me out or bruise me up. We have limits, and whether or not i like it, its going to happen. It is usually something he does with his dad (since i am such a wimp) but once in awhile i jump in. We always do it on a soft surface (like a bed) and he jumps and falls and it exhausts him. Its a great alternative to running outside.

Pull out 'special toys'
Remember back when your toddler was a baby? You had those special toys that you pulled out when you went out, and wanted to keep them quiet? This is great for rainy day activities. Kayden has 2 toy bins. One with blocks, cars, balls and interactive toys. We have another bin for the big toys. He doesnt often remember what's in there so when i open it, kayden gets excited. Its great because it is like he got a new toy all over again, and as he gets older he rediscovers new ways to play with them.

Since we live in apartment, (as you all know) there isn't a lot of room for us to play. These ideas work great, regardless of how big or small your house is.

How to clean your makeup brushes in 1 minute

Hey Guys,

Awhile ago i did a post about how I clean my makeup brushes. It was my go to method but I felt like something was missing. While it did clean my brushes, i didnt feel as though my makeup sponge was clean. I use quo instead of the beauty blender ( im not about spending that kind of cash) and i always felt as though there was leftover residue. On top of that I would use Kayden's baby shampoo to clean my makeup brushes and he has outgrown it. I needed a new DIY cleaning solution asap.
This is where Pinterest comes in handy. I searched and they answered. The cleaning method i am going to mention came up constantly and it was all ingredients that i had in my house on a constant basis.

1 cup if water
1tbsp vinegar
1 tbsp dish soap

After cleaning my brushes with this solution a few times i would recommend doubling up on the dish soap. There is a mild vinegar scent that is leftover, but if you can look past it, then don't worry about it. This method has left ALL my brushes spotless. I am the type of person who loves seeing all the dirt and makeup leave my brushes and i have never seen so much in my life.
I use a clean cool whip container, combine all the ingredients and run my brushes through for about 10 seconds. I then rinse under luke warm water and lay flat to dry. I have seen recommendations of putting the bristles back in their shape, but I have never had that issue. My brushes dry within a few hours and look brand new.