4 am wake up call

I have been potty-training my son for a year now and I must say, it has been the hardest thing I've had to deal with as a parent...so far. It's frustrating, it's time-consuming, and it's exhausting. There have been times where I felt like giving up. There have been times where I wished babies were born potty-trained. I've heard potty-training a boy takes hard work and a lot of devoted time and patience, which sometimes I run out of. 

It's been a inconsistent and a consistent challenge. 

This past weekend was surprisingly consistent. He kept his pull-up dry for long periods of time and even while we were out, he said "Mommy, I have to go potty!" This is something he hardly ever does. We're usually the ones asking him if he needs to go. Not this time. He was very vocal and in control of his "potty needs". 

At bedtime last night I put an extra blanket underneath him just in case he wet his pants, which is something he usually does during the night. 

I wake up to him nudging me on the arm and standing next to my bed. It was 4 am and I had to wake up for work in 2 hours. "Oh please don't wake me up right now", I thought. I looked at him and he said, "Mommy, I pee-peed." I got up and immediately started feeling his pants and to my surprise, he was completely dry. I said, "No you didn't." Then he said, "I did! In the potty!" 

I couldn't believe it! I was so happy and so proud of him. He has never woken up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. And I was so surprised that he didn't even bother to wake me up. 

He's growing up way too fast!

wordless wednesday

{Dylan's 3rd birthday is next month. Where did the time go? *sad face*}

say what!?

Mommy. 

I absolutely love the sound of it. I love it so much that when I hear my son say it, I often ask him to repeat what he said just so I could hear it again. I am a Mommy. Well, until the other day at least.

Me: Dylan, come here please.

Dylan: Yes, Mom.

Me: {WTH! MOM???} It's Mommy. You call me Mommy, ok.

Dylan: Ok.

conversation continues for a minute or two...

Me: Ok, can you please go pick up your toys from the floor?

Dylan: Ok, MOM!

the best compliment...ever.

My son is going to be 3 in a few months and to this day, I still can't believe how much motherhood has affected me. My whole world revolves around him. Morning, noon, and night. I take him almost everywhere I go. But, he's not just my little sidekick. Everything I do and say as a mother reflects on him...and I can't help but think how he'll turn out. As a grade school boy, as a teenager, as an adult, as a human being. Every night before I go to bed I think about our day together and along with a million other thoughts, this always stands out...

"How did I do as Dylan's Mommy today?"

When I was a teenager, one of my fears was growing up alone. Now my fears, along with my hopes and dreams, all revolve around my son. My hope is to be the best Mommy he could ever have. And my main fear is not doing a good job at it. I'd like to think that I am an awesome Mommy...all thanks to my mom, who paved the way to my role as a mom.

And leave it to her to remind me just how silly my fears are. Earlier this evening she just said to me, "I have to tell you, you are doing a great job at raising Dylan." She's said these very words to me before and every time she does, it always feels like the first time.

Best. compliment. EVER.

don't forget to breathe

Ahh, the joys of motherhood. They're wonderful. The best thing a woman can experience in life, I think. The hugs, the kisses, the sweet and funny things your child says or does, the fun kid-friendly activities. I remember when I was pregnant people would tell me, "Oh motherhood is the best. You're going to love it." They were right, I do love it. More than anything in the world. How could I not? I was prepared and ready to love it. However, no one cared to mention {more like, warn} the kicking, the screaming, the crying, the tantrums, the monster that lives deep inside your child. I was not prepared or ready for that.


My son is a very loving and happy boy. But he's also in his "terrible two's" stage. Over the past few days, he's shown proof of that stage...and very well if you ask me. I've never had a problem with him throwing tantrums or crying for long periods of time until just recently. 


He wanted to watch Cars videos on YouTube and I tell him "no" because I'm using it. Tantrum for 10 minutes.
He woke up from his nap. Crying for 10 minutes. {non-stop}
He wasn't ready to go to bed. I tell him no more playing for the night. Crying and tantrum for 10 minutes. Crying stops and he falls asleep...only to wake up an hour later. 10 more minutes of crying. 


I know they were only 10 minutes, but they seem to go on forever. Right before his last episode started, I had just sat down in front of my laptop for some "mommy time" so I was pretty frustrated when he woke up. I told Daddy to handle the situation while I closed myself off in the bathroom for a few minutes. No, I didn't go in there to use the toilet. I went in there to just...breathe. And it helped. 


He drives me crazy at times and sometimes I just want to scream. I certainly don't love when the little monster emerges from my son, but he did manage to make me smile at one point. In a moment of frustration I said, "Who are you right now?"


He said, "Dylan!" That kid! :)