Boo Boo

Being a single mom can be really hard sometimes. Between working a full time job and having my little boy full time, I can easily lose my patience. When my mom was here, she taught Gus that every time he has a "boo boo" he gets a kiss on his "boo boo". No big deal, right? Well it is! Seriously every time he gets a boo boo, the world stops until he gets his kiss. Even if I am trying to get ready for work or trying to cook dinner. . .kiss boo boo. And honestly, 90% of the time, it isn't even a real injury. He could just barely hit his hand on a chair, and he come to me crying, "boo boo! boo boo!" I admit, I wanted to kill my mom. I don't have time to kiss his boo boos! 

Tonight, I was playing on the floor with him when he wanted me to get a toy from under the couch. I snagged my nail as I was reaching in to get the toy. I kind of flinched and said, "ouch". I continued to look for the toy and Gus started tugging on my hand. I thought he wanted me to go do something else. I kept trying to put my hand under the couch and he kept pulling my hand toward him. Finally, I gave in and let him take my hand. He gently put my finger up to his mouth and gave it a little kiss! I'm not an emotional person, but I swear I almost cried. It felt so incredibly good  to have someone kiss my boo boo! 

And so, I had an epiphany. I had an eureka moment. Now, it isn't such a bother for me for me to stop what I am doing to kiss his boo boo. Now I know how stopping and kissing his boo boo makes him feel loved and special. Now, I will always kiss my Gus Gus' boo boos!   

Think of Henry tonight!

Once upon a time, I was a travel nurse. I did about 4 months in Portland, OR where I met fabulous people, some who I stay in touch with still to this day. One of them was a guy I worked with Lucas. He was a night shift nurse with me. I even went over to his house to have dinner with his wife and his friends.

Lucas now has 2 little boys. One is three and one just turned one last month. On Henry's first birthday, he was diagnosed with leukemia. Henry will have to spend 53 weeks in the hospital undergoing chemo treatment. Lucas and his wife, Marla, are such troopers and so up beat even though faced with this hard reality. Well, guess what? After 5 weeks of in patient chemo, and after his first round of chemo, Henry gets to come home and sleep with his family tonight.

Please read Henry's Caring Bridge website. Gus and I don't ever need any presents again from our loved ones or family. Please just send this family the money and presents instead. They are such an inspiration and really could use the extra money.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/henryfriedler

Let the potty training begin!

I promised myself that I wasn't going to "force" potty training on Gus. I was just going to wait until he was 3 and let him do it at his own pace. My brother gave me his kids little potties and Gus was instantly attracted to them! Not to get too into detail on my kids bowel and bladder habits, but Gus has a trait that makes him easy to potty train. He has always hated having pee and poo in his pants. In fact, when he poops in his diaper, he won't even walk. He kind of waddles to the closest adult possible and goes "poo poo". 

I haven't found success yet although things are going well. Today, he spent the whole day in big boy underwear and only had one accident! And even then he came running to me holding his private parts going "pee pee, momma, pee pee." He hates being wet and I had to change him immediately. I only give him praise no matter what, which isn't hard to do since he is such a good boy!

I'll keep you posted on our progress!

"Snips and snails, and puppy dogs tails. That's what little boys are made of !"

I would never try to enforce stereotypical gender toys on Gus. Bottom line, he will not go near stuffed animals or dolls. If there isn't a wheel on it or isn't a ball, he really doesn't want much to do with it. Imagine my surprise when I pulled out an old doll house that was in storage and Gus played with it for hours! Maybe he does have a little sugar and spice in him . . .