I lost track of the last year. I didn’t mean to – I really had the best intentions to document your months as I did in year one but then the house got in the way and then No.2 happened and work got busier and on and on and on until I had enough excuses to fill up an entire swimming pool.

And, while there may not be a monthly letter to document everything we did in the last year, I can tell you we. had. fun.

After your first birthday I felt like you were so old, such a big kid. Looking back at photos from your party and from Christmas, watching those videos we took, I realize what a baby you still were! My gosh, you were still babbling and signing and it has taken me a whole year to see just how you’ve grown into what I see now as such a big kid.

We spent the early part of the year, you and me, with lazy mornings around the house. I don’t know how your dad and I got so lucky,  but somehow we got blessed with a toddler who sleeps in. I had heard the horror stories of kids who rose before the sun but not you. You, my dear, will not rise before 7:30 – preferring an 8a call time or sometimes sleeping all the way past 8:30!

You are fearless, you are curious and those two characteristics combined made for a lot of bruises on your noggin and lost of heart stopping moments for me.

February found you expertly climbing out of your crib which then found you with everything removed from your bed (stuffed animals and bumpers) to take away anything that would give you leverage to get out as well as a baby gate in your doorway just in case you decided to escape at night – that barrier helped us all sleep a little better.

As the winter melted away to spring we spent more time outside, going on walks and enjoying the warmer weather. We visited the zoo and spent a lot of time at the indoor play park as well as the real park when weather permitted. You LOVED to “wee” (swing) and slide and jump on the trampolines. You were never really interested in children your own age, preferring to run around with the big kids who liked to help you, show you things. Anytime a child your age would come by to play with you you’d shriek and shake your hands at them like, “GET OUT!” A big kid would come by and you’d follow them anywhere, let them pick you up, you had found your people.

You are quiet and shy around new people. You’ll certainly talk when prompted but it takes you a bit to warm up to new faces. With those you are familiar and comfortable with you start to show off from the moment you know you have their attention. You’re not the kid who waves at everyone in the supermarket and you certainly don’t hand out your friendship cards to everyone you meet – I see so much of myself in you in that way. You are definitely reserved in your affections towards others, only opening up and showing the true Samurai when you feel comfortable in the situation/with the person/persons.

This summer you and I spent a lot of time at the zoo and at the pool. I don’t know if it was just because I was pregnant or if this summer was especially hot, but the only time I wanted to be outdoors was first thing in the morning (hence our early morning zoo trips!) or afternoons at the pool. Your love of the water surely continued this summer. However, this summer you were not content to float idly by in your raft. Your favorite things to do were to play on the steps (as long as the pool wasn’t busy) or to walk around on the ledge in the shallow end at GG and Mister’s neighborhood pool. You didn’t mind being splashed or going underwater and you LOVED standing on the pool’s edge and counting to three and then jumping in to me. You also loved to ride around on my back and blow bubbles. After our swim time we’d come home and I’d throw you in the shower with me because it was easier that way – leaning over a tub with my big belly was getting harder and harder. So you’d just sit there at the end of the tub, away from the spray of the shower head and play with the shampoo bottles, content to wait for me to suds you up and rinse away the day’s sunscreen and chlorine.

I was recently sorting your summer things – putting away certain things for this summer and packing away things that would not fit you come June. When I got to your little swimsuit, pilled and snagged on the tush from sitting on the concrete, I held it to my nose and breathed in. If I could assign a smell to last summer, it would be that swimsuit. It was mostly Coppertone Baby mixed with a bit of chlorine and worn out spandex…this summer with you, kid, was one of my favorite times with you during the year. After we’d swim we’d sit on the lounge chairs waiting for our suits to dry out a bit in the sunshine. You’d eat a snack and I’d sit there and marvel at what a big kid you were – that this was the last summer of just “us.”

Fall rolled around all too quickly and, with it, the countdown to No.2′s arrival. You accompanied me to every pre-natal visit during my pregnancy and were always excited to “Yisten to baby” and measure my growing belly with the midwife’s measuring tape.

We soaked up the fall weather while it was nice, we visited the pumpkin patch where you just ran and ran and ran. Such a different trip than the previous year when we were propping you up on hay bales and pumpkins! This year we could barely get you to sit still to have your photo taken!

At the end of October, earlier than we expected, you became a big sister and took to the job like a pro. I was worried about you, Samurai, I was afraid you’d be mad at me, at us for bringing this little baby brother home. I was afraid of dividing my time, of not giving you enough, and, like always, was pleasantly surprised in the end with it all. You were so interested in “Baby Bennett.” You wanted to know what he was doing (“Baby Bennett Doing?”) and you wanted to “Check a Bebo?” (check his belly button). When he cried you told me to “Check a diaper, mama?” or “Feed da milk, mama?” You give Baby Bennett your toys, you try to put pacis in his mouth (he doesn’t like them) and, when we’ve put him in the car seat to go and he cries, you kindly close the flap on the carrier cover like, “Here, this will fix it.” You kiss him on the head and tickle his feet. You want him to watch you eat your lunch and constantly remind me to put him in tummy time. Seeing your instant love of him was such a HUGE relief and only makes me excited for the year to come and obviously years to follow. I hope that the bond that you share with him will be a special one, a close one. Of course, I’m not totally naive to think that your relationship will always be sunshine and rainbows, but I can certainly hope.

Around Thanksgiving your dad introduced you to the movie Ghostbusters 2. As ghosts flew around the television screen I looked at your father and said, “When she’s up in the middle of the night, screaming about ghosts? YOU will be the one to attend to her.” Except you didn’t. You thought the ghosts were HILARIOUS. Since that day you’ve asked to watch “Ghossabussers” EVERY. DAMN. DAY. You LOVE it. LOVE LOVE. I don’t know what it is but it doesn’t get old for you, you laugh, you repeat lines from the movie – it’s times like these where, despite the fact that you look like me and act like me, your love of ghosts and “monssas” (monsters) is where we differ. I HATE scary movies, I hate all of it. At your age this type of movie would have given me nightmares.

This year your birthday was awesome. We built things up for you in the weeks leading up to your big day. We talked about blowing out candles and opening presents. And, of course, we started talk of Santa Claus and you were mesmerized by “Kissamas” decorations this year. You had two parties – one the week before your birthday with our friends and family and then on Christmas Eve with just our families. We had a spaghetti dinner that your dad expertly cooked and a rainbow cake. You got such a kick out of blowing out the candles on your cake we lit them twice for you to blow out.

Christmas this year was also a lot more fun than the year before. You were so excited by your gifts and exclaimed things like, “Dis cool, mama?” and “Oooh WOW!” I was afraid that after two straight days of presents the following week would be such a let down for you!

It’s amazing to me how much you changed and grew over the year. Your first year was so much about the physical milestones – growing and rolling, sitting up and crawling…then standing and walking. This year was all about the verbal developments. As the year progressed you started dropping more and more of your signs in favor of words. The thing that comes out of your mouth most often is “Is this?” (what is this?) and we’re constantly narrating what we’re doing, what we’re seeing because you’re so curious about everything. And then of course things would come out of your mouth and your dad and I would look at one another like, “WHA?”

When you wake from a night’s sleep or a nap I ask, “Did you have good dreams? What did you dream about?” 99% of the time you answered, “Yes. Monkeys.” “Really?” I’d ask. “What were the monkeys doing?” “Eat the banana,” you’d reply matter of factly.

You are stubborn – I’m not sure if it’s your age or a character trait but for all of your stubbornness yous should have been born a Taurus, not a Capricorn. You are HILARIOUS. You are kind and pretty easy going. You give hugs and kisses when asked, you LOVE your grandparents and aunties and uncle. You love animals and books. You love watching the Backyardigans and Wonder Pets, Yo Gabba Gabba and, much to my dismay have an insane love for Dora. Dora I could do without but you are nuts over her and, in the mornings when we go downstairs for breakfast you stand at the top as I go down and shout, “SING!” I must have at one point, in an attempt to get you to move a little more quickly in the morning, sung to you, “C’mon vamanos, everybody let’s go! Come on let’s get to it, I know that we can do it!” Now we cannot go down the stairs together unless I sing. You too sing along and funny enough you sing the Spanish part perfectly and jumble the English. Your version? “C’mon vamonos, Egg-a-go!”

I’m starting to ramble here, trying to remember and capture all of your little quirks – there’s not a blog post big enough for it all.

2011 was a big year for you, Samurai. It was certainly crazy – we moved, you got a little brother, you turned two – but it was by far a year filled with some of my favorite memories of you (which, I know. You’ve only had TWO years on earth so far, but bear with me, I’m crazy in love with all that you do!). There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t sit and stare at you in a quiet moment and wonder how we got so lucky to have you as ours. And then I get insanely sad that some day you won’t be “ours” any more. It hits me hardest at night before you go to sleep. We read our stories and then “shuggle” in the chair in the corner of your room. I sing you songs and rub your back and you breathe heavy sighs into my chest as you unwind for the day. It’s in those moments that I wish so badly that I could just freeze time right then and there – keep you little forever. I know that’s every parent’s wish but my god if it doesn’t kill me to think that this time, what we have now is so fleeting. (This letter has certainly taken a turn for the depressing, eh?)

You’re cherished, Samurai. You’re turning out to be such a lovely little thing and I’m loving it all so much. So cheers, baby girl. Here’s to year 3.

I’m currently playing super sleuth b/c the issues with B’s bloody stools have not let up.

My recent Googling and a call tonight with a lactation consultant has pointed me in the direction of “Hey dumbass. Maybe the abundance of milk you produce is the problem.”

I joke and call myself “The Milk Truck” – but, it turns out that an oversupply of milk can be too much of a good thing. Apparently, in this type of situation, babies who get too much foremilk (the stuff that comes out first) get really full really quickly and don’t get much of the high fat hindmilk. The fatty hindmilk helps to keep baby full and slows down digestion – the foremilk, if too much is consumed, can sit in the intestine and create an imbalance and irritate the bowels causing bloody stool, green stool, excessive gas/spitting up and watery/mucuousy stool.

I block feed B (as I did with the Samurai) which basically means baby nurses on one side per feeding. This method is supposed to help baby get more of the hindmilk HOWEVER, mine shoots out like a fire hydrant upon let down and poor Baby B is having a hard time managing it. He sputters and chokes upon let down, gasps for air – turns out he is not the beefcake his sister was.

Maybe someday she will be the kegstand queen. BUT ONLY WHEN SHE IS 21.

And there you have it. I’ve just schooled you on more that you’ll probably ever want to know about breast milk and baby poop.

You’re welcome.

***

When you get together you will have opportunities to talk about all of the things that make you happy but mostly you’ll talk about the things that drive you insane about your husband/job/child/life in general and then you will get to hear that person tell you the EXACT SAME THINGS. And, while you’re sitting there discussing these things, and your toddlers are both trying to climb the walls of the booth where you’re trying to sit and each lunch, you will smile inside (and probably outside too) and feel 100% better that you’re not alone.

And the next time you want to drop your overtired, hollering from the back seat because you’re not playing DORA! on the car stereo, shoe taking off two-year-old on the side of the street you will smile again because you  know you wouldn’t want life any other way.

But it still doesn’t change the fact that in that moment you’d like to leave them on the side of the road.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Oh god, I did not. I did not keep any. Early in the year I won a contest at the gym where I taught where the prize $500 at a very chic clothing boutique here in the city. So chic that $500 bought me 3 things. ON SALE. Excited about my new purchases I resolved to get dressed and either do my hair or wear make-up 4 out of 7 days of the week. I lasted until March. Pregnancy did not help one bit – especially not when I work in an environment where I can show up un-showered, sans fards, in the same clothes two days in a row and no one says anything. At least not to my face.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Why yes. I gave birth to a clone of the Robot.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thank goodness.

5. What countries did you visit?
We did zero travel last year. Between trying to sell the house and then actually doing it, the frenzy to find a new house that followed, expecting No.2…there was no time to get away.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
More new experiences (see number 1). Less stress.

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
February 11 – the fateful day the Robot took off work and my MIL offered to watch the Samurai so that the Robot and I could go on a date. Also known as the day we did it twice in one day, the only two times that month and lo! conceived No.2.

March 3 – the fateful day I gave into my suspicions that I might possibly be pregnant, stopped at Walgreens on my way home from the gym, ran straight upstairs, peed on a stick, saw two lines, immediately texted my girlfriend with a photo and the following words, “OMG. OMG. OMG. OMG. OMG.”

October 27 – HAPPY BIRTHDAY No.2

Other important dates – the day we sold our house, the day we moved out, the day our offer was accepted on our new home.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Er…Making a baby? Clearly 2011 is year of the baby.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Getting wrapped up in dramas that I shouldn’t have. Particularly those that involved the separation of my parents. DRA-MA.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Only pregnancy related. Had some mega round ligament pain that stopped me from running and then wicked carpal tunnel in the third trimester.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
The services of a doula.

12. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage, bills, moving expenses, medical bills.

13. What did you get really excited about?
Moving! Decorating! OMG. The house sat on the market nearly a year before we sold and as much as I liked our first home, I was so ready to move. We were quickly running out of room and I was itching to make a new space for our growing family. Also the arrival No.2. Obviously. My second chance at an intervention free VBAC. HAH!

14. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Three Little Birds – I can’t even tell you how many times this popped up on Pandora when listening to the Samurai’s preferred musical selections. I kind of felt like it was there just to remind me that I should chill out.

15. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder? Thinner or fatter? Richer or poorer?
Happier and sadder. Can I be both? Fatter. But only temporarily. I actually weigh the same but, you know…things aren’t really where they should be. Richer or poorer? The same I guess.

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Travel. Sleep.

17. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worrying.

18. How did you spend Christmas?
Morning at our house with the kids, then my immediate family for breakfast and then my in-laws for dinner.

19. What was your favorite TV program?
The Walking Dead

20. What were your favorite books of the year?
I am ashamed to say I didn’t read a single book last year. I can’t believe I just typed that.

21. What was your favorite music from this year?
Florence and the Machine. Feist. Sarah Jarosz.

22. What were your favorite films of the year?
I don’t have any.

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 29 and my family came to our house for dinner. We had barbecue. It was delicious.

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Winning the lottery.

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Full time fancy which eventually degraded to yoga pants which took an upswing to the summer of the casual cotton dress into trouser maternity jeans and a cute top back to yoga pants and then pretty much full time pj’s for the last 9 weeks.

26. What kept you sane?
My husband. God bless the Robot this last year.

27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.

Every little thing is gonna be alright.

Since I last wrote things are much better. I’m feeling less like I’m flailing around and more like I’m getting a handle on things.

In the weeks since I last wrote I’ve done the following:

1. Talked to a shrink to make sure I didn’t have post-partum depression. (I don’t!) At the urging of my midwife I met with one in their practice, took a couple of tests, had a little chat where I was able to spew out my #firstworldproblems and realized that a) I was taking on WAY more than I should have been at that point in time b) That being SUPER MARTHA right now is pretty unrealistic c) That I’m doing okay as a mother and wife even if the house is messy chaos looks like it has been bombed not pristine and I haven’t showered or brushed my teeth in 48 hours and we’re eating snack foods for dinner. Again.

2. Taken No.2 to more pediatrician appointments, trips to the hospital for X-rays (2), CT Scans (1), to an allergist and back to Children’s for a blood draw… And I did most all of these (except the CT) with he Samurai in tow. Both X-rays happened right at the witching hour (between the hours of 5 and 7p) and the last two (allergist and blood draw) conveniently were mid-afternoon where I had to wake her out of a late nap in order to make the appointment on time. Normally stressful situations (figuring out what’s ailing No. 2) PLUS a less than willing 2 year old make for evenings where I sit on the couch and weep because I am a) exhausted and b) feeling defeated.

3. ON THE BRIGHT SIDE – No.2 has a very normal head (thanks to a VERY EXPENSIVE CT SCAN!) and will not require surgery. He is passing blood in his stool less and less (THANKS TO A DAIRY FREE DIET) and his very dry skin…well, we won’t know about that for another week or so when he goes to see a pediatric dermatologist.

4. From 12/17-12/29 I threw a friends & family birthday party for the Samurai. Took my dad out to dinner (with our family) for his birthday. Hosted the Samurai’s birthday on the actual day with our families (and Christmas Eve dinner and birthday cake). Hosted Christmas morning breakfast and presents with my parents and grandmother. Hosted the Robot’s birthday (at a restaurant because I was tired of cleaning up the kitchen) and followed it up at our house with ice cream sundaes. With disposable bowls and utensils (see tired of kitchen clean up).

5. Given up on living in museum house. Please avert your eyes from the mess if you should happen to visit.

6. Asked for and accepted help when offered.

7. Participated in a local story-telling gig wherein I shared my trueCHRISTMAS story of the Samurai’s birth. If you’ve followed this blog for a while, then you know it. And if you don’t? You can SEE me tell it. Or if you just wondered what I sound like or ever wondered if I did a weird thing with my hands when I talk (I do) – go here —> (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOZK-w2jHTE&feature=youtu.be)

8. Enjoyed my family.

9. Declared 2012 the year of “taking it slow.”

10. Given myself more credit.

***

So here we are, 2012. After this past year, getting pregnant, selling our house, temporarily living with my parents, buying a house, scrambling to organize said house before No.2 arrived, No.2 arriving a whole week before he was estimate to arrive, his scary birth, health issues, the holidays, The Samurai’s second birthday, still settling into the house…We had a very busy year but one filled with more blessings than we even deserve.

Thanks for following along – and here’s to hoping my post are just a little more boring this year.

between B’s skin, passing blood in his stool and our CT scan tomorrow (turns out they’re still concerned, ordered a CT scan and an appointment with the neurosurgery department) along with looming freelance projects/deadlines, no sleep, a toddler, the house, Christmas, a certain toddler’s second birthday, the Robot’s birthday and the fact that my parents have recently parted ways, i’m spent.

at my 6 week check today it was revealed that i’ve lost more weight than i gained during my pregnancy – turns out extreme amounts of stress is an AWESOME diet.

i’m not looking for sympathy, i’m just trying to be transparent and say this:

Samurai Strong is going on hold through the end of the year.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and I’ll see you in 2012.

She took a look at the X-ray and called us to say that she didn’t see evidence of the plates prematurely closing, that there probably wasn’t anything to worry about. However, she said, she was having our ped call us on Thursday since she was the one who ordered the scan, had seen No.2 and was the one with the initial concern.

On Thursday our ped called us. Turns out, after reviewing the scan, she decided she wasn’t satisfied with what it showed (or didn’t show) and referred the x-ray to the neurosurgery unit at Children’s. She wanted them to review it and told me we should expect a call from them in 2-3 days as they would want to examine him and, if they felt necessary, order a CAT scan to rule out premature closure of his skull.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t cry a big ugly cry after she hung up the phone.

On Wednesday I thought we were out of the woods and now I’m having to again face the possibility that things might not be okay.

So for now we wait and hope that his head shape is just weird. That surgery isn’t necessary and we can go on with only the status of his poop to worry about.

Everything was fine and his stats measured up as:

10 pounds (up from 7 something from when he was born. don’t really know his true birth weight since the scales were janky in the OR) and he measured in at 22 inches (20.5 at birth). Both measurements put him in the 75% percentile for height and weight.

At the end of our visit the Ped asked me (again, she’s asked the two other times we’ve been there) if B was breech. “No,” I told her, he was not. Apparently the shape of his head is similar to a breech baby. And, while I don’t know what this means, his head shape gave her cause for concern and sent us on YET ANOTHER trip to Children’s for…WAIT FOR IT…a HEAD X-Ray. In one week my kid has had his abdomen x-rayed and now his weirdly shaped noggin.

The concern with his head shape is that it could indicate premature closure in the plates in the back of his head. And, if that were happening (I don’t know yet, they haven’t called with the results), they’d have to go in and open his head up.

OPEN HIS HEAD.

You guys. OPEN HIS HEAD.

I may have dropped to the floor when the pediatrician told me this and she reassured me that she was just being overly cautious and that, in 17 years she’s only had two patients who have needed surgery.

***

On the bright side the bloody stools have slowed way down and we’ve only had a couple in the last couple of days so I’m hoping that things are working their way out of his system (and mine) and that we’ll be on the road to normal poops here soon. That said, the 3 hour crying fits in the evening have drastically shortened, B has visibly put on weight (suggesting that he’s absorbing the breast milk better now that there aren’t dairy products in it) and his flaky, scaly skin is also clearing.

***

And, lastly, B throwing shade in his 1 month photo.

Because the dirty diaper was a cloth one I headed to the kids’ bathroom to put the wipes in the garbage and the cloth diaper into the wet bag. When I opened the diaper though I didn’t find just wipes. Mixed in with the bright yellow baby poop was a big spot of blood.

And, because what else are you going to do this late on Monday night, I started to panic.

As much as I try to be the “calm, I don’t get worked up over much” mom, finding blood in your child’s diaper is unsettling to say the least.

And, because I have ZERO experience with this sort of thing and what it might mean, I hit Dr. Google.

Dr. Google was all, “Normal, normal, normal, DEATH.”

So of course I went straight to death and called the pediatrician’s after hours hotline. I left my message and waited patiently for the call paced the bedroom contemplating on whether or not we needed to pack up No. 2 and head to Children’s.

An hour passed and we had no call back. The Robot called and left a new message this time. I got dressed and started searching through the day’s dirty diapers to see if there had been any other signs of blood. There had not.

Another hour passed and we had no call back. I called and left another message – one that conveyed my displeasure in being ignored and one that expressed what I thought was an emergency COULD SOMEONE PLEASE CALL ME BACK NOW PLEASE AND THANK YOU.

***

On Tuesday morning as soon as the doctor’s office opened, I called to make No.2 and appointment. I was informed that for this type of thing the pediatrician would call me back and after a conversation, she’d decide if we needed to come in or not.

She called shortly thereafter and basically said, “If the blood continues or gets worse, bring him in.”

I hung up, changed his diaper, found more blood than I had at the first change that morning, called back and scheduled us a visit for that afternoon.

***

One abdominal X-ray and 24 hours of hypoallergenic formula later, turns out the pediatrician was right in her prediction that No. 2 has an intolerance for cow’s milk and it’s byproducts and I was ordered on a strict no diary diet and 24 hours of pumping my milk

Let me say as an aside here that I do not understand why ANYONE would choose to formula feed unless absolutely necessary. What a pain in the ass THAT was. You actually have to wake up and be somewhat coherent to do that mess whereas with nursing I can just pull out a boob still half asleep and feed my kid. Formula required washing (I only own two bottles) and measuring and use of the microwave AND on top of being awake enough to do all of that, I still had to pump and then clean the pump parts, put my milk in the freezer.

At 3a, this is not my idea of a good time. I like attachment parenting – it’s lazy.

Everyone is all “Good for you for breast feeding your kids” and I’m all “Anything that requires less dish washing and planning I am all for.” And it’s free.

But I digress.

***

So now that we have that back under control No.2′s skin has started to clear up (he was peely, peely, peely!), the fussy/screaming/gassy fits for three hours every evening have stopped and everyone’s feeling a lot better not having to analyze every poopy diaper that gets changed.

My dude, he is the sensitive type.

Which leads to what we found on Thursday!

***

So if blood wasn’t enough to find in your son’s diaper, how about getting him home from Thanksgiving festivities on Thursday night to see that his but cheeks are red and chapped STILL after a day of applying Desitin and now his penis has two blisters on either side of it.

Turns out all those rumors about the Pampers Dry Max diapers are totally true.

Now you may be asking, “But don’t you cloth diaper your kids?”

Why yes, we do but if you’ve ever had a newborn, diapering in these early days is constant. Our laundry pile already has doubled itself in burp cloths and extra changes of sleepers and onesies, I wasn’t ready to double my cloth laundry pile.

But, after seeing what those disposables had done to my kids sensitive bits, I broke out all of the itty bitty cloth diapers I had purchased this summer and by the next diaper change, with no rash ointment, his condition had improved.

***

If we have no further genital/diaper issues for the rest of the year, I’d be 100% okay.

We have recently had 3 successful tries of peeing in the potty and while she hasn’t pooped in it, she has mastered the skill of pooping in her diaper and immediately coming to tell me “Poo poo potty?” which entails her, sitting naked on her frog potty, asking to “Yook a poo poos?”, me dumping them in the toilet and then her marveling over the “Cute poo poos?” in the potty and then finally the most exciting part, “Fush a poo poos!”

She loves to “Wipe a bum” and has watched some Elmo potty propaganda that my mom gave her on DVD a million times. All signs point to “It’s time to learn.”

For those of you how have taught your kids to use the potty I ask you this:

What do I need to know?

Are there books/websites I should read?

Do I really have to have a giant toy closet as reward since she’s already pumped about sitting on her potty?

Do I go ahead and buy “big girl” panties?

HALP.