Day 76

Maybe it's the whole 'spring ahead' time change that has us all off a little. Annie's 'schedule' is thrown off and she is a little cranky. Yes, Annie does get cranky from time to time but is generally a happy baby. SO... my only guess is that it's the Day light savings time change. Oh and maybe the weather. It's hard to put her to bed when the sun is still shining...
With all these changes EC has been a little more difficult to keep track of. She's no longer following a schedule and seems confused as to what time it really is... then again aren't we all like that until we get used to the change? With that said, we keep putting forth our best effort and try, try again until sometime we get the hang of EC for yet another time. For now... we will try and adjust ourselves to this ever changing world. Send great thoughts our way... STAY TUNED!

Today I learned: You never realized you have a great schedule until there is interference!
Diapers saved today =4
Money saved today = $.80
Money saved to date = $96.40

Day 75

Toileting Annie is much like the weather... it gives people something to talk about when conversation may be scarce. I never thought I would be talking so openly about my daughter's poop and pee schedule and 'potty training' her as an infant. Nope, I assumed we would be like all the other new parents: just going with the flow and making sure we did everything EXACTLY by the book. Because after all, that's how you do things for your children... how everyone else does them and how they are supposed to be done...right? Apparently I was mistaken!
To my amazement I sit here typing on this blog and trying to provide many of you with your the next topic of the week. You know... the "can you believe what I saw/read" topic to bring up when you're at a loss for words by the water cooler at work. That is if you have a water cooler at work... but you get the picture!
Toileting Annie brings smiles to people's faces and a chuckle to their mouth... no one can ask us with a serious face "how is potty training your baby going?" It's just plain impossible. On the same token... we are unable to answer any potty related questions with a straight face. Pretty neat how something that seems so menial could become an interesting topic of conversation and a "wow" moment for some.
Speaking of WOW moment... I took Annie to the bathroom at church this morning and like always brought her into a stall. There was someone else in the bathroom too and I know she heard me cuing Annie to pee pee pee pee then heard a little tinkle tinkle. The lady walked out of her stall after Annie had finished and just looked at me and gave a smile/laugh. I wonder what conversation that started this afternoon? I can just hear it now... "you'll never guess what I saw at church... no really.. I'm not kidding!"
Stay tuned... more conversation starters are sure to come!!!


Today I learned: Toileting Annie gives us all something to talk about!
Diapers saved today =4
Money saved today = $.80
Money saved to date = $95.60

Day 74

A look into Annie's BEAUTIFUL blue eyes!

Have you ever looked at the world through a baby's eyes? I mean really looked from their perspective. If not, you should try it sometime. It's amazing what they can see. While playing with Annie today I began to think about what she sees and what she is unable to see. This brought me to look at the world through her eyes, you know... at her level. First I laid on the floor to see what she sees... not much unless there's a toy or a person in front of her. Of course she rolls from side to side and looks around at the bottom of the furniture... which got me thinking I really should vacuum those dust bunnies sometime before she starts moving. Annie spends a lot of time on her tummy during the day which again, doesn't provide her with much amusement. Although from this position she has better head control and can 'scoot' to where she wants to look. Oh and of course she can reach her toys better and chew on them to her heart's desire! Then there's the exer-saucer, the bouncy, chair and the famous Ergo (baby carrier). From here she can see just about anything that an adult can see... Although we maybe not pick up on the fine details like dirt and dust. (boy wouldn't it be nice to have baby eyes)
Then the AWESOME potty... yup... she sees herself and the holder of her (Joe or I) while sitting to do her business. Depending on the potty she sometimes sees Daddy's cologne, Mommy's hairbrush, or the 'under the sea' soap dispenser. All of these things intrigue her to the point where sometimes she gets distracted away from the goal of the session. I think I shall start drawing pictures on the mirror for her potty time... on second thought maybe that would be a bad example... Let's hope this isn't sign of what's to come!
I guess when I was looking around trying to see things from Annie's point of view I realized that she only sees what we allow her to see. Which is great but a LOT of pressure! But at the end of the day Annie sees the most important things in her life: the people who love her and take care of her... and her toys!
Ahh the life of Annie!

Today I learned: Looking through the world in baby's eyes puts everything in a new perspective!
Diapers saved today =5
Money saved today = $1.00
Money saved to date = $94.80

Day 73

This evening, as I tried to convince Annie that rice cereal is the most delicious thing ever made I couldn't help but wonder all the things in life we need convincing to do. In the short months since I became a mom I have had to convince Annie of many things. First to eat from me, want to wear clothes, stop crying, start sleeping, wear a diaper, be held by others besides her dad and myself, and adjust to a new living environment. That was just in the first 24 hours! Now there are daily challenges that present themselves and I'm left wondering what the perfect way to convince her is.
For starters...we try to make her feel as if using the potty is the best thing she'll do all day! We all know it isn't that exciting, but to a baby perhaps it could be. Or at least they are little enough to trick for a while. Eventually when it isn't one of the most exciting moments of her day, she'll be used to using a potty and think nothing of it as she goes along with her business (quite literally).
Starting rice cereal the past few days has been another challenge! Trying to convince her that this weird textured substance is SO delicious that she should eat ALL of her teaspoons worth of it.... yup we give her a WHOLE teaspoon at a time. Doesn't seem like much, but trust me to get the tsp down is a struggle. I do my best to try and put on my "yum" face and convince her that it's the best thing she'll ever eat... she's not buying my tactics.
It's funny to me that here I sit, trying to convince Annie to eat rice cereal and how great it is... when in a few years I'll try to do the same thing when she reaches for yet another cookie. I'll try to convince her how amazing it is to eat oatmeal or the other healthy alternative as opposed to fruit loops or some other delicious sugar filled morning meal!
My question then becomes... do we always need convincing from our parents? Will I always be saying "it's the best" to every new adventure I want her to try? For now... we're blessed... Annie truly thinks her blue potty is... yup you guessed it... the best. Who wouldn't... just look at it's beauty!



Today I learned: I will forever try to convince Annie to try 'amazing' new things!
Diapers saved today =6
Money saved today = $1.20
Money saved to date = $93.80

Day 72

We are still struggling with the sleep issue. I still can't figure it all out and have no clue why Annie just can't sleep. It seems a little ridiculous that during the day she uses her crib and at night she's fussy and can't stay asleep. Tonight we will try a few different tricks to help her sleep! As far as EC is concerned we aren't worried about keeping up this week. Although even without trying Annie is doing a great job. It still amazes me how she can stay on top of EC while she's tired and cranky...but I guess that's determination. Perhaps this is a sign of her personality to come? Stay tuned!


Today I learned: Annie's more determined than her mom!
Diapers saved today =4
Money saved today = $0.80
Money saved to date = $92.60

Day 71

Another day another dollar... quite literally! Still little sleep for us so EC is on hold... Annie's trying her best. As are her parents!


Today I learned: Even when you don't focus on something it can happen!
Diapers saved today =5
Money saved today = $1.00
Money saved to date = $91.80

Day 70

Ten weeks of EC. Can you believe it? Time flies when you're having fun... or in Annie's case peeing in a bucket. When I started all of this nonsense I had the ambition of continuing EC for 365 days but in all honesty never thought it would happen. Never would I have guessed that I would have told our story to strangers... and kept writing even though I don't know how many people actually read my rants. It's amazing to me that I've kept it up this long. As long as I've been consistent I figure what's another 42 weeks? Nothing right? EC just gets easier and easier so that's the good news. We'll see what the next 10 weeks brings us. We're sure to make it to the $100 mark soon too. Oh.. and for those of you that have been asking I promise pictures of the new potty this week once we get more sleep! Stay tuned!

Today I learned: 10 weeks sure flies by!
Diapers saved today =5
Money saved today = $1.00
Money saved to date = $90.80