Big Boy Pants and the Homerun Derby

Thanks, Target, for selling your summer stuff at 30% off.
Ikaika tends to get into whatever sports are on TV. A few months ago, we couldn't pry him away from his basketball hoop, a few weeks ago it was "soccer ball!" everything, and right now it's baseball.

He's been improvising and using various household things as a "bat" (bolster pillows, parts of other toys, spoons, etc.) so you can't even imagine his excitement at having the real deal.  We didn't even make it out of the Target parking lot - we set up the tee next to the carts and let him have at it.

I like this bat because it has substantial weight to it, unlike the oversize plastic ones.  But, it's padded and soft enough that he can't cause too much damage.

You may also notice that he's wearing some big boy pants!  I got the smallest size available (2-3) and they are a little large, even on his stouty frame.  We've been doing well enough these last few days that I'm willing to take a limited leap of faith.  Today, he even stopped mid-tantrum because he realized he needed to poop.  Hilarious!

The Continuing Saga of Potty Training

Potty training. Phew!

Many already know that I started my son with EC when he was a few weeks old and have continued it to varying degrees since. When I found out I was pregnant again I had a strong resolve to get the older one out of diapers before the new one arrives.

Here we are, four weeks until D-day, and Ikaika is not exactly close to being "potty trained". What do we consider "potty trained" and how do we know when a kid is "done"? It seems the traditional definition is that a kid is able to communicate clearly when they need to go and hold it if no receptacle is available.

In this sense, my kid isn't even close! But if being potty trained means that we can get through a day without a wet or dirty diaper (or even that we can get through a day without wearing diapers but not have a wet/soiled floor), then I guess we are having some success here! Ikaika is going on his second day of no diaper and I've only had to clean up one accident!

The trick here is that I need to offer him the toilet ALL THE TIME! When we are out and about in town, I have to offer the potty at the library, then again at KTA, then again at the park, and so on. When we are at home, I have to remind him to go and take him to the potty every 30 minutes - more if he drinks liquids. He doesn't quite have the balance or dexterity to pull his pants up and down so it's really up to us (his parents) to get him there and make that potty available. He can take care of the rest!

I would be satisfied even if he weren't fully "potty trained" before the new baby gets here. I'm going to be washing diapers anyway, I just don't want to be washing them every day. I'm fairly sure that I will be continuing EC with the second baby. Maybe it will even be easier since I'm "in the mode" already! Gee, isn't that an exciting thought?!

Ditching the Diapers - Phase Two: Wee Weka Knickers and Small Potty

All great minds think on the pot...


In case you were wondering - he's reading Little Husky's Big Game, a rhyming board book about The Apple Cup (UW vs WSU). I like the book because it uses terminology like "tight end", "nose guard", "screen", and "that punt's got hang time". Precious and educational. Ickey likes it because it combines his two great loves: dogs and football.

Notice the infant toilet. No baby bjorn but it is two pieces, easy to clean, and whimsical without being annoying.


So here are some training pants I made using the super SIMPLE tute for Wee Weka Knickers over at The Nappy Network.
Id like to thank my mother for sending me two shirts that no grown woman could ever hope to fit into! One shirt, as small as they were, made two pairs of knickers. I lined them with microfiber cloths I had in my diaper stash.


Even thought this material is surprisingly sturdy, I would like to try making trainers with PUL or some other water proofing material on the outside. The baby is far FAR from using the potty consistently so I'm trying to find the perfect compromise between full blown diapers and underwear.

I also want to figure out how to make one of these piddle pad things for the car seat! Although for 8 bucks - I should save myself some sanity and just buy the damn thing for Christmas.