Saige Nicoles

I decided to write “Anecdotal Mom” as a way to share the funny, silly, embarrassing and yes, sometimes disgusting stories about my adventures as a mom.  With 3 children ages 12, 11 and 2, a husband, a business, a cat, and a dog every day is different and everyday is an adventure. 

•  Do children really pay attention to what’s on the tube?  If you don’t think so, then you have to read this.

When my middle son, Quentin, was 3 he and his dad were shopping.  Quentin was in the shopping cart when he liesurely said to my masculine, hunk of husband, “Dad, we’re two sexy bitches.”  To my husbands complete surprise and embarrassment he quickly looked around to see who could have heard this.  To his relief no-one.  This line was straight out of Austin Powers which, I had told my husband repeatedly was not a movie I wanted our kids to see…now he understands why. : - )

•  2 Year Old Potty Trains Self?

There is an age gap of 10 1/2 years between my oldest child and my youngest.  When Saige, my oldest, was 2 I thought it was time she started potty training, after all that’s what everyone said she “should” be doing.  Well,  training was tough.  She didn’t want to sit on the toilet, she actually fell in a couple of times, and of course when she pee’d all over the floor she wasn’t too happy with my response, “Saige!  What did you do!?” as I hastily grabbed her by the hand in order to grab a towel and wipe up the mess while scolding her.  I was exhausted (just think about how she felt).  Well, she was finally potty trained after a long while but I dd it! 

Fast forward 10 1/2 years and 3 children later.  My youngest son, Vaughn, just turned two and yes, I get the all familiar question, “Are you potty training him?”.  My laid back answer now is, “No.  He’ll let me know when he;s ready.”  And guess what, he is letting me know.  He brings me a diaper when he’s poo-poo’d and in the morning when I’m changing him I ask him if he wants to go pee in the “big toilet”.  Most of the time he is happy to try - he loves the celebration of applause and yeahs afterward. I’ve come to realize that children are pretty smart and know when they’re ready to potty train.  So, make it easy on yourself and your child, let them decide, a little encouragement from you will go a long way.  You’ll be so glad you do and your child will love you even more for it!

• It’s Only Noon!

So,  today has started off with a bang!  As you read earlier on our youngest is in the midst of potty training himself.  He wakes up and wants to take his soaking wet diaper off and sit on the toilet to pee.  Ye-ha!!!  Well, why shouldn’t I let him run around naked for a while - he’ll tell me if he has to go potty-again right?  Wrong - my oldest comes running out of the living room screaming - I didn’t understand anything she was saying until I heard, “Vaughn Pooped!”  well, I knew he didn’t have a diaper on so, that meant only one thing…gross!!!!  Yes he had pooped as was apparent by the dabs of doo on his behind but where!  As I rushed him to the changing table holding him out at the only distance my arms would allow, Siage scrambled around the house like a private eye…in search of the mysterious location.  Finally, “Mom!  I found it!  He pooped in Quentin’s Room”  Arggggg… his big brother was spending the night at his cousins, thankfully - oh and by the way Saige had a friend of hers spend the night.  Welcome to the Navarro home!  Scrambling to clean Vaughn I hollard for Saige to start the tub…shoot, I need to go get Quentin.  In a pass, Vaughn goes to Saige while I grab my bag and keys. 

So, now I’m back with Quentin and Vaughn is cleaned and diapered (Saige is no dummy).  what’ does everyone want to eat?  I’ll make pancakes.  I open the pantry door, “Oh no.  Where did Vaughn put the pancake mix”  We searched and searched to no ado.  We’ll looks like we’re eating out.  Fast forward after we stuff our belly’s.  I’m in the laundry room and guess what “Found it”  the pancake mix that is.

And by the way when did 40 become the age at which I “fart dust”  I thought 40 was the new 20 but according to Quentin as said to his sister, “Your mom’s so old she farts dust.”  Saige’s reply “She’s your Mom too!”  Hello…standing right here. 

• Simple Pleasures

Sometimes I take the simplest pleasures for granted - I’m so glad that I stopped to recognize this one today.  I was putting Vaughn down for his nap and the only thought running through my mind was my “to do’ list of things I can do without interuption once he’s down.  As I’m lying there with him I rub his back, make funny little noises for his entertainment and whisper “close your eyes”.  Suddenly, he gets up looks me straight in the eye and plants the oooiest kiss right on me “mmmmmmwaaaa” grabs my hand, nestles next to me and closes his eyes falling gently to sleep.  needless to say I stay there cuddled next to him for a while longer than originally planned - work can wait.

• WOW!

With so much going on it hit me today that in just a couple of weeks it will be time for the children to go back to school!  Saige will be in 7th grade this year, Quentin in 5th and our little man Vaughn gets to share more time with me…should I be crying? lol.  Every way I look at it I just cannot believe how quickly time goes by…my parents were right…my children are growing  fast.  The picture above was taken when Vaughn came home from the hospital.  Saige was 10, Q was 9 and Vaughn was  a little red wrinkle of a baby.  Tonight, Saige had dinner with a friend, Q played his new motor cross video game and Vaughn was right there beside him.  Wow! 

August 21, 2007

• So What Happened to Me Time? A Mother’s Quest to Find Her Sanctity and Not Lose Her Sanity

I received a call today from a designer friend of mine who has a precious 3 month old little girl.  We talked about everything from our husbands, our children, and our fathers (both who are recently widowed - after long happy marriages).  Not only does she have her own design studio to run but has her husband, 6 year old son and now a newborn who will only nurse and wants to be with mommy 24/7.  Now,  this is not a terrible thing in the least - she is a successful business woman, has an adoring son and husband and it’s giving her daughter a head start that only a mommy can give. BUT…….what happens when we need a little ”Alone Time”?  Well, we talked about that and we came to the conclusion that  while we know what that means - those who are closest to us don’t seem to understand.  Here is an examples of what we mean.

Bubble Bath for 1…wait make that 2…3…4…5!!!!

It was the end of a long day - I’d been taking care of business, the children, the home and who knows what else - everything we Mom’s do during a typical day.  Well, this evening in particular I needed some “Alone Time” so I told my husband and snuck quietly away without another word.  As my water ran I poured a generous amount of bubble bath that quickly grew into a nice healthy mound - I got in, sat down and turned on the jets.  Yes…this is exactly what I needed.  I lay there with my eyes closed for a few minutes (maybe 10 - 15)  but I soon sensed someone watching me - I slowly opened my eyes and to my complete horror standing above me were my husband (with our youngest in tow) and our two oldest.  Of course I burst out telling them to leave - this is my time!!!  What was it they wanted?  Mom, when are you going to be done?    “Alone time” was over - prematurely as far as I was concerned.

October 22, 2007  Mom’s Night Out -

It was Thursday night and the week had been the week from hell.  My son Quentin and I had been sick all week long with the stomach flu - I was finally over it but saw signs of it now in my youngest.    Between changing sheets, and cleaning toilets - I think I single handedly raised the net profits for Lysol’s parent company - my hands were like leather, I was scummy, hadn’t changed or showered all day - and was so ready to finally get out of the house.  My big plan was to attend an informative night out with other ambitious momprenuers - engrossed in intellectual and stimulating conversation.  At 5:30 p.m. I was finally able to jump in the shower.  Ahhhh - I just stood there letting the warm water beat upon me.  I leisurely washed and finished up.  I styled my hair - put on my make-up (a real treat since I work from my home office most times) and started to dress.  As I dressed, had my bra and underwear on -  my 2 year old woke from a late nap - he started making a  strange noise like a marshmallow being squished - I quickly picked him up and no sooner did he throw-up!  Oatmeal thick on my shoulder and running down my back - I lifted him to see his face and could see “that look” in his eyes.  Before I could get him over the sink - a nasty trail had been left behind.  Help!  I yelled for anyone who would respond - my daughter and my husband came running- Vaughn went to Saige while my husband helped wipe me down.  After I cleaned up yes, more Lysol - I finished getting dressed, got my keys and walked out the door.  I needed this night and I wasn’t going to let anything stop me.  My baby was home safe with his Dad, homework was done and dinner was made. The meeting turned out to be energizing…it was just what the Dr. ordered. 

• Being Forgetful Is One Thing…

My husband and I are always pounding it into my older children to “focus” especially for our 11year old son who often tends to walk away from our conversations only to turn around and ask “What is it that I’m suppose to do again?”  Uggggg….So,  what do I do this morning?  It was a morning like any other - I packed up our two year old - ye;led to my older two “Let’s go it’s 7:30.  Don’t forget your lunches and your backpacks!  Quentin…do you have music today!?   etc…etc…etc…  So finally, we’re off (oh yeah…tell Daddy goodbye)  He was getting ready for work.  I’m driving the short distance to drop off my son at his elementary school and become completely transfixed on the fact that Quentin is reading very nicely to Vaughn.  I’m on auto pilot as  I listen…pull up to the school via the nice, neat line of cones used to help guide the traffic in an orderly fashion and just keep driving, passing the drop off point and finally the school entirely!  My daughter yells “Quentin!”.  I snap out of it and immediately and accusingly snap at her thinking she’s going to tell him to ‘Be quiet!’ or some other bossy comment.  “What about Quentin?  He’s reading to Vaughn!”  Of course she’s surprised because all she had to say is “Quentin…you forgot to drop off Quentin!”  Of course, I pull over as quickly as i can (in the red) and look back,  Quentin too was surprised - he was focusing so much on reading to Vaughn, even he didn’t realize we passed his school.  He quickly got out and with  a huge grin on his face said ‘Good bye’.  As I pulled out Saige and I simply started to laugh uncontrollably - I’m sure we’ll talk more about our little antic when the children come home later today.   

• I’m Trying to Work Here

O.K.  yesterday - was almost more stress than one Mamma can manage.  I work from my home office and absolutely had a few things I had to do.  My two year old is with me at home and I had already dropped my older two off at school.  As I sat down at my desk trying to concentrate, I heard a lite trickle of what sounded like beads all over my living room floor (we have hardwood floors, so roll away they will.)  When I got up to see what it was my two year old had gotten into I discovered that he had emptied a box of Corn Pops and was eating them off the floor like a dog!  I don’t have time to pick that up right now…so, I left him to eat the Corn Pops in his own unique style.  When I returned, he  had eaten a hardy amount of the cereal.  What was left, I swept up and he helped me put them in the dust pan and throw them away.  Good thing I didn’t have any surprise guests Pop-in. 

• YIPEEE…Potty Training is Only a a Hop, Skip and A Flush Away!

So,  this morning my 2 year old woke up almost dry.  Well,  that’s unusual.  So,  I took him into the bathroom and sat him down on his little kooshi seat.  He went potty, no problem at all, and of course we all praised his valiant success.  Fast-forward to lunch.  We’re in the car coming home from running some errands and he starts to complain about his tummy.  I ask him if he hurt himself and he said ‘No,  poo-po’.  Oh my gosh!  Could it be?  Is Vaughn ready to be potty trained?  Well,  we rushed in the house and straight toward the restroom.  It took, what seemed like 10 minutes, to take off his pants and shoes. Finally!  I sat him down on the toilet and voila!  His first poo-poo on the toilet.  Of course we cheered and gave each other high-5’s.  But you know what Mommies?  I think we’re entering another level of childhood here…my baby’s growing up.