Toilet training 102

Ry is only about 1.5 months away from his 2nd birthday and so I've decided to start toilet training him for his small business. He's long been successfully trained for the big one already and can run off to the toilet to put on his toddler seat ring on the toilet and signal to me that he need to go. Therefore, I thought it would be easy for me to train him for the small business.

But, who knows, my first difficulty is his refusal to put on the training pants. It took me half an hour just to wrestle with him to put on the pants. After that, I tried to bring him to his potty every 2 hours or so but he refused to pee even though he sat on his blue potty. He did pee on his training pants and then insisted that I took it off and later refused to put on the training pants again. He only wants his diaper. So my first day failed badly.

My second day of training with him can only start in the afternoon as we were out for grocery shopping in the morning. He agreed to go to the potty when I asked him to go but still refused to pee in it even though he can sit on it for 10 minutes or so. My disappointment grew stronger. Sigh!

It's already the third day now and today, he refused to go to the potty anymore when I asked him to do so. Seems like I have to give this toilet training business  another try sometime later as I think he is still not ready for it. Probably, I will have to wait till past his 2 year old mark. 

Mount Monadnock Farm Stay

On the second day of year 2009, we packed our bags and headed towards Mount Monadnock for a 2 night stay at a farm in New Hampshire. The place is near the border of NH, so it is only a 1 hr 40 minutes drive there. Together with us was another SG family, Vv and Ad and their two beautiful daughters. It was great that we spent the time with another family as our kids played together and we helped each other in looking after one another kids. 

Ry stepping out our little cottage after we settled in and was exploring the texture of snow in his new snow boots.

K and I really loved the small cosy cottage that they assigned us which is a short walk from the main inn where the meals are served and other activities are carried out. The scenery around the farm is also very picturesque and charming especially with the fresh coat of snow after the two recent snow storms. Basically, for this trip, we just have to stay within the farm and there is a list of activities that is planned each day which we could participate according to the schedule. Meals are also included in our stay so we just have to plop ourselves at the dining table and fill ourselves up with all the delicious food they serve. This is the first time that I never complained about eating American food for six straight meals as the food is simply delicious and not salty or oily. They really have the home -cooked taste. Also, choices are plenty especially for the kids and we just have to order whatever we liked. 

On our way to the main inn from our little cottage behind.

As we arrived at the farm around noon, we had our lunch there and spent quite a long time at the dining area catching up with Vv and Ad. Their two girls loved K and they liked to play with him, so K was busy entertaining the three kids throughout our whole stay. By the time we finished our meals, it was almost time for Ry's nap, so we decided to go back to our cottage and let Ry napped first.  After that, K and Ry went swimming at the indoor heated pool around evening time followed by another sumptuous dinner. The activity that night was story telling by the Native Americans, complete with puppets, mask and soft toys. 

The big dog that guards the barn. She was so big and flurry that we couldn't figure out wether it was a sheep or dog when it charged at us.

K trying out ice-skating in the naturally frozen ice skating rink.

Ry enjoying the usual swim that we'll definitely take if we are in places which offers indoor heated pool.

Emma, Abby and Ryan playing with each other while we were still having dinner. 

Warming their cold hands in the quaint little fireplaces that are found around the inn.

We woke up pretty early on Saturday as we wanted to go to the barn to pick the eggs that could be served for our breakfast. The coop was unlike those that we imagined with nicely segregated cubicles with chickens inside them and the eggs will roll down on one side of the aisle. In fact, it was just two small little cages with chickens in them and the chickens will lay eggs in any place they want. We had a hard time deciding whether to go into the cage to pick the eggs and almost decided to give up before a lady worker showed us where to find the eggs. In the end, we managed to pick 5 eggs and had them cooked as omelette and scrambled eggs for our breakfast. During breakfast, we felt a tinge of  guilt when we heard other kids returning dejected as they could not find any eggs.

  My snow angel! See how fat it is!

Snow fight!

Ry and daddy sledding down the slope!

In the afternoon, I decided to stay indoor with Ry and joined Vv and her two daughters for some activities while K and Ad went off for snowshoeing - some male bonding there. Snowshoeing is basically putting on a pair of snow shoes that looked like skis and go trekking in the forest that is now covered with snow. They spent at least 2 hr trekking through the forest while Ry and I were indoors making snowman with marshmallows and playing Uno with Em. 

My lopsided marshmallow snowman!

The night activity that day was Contradance and all the kids had a great time dancing away. I pitied the two dads who had to dance with the kids. They were so tired after the first dance but had to continue because of the kids while I was busy laughing and taking pictures and videos of their awkward dance steps. After the dance ended, the kids were still enthusiastic and so the musicians stayed behind and played some more music for the kids to play and dance around. Ry had such a good time that he was the last one to leave the dance floor.

Abby and Ry dancing away with their daddies.

Father and son dance!

On Sunday, we did not take part in any more activities as we planned to leave in the morning after breakfast. Initially, we wanted to go gathering eggs again but decided to give other kids a chance so we gave it a miss. While on our way home, K commented that this was the best and most relaxing holiday we had so far and I fully agree. Probably, I will be looking at more trips like this in future. 

Happy New Year 2009!

First, a happy new year and a prosperous year ahead to everyone!

The last day of 2008 in Boston ended in a quick but strong snow blizzard, which left about 6 inches of snow on the ground. So welcoming us the first day of 2009 is the white blanket of soft flurry snow on our window ledge and the extreme cold at -15 deg C - something that I know I will sorely miss by the end of the new year. 

Reaching the 1st of Jan also signifies to me that I am officially left with 8 more weeks aka 56 days to seeing the little one and 60 days to Ry's 2nd year. Here I am, still sitting comfortably in my warm living room seeing the day passed, watching the snow fall and teaching our little one how to draw and write while reminiscing the past year and anticipating the coming days. 

Looking back at 2008, I guess it would not be presumptuous for me to say that it is a significant landmark year of my life. For the first part of the year, I was busy juggling my studies, duties as a wife and a mum to a growing toddler with little time for reflections. At the same time, finding myself filled with guilt for not being the dedicated mum I could for my baby even though I was satisfying my intellectual quest of knowledge that I have yearned since I last graduated in 2000. In the second half of the year, I was surprised with myself being able to find peace and satisfaction as a full time mum, indulging myself in the little joy of cooking and baking in my little kitchen for my beloved ones and taking pride when Ry made all his little developmental milestones like taking his first steps, toilet training and brushing his teeth. Last but not least, the joy and excitement of finding out that I am expecting and nurturing another growing homo sapien that would bring much joy, chaos as well as heartbreaks to our family in the coming years.

At this significant first day of the new year, all I sincerely hope for is the smooth delivery of my second child and Ry to blossom into a healthy 2 year old. Not forgetting the rest of my friends too, Happy New Year again and a smooth delivery and pregnancy to all the mummies-to-be in 2009!