and Payton Joy is potty trained (at 27 months old)! I did my research and a trusted friend told me about the 3DayPottyTraining method with which she and her son (second child) were successful. I trust mothers who have gone before me, and I did NOT want to make a mistake. As far as I am concerned, I only get ONE shot at this with each child so I wanted to follow someone's tried and true method.
We followed the method to a T and....IT WORKED! I am so excited for PJ. She sailed through the three days quite triumphantly! She had several accidents the first day but that is expected when she's been used to wearing a super absorbent diaper that wicks away the moisture. To begin the process, we threw away all of her diapers (she helped!) and put her in big girl undies. She loved the Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck, and Hello Kitty designs! Every time she'd start to go, we'd rush her to the potty chair. We'd change her into clean, dry undies and say, "Keep your undies dry, okay?" and then within a few minutes, "Be sure to tell Mommy if you need to go pee-pee." Now, I will admit that after these three days, I'm TIRED of saying those two sentences over and over! But it's really worth it because she has made the connection and seems to be sailing. She woke up this morning with dry sheets, too!
Now I realize there will be set backs and, I'm sure, she'll get engrossed in some activity and not make it to the toilet occasionally, but I truly believe the "training" has worked and she is forever through with diapers! Our next step will be to put her on a regular toilet at home so that when we go out of the house, she won't be freaked out by not having her own little potty chair to use. I'm going to work on that the rest of this week. But if she got the major part down in three days, I'm certain it will not be a big deal to learn to adapt to a regular toilet.
Now for those of you who are appalled at the details in this message, I apologize. But for those of you who have children and have experienced the potty training woes, I wanted to share some helpful encouragement. I HIGHLY recommend the 3DayPottyTraining method. It will be the best $25 you ever spend (as long as you follow it diligently, of course)! I respect the author's copyright agreement and wish her continued success in her sales as a stay-at-home-mom, therefore, I will not forward the e-book to anyone so please don't ask me!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
Proverbs 31 and Beyond Bible Study
I'm hoping to participate in an online Bible Study hosted by Moms of Faith called Proverbs 31 and Beyond. I hesitate to commit to it but how ELSE am I going to develop my spiritual life unless I commit? So I'm posting this to challenge myself and ask you, my friends and family, to hold me accountable.
It definitely looks to be an uplifting, encouraging, yet challenging study. Please pray for me as I embark upon these next 12 weeks.
For more information about this study, go to Proverbs 31 and Beyond.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
The Story of My Second Labor
After water aerobics two Thursdays ago, I went home and ate dinner and went to bed around 10:30pm. I woke up at 12:30am feeling a POP in my uterus. I got up to examine things and, sure enough, my water had broken! Contractions started immediately and were only 2-3 minutes a part. My doula (birth assistant) arrived about 30 minutes later and proceeded to help me (and my Michael) through the labor. Let me just say THANK GOD we had Jennifer with us! The contractions were every 1-2 minutes and VERY intense. She suggested I get into the bathtub because it often helps women relax. I didn't stay in there very long because I wasn't relaxed and felt like I had nothing to support me through the contractions (nothing to hold on to for support). While I was in the tub, I started to feel anxious and decided I was ready to go to the hospital. It was quite a scene, I am sure, as Jennifer and Michael tried to get me dried off and dressed as I was contracting every other minute. I can only imagine!
Granny Linda (Michael's mother) was already at the house to stay with PJ (who slept through the whole thing, which was a total answer to prayer!). Around 3:30am, we drove to the hospital. It usually takes about 15-20 minutes to get there but we made it in about 8 minutes flat! :-) When we arrived, I literally walked in and fell into the wheel chair they provided and continued to have intense contractions as they wheeled me into Labor & Delivery. It was just like a scene out of a movie! When they checked me, I was dilated to 8cm. They thought I was going to have the baby at the check in desk. HA! It was such a whirlwind, let me tell you. I had NO drugs and things progressed rapidly. My doctor did arrive onto the scene (along with several other staff hanging around to see this crazy, natural birth in progress). Around 4:30am, I started to push and after about two hours of pushing, the baby's head was still at a station +1. I knew the potential for my pelvis not to spread because it happened with my first birth (pushed 4 hrs that time with little progress). So after enduring the grueling contractions and pushing and knowing that I had given it quite the "good college try," I opted to do another c-section. I did NOT want to push any longer and I was tired (and honestly felt like I was dying from the pain of it all).
By the time they FINALLY wheeled me into the OR to give me the spinal block, I was home free. I was feeling so much better since the pain was gone, and I started chatting up my anesthesiologist and even my doctor as she was doing the surgery. I asked her, "What does my uterus look like?" I think everyone got a few good laughs from all my chattering.
Grant Michael Ghaffari was born Friday, November 12th at 7:18am weighing 8lbs, 1 1/2 ounces, and 20 inches long. He is beautiful and perfect in every way! I am such a happy mother of two precious children. I feel blessed beyond belief! Michael is SO proud of his son. He's already making comments about playing baseball together. He seems to be adapting quite well into his "additional" duties of caring for Payton Joy (while I recover), although none of it has been easy for either of us. We have decided we have three children because our dog is almost as needy as the children! But all in all, we are very content and grateful for the wonderful blessings that we have in our beautiful children, Payton Joy and Grant Michael Ghaffari.
Jennifer, our Doula
Payton Joy holds her "Deedee Ga" (Baby Grant) for the first time!
Granny Linda (Michael's mother) was already at the house to stay with PJ (who slept through the whole thing, which was a total answer to prayer!). Around 3:30am, we drove to the hospital. It usually takes about 15-20 minutes to get there but we made it in about 8 minutes flat! :-) When we arrived, I literally walked in and fell into the wheel chair they provided and continued to have intense contractions as they wheeled me into Labor & Delivery. It was just like a scene out of a movie! When they checked me, I was dilated to 8cm. They thought I was going to have the baby at the check in desk. HA! It was such a whirlwind, let me tell you. I had NO drugs and things progressed rapidly. My doctor did arrive onto the scene (along with several other staff hanging around to see this crazy, natural birth in progress). Around 4:30am, I started to push and after about two hours of pushing, the baby's head was still at a station +1. I knew the potential for my pelvis not to spread because it happened with my first birth (pushed 4 hrs that time with little progress). So after enduring the grueling contractions and pushing and knowing that I had given it quite the "good college try," I opted to do another c-section. I did NOT want to push any longer and I was tired (and honestly felt like I was dying from the pain of it all).
By the time they FINALLY wheeled me into the OR to give me the spinal block, I was home free. I was feeling so much better since the pain was gone, and I started chatting up my anesthesiologist and even my doctor as she was doing the surgery. I asked her, "What does my uterus look like?" I think everyone got a few good laughs from all my chattering.
Grant Michael Ghaffari was born Friday, November 12th at 7:18am weighing 8lbs, 1 1/2 ounces, and 20 inches long. He is beautiful and perfect in every way! I am such a happy mother of two precious children. I feel blessed beyond belief! Michael is SO proud of his son. He's already making comments about playing baseball together. He seems to be adapting quite well into his "additional" duties of caring for Payton Joy (while I recover), although none of it has been easy for either of us. We have decided we have three children because our dog is almost as needy as the children! But all in all, we are very content and grateful for the wonderful blessings that we have in our beautiful children, Payton Joy and Grant Michael Ghaffari.
Jennifer, our Doula
Payton Joy holds her "Deedee Ga" (Baby Grant) for the first time!Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Just Saying Hello
It's been awhile since I posted on this blog and since I am sitting at my computer right now (a rare thing these days), I figured I'd write something just for kicks and giggles.
Speaking of kicks, the baby boy is kicking me like crazy right now. He is very, VERY active in my tummy, and he seems to be more active than PJ was at this time. But who knows? I could really feel her moving a lot, too. I just consider his activity a good sign. Also, I keep telling myself that he is developing and growing so rapidly, which causes the occasional nausea STILL to occur (it seems to be at least a weekly event). That is me trying to stay positive and focus on the GOOD of the situation and not the negative fact that I often feel sick (ugh)!
We are 28 weeks and the due date is 82 days away! Although, I do not put much weight into that date considering PJ was 12 days late...I'm not expecting him to be "on time" either. It would be GREAT if he came a little early but I'm not really expecting that! Let's just pray for a smooth labor and delivery no matter when it happens.
Payton Joy is truly living up to her middle name - a SHEER JOY of a child! I seriously cannot believe how precious she is, how fun, how smart, how sweet, how affectionate, how...oh, the list goes on and on. I wish you all could experience the PJ that WE know on a daily basis. I just cannot thank God enough for giving us the sweetest little girl in the whole wide world! Parenting Payton has been a pure blessing in every way. She has set the bar quite high...I know our son will be different but I hope parenting him will be just as precious.
Michael is already treating him differently in my tummy! He says endearing statements such as, "That's MY BOY!" or "Don't poke around on MY boy!" (usually when I'm complaining about the baby hurting me and I try to move him around). It's so much fun to see Michael's excitement about his upcoming son. I love it. We truly cannot wait to meet him!
I am heading home to Springfield one more time next weekend to attend my 15 year high school reunion. I'm looking forward to catching up with high school friends and, of course, spending some time with my family. My sister-in-law is throwing a baby shower for me before I leave so I'll have the chance to see hopefully MOST of my family at that event. This will be my last trip home until next summer! We will have our hands quite full once our son arrives mid November...so everyone will have to schedule visits to come meet him. Only one family at a time, please, because we only have the bonus room for sleeping accommodations. :-) But I truly DO hope everyone can come visit eventually.
It is well past my bedtime and I need a snack. It's good to write again. This is something that I miss but just have very little opportunity to do these days with little PJ running around. She doesn't really like it when I'm on the computer for very long. Oh well, these years fly by...and then I'll be back at my computer in no time...probably missing my "babies."
Take care and God bless you all!
Speaking of kicks, the baby boy is kicking me like crazy right now. He is very, VERY active in my tummy, and he seems to be more active than PJ was at this time. But who knows? I could really feel her moving a lot, too. I just consider his activity a good sign. Also, I keep telling myself that he is developing and growing so rapidly, which causes the occasional nausea STILL to occur (it seems to be at least a weekly event). That is me trying to stay positive and focus on the GOOD of the situation and not the negative fact that I often feel sick (ugh)!
We are 28 weeks and the due date is 82 days away! Although, I do not put much weight into that date considering PJ was 12 days late...I'm not expecting him to be "on time" either. It would be GREAT if he came a little early but I'm not really expecting that! Let's just pray for a smooth labor and delivery no matter when it happens.
Payton Joy is truly living up to her middle name - a SHEER JOY of a child! I seriously cannot believe how precious she is, how fun, how smart, how sweet, how affectionate, how...oh, the list goes on and on. I wish you all could experience the PJ that WE know on a daily basis. I just cannot thank God enough for giving us the sweetest little girl in the whole wide world! Parenting Payton has been a pure blessing in every way. She has set the bar quite high...I know our son will be different but I hope parenting him will be just as precious.
Michael is already treating him differently in my tummy! He says endearing statements such as, "That's MY BOY!" or "Don't poke around on MY boy!" (usually when I'm complaining about the baby hurting me and I try to move him around). It's so much fun to see Michael's excitement about his upcoming son. I love it. We truly cannot wait to meet him!
I am heading home to Springfield one more time next weekend to attend my 15 year high school reunion. I'm looking forward to catching up with high school friends and, of course, spending some time with my family. My sister-in-law is throwing a baby shower for me before I leave so I'll have the chance to see hopefully MOST of my family at that event. This will be my last trip home until next summer! We will have our hands quite full once our son arrives mid November...so everyone will have to schedule visits to come meet him. Only one family at a time, please, because we only have the bonus room for sleeping accommodations. :-) But I truly DO hope everyone can come visit eventually.
It is well past my bedtime and I need a snack. It's good to write again. This is something that I miss but just have very little opportunity to do these days with little PJ running around. She doesn't really like it when I'm on the computer for very long. Oh well, these years fly by...and then I'll be back at my computer in no time...probably missing my "babies."
Take care and God bless you all!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
And the gender is...
A BOY! Yep, that's right. PJ is going to have a baby brother! Michael and I are so very excited to anticipate the arrival of our second child who was confirmed as a BOY today at our ultrasound. Michael was so excited, he said his heart was beating really fast as the technician started to announce it to us. What a blessing to have a girl and a boy! Below you'll find the ultrasound images. First, you'll see his feet! Then his boy parts, and finally his beautiful full body profile!
NOW, I get to focus on decorating the BOY'S room! We don't have a name picked out yet so don't even ask. We'll be sure to announce it when we do make the decision. :-) Thanks to everyone for your love and support and PRAYERS. We love you!
The Ghaffari Family
NOW, I get to focus on decorating the BOY'S room! We don't have a name picked out yet so don't even ask. We'll be sure to announce it when we do make the decision. :-) Thanks to everyone for your love and support and PRAYERS. We love you!The Ghaffari Family
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Payton Joy is going to be a big sister!
I figured it was fitting to make this great announcement on Mother’s Day. Michael and I are going to have Baby G #2! We are 12 weeks along and the baby is due 11/21/10, which is about one month before PJ turns two years old. They’ll be 23 months apart! I know it will be challenging to learn how to juggle the responsibility of two children but I sincerely believe God has given us the ability and the GRACE to handle it as it comes. We are very excited and looking forward to welcoming this new baby into our happy life.
The Ghaffari Family
The Ghaffari Family
Monday, March 1, 2010
Just chillin...and dancing?
We were listening to praise music this morning, and PJ laid on the couch to eat her cheerios...and I captured this on video. PRICELESS!
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