That was unexpected

Because I have let grooming and general personal hygiene take a sharp tumble over winter break*, I managed to yank on my yoga-pris, sports bra, t-shirt, and hoodie in record time this morning. Add another 30 seconds to slather my face with SPF wrinkle cream and 30 more to scrape some of my hair into a Pebbles Flintsone-esque pony tail, and I was still ready 20 minutes before I needed to leave to take Harry to school. The boys and I played for a little bit in their room, marveling at the weird stuff Jack has in his little talking Dora backpack (like make up brushes and a board book that has clearly been eaten recently). "Okay," I said, after a rousing game of spit in mommy's face and pretend to shave her with the razor from our plastic shave kit. "It's time to get ready to go."

Upon hearing this, Jack ran from the room. I found him here:


You know what else I found? I potty seat full of urine.

I was shocked-- he heard me say it was time to go, and he sprinted to the bathroom, pulled off his pants, and peed in his potty seat (the potty seat we got him because he would grab his down-theres and try to disrobe every time Harry peed for a few weeks a couple of months ago, and we were worried that we were missing some unique, self-directed potty training moment).

Of course, Harry and I clapped and cheered and called Ben to tell him the happy news and generally made such a big deal about it that Harry ended up being late for school. For the fifth time this week.

After I worked out (see? a reason for the yoga-pris and hoodie), I took Jack to Target and told him he could pick out any toy he wanted because he did such a good job peeing in the potty. He selected this one:

which we actually already have at home, but that one is Harry's, and Jack gets the shit kicked out of him when he touches it. Or looks at it.

Moms of 2 close in age, I recommend this bookThe Just Alike Princes. It's not in print anymore, so we have a used copy I found that is all beat up and looks just like the one my grandparents had at their house when I was little (they had twin boys, just like the little princes in the book). At one point in the story, Prince Abner Elmer Tom and Prince Albert Edgar John fight so much that their father the king decrees that they have 2 of every toy. That's where we are right now.

Then Jack and I enjoyed a Target/Starbucks treat before heading back to Harry's school to watch swim lessons.

I know I complained last month about Jack dropping his morning nap**, but in the last few weeks, I have come to love my time with him-- he's suddenly a tiny man, who talks and understands jokes and is generally thrilled to have me all to himself. We're best friends.

How stupid, by the way, are these instructions??

So cool***

So not wearing a shoe and sock

A small accident with his milk box

sleeping while eating his lunch like Harry used to at this age.


*I am IN LOVE with Lancome Renergie products and with Lancome's Creme Radiance face wash-- because of my new night cream, lifting and firming day cream, and foaming cleanser, I wear much less make up because my skin is AWESOME. Seriously, years of redness and small bumps that I thought were just part of my face are GONE. So my new low maintenance routine is not all teh lazy. But some teh lazy, yes.

** Part of this is my schedule. This semester, I have full days at work and full days at home-- the perfect schedule-- instead of working 5 part days like I did last semester. I am not rushed anymore, and I think that helps me enjoy my little man's company.

***I KONW he shouldn't be wearing a puffy coat in his car seat, but I am at a loss as to how to avoid this problem. It is arctic cold here, and we park far away most places because parking lots are full of plowed snow and have far fewer parking spots. My car is seldom warm before we get in it (except when he leave the house for the first time). So, I don't know how to avoid the coat in the car. I think I need a minivan-- we could climb in and shut the door and then take our coats off. I wouldn't have to undress them in a freezing parking lot.