What's New with Tallu- 2011 Edition

It's been a long time since I've updated you on all things Tallu. In this issue we will discuss:

Potty training regression
Christmas Day at Home
"My Babies"
Bedtime Ritual

Potty Training Regression
We were doing so well until Thanksgiving. We did a bit of traveling for the holiday, Tallu had a nasty cold, and all that training went down the drain. She went from going to the potty of her own volition, to having to be told several times a day "It's time for you to sit on the potty." I went back to letting her go without a diaper. Bad choice: I was deep in the nauseated phase of the first trimester, and the last thing I needed was to bend over and clean that mess. So I made Tallu do it. I told her if she insisted on peeing and pooping on the floor, she had to clean up the mess. Tim's grandfather, a retired Colonel in the US Army and father of three, approved of my decision.

I did a huge clean-up of our living room just before Christmas, which included throwing away our rug. She had peed on it so much I felt like it wouldn't do to have her bathroom under our feet. She has not returned to going on her own, and I'm annoyed that I have to tell her five times a day to sit on the potty. But the times where I haven't said anything she hasn't made it to the potty.

Christmas Day at Home
We will have been in our home for two years at the end of this month. Christmas Day 2010 was our first Christmas at home. We overslept and missed church, but Tallu ran into our bedroom around 11, asking if she could open her presents now. The gate at the top of the stairs was open, so by the time I got downstairs she had already opened a gift! Her dad missed it, too, because he went to get doughnuts for breakfast. It was so peaceful and fun, hanging in our house, in our PJs, watching our kid scream with delight over every single gift. The gifts from Mom and Dad came from Santa, and her grandparents, uncle and aunt, and godparents mailed gifts, which Tallul said Santa brought her. We let Santa take the credit for our gifts, but not the others.

"My Babies"
Tallu's grandmama and papa gave her play furniture for her Bitty Baby: stroller, playpen, and activity mat for Christmas. A friend of our family gave Tallu a baby that takes a bottle and pacifier and makes sounds when you take them away before its finished. Tallu puts them down for naps, gives the baby her bottle and pacifier, and says "It's okay, baby." She's declared that she's their mommy. At first I didn't know what to make of the baby furniture, but it should be pretty handy. While I am taking care of the brother or sister, Tallu can take care of her babies!

Bedtime Ritual
Tallu has made a game of escaping her room after tuck-in. She'll open her door, run to our room, run to my side of the bed, climbing up as she insists "I can't sleep." Her dad has taken to being up at the door when he hears her feet hit the floor in her room, yet she always manages to slip by him. I've pretty much handed him the bedtime ritual, because during the week this is the only time they see each other during the day. He's not amused by her antics, and I must support his sternness, but I secretly enjoy her escape attempts for two reasons: 1- I get to lay in bed during all of it, and 2- I get to think it's as cute as it is because I don't have to do anything about it. Except say "Did Daddy say get back to bed? Then, good night, Tallulah!"