On To Undies!

I have exciting news in the ECing arena!  But pictures of that just aren't, well, internet appropriate.  So, I thought I'd share photos of our trip to Illinois earlier this month and let you use your imagination to fill in any blanks (or not, if baby poop isn't your thing...).

Swimming in GG and PaPa's pool!

So the exciting news---- Tye has been in underwear for over a month now!  I have to admit, I would love to share photos of Tye in her undies.  She just looks so cute running around in pink or green briefs!    

"I flying like a bird!" with Coach

 Just to catch everyone up to date: we used Elimination Communication with Tye from about 3 months.  While she was never diaper-free as a baby, she almost immediately began to only have bowel movements in her potty (the only exceptions were bouts of diarrhea).  We continued with ECing into toddlerhood and last summer, even spent a couple weeks sans diapers at home until Tye suddenly decided she really wanted to wear a diaper.  Once she realized she didn't have to stop playing to go potty in her diaper, that was it.  She still only pooped on the toilet and would pee every time she sat, but she wouldn't interrupt play to use the bathroom, and we stayed in that pattern until this spring. (For our entire EC journey, catch up here.)

Etta and GG, readyt to swim

The recent transition to underwear was so smooth and gentle that we don't have a set date of transition.  Since April-ish, Tye has been proudly wearing underwear at home, no exceptions, and diapers only when out of the house.  In early June, we went full-time undies and Tye barely batted an eyelash.  

On 100+ degree days, ice pops are highly preferred over regular parade candy.

 I still have to remind Tye to use the bathroom when playing with friends or when out of the house, and we still use overnight diapers just in case (though she has only wet one in the past several weeks!).  Our biggest accomplishment was our trip to Illinois, during which Tye stayed dry through all kinds of excitement and even on our long road trip!  We had just one accident all 10 days.  Of course, it was on an upholstered couch, but in all fairness, Tye hadn't been prompted to go in a couple hours (yup, it was a big wet spot- sorry, GG!).  

"Whoa!  A parade!  So much to see!"

We're also using EC with Etta, who is doing her best to communicate with us when she needs to go.   When we hold Etta to go, she always eliminates- but she poops so frequently (at least once a day, unlike Tye's once a week routine at this age) that we don't catch all of them yet.  Recently, I've been having a difficult time distinguishing between her "I need to poop" grunts and her "I am trying my hardest to crawl/reach this toy/remind you I'm here" grunts. I'm totally happy with our ECing progress with Etta.  I just really hope that we can figure out a way to communicate clearly before she really takes to eating solids!

Yesterday seemed to sum up our current pottying state pretty well.  While at the park with friends, both Tye and Etta peed on a tree.  How's that for a mental picture?  Of course, I also carry with us a full change of clothes for each.  We're good, but we're also prepared.  

Mama with "bowf girls"

Seattle Recap

Tye and I traveled to Seattle on Wednesday, where we met Tyler at the airport.  That night, we used points to book a fancy room at the W downtown.  From our room, Tye could watch the traffic and birds below.  Her favorite pastime was riding the elevator, though.

While Tyler worked Thursday morning, Tye and I explored downtown.  We stopped at Beecher's right outside of Pike Place Market, where we watched cheese being made in huge vats before we bought some fresh curds for breakfast.  From there, we walked down to the waterfront and the Seattle Aquarium.  Tye touched star fish in the tide pool petting zoo, which she loved almost as much as the huge, awesome tank of all local species.  Did you know the Puget Sound contains over 200 species of fish?  

The rest of the weekend, we stayed with our friends Laurie and Josh, whose son Brady is just a month younger than Tye.  Brady and Tye were immediately buddies, to the point that they woke up requesting each other first thing each morning.  Staying with a family with a child the same age is absolutely the easiest way to travel, from car seats to bath toys to snacks to DVR'd episodes of Sesame Street (Tye is going through a bit of Brady and Elmo withdrawl now that we're home, though...).  Not only is it the easiest, it's the most fun- our hosts knew exactly which activities would entertain the whole family and we loved talking about our kids without worrying if anyone was sick of hearing about them.  


Leaving Tye with a sitter for Saturday's wedding turned out to be no problem, either.  As long as Brady was there, Tye barely noticed I was gone!  The wedding that brought us out to Seattle in the first place was beautiful, and we had a great time with friends from our time in Ithaca, NY.  It was a full extended weekend trip with beautiful weather in a fun city, great family time, and catching up with good friends.

Beach Trip

We just returned from a last-minute trip to West Palm Beach.  Tyler's parents were there for their spring break, and Tyler was working in nearby Miami, so we spent a couple days in Florida with them.  The warm weather was such a welcome break from Chicago's cold.  You know what is really wonderful about even a quick getaway?  I truly felt like I was on vacation when during Tye's nap, I had nothing to do.  No chores, no laundry, no laptop around to check emails.  Between those blissfully peaceful naps, Tye and I had a great time walking around the neighborhood, playing in the sand at the beach, and generally stocking up on precious, naturally-derived vitamin D.  Sometimes even a couple days away can refuel the body and the soul, and this trip was just what we needed.

Trip photos

Thank goodness I have friends with cameras to capture and share these memories...

Tye with Sandy, mother of the bride.  Tye was a hit at the pool!

Us with the beautiful bride, Jaclyn, at the rehearsal.  Tye was mesmerized! 

We now return to our feature presentation...

Whew.  It's been a while, huh?  Tye and I just returned from a long trip and despite my best efforts, updating on the road just wasn't happening.  After spending the 4th of July with Tyler's parents (which seems like forever ago), Tye and I left the next day for LA.  From LA, we drove to Lake Arrowhead for my dear friend Jackie's wedding- by far the most gorgeous wedding I've ever seen, hands down.  Jackie was more beautiful than any bride I've ever seen in a magazine, and every detail was perfect, down to the itsy-bitsy wooden clothespins she used to clip place cards to handmade twig and hemp clotheslines.   After the wedding, Tyler and I spent a night in LA at a chic hotel we never could have afforded without using hotel reward points.  It was the kind where the concierge calls guests by name and the rooms come with plush bathrobes, and where celebrities are spotted at the pool sipping drinks more expensive than my meals.  Wow.  What a break from reality.


After such a fairy tale-ish long weekend, facing the daily grind Monday was hard, sooo.... While the original plan was for Tye and myself to return home from LA, we decided- as we were checking in for our flight- to instead join Tyler in flying to Dallas, where he working this week.  Tye and I visited with Tyler's grandparents and Aunt Lori, chatting, shopping, and swimming, and saw bits of Tyler in the evening.   Finally, today, we flew home, and it feels like weeks since we've been here.


Between all the wedding events, sight seeing, and family time, I learned something on our trip.  Despite the beautiful Lake Arrowhead scenery, the breathtaking bride, the many "firsts" for Tye, and the time with friends and family from far away... I didn't take one picture the entire trip.   I need to hire a photographer.


P.S.- Congratulations, Jackie and Bryan!

Staycation

Tyler took some personal time off of work this past week to spend time with us and relax at home.  Our little staycation was such a great way to spend time together as a family that I'm super sad to have Monday fast approaching.  We went to the Lincoln Park Zoo, grilled out, watched the Blackhawks, became members at the Shedd Aquarium, took walks around our neighborhood, and enjoyed the weather at outdoor cafes in our neighborhood. Tyler wasn't the only one on vacation, either- I didn't fold the laundry all week, and Tyler woke up with Tye one morning to let me stay in bed.  Looking back, though, some of the best memories were just hanging out at home together, watching Tye in amazement.  What a great week together.