A moment that made it (potty training that is) worth it and why being a mom is great

Well, I have a lot of catching up to do on this blog. But, it is so much more enjoyable to write about my life right now so all the catching up will just have to wait.

In my life right now we are potty training. This is a phase that I have been dreading. I don't want my baby to grow up (bad reason I know). Also, I like freedom (I just need to focus on the liberation that being potty trained gives Maggie). Also I don't like scrubbing up messes. But I have put it off long enough. Yesterday we embarked on the potty training journey with an intensive "training in one day" sort of method. As much as Maggie has been ready to be potty trained for awhile, the whole process is just not going super well.

Maggie is SUCH a sweet girl. She has been trying so hard. Over the last two days she has literally been sitting on the potty for 30-45 minutes at a time as I read her books and sing songs with her (luckily activities that she loves). When I suggest that she takes a break (she has been very determined) she would stand up, run around, and pee within 2 minutes. This has happened over and over with no evidence of progression. Maggie would tell me that she needed to go potty and sit down and wait and wait and wait. Nothing. We have tried running water, letting her play with her little hands in warm water, nothing. Tonight Maggie went to bed in a total fit because she was so exhausted; an hour later I hear her sweet little voice. "Mommy, I need to go potty." With a sigh (deep down I was sort of wishing she would have just used her pull-up) I brought her from her crib and set her on her Minnie Mouse potty. We waited, ran some water, and waited. I was debating how long to sit there (since I fully expected her NOT to go potty) when all of a sudden, success!! Wow, who knew that a little trickle could be so relieving. Pun intended. ha ha.

Anyway, after we celebrated a good deal, the best part of the night happened. I settled in a rocking chair with her to help her calm down before going back to bed. As I was snuggling with her and looking down at her, some of my hair (not in the best shape after these last two days!) fell into my face. She brushed it out of my face and said "There. Now I can see you. I love you so much!" Then she snuggled closer to me. What sweet words to hear. All of a sudden the last two days seemed practically painless. We stopped in to say goodnight to Joe on her way back to bed. When he scooped her up to hug her she said, "Can I keep you as my Daddy? Can I keep you as my family? I love you so much!"  Anyway, being a parent is amazing because two such frustrating days can suddenly feel worthwhile after a moment like that. I feel so blessed to be the mommy of two sweet little children. We are certainly going to have some more frustrating times before this whole potty training thing is done, but all of a sudden, I think that I could do it for a year. Okay... not a year. Definitely not a year. Let's hope it doesn't take that long.