We Are Mobile!!!

Well, it took far too long, but we finally installed a carseat for my daughter in my car.  Now, back when she was in the infant carseat (in the misty times of long long ago... you know, a year ago) I had "a base" in my car, which allowed her to dock in my vehicle.  Kind of like a small crying pooping starship.  


Just to be safe we would monitor the weather carefully and often had to abort dockings due to upcoming solar storms.  Hey, with a newborn you just can't be too careful.  Anyway, like all good astronauts, Kiki eventually outgrew her shuttle (I know, I'm lost in this analogy myself), and moved up a size to the toddler (a.k.a. tweenie) carseat, which does not have a docking apparatus.  Therefore, our days of radio communiques between base (me) and shuttle (kiki) were over, along with rides in my car with my child.  


Now, according to those who have ridden with me, that may be for the best.  According to my passengers I am a "dangerous," "psychotic," and "batshit crazy" driver.  I just think they're small minded, restricting their vehicular usage to the "laws" of the "road" but they may have a point.  


But now, once again, Kiki and I can enjoy some quality time together in my vehicle, which means she will be exposed to better music (sorry honey, I mean, your music taste is awesome too), higher g-forces (always good for developing neck muscles, right?), and, most importantly for her further development, more quality time with her dad.  


Yep, I'm seeing many weekends of bike stores, book stores, and, well, probably bike stores, really.  Should be good for her overall development... as a cyclist at least.  And really, we can't be perfect, so as a parent I just try to focus on those things I can control.

Tenting

Being that my daughter has turned two, we've begun the first steps towards potty training.  So far, they consist of:


Step One - buy a potty.  Buy a few.  Heck, buy every one they have.
Step Two - ....
Step Three - Kiki pees on the floor.


I think we've got a disconnect somewhere here.  I'm no expert, but I think it might be step 2.  But, the good news is soon she will be going to Japan for almost a month.  In case you didn't know, in Japan children are typically potty trained relatively early.  You know, 3 to 4 days after birth.  


In fact, by their second birthday most Japanese children have built their own robotic toilet that follows them around, playing a fun song and dispensing cute but confusing stickers of cats dressed like other animals.  I figure Kiki will at least learn to, you know, not poop in her pants.  


So we're living in a household littered with potties of all shapes and colors... but not sizes, they're all pretty much the same size.  I guess if you have a child with a tiny ass they're just out of luck... although sadly something tells me there is a walmart somewhere in Alabama selling bariatric potties.  Despite the plethora of pooping options, Kiki is still holding onto the ol' reliable in the pants method.  Well, with one new twist.


See, in addition to the smorgasbord of toilets, she received a massive influx of toys recently for her birthday.  Among them, she received a princess tent.  Well, technically it's a Princess Play Tent Hut, which just seems unnecessarily repetitive, but I know better than to argue with the Disney corporation, so a tent hut it is.  In case you aren't familiar with such a thing, behold!

Not recommended for actual camping.  Or actual princesses.

Pretty sweet, right?  


So, Kiki likes to, well, poop in the tent.  In her diaper, thankfully.  But basically it's the only place she'll poop now.  We'll be upstairs playing and she will just say "I wanna poop in the tent."  She'll then toddle off to find it, wherever it may be in the house.  See, she also carries it around the house.  But really, who doesn't want a periodic change of pace for their pooing? Speaking of which, I've got to go contact the Disney corporation to see if they manufacture an adult sized Tent Hut.