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  • My Mother’s Day Wish

    By now I am sure that most of us have already received gifts, a few cards and probably tons of texts or social media shoutouts wishing us a Happy Mother’s Day.  I’ve celebrated with my family.  Yes, I’m one of those mommies who loves to be with her kiddies on Mother’s Day.  I woke up to a lovely card and some edible treats.  Can I just say that pecan fudge doughnuts covered in rich dark chocolate are sooooooooo yummy!
    Like seriously, my husband may have started me on a new addiction.  Earlier this week my Mother’s Day came in.  It was a Remmington S5500 Digital Flat Iron.  I was really overdue for a flat iron because I usually use the blow dryer flowed by a straightening comb, but my straightening comb has come to the end of the road.  So, I thought it was time to upgrade.  And the Mr has agreed to go shopping for new hair products with me!  Super excited about that because I’ve been seeing a boatload of stuff on YouTube that I want to try out at least once.
    Anyways, as much as today is a day to be happy and celebrate our children, in Nigeria there are over 200 moms who are in mourning.  Unless you’ve been living under a rock, I know that we have all seen the #BringBackOurGirls campaigns.  It’s on social media, national news and even made my local news yesterday because we have several stores joining in to raise money for it.  On April 14th, a militant group kidnapped over 200 girls from a secondary school.  A few have escaped and returned home, but for those still missing, the leader of the militant group is threatening to sell the remaining girls on the Black Market.
    I can’t tell you how sick to my stomach this whole issue makes me.  As a mother of a daughter, I can only imagine the pain those moms (and fathers) are going through right now.  I would be beyond distraught if someone kidnapped Moo and her classmates and then threatened to sell them as sex slaves.  It just brings tears to my eyes seeing how ruthless people can be.
    And I’ve heard some news reports talk about this being a result of life in under developed areas in Nigeria, but here’s the thing, that’s still not a an excuse for this type of criminal behavior.  I’m so glad that the US is getting involved to help.  A message needs to be sent that this will not be tolerated!  No matter where you live, you have the right to feel safe.  Parents should be able to send their children to school without fear.
    So, today my Mother’s Day wish is that all of those girls will be returned to their families alive in these coming months.  I also hope that the militant group behind this mass kidnapping is brought to justice and made to pay for their crimes.  I pray that God keeps those girls safe until they are returned to their families.  And I hope that you will join me in keeping these moms and their families in our thoughts and prayers. 

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  • Thankful Thursday

    Happy Thankful Thursday!  Although, this has been a long week for me-working on LBB, therapy sessions with JJ, meetings and a sponsored event, etc- I feel like some much positive is happening in my life that I don’t even mind.  I heard Joel Olsteen preach a while back about how when we change our mindsets and dwell more on the positives, it changes our lives as well.  I have to say he’s right.  
    One of my resolutions for the New Year was to become a more positive thinker and I’ve done it.  It’s a challenge for sure, but I feel so much more at peace.  I’m able to see my life and events in it differently.  Stumbling blocks no longer appear bigger than what they really are.  When I reach a hurdle, I am able to pray on it and then start devising a plan of attack to overcome it.  I’m thankful for this because my peace of mind is very crucial to making sure I am being the best wife, mother and business woman that I can be.
    And yes, I said business woman.  I’m learning to claim my title.  At first, I was hesitant to identify myself as anything other than a mom, wife or blogger.  However, the truth of the matter is that I am more than that.  In an essence I am a business woman.  Just because I have the freedom of not having to travel to an office everyday doesn’t make me any less than other working moms.  I do and get paid for services, I have two books coming out and other plans that are in the works.
    I’m just at a really great place right now and I’m very thankful for that.  It took me a while to get here, but now that I am, I plan on staying.  I’m thankful that JJ will be getting extra and more extensive therapy.  I’m not overly nervous about him being away from me at school three days a week.  It’s going to be a good and healthy experience for us both.  I will have some time completely to myself and he will have time to make friends and be surrounded by other kids his exact age.
    I’m thankful for all of the awesome sponsorships that have come to the blog.  It’s very humbling because I never imagined that I would have the opportunity to work with some of my most favorite brands.  This journey isn’t over.  I’m thankful that after the wreck that happened at the intersection of our street, our power is back on.  A driver loss control of their car and ran into a light pole.
    Not sure what condition the driver was in, but police and medics got to the scene fairly quick and the truck behind them pulled over and called 911 and stayed until officials were on the scene. I did pray for the driver and hopefully, they are ok.  I’m thankful for Mother’s Day and getting to celebrate being a mom this weekend with my loves!
    Lastly, but certainly not least, I’m thankful for my writing partner!  She’s been such a great help.  I love that when I’m having moments of doubt or stress, she is there for me.  We have great brainstorming sessions where we talk about the ideas for our future chapters.  And we keep it real.  She’s honest about whether or not she thinks that an idea I might have sounds good or fits into my current storyline and I love that.
    I’m thankful to have someone who gets writing and all the pressure that getting LBB finished entails. That added support has been such a sweet breeze.
    What are you giving thanks for this week?
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  • Changes To Come

    Cheers to it almost being the weekend!  In case you haven’t read my last few blog posts, I’m in the mist of writing my second novel, LBB, because it is up for option with Harlequin.  And speaking of Harlequin, they just got purchased by HarperCollins.  So, as you can imagine this has been both an exciting and nerve wrecking experience thus far.  

    I still have mt first novel, Forever Branded in the works as well.  It’s kind of on the back burner since it’s not up for option yet. I’m waiting to see how LBB turns out and before I make any decisions about whether to keep moving with self publishing Forever Branded or shopping it around to some publishers.  It’s not exactly the right fit for any of the Harlequin lines right now.  Although, it’s a romance, it has some heavy subject matter in it.  And I’m not one to be edited or have my writing voice changed.  Being true to myself, my characters and the telling of their stories is very important to me.

    Also, we’re finally in the packing the stages and getting ready to move.  Y’all I’m so excited to be moving a place with a dishwasher, legit maintenance men and closer to Target again!  It’s the simple things that make the biggest difference.  We’ll have 2 bathrooms!  A fireplace and it’s near the church we had started going to and fell in love with as well as our favorite library.  Moo gets to be reunited with her bff and it’s in the same neighborhood as their school.

    Yes, I said their.  I had a meeting today about JJ’s evaluation results.  No autism!  He’ll get re-evaluated in 2016 though if we don’t see any progress or if we see any regression or behavioral issues consistent with autism.  We decided that he’ll be going to preschool for three year olds three days a week starting this August.  As it stands, he and Moo will be going to the same school.  Of course, with all the school changes still not finalized here, they told me that could change.
    He’s getting a new private therapist to work with him on the two days he’ll be home.  I’m requesting a male just because he’s starting to hit that aggressive boy stage where all he wants to do is wrestle and rough play.  I feel like a male therapist will be more equipped to handle that as well as provide some advice in what I can do to tone it down.  Who knows boys better than other men who have been boys?

    My husband was pretty much left to do as he pleased. So, he’s a little lost when it comes to dealing with the how to tone it down aspect.  In fact, he’s probably a little at fault for this situation because he wrestles with JJ often and I told him that for now no more wrestling until JJ can understand the difference between a playful hit and a full force hit.  It’s all the same to him when he’s doing it at the moment and he doesn’t know that he’s hit too hard until it’s too late.

    I’m also gearing up for my Chick-fil-A Moms special event tomorrow for Mom’s Night Out!  I’m excited to be meeting up with some new and old faces from around my area.  I’m participating in the 21 Days Challenge with Listerine.  I’ve partnered with Red Robin to help raise awareness about food allergies specifically and look forward sharing my post with you guys on Friday.  There are a few other things in the works.

    So, my plate is very full to say the least.  Therefore, I’ve been thinking that it maybe time to make a change here on YUMMommy and take a small blogging break.  I don’t want to stretch myself thin or risk giving myself writer’s block before I finish my books.  That would not be a good look.

    I’m thinking that maybe, I’ll just still do my Thankful Thursday posts and finish out all of my sponsored posts for this month and then for rest of May and June just do that one weekly post.  I’d come back in July for another series of posts related to the trip that we are taking and then probably go back to just doing Thankful Thursday until August.  Nothing is set in stone yet, but it’s been quiet on the blog and it’s just because I have a lot going on.

    Just hang in here and I’ll still be around, but not as much.  You’ll still be able to find me on all of my social media accounts.  They’re in the sidebar to the right.  So, make sure you follow me if you’re not.  I’ll also be doing more videos on YouTube now that my camera battery, charger and tripod all came in the mail last week.  And of course, I’ll be documenting my writing journey, doing book review and author interviews over on my author/writing blog!

    So, again the changes that coming will be less of me here, more of me on my other blog and YouTube.  I hope that once the dust settles, I’ll have two books to promote, book signing events to attend and meet all my readers and even greater news to share about JJ’s progress!  Thank you to everyone who’s been so loyal about showing me love and support.  I am eternally grateful and I love you guys!!

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  • Thankful Thursday

    Happy Thankful Thursday!  Hooray for it being May because that means pool weather is on the way.  There’s also Mother’s Day coming up in less than two weeks.  And then JJ turns 3 this month.  Yes, my little guy is growing so fast on me.

    I’m thankful that our potty training is still going well.  I’m thankful for all of the advice I’ve been getting from other mom’s with boys after reading my potty training posts.  Y’all it truly helps and makes this journey go a lot smoother because this is my first time potty training a boy.  So, thank you, thank you for all the helpful tips and tricks.

    I’m thankful that we got to enjoy some family time with the Mr this week.  It’s always nice when’s not just a stranger passing through because there are times when he has to work almost two weeks straight and I feel like all the kids get to see is the back of his head as he’s headed out the door.  They love having him home and being able to hang out on the couch with him or have him accompany us on our outings.  It makes us feel complete.

    As always, I’m thankful for all of the progress JJ has made with his speech.  Moo taught him how to say “Go.”  They both love cars and race them at least twice a day.  Moo always says, “Ready. Set. Go” but the other day she decided to say the “Ready. Set” part and taught JJ how to say “Go.”  It’s the cutest thing ever and they’re been saying it all day.

    Now, I’m trying to look up games that have signature sayings in them like “Go Fish” so that we can say one part and he’ll say the other part.  Right now, we’re doing whatever we need to do to at least get him to say new words and say them consistently.

    So, if you’ll remember last night I posted that today I would have the opportunity to pitch my new manuscript idea to an editor at a major publishing house.  Well, the publishing was Harlequin.  They’ve been around since 1946 and while my older sister and I had to sneak and get the really graphic romance novels, my mom would buy us the Harlequin ones and she even passed down a few that she had purchased in her teenage years.

    Therefore, to have the opportunity to pitch an editor from this publisher meant a lot to me.  This is a brand that my mom grew up reading and that I grew reading and still read today.  I will definitely pass my collection of Harlequin novels down to Moo when she becomes a teenager because I know that she’s going to be into romance and I’d rather her read romances that are tasteful until she’s at least seventeen or eighteen and not be reading Zane or Fifty Shades at 13 or 14.

    There’s still the chance that she might sneak and read the more graphic ones, but usually if I give her the option I want her to have first, she sticks with it.  I’m hoping this is a trait of obedience that she keeps as she gets older because it will make life so much easier for both of us.  Anyways, I was super nervous and stayed up late 4 AM making sure my pitch was perfect, that I knew my character’s stories well enough to answer any questions and I did a little work on the manuscript itself.

    So, I won’t keep you guys in suspense any longer.  I can now announce that the editor I pitched to loved my idea!  Actually, she said that she really liked it at first, but then she asked me about the tone and to explain a bit of the mystery about the two of the characters and then she said she loved it because of the drama and passion and everything that’s going to be involved.  I felt speechless and excited and like crying all at the same time.  She’s requested a proposal, some sample chapters and the synopsis for now just to make sure that I can pull off the tone of it, but y’all I’m over the moon about this!

    I kept thinking about my previous post, It Takes A Dream, and getting the opportunity to be published by a publishing house has always been one of my dreams.  Now, I’m on the road to having it come true.  I can’t give out too much information about the book right now obviously, but when I can share more and do have more to share, I will update y’all.  And don’t forget to follow me on my writing/author blog (here) because I’ll definitely be sharing more about my writing journey and tips over there.

    In closing, I want to say don’t give up on your dreams!  Keep at and take the opportunities that come your way.  Don’t let fear and doubt stop you from trying or throwing your hat in the ring.

    What are you thankful for?

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  • Wish Me Luck

    Hey YUMMs!  Have you guys missed me these last five days?  I’ve missed y’all.  But I’ve been absent for good reasons.  While I don’t usually post on the weekends, Monday was the Mr’s off day and JJ’s therapy session.  Then, I had a meeting with his caseworker to talk about my concerns and future therapy schedules.  After that we decided to make it family day went to the library.
    When I got to the library, I saw that they had early voting and I voted.  Then we hung out reading books and playing in the children’s section until they closed. Tuesday, the Mr had a procedure to get done and then I spent the rest of the day and pretty much all of today preparing for a pretty sweet opportunity that I will have tomorrow.
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    I’m going to pitching an editor from a major publishing house an idea for a novel I’ve started writing!  Yes, I’m writing two books at once now.  It feels a little weird because I wasn’t sure I could do it, but now that I am, it’s not that big of a deal.  Forever Branded is almost finished and I’m excited to be soon debuting the cover for it.
    So, I’m pretty nervous about having the opportunity to pitch an editor in a one on one setting.  It’s different from writing a query letter because then you have months and months to agonize over what the response is going to be.  This time around all feedback will be given to me upfront.  I’m super nervous for a variety of reasons.
    For starters, there’s the rejection aspect.  I know it’s not personal and rejection is part of life, but I really want this opportunity.  Also, I haven’t met the editor yet, but I’ve read a lot of about her and we have so much in common.  At the end of the day, even if I don’t get offered to be taken on as a client to have my manuscript published, I just want to make a good impression.
    Since, my pitch will be my first impression, I want to make sure that it’s flawless and very well written.  I don’t want to look like I don’t know what I’m doing or that I didn’t take this opportunity serious because I am.  Also, I’m nervous because what if my manuscript does get picked up?  What then?  I’m not anywhere never finished with it.  Then, you always hear that when you sign on to a publishing house, they try to edit your voice a little bit.
    That worries me a lot, but still this is an experience I want to have for myself.  Every author’s journey is different.  I think the editor that I’m pitching is really cool.  I don’t think she would try to get me to force my characters into a story that isn’t them.  People who don’t write books don’t always get that often characters write themselves.  The best way I can describe it is that it’s like having a bunch of people inside your head telling you their story. 
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    Sure, they start off as ideas, but then they take own lives of their own and we the authors simply become their communication device.  Anyways, I don’t want to draw this post out and bore you guys.  I know a few other people who are pitching tomorrow too.  So, I ask that you all wish us good luck and send up prayers for us!  I’m not tagging them in this post because they may want to wait until they know where their pitches have been accepted or not before letting anyone know or they may not want anyone to know at all.  
    Nevertheless, cross our fingers, cross your toes, wish on a star, etc.  I’m excited for this chance and look forward to whatever comes from this opportunity.  I will wait until tomorrow evening to post my Thankful Thursday post and let you guys know the results then.  Off to finish working on my pitch!
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  • Thankful Thursday

    Happy Thankful Thursday!  Can y’all believe that it’s almost May?  I can’t.  I feel like this year started off a little slow and this week it seems like the days have all rushed past in a blur.  All I know is that I’m still stuck on the fact that my little guy is about to three in mere weeks!  One of his birthday presents came today and I’ve put it out of sight because y’all know how emotional I get.
    Anyways, I’m thankful for all the kind words and prayers we got when I mentioned that we’d be going in for his re-evaluation this week since we’re getting ready to switch him to a new therapist.  Well, I’m not going to lie, I was nervous and anxious.  They throw out all these different things that they want to screen for and it’s scary.  Your mind starts playing the what if game.
    Then after the what if game, comes the second guessing part and after that comes the blaming yourself part.  Everybody kept telling me to relax and not to worry, but y’all know the saying- easier said than done.  And I was even more nervous because the morning of his evaluation my brother texted me with some pretty serious news in regards to a health issue he’s been dealing with for some time.  So, I sent up like a million prayers Tuesday morning.
    Anyways, God heard my prayers because JJ did very well with his evaluation.  He knew stuff that I didn’t even know he knew.  Guess watching me work with Moo to get her ready for kindergarten, he’s picked up some tidbits from our lessons.  I’m so thankful that everything went better than how I saw it going in my mind.  JJ dislikes adult strangers with a passion, but when we walked in that evaluation room, he turned into this social butterfly that I had never seen before except for with children.
    So, I back for a one on one with all the therapists who were there next month and we’ll go over everything and what I want in terms of his new treatment.  I’m excited because the speech therapist and psychologist both say they think they can find the trigger to help him get his words out because y’all he was chatting a million miles a minute more than he does at home.  Of course, most of it was gibberish, but enough of it they could make out to know what he was trying to communicate.  But the highlight of my week that made and makes me the most emotional even as I write this is that he can finally say Mama!
    Like y’all know I’ve been waiting for this moment for forever!  At first, I wasn’t sure if he was just practicing his M sounds because I’ve been working on letter sounds with him.  But Monday, he was sitting on the couch and I was at my desk across the room and he said it and reached out his hand for me.  I wanted to melt into the floor out of sheer joyful and gratefulness. Yet another moment I wish we had hidden cameras to catch, but I know that I’ll cherish it so much more now.
    So, far he’s said Mama a couple more times and he gets so tickled at how excited I get about it.  Our breakthrough is coming.  Also, I was glad when my brother let me know that he would be able to have a simple surgery to correct his issue and I had to give thanks for that.  So, if you’re reading this lift him up in prayer because his surgery is today.  We’re not sure how long it will be, but I’m believing all will be ok.
    I’m thankful that I got two more great business/blogging opportunities that you all will get to hear about in more detail soon.  We’re growing YUMMs!  
    What’s on your thankful list today?

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  • Unfinished Business

    Hi guys!  Today Christina from Being Mrs Jones is sharing the book cover and an excerpt from her new novel, Unfinished Business.  Unfinished Business is the sequel and follow-up to Strictly Professional, a contemporary romance in which Christina introduces us to Terrence Whitaker and Gabrielle (Gabi) Jacobs.  Terrence is lawyer at Pritchard and Graham and his determination on trying to make partner leaves him with no time to focus on a relationship.

    Gabi is fresh out of law school and a bad relationship with both her ex-boyfriend.  She’s relocated to Atlanta to work at her uncle’s law firm and to show her parents that she wants to be more than a trophy wife.  She and Terrence meet and things start to heat up.  Well, Unfinished Business is set five years after things heated up and took off with Terrence and Gabi.  And if you’ve read Strictly Professional, you’re going to be a bit heartbroken to learn that Terrence and Gabi are no longer an item.

    I don’t want to give too much away about Unfinished Business, but I will say it DOES NOT disappoint!  This is by far and hands down my favorite book by Christina and I haven’t a clue how she’s going to top it with her book.  If you haven’t a purchased a copy of either book, I don’t know what you’re waiting on!  Trust me you are missing out big time!  Anyways, check out the book cover and excerpt below!


    Excerpt

                “Daddy!”
                I had just picked up my suitcase from the baggage claim when I heard my baby girl’s voice.  I turned to see her huge puff of curly black hair bobbing in the air as she ran toward me.  I caught her in my arms and pulled her into a hug, placing a kiss right on her forehead.  She was giggling like crazy, just as she always did.
                Maybe it was just a typical kid thing, but Joci was always thrilled to see me. It was mutual.  Joci was so happy and energetic that you couldn’t help enjoying yourself around her.  She was really just an awesome kid, and I knew it had everything to do with her mother.  I peeked through Joci’s hair over to Gabi, who was watching us.  She had her top lip pulled through her teeth, but her eyes were shining and I knew she was trying to suppress a grin.
                “Come on and show me that pretty smile Gabi,” I said, lowering Joci to the floor. I led her by the hand over to where her mother stood, taking the opportunity to look her over.
                Damn, she looks good.
                Gabi was wearing a dress the color of orange sherbet, made of a fabric that clung to her curves, but flowed away from the rest of her body every time she moved.  The sleeves reached her elbows, her hem reached her knees, and she was showing just a hint of cleavage, but still, it was sexy as hell.
                Her lips parted into a smile as I closed the distance between us, pulling her into a hug and giving her the same kiss on the forehead I had given Joci. 
                “Trying something different, are we?” Gabi asked, reaching up to stroke my beard, which I had allowed to grow a little longer than usual. “I like it.  It makes you look more distinguished.”
                “Daddy says he’s gonna grow a big beard like Santa,” Joci chimed in, still giggling as she grabbed one of each of our hands.
                Gabi’s eyes widened as she turned to me. “Oh, is that so?”
                “Well, I didn’t agree to Santa-length,” I said, giving Joci a fake scowl. “But, my baby girl said she wanted to see me with a puffy beard, so we’re doing a puffy beard.”
                When I looked from Joci back to Gabi, she was staring at me, with her lips slightly parted. “You do anything this girl asks you to do, don’t you?”
                “Anything in my power.” I flashed a smile at her, which made her blush.
                What the hell was that?
                That was… new.  It had been a long time since I’d been able to make Gabi blush with just a smile.  When it came to me, those feelings of hers were an impenetrable wall.  Sure, we were on great terms.  I would even be comfortable calling Gabi a very good friend. But anything that even looked like it might want to consider implying a hint of something of a romantic nature, she immediately shut down.  To her, that part of our lives didn’t exist anymore, a conclusion she probably came to after I started officially dating Sabrina, shortly after Gabi left for Dallas.
                But I wasn’t with Sabrina anymore.  I wasn’t with anybody now, and that blush, paired with the fact that she wouldn’t meet my eyes now gave me a bit of hope that maybe, if I went about it the right way, Gabi and I could pick up where we left off.
                “So,” I said, picking up my suitcase as we exited the airport. “I was thinking I could maybe take two of the most beautiful girls in Texas to dinner and a movie tonight.”
                “Yeah! Yeah, can we see the one with the ice princesses?” Joci stopped walking to look up at me with pleading eyes.
                “Of course, sweetheart.  Whatever you want to see.”
                “Uh, actually,” Gabi said, allowing the end of the word to trail off. “I, uh… have a little… dinner… plan… thingy.”
                My energy deflated a little. “You mean… a date?”

  • Lessons In Potty Training The Second Time Around

    Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Pull-Ups®. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

    It’s been two months since we embarked on this potty journey with JJ.  As stated in my first post, this is not my first round or rodeo when it comes to potty training.  I was able to get Moo potty trained fairly quickly.  It was a bit of a challenge, but once we got into the groove and she knew I meant business things smoothed out.  This time around, things have been different to say the least.

    For starters, I’m potty training a boy now and not a girl.  That brought up questions like do I teach him to pee standing up or sitting down?  If I decided to go the standing up route, is there some proper holding technique that I need to learn?  My husband couldn’t remember how or who potty trained him, but thankfully, I had you other moms out there with boys to give me advice and suggestions.
    Also, having the access the Big Kid Academy via the Pull-Ups® website was a huge help as well.  The Rewards Wheel has become one of my favorite tools on there now because you want to switch up your celebration routine to keep kids motivated to make progress.  The Rewards Wheel takes the guessing out of choosing that activity.  If you want you can enter your own rewards in addition to the ones already listed like arts & crafts, sing a song, parent’s choice, etc and then you give it a spin and the Rewards Wheel selects a choice for you!  We’re still using the Big Kid App, too.
    So, what have learned in round 2 of potty training?  I’ve learned to:

    Have Realistic Expectations

    I went into this potty training journey initially thinking that I had everything in the bag since I had done this before.  In my mind, I just knew we’d be fully potty trained in two months or less.  Wrong!  I’ve come to senses and realized that those exceptions weren’t very realistic.  For starters, I wasn’t potty training a girl again, but a boy and I knew absolutely nothing about that.
    Also, I hadn’t taken into account that Moo and JJ have two different personalities.  JJ definitely has Moo beat in the stubbornness department.  He wanted nothing to do with potty training.  So, my advice to parents would be expect nothing and you won’t have to worry about being disappointed or feeling like a complete failure when all your techniques from round 1 don’t work.  Keep an open mind and remember that every child is different.

    Be Patient

    I really had to work on my patience because at first JJ was terrified of sitting on the potty seat that fits on the toilet.  It freaked him out that his feet did not touch the floor.  This was weird because he sits on tons of other things where his feet don’t touch the floor like the bed and the couches.  He also wasn’t a fan a the training seat.

    Potty Sear

    Potty Training System

    And speaking of training seats, they are not all equal.  Some work better for girls.  And some kids prefer an actual potty training system aka potty.  Pull-Ups® has partnered with The First Years, a maker of potty training seats and systems, and will be offering a FREE sample of Pull-Ups® training pants with each purchase of a specialty potty training system.

    Learn Your Child’s Potty Language

    With Moo, she was good at letting me know when she had to go.  Often times, she waited until she could just barely hold it to tell me, but she told me nevertheless.  As you all know, JJ is a special needs child.  He has delayed speech and sensory overload.  So, with him I have to look for clues.  Like for example, when he’s about to poop, he gets really still.  That’s easy to notice because he stays on the go nonstop.  
    Therefore, if he’s ever quiet for more than two minutes, he’s either into something he shouldn’t be or he’s pooping.  He’s getting better though at trying to come to me when he does feel like he has to go but sometimes he’s already in the process and you may or may not want to attempt to put your toddler on the potty while they are mid-poop unless you don’t mind possibly having extra cleaning up to do.

    In addition, try to refrain from referring to your child’s training pants as a diaper.  We actually call JJ’s training pants underwear because in a sense that’s they are.  They’re just more absorbent.  I actually did an experiment to see if it made a difference and it did.  I put JJ on a regular diaper and he didn’t think twice about going to the bathroom in it.  I put him on a pair of his ‘special underwear’ and he definitely minded getting those wet.

    So, learning your child’s potty language isn’t just about reading their body language but also verbally using the right words that will trigger good potty training behavior and habits in them.

    Dress Your Child in Potty Training Friendly Clothing

    Ok, so I know I was just asking about where I could find oneies that snap at the bottom for toddlers in sizes over 2T, but he will only be wearing those at bedtime.  I’ve found that the extra two seconds it takes you to undo them can be two seconds too long and your child might end up wetting themselves.  Also, as much as I love seeing JJ in a cute pair of jeans, I’ve gone out and purchased him pants without snaps, just elastic waists.
    Not only does it make getting his pants and training pants down faster for me, but it makes it faster for him as well.  Isn’t that why we’re potty training to start with?  To make our children more independent?  You don’t want your child to have to wrestle with getting their clothes off when they really have to go.

    Ask For Help/Research Tips

    I wish I had asked for help and researched potty training boys long before we were ready to start potty training.  I think that would have helped us out a lot in the beginning.  I also, wish that I had talked to other moms with special needs kids and asked about some of the issues they had to overcome.  Maybe, if I had, I would have know that he might or might not freak out because his feet didn’t touch the floor and we could have worked on that.
    I definitely would have just gotten him a potty system from the start instead of getting him a potty seat.  So, don’t be afraid to reach out.  If you have access to friends and family who you trust and who have been down this road, ask questions so that you can be informed.  And of course, I mentioned this before but check out the Big Kid Academy!  Also, try connecting with and seeing what other parents are saying on the Pull-Up® Facebook wall and Twitter account.

    Reward Accomplishments

    You already know what your motivation for potty training your child is, but what is your child’s motivation for potty training?  Rewarding accomplishments can be a great motivator and incentive.  JJ is definitely more likely to do something that he’s unsure or could care less about if he has a reason to other than the fact that I want him to do it.  And the rewards don’t have be anything huge.

    Use the reward wheel for ideas.  And if you download the Big Kid App, it comes with rewards like songs and videos that you can your little one can rock out to in celebration of an accomplishment.  At the end of the day, just as we enjoy it when we are praised by our spouses, children and bosses; our children are the same.

    Well, I hope that by sharing what I’ve learned that this helps if you if you’re a mom who’s potty training or thinking about starting.  Good luck and I will continue to share updates until we are completely potty trained and accident free!

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  • Thankful Thursday

    Happy Thankful Thursday!!  I know I’m posting a little later into the day, but y’all I spent all morning trying to catch a nap.  Why?  Well, both went to bed and were asleep by 11:30.  I decided to do a little writing on Forever Branded, answer some emails, and then do a load of laundry.  So, once the laundry finished I went to bed and that’s when it all started.
    First, Moo kept tossing and waking up.  She didn’t have to go to the bathroom and it wasn’t too hot.  I couldn’t figure out why she was so restless.  Then somehow JJ undid one full side of his Pull-Up.  I’m sure that I don’t have to tell y’all what happened next, but it involved a change of clothes for him and me, a quick bath and change of bed covers.  If anybody knows a good store that sells oneies for older kids let me know because now that he’s size 3T moving into 4T in everything, I’ve had to transition him to regular shirts that don’t have snaps at the bottom.
    This causes a problem because he’s not a fan of too many things covering his bottom and will unfasten his Pull-Up quickly.  Not a problem during the daytime because we can just use the potty, but at night there is nothing worse than settling down for a good sleep, getting halfway to dozing off and then feeling a warm gush of fluid running across your back.  Anyways, on with Thankful Thursday.
    This week I’m thankful that the Mr had a day off earlier this week after working almost 7 days straight.  We just hung out around the house.  Not that we had much of choice since it was wet and cold outside.  Yea, I don’t know what’s going on with this weather because it was just 80 degrees and sunny last Saturday.  Moo was too thrilled when she woke up from her afternoon nap and discovered that he was still home.  I wish I had hidden cameras to catch the look of pure joy that spread over her face y’all.  My baby is a daddy’s girl for sure.
    I’m thankful that JJ had a good therapy session.  As of late, he’s been kind of acting bashful with his therapist and we have no clue why.  We aren’t doing anything out of the norm.  I keep his schedule and our day to day routine the same as much as possible.  I’ve learned that change makes him anxious and a little standoffish.  I’m kind of worried now about how he’s going to adjust to his new therapist that will start in August.
    We’ve added four new signs into his sign language vocabulary-thank you, please, cookie and grandparents.  He hasn’t signed them back to me, but I know that he knows thank you pretty well and I’m sure with a little incentive, he’ll get the rest down, especially cookie. LOL.  I’m also thankful that I’m not as emotional about our situation as I used to be.  I still have my days where I question why this happened to him, but for the most part I haven’t had any meltdowns.
    Now, my big news and surprise that I hinted at in yesterday’s blog (read it here) that I am most thankful for this week is that after almost 10 years of being together, the Mr and I finally going a vacation together!!  And yes, the kiddies are tagging along, but I’m too thrilled that he’ll be able to go.  Keep your fingers crossed that his job doesn’t change their minds.  This vacation will double as a work trip and I’ll have an official post with more details up by the end of the month on that.
    Nevertheless, I’m too excited that I get to travel with the loves of my life and make new memories.  And I’m thankful that I’ll get to visit my older sister and brother in-law on this trip.  We’re calling our reunion The Turn-Up and officially started a countdown! LOL.  It’s truly a party every time the three of us get together.  My brother in-laws family kind of adopted me and Moo as their own during our stay down there a few years back.  
    They spoil us food, Moo with toys and clothes and me with drinks and adult company!  They met JJ for the first time last summer, but they welcomed him into the fold too.  I’m excited for my husband to finally get to meet this people that I’ve been talking about for the longest.  I’ll be documenting our preparation for our trip here on the blog and on my vlog channel!  By the way, I hit my 800th post yesterday!!
    What are you giving thanks for this week?

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  • Surprises & Winners

    I want to start this post off by thanking everyone who entered my giveaway for the animated movie, The Nut Job!  It’s really a good movie for those of us who have young kids and who enjoy family movies without all the adult content.  It is came out yesterday on DVD and Blu-ray.  So, I had originally planned on giving away just one copy and thought it would be just the plan DVD, but I woke up to the best surprise Tuesday morning.
    Guess what it was?  It was news that I would have two more copies to giveaway any way that I wanted.  So, I decided hey why not pick another winner from the Rafflecopter entries and then I decided to giveaway a third copy to a deserving family that I know.  And guess what else?  It’s just the DVD copy, but all three winners will be getting the DVD & Blu-ray combo pack that also includes a code for a free download to your smartphone, computer and tablet!  
    I love it when my surprises trickle down to my blog readers.  You guys are the best and continue to support me day in and day out.  I don’t giveaways often, but when I do I look at it as my way of saying thanks for reading my review post.  And I’m thankful to the companies who are gracious enough to provide free product for you guys when I ask.  Yes, I’m thankful for them giving me free products, but I always like to ask if they can chip in something for my readers since their main intention is for you all to gain awareness about their product/service by reading about my experience here on YUMMommy. 
    Also, I don’t want y’all to just take my word for it.  I like to give you the opportunity to try out the product/service and see how you like it for yourself when I have the opportunity to do so.  So, thank y’all for entering and don’t forget that I have another giveaway going for The Little Rascals Save The Day!  
    Be sure to enter it.  I’m not sure if they will surprise me with extra copies of that one, but you never know.  I got another AWESOME surprise today, but I will save all the details for tomorrow’s Thankful Thursday post.  Just know it involves traveling and one of my favorite brands!  Also, another surprise that is on the not so good end is that my friend from Life of Rylie…and Bryce too has had to make her blog private due to a safety issue involving her family.
    I feel so awful that there are some people in this world who would threaten the lives and safety of other bloggers and their families.  But by no means, do we have the right to stalk, send threats or violate others.  I will miss her because I had been following her blog for a while before we got to meet in person at my first blog conference.
    Keep her in prayer and pray for the other party or parties who are behind this nonsense.  It’s situations like this that have made me take pause and caution about sharing photos of Moo and JJ and while I did say that I was going to be revealing their real names soon, I’ve started to rethink that as well.  However, I will continue to share about our journey as a family and remain as transparent and honest as I’ve always been.
    I’ve read about bloggers who have had similar issues, but I didn’t know them or I wasn’t reading their blogs.  This hit home for me because this time it is someone I know and a blogger I’ve been following and supporting for years.  The good news here that they are okay.  Who knows, she maybe back blogging a year or so from now depending on the situation and how she feels.
    Anyways, look below to see if you were one of the blog winners for The Nut Job! 

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