Dear people who design public restrooms,

Can we please go back to toilets with handles and paper towels?  Please?

When a 40" kid sits on a toilet with an automatic flush, it flushes while they are still sitting on the toilet.  It's a little traumatizing.

Also, when the 40" kid is trying to use the facilities and a jet plane takes off hand dryer starts blowing, again, it can be a little scary.  Cause, you know, public restrooms don't have bath mats, rugs, or anything to absorb all of that sound.  It just echos off the bare walls and cold tile floors.

Before you think, "oh crazy lady, it's just your 40" kid that has these issues!" I assure you it's not. 

And Madeline?  My poor sweet 30" baby completely loses her mind gets visibly upset when an automatic dryer turns on in the bathroom.  You try wrangling a toddler during a poopy diaper change while screaming bloody murder.  No?  Doesn't sound like your idea of a good time?  Hmmm, me either.

Remember the good days when you reached over and flushed the grimy public potty with your foot or wadded up an acre of rainforest's worth of TP to push the handle down?  Let's bring those back.  Because do you know the most traumatizing thing a parent can hear while driving down the expressway 35 miles from the next rest stop? 

I have to go potty.

If only that public restroom at the party had a handle.  We wouldn't be crossing legs, fingers and toes to avoid an accident in the Britax Frontier. 

While my suggestions may not be the most eco-friendly, they are the most kid friendly and these days I need to choose my battles wisely.

Thank you for your time. 

Sincerely,
Kristin
Mama of Ellie-Town

Physical Therapy and Gymbo Stamps

For background info on Madeline's physical therapy, check out Part 1 and  Part 2.

Madeline has her first physical therapy session under her belt.  She rocked it.  Doing tricks like cruising around the ottoman in both directions, pulling up on everything and even making an attempt to climb the stairs.

Mads {Ellie's new nickname for her} also began Gymboree classes to help strengthen her right leg and get her walking.  Gymboree is a funny place.  I remember the first time I walked in to Gymboree with an 11 week old Ellie.  The first thing I saw were clowns and thought to myself, "Yeah right.  My baby will hate this.  What kid likes clowns?!"

She loved it.  Ellie went to Play & Learn classes at Gymboree from 11 weeks until she was over 2.

Madeline had the same reaction.  She was ecstatic.  Mads was going down slides, scooting through tunnels and rolling balls.  When it came time for the parachute, she was stunned.  Smiling and laughing, she was the happiest baby around.  Bubbles didn't disappoint either.  Madeline's chubby little hands were reaching everywhere trying to grab the bubbles all the way up to the rafters.

Gymbo the Clown {puppet version for those of you in the know} came out and we did the Gymbo Dance all around.  Madeline "took her little hands and waved bye-bye-bye" and we made our way to the door.

The last stop out is getting a Gymbo stamp on the hand.  Since she had never received a stamp before, she put her hand out like the other kids and was amazed when a purple Gymbo appeared, one on the left, then one on the right.

Mads looked down at her hand, then up at me, then down at her hand again. 

We put on our shoes, grabbed the diaper bag and headed out to the car.  As we were walking, Madeline began shaking her hands.  Harder and harder. 

She looked back up at me and there was panic on her face.  I knew exactly what she was thinking.  "What the heck, Mom?!  Why won't this clown come off me?!?!?!?!"

She screamed the entire drive to pick up Ellie at Nonna's house.

Two days, one bath and countless Seventh Generation baby wipes later, a faint Gymbo still remains.

We'll be skipping the stamp next week.

But our little Mads?  She took four steps on her own this week.  I even made Ellie put on a pair of pants that matched her dress in case I needed to video "official walking."

She's making progress.  We're learning how to help her make progress.  It's good.

MilliLee.com Review

MilliLee.com sent me this adorable organic cotton dress for Ellie to review. 

Not for Ellie to review, but for Ellie, for me to review.  Although Ellie has pretty strong feelings about this darling dress.

When the package arrived, tied with raffia, Ellie could hardly contain her excitement.

She carefully untied the bow and squealed when she saw the dress.  Soft and flowy, Ellie knew it would be perfect.  After a few minutes of "please can I wear it now?  Pleasepleasepleaseplease?!?!?" I caved.  She wore it the rest of the afternoon and wanted to give up her favorite ballerina nightgown to wear it to bed.

The dress has elastic around the neck and around the sleeves to give a perfect fit.  It's great with jeans or leggings and boots for the fall and winter.  Expertly sewn, the pattern gives a modern twist on a classic silhouette.

Oh, and it washes well, too.  We know because Ellie spilled chocolate milk on it the first day.  And it came out from the wash good as new. 

Ellie's dress from MilliLee was a huge hit.  With Ellie, with strangers at breakfast, with me.  Here are some of the things you can find on MilliLee.com:

MilliLee.com does custom orders, too, from cloth diapers to children's clothes.  I will be placing my order for a coordinating sister look any second!

Thanks MilliLee.com!

Disclosure:  MilliLee.com sent this darling dress to review at no cost to me.  However, the opinions in the review above are completely honest and my own.  No other compensation was provided.