Detective Work

Potty Training. Again. What a drag. The first time I was really ready for it, ready for the moment my son would start to use the potty. Eager, definitely thinking about it on a regular basis and talking about it periodically. Not so for #2 (har har). As baby girl starts to show interest in things peculiar to the facilities we must take her cue. But what a drag. Tonight I was a detective. I discovered a new, very fresh suspicious looking stain on the chaise lounge section of our couch. A really wet stain but I couldn't find an empty cup around, so . . . hmmm. Judging by the size of the stain I could imagine my naked girl perched there, the weight of her chubby little legs causing the spill to roll in telltale patterns. It's probably pee. But she's practically lived in the potty all night - how could one person, much less a little baby girl, wet so much? I walked away but later, after bath time, I went back downstairs and sized up the spot again. I sniffed it this time, just to rule out the pee theory, and it has no odor . . . but then, she's been drinking juice and water and milk all day, doesn't consume any pollutants, why should her pee smell? It's not like she has smelly old drunk guy at the bar pee smell. I remember this guy we used to call Frank the Bank until after a few years he morphed into Frank the Stank. Ah, my past . . . As for the couch, it needs a facelift anyway and this is the final straw. I'm planning to buy new foam rubber to make replacement cushions and several yards of fabric to recover everything. I think the people at the foam rubber store will even cut it to my specifications. There is a foam rubber store up here and I know there is one on Alan street (turns into 1st Ave.) in NYC. Otherwise, there are several online. Custom made slip covers are an affordable way to revamp a tired old couch. Of course, the couch needs to have good bones, a solid and well built framework to recover. Our couch is too nice to throw away, but it is so beat up from the kids, the dog and especially the frequent cushion and pillow cover washings. Removable covers are key but next time I will need more durable fabric, one that will hold up to many washings. Anyway, back to baby girl, we are so proud of her, of course, and I tell her so a lot. That's all there is to potty training, let them have accidents and praise them often. That and a little CSI work as well.