Potty Training part 2

Potty training is a huge turning point not only in a child's life but as a parent. Rachel was...easy. Day 1 consisted of accident after accident, total frustration, calling my mother in tears, chilling in the bathroom ALL DAY (literally) and finally having one successful "pee pee in the potty" and that was it! Really! I gave her a skittle for sitting on the potty, I gave her one for having dry panties, I gave her one each time she told me she needed to go - and then when she FINALLY did it I LOADED HER UP WITH SO MUCH CANDY SHE'S GOOD TILL NEXT HALLOWEEN! We called every immediate family member with a cell phone, we showered her with praise - and that was it. It was finished. It was like she said, "That's it? All I had to do to get candy and be praised and STAY DRY was pee in that thing? Really? There's no catch? SWEET!" I have learned from friends and books and articles on the subject that the ONLY way to go is cold turkey straight to the panties. No diapers or pull-ups at night - no cheating. Well I am here to tell you that CHEATING is the only way to go. I put on a pull-up OVER Rachel's panties when she goes to bed. That way if she starts to dribble she FEELS wet (not like diapers that absorb it all) but I don't have to do a full jammy, bed sheet change at 2 in the morning! Pretty sweet. I figure that way I don't "untrain her" or teach her to rely on the pull-ups - but it saves a LOT of laundry for me, and let's face it - don't we all have enough laundry to do anyway!?!

She Did It!

Winnie the Pooh potty with flushing sound effects---------$21.95

Two eight-packs of princess panties and elmo panties-----$18.75

Princess pull-ups for church and long car trips------------$8.50

Jumbo bag of skittles for "rewarding" purposes-----------$2.50

Never having to change my 2-year-old's diapers again----PRICELESS

That's right folks - Rachel is officially potty trained. Well I don't know if it's official. I have to help her with the undies and she's too small to get on the big potty by herself...what do you think? She can't go all by herself - so maybe she ISN'T officially potty trained - but she is accident free and tells me when she needs to go, and she doesn't wet the bed at night (instead she lays in bed and screams her head off at 2:00 in the morning till I run in to pick her up and get her to the potty before it's too late). SO maybe she's only HALF potty trained. You tell me.

POTTY TRAINING!!!

The signs are evident...the time has come...to embark on the great adventure of.........POTTY TRAINING!! SO if any of you have any words of wisdom before I sign my life away please let me know. Pull-ups or panties? Training potty or "seat over the seat" that sits on top of the real toilet? Panties in the day and diapers at night or panties all the time? Rewards? Sticker charts? Books about the subject that you would recommend? ANYTHING!?! (p.s.I know that Princess Throne is a little much but it was the only pic I could find)

CALLING ALL WARRIORS!!

Hey there T-Ville buddies! It has been 10 years since graduation (that's scary) and we are throwing the PARTY OF THE DECADE! Check out ths98.myevent.com to post your profile, see old Warriors, and get tickets to the greatest reunion this class has ever seen (and not just because it's the only reunion this class has ever seen!)

emilywatts.com

This is a SHOUT OUT to my wonderful MOM who...drum roll please...NOW HAS HER VERY OWN BLOG!! So for anyone who has read any of her great books or listened to any of her great talks or met any of her great children...just kidding...check out her wonderful words of wisdom at emilywatts.com! It will be just like having your VERY OWN MOM...except you all already have your very own mom so that...well...nevermind;)

I LOVE IT WHEN...

1- I find money in my pocket
I love this so much that when I pack my clothes away for a season (winter clothes, summer clothes, maternity clothes) I put money in the pockets so that I'll forget about it and then when I put them on 6 months later...SCORE! My husband thought this bordered insanity until I made him try it. He pulled out a pair of shorts a couple of weeks ago and TA DA!! 5 Bucks!! I've converted him.

2- There is something really important that I rush to the store to buy (a cooking ingredient, computer paper, diapers etc.) and not only do they have it...but it's on a SCREAMIN' SALE! i love that:)

3 - I'm on time...because I'm so often NOT. It is a little victory every time I can walk into the chapel, PICK MY PEW, and get seated in time to listen to a little prelude music. It takes a lot of work - bathing the kids, packing the diaper bag, setting out church clothes and doing this all the NIGHT BEFORE...but it really works. I just need to discipline myself to do it more often.

4- My husband comes home from work early

You may believe that the life of a seminary teacher is pretty easy. Not true. Between planning lessons, calling parents and bishops, grading makeup work, and other administrative things Paul usually ends up putting in at least 10 hours a day if not more. But sometimes he gets done early and surprises us and we play games, or go on a little outing, or just sit and talk. I love those days.

5- My kids take a nap...at the SAME TIME!

Ben is a twice a day napper and Rachel naps once a day. So Ben goes down, then wakes up right when Rachel is going down, then goes back to sleep when Rachel wakes up. Sometimes they go down at the same time or close enough that they are both asleep at the same time for a good hour. Those are the days when I take an extra long extra hot shower...or take a nap myself!

So what are the little SERENDIPITIES that brighten your day?

I HATE IT WHEN...

1- My kitchen is Dirty
My kitchen is unfortunately dirty more often than not and I hate having to spend 20 minutes BEFORE fixing dinner to wash dishes only to turn around and get them dirty again by fixing dinner. It is so much fun to cook when you don't have to clean before hand...or afterward...maybe I should get a job on the food network - those guys NEVER have to do their own dishes.

2-My yogurt lid burps on me when I open it.
All I want is to sit down at breakfast and open a carton of yogurt without having it spit like a baby all over me!

3- I'm Late
I am also late more often than not and I hate the feeling I get when I walk into the room and whoever is there looks at me and then looks at the clock...YES I'M LATE I KNOW! It seems like it doesn't matter how much earlier I start getting ready either. Life happens. It only gets harder with kids...

4- I run out of toilet paper...
...and don't notice until AFTER I've already started going to the bathroom - ARGH! "Honey!..."

5- I stub my toe
I hate hate HATE stubbing my toe! The pain shoots from my toe to the top of my head and slowly swells back down making me dizzy and sweaty and ANGRY! It's like the chair says mockingly "what did you expect ya DUMMY? Next time watch where you're going!"

SO...what are the little things in your life that peg YOU in the face like a dodge ball? (I use that little simile because we played dodge ball last week for mutual and I got pegged in the face...A LOT!)

Benja

This is my sweet boy. He brightens my day. His eyes are so happy. He has the sweetest smile and the most contageous laugh. Thank you Jessi for letting me borrow your SWEET camera to capture my baby. Kids grow so fast it's hard to remember each stage of their life - pictures help!

My Mozarts

Paul is (among other things) the ward choir director in our ward. He also plays the organ in sacrament meeting a couple times a month. Here he is practicing for choir practice - and he has a duet accompanist. Music to my soul!

Tea Anyone?

Yesterday Rachel was having a tea party in the living room and Ben was absolutely intrigued in what she was doing. He jumped up and down with excitement as she meticulously poured tea for all her imaginary guests. Then, recognizing his desire to be invited to such a grand event, she graciously made Ben a part of the festivities. Not only did she pour him a cup of tea, but she did what any true big sister would do, she helped him drink it. What a gal! Thanks Rach.