Wrapping up the year
We've been crazy trying to attend all the end of year things between my school and Nora's. May is definitely a busy time. I found this picture of Nora on her first day of school this year. She was so little! The amount of growing she's done since August to May is absolutely crazy. I'm forever amazed at what her school teaches these kids. She has her end of the year program on Thursday, so I'm sure we'll take tons of pictures and share later.
I kept AJ for a full weekend recently by myself. Needless to say, this was the only picture I had time to take. It was lots of fun and they played so well together. It was sweet. 
Just thought I'd share this picture- Kevin caught Nora putting lotion on Daisy the other day. I guess she thought her skin looked ashy (I was in the process of doing laundry which explains all the clothes on the floor- I couldn't go another second without exlaining that).
Kevin is busy wrapping up his second job playing guitar two nights a week, and I started taking an Old Testament Survey class my church is offering which is keeping me busy. We're looking forward to some relaxation in June when I'm on vacation that month. Unfortunatly, counselors only get a month off in the summer. I put the "only" in there for Kevin because he loves when I complain that I "only" get a month off. Anyway- it's never enough time...especially this year because I've got potty training on the calendar for June. I need some advice (preferably from someone out there that just delivered her 4th baby girl- without naming any names). I've dreaded potty training and have been putting it off for as long as I can. I refuse to read a book on how to teach someone to go pee pee, so if somebody could just leave a comment on my blog and tell me how to do it, that would be awesome. Or come do it for me- then I'll make you dinner or something.
Seriously, the dinner will be really good.
9 comments:
I love the picture of Nora and AJ. I would give you potty training advice, but the whole point and shoot thing won't do Nora much good. You can still make me dinner though.
Ang--what kind of dinner are we talking???
We are in the midst of potty training and I must say Faith is doing REALLY well. The key is to wait till your child is ready. Otherwise, all the "tricks and tips" don't really work. I've read a few books and decided to wait till she was ready. Faith has been nearly 100% with pee pee from the beginning and is still working on being consistent with poo poo but as crazy as it sounds, that's easier to clean up!
The readiness signs are:
--dry diaper after nap
--dry diaper in the morning
--realizing she pee peed or poo poo'd in her diaper (telling you)
(I think there are a few more signs but I don't remember them. I just went by these 3)
Here are the steps we used:
Day 1-3: Plan to mostly stay home for a few days to get into a consistent routine. Put a dress on N but nothing else underneath. Set your clock and take her to the potty every 30 min. Give her a treat for trying (our method is 1 m&m for trying, 2 for pee, 4 for poo) Talk about all the steps to going to the potty and then have N teach a doll (that wets) how to go pee and poo on the potty.
After the first few days, we put panties on her and a pull up only during naps and bedtime (or if we were going out for awhile--as soon as we get home, I put the panties back on) Put panties on first thing in the morning after you take her to the potty.
That's basically it. If she's ready she'll catch on pretty quick. We also got the DVD called The Potty Movie for girls (by Barron's home dvd--it came with a book too, we got it at Costco but you can get them anywhere I think). There's a really annoying song but Faith LOVES IT!! It's helped her a lot. She'll always say, I pee peed on the potty like Hannah (the girl in the movie)
Hope all that helps! I'm no expert but that's what we did and has worked really well. We are still working with her consistency with #2 but she's getting it.
Call if you have any questions. I'm no mother of 4 but this has worked for us!
The clothes/laundry on the floor is such a normal thing for me...I didn't even notice until you brought attention to it.
I agree with Jaime's training advice. The only thing we do different is diapers/pullups only at night. We go cold turkey during the day, but it still takes more maturing of the bladder (for most) to make it through the night consistently. However, my SIL goes completely diaper free and just changes sheets in the middle of the night for a few weeks. I do have to disagree with the poopy cleanup being easier than pee...I don't handle poopy mess very well.I've thrown a few pairs of panties away just to keep my sanity. I think that could be happening a lot when C goes through potty-training (which she will probably be close to three before I attempt that :)).
I'm so glad you have a break from work coming up. I'm sure you are ready for it.
Yes!! What an honor to get a "I agree with Jaime's training advise" from a well seasoned expert!!!
The reason #2s are easier for me to clean is that F's are well formed and plop well into the potty. I don't really have to rinse out her panties, just toss them in the laundry and put on a fresh pair. #1 requires an entire change of clothes and sheets, or whatever else was involoved (couch cushion, etc.) plus a quick little bath. So if N's #2s are firm, I think you'll prefer cleaning up after those otherwise, #1 is way more enjoyable....enjoyable is a stretch but you get the drift!
Keep us posted!!
Oh my goodness, Jaime. TMI.
hey--not sure how else to talk about it. Just wait, you'll be TMIing your way into lots of convos once the potty training starts!!
I forgot to also suggest having both a little potty and the little ring seat that fits into the grown-up potty. F started out using the little potty but now prefers the ring seat (its awesome b/c you don't have to clean it out each time they use it like the other one).
If that's TMI, then you might reconsider potty training at this time, Ang :).
Dude...my only advice is get your mom to do it while Nora is visiting her for a week. That's what I did and it worked PERFECTLY on Carlie. :)
(And, by the way, we do "cold turkey" days and nights...once the diapers are gone, there's no turning back at our house. We had a "no more diapers" party and threw them all in the trash...which I secretly kept because I doubted my ability to REALLY go cold turkey. :) )
Good luck....it's definitely NOT my favorite part of parenting.
And, I'm with you on the "only a month off" complaint...when I was a counselor, and the teachers were whining, I kept thinking YOU'RE not back up here the rest of the summer! But, I honestly liked those months with no kids and no teachers around. It's kinda fun!
Anyway, enjoy your vacation time with that little cutie. She HAS gotten big!! :)
not that you asked but wanted to share that......Faith is now potty trained!!! Out of nowhere, she made the connection that #2 goes in the potty and that is what she LOVES to do! She wants to #2 all the time now! I have to make her "try later" b/c she'll stay there all day! I also need to stop the "big" treat/ "little" treat reward system no that she's got the hang of it! (I think the "big" treat is what keeps her on the potty so long!)
Anyway, Can and Chels, you encouraged me to go for it cold turkey and I stopped putting pull ups on her while we were out and she hasn't had an accident yet! Sundays are our longest days away and she did AWESOME!!
So thanks for affirming our strategy and giving additional tips too!!
You can do it, Ang!! I think the biggest factor for success is WAITING till N's ready. I've had friends start early with their kids and they are STILL trying to get them trained (8 months later!). Even if it doesn't happen during your off month...it'll be so much easier on both of you if she's ready.
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