Quiet, OCD, and "More please"

Oh I love the quiet moments during the day. When McKenna is sleeping. When Hannah is resting. When no one is saying "Mama... can I have a drink?" "Can I play outside?" "Can you get this for me?" and I am able to think about no one but myself. You got it.

I watch a friend's baby once a week and occasionally I watch another friend's 2 children who are two and four. Today I got to watch ALL FIVE children (total) at the same time!!! It was complete and utter chaos. I realized that one of the reasons I love to teach is because of the structure. We have a schedule to follow. Every day there is a certain time to do each thing we do. The kids listen (or at least they are supposed to) and I am their BOSS. HA. When you have two babies, a 2, 3, and 4 year old at home there is pretty much none of the schedules or structure involved like a typical school day. No matter how structured I try to be it doesn't turn out well. Who wants to be structured when you're at someone's house to play?

I also realized I am slightly OCD. I pick up after the kids as they blow through like a tornado. If one toy with lots of little parts is out you better bet we pick it all up before the next toy with lots of little parts gets taken out. I also like the shopping cart toys to stay with the shopping cart... the legos to stay with the lego wagon... the dominoes to stay in the domino container. No mixing and matching. Or I get stressed. That's just me. It's the way I am. And if this gets mixed up I really try to let it go. But that only works for so long.

Lastly I would like to officially announce that both of my children have a love for something. Chocolate. I would like to say it has successfully been passed down from my grandma to my mom, to me, and now my children. It's the first thing Hannah asks for in the morning (apparently she must see someone sneak brownies before breakfast??) and it's what she also wakes up asking for in the middle of the night.

Well my quiet time is now over. Hannah is trying to type with me and it's not working very well.

Camping!

Went to Lake Pleasant a few weekends ago and had a great time as a family. We tent camped in a really big tent that we borrowed. McKenna slept for about two hours total all night and Hannah slept like a rock. The next day we met up with some of Matt's coworkers for some fun on the lake! Hannah even went on the jet ski!!! We had an awesome time despite the lack of sleep and a baby with a fever... We'll probably wait until BOTH girls are a little bit bigger next time!

Mom's At Central

It is my second year attending the MOM's On A Mission at Central Christian Church. I love it.

Every other week we discuss the book we are reading called, "The Bathtub is Overflowing but I Feel Drained" by Lisa Terkurst. The opposite weeks we have guest speakers, craft days, and special planned things.

Today was so uplifting. We have a wonderful woman who comes in to discuss the Bathtub book with us. She is so encouraging and so lighthearted. She tells us real stories from her own personal experiences. Today she reminded us to be thankful for things that we may not think to be thankful for. For example, everyday I see crumbs on the floor and it just bugs me. But I need to stop and be thankful that those crumbs mean I have two healthy little girls who are eating and enjoying their food (even though they are leaving some behind). Or the dirt that gets tracked in from outside everyday- be thankful that Hannah loves to play and is physically able to run in and out of the house to leave those little dirt marks everywhere.

Thanks, God, for my beautiful little girls and the joy they bring me everyday. Help me to have an "attitude of gratitude" and be thankful for even my annoyances.

"Why?"

Hannah's most asked question lately is, "WHY?" "Why, mommy? Why daddy?" "Why? Why? Why?"

It is her response to EVERYTHING. When I give an explanation for something she answers with "why?" and then I answer further and of course she responds again with "WHY?". It is never ending. She is never satisfied.

A typical conversation sounds like this:

Hannah: Daisy is sad, mommy. Why is she sad?

Me: I don't know, maybe she wants to play with you.

Hannah: Why? Why does she want to play with me?

Me: She likes to play with you.

Hannah: Why?

Me: Because you're fun.

Hannah: Why am I fun?

... and on and on it goes...

The other day I said, "I don't know, Hannah." And she said, "But I want you to know!!"

Guess she is just curious about everything! Sure is helping me to learn patience!!

Potty Training Day #4

What a difference success can make!!!! Hannah sat on the potty yesterday and got a little drip out- just enough to celebrate! I told her she could choose any special treat and she decided she wanted a popsicle. We went right to the store and she picked out the ones she wanted. Then, last night Hannah was in the bathtub when she realized she had to go poopy. She told me and I instantly put her on the potty. SUCESS!! It happened! She was so excited. Even though it was bedtime, you better believe we had that popsicle again! As she went to bed, we prayed about going on the potty and I told her if she did it again the next day she would get another popsicle. She went to sleep a very happy and determined girl.

So onto the next day (today). I decided to not put any underwear on her. I thought that maybe if she didn't have the "comfort" of something to go in- she'd have to go on the potty. That must have done the trick!! She let me know every time she had to go and sure enough- she'd go! We had popsicles all day long! It was terrific. She even pooped again!!

I thought, wow! This is amazing. I wondered if I were to put underwear on her if she'd remember to go on the potty. YES! She did! And even better- I put a diaper on her for bedtime and she told Papa she had to go pee pee and she sat on the potty and went. She told him she "almost went in her diaper" but she didn't!!! HOLY COW.

I guess when Hannah makes up her mind she really makes up her mind. CHEERS to a very special day!! YAY, Hannah Grace!

Potty Training 101

Advice I have heard from friends/family/internet:

1. Motivate your child to WANT to go on the potty. (Tried it)
2. Read stories with your child while on the potty. (Tried it)
3. Set an alarm and have your child try to sit on the potty every 20-30 min. (Tried it)
4. Reward/celebrate your child for sitting on the potty. (Tried it)
5. Put on big girl underwear so she has an accident and begins to realize when she goes. (Trying it)
6. Have your child go in to the bathroom while you use the potty. (DO it)
7. Have your child go in the bathroom while her peers use the potty. (DO it)
8. Go shopping with your child and have her pick out special big girl underwear. (Did it)
9. Stay at home with your child and focus on potty training all day. (UGH)

So we are on Day #3 with wearing underwear and having accidents on the floor. How long does this process take??? I don't think I have enough patience!!! That's probably the true problem. I'm totally aware of this. But when Hannah fights me to sit on the potty I just give up. I don't want to fight over it. This is just frustrating to me.

I think she would wear diapers til she's in school if she could.

Get Creative!

We came up with a super fun game the other day. Here are some pictures of the great fun we had. The best part is that Hannah enjoys pulling her stuffed animals, too. (which means I get a break from the endless circles through the house!)

PS- Yes, Hannah is not wearing clothes. I'm not really sure WHY but hey- take advantage while you're a kid, right?!?