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?!?

Making Cookies! Yum!

Lately I have been trying to include Hannah in a lot of baking and cooking. She LOVES to be a helper. She even has her own little apron (thanks, Grandma!). If I forget it, she says, "WAIT! I forgot to get my apron!" and quickly runs to her room to grab it. These pictures are our latest creation-- no bake chocolate cookies. YUM. I let her do the mixing- she chose her own spoon- a whisk. Then I mix a little. She loves to add the milk- she always says, "And now the milk?" We stir and stir and stir together. She has a blast. This particular type of cookie requires melting ingredients over the stove, so we mixed most of it in a bowl first. Then while I was melting it and stirring over the stove, she "washed" the dishes. Somehow she always manages to rip the sponge off of the handle and get lots of bubbly water everywhere. Oh well. She has fun.

I'm sure you can guess the hardest part of all?? WAITING for them to be ready! She asks if they are ready just about every other minute. We try to do something distracting- like have a dance party chanting "the cookies are cooling, the cookies are cooling" while we wait. Sometimes it works. :) After all the stirring, melting, cleaning, and waiting... she didn't like the cookies!! Luckily I keep a stash of chocolate cookies handy at all times in the cupboard and she was ok with eating one of those. Good thing my family loves chocolate... it's definitely in the genes!!

Dance!

Hannah has loved to dance since she was a baby. This is a sneak peek of how cute she will look when she is old enough (and potty trained) to be in dance classes!! Can't wait!

Mrs. Hannah... TBD

This sweet conversation happened tonight:

Matt: Someday God will give you a very special man to marry.

Hannah: What's his name? Jesus?

me: YES. :)

Hannah: And God will give me a man named Jesus to marry. And I will wear a pretty dress.

mckenna

mckenna is standing up on things.

she is also pulling hair. taking things from hannah (and other babies). crawling on top of other babies.

she growls when she wants something. no joke. it is a loud "grrrrrrr" and sounds very funny over the phone.

she isn't sleeping through the night any more. she wakes up twice to be exact.

she also doesn't like naps a whole lot anymore.

she's getting two new teeth. one on top and one on the bottom.

her laugh makes me laugh. her cry makes me cry. her smile makes me smile.

she loves to cuddle.

she loves to crawl over to me and get into my lap.

lately she's been a bit more of a complicated baby. but she's still cute.

i love my mckenna joy.

8/5/10

Driving in the car today I caught Hannah saying: "I love you, McKenna"

SOOO sweet.

Hannah-isms

I have been trying to keep a mental list of the cute way Hannah says some words. These are the ones that pop into my mind as I type.

alligator= Gatorade or elevator
boon= balloon
poo= pool
bike= bark (can't say her "r's" very well
pike= park
Mermial= Ariel, the little mermaid
mermeed= mermaid

I'll post more as I think of them. She is so cute it makes me smile. :)

So Scary

The other night something happened that I hope never happens again. Matt and I just finished up giving Hannah her bath at her Nana's house and we were happily walking down the stairs when Hannah jumped, caught the edge of the step, and tumbled down the stairs in front of us. All I could do was yell, "Someone catch her!" as she hit her head and did a somersault. Ugh. It was the worst feeling in the world to see her helplessly fall and not able to do anything to help. I was holding McKenna and lunged for her at the bottom of the stairs. She stood right up, looked at us a bit scared and was fine moments later. Her cheek turned red and that's all that happened. It didn't even turn into a bruise.

My heart was racing and it took a while for me to get a grasp of my feelings. All I could think about was "what if this happened.... what if, what if, what if..." But her angels were protecting her and she was totally fine. I am so thankful that nothing happened except for an awful memory in my mind. Even though it was super scary- maybe she will remember what happens when she jumps down the stairs! Thank you Lord for your protection.