Thomas Night

Tonight, we had a Thomas night!

School was cancelled today because the roads were glare ice (my 25 minute drive to work took an hour.)  Amelia has a nasty cough (and threw up this evening) so we were calling her in anyways so at least now she didn't miss anything! 

When Joe got up from his nap she asked if they could wear Thomas pajamas - so we did!  We also watched a little Thomas on Netflix.  She was in and out of her room "going to bed" all evening.  Poor thing, she was just so exhausted and out of it.  

  Hopefully she can shake whatever it is that is bothering her so we can enjoy the rest of our week!

How We Approached Potty Training

"She's still in (long pause) diapers?"

The above is a question I will no longer have to hear!!! Amelia is now daytime potty-trained!  We are ecstatic and so proud of her!

Potty-training has long been a sore subject for us as we watched our peers with children born around the same time as Amelia potty-train.  We were just never there.  We felt judgement from people which slowly turned to embarrassment.  We've fought about it for about six months now and last week was the week.  I was off work and I decided we were just going to face it head on and DO IT.  So, we did!

Last Sunday morning when she woke up I got her diaper off and asked her to pick out a pair of underwear.  I was prepared with the arsenal of licensed 4T underwear I've been picking up on clearance for two years.  

She was hesitant and told me she did not want to wear underwear because it "has holes in it" which is the result of the one day a month ago she asked to wear underwear and she had an accident.  I told her there are no holes, we inspected the pair she selected and for the entire morning I sat her on the potty every half-hour.  She was not thrilled and told me, several times, "mom, this is not a great idea."  LOL.

I set up a rainbow reward system for her on the bathroom door:

 

Each day of the week was a different color and each time she used the potty she got a sticker (two for #2.)  It became clear to me quickly that she didn't grasp the concept of days so I coordinated our wall calendar with this rainbow:

Before bed each night we would cross off the day we just finished.  After the brown day she would get her big prize.  Something she has been asking for since before Christmas.  In addition to the stickers she also got a Starburst (or "potty candy" as she now calls them) after each success.

By day three I could tell she had some fear over #2 and I knew I'd have to persuade her to just do it.  I decided to go to the store and grab three of the blind bag baby ponies she loves (and we have far too many of...) and tape them to the bathroom door.  She noticed them right away and I told her she could have one each time she went #2.  Within two hours she had done it and overcome that fear!

Caramel Apple, Banana Bliss and Barber Groomsby - our newest "babies"

 

Our accident total is only at three.  Yes, three!  Two on day one and one on day three.  She went to school three days and had no accidents!  Amazing!  By day two I was finding her on the potty, reading, all by herself:

Friday (day six) Joe had a doctor appointment and I really struggled with what to do about that.  She is scared of "big potties" and I wasn't sure what she'd do when faced with only a "big potty."  When I asked her she said, "I'll get wet" as in she wouldn't use it.  I didn't want to backtrack though so we went in underwear.  I brought spare underwear and clothes and we didn't need them!  After the doctor we went to my parents because I had a feeling she was holding it because there were no "little potties" and they have the same chair that we have.  Yeah, she went as soon as we got there!

On the night of day seven we gave her her big prize:

Baby Butterscotch.  Normally this is not a toy I would get for her based on the price alone ($119.99) but when it went on a crazy price-cut before Christmas I talked to Jason and we decided to get it.  I got it for only $45.09 (after my discounts) and found out that two days later the crazy price-cut was caught and fixed!  They had accidentally marked it down to $49.99 instead of $99.99 company-wide - ha!  I thought something was fishy with that big of a price drop but I just figured they were trying to be competitive for the holidays or something!

Look at her - you can see how proud she is!

Even Joe loves Baby Butterscotch:

 

We will probably have more accidents down the road - especially as we venture out more.  We still have nighttime to tackle in underwear.  We still have the fear of "big potties" to overcome but I just don't care right now!  My girl wears underwear all day!  For now, that is enough for me :)

WeHaw Visit

My sister (WeHaw to Amelia...) came over tonight.

As usual, the kids had a good time.

 

We tried to get Amelia to watch "The Lorax" with us after Joey went to bed but she didn't make it far.  I could tell she was interested but she was in her goofy-I'm-ready-for-bed-I-can't-focus mood.  Kim and I did watch the whole thing - it was cute!

Great-Grandma Visit

First things first - when we woke up it was -15 (before the windchill was factored in.)  School was not cancelled in our district.  Surrounding districts were - but not us.  Other areas had a two-hour delay - but not us.  Seriously?  I realize it being cold (which is an understatement this week) isn't a great reason to cancel school but those poor kiddos who ride the bus and had to wait out in this!  Grrr.  *rant over

This afternoon Jason's grandma came for a visit and to give the kids their Christmas gifts.

(Crayola Color Wonder painting!)

Amelia even conned grandma into watching the My Little Pony movie (circa 1986) with her before she left.  

We had a bit of fighting over new toys this evening- specifically a triple drum toy Joe got...

Amelia told me she was Joe's "pet" and they were on a walk...

...but they also had a few instances of playing nice!

Week at Home!

I have the week off of work because it is super slow and there really weren't hours for my team.  I volunteered to use some vacation time because, let's be real, there are no vacations in my near future!  We are working on something pretty big around here this week...

...update to come!!!

It is freezing out and it will be the whole week!  Today the high was -3 but most of the day it felt like -30.  Bbbrrrr!  We usually just run trash out to the dumpster in normal clothes and flip-flops all year but today Jason got shoes, a coat and a hat on!  It's that cold!

This afternoon my parents stopped over with lunch (and to see the kids) on their way home from Indiana.  Before they left Papa gave Amelia a little volcano!  She loved it but when it came time to "erupt" it she got scared.  She told me it was going to be too noisy and hot - ha!  I got her to come out and we put a chair for her on the edge of the kitchen and "erupted" it.  She ran to the table so fast and yelled, "do it again!"

We had to refill it three times!  *each fill we were able to "erupt" it 4-5 times.

Joe's new favorite thing in the whole world is the Swiffer.

Seriously.  He loves that thing.  We ended up disconnecting most of the handle so he wouldn't be waving around 4 feet of pole as carried it around with him.  Now it is Joe-size :)  He seriously will "Swiffer" anything and everything.  It is adorable!

I'm looking forward to the rest of the week with these two!

Fish Bowl Faces

Our new point-and-shoot camera has a setting called "fish bowl effect."  Oh my!  It is hilarious!  See for yourself:

Auntie Kim

Joe-Joe

Mama

I saved the best for last....

Amelia!

Happy Friday, everyone!

Simple Fun

Sometimes the everyday things that entertain my children amazes me.  

Like this:

A chair and step stool = a "ride."  I am assuming it was a rollercoaster-type ride based on her actions.  She had her hands up and she was swaying from side to side while screaming.

Last month Joe developed a huge fascination with pots and pans.

For a few weeks he had a pot, pan and/or lid with him at all times.  There was no stopping him!

We have one kitchen tool that both kids are obsessed with:

I'm not exactly sure what it  (Jason knows...) but to the kids it is a butterfly pony net and a trumpet/thing to carry around and throw.

Shoes are another big one with Joe.

Specifically my work shoe - on his right foot.  He will sit around in it for up to an hour some nights!  NO idea why!

And let's not forget boxes...

Both kids (acutally ALL kids) love boxes - any shape or size!  Laundry baskets too - they are kind of like boxes.  The length of time boxes/baskets amuse kids is awesome! 

Sometimes I wonder why we need have any toys!  These two can make anything fun!