Weekly Tidbits

Yes, I took this photo while Isaac was screaming. It just had to happen that way. However, after I snapped it, Ella turned to rub his belly and sing to him. That was pretty stinkin' cute.

Other tidbits for this week:

*** Jay was asked about his friend Ella and who her parents were. He responded, "Her mommy is Sarah, and her daddy is... Papi!"

*** In an effort to entertain Ella while Billy finished hanging shelves in her new closet but continue the cool down to bedtime, we did Mommy & Ella yoga. She was great at the child's pose (go figure!), cobra, happy baby and the corpse pose. We also tried out the warrior pose. But Ella's all-time favorite was the tree pose. I see more yoga in our future!

However, as she was mimiking all my positions, she finally said, "Mama... do this!" and proceeded to contort her body into the supple position only a toddler can contrive. Um... not going to happen, chica!

*** And, of course, the real news from this week was the potty training successes. Here's to many more!

September 12, 2013

Let this forever be noted as the day that Ella had no accidents (first time ever). AND she pooped in the potty on her own during nap time.

Billy would also like to make a note that when she turns 15, he wants to give her a tic tac on her exit of the restroom. They have been huge motivators for Ella and now we're having to set the stage that she won't always get "a mint" after she pees.

But we have definitely entered a whole new life stage. Ella, more or less, seems to have gotten on board with this potty training thing. Yeah!

Potty Training Update

Potty training has had its ups and downs, but things are looking better. So many fewer accidents. More times of telling me you need to go. And actually using restrooms around town: Lowe's, Chick-fil-A, etc. Good progress!

I'm still a little unsure about rest time. Almost two hours, playing alone in your room... never actually resting. Yet mysteriously, always peeing.

The first day you insisted on wearing panties, I left your training potty in the bathroom and basically said, "Don't get me involved." I had no idea what would happen.

You actually used it, which was kinda amazing at that stage. But then... you took it upon yourself to dump it out in the sink. "I spilled it!" you told me. Yes. Yes, you did. But hey, you stayed dry, so I was pretty impressed. (Also, there was toilet paper unrolled everywhere. I suspect you couldn't tear it off.)

The next day you wanted to wear a diaper. I figured this solved the problem. It did not.

I found you dancing naked on your bed. Apparently, the diaper became wet. So you took it off. You found panties and put them on. They became wet. So you took them off and laid them next to the discarded diaper. No more panties could be found.

Day 3 I left the little potty. I left the toilet seat up, though I asked you not to dump it out. (yeah, right!) I left torn off pieces of tissue. Best. Day. Ever. You did pee. You did dump it out. But you did not spill it and the TP roll was safe.

So who knows what I'll find today. You're "resting" as I type. I forgot to put up the toilet lid or leave paper for you. So who knows.... We're getting there.

The Weekend of the Potty

It's Labor Day weekend, and our labor has been potty training.

Ella woke up Saturday morning and said, "I want to use the potty."

I hadn't planned on that being the focus this weekend, but she's nearly three for crying out loud, so I figured I should respond to her cues. Everyone kept telling me that when she was ready, she'd do it. It seemed she was ready.

Saturday was trying. Five potty successes. I think it was 6 or 7 accidents. That's a lot of pee to clean up... especially when you're home by yourself and also caring for an infant. I felt tired, but encouraged. She'd never done so well.

Sunday we were headed to the lake, and I really wanted to throw on a diaper. (On her... just for clarity.) But I figured that would make Saturday's work vanity.

She had an accident in the car on the ride up... not minutes after I'd had her sit on a potty at the Rite Aid.

But on the trip home, Isaac got hungry while we were ordering Frosty's at Wendy's. In a bizarre turn of events, we found ourselves in the middle of a giant, deserted parking lot sitting next to an empty big rig.

Partly to avoid an accident and partly to keep Ella busy, we pulled her training potty out of the trunk and set it next to the car. She sat on it while Isaac ate and lo and behold, she did it! Weirdly, I dumped the pee in the parking lot and we headed home. Through traffic and drinking in the car, she made it home.

Monday began rough when she'd had three, I believe, accidents before 9:30 am. I wanted to throw in the towel. She began throwing bizarre fits, and I realized she was embarrassed.

But we headed to run some errands, and she did great! Went before we left and not one, single accident. She even used the men's restroom at the Mellow Mushroom.

Actually, during our lunch experience, I counted that Billy and I went to the restroom seven times. SEVEN TIMES! Basically, we paid them to use their restroom and occasionally stop by the table to grab a bite of pizza.

It wasn't all Ella's fault. She was responsible for three of the seven. That kept her busy with Papa while I was feeding Isaac (again... seems like he likes to eat). Isaac took another three with dirty diapers. (And one visit to discover there was no changing table in the men's room... C'mon people!) And one was just me... because, ya know, I hadn't been in there enough already.

But back to this excruciatingly detailed account of our potty weekend.

Ella made it through Kroger just fine, came home and used the potty several times on her own accord. I think we're getting there, folks.

It's so bizarre. There's no going back now! I even made the clear decision not to buy more "daytime" pull-ups and just grabbed a pack for the night.

Tomorrow we're wearing training panties to school. Here goes nothing!