Well I'm back to talk about potty training. Since my son is now 2 1/2 I figured we should try again and see what happens. He seemed to be getting a little more uncomfortable when wearing wet diapers plus in 6 months he needs to be potty trained to move up to the next room at his day care. So, here's whats happened so far:

I picked up his potty chair from my parents house on Sunday having the intention of starting this process the following weekend. But not too long after we got it home he told me he wanted to go potty so I figured I might as well get used to the dry runs and just let him sit on it. Right away he started peeing! I couldn't believe it! So I made a potty chart and put a sticker on that day and let him pick out 3 pieces of chocolate candy. (He was pretty happy about that). I made quite a big deal about the whole thing in hopes that this success would continue. I took him back to the potty every hour to no avail. He would just pee right in his pull up afterwards...

Day 2:
I took a stack of pull ups to day care and told them to really start working with him on potty training. (Until now they just change him every couple hours and give him the option to sit on the potty. He usually wants to but has only actually gone in the potty once). So they told me they would take him in there every 15-30 minutes. I had high hopes going in to pick him up that night but his teacher told me that he didn't go once. She suggested bringing in underwear next time. She said it really bothers some kids to be wet so maybe that would work better. At home that night, when I told him it was time to potty he seemed upset and told me he didn't want to go. I tried not to push it and when he did finally sit, nothing happened.

Day 3: (Today)
At day care, they put the underwear over the pull ups to try to get him used to waering it, in the morning. Then after his nap they just let him wear the underwear. Towards the end of the day he peed in the potty! He missed a little and got some on his pants but who cares! Since the underwear seemed to be a success I just left them on him when we got home. As soon as we got settled I told him that we should try going. He stood in the bathroom refusing...and then he started peeing. UGH! OK, no biggie. Accidents happen. So I changed him and we ate dinner. Then at bath time...he pooped. Scooping poop out of bath water is not my idea of fun. And two cold naked kids running around my room while I'm trying to clean it up...UGH! So I gave it one last attempt about an hour later right before bed time. He didn't want to sit but I convinced him and after a few rounds of "twinkle twinkle little star" he went potty!

So he has 2 stickers on his potty chart and got 3 more pieces of chocolate right before bed time. If anything is going to motivate this kid to use the potty, its chocolate.

So, its just the beginning of this huge process but its starting out way better then the last time. And if you are still reading by this point even after me using the words "pee", "poop" and "potty" so many times, thank you:) And I will keep you posted.

Its been quite a while since I've written anything. Sorry for not keep you updated. I'm just going to blame it on the holidays.

I thought I would share my goals for the new year. I don't like the word resolution. Anytime you hear that someone has made a new year's resolution you assume its just something they are going to give up on by February. So I made goals. Not just for me but for my kids as well. And not for the whole year. I wanted to hold myself accountable and revisit my goals in the middle of the year. So my goals are as follows from January through June of 2011.

*Practice wellness by drinking less soda and more water, taking daily vitamins and getting enough rest.
*Pray and regain my relationship with God
*Ask for help when I need it
*Get my Aesthetics' license
*Remain patient and positive
*Take the time to stop and enjoy wonderful moments and things accomplished

I also made goals for my son and daughter. I have these goal taped to my bathroom mirror so I see them everyday and I can diligently work on them.

Someone I know had a great idea of having a word for the year. Something to focus on. My dad chose "Health", my step mom chose "Play". I chose "Progression". I want to continue making all the right little choices to ultimately get to where I picture myself...and them keep going. I don't want to stop, look back or wonder if. I just want to keep progressing.

What would be your word for the year?

Happy new year. Its gonna be a good one.

My kids make me so happy! I have so much joy watching them learn and discover new things. I wish that I could be a part of their whole day, but luckily I have found a truly amazing daycare with some of the most loving women to teach my kids. Every body, even teachers from different classes know my kids by name and get smiles in return when they say hello too them. The women in the baby room are so excited when my daughter stands up on her own and gets more mobile. My son is learning about Johnny Appleseed and has been very excited about it. He comes home every night with a new song to share with me and I even catch him singing them when he wakes up in the morning. They are growing so quickly and learning so much its incredible. I am very fortunate to have found a great school to take them to every day and I'm so lucky to have them to call my own.

Picture this: A worn out woman leaves work in a hurry to go pick up her children from day care. She picks up her kids, both of whom are very happy to see her. As she gets ready to leave day care and go home she tells her son to hold her hand cause its time to go bye bye. Her son falls on the floor and starts sobbing... After a lot of effort she finally gets him to the door, lets go of his hand to open it and he falls on the floor again. She says "get up, lets go bye bye". He says no! After being watched by several employees like she beats her child at home or something, a teacher picks him up and helps her to the car. THE END.

That is what my day looked like from about 5:30 to 5:45 this evening. Its new. He just started doing it. Great that he loves day care! That makes me very happy! Not so great that he feels like temper tantrums are the best way to act in any situation however. He's never been a tantrum throwing kid. So I'll blame it on the other kids influence. (Always better to blame other peoples parenting skills then your own) I'm kidding!

But seriously, it was like night and day. He wasn't doing this yesterday or last week. All of the sudden it started. And to be completely honest, I'm not quite sure how to nip this one in the bud. With a baby in my arms and a defiant toddler throwing a fit on the floor, it doesn't leave me a lot of options.

I guess its something I just need to makes sure I'm folowling through on when I'm correcting at home. The best advice I've had on the subjuct so far was, "its better to be tough now and show them the right way to act, then to recorrect later." Thanks Jen.

Day two of potty training and I have not been able to get him to go in the potty. I have stickers and M&Ms to reward him when he goes in the potty but I have not been able to use them.

I can't help but feel frustrated.

I tried putting him on the potty every 30 minutes and he would sit there for 5 to 10 minutes each time. But almost every time he would go in his pull up just a few minutes after getting off the potty!

There was a little progress made. This afternoon he told me he had to poop and bolted up the stairs to the potty. But by the time he got there he had already gone :( SO CLOSE!

Any advice???

So I'm tackeling this potty adventure on Saturday. My parents are taking the baby out and about for bothe Saturday and Sunday so I can give my little tinkler all of my attention.

We will be going on a mommy/son shopping trip tomorrow night to get yummy snacks and any other necessities we think we need for the weekend. Seeing as we will not be leaving all weekend it is important that we are fully stocked.

My feelings: The idea of not changing diapers is great. Not sure about the idea of having to ask him every half hour if he has to go potty. Weighing the pros and cons.

His feelings: Completely unaware of what I'm about to get him in to.

I recently took a trip to California with my kids to visit their dad's side of the family. I had my brother in law's help on the way there but on the way back it was me...and two kids. I actually had multiple people ask me in the airport, "you're flying with 2 kids by yourself? You must be brave..." and I usually finished their sentences for them by adding "...or stupid!"

I thought that getting through security would be my biggest hurdle. But really, it wasn't that bad. I was blessed with patient and helpful people behind me and (what appeared to be) airport employees filled with sympathy.

Our flight was delayed so we waited 2 hours after we got through security. Luckily my 2 year old loves airplanes and my 10 month old happened to be sleepy so the 2 hours flew by.

When we got on the plane i had a strategy. I would sit my the window with the baby on my lap and my toddler would sit in the middle. Then NO ONE would sit next to us. But when the flight attendant announced that it was a full flight my hopes were crushed. A very nice man sat down next to my son and I immediately thanked him for being so brave as to sit in our row.

The first 30 minutes were a breeze but then the kids started getting antsy. So I broke out my "go to", my "lifesaver", my DVD player and put in a movie. But regardless of attempts to charge it, the screen flashed "LOW BATTERY". So we watched the first 5 minutes of Monsters Inc. before it completely died.

After that it got a little rocky. The baby was still tired and wouldn't go to sleep. My son wanted to do everything but sit down and keep his seat belt on. So I did what any mother would do...I broke out the bribe food. I packed M&M's in case something like this were to occur. I put them in his snack catcher so he had to work to get them. And after 10 minutes of rocking my screaming baby she finally fell asleep in my arms.

By the time it was time to get off the plane the guy sitting in our row said that my kids were very well behaved and complimented my mothering skills!

Turns out it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be...but I won't be doing it again anytime soon :)

I commend those of you who are outnumbered :)

Keep it up!