Sunday, October 9, 2011

Bye Bye Diapers!

I can't believe I'm doing this again and will do it one more time. I'm potty training. Caroline said bye bye to her diapers this past Thursday and has not looked back (well, except to see her success in the potty). I took her to Target to pick out panties (princess of course!) and she found a princess potty that she HAD to have. Hey, whatever works! She held that super large princess potty in its box all the way home from Target. She's hilarious. She just stared at the box all the way home saying, "my princess potty".

How did I start the training? Well, I got it started the same way I started Bowen. I read somewhere to let your kid play out in the backyard(fenced!!!) diaper/underwear free. Ask them to water the flowers, grass, rock...you get the picture. Well, this worked like a charm for Bowen. He learned how to stop and start and figured out that he could control his bladder. I'd have to say that it had the same effect on Caroline. Messier for a girl,I know (I had to chase her naked buns around the yard to wipe her legs)but she got it. It clicked. No pee accidents for two days now. I also started Caroline with a kitchen timer. I would take her to the princess potty or the yard (weird I know) each time the timer rang. She would actually get excited to hear it but that quickly wore off and I stopped using the timer. She just didn't need to go so often.

If she was successful, she got her toe nails painted. After 3 coats of paint, I changed my reward system. You'll hear about that in the next paragraph.
She has not figured out #2 yet. She has asked for pull up diapers twice and has gone to her room, closes the door, and then tells me when she's done. Hey, I'll take it!

Celebrating her success is a family ordeal. When she pee pees in her princess potty she yells, "I did it, now let's march". Bowen and I (with Davis in tow) come running to pick up the potty insert and march (literally) it to the bathroom toilet to poor it out. Bowen sings the theme song to Star Wars and Caroline flushes the potty and then yells I did it. This happens MANY times a day. Bowen's excitement over Caroline's success it precious. He's told her many times that he was so proud of her.

This evening before bed Caroline sat on the adult potty and pee peed for the first time. She's really gaining confidence as the days go by. Tomorrow she will go to school in panties for the first time. Her teacher told me to send her in panties. She is very supportive of our efforts. Thank goodness!

Sorry I have no pictures of Caroline watering our lawn. I was too busy chasing her down for clean up.

Day 1 of potty training....

Me: Caroline, water the shrubs over there.
Caroline: No, the grass right here.
Me: Spread your feet apart, lift your dress high!
Caroline: (serious face) Awwwww...nothing!
Me: Are you sure? Try again.
Caroline: Okay, I pee pee! I did it! Now do my toe nails!

Our neighbors know for sure that I'm crazy!!!

Tickle, tickle

When you tickle one, they all want to be tickled.



Bowen takes over as the Tickler. He says, "hands above your head" as he tip toes toward Brantley and Caroline awaiting their tickle session:)

Celebration Octoberfest

Friday night we met up with the Neville family and enjoyed the fall festivities at Celebration. Caroline and Claire looked so adorable in their Halloween themed dresses and Bowen and Evan loved the competitive bounce activities. Davis hung out with the adults and experienced his first churro. He loved every bite. It made the perfect teething treat.











Caroline attends her first Princess Party

Julia's fourth birthday party was precious. A girls' only zone. Even though she refused to wear her Snow White princess dress she had a great time. I couldn't believe how well she sat during lunch. I've never seen her sit that long. It was so special to see my daughter eating cake with three of my bridesmaids' daughters.








Little Pool Time

This is two weeks old, but had to share. This was probably the last chance this year to put the kids in the baby pool out back. Davis is such a chunky monkey. I can't wait to see how much he's grown at the 12 month appointment. He turns 11 months tomorrow. I cannot believe it. He's cruising furniture, standing up holding toys with no assistance, crawling like a maniac, walking behind push toys, clapping, waving, drinking solely out of sippy cups (no more bottles),babbling and still not comfortable enough to take that first step. We think it might happen any time now.



Playdate/Halloween Preview

Okay, so playdates these days go a little something like this...play a little Star Wars WII (gets them fired up) followed by a snack (put a little fuel in their tanks), then a round of dress up and lightsabering, then a cool down with Star Wars Legos. Bowen and his buddy Evan love to dress up in Star Wars gear! But wait, Bowen is in an astronaut outfit. IIIIII know that, but Bowen seems to think it is a Star Wars Rebel jump suit. I found the astronaut costume a month ago and Bowen did not want to be an astronaut. He told me that he wanted to be a Star Wars character. He came up with it on his own. So creative and I get my astronaut for Halloween this year. WIN! WIN!

Bowen as a "Rebel Fighter" (Mommy's little astronaut)

VS
(the true Star Wars Rebel Fighter Costume)


PS
Feeling a bit guilty, I went out and purchased a Rebel Fighter helmet. We're all good!

PJ Party at the Library

Every third Tuesday of the month, the downtown Windermere Library hosts a pajama party for kids. They serve milk and cookies, read a story, and tie in a related craft. The kids LOVED it! Brantley met me there after work and helped create the cute elephant masks for the kids.


September Birthdays...

Brantley waits all year for football season while the kids wait for birthday season. The season is always kicked off by the Starstrom boys:) Here are a few photos of both of their parties. Davis and Caroline attended Drew's (#2)Construction Party and Bowen and Caroline acted like monkeys at Evan's (#4)Knights and Princess party. ADORABLE!!!!!!! Their mommy REALLY needs to be a party planner, while continuing her photography, AND a cake baker! A regular Martha Stewart!

Caroline asks me every morning, "are we going to a party today"? After asking for milk, and her Barnie show, and a muffin, etc. HIGH MAINTENANCE WOMAN!!!!! Wonder where she gets that?!?

I wish I would have taken more photos at Drew's party. I had my hands full and Brantley was not around to help. I think I got three shots and here they are. The first one is of Caroline at a "digging station". So cute. The kids could dig in sand and rice. They LOVED it! Davis had a great time watching the big kids.



Evan's Party






Gonna be a Gator!



Hey...I just couldn't resist. She's wearing a Gator outfit, therefore I post it! Enough said!