Potty Training: Day 2

Today was a long day. Especially since Will and Claire went to church and I got to stay home with the trainee.

But, we did make progress today. I think after one more day, it is all going to click. I am going to stay home from work with him tomorrow rather than subjecting our sitter to this torture.

When I was fixing dinner tonight, David actually walked in the kitchen and told me he had to tee-tee. We sat him on the potty and he did it!! The first time all day. Then, he went again during dinner ... in the potty of course.

We had a few accidents today, but only small ones. Like he would start then stop then realize he wasn't supposed to tee-tee in his underwear. But, of course, then we would sit him on the potty and he wouldn't do anything. He seems to have issues releasing it into the potty. Why is that so scary for kids?

He has caught on to a few things though. When he wants to get up from the table, before everyone else is finished eating, he tells us he has to tee-tee (even though he really doesn't). And, he will go sit on the potty 20 times a day and not do anything to get a piece of candy for "trying". He is a smart little booger!

Day 2 tally: accidents (4); tee-tee in potty (3); poo-poo in the potty (0).

Potty Training Boot Camp

David has been sequestered to the house for the weekend. We started potty training yesterday. Here is all the loot we bought to bribe him to use the potty. He will do almost anything for a Dum-Dum sucker. He can also be easily bribed to drink almost anything from a fast food restaurant cup.

We pulled Claire's old potty out of storage and cleaned it up. Unfortunately, the sensor doesn't seem to work to make it play when you actually tee-tee in the potty. That was always a big thrill for Claire. We did manage to locate the boy tee-tee guard.

His first introduction to the potty. Not so thrilled as you can see. He was a big fan of the "Queen" (Lightning McQueen) underwear.

Although, they are a little large. Hopefully, they will shrink some in the wash.

I think he just noticed the suckers on the counter.

Maybe this potty thing isn't so bad after all if I get a sucker while I "try". Those suckers on the floor didn't last for long. I had to move them up to higher ground.

Sadly, we didn't actually get any tee-tee in the potty until about 5pm. He had about 6 accidents between 9am and lunch. We put a pull-up on for nap and he tee-tee'd in the pull-up about 5 seconds after we put it on him. (Our potty training book recommends no pull-ups ever, but I'm 6 months pregnant and will not spend every waking moment changing and washing sheets, nor can I lose my precious sleep over this at night.)

After our 5pm success, David had one more accident when he was outside with Will. (That is the only time all day he left the house.) He held it until bath time. A couple of minutes into the bath, he said he had to potty and will put him on the big potty and he finally (after much screaming and straining), he went #1 and #2 in the potty. He was very proud of himself. And he got to pick out a new toy car.

Day #1 tally: accidents (6-8); tee-tee in potty (2); poo-poo in potty (1).

Hopefully, we will have better success on Day #2. I have to go back to work tomorrow and David goes back to preschool on Tuesday. We need this to click today!

Friday Favorites: Matching Outfits

I'm not going to lie. I love dressing my kids in matching outfits. I really try to be frugal about it. I don't spend a ton of money. I did buy the madras plaid outfits from a children's clothing show at full price, but that is not my normal M.O. (On a side note, Claire is going through a lovely fake smile phase.)

Most of the time, I make most of their matching outfits myself. See below. I actually made Claire's dress last summer and David had a matching romper. See here. The dress still fits Claire (although a little short ... nothing a pair of capri leggings won't fix.) David outgrew his romper of course, so he got a pair of shorts with matching applique t-shirt. I think that sailboat patch is one of my most favorite appliques.

I hate to admit this, but I get giddy thinking about dressing THREE children alike. Note my thriftiness ... Next summer, Claire will wear her sailboat dress with a pair of matching capri pants that I will make. David should be able to wear the same shorts and t-shirt again because the size 2 is pretty large on him now. Baby boy #2 should be able to wear David's sailboat romper from last summer.

Reading back over this post makes me seem a little vain. I'm really not. Will and I don't spend a ton of money on clothes for ourselves and I really try not to spend a ton of money on the kids clothes either. But I do love dressing them up!

By the way, this does not count as matching outfits! Ha! David likes to play dress-up too. We may need to invest in some boy dress-up clothes. Otherwise, I see lots of blackmail photos in his future!

Flashback to the 1950's

If you want an interesting read for the summer, check out this little experiment Emily is undertaking for the next 50 days.

Will and I met Clay and Emily through mutual friends in the ATL area. Even though they are both huge Auburn fans, we got to hang out with their family some while watching her brother play baseball at Alabama (when I was in law school there). They are a very sweet couple and I have enjoyed keeping up with them via the blog.

24 weeks ... and counting

Well, I am actually 25 weeks now. The picture and the doctor's visit happened at 24 weeks. I've just been too busy to update the blog until now.

Everything looked good at my last doctor's visit. I heard the baby's heartbeat and got all the instructions for my glucose test at my next visit. Oh how I love drinking that sugary sweet flat orange soda. I'll start going to the doctor every two weeks after that.

I had gained 5 more pounds putting the grand total at ... who's keeping count? Not me. I seem to be gaining more weight earlier in my pregnancy this go 'round, but I am hoping it will plateau off soon. Especially since I am actually exercising this pregnancy (something I didn't do at all during my previous two pregnancies).

I am really feeling pretty good. Just tired and hot. I have never been pregnant in this 80-90 degree heat before. Both of my other babies were born in April. It is going to be a long hot summer! I really am trying to enjoy this pregnancy though as we have planned for it to be my last.

The past two weeks I have had an unquenchable hunger. Like I cannot eat enough to get full. No particular cravings except I really like cereal, juice, fruit and dairy (which tends to give me really bad heartburn). Did you know that Sonic has buy one get one free milkshakes for the month of June? (Don't worry, I don't drink both of them.) All I can say is this little boy is HUNGRY! Maybe it is because he is moving around so much in my tummy. I am feeling lots of activity down there and Will has felt him kick a few times too.

The pregnancy insomnia has hit full force. (See Exhibit A ... the photo above ... with the lovely bags under my eyes.) I don't have any trouble falling asleep, but I wake up between 2-4pm to go to the bathroom and then I am hungry and hot and then I can't get comfortable enough to go back to sleep. I usually end up tossing and turning for about an hour and then just getting up and hoping a can squeeze in a nap at some point later in the day.

We are getting ready to potty train David and move him into his big boy bed (into a room with Claire) so that the baby can have his nursery. Please say a quick prayer for us over the next couple of weeks! Ha!

Menu Plan Monday: June 7-13

A few carry-overs from last week, but nothing too exciting going on this week in the food department. I feel like I'm kind of in a food funk. Plus, I'm just trying to keep this very hungry baby in my tummy feed!

Monday: tomato, basil & mozzarella panini sandwiches, chips, cantaloupe

Tuesday: Kids' night at Chick-Fil-A

Wednesday: Cheesy tomato stroganoff, salad, garlic bread

Thursday: Gail's pork chops & rice, steamed broccoli

Friday: Parmesan Baked Fish, mushroom brown rice, green beans

Saturday: hamburgers, hot dogs, hashbrown potatoes

Sunday: breakfast for lunch ... scrambled eggs, bacon, hashbrowns and biscuits (or muffins); dinner with our supper club group

Check out other menu plans here.

Weekend plans gone awry ...

Last month, Will took a long weekend trip to paradise ... also known as Hammock Beach, Florida. This is an annual golf trip he takes every year with some of his guy friends.

Just so you know, while it was sunny and beautiful down in Florida, it was cool and rainy in Tennessee ... where I was stuck single-parenting it for three whole nights.

Will aiming for the pin. That's right. I've learned my share of "golf talk" over the last almost 10 years that we have been married. And I don't even play golf.

Buckley, Brian, Chris and Will. I think these guys had a fun trip.

While Will was away, I had planned to send the kids to visit my in-laws for the weekend so I could sew and/or scrapbook to my heart's desire. Unfortunately, David got sick in the middle of the night on Thursday. He seemed better on Friday, but he refused to go with Will's mom when we met at our usual drop-off point. Like crying hysterically for his mommy. So, both kids came back home with me for the weekend. David got sick again in the middle of Saturday night and was pretty puny all day on Sunday. About 6pm on Sunday night, he flipped a switch and was back to his old self ... just in time for daddy to get home! Isn't that always how it goes?!?

My weekend certainly did not go as planned, but the kids and I had a fun time together and I have a new appreciation for single parents (or wives whose husbands travel a lot). Cleaning up vomit in the middle of the night and taking care of sick baby all by myself was no fun at all! I think I am due for a girls' weekend or at least a free day soon ... on Will of course!