on to the poops

I bought some fruit leather and put it in a jar 2 weeks ago (kind of looks like poo itself, come to thinkf of it). Nothing happened for the past week except for Ellie continuing to go to her corner in the playroom and doing here "business" there. Finally, just a few days ago, Ellie was in her bedroom taking her rest and I was my bedroom napping. I didn't have the monitor on so it was awhile before I heard her yelling. I finally woke up and rushed out to see that she had climbed out of her bed and ran to the potty. She didn't make it in time but I praised her for her efforts and we've had 90% success since then! I really have to watch her when I know it's "time" and keep her from running to her familiar spot. But most of the time she is going all on her own w/ no coaxing from me. She waves "good-bye" to her poo-poo, which is always going to where mommy & daddy's poo-poo goes! And the treats are working great as incentives! Once we are going to the potty chair 100% of the time I plan on transitioning her to the BIG potty (we've got a seat for that).

I do not miss changing diapers ONE BIT!

potty training #2

so we had 2 days of successful #2 in the potty chair and then it's been back to pooping in her panties. I figured out that she likes to go into the playroom and poop in a particular corner. At least she's consistent BUT it's kind of gross!

That being said this morning I knew she was due for a bm and was trying to make sure to "catch" her before she went in her panties again. I was changing Josiah's dirty diaper when she ran into his room and announced that she needed to go poop. OF COURSE she would need to go when I was in the middle of changing a diaper! I told her to go to the potty and ran out to see how she did as soon as Josiah had a diaper on him. The potty chair was untouched and there was Ellie in her favorite "pooping place" in the playroom - again!

I've decided that tomorrow I'm going to get an "incentive jar" filled with fruit leather . . . I'll see how that goes!

Potty Training

I really thought successful potty training was never going to happen. Ellie loved the various movies that we've watched over the past few months and she seemed interested from time to time but I could always tell she wasn't "ready". I was lamenting my situation to some moms who had made it through the potty training years successfully and one of them highly recommended the dvd "Once Upon A Potty" based on the book by the same name. Finally 2 weeks ago I rented it from our local library. Ellie LOVED it! She sat on her potty in the livingroom while watching it and even went and put her pull ups on after watching it. It is about 15 minutes long with the story as the first half and a "potty song" as the second half. After a few days of watching it she was going pee a few times a day, but wanting a diaper on when she had to go #2. We went 2 days with no pee in diapers, except naptime and nighttimes and then on Sunday she went #2! I was amazed and she's been only using the potty since then! It's like the lights just came on and she realized that she was ready! Today she hung out w/ Grandma and they went around town doing errands. She used the "porta-potty" in the back of Grandma's car and did just fine! No accidents!!

I'm using "potty scotty" underwear (decided that potty patty wouldn't be good for Jo to wear when he's potty training) and they are so easy for her to pull up and down. She will go all by herself w/o me reminding her - most of the time! If she's too busy with friends then I do have to remind her. I'm so happy that it's going this well so far!

Next up, I have to figure out what panties will be most comfortable for her . . . we had purchased some Dora ones awhile ago and they were cheaply and poorly made. Any recommendations?

A child's perspective of discipline

This morning I told Josiah "no" when he was throwing his food. He made his sad face (which I need to get a picture of) and Ellie said to him, "It okay Josiah . . . sometimes it happens". I believe the "it" she was referring to was discipline!

it's official

the monthly acne is beginning again. I broke out on my chin today - I'm so sad. At least this time my body waited 10 months before getting back to "normal". But it's still sad.

We also moved - I've been crazy busy - and need to go work on the house right now!! We MUST get things in order so that my BRAIN is in order. And really the only time to get anything done is when the little munchkins are ASLEEP!!

So it's off to "work" I go!

Gro Baby Diaper!

GroBaby was first brought to my attention by Jillians Drawers (one of my most favorite diaper sites). My friend Amber just told me about the contest they are having over on facebook. I've been doing cloth diapers for 2 years now and although I'm pretty set in the products I use (BumGenius, Fuzzibuns and my favorite staple the prefold diaper) I am ALWAYS open to trying new products. Especially if it makes my life easier! And that is just what these diapers seem to do - make the diaper changers life easier. I haven't tried them yet - but I would LOVE to! Having a inner shell that you can just change would make my life so much easier!

Check out GroBaby and if I am one of the lucky winners I'll post again about how they work!

life is too short

A gal I went to Simpson College with is dying of cancer. She is in the hospital right now as I write this. She is married and has a 2 year old son. She's one year older than me. I went to Ukraine with Monica in 1996. Her heart for the kids, the love that she showed all of us (I think she co-led the team) and her energy was all an encouragement to me. I got to spend some time with her again in 2000 when I went to Ukraine to visit my friend Valari. We all (Val, Kara & Kostya, Monica & I) took a train down to the port city of Odessa. It was fun.

Please pray for Monica. Here is the "friends" page and the link to their website is: http://solandmonica.com/