The Potty Training Saga

Last week I decided to tackle the ever-looming potty training issue with Emma. I thought she was more than ready as she would often bring us a diaper to change her when she was dirty. She could say "poo poo" and "tee tee" and was very interested when anyone would use the potty, especially her friends. Also, with her baby sister being born in just 5 weeks I thought it might be nice to have just one in diapers.

I had prepared a bit for the big day - I had Elmo (her favorite, of course) rings to put on the big potty, pull ups for bedtime, M & M's as reward for her successes, and also read a short book about how to train your child in just three days. We planned to go cold turkey and put her big girl underwear on throughout the day (no pullups) and then to use the pull ups at night. Wednesday came and I eagerly raced upstairs to get Emma out of bed. I had her help me "throw away" (technically we saved them for her baby sister) all of her diapers. Then we went downstairs and immediately sat on the potty and talked about how much of a big girl she was. I let her pick out her "big girl underwear" to put on and of course she chose Dora. I told her over and over to tell mommy when she had to go potty and that Dora wanted to stay dry. Let's just say we had one success that day and about 10 or 12 accidents. All I heard all day long was "Dora's all wet" and "Dora's sad." Mom was frustrated at the lack of success on day one.

Day two comes with renewed enthusiasm. However, the results are more of the same. One success with 10-12 accidents. Mom gets sick of hearing about Dora and Mickey Mouse being "all wet". Emma starts crying when I try to take her in to the bathroom to go potty. She also starts having temper tantrums and crying for no reason throughout the day, which is very unlike my normal happy child. I realize that this is a lot for a two year old to take in, but don't want her to feel like going on the potty is punishment. It should be exciting and rewarding for her. Lots of people, including the book I read, said that it often times just happens on day 3. Emma had tested my patience to the limit that day, especially at bed time. She fought me tooth and nail to put her pj's on, then screamed when I tried to brush her hair, and wouldn't let me brush her teeth. Mom lost it (I will admit - normally I have a lot of patience but tonight I lost it) and hollered at her to get in her damn bed and we will NOT be reading a book tonight. I walk downstairs and all I hear on the baby monitor in a sobbing voice "Read book, read book, read book." I have to go outside to calm my nerves and let her fall asleep. I go to bed exhausted, tired of cleaning up messes, and feeling sick of being homebound for 2 entire days. I will admit that I like to get out of the house everyday.

Day three arrives with skeptical enthusiasm as to whether this concept will magically sink in for Emma today. It doesn't. Not one success today. Lots and lots of crying when I try to take her to the bathroom. I even begin to try and bribe her with the M&M's (which I read you shouldn't do, but at this point I could care less). Mom has definately lost her patience as not only is Emma not successful, but she throws more temper tantrums for no reason. Dad gets home from work and he senses my frustration and tells me to leave the house. I happily oblige. It was like heaven to leave the house that night. I had come up with a new plan - I was going to Target to buy a little potty seat (instead of just having the rings to put on the big toilet) and try it out the next day. I had resisted buying these because I think cleaning them out is gross. I know millions of moms have done it before me, but I thought I could do it without the little potty seat. If she still threw temper tantrums with the new seat and cried at having to go potty then I was going to bag the whole concept until after baby was born. I didn't want Emma to associate potty training with punshment and I couldn't take much more.

Day four arrives and I immediately march Emma into the bathroom and show off the new "froggie" potty seat that I bought. She laughed and giggled and said "froggie" over and over. We sat on it and she immediately went tee tee! She loved it! We were successful 8 times on day four with just 2 accidents!! Hallelujah! She even came to me a couple times to tell me that she had to go potty. We got out of the house that day and went to the pool with friends, which was good for both mommy and Emma's sanity. I think she was also getting tired of being couped up in the house.

Things have been going well ever since we introduced froggie. She has a couple accidents a day. Mom had to scold dad yesterday because he yelled at her when she had her first accident at about 6pm. I had to tell him that she is just learning a big concept and she is going to have accidents. Daddy apologized to her and admitted it was probably a good thing mom was in charge of the potty training. He couldn't handle cleaning up the messes all day and couldn't understand why Dora has to be wet all day!

All in all we are coming along. I am still amazed at how naive I was thinking this would be easy. I guess you live and you learn! I am also having a hard time at not being able to get out of the house much. She is still in the early stages with accidents everyday and I am nervous to take her out and about yet. I know eventually I will need to just get over my fears. We did go to the neighbors for a short time yesterday and promptly returned home because she had an accident there (sorry Kim!!) I will keep you updated on her progress. So long for now.

Michigan Vacation

We recently returned from an extended vacation home in Michigan. Emma and I went a week earlier than Jay since this will be the last time for a while that I will fly alone with the kids. I also wanted to go a bit earlier in order to enjoy camping at Mullet Lake and spend some time on the boat. We arrived in Michigan on a late Wednesday night and drove up north to the campground on Thursday afternoon. We stayed until Monday and had a great time on the boat everyday, swimming, eating ice cream, playing with Jasmine (the family dog that Emma LOVES), and just plain relaxing. Emma also got to see Great Grandma Charney a few times and show off her ever expanding vocabulary.

We returned to Auburn on Monday and Emma spent the rest of the week playing with Nana, Papa, Uncle Ryan, Aunt Becky, and cousins Darian and Kennedy. She was able to spend quite a bit of time in the pool over the 2 weeks and has really begun to feel comfortable in the water (at times a bit too comfortable). She loves to jump in from the side of the pool (or the back of the boat) and doesn't really care if you are there to catch her or not! We also traveled to East Lansing one day to visit with Great Grandpa Bill. I took advantage of the babysitters we had in all the doting grandparents and even got to go out for dinner with one of my best friends Aimee, who was in town from Milwaukee. It was SO nice to have an adult only, kid free dinner! We don't get to see each other enough!

Jay joined us on Saturday and we went to his mom's retirement dinner Saturday night and spent Sunday and Monday with his extended family including Uncle Seth, Aunt Jenny and Emma's cousins Kole and Sydney. This was our first time to meet our new niece Sydney who was 8 weeks old and she is absolutely adorable!! She is so good too - already sleeping through the night. She pretty much sleeps all day and very rarely cries. She is precious and Emma really was interested in her. I am hoping she carries this interest over into her new baby sister when she arrives! Emma and Kole got some good bonding time too, and seem to play together well. I think Emma was a bit mesmerized (as was her daddy) at how much energy Kole has! He is a typical toddler boy who runs at full speed all day long! Emma also got to spend time with Great Grandpa Jay and her Great Nana.

Thursday Jay and I had to leave to drive to Plymouth for the rehearsal of one of Jay's best friends Tony's wedding. Emma stayed with all of the grandparents. Friday Jay hung out with the guys all day while I got to spend time with my cousin Betsy. We went out for lunch and went shopping in Ann Arbor. It was nice to spend time together, which we don't get to do very often! We went to the wedding Friday night and woke up to drive to the airport Saturday, where Emma and the grandparents met up with us. WHEW!

Overall, we had a great time! The two weeks went by super fast as we were extremely busy with lots of traveling. We enjoyed the cooler weather and Emma showed off to all of her relatives. Everyone was amazed at her expanding vocabulary (she will copy anything you say now) and mom and dad were amazed that she learned everyone's names! After returning home she has asked for everyone by name including grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, great grandparents, and of course the dog too!

I am feeling pretty good and counting down until baby #2 comes. I actually was extremely sick the day of our flight home and was very nervous that I would have nausea for the rest of my pregnancy. It lasted a couple days and has since gone away - thank goodness! It must have been a stomach bug or something. I had an ultrasound this week and they confirmed that baby is in fact a girl. She kept sticking her tongue out at us! We could also see her hair so she will be like her big sister born with lots of hair. They estimated her to be over 5lb, which is over a week ahead of schedule! The time is coming!!

We also started potty training this past week, but that is a whole other blog post. Stay tuned....

Emma sporting her Dora boat coat with Grandma

A little scary Grandpa to leave Emma at the helm

Swimming with mommy

Emma sleeping in the motorhome with baby, Eddie, and of course Jasmine

She loved feeding the baby ducks!

Emma carrying on a Charney family tradition of taking her bath in Mullett Lake!!

Happy Fourth!

Posing with her cousin Kennedy

Do we have a Vegas Showgirl in our future? Lets hope not!

Her first Merry Go Round - of course it had to be at the Auburn Cornfestival!! Thanks Darian and Kennedy for taking her!

Emma driving her cousin Darian

Her first bite of an Elephant Ear with Uncle Ryan

She looks a bit tired posing with Uncle Ryan and Aunt Becky

Seriously mom, do I have to fish?

Emma with mom's cousin Betsy

Great Grandpa Bill with all of his granddaughters

Emma with her pal Benjamin

She took a big interest in her new cousin Sydney. Here she is helping Aunt Jenny change her diaper. Hopefully she is this helpful when her baby sister arrives!

Jay's cousins and brother's family

32 weeks - yikes that belly is getting big!!

Cousin Laura with Sydney

Emma with her cousin Kole (and of course Eddie) going for a ride in the burly

Pushing sweet baby Sydney in the swing

Cooling off on a hot summer day

Emma and Kole

Peek-a-boo I see you Kole!

Nana and Papa with their grandbabies

The happy newlyweds

Emma cashed out after being in the car literally 3-4 minutes after the long plane ride home to Texas.