Potty Training Update

I knew that I shouldn't post about how good Zoey was doing on her potty training. The next day she didn't go in the potty once. By the end of the day I was so frustrated I was ready to scream and just put her back into a diaper. But I had told myself that I would stick it out until Saturday and see how she was doing then, so I had to re-evaluate and find something new to try. I thought she could do it because she had done so well on Monday. I finally decided that I was not above bribery. I started with stickers. I made a chart and every time she was dry for an hour, she would get a sticker. And every time she went potty, she would get another sticker. We hung the charts on the wall and explained what was going on. She was excited and would stay dry, but wouldn't go to the bathroom. So, I decided to up the prize. We added candy. Nathan got some peanut butter M&M's and we started the "potty candy jar." She started going potty, but it didn't seem to bother her much if she had an accident. Then I decided that if I had to clean up the accident, I got her candy she would have received if she'd gone in the potty. She didn't like that very much. On Thursday, she did great all day. She didn't go potty a whole lot, but she would if I showed her the potty candy and reminded her, but she did stay dry until dinner time. That's always the hardest time. She had a few accidents, but rallied before bed and went in the potty again. Friday I wasn't sure what to do. I didn't want to always have to remind her to stay dry, but I didn't want her to keep having accidents, either. I was up in my bedroom and Owen's bedroom is down a few steps from mine. They were playing in Owen's bedroom and I heard Zoey say, "Bubba, I go pee pee a potty!" I thought I'd missed my chance, but I saw her running down the hall. She went in and went all by herself. I was so proud of her. She did great all day yesterday. Today has been a little more of a struggle. She's gone a little bit, but has had a few accidents. The first one was when we were outside checking the animals and I think she's just not used to being outside and having to remember to go potty. I'm hoping today's not a total setback. It's the day I decided to go for and now I know she can do it. Here's hoping she keeps being good.

Daniel Larusso?

I think I mis-named my son. I think I should have named him Daniel Larusso from Karate Kid. Am I dating myself to mention that movie? Remember that part where Mister Miyagi was trying to catch flies and Daniel comes in and catches it on the first try? Owen can catch a fly like no one I've ever seen. This afternoon, he came up from downstairs and told me to look at what he found. He opened his hands and a live fly flew out. If this was the only time, I might think that the fly was already wounded, but He does it often. It's hilarious. When his fly flew away, it went up to the ceiling (see, smart fly) and he wanted me to get it down. He thinks anyone is able to catch a fly. I'm lucky to be able to catch it with a flyswatter.I added this picture on Sept. 17. Owen came into our bedroom this morning holding yet another fly. This one he caught in his bedroom. He had it by the leg. If you look in the picture, you can see him holding the fly. He was being a dork, but I finally got my picture. Crazy kid!!

Job Cards

Just recently we started doing something that my family did when I was young. We used job cards so we could see what jobs needed to be done and my mom didn't have to keep asking us if we'd done specific jobs. We had a pocket of cards that needed to be done and a pocket for the cards when they were done. She has said that it worked well for us, so I tried it with my kids. I have tried it before with my two older kids, but the cards were outdated (Josie's still said take a nap) and they were really cheesy pictures that I had drawn. I talked to my sister and she said she did her cards on the computer. GREAT IDEA!! I worked for a while trying to get things right and then Nathan took them to work so we could have them in color. The biggest thing was that Zoey didn't have any cards. I don't even think she was around when we made the last batch. She keeps wanting to "do jobs" like the big kids. So we also made her some cards. We just got everything up and running this last weekend and it seems to be working great. When the kids ask if they can play in the morning, all I have to ask is if their cards are done. They know just what they need to do. I'm loving it! As you can see in the picture, Zoey is loving her cards, and Owen just thinks he's a stud. He's good at his cards, too.

Potty Training

I woke up this morning, got Jo out the door to school and was helping Zoey get ready when I realized that these next two weeks will be the only time for a long time that I will be able to stay home. So, spur of the moment, I decided to try and potty train Zoey. I know, crazy me. I keep putting it off because at the beginning of the summer, I thought I could do it and it lasted a day. She kept saying that she needed to go potty and then would just play on the potty. Within 5 minutes of telling me she was done, she would have an accident. After 12 pairs of training pants, I got frustrated and gave up. I didn't want to do it again, so I didn't. She has shown more signs of being ready lately and keeps talking about how big girls go pee pee in the potty. I've been talking it up for a while, too. When I put panties on her this morning, she was SO proud. She had to call everyone and tell them. She's even proud that they are "Bubba's baseball panties" (boys training pants we used for Owen). We do have cute little Dora panties in the drawer for her for when she can keep them dry. But training pants just absorb so much more during that initial training period. These pants are also HUGE on her since her and Owen are at different ends of the spectrum when it comes to body type.

Right off, she started telling me that she had to go potty and actually going on the potty. She did have two accidents today, but she felt really bad and wanted to get her wet panties off right away. She really did a great job. I'm so proud of her. I have potty trained two other kids and so I'm not naive enough to think that it will always be this easy, but I'm just grateful that she's actually trying to pick up on it this time. When Jo came home from school, and again when Nathan came home from work, she had to take them into the bathroom and show them her new "trick." It's fun for me to see that she's proud of herself, too.

She was so cute whenever she would go potty. She would chant herself a little pep talk. Telling herself to get the stool, pull down her panties, sit on the potty, etc. It was hilarious.

Thank goodness for Koolaid to help her have to go a lot so she realized quickly what it felt like. And thanks for all those who supported her and were so proud of her today. Thanks for the song, Shauna! She loved it!!

Jo's first day of school

Jo started school last Thursday. It's kind of wierd to be starting so early in August, but it is nice to get out before Memorial Day. She was so excited to be starting second grade and to see all of her old friends. All she could talk about on the first day of school was who was in her class from last year and what new friends she made that day. Good thing she's so shy. She definitely gets that one from her dad.

Here she is leaving for her first day of school. They have to take so much stuff that first day, that she ended up taking some in a grocery bag.

Jo's birthday

I can't believe I have a 7 year old!! Jo's birthday was on Friday and she was so excited to be able to finally go to school on her birthday. She took Twinkies to share with her class. That night we had a "party." It's nice to still have kids that think that it's fun to have cake and open presents with just the family. Josie got some fun presents and some fun school clothes. She loved having the day be all about her (Owen, not so much). She decided that she wanted cupcakes instead of cake this year. Also, her new favorite color is yellow, so everything had to be yellow. I made the lemon cupcakes and frosted them white, then her and Owen decorated them with yellow frosting. It was the easiest "cake" I've ever made. She also wanted spagetti WITH MEATBALLS for dinner. I think we all had fun. I love birthdays.




Here's Jo with her yellow spider ball she got from Owen. All the kids have had fun with it. Of course it's yellow.

She's pretty excited to open this present. Actually, she couldn't get the wrapping paper off and it was frustrating her.

Here's her cupcakes.

Anyone up for a party? I know it's not all high class, but my kids think it's fun to have the dining room all decorated. They still love streamers and balloons and I'm going to take advantage of that as long as I can.