Once Upon a Potty...

Potty Training. Stop reading if you don't want to hear all the lovely details.

I have been dreading this task for months. I had decided I would just wait until Caroline was 2 1/2 (February) to begin the process. I really just had no desire at all to conquer the potty just yet! Diapers are so easy and low maintenance, and potty training just seems so...messy.

Anyway, apparently Caroline didn't get the memo. Over the past several weeks she began showing more and more interest in the potty. She would ask multiple times a day to go potty, and loved sitting on her potty. So, I knew the time had some. She was ready...even though I was NOT!

We picked out Dora and princess panties, stocked up on fruit snacks, and waited until we had a weekend with no plans so we could have a little "potty boot camp". Here's how it went down...

Friday, we got up and put on panties. I explained that she was gong to wear panties now and go potty on the potty. And that she would get fruit snacks when she did. I took her every 10 minutes for the 1st hour. Every 15 minutes for the 2nd hour. Then every 20 minutes, and so on...We had several (approx. 6, I think) accidents and I found that 20 minutes was a bout the max we could handle between visits.

Saturday, repeat. We started the day going every 15 minutes and built up from there, but I felt like every 30 minutes was our max. She did well again. I noticed her initiating more on her own. 6 accidents.

Sunday, repeat. Every 30 minutes, building to every 45. only 3 accidents! And 2 were in route to the bathroom. Woohoo!

Monday, repeat. Went every 45 min-1 hour, and she was accident-free ALL DAY! YEA!!! We even went to the grocery store!

Today, repeat. She went to school and stayed dry the whole time! She went potty all on her own at school :) So proud. She had a little accident after her nap today, but that's to be expected :)

She is still in a diaper/pull-up for nap and bedtime. We are still working on #2. She actually really likes to go on the potty, but her nap time is typically when it happens, so she is going in her diaper. She gets upset when she wakes up and realizes she has gone :( She REALLY wants to "put her poops in the potty". Go figure ;)

Needless to say, I am SO proud of her! It wasn't nearly as traumatic (for me) as I thought it would be.

YEA for CAROLINE!!!!!!!

6 months

Miles is 6 months old! Half a year. SIX MONTHS!?! Time is just flying by!

He is really, truly is the sweetest, happiest, most adorable chunky monkey ever. He looks at me with his big blue eyes and flashes his huge smile, and I am toast. He just melts my heart. Sigh :)

We tried sweet potatoes. Despite the pititful look on his face, he actually liked them slightly more than he likes cereal. ALthough, he actually hates cereal, so that's not saying much ;) He hasn't shown a ton of interest in eating his solids yet :(

He is getting better and better at sitting. He can sit in his boppy or even all by himself for short spurts. You just never know when he is going to get bored, and fling himslef to the ground...

He loves his sister. He just lights up everytime he sees her or hears her voice. She can really get him laughing...like depp belly laughs...better than anyone.

She recently treated him to some delcious tea during a tea party ;)




He loves to play with his feet, puts anything and everything in his mouth, and still enjoys his exersaucer.

I am totally done nursing (as of 2 weeks ago). I was hoping to make it at least 6 months, but once those teeth came in, I couldn't take the pain! He takes an 8 oz. bottle of formula every 4 hour during the day, and takes 3 naps (about 1 1/12-2 hours each).




There's my happy guy!

We (mostly me) have several random nicknames for Mr. Miles...Bubber and Boo Bear are probably the ones I use the most. Even Caroline calls him Boo Bear sometimes :)

LOVE him!!

Stats:

Weight: 18 lbs. 7 oz. (70th %ile)

Height: 27 in. (70th %ile)

Head: 45 cm. (80th %ile)

Halloween Festivities 2010

We had so much fun celebrating Halloween this year! We had an action packed weekend...Costume Parade at Caroline's school on Thursday, Playgroup Party on Friday, Festival at C's school on Saturday, and then on Sunday, we had the neighborhood festival, follwed by a block party and costume parade, and of course trick or treating! whew! I won't bore you with pics of everything, but here are a few highlights :)

Miles's 1st Halloween!

Caroline LOOOOOOOOOOVED trick or treating. She thought it was the most amazing thing. She totally had the whole routine down and (of course)wasn't shy AT ALL.

We met up with our good buddy Jack, who was kind enough to let us hitch a ride in his wagon. They would run up to the door, get their candy, and come running back to the wagon saying they were ready for "the next house"

Jack taking a turn pulling Caroline :)

Caroline talked about trick or treating non-stop for the enitre week after Halloween. "Mommy, I really like trick or treating" "I had so much fun trick or treating."