He’s a Big Boy Now!!

Well, its been almost a year since I posted this very first post about potty training my middle child.

http://triplesmiles.blogspot.com/2009/07/potty-training-expressor-not.html

I have learned a lot in this journey. This has not been a fun journey.

About half way through this journey Levi discovered the movie Toy Story at his Nana’s house. He went nuts over Woody especially. This became my motivator…and finally he began to show progress. So,this last week we have been at a local Vacation Bible School. I made Levi a special VBS Potty Training chart and told him if he could go 5 days in a row with no accidents, we would take him to see the new Toy Story3. Each day when I picked him up from VBS, he was excited to share his success with me! Everyday…we put a sticker on his chart after VBS. I also threw in a Dr. Pepper, Toy Story “treats” and popcorn to his “Reward Package”

So today, Levi and “buddies” got to go see Toy Story 3!

I love this picture his feet are literally off the ground, he is so excited.

Mommy packed a very economical snack bag for each child…we refilled it with popcorn:)

Another thing that I love, is he didn’t mind at all about sharing his reward with his siblings.

Now….for THE GIRL!!!!!

Potty Training Update and a Trip Down Memory Lane..

I have gotten soooo many encouraging emails, I wanted to post this update.

The day after my last post, last Friday, I tried a new "plan" for Levi. Which was rewarding him every 30 minutes that he was dry. This was a huge motivator to stay dry. I am happy happy happy to report...he has not had a"pee pee" accident since:) He was home with his dad all day Saturday, went to church on Sunday..and had a playdate on Monday....all staying dry and requesting to go potty when he needed to go! We are still working hard on the "other function"

Everywhere I go.....people constantly tell me how much Ava looks like me. The truth is Ava looks a lot like my mother......who I also look a lot like. The 3 of us were at a restaurant one time and waitress who served us exclaimed "All 3 of you look just a like." Ava definitely has her Nana's dark beautiful skin. I have always had a very fair complexion. ANYWAY, the other day I snapped her picture in this adorable pillowcase dress that I found at an antique mall...and it sent me searching into my baby pictures because I remembered seeing one so very similar. I love that we are both in bare feet wearing a similar flow dress and both our arms are outstretched. This is my new favorite picture of the 2 of us "together."

On a side note, I have written before how very sad I was that Ava never got to meet her Great Grandmother. In my grandmother's last years she embroidered me a bunch of pillowcases. While I was shopping at the antique mall, I got the idea to get my mom to turn them into vintage pillowcase dresses for Ava. I am so excited about this because she will be able to have something that her Grandmother (Nana) and her Great-Grandmother made for her.

Thanks for reading,

N

Potty "Train"ing Express....Or not?

Well....its that time again in our house. Time to potty train Boy #2....I have learned a lot this week. First of all..the pressure of "must be actively potty training" is a requirement for preschool coming up in August that has prompted me to this journey. Let me take you back to my first potty training experience. Someone told me it could be done in 3-5 days. I looked into the method, flew my sister in law in town to help me with the other 2 and almost completely potty trained a non-verbal child at the time at 2 years and 4 months....in about 5 days...nights and naps too. Wow! That was sooooo easy. I didn't understand the fuss about pullups, and certainly didn't understand why I saw so many older kids not potty trained. So its time to start again....

my 2.7 month old...yes, I mention that only b.c he is 3 months older than when I did this the last time. For some reason this matters to ME and ME alone..... Day 1...Big Boy Pants, throwing diapers away!
Salty Snacks and Thomas Undies
I have tried to plan this week around the Theme of
Thomas the Train while we are
Potty "Train"ing.....


Official Thomas Drinks(thanks to my friend Grace for the sticker idea)
to produce the necessary ingredient to teach him to potty!

All good Potty Trainers need a jar of M&M's

Levi so happy with his Thomas juice....

Painting Murdoch...to entertain him while "waiting"

A Reward Thomas Cookie...for getting pee pee in the potty!

Levi is a rockstar!

So...all my pictures look great? Whats the problem? The problem is...this time "the method" is not working consistently! It is now Friday..and LJ although making big strides is just not "there" yet....there meaning where Zachariah was....which bring me to my biggest life lesson of the week.

ALL KIDS ARE DIFFERENT......EVEN IN YOUR FAMILY!

I know your must be thinking...duh..didn't they teach you that in Teacher 101?

Well yeah, but applying it to your own kids is a new concept and very eye opening for this mama of 3!

I should not have expected LEVI to BE Zachariah....or vice versa.

I will add...I did read a new book last night...Potty Wise....and it did have lots of helpful info which LJ has actually DONE BETTER TODAY with! WOW! A different plan for Levi....

isn't that how our Heavenly Father is with each of us...

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you...,thoughts of peace and not of Evil..to give you a future and a hope!

The truth of the matter...Levi will eventually go to the potty..whether or not its by preschool or not..I don't know yet!