Adventures in Potty Training...

So I decided some time ago that I would give it a shot at potty training during my spring break. After our mini-trip to St. Louis, I planned to basically camp out at home and try Sadie in underpants. I didn't really have any expectations going into the process--I committed to trying for at least 3 days and if it was going horribly, we would take a break until summer.

On our way home Tuesday, we stopped at Wal-Mart to let Sadie pick out another pack of underwear. (She got Princess undies in her Easter basket.) She picked Elmo undies. I also let her pick out some motivation treats... She ended up with pink marshmallows, freeze pops, and the all-time favorite--suckers! (We also had an abundance of Easter candy to add to the mix)



Tuesday night before bed, we let her baby doll (Emmy) put on some undies and try to use the potty. Sadie was thrilled when Emmy peed and got a sucker as her reward.

Wednesday morning we put on some undies...

And had an exhausting day! I could not believe that one little girl could pee so many times! She had 10 accidents and went potty 4 times. I felt like I was living in the bathroom. I thought 4 successes was pretty good for our first day, so on to day 2.

I had gotten Sadie this little Dora water jug at the dollar store awhile back and saved it for a special time. We broke it out and filled it with juice/water so she could drink a lot. Day 2 was easier, but more discouraging. She only had 4 accidents, but no peeing on the potty... I was encouraged that she was holding it longer, but disappointed that we spent so much time on the potty with no success.

Friday and Saturday were somewhat better. She went on the potty twice both days and had 2 accidents. Her babysitter was very willing to work with her so I decided to give it another week to see if she gets the hang of it. Sunday was hard with church in the morning and me having a Pampered Chef show in the afternoon. We've only been using pull-ups when we're going to be in the car/out of the house for longer than 15 minutes. (We've been using diapers at nap and bedtime.) Today was day 2 at the sitter's and she had 1 accident each day and went several times on the potty! She's also stayed dry at nap both days. She's done really well in the afternoons/evenings--no accidents at home!

She really took to the idea of potty training Emmy--she is still trying to use Emmy to get extra treats. Any time she sits on the potty and doesn't go she thinks that Emmy will go potty, but Emmy only has to go when Sadie does and they have to share the sucker--hmmm... At this point I'm optimistic and encouraged to stick with it. We'll see!

Back to School

Today was my first day back to school after spring break. (I was off for 10 days!) I was dreading going back for many reasons... 1-I've enjoyed being home with my kids. 2-Sadie's not much of a morning person and she's been pretty clingy the last several days. Getting her up in the morning is not fun. 3-Kinnick has pushed back his early morning feeding from 4:30/5:30 to 7:00 or later. Although this is great when I'm home (and on weekends), it does not work out as well for my morning routine on work days. 4-I was pretty nervous about how our morning would work with potty training--I usually have to fight Sadie to get dressed, sitting on the potty would just be another task and I didn't want her to pee in the car on the way to the sitter's.

I'm pleased to say that even though I was a few minutes late to school, this morning was GREAT... I was able to fit in some reading time as I nursed Kinnick later than normal, I got to enjoy the kids snuggling in Sadie's bed together--I absolutely love watching the interact!, and Sadie went potty! I am now counting the days until summer (34 to be exact!)

Where'd Jesus Go?

Today after one of Sadie's time-outs I was having the same conversation that I've had with her after every one of her time-outs (there have been a lot of them!) but it ended a bit differently...

Mommy: It makes Jesus happy when you obey your parents. Your parents are Mommy & Daddy.

Sadie: Where'd Daddy go?

M: He's still at work, he'll be home soon.

S: Where'd Jesus go?

M: Jesus lives in Heaven.

S: Can I go to Heaven?

M: Yes--if you love Jesus and obey him. Did you know that Mommy prays for you that you will love Jesus and obey him?

S: Thanks Mommy.

At this point, she became distracted by a pair of sandals sitting on the table. After she had both sandals buckled onto her feet, she looked up at my face and said "Mommy, I love Jesus." The most precious words a mommy can hear from her little one...

Spring Fever

We've been LOVING the weather the last few days. On Friday one of my friends came over with her little girl and we walked to the park and had a picnic outside--the girls loved it! These pics are from the week before last--it was a bit cooler, but Sadie wants to be outside every single day! The bubble gun and the little bag chair were birthday presents.

Spring Break

After we spent Easter with my parents, we headed to Mascoutah to visit the Casey's! We got there late Sunday night. We got the kids to bed and were able to hang out for awhile. Kinnick slept in a pack-and-play in Hannah's room and they both did great--his first "sleep-over"!

We had planned to go to the zoo on Monday. We debated because it was supposed to rain. We decided to chance and had perfect weather. It was the right temperature to walk around in sweatshirts and we did not have any rain until we were walking to the parking lot at 3:00. It was also not at all crowded... This was Sadie's 2nd trip to the zoo, Kinnick's 1st. Sadie LOVED it. Last time she went she was 17 mos. and she loved looking at the animals--this time she knew all the names of the animals and requested to see specific animals.

The giraffes were all inside today--Sadie was fascinated with them!

Sadie's 1st carousel ride!

Hannah & Kinnick were very content to ride around in their strollers for the day!

After the zoo, we spent a relaxing after noon at Tim & Liz's... Here are some pics of Hannah and Kinnick hanging out:

Hannah shared all of her toys like such a nice girl!

After dinner the guys made a fire in the little fire pit and we made smores. Sadie really enjoyed this! Her daddy helped her make a smore and she enjoyed every bite of it!

Thanks Tim & Liz & Hannah for a great time!

Dr. Appointments

I took Sadie and Kinnick to the Dr. today for check-ups (Sadie--2 yrs., Kinnick--4 mos.) They were both doing great! Kinnick is still a "peanut" as his doctor says. He weighed 12 lbs. 4 oz. and 24.5 inches long. He's on the small side, but is gaining enough weight and is healthy. (If he ends up taking after his sister he will stay small until about 9 mos. and then start making his big weight gains!) Sadie was 29.5 lbs (82%) and exactly 3 feet tall (92%)! Guess that explains why she's growing out of her clothes!

I'm still enjoying my spring break (I've been off since Good Friday), but we're not doing too much. We've been working on potty training (more on that later!) I'll also blog soon about our trip to St. Louis and the zoo!

Little Miss Mommy

I love watching Sadie interact with Kinnick--she has really taken on the "Big Sister" role--sometimes almost too much! It's so adorable to watch her imitate Marc and I--anything we say, she says; whatever we do, she does! She is very rambunctious and loud most all of the time--this makes it all the more precious when she is gentle with Kinnick. Don't get me wrong, he's had to be a tough little man to put up with her, but I'd say all in all, he's pretty lucky!

These are a few examples of how Sadie tries to mother him:

• She uses the baby bottle that she got for her birthday to try and feed him (of course she has attempted to nurse him a few times also!)
• She picked up my breast pump by the shoulder strap and dragged into the living room and announced "Sadie pump Bubba's milk!"
• She pulled a bottle of mylicon out of the diaper bag and said "Bubba needs some medicine so he will feel better."
• She put my sling around her neck, pointed to the pouch and said "Bubba sit here, mommy."
• She threw a fit one day because he did not have socks on. She kept saying "Bubba feet cold! Bubba feet cold!" until I let her go upstairs and get him some.
• She carries his bathtub into the bathroom and says "Time for Bubba's bath."

Another funny story unrelated to Kinnick... A few weeks ago we were shopping and I found some shorts to try on. Sadie wanted to come in the dressing room with me. There was a particular pair of shorts she decided to try on--the ones I was trying on. I tried to give her another pair, but she was not persuaded. As soon as I took them off, she snatched them up. I opened the door to the dressing room to show Marc another pair and she pushed me out so she could shut the door. A minute later, I tried to open the door and she shoved it back shut and said "Just a minute, Mommy." I waited and opened the door to find that she had taken off her diaper cover and tights and had the shorts pulled up to her armpits. She was grinning ear to ear. It was pretty adorable!

Easter!

I have a lot of blogging I want to do currently, so my Easter blog will be one huge post with lots of pictures... Here we go!

We started the day before Easter with an Easter egg hunt in Streator's park. They have a HUGE hunt and break into sections by age. Sadie got to go with all 2-year olds (which was pretty hilarious!) Parents can not help and were left behind the rope screaming at their child to "get the eggs... faster!" Hmm... is this a preview of little league? The weather was great and Sadie loved it. There was one other girl from church their and I got to see over half of my Kindergarten kids!

This is Sadie with her friend Megan. (Carson was sick and did not got to hunt eggs.)

When we got back home, we let Sadie open her Easter present from Grandma and Grandpa Gorsch since we would not be seeing them on Easter.

"Thanks Grandpa & Grandma!"

Next, it was off to Bowen... When we got there we went to Jason & Trista's house to dye eggs. We did this last year also--Sadie was much more into it this year!

"We made these eggs!"

Sadie's first egg!

Getting a little messy, so off with the shirts!

After eggs Jaren & Sadie went into the tub. You can see more pics on Trista's blog!

Kinnick had a bath in Grandma's sink and loved it! (We don't have a big enough sink at our house, so Sadie and Kinnick both got to do this at G-ma & G-pa's!)

We spent the night at my Mom & Dad's and were up at 5:30 on Easter Sunday to attend sun-rise service at 6:00. The kids did really well and it was kind of fun to have Sadie in church with us since she usually goes to the toddler room. After church we had breakfast and then went home to hunt for Easter baskets. We talked it up on the way home and Sadie was convinced her basket would be on the porch--not sure why?! Sadie got to find 4 baskets--2 for her and 2 for Kinnick (1 each from us and G-ma and G-pa). She has some help from Aunt Kassie and really enjoyed it!

Sadie looking for her basket.

Sadie trying on her new glasses.

" Thanks G-ma & G-pa Henry--these cookies are my favorite!"

Kinnick with his Easter baskets. Sorry... no candy this year!

I LOVED this little Bears onsie jersey--can't wait for him to wear it!

My sweet baby boy... Isn't he precious? I'm sorry to say that I could not snap even one pic of Sadie and Kinnick in their coordinating outfits... Big sister was not cooperating! (I'm sure they'll be wearing them again!)

The last thing we did was to hunt Easter eggs and surprises outside. My Aunts & Uncles and G-ma and G-pa came over for Easter dinner and we always had a tradition growing up to hunt Easter goodies after dinner. Now we're on to the next generation and still loving it!

We had a great Easter! I've always loved this holiday--it's so full of new life and such a great reminder of how GREAT our God is. Seeing my two healthy babies reminds me how blessed I am and truly how GREAT my God is. I started my blog last year around Easter. I can't believe I've been blogging for a year now--Sadie has changed so much...

4 Months

Okay... so it's been a couple weeks since Kinnick turned 4 months (March 25) but I still had to post his update and pictures! Kinnick continues to by very happy and laid-back (a great compliment to his high-maintenance sister!) He is super-smiley most of the time. In the last month he has started laughing a lot! (His laughs and Sadie's are my favorite sound in the world!) Usually he laughs at the following: his dad lifting him in the air, sitting on mom's tummy while she does sit-ups, and Sadie talking to him... We LOVE it!

Kinnick is doing well holding his head up. He sits in his bumbo often and loves being on the floor. He is rolling all over the place. He doesn't like his swing as much anymore. He also creeps on his back and tummy. He enjoys interacting with people and also likes watching the kids at his babysitter's, being read to, and watching the television.

Sleeping is going much better. He has started going to bed between 7:30--8:30 most nights and falls asleep on his own with no or very little crying. Some mornings he even sleeps until 6/6:30 (but sometimes he's still waking up at 4:30 to eat...) Nap times have been harder, but he's starting to do better with naps also. He's still a pro at sleeping in the car--thank goodness!

Birthday Party #2

Sorry... We've been having Internet problems this whole week. I've tried to upload these pictures more than 10 times... Anyway I think we're okay now!

We had Sadie's 2nd birthday with her Grandparents on Saturday, March 28th (the day after her birthday.) It was in Burlington at grandma & grandpa Gorsch's house. We left Saturday morning--it was crazy trying to get our house put back together & pack after her party Friday night. Here are a few pics from the car ride...

Sadie always wants me to sit by her--I usually tell her after she takes a nap and she always does. The first thing she says when she wakes up is "Mommy sit by Sadie."

This was the "kids table"--they loved it!

Sadie had a great time opening her presents (as expected!)

Sadie was so excited when I showed her the "Little Einstein" plates & napkins for her cake. (I purposely waited until the day of her party.)

Sadie (and Jaren & Jadyn) enjoyed pulling off the little Einsteins to lick off the frosting!

Overall, it was a crazy, exhausting weekend, but we had a blast. It took me about a week to recover! I was exhausted on Monday after school... Our living room was filled with new toys for most of the week. Sadie has been loving her new stuff--especially her games, her dress-up clothes, and her outside toys!