Potty training is not for the weak

It has been 9 days since we threw the diapers away.  For a few months leading up to this date, we had been debating on if we wanted to attempt to potty train Ellie before the next baby arrives.  We heard great things about Lora Jensen's 3 Day Potty Training and thought it wouldn't hurt to try.  After all, it is only 3 days.  The initial problem was finding those 3 days.  We had an extremely busy Summer and didn't have a weekend where we didn't have something going on until 2 weekends ago-the golden 80 degree weather weekend.  I decided I was not staying in and potty training on an 80 degree weekend in October, so we pushed it one more week. 

Ellie was showing interest in the potty for the last month or two.  She loved sitting on her potty, but only after her diaper changes so she never really went much. She also loved taking off her diapers, throwing them away, and not wanting to put another one on.  We figured this was reason enough to try and we were tired of fighting with her over every diaper change.

I read Lora's book at least 3 times and was committed to following it exactly for the 3 days. No excuse for complaining it doesn't work if you change the instructions. There is more to it, but the main principals are to go cold turkey with the no diapers.  Give lots of liquids and stay VERY close to your kid for the next 3 days.  Like within a foot close so you can catch ALL accidents.  Keep things very positive and praise for every moment dry.  Every time an accident begins they need to be brought to the bathroom and reward every success, even if just a tiny bit makes it where it is supposed to go.  You're not supposed to ask them if they have to go and just pick up on all their potty signals or have them tell you when they need to go.

Day 1 - Not good.  Lots and lots of accidents.  Each time she started to have an accident I'd bring her to the bathroom where she would stop the flow.  I'd bring her back out (you aren't supposed to have them sit and try for very long) and then she would start going again.  It took about 5 times back and forth to empty the bladder for each accident.  Wanted to give up.

Day 2 - Not much better but thankfully Scott was home to help out.  Wanted to give up.

Day 3 - Much much better and Scott was still home to help.  I backed away from the liquids a little more so I think it made it a little easier for her to control.  Plus we were improving at reading her "have to go" signals.  She still wasn't telling us when she had to go though.  She was dry all day and only had one pee accident later in the evening.

Day 4 - The same as day 3, only with one poo accident. She rarely told me when she had to go and I started to ask her if she had to go and sometimes I put her on the potty even if she didn't said anything.

Day 5 - First day back to work for mommy. I was terrified of what daycare was going to do.  I talked to the director and she said I could bring Ellie in just her panties and they would be happy to try it out to see how it goes.  They sat her on the potty once an hour and sometimes she went and sometimes she didn't. This doesn't exactly fit with the method, but I was really really happy they were willing to do the panties right away. 

Day 6-9 - In 4 days of daycare, she only had one accident!  Other than that, she's had one accident per day at home.  Once in awhile she tells us when she has to go.  Surprisingly she tells us MOST of the time when she has to poo.  I hear that can be the hardest part so we're grateful for that.  I think we've only had 3 poo accidents the whole time and she goes at least twice a day.  She has stayed dry overnight since day 1 and had 2 nap time accidents. And she goes better for Scott than me, the little stinker! 

Overall, this was not the miracle I was hoping for, but it was great jump start.  We're running some errands tomorrow and I'm seriously considering putting a pull up on her!  I'm not sure it was the best idea to do this so close to having the baby (due in a week and a half) and it has been extremely exhausting for me well beyond the first three days!  I'm so proud of her though, she is doing really well when you think of the progress in the last week and a half. 

And all the animals say goodnight

This is a daily site at our house:

And it is only about half of the scene. The rest of the blankets, pillows, and animals wrap around the island. She carefully sets everything up, places each animal on the soft pillow, and wraps them in a blanket. She gives kisses to each one and reads stories to a few of her favorites. Hopefully this is good practice for when her sister comes in the next few weeks!

It seems like there has been a lot to update, but I can't think of what it is right now. I hope my memory eventually comes back. Ellie has been going on the potty about once a day. She's always saying new and crazy things.  She blames everything on someone named Grayson. She talks about scary monsters and shadows.  She likes to call people grouchy or happy.  She says "oooh, momma's belly is BIG" and growls while saying big.  Such a cutie! Speaking of cute, she points to herself and says "Ima cutie pie."

Hard to believe there is only 3.5 weeks left until my due date! The next few weeks are going to be a very challenging balance of trying to get stuff ready, resting, and soaking up the alone time with Ellie.  Oh, and lets not forget making time to watch the TIGERS!  I've lost lots of sleep over the last week watching them spank the Yankees!  Though I do miss you Granderson...

Well, gotta go clean!

Pink Skies make the Ellie go wild!

Last night, the sky was beautiful

After Ellie's bath, we took her to the window to look at it. She kept saying "PINK SKY! PINK SKY!" She was so excited!

She laughed and laughed

She did a little dance

She blew some spit bubbles

She was all around happy to see it

Tonight she was asking "where's the pink sky?"  She was very upset we couldn't turn it on with the light switch!

Fun to get away

Earlier in the summer Scott and I went to Detroit for an overnight stay.  We watched the Tigers, ate deep dish pizza, and did some shopping while Ellie stayed AT HOME with aunt Joy and uncle Joy (she now knows his real name is uncle Ryan).

Later on, we took a mommy, daddy, Ellie trip to Great Wolf Lodge.  Also an excellent time.

A few weekends ago, we went a few hours up north with the whole family (Grandma, Grandpa, Ryan, Joy, Mommy, Daddy, Ellie).  It was tentatively on the calender for almost a year, but we weren't sure if we were going to be able to go.  Two weeks before, we got a call that a room opened up at the Pinestead Reef Resort. We had a great time eating, relaxing, and playing in the bay.  The weather was sunny and in the upper 70s!  We even squeezed in a brunch at one of my favorite restaurants - Apache Trout Grill.  The great thing about vacationing with family is that there are extra hands to keep the little one distracted!

Usually something funny or slightly bizarre (uh-hmm, sanitary napkins anyone?) happens while we are on vacation. This time we were relaxing on the patio and a seagull dropped a perfect bomb into my brothers coffee.  Thankfully we saw it land because it was perfectly centered and only made a small splash. Now that's what we call a Traverse City Latte.  OK, on to some pictures:

Some updates

It seems so weird to say we have a two year old!  I stopped counting by months and just say "she's two" or "she turned two in July" if someone asks me how old she is.  Momma has been very tired with this pregnancy, but things are going fine this time around and not as many complications as last time.  We've been very busy trying to get the house ready, work (Scott has been working mad crazy hours) and trying to keep up with a very moody, emotional, yet so sweet toddler.  Here are some things Ellie has been up to:

• Screams THAT'S MINE! all the time.  All the time...
• Adores her Tiger monkey, takes it everywhere, reads to it, dances with it, etc
• Pees on the potty at daycare but refuses to at home
• Demands certain outfits, shoes, and hair accessories
• Had a blast at critter barn and just adores animals
• Got stuck up at the top of McDonald's play land. Had to have some little kids get her down since I'm too pregnant to get her down.  The first boy said "she wouldn't listen to me" but a different girl got her to go down the slide on her lap.  Ellie thought it was hilarious.
• Says "I sorry" so sweetly if she thinks she did something wrong.
• Also says "Momma is a big girl" (when she walks in on me in the bathroom), "Ima gonna getcha" (this is when SHE wants to be chased, "Ellie's happy," "Grammas pool is cold," "I love you more," "I love you mommy (or daddy)."  and many many other things. Sometimes combines up to 5 words
• Really likes to say "I'm scared" and tremble and shake.  Can't figure out this one but she'll say she is scared of the light or something else weird.
• Knows circle, square, rectangle, star, cross
• Asks a ton of questions like "whats that noise?" and "what's that?"
• Sometimes counts to 20
• Avoids sleep by asking for a ton of things
• Sleeps horribly, always something new in this department.
• Sings along with songs.  She can sing the whole ABC and twinkle twinkle little star song. Knows a good portion of Old McDonald, I'm a little teapot, and Jesus loves me.  Also busts out with songs that she must be learning at daycare because I've never heard of them
• Still loves dancing

Here are some pics!  Not too shabby eh?




I didn't post her 2 year stats last time.  They were 25.5 lbs (33%) and 35.5" (80%).  She wasn't supposed to have a shot, but they messed something up with a previous vaccine, so it was another appointment filled with tears and heartache. 

Also I'd like to give a shout out to the Tigers!!!  Go Tigers!!! Keep it up. I'm telling my unborn child that her birth year will be the year they take the division!!!

You may have had to have been there

This was last night's dinner conversation:

Mom: What color are daddy's eyes
Ellie: Blue

Mom: What color are mommy's eyes
Ellie: Red, no BROWN

Mom: What color is mommy's hair
Ellie: Brown Brown!

Mom: What color is Ellie's hair
Ellie: Brown!

Dad: What color is Grandpa's hair
Ellie: (Extremely puzzle expression and silence..pondering...) NOOOO!!! (While shaking her head and smiling)

My parents have been out of town the last two weeks, but she still remembers what grandpa's head looks like:

Final 2nd Birthday Post

In addition to going to Great Wolf Lodge, we also had a small birthday party for Ellie.  Unlike her first birthday where we crammed almost 40 hot bodies in our house, we kept things simple and had a very small gathering. It was much easier on my back and I think Ellie had fun with the relaxed environment.

Mom, Dad, birthday girl, & little girl #2



My mom made this cute cake


We had lots of food


Ellie was cute




She got lots of great gifts including play food, a drill set, rocking chair, dollhouse, and some wall art for her new room




We played with balloons


We were wild and free


And it wouldn't be the same without a video video