Perils of Potty Training

Whoever said that potty training was quick and painless never met Scout Ann Sweeney. I know it comes easy to some kids, but not our girl. It has been an uphill battle for the last 6 months or so. If there is a technique- we've tried it. We've tried bribery (Mama will get you a pony!), yelling, reverse psychology, incentive of a potty party, ignoring, treats, money, stickers- you get the point.

Scout turned 3 in early September. It was time. I'm done buying diapers for 2. About three weeks ago Nick and I decided the kid gloves were coming off- it was time for a little tough love. EVERY night after dinner she goes #2. Like clockwork.

5:25 p.m.- it begins. She strips down and sits on toilet BAWLING
(Bennet and Ellie are in the tub at this point. So all 5 of us in our tiny bathroom. Family bonding)


5:35 p.m- still BAWLING 5:45 p.m. - Bennet and Ellie out of the tub and downstairs. Away from the tears. Scout is still wimpering at this point.
6:00 p.m.- I take over for Nick. Scout and I look at pictures of kids using the potty on the iTouch.
6:30 p.m.- Scout wants me to have 'crazy hair' with funny ponytails. Everytime she toots I add a ponytail. Whatever works!
6:50 p.m.- It FINALLY happens and I actually hold back tears of joy. I didn't have to fake my excitement. She had a grin from ear-to-ear. "I did it Mommy! I did it!" I told her how proud I was of her. She said, "Me too! I'm proud too" After a quick wipe she proceeded to streak down the hall and downstairs to tell Nick, Bennet & Ellie.
6:55 p.m.- I hand her a PullUp and she says "No!" Runs into the nursery, grabs the rocking chair, moves it over to the dresser, climbs up and pulls out her Dora underwear. She's earned it!
7:00 p.m.- Celebratory ice cream with Magic Shell.
7:05 p.m.- A call to Grandma Mary Ella to share the milestone.

An hour and a half. 90 minutes of tears and negotiations it happened. Since then it had been hit or miss until last week. On Tuesday she asked to wear 'unnies' to preschool. Ok- here we go. She stayed dry all day-even through naptime-and hasn't looked back. It's a miracle!

Thank goodness!

Fun Friday Facts

1. We painted our living room last weekend/this week. We painted gray on the top and put a new shade of red under the chair rail. We added some new bookcases and an end table to complete the makeover. I didn't realize how much I disliked the old ivory color until the gray went on.

2. Really diggin' Pink's new song- 'Raise Your Glass'.

3. Is loving The Walking Dead on AMC. Nick has been into zombies for years so I am be default.

4. My sister, brother-in-law and niece are coming to visit this weekend. We haven't seen them since July so we're all very excited. Bennet even made them welcome cards last night.

5. It might snow tomorrow. I am ok with that.

6. Having a lunch date with Nick today. We are trying to make it a weekly thing.

7. I chaperoned Bennet on a field trip to School Forest yesterday. We had so much fun. I'm pretty sure Bennet loved having me there since she never let go of my hand.

It had been a long time since I rode a big yellow school bus. Nothing has changed.

8. One of her classmates had a shirt that said "To Hell with Cookies and Milk. Give me Jewelry and Cash" Really? I wouldn't even buy a shirt like that much less let her wear it to school.

9. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows comes out next week. I am so excited.

10. Scout has stayed dry in underwear for two full days in a row. This is a HUGE deal. Requires a separate post at some point.

Sincere Thanks

Thank you to all the Veterans, living and not, that fought the noble battles to make and to keep the peace and freedoms that I enjoy. Those freedoms that I hope my children come to truly understand and cherish as I do. It is easy to get caught up in the business of day-to-day life without taking the time to appreciate what we have. Today I'm taking a minute to reflect on all that is good and thank those people who helped ensure that.

My grandfather, Franklin 'Bud' Kline served in World War II as a SeaBee. He will be 95 this December. Each May he participates in the Memorial Day service. 2010 marked 65 consecutive years.

My Dad, Mike Trunnell served in the Army during the Vietnam War at the tender age of 22. I love this photo of him. Standing in a typical pose with a full head of hair. On the back of the photo he wrote "Me on a big ass rock". That is so classic Dad! When I showed this picture to Bennet she said, "Hey Mama- PawPaw Mike has hair here. That's cool! "
My father-in-law, Roger Sweeney, is a proud member of the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1964. Here he is aboard the USS Tecumseh. I hope I'm not breaking any trade secrets or impairing National Security with this photo. :) Right now he is on vacation in California with my mother-in-law hanging out with several different Navy friends. 40 years later and still sharing stories.

I have to thank my Mom as well. Each year she helps organize a phenomenal Veterans Day program at Twin Lakes Elementary School where she is a Special Ed Teacher. They really include the community as well as students and families. They have a flag raising ceremony followed by a program that introduces veteran guests, and families from their school who have a loved one actively serving. Thanks Mom for volunteering your time to put together such an important program!

Thanks to all vetrans!

I See You

On our last WooHoo Wednesday of 2010 (TyeDye in Sept) my friend Jess captured this photo of Ellie playing peek-a-boo with a tshirt on her head. Around that time Ellie started sticking her tongue out like this. I'm so happy that Jess caught the moment.

TITLE: I see YouJournaling: You steal my heart. Through a simple game of peek-a-boo . . . Product: October Afternoon pp, My Mind's Eye pp, Jillibean Soup pp, American Crafts alpha and trim.

What I Would Tell Her (If I knew what to say)

Last Friday Nick and I went to our first Parent Teacher Conference with Bennet's 4K teacher. I'm sure by the time Ellie graduates high school we'll be old pros, but since it was the first time I was nervous.

I don't what I was afraid of. I guess I was prepared to hear about all the things we needed to work on. I think I was afraid that she had inherited all of our less desirable qualities. Would she talk too much or interrupt?(I tend to interrupt). Would she forget her classmates names? (Nick's not so hot with names). Was she kissing ALL the boys or only Liam? Was she that kid?

It never occurred to me that she may have also inherited some of our most desirable qualities. That perhaps she was listening to what we've been teaching her. That she could be the girl we know and love at school as well as at home.


Her teacher told us that she was a wonderful, thoughtful and caring little girl. That Bennet looks out for classmates and makes sure they are doing ok. She said it was clear that Bennet was happy and loved school.

At this point that feedback means more to me than whether she can write her name (which she can) or can read a book unassisted (which she can't). There are so many moments of doubt when you're a parent. Am I doing it right? Am I doing enough? It makes me feel good to know that Nick and I are doing ok- maybe even great.

It reminded me of this video I saw at the beginning of the year. Katherine Center said it better than I could. I took the words from the video and used it for the journaling on my layout.

What I Would Tell Her (if I knew what to say) by Katherine Center

The Holiday's are Coming- Paper Loop Wreath

You can run but you can't hide. The holidays ARE coming. ScrapFreak is currently hosting a FREE class titled, 12 Days of Christmas. We have 12 days of fun scrappy projects to help you decorate your house and get in the holiday mood.

Here is a project I made for Day 1. I've made this wreath in the past as gifts but I never made one for myself. Since my kitchen is a newly painted muted yellow, I thought it was time I made one for our home.

Don't be intimidated by this project. It takes around 1 hour to make from start to finish. With a wreath from the Dollar Tree is costs less than $10 to make!

I made step-by-step instructions complete with pdf download that are available at ScrapFreak. Check it out!

Right Here Right Now

It's the first Friday of the month which means a new Freaky Friday Challenge at ScrapFreak.

Ferris Bueller said it best, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it" My StoryTelling challenge to you this month is to document something happening Right Here, Right Now. Focus on something that you (or someone you love) is really into right now (drink, color, television show).

Journaling

Technique: Sometimes finding the perfect place to journal can be tricky. This month try journaling in a shape. Write around the edge of the page or around an element.

TITLE: Top Top Bottom Bottom

Journaling: You love babies. Your baby dolls & your sister Ellie too. At daycare Amy taught you how to burp a baby. Gently tap her back and say 'top top bottom bottom top top bottom bottom' with a little song. If I do it wrong you are quick to correct me. Always the helpful big sister. 06/10

I have to laugh because Scout did this little thing for a couple weeks and now she hasn't done it in months. I'm glad I remembered to document it.



TITLE: Just Hit Pause (inspired by Bennet when she grabs the remote to pause a show)
Journaling:Chooses egg sandwiches for lunch everyday * Loves checking the weather on the ipod touch in the morning. “Mom- it’s moonlight out today. Wait- there is another place to double check”* Is enjoying puting on her apron for nightly “cooking lessons” with Dad* Loves playing outside & riding her big girl bike* Is developing a wee bit of a sassy, ungrateful attitude that I hope is short lived *Loves to draw her ‘fam-a-lee’*Is embracing school & wanting to read even more books*Will often get up in the morning before I do. I find her wrapped up in a blanket on the couch*Can recognize songs within one or two notes*Thinks SuperHeroes are awesome*Makes me smile when she says, “You’re the best mom ever!”* Calls the store Old Navy - Old Gravy* Helps take the garbage to the curb every week without being asked.*Loves helping clean Stoli & Jones litter boxes* Her favorite tv show is Phineas & Ferb*Prefers wearing skirts to jeans* Wants to talk on the phone to everyone who calls*Is starting to say things like, “When I’m a 5 year old. . . ”*Loads the dishwasher*Enjoys picking out Ellie’s veggie or fruit from the pantry at mealtime* Is still talk talk talk & full of questions*Loves ‘Kids Place Live’ on the satellite radio* Sincerely tells me that I’m a ‘hot hot Mama’* Sept 2010