Potty Training

I can't believe we are already posting about this!! Adelle is, roughly, 2 1/2 and she is learning how to use the big girl potty. We followed the advice of the Moes Family, and tried potty training Adelle in one day.

We got a bunch of things ready before we began, which really seemed to help. During the week I started planting ideas of going on the potty in her head by reminding her that some of her friends already do it, that we have big girl undies, and that she herself is a big girl. Here are the other things we got together:

• Snacks to munch on - Salty, sweet and healthy so she would drink lots.
• Juice, milk, pop, water - Anything she wanted to drink, we had!
• Stickers and a sticker chart for a visual reward
• Suckers for instant gratification
• Big girl undies
• Plastic undies for naps and night-time
• Her favorite doll - We used this along with one of her old medicine syringes. I filled the syringe with water and had the doll "go" and then run to the potty with her. I also had her go in the toilet and not have accidents.
• A towel and cleaner for accidents
• Big girl potty chair/toilet cover - We actually have a potty chair and a smaller seat to fit over ours. This worked well because sometimes she couldn't hold it in and HAD to use her little chair. We kept the little chair on a plastic mat where we were, and the smaller seat in the downstairs bathroom.
• A stool so she could get onto the toilet
• An apron for me to keep treats in
• Lots of enthusiasm from Mommy
• A photo album with pictures of special individuals - After going on the potty Adelle would get to call someone to share her news. We would flip through the album, or I would just ask who she wanted to call, and we did.
• Floor games and books - Nothing too distracting.
• A timer - You don't want to go too long in between visits to the bathroom.

We started our day with breakfast and turkey watching. We do this every weekend and Brian and I wanted to keep the majority of our routines. After we got back from breakfast I put undies on her doll and let Adelle "find" her! We talked about what she was wearing and what that meant, and I asked Adelle if she wanted to wear undies too. She said, "Yes, I do!!"  We put them on started the timer. I then started playing with her doll and made her have an accident. I ran from the accident to the bathroom saying, "No, No, No. We have to potty on the potty!" I did that a few times then asked Adelle if she wanted to try to go. She said yes so we put her on the potty and she went! I was really excited, gave her high-5s, a kiss, a sucker and then showed her the chart and the album. She put a sticker on the chart and called Nonna and Papi. They were SO excited!!

We kept this up for the rest of the day!!

We called lots of people and only cleaned up 4 accidents. Two were poo and I am not worried about them at this time - it's a different feeling! The other two were my fault because I don't think I was patient enough or persistent enough to make her stay on the toilet when she wanted to get off. Lesson learned!

She is doing SO well!!

Chutes and Ladders

Today we went to a park in Bloomington commonly called Chutes and Ladders. It got the name because there are a bunch of cargo nets and ladders, and whole lot of slides! I'm not talking about little slides either, I'm talking about slides that are 20 - 30 feet tall!! Granted they are twisty slides, but still - that's tall!! Not to worry if you have a toddler or a kiddo who is not fond of heights, they also have two or three areas that are perfect for smaller kids and more like typical playground equipment. They are also doing some construction and adding new equipment which should be ready to play on at the end of June.

Auntie M came to help ease the climbs for me - my eczema is really flaring up. I went up the ladders, aka cargo nets, with Adelle about 5 times and M went up with her about 20! She didn't want to go home because she was having so much fun!

The only down side to this park is that there are A LOT of other people there. Other parents don't watch their kids and some of them wreak havoc as well as try to climb up the slides. The teacher in me took over a couple of times and told two kids not to climb up because I didn't want them to get hit. They climbed up anyway then cried when they got hit! Geepers.

 

 

Anyway, Auntie M has some pictures that I need to get, and when I get them I will add them to the post.

Sunday is FUNday!

Today was a beautiful day in Minnesota! Brian went hunting during the morning, and when he came home we drove down to Owatonna to go to Cabela's. We picked up a few things while we were there and when we got back, she found these and wanted put everything on.

I love her!!

Bike Helmet

A few weeks ago, we bought a bike trailer. It was on clearence at Target for a lot cheaper than I have found used ones!

It's a Schwinn trailer that also turns into a jogging stroller. I've only used it as a bike trailer so far, and haven't gone too far because we don't have a helmet for Adelle. I've gone to Erick's before to check out helmets, but there was only this creepy bunny on their toddler helmets. Well today when I went, I was talking with one of the associates and she told me they could order a different one. I got really excited when she told me that. I ended up ordering this one for Adelle, because it was the only one that didn't creep me out. What do you think?!

The Little Gym

Brian and I bought a Groupon {I love Groupon} for The Little Gym in Burnsville. Adelle really loved running around, climbing, and even tumbling. Here are a few pictures during one of her sessions. Auntie M came with us and Brian and I took the pictures.

I am completely in love with my Sweet Girl and appreciate all of the blessings we've had, like being able to experience The Little Gym!

Running - Week 1

I started an 8 week running training program for beginners this week. I found it online at Weight Loss Resources. It's a UK website, but I think the program is gradual and healthy.

I had to walk this week - that's it! I even walked on my days off, but I am sure that is ok. I feel my body reacting to the extra exercise already. I am not complaining - I LOVE IT!! Walking is so easy too, why have I not been doing this all along? I mean, I go on walks all the time. Almost every day in fact, so why has getting in shape been so difficult? I think it's because I didn't take advantage of the time I had at school. Now, I am looking for that 10 or 15 minutes at recess when I can walk with the kids. I used to patrol the playground, always moving, but I didn't walk with a purpose. Now I do!

Next week I will briskly walk when it's time for my exercise. I am already looking forward to it and getting outside more with Adelle!!

Here was my regimen for Week 1!
Monday - Brisk Walk for 10 minutes
Tuesday - Rest
Wednesday - Brisk Walk for 15 minutes
Thursday - Rest
Friday - Brisk Walk for 20 minutes
Saturday - Rest
Sunday - Rest

New Phone

So I got a new phone the other day because I hated my other one and T-Mobile said I could trade it in. I got an amazing new phone that I absolutely LOVE!! I got an LG OptimusT, which means we had to get a data plan too. I really like all of the features, I just wish I was able to download stuff with a gift card (with mac stuff you can just get an iTunes gift card so you don't have to put in your CC information).

It's awesome, I got the wine color and it has a cute little ring. No one really calls me so I don't hear it that often, but it's cute anyway. AND I can take a ton a pictures and videos with it! AND it can upload pictures of Facebook, Blogger, Picasa. AND I can view all of the pictures from the blog and my Picasa account on my phone! How cool is that?!

I love my new phone!!

New Car and Santa

No, Brian and I don't have a new car... but we've been thinking about what we should get once the time rolls around. Especially after the crazy amount of snow that fell last weekend! We've been talking about getting a small SUV or a crossover type vehicle specifically to be up off the ground more and to have 4-wheel drive.

Which brings us to Wednesday. Brian and I took Adelle to Burnsville Center to sit on Santa's lap. We got there around 5:15p, even though Santa wasn't scheduled to be back from his break until 6pm, and proceeded to join the line - we were 2nd! YAY!! We stood in line for a while, I walked around with Adelle for a while, I let Adelle crawl around on the floor a while, then we went back in line.

What does this have to do with a new car you ask?! Well, one of the Toyota dealerships had a Sienna on display in the Santa line. The sliding doors were open so you could see all of the bells and whistles - and there were literally bells inside on some wreaths! Then on one side, the side we happened to be sitting on, they had a smallish flat screen tv hooked up playing, no, LOOPING a video.

At first, I really liked the video and the song. It was funny, cute, and even pretty catchy. Then, after about the 15th time I heard it, I wanted to turn it off and even wanted to write the dealership to suggest looping a few videos/commercials so people wouldn't want to hurl the tv across the food court. Then yesterday I said to Brian, "Hey honey? Do you know what song I want to hear?" He said no, then listed off some of my favorite songs. I said, "No. None of those. I want to listen to Swagger Wagon."

We smiled. I found this online this morning and it has made my day. I wonder if I can get it on iTunes?!

Christmas - Round 1

My Grandparents, Marilyn and Mac, were very much in love. They had a BEAUTIFUL and romantic love story too! Well, that love story resulted in 8 children, my Mom is one of the 8. The love story was instilled in their kids, so those 8 ended up having children of their own, which is why I am 1 of 22 grandchildren. The grandchildren range in age from close to 40 to 21 (I think) and some of us have children of our own! Adelle is 1 of 21 great-grand children.

Needless to say, we all can't fit into one person's house, so we get together at a dining hall (kind of) each year a couple of weeks before Christmas. That way, everyone can have their own traditions and we still have this one - getting together and seeing everyone.

It was a blast! Angie and Dale organized it this year, Brian and I get to organize it next year, and we had a lot of fun! It was Adelle's first time being around everyone and she did such a great job!! The only thing we didn't like was not being able to put Adelle down for a nap. There wasn't a place, so Brian went out to drive around with her. It worked out, but that is something to think about for next years' planning....

Anyway, here are some pictures from the event!

Snow Day

So there was a blizzard today - Adelle's First!! And I'm talking about an, I-can't-open-my-front-door-or-get-out-of-my-driveway blizzard! It was crazy!! We really wanted to bring Adelle outside and stick her in the snow to take a couple of pictures, but we couldn't see a whole lot and it was so windy we didn't think it was worth it. Sometime in the next couple of days, if it warms up, we will though!

Anyway, here are some pictures to warm your heart!









Here are pictures of the actual snow. Mind you, we have an association plow and shovel for us (who actually only plowed our driveway once) and I was already out there once myself to clear half of the driveway. Those drifts by the front door are up to my waist and the one in the driveway is up to my upper thigh!!