Potty Training is an Individual Sport

Potty training essentially feels like a lot of trial and error with no rhyme or reason. My best advice...encourage them and just let them learn in the way they do best.

It actually came pretty easy many moons ago with my oldest. He was day trained at 22 months. Easy peasy. There wasn't much to it. He crawled early, walked early, so it made sense he potty trained early too.

10 years later with Lily, it was slightly more challenging. Now, we find ourselves in the throes of potty training our youngest, most stubborn little love.  What we're finding a little more difficult is that our lives are busier with more kids and activities and we just don't have the "let's stay home all day and just potty train" ability any longer.

There are articles and boasts all over the internet of how you can potty train your baby in 3 days, 18 hours, or whatever other time frame.

None of these folks sharing their magic time frames have ever met my Violet who entered the world on her own timetable and it seems potty training will be on her terms as well.  Let's just say we spend much time "fake pottying" throughout our day. Violet is that little one who refuses to spend her day sans diapers or undies, so there are a lot of wipes getting used during our potty training because each time--fake potty or real potty-- she needs a wipe.  Thankfully we have Cottonelle® FreshCare® Flushable Cleansing Cloths to help ease this last and latest potty trainer we have.

We have definitely learned that potty training is an individual sport! We don't push Violet and as much as I'm ready for her to be potty trained, she is taking her own sweet time. In addition to using the Cottonelle wipes to keep her bottom clean, she loves to sit on the potty and wipe her face with one.

Like I mentioned above, we are a busy, on-the-go family, so Cottonelle® FreshCare® Flushable Cleansing Cloths are a dream to have with us in the car!

The difference maker in these Cottonelle wipes versus regular baby wipes is that they are flushable! They feature SafeFlush Technology™, so they start to break down immediately after flushing. They are sewer and septic safe and they're alcohol free (so there's no burning bums!) 

Our entire family prefers wipes over regular toilet paper and I feel comfortable knowing we're using a safe product for our family and our house!

One thing that is very important in our household is saving money. We've found that Sam's Club helps make that possible!  Right now, you can get Cottonelle® FreshCare® Flushable Cleansing Cloths at Sam's Club and get a $3 instant savings coupon from 6/22-7/17!  The benefits of having a Sam's membership have allowed us to save money on products we use everyday.  I love that I can order online and pick up at the warehouse if I need to. Because, let's face it, saving time is just as valuable as saving money!

Thankfully Sam's and Cottonelle have us covered on both saving time and money!

What are your best potty training tips?

Strawberry Picking

Every week, we try to get together with our mom friends and kids for a playdate. Some of us work, some of us stay home, but we try to get together at least once a week for the kids to play and let's be honest, for the moms to have some adult time. 

This week's activity was new to us. We decided to go pick strawberries.  My mom was in town still so it was fun to get to do with Oma too!

Sweet friends.

 The mamas.  And 3 babies growing inside. ;)

It was a muggy day, but we all had so much fun! The only exception was the grumpy lady who worked at the farm.  Despite her attitude, we decided this was an activity we want to do again next year! We just may be looking for another place to go. ;)

After we all headed our separate ways, Oma, Lily, and I went to eat lunch and then to visit some family friends.

Strawberry picking is hard work.

Toddler Bestie Playtime

Lily's bestie,Victoria, recently got a new swingset for their yard and sure enough we headed over to try it out.  It's always entertaining when 2 year olds get together. 

The girls were excited to play outside, as they always are! 

Having a great swingset with so much to do right in your own backyard, these two were in heaven! At the top there's a telescope, a chalkboard, and a steering wheel.   Of course, they each had to be doing what the other was doing at the exact same moment.  Lily had a blast exploring her best friend's new "playground!"

 

 

 

 

After a little while, he headed up to the back deck and the girls played up there. Mostly making messes, throwing balls, jumping and falling down. 

I love that they love each other and the joy for life that these two amazing two year olds have just shines through them. They both bring me a lot of happiness and I feel so very blessed that Victoria and her mama are in our lives! Great friends are not easy to find and Lily and I are lucky we found a matching set. :)

 

 

The afternoon was not without toddler temper time...Lily wasn't interested in holding Victoria's hand and let her know and Victoria was not always happy about sharing her new swingset.  They're learning to navigate their world and with two headstrong little ladies, it always proves to be entertaining! 

 

 

Thanks for having us over, V and Amy! We're looking forward to lots of summer fun in your yard!



Playdate at the Park

A few weeks back, Lily and I met with our friends Stef and her girls Lily and Lexie to play at the park after Lexie was done with kindergarten that day. 

The weather was gorgeous--one of the first of the year. We enjoyed being able to be outside after a long winter. Stef and I actually got to sit and talk while the girls played which almost never happens! We spent a glorious 2 1/2 hours hanging out in the finally warm weather with our girls. 

Stef is pregnant too, due just six weeks before me, so next summer we'll have at least one more, possibly two more girls to add to the mix. :)  We, of course, are having a girl, but Stef and her husband find out at delivery! She's so much stronger than I am. haha

Anywho, pregnancy brain sidetrack....back to the park.

Lily looooooooooooooooooves going to the park. She's all about the climbing and the sliding and the running and the swinging! Safe to say it's her happy place. :)

 

The girls ran and played, colored with sidewalk chalk, had snacks and as my Lily told me, "We're workin' on the truck."  She and Lily filled up the bottom of this car with mulch and I mean filled up.

 They happily "worked on the truck" for a long time!

 

 

Before they decided to fill it up, they gave Lexie a ride. She's always a good sport with the little ones.

Before we knew it, it was time to head home to meet our big kids after school.  It was a fun, relaxing afternoon hanging out with great friends we love! We're lucky. ♥

I Finally Finished!

Lily's 2nd birthday book, that is!

Click here to view this photo book larger

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Easter Party 2013

After the first part of our Easter activity filled day, we headed home for Lily to take a nap before heading over to a friend's house for an Easter party with more friends.  After Crankypants took a good nap, Daddy headed to work, and the rest of us went off to the party.

We, the parents, hung out and chatted while the kids played until it was time to go out for the egg hunt! The dads did a great job putting the eggs out in the yard! The little girls couldn't wait to get out there and lined up at the door ready to go!

Lily was super happy to be looking for eggs again.  Amy, after being with us earlier for the egg hunt, said, "It should be fun to get Lily inside after this." ahahhahahahahahhaha  She was right.  It was just as fun as the morning egg hunt ending...only it didn't last as long.

The toddlers headed out for their part first and then the big kids next.

 

 

Lily and Victoria wanted to look out the window, so what does any typical 2 year old do?? Climb up on the train table, of course and simply make it happen. 

 

 

This is where the bigger boys hung out most of the evening...talking and playing video games.

 

{little} Lily's milkshake brings all the boys to the yard.

 

We also colored Easter eggs. It was helpful to do activities in age groups.

The toddlers pretty much manhandle the eggs and throw them into the dye.

 

 

Victoria waiting her turn with her mama. :)

 

Lily chose pink, green and blue for her colors.  She was happy.

 

We chowed down on some pizza, salad, fruit and cake for supper and these toddler besties enjoyed every bit of it!

 

This is one of my fav pictures...EVER! Amy captured them playing and they both cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeesed for her!

I love these girls!

 

It was a super fun time hanging out with friends and letting the kids play together again. I appreciate these women and their families so very much and I'm so grateful to have them in my life!  What a fun Easter party! Can't wait until next year!  And we'll have a couple more babies in the mix come next Easter...and with any luck, maybe more than a couple! ;)