Potty Time

Before I get started let me just state that potty training has been, hands down, my least favorite part of parenting so far.  Maybe even the least fun thing I've ever done ;) Monday, we started the 3 day method for potty training.  Basically, it's 3 days of focused training at home.  I felt that Mady was ready to start, especially since she had done it a couple of times before, and the fact that she would tell me the minute she was dirty that she needed a change.  

Monday, Day 1, was the worst day.  She had accident upon accident, and did not once go in the potty on her own.  Every accident I would rush her to the potty and if we got even a drop in there, I would reward her with an M&M and a sticker.  By the end of the day, 13 dirty undies later, I was ready to throw in the towel.  I thought maybe she just wasn't ready and I wanted to just bring out the diapers again.  Needless to say, I went to bed pretty exhausted and frustrated.

Tuesday, Day 2, was a huge improvement.  We only had 2 accidents, and the rest of the time she was able to tell me she needed to potty, and we made it to the potty on time!  There was a lot of celebration and dancing on Tuesday!  It was like a light switched on, and all of a sudden, it just clicked.  She still was very hesitant and a bit afraid of letting it out on the potty, but she was doing it.

Today, Day 3, we had no accidents at all besides going #2 in the undies.  I still can't get her to do #2 in the potty, but I've heard that this one can take a bit longer to get for some kiddos.  Hoping it happens sooner rather than later.  But what a huge accomplishment!  I am so happy at how far she came in just a couple of days.  She has now mastered understanding when her body is telling her it's time to go potty, and will let me know.  She also went several hours between having to go potty, which is much better than the every hour she was going on Monday and Tuesday.  I constantly praise her for keeping her undies dry which I think has helped.  She is still a bit afraid when it comes to letting it out on the potty but I think the more she does it, the better she gets.  I know it's not the end of the road and we will still have accidents as we continue but I'm so happy we did this.  She was definitely ready, it just took throwing away those diapers and showing her that she could.  

Rewards

Our progress chart!

Her big prize after 3 days and much success!

She loved it!

We are going with using pull-ups at night for now.  The 3 day method does call for you to night train them as well, but I just don't see how that will work for Mady.  She still wakes up every morning wet, and without me waking her every night to potty, I don't see her staying dry.  It makes it hard when she's still in a crib and isn't old enough to go potty on her own if she woke up and needed to.  It hasn't confused her so far, in regards to the day training, so I'm not too worried.

Tomorrow we will be making our first outing to meet some friends for lunch.   I will say that I'm a bit nervous about how she will do once we're out, but we have to do it at some point, right?!

Reunited and it feels so good!

Last week I was finishing up my last week of summer school and Nick was working days, so our parents offered to watch Mady for us in Port Arthur.  We met them in between here and Port Arthur on Sunday to drop her off, and met back up on Friday to pick her up.  This was the first time we were home without our girl and, boy, did I miss her!  It was really hard dropping her off.  I was already missing her days before she was actually gone.  It's a lot different being at home without Mady.  Everything in the house was a reminder that she was not there.  One night we ate dinner at the table and it was so sad seeing her little placemat and chair all empty.  We decided to either eat out or on the couch after that, haha.  

While we did miss her so much while she was gone, she had a blast with her grandparents.  We are so fortunate to have grandparents that love her so much and want to spend time with her.  Thanks again guys for watching her!  Nick and I enjoyed having some time to ourselves too.  Not having to plan days around naps and bedtime was so different.  One day after my classes were done at noon, Nick got off of work early and we spent most of the day together.  It was so much fun!  Made me remember why I like him so much ;)

This past Friday we picked her up and it felt so good to have her in my arms again!  We had a great weekend together hanging out, the three of us.  Only five more months left of that!

Tomorrow we start potty training.  I won't lie, I am dreading this a bit, and not looking forward to it at all, but I think she's ready.  When she comes to me with a diaper and says she's stinky, I think it might be time.  We are trying the 3 day method, which means we will be home for three days working on potty training.  No more diapers after tomorrow!  Pray for us please.  Mainly for me to have patience through all of this, and for this to be an easy transition for her.

Tomorrow is another exciting day because I have my next doctor's appointment.   I get to hear out little one's heartbeat again, which I just love.  I have been feeling really good lately, and remembering why every pregnant woman loves the second trimester so much!  

Here are some pictures of all the fun Mady had while she was gone:  

Playtime at the mall

Lita's yummy blueberry muffins

Of course there was ice cream

Park time

More playtime at the mall

Cousin time!

Mady has a big announcement....

She's going to be a BIG SISTER!!!!

It is official now, we are expecting our second child!  Our little booger (which we have so affectionately named) is due February 1st.  I am 12 weeks along and we had our second appointment today where we got to hear the little heartbeat.  At the first appointment the heartbeat was 167, and at this one it was 155.  Everything is looking great and we are just so incredibly happy.

As excited and happy as we are to be bringing another baby into our family, it has come with some rough times.  Exhaustion hit me like fifty tons of bricks.  I'm not sure if I'm just more tired because I'm running after a toddler this time, or if I just don't remember this part, but man have I been exhausted.  I started teaching a couple of weeks ago and that has been tough at times.  Keeping up with that, as well as planning for fall, and a new course I have to teach in the fall, has been challenging.  Prayer has been key in giving me strength to press on.   Nick has been so great at helping pick up the slack around here and never complaining.  So grateful for him.  

Nausea has also been rough.  There was a time where I felt like I was nauseous more than I wasn't.  Funny story, I woke up one morning feeling really sick.  It felt worse than usual as I was driving to school to teach my first class at 8 in the morning...yuck.  So I'm lecturing, and I just feel so sick and I can feel myself starting to sweat, and I start having to catch my breath after every few words.  When I see the guy in the front row look at me strangely I realize that this is pretty obvious so I should probably say something.  I ended up stopping and telling them "Sorry guys, I'm pregnant, and this has not been a good morning for me".  So embarrassing!!  I sit down and am fanning myself, while I continue to lecture (such a champ!)  and thankfully, it starts to pass.  The class was great, and they were congratulating me and we were joking about it afterwards.  I still wake up pretty much every morning nauseous, but it doesn't last as long.  Bright side is I feel like these symptoms are lessening and I can see a light at the end of the tunnel :)

Baby is the size of a peach!

We've been talking to Mady about the new baby.  She knows where the baby is, and when you ask her where the new baby is she will say "mommy's tummy".  She's talked to the baby and at times will lift up my shirt and say "where is it?".  So cute!  But I don't think she truly understands what this new baby means, and what it will mean come February.  I don't think she'd take it so well if she did, haha.  It will definitely be a change for her but we want to make her a part of it all, and I have full confidence that she will be an awesome big sister.  We are so thankful for this precious gift and look forward to going through this ride again!!

God has poured out his love into our hearts. Romans 5:5

Gulf Shores, Alabama

It's been a couple of weeks now, but we took a little family trip over to Gulf Shores, Alabama to hang out at the beach for a few days.  We heard it was nice, and closer than Destin (which is always good when you're traveling with a toddler) so we headed on our way.  We broke the trip up and stayed in Port Arthur on the way there and back, and got to spend some time with our families.

Mady did awesome on the car ride there!  Eight hours in the car, and no tantrums or meltdowns at all!  I brought some snacks, toys, and books for her to play with.  We also loaded a couple of movies on the iPad, and that was all it took.  We had a wonderful time at the beach and Mady loved it!  I wasn't too sure she was going to enjoy it and went with low expectations but boy was I wrong!  She had so much fun playing in the waves with us, and she loved playing with her beach toys in the sand.  The condo we stayed at also had a few pools, so we had some fun times in the pool as well.  Great memories made!  Just two days ago we asked her if she remembered going to the beach and she started naming off: dolphin! kite! water!  All things we saw while we were there.

We're here!!

Just a little relaxing on the beach.  My kind of girl!

Playing in the waves

School started this week for Mady and I.  It's been a bit of an adjustment, but I think more on my part than hers.  She has done great going back to school, but I must admit I miss her a lot.  Classes have gone really well so far though, and I have a good group of students.  While I do miss her, I love what I do and really have fun teaching and being in the classroom.

Latest happenings

We spent Father's Day watching the US Open, going out for some mexican food, and ice cream for dessert.  Nick had a great day but he deserved it and so much more. Mady and I are so blessed to have this guy in our lives.  He is so good to us and is the best husband and daddy, but we're partial of course ;)

A couple of weeks ago, our niece Meagan flew in to see us.  She's 14 and this was her first time flying, and she was by herself!  Luckily, they allowed me to go to the gate to wait for her to arrive and go with her to the gate when she flew home, which was great!  Mady had a blast at the airport, and she had an even bigger blast with Meagan.  She loved having her here and so did we.  The day after she left, when Mady woke up in the morning she went into the room Meagan was staying in, saw it empty, and starting crying and saying "Meagan!" over and over.  So sweet.

A couple of other gems I found on my phone:

Nick was less than thrilled when he saw this picture, haha

Swim Lessons

We signed Mady up for swim lessons this summer and today was Mady's last day of swim lessons.  With us going out of town at the end of the month, and me teaching in July, we took a two week course that was Monday - Thursday each week.

Mady was pretty apprehensive at first in the water.  With the unusually cool weather the first week of June, it didn't really help matters much being in the cold water.  This second week she really came out of her shell and was doing her scoops and kicks and having a lot of fun.  We will be taking many trips out to the pool this summer!

Doing her scoops and kicks

Our little fish

Her ribbon for passing the class!

Last day of School

Mady's last day of preschool was yesterday, at least for the academic year.  She goes back in July for four weeks, while I teach summer courses.  We have really liked her school!  Her teachers are wonderful, the staff is great, and we really feel comfortable having her there.  So thankful to have found this place :)

Mady on her first day of school

Mady on her last day of school

Her awesome teacher, Mrs. Rose.  Definitely going to miss her next year