Potty Training Process

For months now I've completely dreaded potty training with Preston. I've had clue after clue that he is ready and honestly, I've just been really lazy about doing it. However, last week his school was out on Thursday and Friday for teacher conferences and I knew we were in town all weekend so I bit the bullet and started the dreadful process of potty training a boy. Even though it's only been 3 years since I went through this with Savannah, I feel like a complete beginner . . . I mean I thought we used pull ups with her, but after a day of pull ups on Thursday I knew this was not going to work with Preston. So, Friday we started with the big boy underwear. It was a LONG day of going potty every 30 minutes and a few accidents, but overall I thought we were doing well. Then came the weekend with all sorts of things to throw us off schedule. But my mindset has been that we are COMMITTED to this process.

Monday came and I had a slew of errands to run (6 of them) all before his hour long My Gym class. I was scared to death to take him out just in underwear, but I decided to avoid confusion I would risk the mess and just pack extras of everything in my purse. He did beautifully and made it away from home for over 3 hours without any accidents!!! Of course as soon as we got home and hit the potty yet again, he had a small accident within 10 minutes. But, that was our only problem the entire day. We even snuck in a poop on the potty! ;)

Today I decided to send him to school in his big boy underwear only to get there and find out the rule is 2 weeks accident free before underwear are allowed. oops. Preston threw a fit when I told him that we were going to have to put on his pull up . . really?? I guess he's liking the attention that potty training is bringing him. Anyway, Ms Peggy gladly came over and talked him into putting the pull up over his underwear and he finally agreed to that. When I picked him up he was still in his big boy underwear and they were completely dry!!! We made it an entire day without any accidents and I'm no longer taking him to potty every 30 minutes. Woo hoo!!

I know we're a long way from being completely potty trained for naps and nighttime, but he has made huge progress in just 5 days and I'm SO proud of my little guy! Maybe I'm not so clueless after all.

How to Melt a Mama's Heart . . .

This week has been challenging with Preston. On Tuesday he discovered the word "WHY" and uses it at least half a million times a day. I'd like to think it was his way of practicing dialoge and that it's improving his speech, but I think he is just trying to drive me insane . . and it's working. Anyway, today he totally made up for it . When I was getting him out of the car at WEE school this morning he throws his arms out and says "I luv you so MUCH, mama". Oh, I could eat him up. Then this afternoon I picked up my bridesmaid dress and of course Savannah insisted that I try it on right away. So I finally gave in and tried it on. As soon as I got it on Preston starts running around the bathroom saying "bu-ful mommy, bu-ful". It took me a minute to figure out he was saying beautiful mommy. Oh, he knows how to melt my heart already!

Upward Cheer!!

This past Saturday Savannah officially started Upward cheerleading! It was so cute watching her cheer in her little uniform . . and she was one happy girl. Every time I looked at her she had a huge smile on her face and seemed to be loving every second. I think she loves to be on stage so cheering is right up her alley. Oh and the uniform, yeah, she probably would have worn it to church the next day if I let her. :) This is definitely new territory for me since clearly the Lord did not build this body to be a cheerleader.

Who Needs Harris Teeter Super Doubles??

It's been awhile since I've had a savings post, but after my trip yesterday to BiLo I had to share!! All week it's super doubles at Harris Teeter and I've done quite well there scoring free milk and lots of other great deals, but nothing compares to my trip to BiLo today. For the first time I took advantage of their coupon policy that lets you use ANY store coupon in addition to manufacturer coupons and scored the following deal:

10 individual cups of yoplait yogurt
6 boxes of cereal
4 boxes of fruit snacks
4 bags of Chex mix
3 cans of Pillsbury biscuits
2 boxes of Savannah's yogurt sticks
2 4 packs of Yoplait w/granola
2 cans of sliced pears
1 bottle of hand soap
1 box of Snackwells snacks

I received 2 coupons back for a total of $4.75 off my next purchase AND
80, yes 80, boxtop certificates for Savannah's school ($8 value)

For a whopping total of $8.28 out of pocket!!! So if you subtract the coupons I got back, this entire order was only $3.53. :)

Encouragement

At the end of most days, with the kids in bed, I sit and wonder if I'm doing ANYTHING right with raising our children. I often am hurried and rushed with them and just don't know if I'm doing enough to raise them to be employable & marriageable. Am I doing enough to teach them about God and His love? There's no question that I love them more than I ever thought possible, but I just often wonder if I am doing this parenting thing right. Not that I'll ever know what is right or wrong, but I have been encouraged by two very special people who have sent me a few kind words about Savannah.

From a precious friend, Lisa ~ She (Savannah) is so cute. I asked her what was her big gift for Christmas. And you would be so proud to know that she said “well, Jesus is the big gift for Christmas”. She was so sweet.

From her teacher ~ She did fantastic today and she is one smart little lady! She is doing great with her reading!

I pretty sure both Savannah and Preston know a lot more than I think they do, both about God's love and about life . . . I am going to challenge myself in this new year to slow down and really listen to what they are saying, really hear what's on their mind and heart! And oh how thankful I am for people who have taken the time to send me tidbits of encouragement. :)