We here at the Mader household are feeling so much better. Not quite 100% healthy, but we're well on our way. So thankful for all the prayers for our recovery!
I'm not really one for New Years resolutions, but I do have a few goals in mind that I'd like to begin implementing. One of which is potty training. I've never potty trained a child before and certainly never thought I'd have to train 2 at once, so I'm sure it will be challenging. But I'm hoping to have Karis & Kelsie potty trained before their 2 year birthday in April, so I had planned early on to start in January and see how they take to it.
Today, we went to Target & let the girls pick out their very own potty seat. There were some really cute, pink, girly princess ones, but the girls would have non of it. Kelsie picked out one with bells & whistles that plays music when she goes and Karis picked out a simple froggy potty.
Both girls have been showing signs of being irritated when wet/dirty by pulling at their pants & saying "diaper", so we thought that we would introduce this concept since they seem to have an interest in remaining clean. We got them home, and Karis said "diaper", so I thought "what the heck, she's not going to go, but lets give it a try." She peed, Y'all; right in her froggy potty...as if she knew exactly what she was doing! I made a huge deal out of it. Praised her, clapped my hands & cheered, gave her a sticker to put on her responsibility chart, and she got 2 mini M&M's!!! Kels went in & sat, fully clothed, on hers and began making pushing sounds. :)
I was hoping they'd catch on quick, but I never thought it would be this fast. True, it may still be a while before they truly catch on, but I am so excited that they're excited!!
In the form of a reward, I came up with this: if one girl goes potty, she gets 2 M&M's and sister gets 1. This way we use positive reinforcement, it's fun for both girls, and gives them incentive to keep up the good work!! Hooray for the pull-up stage!
It's so cute the way they've taken to this responsibility chart as well. Karis loves helping pick up toys & put the books back on the shelf when she knows she'll get to put a sticker on her chart! Kels likes helping too, but she is easily distracted & usually goes right back to playing. They're so much fun at this stage!
