More Potty Talk

Ok y'all, I'm sorry to keep posting about the potty training, but it's kind of a big deal around here right now. The girls have really impressed me the past few days. They are really starting to catch on and they're developing a stronger desire to go potty. They've made it fun! I am continuing to take an encouraging roll, rather than drilling. I ask, but don't force.

If you read yesterdays blog entry, we had successful #2's from both girls! I thought it would still be a once-in-a-few-days kind of occurrence, but this evening, they surprised me. Kelsie has been saying "ickypoo" 30 min. after I put her to bed for the past 4 days. It has become a routine and it's been difficult to determine whether or not it's a real need or just an excuse to get out of bed. Well, this evening she was in tears and would not stop crying. I went in to talk to her and she said she needed to go to the bathroom. I sighed and was pretty skeptical, but took her anyway. She sat there sucking her thumb and 3 min. later she went #2, just like she had communicated! I was SO excited for her! She stood up and said, "Yay! I did it!" There's not a lot of things that are cute about potty training, but it was SO adorable to hear say those words in her sweet, excited little voice!! She got 4 mini M&M's & a sticker on her chart! She was happy after that, curled up & went to bed! 

While I was helping Kelsie, Karis was in her crib saying "potty" repeatedly. She tends to be my jealous babe. She had already gone #2 a couple hours earlier so I knew she didn't need to go. I thought is was just an excuse to get up, but she wouldn't let it go, so I took her potty too. She sat on the musical potty seat and pushed. Sure enough, it sang!! She jumped up and clapped for herself! Rewards & praise followed. I tucked them back in and 2 hours later(10:15pm) I heard from Karis again. She started fussing, so I went to tend to her cuz I knew Kels had fallen asleep and didn't want her to wake up. Kare said she had to go potty again. Phew! I thought about forgoing this one, but took a deep breath & hauled her to the bathroom. She sat there, made going sounds & then passed gas a few times. "Yay Poopy!" she cried. She stood up and I showed her there wasn't anything in there. Told her that she would need to do more than just toot if she wanted a treat, and she sat there until a half dollar size amount of liquid made that potty chair sing!!! Ha! She was thrilled and received hugs, praises and treats! Oh how they make me laugh! That's 2 days of success in the potty department. It happens irregularly, but it happens and I'm getting the results I was hoping for...their attitudes toward the concept are staying positive! Here's hoping it continues! Normally, I wouldn't post pictures like this cuz I know that when the girls get older, they'll be bothered by it, but this one is too cute not to share. 

Not a lot; just life

Oh where to begin?! We are all finally healthy and I'm so thankful! The girls are growing so fast. 

Potty training progress: We are almost through our last box of #4 diapers and once we're done, we will be in pull-ups until completely trained. The girls don't go to the bathroom in their potty seats every day. I make it a point to encourage & ask them frequently, but at this point, I still wait for them to want to. They do like sitting on their seats & reading. They often pretend by sitting on their seats and making "going" sounds. Tonight while sitting in their highchairs, Kare said "ickypoo" & started pushing, so I rushed her to the potty & she went #2. She enjoyed the praise, treat & sticker that followed. When I got done with helping her, Kelsie said "ickypoo", so I took her and she did the exact same thing! They are getting to a point where being wet & dirty really bothers them and they've even begun tugging at a dry diaper as if it's uncomfortable. I'm also so thankful that they're able to communicate better and let me know when they need to go. I hope it continues.

Things that the girls have been doing lately:
name all our colors
preferred movies: "Lady & the Tramp" and "Backyardigans"
reading
helping Mama around the house
counting to 11
call the cat & dog by name
wiping up any mess
howl at any siren
coloring
love being outside, sliding & swinging
singing along with familiar songs
dancing
brush teeth
running
looking at the moon & stars
Saying, "Again", "Alright", "Wow-wee", "Hello", "Oh No", "Mess" and many other words.
really enjoy eating oatmeal

It is amazing to watch them grow! They are learning so fast. Ian and I are fascinated by them and feel very blessed.

Ian's always hard at work but he's enjoying his job. He also got the cool opportunity to meet Chris Kyle, the most lethal sniper in American history! He was at Hastings for his book signing. Ian was thrilled! 

And I'm just busy being a wife & Mama; two of the greatest things ever and I love doing them! 

Here we go!

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!