Potty Training

I seemed to forgot to update everyone on Jay's potty training in the last blog. We want him to be completely potty trained before the baby gets here, so he has been working really hard!! We actually introduced it to him around Christmas time. I went and bought him a potty seat and a step stool and showed him how to use it. I knew at 18 months he wouldn't get it just then, but I wanted him to be accustomed to the whole idea once we really got started. 

Between Christmas and May I researched the best way to potty train and I came across the idea of letting the toddler go naked from the waist down. I asked my sister in law about this and she said that is how she trained my oldest niece. I asked my mom how she trained me, and well of course, I just had perfected it all on my own one day!! 

So, it started. Jason would be running around the house naked. About every thirty minutes I would sent him to the potty and he would get either a sticker or a cracker if he went. I mean, yall know how much food will motivate our child!! He seemed to get the hang of it right off the bat, but he would still have some accidents, especially if he was engaged in what he was doing. We also had a hard time getting him to poo poo in the potty. They say that is hardest thing to get them to do. Now, he is a natural at it. He is even standing up to pee now!! He loves to lift the lid and flush. However, this adventure has not gone without casualties. And I am talking about casualties to my carpet, his Elmo chair, and his pee pee. Here are some things I have learned while training my toddler:

1. Be prepared with Clorox wipes.

2. Have your carpet cleaner loaded and ready.

3. Do not allow your child to sit on anything cloth...you make think it is clean, but the smell will always be there. (RIP Elmo chair).

4. Not only will you find pee on the floor, you will find poop. ( I was totally grossed out by this, but good thing it only happened a couple of times).

5. Be prepared to bleach the crap out of the potty seat about once a day.

6. Keep all DVD cases out of reach of the boys who are training. If not, a closed case on the pee pee may hurt. Just ask Jay.

7. Once they are in big boys/girls, be prepared to do multiple washes of Spiderman and McQueen underwear.

8. If you have a storm door and tend to leave your front door open so light can come through, don't. Neighbors may think you are crazy when your naked child waves at them when they are walking down the sidewalk.

9. Ladies, get your husbands to show the boys how to hold it properly. If not, pee will get everywhere. Apparently I didn't know what I was doing!

10. Lastly, try to time your restroom breaks around theirs. It's hard to get them to understand that they have to hold it. Mine, well he just pulled it out and went in the trash can while he waited for me.  

I have learned a lot of patience with this adventure. Even though it is not totally over, I feel that we are over the hump!! We have gone to the zoo and to the grocery store with out accidents, so I am faithful that it is working. I do know that we will encounter some accidents, but we are well prepared with extra big boys and shorts!! When he goes back to school in a couple of weeks, he will change classes and they will work with him too on the potty training. His big boy room is slowly coming along, but it should be done, hopefully, by next weekend!! Pictures to come.

New Beginnings

I realize that is has been over a month since updating, but we have had a lot of things going on here, both good and bad. May 27th my grandfather passed away. To me, it seemed so fast. I know he was sick, but I thought we had a few more months. However, I do know that he is happy with God and waiting anxioulsy for all of us.

A couple of weeks after the funeral Jason graduated from The Memphis Police Academy. It was such an exciting time for us and I couldn't be more proud of him. He graduated second in his class and received a leadership award. He has enjoyed every minute being out on the streets of Memphis. I truly feel that this is his calling.

This past weekend Jason and I traveled to New Orleans. My sister is getting married and we threw her an engagement party. It was beautiful!! Kinda surreal that my little sister is getting married, but she's not a kid anymore. She is an amazing woman and I am so glad that she is my sister. As usual growing up we fought a lot. I don't think the 5 year age difference helped either! However, as we have aged she and I have become real close and I cherish our relationship. She is a wonderful godmother to Jay and she will be a wonderful aunt to this new baby. Her fiancee' is pretty great too. He will be a wonderful addition to the family!!

We also spent time in LaPlace this past weekend. Our nephew turned 2 and we were able to see Jimmy, Liz and the kids. It is so awesome to watch Jay and Little Jimmy play together. Jimmy just recently got stationed in LA, so we are looking forward to seeing them more often!

Also this past month Little Jason has made some leaps and bounds!! He is starting to put multiple words together to make sentences. The other day he asked Jason, "where my shoes Daddy?" We were shocked!! I have been working with him this summer on his letters, colors and shapes. He actually told me this morning, "Good job Momma" as I was sweeping the floor!! We are working on his big boy room right now. I hope to get that done before I go back to work in 4 weeks.

Baby C is doing fine also. He/she is doing a lot of moving around and keeping me up at night. I am at the point now that I am not sleeping well at all. I have about 90 days left! Ha! I promise to try and update more. Once we get started on the big boy room I will take pictures and post them!!