Potty Training: Successes and Failures

We decided to start training Chloe last week... well, to be fair, Chloe decided it was time. I was getting her ready for bath time and I asked her if she was ready to hop in. She said, "No, I wanna pee on the potty." I told her she could. She usually takes off her bottoms, sits on her little potty (does absolutely nothing) then exclaims "All done!" and puts her pants back on, or runs away pants-less, laughing. So imagine my shock when I actually heard a tinkle this time! I thought it might be a fluke, so I continued to get the bath ready, when she told me she was going to use the potty again. Sure enough, she went a second time!
We realized that she was ready, and we needed to jump on this opportunity. The first day, she wet her pants nine times, the second day only twice. She had no trouble sitting on the potty, and didn't fight it at all.
So I thought I was doing great, but that was about as good as it was going to get. She still has at least 2 accidents each day. I need to ask her to go, she wont initiate it yet. Also, I am doing more Lysol-ing, Spot-Shot-ing, and laundry in the past few days than I feel like I ever have in my whole life.
But there is light at the end of the tunnel...
Jared took her out today to run some errands. He tried to get her into some training pants (we wont even attempt underwear when leaving the house) and she threw a fit. She exclaimed "No, Daddy, I wanna wear my big girl panties!"

I guess she's not my little baby anymore!

Tulip Festival and Dutch Days

A few years ago, Jared and I purchased Dutch costumes. Somehow, each year that the Thanksgiving Point Gardens host the Dutch Days, we attend not knowing it to be the Dutch Days. This is disappointing because the Old Dutch Store does a costume contest each year. After seeing the contestants for the past 2 years, we know we would win by a landslide. Anyway, we had a wonderful time. If you have a property membership, I recommend going more than once, with about a week in between visits. Something new blooms or wilts each week. OH! We also had some croquetten, stroopwafels, and cassis. It was delicious, but made me miss the real things!

Easter

We were fortunate enough to have both sets of grandparents in town for Easter weekend. That meant that Chloe got 2 Easter egg hunts... lucky girl... not so lucky parents of a sugar-rushed 2 year old! All in all it was a fun, yet relaxing weekend with the family. Chloe had a duckie-themed Easter basket. She got a chocolate duck (above) instead of a bunny, a duckie Pez dispenser, 5 new rubber duckies, a few activity books, and some bubbles.She did a great job finding her purple eggs, though admittedly, she did better with finding her cousin Jacob's eggs.

Rockband Baby

Chloe loves to play Rockband with Jared. Most times he plays the drums and she takes any and all other instruments. Usually, for no reason at all, she is pants-less as she plays. My Favorite episode was from last year. We were playing at Mark and Chelsey's house, and Chloe was going crazy. I just love this, because you can imagine her in a little, tiny, toddler mosh pit! Of course this time she was shirt-less, rather than pants-less.

Jared's Bithday

March 12, 2010
Jared took the day off work to relax and enjoy being with our family. We had breakfast at Hagermann's- endless french toast and sugar cookies. We played together the rest of the day. That night, Jared and I went out to the SkyBox to watch the Jazz game and have dinner. Of course they offered a brownie dessert that Jared just couldn't resist. Thanks everyone for the great birthday cards, messages, and other great wishes that truly brightened his day!

Photographing a 2 Year Old

We finally got back our prints from Chloe's 2 Year photos. Yes, I know, it's almost 6 months after her 2nd birthday, but in my defense, she is still 2.
We had an interesting time. She found the prop closet and decided to take out everything that she found even the least bit interesting. We allowed some of the props in the photos, but drew the line with items like:
- a blue ABC block
- a foam jack-o-lantern
- a raggedy teddy bear and duck (which for some inexplicable reason needed to be held at the same time)

After taking said items away, things did not quite go as planned.

Note: Random, wooden flowersThis incident occurred right after we took away her bribery sucker. Much to her chagrin, we did not find it complimented the photo.I'm pretty sure this happened when the raggedy bear and duck "went to take a nap." Nothing gets past her.

We actually did get a few really cute pictures of our Chloe, but these are just the ones that I found best represented how the session went. And who knows, maybe these photos will find their way into the scrapbook that I show all her future dates.... right next to the bath pictures.

San Antonio

Chloe and I went with my parents down to Texas to visit my grandparents, who are now living at my aunt and uncle's house. We saw a few of my cousins and had a terrific time catching up and enjoying our family. I think my favorite part of the trip might have been the fact that Chloe didn't end up in the ER this time. :) It's all about the little things, right? My Uncle Rick, Grandpa Miller, and my Dad on my uncle's back porch. He has a beautiful view of the temple. Chloe was instantly in love with my uncle's golf cart. She hopped on it and "steered" every chance she got.So we decided to let her drive... here's how it ended up... My uncle also has a playground in his backyard that Chloe had a blast with. She kept asking my aunt to come watch her slide. My Uncle Rick got the chance to play the "Chalk Game," which Grandma Hansen is all too familiar with. First, Chloe draws a scribble on the chalkboard. Then, who ever is assisting her has to wipe it off as quickly as possible. Repeat as many times as necessary.