Potty Training Diaries {Wrap-up}

It's official and has been for awhile now--Micah is potty trained! Well daytime at least. He has naps down fairly well, but I don't trust him enough to not put a pull-up on him and night is pretty good too, but I don't get right up with him in the morning and well...let's face it he can't hold it forever...so not his fault...mine.

As a side bar I would like to note that DAYTIME training and NIGHTTIME training ARE two different things. Leighton is 4 and still not nighttime trained. She still wears a pull-up at night and it is wet 3-4x/week. There is a chemical in the brain that needs to be releasing to help slow down their system. This can take up to the age of 9! Also, she is a HEAVY heavy sleeper. This is an issue that isn't discussed often enough, yet one night at dinner 4 out of 8 moms had kids over the age of 4 still night-time wetting. 50%! That is crazy. The mom who brought it up felt ashamed for her daughter until she heard us say "US TOO!" So if your kid has daytime down, but still wetting at night...please take heart it is normal and there isn't too much you can do about it.

Back to the post....

I often laugh when I get on pinterest and see all these "How to potty train your kid" pins and how "fun" you can make it...um, maybe I am missing something, but it.is.NOT.fun. It won't ever be fun, just do it. Stop making excuses and waiting for all the signs, just do it. Micah didn't asked to be potty trained at 18 months I made the choice for him, considering I am his mother and know what is best for him. :) It was a headache and at times I found myself wondering why bother right now...but then I would gently remind myself that in 1 year from now {or most likely LESS} he would be golden. And I was right.

Look how much he has changed!!! Oh.my.word!

He was pee-pee trained in a matter of days, and had the complete hang of it a matter of months. Now #2s well that was a whole other mess...literally. He started off well, and then I don't know what happened, well I sort of do, but totally not going to blog share that...if you really want to know I will tell you privately, but I know it most likely is NOT a situation that most face...ANYWAY, he never really pooped his pants on me, he would just simply wait until nap, bed or nursery times to do so. He was always in a pull-up, so little mess to deal with.

I tried everything--bribing him, forcing him to sit on the potty, ignoring it, making up funny stories about it, and flat out discipline-- you name it I probably tried it. Nothing was effective; so I went back with ignoring it and realized that he is not even 2 yet and is potty trained except for some 1x/day bowel movement...get over it. This phase will come. 

Enter the flu in February. He is now just over 2. The flu brings with it the loose variety. His stomach was wrenching and painful...I could almost feel his pain. I looked at him and said "baby, if you go sit on the potty and let it out you will feel so much better! Wanna try?!"

"YES"

He did and he went and from that point on, give or take a few accidents since then, he has been spot on. We now can check that box off the PT list and shout HOORAY! My favorite phrase right now is "MOMMY! I went POOP!" You know you are mom when... HA!

Here he is using the iPad to "relax." Whatever it takes, and it works nearly every time.

You know to each their own on potty training, but I just love the fact that I have 2 kids and only did 3 years of diapering. 3 years! There are few things in this mommy world I feel truly capable and smart in and this is one of them, I am like the potty whisperer.

I love the freedom no diapers gives...like no more diaper bags!

Although we do carry around a bag for our travel potty seat. With a boy it is hard to balance him and help him aim, so for me when I was told about this I bought one immediately. {it folds up nice and small-ish}

Now the only advice I need is how to get rid of that boy pee smell and keep it in the potty. Everyone says I should have potty trained him backwards...well, thanks for that tip too late...HA!

Here he is sans potty seat...my worst nightmare. I just finally figured out how to attached the pee pee guard and now this! Sigh..."I no need potty seat, I big boy."

Gymnastics {Micah Style}

Ah, my little boy finally in gymnastics! My heart swells with pride. And to be honest he has a natural knack for it--just like mommy, more-so than his sister. Leighton is most likely going to be my dancer unless she works much harder at gymnastics, sadly she didn't inherit my mad strength and zero fear for gymnastics, but we are hopin' she got Auntie Meg's dance skillz.

Back to Micah. I know some may think it is girly, but it is anything but. Chad and I are both firm on the fact that our kids, whether we like it or not, will pursue the sport/art/activity they find joy and ability in--not the one we want them to choose. Even if MW wants to become a ballet dancer then we are 100% supportive---which the way he loves to watch Lo dance could be a possibility. All that to say I can't stand when parents, especially of little boys, want to say "girl" sport or "boy" sport. They all require skill and talent.

Here we are waiting to go in! He is so excited to have mommy and Micah time--no sissy allowed. I worried he would be that rambunctious boy that would run around and NOT follow instruction  like his very well-behaved sister, but he has blown me away. One of the best kids in the class! Way to go buddy!

Flashback. Lo was 19 months. They just look the same to me.

His favorite thing...JUMPING!!!

And more jumping...

And more jumping...{off the beam}

Oh, and I can't forget climbing!

Another flashback!! Lo (18 months) terrified and MW running!

I have loved doing this class with him! Next month is swim lessons, but we will be back to this in the fall!

The Things Leighton Says {Fashion Edition}

Leighton dresses herself. Every morning.
Most days she is quite the fashionista and I am impressed with her outfits. I may do a post on her clothes one day. But then there are days like today...

Mommy: Uh, honey, you look like you got dressed in the dark this morning.
Lo: {in a very matter of fact tone}: No mom I didn't. I asked daddy to turn on the light.
Mommy and Meg--literally on the floor laughing until we nearly peed our pants!

She DID change before we left the house. Most days I can overlook some of her minor fashion faux pas, but this--this was too much even for me!

So what does a good mom do--take pics. Then MW wanted his picture taken and this diva couldn't share the lime light!

So he promptly karate kicks her out of the shot! Seriously my new favorite picture!!

Ah! Much better...I cute and I know it!

The End.

I Wanna Be...

I didn't take the time to edit most of these, but they are cute just as they are. These are Chad's cowboy boots. Now Chad never struck me as one who would have had cowboy boots in childhood, but what do I know, guess the mystery is still alive. HA!

Leighton is a born model...anyone want to sign her?! She can pose and ham it up for the camera just as good as any child model, plus I think she is a doll face...when we comb our hair and wear matching clothes. ;)

I wanna be a cowgirl baaa-by!

And then it was Micah's turn. Yes, my kids may be 2 year apart in age, but MW is just a few inches shy of catching Lo in stature and sizes.

I wanna be a cowboy baaa-by!

The Recording Studio

My littlest sister, Meg is a film student and one of her class assignments was to record a radio ad.
We are always her guinea pigs...it may have something to do with the fact that she waits until the last minute to do it or because we are AWESOME! Most likely the latter.

Here we are at the "Studio."
My dad did the voice over for the ad--you know the fast talking details. :)

The kids thought it was so cool to talk into a microphone and hear their voices. Look at my little diva. Already a star. They played "annoying" children well...lots of practice. HA!

The ad was for a "daycare" MDO type place. I played the part of the frazzled mother needing a break; it was a difficult role to play and I had to dig deep for inspiration....oh wait no I didn't. HA!

Meg, is a slave driver perfectionist...no idea who she gets that from; and made me say my 3 lines 100x! So while she was editing I left little jewels on my recording to make her laugh. The ad turned out really cute and I am proud of Meg for figuring that all out. It is so cool what you can do with a little editing know how. I wish I had the ad to share, but she has yet to send me the link...one day I will get it posted!

March in a Flash

Wow. So where did March go?! It is going to be summer break before we know it...of course it may feel like winter break if we can't get Spring to show up and stay! Although after the last two HOT summers, maybe that wouldn't be the worst thing. HA!

March Recap--
The kids were suppose to go to Papa and Grammy's one Friday night for a long awaited sleepover...things came up and they weren't able to go. Big bummer for them and us; Lo cried for days! To cheer her up we had a family fun night. Our first one! We went to Chick-fil-A, where MW was scared to death of the cow roaming around; followed that up with froyo from Mickey's Yogurt...very good, but those froyo places are SO pricey! Then we made popcorn and snuggled up on the floor and watched "How to Train your Dragon." What a cute cute movie!! Micah fell in love with the cute blonde Astrid...seriously, this kid has always had an affinity for blondes since he was 4 months old!! I don't get it because I am far from blonde...weird. He kept saying "where As-rid go?" over and over.

It was a really fun night...we will have to do it again soon!

Watching the WSU shockers play their Elite 8 game...on the kitchen floor. I have such weirdos for kids...

Mr. Cool

In between snow storms we get these beautiful glimpse into Spring! So we hit up the parks. 

MW loves to swing from bars like a monkey into oblivion. Of course whenever we try and capture it on film, he acts all "scared" and barely does it.

{sidebar}: When we were at the park there was another mom there and she just couldn't believe I would let him do that! She told me I was such a "relaxed" mom! I took it as a huge compliment. I can't stand hovering over children and not letting them flourish and do their thing. {no offense to those who do; it just not my style.} I know what my kids are and aren't capable of...when your kids have 3 broken bones between them before the age of 2 you learn they can survive a lot! Anyway, I smiled and said "thanks...but I have to be this way because daddy is enough of a helicopter parent for the BOTH of us! HA!"  {As daddy was running around the park watching MW's every move!}

079 from Michele Keethler on Vimeo.

Lo's new trick...sliding down the "fireman's pole!" Holy cow she is so big and brave. I was actually more proud of daddy for not hovering and letting her do it! Making progress daddy! :)

Of course MW needed a go at it too! 

Now bring on April and hopefully warmer, sunnier days! But we are not off to a great start. HA!

Kids Say the Darndest Things {Friends Reference Edition}

This year has been PLAGUED with illness for all of us, but especially my kids...well really just MW. Holy cow we went nearly 4 years without 1 sniffle and now its on. Thankfully, my kids are good sick kids...not too whiny and cranky, mostly snuggly. I can deal with that. This past week MW got pink eye--in both eyes. I was hopeful it wasn't the contagious kind, but I kept him away from all other kids except his sister.--My bad.
By Monday he was miserable and a doctor appointment was necessary. When we FIANLLY got to the doctor's appointment he kept saying over and over again, loudly: "DOKTOR fix my eyes! Fix my eyes! peas" Bless his heart the whole waiting room felt bad for him.

Then came the eye drops. I freak at eye drops--just call me Rachel Green from Friends---it takes an army to get them in my eyes, but MW he was a trooper. He lays so still and lets us put 2 drops in EACH eye and is excited when I tell him it's time for his eye meds!! What a weirdo! I do reward his good behavior with MMs, but there is no amount of chocolate that would get me to do that. HA!

Then there is Leighton. She came down with pink eye 3 days later!! Now she is my girl and freaks at eye drops. So she is my "Rachel Green" and we totally have to do this. Thank God Meg has been around the last few days because MW and I can't hold her down by ourselves! HA!




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The other day Leighton colored a picture and proudly showed it to Micah. Without hesitation or prompts he looked at it and said "BOO-Ful" {beautiful}.
Mommy and Lo: "Oh Max!"
Have you every seen the Max and Ruby show? Max just says one word the whole time over and over and that is exactly how he says "beautiful," it was funny that both our minds immediately jumped to that and we haven't seen that show in ages!

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Whenever I have to quickly pull out into traffic I say "Hold on to your bottoms!" A catch phrase I learned from a college friend who used a different backside descriptive word and it has always stuck...

The other day as I was pulling out into traffic and I said my catch phrase.
Lo: "Why wouldn't you just say hold on to your hats?!"
M: dumbfounded... "um, well, um, that is a good point and makes more sense doesn't it?"
Lo: "yes mommy you are silly. Why do you say that?"
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Lo trying to explain some memory to me and I just couldn't put the pieces together to help her fully remember it...
I kept rattling off "ideas" they were all wrong.
Lo: MOM! Why don't you member anything...I guess I will just ask daddy. He always knows and members.
M: well, I am sorry and I AM trying, but I just don't know what you are talking about.
Lo: Maybe it was a dream...

M: maybe...
{there's a chance everything in my life can be related to Friends. HA!
Minute 3 is the part I am referring too!}


{For the record we did ask daddy and he didn't know either!}

Easter 2013

Easter was spent enjoying family and friends. I feel like I just didn't reflect enough on the meaning and sort of dropped the ball with preparing my heart and my kids' hearts. And I have no good reason for it other than I just have felt too busy and overwhelmed this past few weeks and I am working on finding a balance. I want my kids to see authenticity in me with my relationship with Jesus not a "pretender!"

Thank goodness we go to a fantastic church who never lets us down on bringing the message, every week I might add not just on the "special" holidays; but it isn't their job to lead my children its mine and Chad's, they are just a support system.

On Good Friday we made sugar cookies with Auntie Meg and took our annual "Good Friday" Bunny picture. I almost forgot, see very focus on the important things of Easter like photo ops! HA! Leighton is in this weird photo taking phase where she acts a fool in all the pictures. If she isn't clowning for the camera then she has this awkward weird face--kind of like the Princess Diana look--downcast head, but "shyly" looking up.

{FUN FACT: Last year we took 664 Easter photos, this year just 332! HALF! How crazy is that?!}

Friday night we had the Easter bunny drop by early. Chad had to be at church by 7a Sunday morning for tech stuff and there was no way we would be up by then and of course I didn't want him to miss it! Thank goodness that bunny is flexible. Lo was thrilled. The bunny went a tad over his usual budget for Easter...not that these items break the bank, but we the Easter bunny usually likes to keep it simple...coloring books, books, art stuff toothbrushes, chocolate goldfish you get the idea. BUT Lo has been DYING for a doll carrier and I the Easter bunny couldn't deny her especially when there was an "excuse" to buy it! So of course MW would need a "big" toy too! He LOVED that truck and promptly put his baby in it to push around--finally a boy stroller! HA!

Then it was off for our annual Easter bunny breakfast. It supports our local gymnastics team at the Y and our friends, so win win!

This pic is so horrible of me, but MW is terrified of all these costumed beings. {Santa, Easter bunny, Chick-fil-A cow!} So this is what I get for rolling out of bed and not making myself presentable for public! HA!

 PANCAKES! MW ate all 4 practically by.himself!

Milkstache!

For brunch we celebrated with my side, ate ham sandwiches off pinterest and dyed eggs...naked. It went way better than last year.

Easter service was Saturday night for us--it was weird not going Sunday morning, but we are Saturday nighters now and LOVE IT! The 4p was PACKED, I think it had something to do with the Moses special on that night, or maybe it was the WSU game...;) so we opted for the 530p!

For the first year since I was 12 I got myself a little Easter dress and coordinated the whole fam...go me! ;) Chad was just thrilled to have a new shirt! Poor guy only has 35 in his closet...{I WISH I were joking...}

Family photo op!!

{Sibs} Lo doing her "Princess Diana" look...and since it is all dead outside we worked with what we had. Spring are you coming?!?!? As I type this is is sleeting a bit...

FAMILY!!!

Chad and I NEVER take pics together anymore, the last we have are from our wedding day! And I really don't like those...where was Ginger or Gina when I was getting married?! 

OH! I LOVE THIS BOY! 

My beautiful daughter!!! O how I love her!! 

My two favorite guys! 

Unfortunately Lo was acting weird in hers with daddy and so we got nothing. :( 

Saturday night after church I FRANTICALLY remember the Resurrection Cookies {again with the important things! sheesh!} They went over well story wise, with Lo at least, but they were a total flop. I didn't let the egg whites stiffen up enough and so no tomb was made...but the lesson was given and I suppose that was the real point!

{note: when giving each child a wooden spoon to crush the nuts, be responsible and make sure they don't beat each other...although, I just turned it into an object lesson on how Jesus probably felt when hit.}

{Sunday}
Easter fun at Grandma Rachel's!
MW was really into the egg hunt this year. I love the last pic of Lo trying to cart in all her loot!! HAHAHA!

They each got new backpacks! MW LOVES having a backpack, proud as punch!

They also got these cute "Now I lay me down to sleep..." pillows. Again, a tad obsessed about the pillow!

Then another photo op...when she does act normal she takes FANTASTIC pictures...this may spell a bit of trouble for us later... these are the same photo just different editing filters...can't decide which I like better. 

Goof balls!

Sibling love. Be still my heart.

It was a fantastic Easter with BEAUTIFUL weather. A far cry from last weekend when there was snow on the ground! I hope you all had a blessed Easter weekend and did better than me remembering why we celebrate!