I Can Do It Myself!

So...I have been meaning to sit down and record all of the funny things that little Miss V is saying these days.  She acts like she is 2 going on 20 and headed straight for stand-up comedy!  Some fancy phrases that she regularly incorporates into her conversations are:
Actually...
Sometimes...
Of course!
In a minute!
...and, of course, "I can do it myself!" and "I don't need help!"  Compared to her very independent big sister, V's independence still seems like a mild case BUT she thinks she can use her quirky sense of humor to wiggle her way out discipline.  Hmmm...I wonder why she would think that?

This video above was taken on Friday night at bedtime after family worship.  Her song request was to sing the books of the New Testament song that Amity has been learning for Chapel School.  I should have edited the video but then no one else would appreciate just how TWO this little girl is!  We still think she is very cute and is our very favorite two-year-old!

The M says "mmmm"

Today, we ventured out of the house (aka "Our Potty Training Bubble") for the first time since Sunday. Lakeside Baptist Church, where we will attend MOPS next year, was hosting a storytime and craft at 10:00 this morning. I figured that the only place safer than home when potty training is being in a church with other toddlers and moms that, hopefully, understand when accidents happen.

The sweet lady that led the storytime used to be a school librarian and she did a fantastic job of reading books like The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen and The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister. Amity sat on her little square (I was glad it was vinyl just in case!) and was mesmerized the whole time. Afterwards, they went to another room to color a rainbow fish and do another craft. While Amity was coloring, she all of the sudden said, "Look Mommy, an M!" It really did look like a curvy M before she colored over it! While she tries to write other letters sometimes, this was the first time it didn't just look like a bunch of lines. I almost cried!

After the craft, Mrs. Barbara had Goldfish (Amity's love language!) and juice that she got to drink in a real cup. On our way out the church, we stopped at the restroom (apparently just to check out the scenery) and made it home without any accidents.

Soon after, her dry record was broken when she got too busy playing and didn't quite make it. I'm still thankful for the progress and proud of our Big Girl!

Comic Relief

Before we went to bed last night, we checked on Amity and discovered that she was wet. We changed her clothes and sheets and she slept until 6:30 this morning and woke up dry. We broke the stay-at-home mandate of the 3 day potty training this morning because we had commitments at church. Our compromise was that I would go with Amity to her class so that we would be with her at all times. She was very fascinated with the big girl bathroom at church but was scared to be without her potty seat the first few times. This led to an accident in her class while listening to the Bible story. Soon after, she did brave the new big potties and we had one success.

For lunch, we went with some friends to Jason's Deli and discovered that one-stall restrooms are to be avoided when in the potty training stage. I had to end Amity's turn kind of abruptly because there was a line waiting on us. Shortly after, as we sat at a table full of our DINK (double income/no kids) friends, Amity had another accident right there on the floor. To her credit, she did tell us she needed to go. I just didn't want to mess with the restroom again. My fault! I have a feeling we prolonged the dink-ness of some couples today!

Back in the van, we tried to get Amity to use her new portable potty but she was not interested. We headed for home but she started panicking on the way. We pulled over by White Rock Lake. I am pretty sure it was obvious to anybody that drove by how clueless and helpless we were! Finally, we just told her to try to hold it until we got home.

And...she did! The rest of the day has been a series of mostly successes with a lot of false alarms and a few accidents. So far, no poopy but, as evidenced in the last portion of the video below, she sure does try! :)

Read All About It!

After peeing in the potty successfully several times this morning, she did have an accident during her nap and was a little upset about that. Since then, she often tells us she needs to go and changes her mind as soon as she gets to the door or as soon as she sits down. We are just thankful she is initiating telling us!

Before bed tonight, she said she needed to go and she sat on her princess potty. I pulled out the Elmo potty seat for the big potty and asked her if she wanted to try it. She replied with an emphatic two-year-old "No!" I told her that was okay but that someday soon she was going to need to try the big potty and, when she did, she would get a treat. I went to check on Vivien in her crib and when I came back, Amity asked to sit on the big potty. I moved her over and began cheering as I heard her start to tinkle. She very seriously looked at me and said, "Treat?" Thankfully, Dennis had made a trip to the dollar aisle at Target earlier today and she seemed content with a new Elmo book.

She is down for the night sans diaper. Again, we'll see how this goes! It makes me laugh to think of God's sovereignty and providence as he designed every detail of creation. He must have thought, "Just so they remember that they are NOT in control, I will be sure and throw potty-training into the mix!"

By George...

While Dennis was mowing the yard and Vivien was down for a nap, Amity drank THREE Capri-Sun juices while we colored and played with play-doh. I kept asking her if her panties were dry and reminded her to "tell Mommy if she needed to go potty".

The first accident happened when she got up to go play with her dollhouse. She was just a foot away from me and all of the sudden the floor was wet. I picked her up and ran with her to the bathroom and pulled down her panties. To both of our surprise, something else came out!!! Having changed her diaper for 26 months, it was more traumatic for her than for me! I cleaned her up and we cleaned up the floor and continued playing and drinking.

There were two more accidents within 15 minutes. Each time, I would pick her up and run her to the bathroom but not in time to get anything in the potty. The third time, she did say "Potty!" just as I heard the water hit the floor. After this last accident, her mood totally changed and she did not want to drink or eat or play. She just wanted me to hold her (which I was a little hesitant to do! :)). I tried to get her to help me cook in the kitchen but she just wanted to be held. We took Dennis a drink outside and shortly after we came inside, she said, "Potty?!?" I ran her to the potty and put her on the potty and heard the most wonderful tinkling sound along with the snazzy music played by her potty throne.

She was a little overwhelmed at first by all of the noises along with my cheering but...

the cutest little proud smile soon came to her face! By George, I think she's got it! :)

And They're Off!

The diapers that is! Amity has finally begun showing interest in her potty and waking up dry in the morning and after naps. Dennis and I have determined that we are the type of parents that like a method so we are trying the http://www.3daypottytraining.com/ as recommended by family and our neighbors.

One of the big things about this method is NO MORE DIAPERS! So, after breakfast this morning, all of the size 5 diapers were thrown in the trash!

However, they might have been rescued and stored to be shared with a little sister in another year or so!

I made a Wal-Mart run at 6:30 am this morning to make sure that we had at least 20 pairs of panties. The cupcake print were her first choice!

My job for the next three days is to stay with this little girl at all times and remind her to "Tell Mommy or Daddy if you need to go potty." and ask her "Are you keeping your panties dry?" While there are a lot of things I could be working on right now, there is nothing urgent for these next few days and I am going to take advantage of Dennis being home to help with Miss V. We'll see!

Double Oak Cousins

Sunday night, we headed over to Double Oak with the Connells to visit Dennis and Becky's cousin Cindy and her family. We enjoyed their beautiful home and pool and a yummy dinner!

Vivien experienced her first swim and, despite this expression, she LOVED it!
The big kids showed off their new swimming skills.

Sweet Cousin Kate was very patient with the very tired little Miss V.

At the end of the evening, I tried to coax a smile out of these two cousins but they ended up looking eighty years old instead of two! They were tired!

Thanks Cousins for a great evening!

A Summer Tradition

During our two weeks of swimming lessons, Dennis has implemented a new tradition. Watermelon snacktime! He wakes Amity up from her nap and they sit outside and eat watermelon. Then he gets her dressed and I take her to swim lessons. We love having Daddy home for the summer!

Bathtime Buddies

I was giving Vivien a bath on Tuesday and she started to roll out of her seat so I decided it was time to break out the ring. I think it shows off her rolls quite nicely!

On Thursday, we let the two bathe together for the first time.

We're loving the cuteness and the lower water bill! :)

Our Little Mermaid

Amity just finished up her first week of swim lessons with Mrs. Carol. Our little Miss Cautious has really found her gills over the past few days. Dennis came along yesterday to see her progress and he captured a few photos. Not so glamourous of Mommy but I will sacrifice to share Amity's progress!

Vivien watched from the sidelines. I have a feeling she will LOVE swim lessons!

The forty-five minute lessons pass really quickly. Mrs. Carol keeps the kids so engaged as we sing songs and swim after toys and learn a new skill each day. During the last 15 minutes, Mrs. Carol takes a turn with each swimmer.

She can get Amity to hang from the side (her least favorite thing) but I am usually not so successful.

I love this little swagger she has like, "I've been jumping from the side all my life!"

And now, for a demo of Amity's new skills...

Our Little Princesses

Climb, Slide, Repeat!

For all of the hours we have spent at local playgrounds, Amity would not willingly go down the slides. My friend, Kirk, was moving to San Antonio and was offering this little climb and slide for $30. I told Dennis I thought it was worth the investment. He wasn't so sure.

A short while later, he was convinced. Amity loves her new "park"! :)