Potty Training is from the Devil...

**DISCLAIMER**
The following post is basically just so I can document this milestone in Evelyn's life. If you are not interested in how we are potty training our child, you'll be bored, and probably just want to skip reading this one. If you are interested, please know that this is what works for us. Every child and family is different, so I encourage you to find what works for you (if you have done this before, or are going to have to do it in the future). I know my way isn't always the right way.

So, for the past month or so, Evelyn has been obsessed with her diaper. Her hands were in it all. the. time. Which, is annoying, but it's especially annoying and disgusting when she happens to have a nice #2 in there.

Yes.

I kept finding her with poo all over her hands. And one time, it was on her chin.

I don't want to know.

I have known for about a month that she has been showing signs that she's ready to potty train. But, I hate potty training. Who doesn't? I was being lazy and just didn't want to do it. Plus, she's 2 months younger than Avery was when we trained her. And Avery was "easy." Evelyn has proven time and time again that she is the exact opposite person that her sister is. We love her so much. She is just more challenging.

Avery is such a sweet little pleaser. She's a rule follower, for the most part, and just wants mommy and daddy to be happy. While it makes things like potty training "easier," it also makes me feel so guilty when I lose my patience with her and she looks sad. Bad mommy! Oh, I am such a sinner!

Evelyn is also so stinking sweet. That is something she and Avery have in common. Evelyn's sweetness saves her. She is sweet, and sneaky, and deceitful, and fearless. Sneaky and deceitful, I could do without. Fearless - I admire. I'm a lot like Avery. It's that oldest child thing. A little cautious, people pleaser, don't stir the pot. I admire Evelyn's fearlessness. That girl has confidence.

So. I wasn't sure what to expect with potty training. I have learned from Avery, and my nieces, and my friends, that potty training can easily become a battle of the wills. Control.

Fun, fun!

Today is Saturday. This past Wednesday morning, Evelyn woke up in her crib and Stephen went downstairs to get her and found her with poop all over the place. I could hear the anger, frustration, and downright disgust in his voice over the monitor. I ran downstairs to help and try to ease the tension. It was nasty. It was disgusting. It was the tenth time this has happened. Yes, I was keeping count.

When we came upstairs and bathed her, I took a look at my Mom Agenda and saw that I had no commitments until Sunday. Today was the day. We are going to start potty training. I just couldn't handle the poop anymore.

So today is day 4. We did the 3 Day Potty Training Method with Avery two years ago and it worked. It's a week of hell, but it works. I'd rather have a week of hell than 6-12 months of constant bed-wetting and accidents, filled with pull-ups and confusion.

Day 1 went relatively well. She peed in the potty chair 3 times and I began to see what her "signals" were. Basically, she just stops whatever she's doing and gets really quiet. But she's fast. By the time I notice she's gotten quiet, she's already peed her pants. Or pooped. But that only happened twice.

At naptime, she went through 7 pairs of underwear (yeah for Minnie Mouse panties from Costco!) and didn't sleep, so by bedtime, it was clear to me that for all of our sanity, I wasn't going to do undies while sleeping yet. For Evelyn, her sleeping patterns are so quirky anyway, I didn't want this whole experience making sleeping even worse. However, even that first night, she hardly peed in her diaper at all. She usually poops first thing in the morning in her diaper, but she didn't. I could tell she was already realizing she has control over "that feeling."

We were so "by the book" with Avery and did everything the method said to do. She literally quit diapers cold-turkey, and sleeping time actually went better than when she was awake! She only wet the bed twice that first week. Like I said, easy.  But, Avery is our "by the book" kid. Evelyn's not, so we have modified the method for her.

And she really is doing well! While going through all of this, she is sleeping in the pack 'n play in our bedroom so that she is close by for naptime and nighttime. I'm hoping to get her out of diapers while sleeping in the next couple of weeks. I think she'll start telling us when she needs to go. This morning at 6:30, she woke up and said, "Mommy, potty!" I took her in there and she went! So, she started off the day with an M&M!

I'm hoping today, she starts verbally telling us. Yesterday, Stephen was watching her while I made dinner and she quietly started peeing in the living room and ran to the bathroom by herself, sat on the potty (with her panties still pulled up), and peed through her panties into the potty! Even though she left a trail from the living room to the bathroom, she knew she had to go. And she still got that M&M! Stephen tried explaining to her again that she needs to tell Mommy or Daddy when she needs to go potty. She said, "Yes!"  She is too cute.

So, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Potty training is still like teething. It's from the devil. But, I guess it's a necessary skill to learn, and I guess I'm responsible for teaching my kids to do it. And I guess in the grand scheme of things, it's probably good if my kids aren't wearing diapers still and smearing their poop in random places when they're in high school.

15 Months!

Avery, you are 15 months tomorrow!  Excuse me, TIME, where did you go?

Here are some things you are up to right now.

 First of all, you are walking everywhere, which is quickly turning into running everywhere!  Walking has really helped you reveal so much of your personality.  You are eager to explore.  All day long, I chase you around, making sure the things you want to touch, turn upside-down, empty, and lick are safe things for you to do so.

 You still love to play with Mommy's mixing bowls.  You pull them out of the cabinet by yourself and bang them on the floor, slide them around, put them inside each other, and lick them.

 When we say "smile", this is what we get!  You bring so much joy into our lives every day, it's almost too much to bear sometimes.

You are getting more comfortable with your Bompa (above) and your PawPaw.  You are always a little more weary of men, but you're learning that they are good men to love!

I love being able to see you interact with your grandparents on a regular basis.  I hope they are always special people in your life.

Gramma is the next best substitute for Mommy!  I suppose that's because Gramma "feels" a lot like Mommy.

 When you wake up from your nap and I ask you if you want to play, you always respond with, "Ball!"  And it's the first thing you go for.

You love to feed your baby doll her food and give her medicine.  You give your babies lots of love throughout the day, too.

 You are in love with books, and always have been.  It's so fun to watch you read to yourself.  Your favorite place to read your books is in your glider chair in your bedroom.  At least twice a day, you make me follow you in there and you pat the seat and sign "help" to get  you up there and give you some books.  Anytime I ask you if you want to read some books, you respond with an emphatic, "Ohhh!"  It's your way of saying, "Yes!"

If you and I are playing in the living room, you constantly pick out a book, bring it over to me and back yourself up onto my lap.  It melts me.

 There's that "smile" again!

 Today, I was watching you read 5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed and you were "reading" each page to yourself, complete with finger-pointing when the doctor says, "No more monkeys jumping on the bed!" and touching your head when a monkey bumps his head.  You are so smart.

Some other words you say are: Buh-bye, hello, Ra-Ra (Riley), more, no, oh me! (oh my), oh bye! (oh boy), Dada, Mama, nite-nite

You have started grabbing your diaper and whining when you have a dirty diaper and need changing.  Potty training might be around the corner for us!

When I ask you if you're hungry, you sign "eat" and run to your high chair.  When I ask you if you're thirsty, you find your sippy cup of water and go to town on it.  I'm pretty sure you understand 90% of what I say to you.  You are able to follow pretty much every command we give you.

You still fall a lot throughout the day, but you always pick yourself back up again.  You have determination that can't be beat.  You love to walk around with your hands clasped behind your back and you look so proud while you're doing it, like, "I am so grown up, I can walk with my hands behind my back!"

Avery, you are such a gift to Daddy and me.  We have plans to give you a little brother or sister someday, but if for some reason we couldn't, we would be so grateful that we have you!  Your happiness and love for life are such a testament to me of how I should live each day.  I love you, baby girl.

First Sign of Counting...

When I weaned Avery from breastmilk to whole milk back in December, I was diligently warming the bottle of milk in our bottle warmer that never got used when I was nursing her because she rarely had a bottle.  I figured it was about time to use the thing.  Usually, when I'd make her a bottle, Avery would be in my arms, observing my every move.  At first, she was very patient and would just sit quietly on my hip and watch.  That lasted probably 3 days.  Her patience began to dwindle and eventually, she would start screaming when she saw me put the bottle in the warmer.  She had realized that the warmer kept her from getting her milk, pronto.  However, she wouldn't really drink it straight from the refrigerator because it was too cold.  In the warmer, it was room temperature - just right.

Well, it didn't take me too long before I ditched the use of the warmer and just popped the bottle in the microwave for thirty seconds.  Thirty seconds is a lot faster than 2-3 minutes in the warmer!  This time, it was only about two bottles before she figured out that the microwave also kept her from getting her milk right away.  By the way, my child gets her impatient nature from her daddy.

I'm just sayin'...

Anyway, last week, I decided to start counting when I push "start" on the microwave to distract my impatient munchkin, which totally works.  And she thinks it's hilarious when I say, "beep, beep, beep!" when the microwave beeps.

Then, on Friday, she started "counting" with me.  She uses the same tone with her voice and makes some made up word for each "number."  I was impressed.

Then, last night, I was on my own for bath and bedtime routine because Stephen was at basketball practice.  So we did bathtime, which is always a huge hit, and it was time for milk.  I closed the microwave door on the bottle of milk and when I pushed "start," Avery said, clear as day, "ONE."

Excuse me, come again?

So, she knows that "one" comes first when counting?!?!?!  I know every parent thinks their child is the brightest, or whatever, and I'm learning that I'm no different.  But bigger than that, I am reminded all the time when she surprises us with things like that at how amazing our Creator is.  He created this little girl and gave her to us to raise up and enjoy.

Clearly, she is smart and is soaking up everything she can throughout the day, and I am so thankful that she has a longing to learn.

I am most thankful that she is happy and healthy and has the most adorable giggle I've ever heard.

We are so blessed.

Is this thing on....?

Ahem.  Hello, there!  Is anybody still out there?  I haven't written or posted anything since November 9, 2010.  That was last year.  63 days ago.

Shame on me.  Because the reason I blog is to document our lives.  For me. For Stephen. For Avery.  And for those of you who are interested enough!  Since November 9th, Avery has done at least 63 new things that I have missed documenting.  Boo on me.

I am really going to try to blog more regularly.  I'm not going to set a goal, if you will, because once I don't meet my goal of posting at least three times per week, or whatever it may be, I'll just stop posting again.  Basically, I just need to be more diligent about getting on here and writing every once in awhile and hopefully it will become more a part of my life again.

It's hard finding the time to do this!  Especially since Avery became mobile.  I feel like when she is awake, I am playing with her and trying to intercept her sneaking in the bathroom to peer over the side of the tub and say, "Ooooooh!"  Or heading her off at the pass while she tries to quickly crawl into a bedroom and close the door behind her and sit in front of the door so that I have to very carefully open the door and slide her backwards with the door.  Thank goodness for slippery hardwood floors!

I'm not going to try to play catch up with the past 63 days because, seriously - that's slightly overwhelming and ridiculous.  Instead, I'll just pick up at the present time and pretend I've been blogging all along!  Sound good?  Fantastic.

I'll sum it up, though.  Avery had a great 1st birthday.  Monkey cake, grandparents, and some little friends made it very fun.  Christmas was also a blast because all of our family was home for Christmas, from both sides.  Lots of cousins, aunts and uncles, and fun was had!

Now here we are in January - the start to a new year.  Although it's already the 11th, so we're almost halfway through the month already!  I had my second week of the new Bible study I'm in, which is on Revelation this time.  It's a Beth Moore study, and I am loving it.  I did the Daniel study in the fall and really loved it, too.  Daniel was much more homework-intensive, but I got so much out of the homework that I didn't mind.  I am loving this opportunity to study the Word with other women.



I am also loving being able to spend my days with my little Avery muffin.  She makes me laugh every day - her personality just lights up our house!  She loves to play games - all of a sudden she'll be peeking at me through the coffee table, or around the door frame and laughing and squealing.  She has always been a child who does things in her own time.  I've always known this, but it took me about the first eight months of her life to really learn that.  My most recent reminder of this is with her walking.  She is 13 1/2 months old and not walking yet, which I am actually fine with!  She is healthy and happy and she is working on the whole walking thing.  I think she just wants to wait until she feels safer "letting go" and going for it!  And you know what?  I think there's a lot to be said about that.  She is patient with herself, so why shouldn't I be?  I have learned that just because Stephen or I did such-and-such at a certain age doesn't mean that she will, too.  She just amazes me each day with her beauty and zest for life.  I just can't imagine loving her more.

She does not disappoint!  The other night, I got her pajamas on and we went back to the living room to play for a little while longer before heading to bedtime routine.  I was sitting on the floor, cross-legged, and she came over and used me as a ledge and just stood up, right in front of me.  She let go and just stood there.  And she continued to stand there, like a little meerkat!  I was astounded.  She just decided, I think I'm ready to stand on my own now.  And she was so proud of herself.  She just grinned from ear to ear.  And she kept doing it.  Sit down, stand up.  Sit down, stand up.  Practice makes perfect! 

The next day, we went to a birthday party at a play gym for little ones.  I put her down, standing, and she just took off!  She took about 4 steps all by herself, without anyone holding out their hands to her.  She just surprises me all the time, and I get so proud of her.

Do you think God sees us like I see Avery?  Do you think He's waiting for me to let go?  Is He waiting for you to let go?

 Yes, she is sitting in her baby doll cradle.  It's her favorite place to have a sit.

Catch-Up Videos

I'm too lazy to blog regularly now.  No, scratch that.  I'm too busy to blog regularly now.  Chasing around a child who is learning to walk is tiring!  Here are a few videos from the past few weeks.

Ten Months...

Avery, you turned ten months old on Friday!  Time is passing so quickly, I don't know what to do.  When I think about it too much, I kind of panic!

You are doing so much now.  You are busy all the time when you're awake, so your naps are getting longer, and you're sleeping a good twelve hours at night.

You are in some 9 month clothes still and are fitting into your 12 month clothes now!

I can tell you are working hard on the next big accomplishment...walking!  You are constantly crawling from object to object, using it to see if it will support you if you pull yourself to standing with it.  Tonight, you crawled over to me sitting cross-legged on the floor and pulled yourself to standing, and let go with one hand.  You were just standing there, using your one hand for balance and I could feel that you were hardly leaning on me!  You are so big!

Today, Daddy and I installed your big convertible carseat in the car.  It's still facing backwards, but we decided that your little carseat is just too small now!  Plus, when we use it to carry you anywhere, we basically get a serious bicep workout because you are so heavy in it.

You are such a good eater!  You are finishing off the last of the purees I've made you and it takes about 6 cubes of food, plus cereal to fill you up.  If I say "all done" and you're not all done, you scream your head off and cry until I put something else in front of you.

Tonight, you sat in your highchair, eating cut up peaches while I cooked dinner, and I'm pretty sure you ate a whole peach.  The whole time, you just kept saying, "Mmmmmm...."  Once dinner was ready, I gave you some lasagna roll, cut up and you just started shoving it in your mouth by the fistful!  You ate a half a roll.  Daddy and I couldn't believe it.  You can pack it away!

You rode on your FOURTEENTH plane yesterday, coming home from Maryland.  You are such a great traveler!  You are always so happy and content to sit in our laps and read books and eat your snacks.  I'm glad this was our last trip for a while because you were starting to get pretty squirmy!  But you never fussed.  People on the plane rides were always commenting on how good you were and how pretty you are. 

You had so much fun playing with your big cousin, Hannah, and you were intrigued with Sadie, too.  I am so excited to watch you grow up with your cousins, just like I did.  Your ages are spaced apart, just like Lissa, Jaimie, and me.  I hope that one day, we can live in the same city as your cousins and you can have sleepovers and see them all the time.

You are having a little separation anxiety with me.  This has been going on for a couple of months, and I think all the traveling has worsened it a bit.  As flattered as I am that I'm the only one that you're really interested in being around, it sure does wear me out!  I know you will grow out of this phase, so I'm trying to look on the bright side of it and remember that at least you still want me to hold you!

I am just in awe of the gift that is you.  You are my beautiful, precious, sweet baby girl.  I am loving every minute that I get to spend with you, even at 2:30 in the morning when you wake up and have no idea where you're at and just want to be held.  Your arms wrapped around my neck make me feel like I truly belong.  You and I are a perfect fit, mama and baby.  You bring me so much joy every day and you are just my treasure.  I love you so much, Avery Elizabeth.

Hi, Me!

We are loving our time in Hawaii!

New Trick...

Seven Months....

Someone turned SEVEN months old yesterday!

We had a little photo session with a couple of her bears again.

Now, here you get to learn a little something about me.  I don't really have this issue anymore, but I used to be super-sensitive to really soft things.  Like when I'd go shopping, I'd feel the fabric of all the clothes and when I'd feel something like a chenille sweater or mohair, my nose would instantly tingle.  I know, weird, right?

Look who inherited that little idiosyncrasy!

Haha!  I love it.

And, Avery learned a new trick on her seven month birthday!


Soooooo Big! from Beth Bruce on Vimeo.

Sorry about the video being sideways for the middle part.  I was sitting pretty close to her and couldn't move back because I was up against the wall.  I thought turning the camera the long way would get it so you could see her easier, but our camera isn't all fancy like the IPhone or anything and doesn't automatically turn upright.  :)

Six Months...!

Avery, on Monday, you turned six months old!  Which means you are halfway to your first birthday.  It may seem cliche, but seriously, where does the time go?

We had a little photo session in your glider.  The outfit is a never-before-worn outfit sent back with Bompa from Aunt Alexis and Hannah.  You are so cute.

 I thought the outfit deserved a matching bow to go with it.

 I love your little smirk here.

 This cracks me up.  Whenever I sit you in the glider, your eyes always wander over to the little lamp on the table.  It has a little monkey face on it and you just love it.

 Feet!

 I plopped one of your teddy bears down next to you.  Nathan and Katrina (with the twins) sent it to you.

 You always squints your eyes, preparing for the bear to lick you, like Riley does.  Ha!

 Mom, that bear is TOUCHING me.


We went for your six month well check on Monday and here are your stats:

Length:  27 inches (90th %)
Weight:  14 pounds, 3 ounces (17th %)
Head Circumference:  16.25 inches (19th %)

Basically, you are a long and lean baby!  But Dr. P is very happy with how you're coming along.  You were just grinning at him through the whole appointment. 

You are spending more and more time on your play mat, staying happy.  You roll back and forth and deliberately spend time on your tummy, pushing up and scootching around in circles.  You also move yourself by laying on your back and pushing yourself with your legs.  Today, you scootched yourself right off the mat!  Baby-proofing needs to happen soon.

You also just love your ExerSaucer.  One of your favorite toys on it is the mirror.  You grab it and kiss it and yell at your reflection.  Like your cousin, Hannah, you love the school bus that makes various sounds, especially the sound of the children laughing.  It makes you smile and get excited.

You started eating solids, specifically cereal, too!  I will talk about that in my next post.

You are growing and changing each day and your daddy and I are just so thankful that you are a part of our family!  God has truly blessed us with you.