Silly Kids

Adventures of potty training our boy

Tyson will be three in just a few days.  Eeek.  That's an entirely different post!

We had tried potty training with him last November.  Needless to say, it did not go well.  We tried a bootcamp method and he just wasn't getting it.  I don't know if he just wasn't ready, it wasn't the right method for him or what.  It ended after 2 days with a lot of tears from both of us.  We went back to diapers for a few months and then about 2 weeks ago, I decided it was time to really hit the potty training hard again.

He had successfully gone on the potty several times, but there just wasn't any consistency.  We had literally tried everything I could think of or read about -- the aforementioned bootcamp, sticker charts, potty books, straight to undies, using Pull Ups, potty songs, abundant praise, peer pressure, using a potty ring, using a potty chair -- none of it worked. 

The night before our potty training endeavor started, I took him to Target, just the two of us.  We talked the whole way there about how he was going to be a big boy and that diapers were for babies.  I told him that he could walk the store instead of riding in the cart because that's what big boys get to do.  I let him stroll tear through the toy aisles and pick out whatever "big" toy he wanted.  He settled on a pretty cool, fairly large fire truck.  I also bought several small Hot Wheels cars, some Circo wooden trains, M&Ms and gummi bears to use as rewards.  Oh, and a few packages of daytime and nighttime Pull Ups.

The next morning, I put away the changing pad on top of his dresser and he protested.  I had no idea that little changing pad meant anything to him!  We went straight to undies that morning.  Our nanny, Brooke, was here with me so we were able to tag team getting him to the potty and taking care of Quinn too.  I caught one pee on the potty and we were thrilled for him!  We celebrated that first pee like you wouldn't believe!  I had to leave for a dentist appointment, but Brooke knew what to do.  Of course, he promptly peed on the living room floor as soon as he had an opportunity.  But, I'm happy to say that was his only accident the first day!

The kid LOVES lemonade, so I made a huge pitcher and let him drink as much as he wanted.  By lunchtime, he was not only peeing consistently in the potty, but he was racing to get there all by himself!  We put him in a Pull Up for his nap and then went straight back to undies as soon as he woke up.  He was rewarded and praised and hyped up on adrenaline and sugar!  The first day went so much better than I could have expected! Even with all of the success, he never once pooped on the potty the first day.

Over the next few weeks, he hasn't been as consistent. He still makes it to the potty about 90% of the time, but pooping still needs work. A lot of work. I guess for an almost-three year old, he's doing pretty well. We haven't wavered with the undies. He wears them as soon as he gets up until he goes to bed, minus the Pull Up for naps. I think for us, we'll focus on getting him consistently day trained and then move to nap trained and eventually night trained. We're so proud of him for how far he's come! I have to keep telling myself that when I'm cleaning poo out of underwear. Blech!

As for the big fire truck he picked out? It's been sitting on top of our tv armoire since we bought it. He still hasn't officially "earned" it yet. He'll get it when he goes 2 full days without any accidents. He still asks about it all the time, so hopefully it won't be too long before it's officially his.

Quinn - 11 Months!

Age:  11 months (and a few days).

Weight: Somewhere around 19 lbs is my guess.

Height: Not sure.

Size: Size 3 diapers, 6-12m clothes, 9m Carters, some 12m, can still wear some 6m onesies.  

Hair: It's at a bit of an awkward stage with some breakage, but getting longer.  She now pulls out her hairbows.  :(

Teeth: 6!  She still just has 2 teeth on the bottom but 4 on top.

Sleeping: Since we've returned from vacation, she's only waken up at night 2 times.  That's a record people!  I like it!

She still goes to bed between 7-8pm and wakes up around 7 or 7:30am.  She usually takes 2 naps each day, but we don't always fit them in.

Eating: She is an eating machine.  Tyson is such a picky eater that I was certain that we did something wrong with him.  Now that Quinn is here, I firmly believe that kids are either picky eaters or they're not.  This girl eats anything and everything.  She's regularly eating 3 meals per day plus a few snacks.  She's doing great with her sippy cup and loves to drink water.

We learned that she's not allergic to anything!  Any reactions are likely just an intolerance at this point.  Per the GI's instructions, we started her on soy formula about 10 days ago and after a few issues early on, she seems to be taking to it quite well.  We'll be starting her on soy milk when she turns 1.

Movement: She's on the move!  She can stand alone briefly, but otherwise, crawls, climbs and pulls up on anything she can.  She's started pulling items out of cabinets.  She claps.

Milestones:  First Easter, first week away from mama and daddy, standing alone, clapping.

Favorite toys/activities: Tyson.  Baths.  Eating.  Tyson's toys.  Climbing.  Tyson's books.
Dislikes: Being hungry or tired, Tyson taking his toys away from her. 

Words: She regularly says "hi", but other than that, just mama and lots of other things that we look at each other and say, "did she just say ____"?

How is it possible that she's almost one?

Quinn's 8 month professional pics

Taken by my friend, Jacquie.  My children are incredibly difficult to photograph, but she got some great shots despite their best efforts to avoid her and her camera!

She also got a few shots of Tyson

I think this may be my most favorite picture of him!

Quinn 10 months!

Age:  10 months (and a week).

Weight: Somewhere around 18 lbs.

Height: Not sure.

Size: We just moved into size 3 diapers.   She's definitely getting longer, but has a tiny little waist.  Some of her pants are becoming capris :)  She's now fitting into most of her 6-12m clothes.   6-9m dresses, 6m shorts sleeve onesies, 9m Carters pjs.

Hair: Growing longer and thicker and suddenly coming in quite blonde.

Teeth: 4!  She added the top two middle teeth this month and the next two top teeth will pop through any day. 

Sleeping: We're still struggling in the sleep area.  She's still waking at least once per night.  She did have another ear infection + teething so I think that is what is interrupting her sleep. 

She goes down for the night between 7-8pm and wakes for the day between 7-8am. She needs 2 naps per day but doesn't always fit in two naps.

Eating: This girl loves to eat!  We're up to 3 meals per day and she's mostly refusing to eat purees so she mostly eats table food.  She loves everything we give her and she seems especially fond of raspberries.

After a follow-up appointment with her GI, she's back on Alimentum.  The doctor was concerned about her spit up, wet burps, congestion and ear infections all contributing to something, likely food allergies.  She had an endoscopy with tissue samples and a full blood panel.  We're still waiting on the results from everything.

Movement: She's everywhere!  No more army crawling -- full on 4 point crawl, cruising along furniture, walking behind her push toy.  She will pull up on anything and everything.  Climbs on anything she can.  She waves :)

Milestones:  Walking behind toys, first real words, waving, endoscopy / anesthesia :(.

Favorite toys/activities: She loves her brother, loves his toys, and she LOVES bathtime.  Even if she's fussy, if you tell her she's going to take a bath, she'll calm down and enjoy her bath.  Her fussiness commences as soon as she gets out of the water. 

Dislikes: Being hungry or tired. Being in a room by herself.

Words: Lots of talking this month!  Her first word is officially "hi".  She'll also say bye, mama and we think she's said dada.

We can't imagine our lives without you baby girl!

Quinn's 9 month stats

Weight: 17 lbs, 14oz (30%)

Length: 28 inches (65%)

Head Circumference: 46 cm (90%)

She's a growing girl!

Quinn - 9 Months

How is she 9 months old already? 

Weight: She'll be weighed Friday at her 9m appointment.

Height: She'll be measured Friday at her 9m appointment.

Size: About the same as last month.  Still wearing a size 2 diaper, although I think I'll buy the next size when it's time to buy more.  6-9m clothes in brands that have them fit her best.  She can still wear her 6m Carters onesies and pjs and a few 9m Carter's pjs.  Some 6-12m pants, 6-12m one-piece outfits.

Hair: Growing longer and thicker.  It's still very brown, unlike Tyson's hair.

Teeth: Still just the 2 bottom middle teeth. 

Sleeping: It's been all over the place.  She had a double ear infection + ruptured eardrum so that disrupted her sleep for several weeks.  She's back to sleeping through the night more consistently, but still not every night.  She continues to wake up at least 1x per night 2-3 nights per week.

She goes down for the night between 7-8pm and wakes for the day between 7-8am. She needs 2 naps per day but doesn't always fit in two naps. 

Eating: She's doing great with solids.  She's having 2 solids meals per day -- brunch with oatmeal and fruit and dinner with veggies.  She'll still eat purees but she much prefers feeding herself.  We have to sneak in bites of purees in between finger foods.  She does great with puffs and Cheerios as well as tiny pieces of apples, bananas, carrots, sweet potatoes, corn, peas and peaches.  With the exception of mashed banans, she has eaten (and liked!) everything we've given her.  I'm hoping to avoid another picky eater. 

We also continued challenging her dairy allergy and it appears she's grown (or still growing) out of it.  We went very slowly transitioning her from Alimentum to Similac Sensitive over the course of a month and she's now on 100% Sensitive.  She's back to having wet burps and some spit up, but she's not uncomfortable.

Movement: She's still just army crawling, but occasionally she'll get up on all fours. She's pulling up on everything, cruising along the furniture and can even climb the first step on our stairs.

Milestones:  Cruising, first ear infection.

Favorite toys/activities: Tyson.  Her Leap Frog picnic basket, Tyson's toys.

Dislikes: Being hungry or tired.  Being in a room by herself. 

Words: Chattering and screeching. Says "ba ba ba"  Can say "ma" but doesn't do it often.

We love you baby girl!