potty training begins....

We've had a potty chair at our house for several months now. In fact, it's my husband's potty chair from when he was a little boy. Payton has sat on the potty and 'made something happen' twice now, but that was weeks ago and I think it was a fluke of nature, nothing thought-out and planned. We originally started rewarding going potty with a Dora sticker -- what 2 year old girl doesn't want a Dora sticker? Well, my 2 year old daughter isn't motivated currently by a Dora sticker, let alone any sticker for that matter! I heard moms all over the place tell me about sticker charts and how their child was motivated by stickers....well, not my child, at least not right now. So, we've had to up the anty. We've gone to chocolate chips. Now, I know that all the 'professionals' will say that you should NOT reward good behavior with food, let alone candy, but that's what is motivating to my daughter, what can I say?

So, we've begun the "chocolate treats". She received 3 chocolate chips for sitting on the potty the first time. Nothing happened that time, but I was trying to demonstrate to her what great goodness that chocolate brings when you sit on the potty and go pee-pee or poopie. Well, she's now resorted to sitting on the potty, saying "hear my poops?" and then asking for chocolate treats. Everytime she passes gas now (which seems often), she asks, "Did you hear my poops?" and then runs into the kitchen asking for her 'chocolate treats'. I think I've created a MONSTER!

Payton is only 27 months, so I am really not in a hurry, but when she stands in the living room, in her diaper, looking at me with her face beat red saying, "I have to go poopie", I figured it was time to start pushing the potty chair. They say kids will learn to go potty when they're ready. I wish there was a magical button that would tell moms when the right time to push/encourage use of the potty, instead of racking my brain wondering if I've missed the window...

Singing VBS songs!

This past week was Vacation Bible School at our church. Payton ended up going with Miss Karen and the kids on the days I was working and I took Payton on my days off. Since Payton is a 'slow-to-warm-up' child, I knew I'd better go on Monday morning to make sure she would have time to see all the kids (100 of them!) and get used to the idea of VBS...give her a slow introduction. By the end of the week, she LOVED singing, dancing and running around the campground -- she was a VERY different child than I have ever seen. On the final day of VBS, they have a finale that evening for parents. We went over to Miss Karen's house before the event, ate pizza and practiced the VBS songs....

Fun on the SLIDE!

I'm having a lot of fun playing around with the different settings on our camera....

Yes, I'm one of those 'horrible' parents that lets their child crawl up the slide the WRONG way! If it makes it any better, I do make her use the stairs when there are other children at the top -- that's just daddy up there this time!

"Let's RACE!"

A Burrito Anyone?

One of our favorite restaurants is Chipolte and Payton has taken a liking to the beans & rice -- we order her a bowl of that and she's in heaven with that and the chips. Last night though, she decided she wanted to eat some of daddy's burrito! You know how deep the love for your child is when you share your burrito with them without a grumble... Daddy -- you are GREAT at sharing!!!

Freezie Pops

So, I decided to be all 'earthy' and what-not and found out how to make homemade freezer pops. Payton was all excited when we talked about making "freezie pops", because recently we read a book about how Blue (from Blue's Clues) made freezie pops and used pop sticks -- so, we went to the store and bought all the ingredients -- do you know how hard it is to find ice cube trays at Meijer --- it took us at least 20 minutes of up and down the isles until we finally found them (of course, I didn't ask anyone to help me -- that would have been giving-in and succumbing to failure!). We took one tray of pops to Miss Karen's house and we dug into the other tray yesterday afternoon. The best thing about these pops is that they DON'T DRIP -- they are made with jello (sugar-free, of course!) and kool-aide.

"See mama, here's my freezie pop"

Learning how to play golf....

We went to the park yesterday afternoon to enjoy this beautiful weather and Aaron brought a golf club with him (don't ask me which one -- I have NO idea the first thing about golf!) and Payton was very interested in watching daddy hit the ball and then she chased after it...

"I'll go get the ball"

"YEAH, daddy!"

Snuggling with my Daddy

"I just sleep right here"....Payton's version of distraction when it's bedtime!

Mom's Group

Payton & I go to a mom's Bible study group every other week as Miss Karen's house and we ALWAYS have a GREAT time! Today, we reallly just spent time re-connecting with the other moms and kiddos -- it's refreshing to talk with more experienced moms to get advice, vent about life and get support.

"Let's play dress-up! " Payton isn't/wasn't too interested in wearing 'prettys', but Jeffrey played along...

Holly & Payton playing in the backyard.

Here is a video of the "Mom's Group Band"

fun with my cousin, Wil

"More juice, Grammy"

"Do you see those fish Payton?"

"We're having a snack"

"Grammy spoils us with snacks and REAL juice!"

Jump your JIGGLES out!