Yea!!!

Yesterday and today, Allary has stayed dry ALL DAY LONG!!! I can't even believe it. We got a package from my mom a few days ago in which she included some suckers. Allary loves "Grandma's suckers" and so I used them for motivation for her to go potty. It worked like a charm. And even when we ran out of Grandma's suckers, she still kept with it. I think she's figured out that she can have whatever treat she wants because I am desperate and can't even think about her sugar intake the past few days. My kid may have rotting teeth, but hey, she can use the potty! I was offering her treats before, but it was something about a special treat from Grandma that did the trick. Thanks Mom for saving both our lives!
I will probably never know just how Allary's little mind works, but I think I was trying to make her hold out for a big reward if she could fill up her sticker chart, and it was just too out of reach and she didn't understand. So, we have switched to the immediate gratification approach. Every time she uses the potty, with her underwear still dry, she gets a sticker on her chart, and any treat of her choice. I wrapped up one present for yesterday and one for today, and set them out in plain sight as a constant reminder of what she could get if she stayed dry. It is so much easier to remind her to use the potty by saying something like, "Allary, what do you think is in your present?... If you stay dry, you can open it and see." To which she excitedly says, "I need to go potty!" I feel less like I am bugging her to go all the time and we are staying positive. Also, she gets the rewards right away, and a bigger reward at the end of a good day. Last night, her present was a book (actually from my mom's package, thanks again Mom!) and tonight, she got the movie "Enchanted," which I'll admit was just as much for me as it was for her.
I don't want to get too excited just yet, but the last two days have been absolutely miraculous in contrast to where we were before. We are leaving town tomorrow to spend Easter weekend with Jason's family. I am worried about how this little trip is going to affect our potty progress thus far. Wish me luck!
Here is a video I took tonight of Allary opening her present. I took it so that Jason could see since he was not home yet, but I thought it was cute enough to post. (Sorry if it is boring, it takes her a while to get through the wrapping.)

Bringin back the fun

Allary and I had an indoor picnic the other day. She picked out the "Return to Neverland" movie at the library (she is crazy about Tinkerbell), and we camped out with our lunch on the floor and watched it together. We were in need of some relaxing, no-stress, together time after a very very stressful week of potty training.

We made sugar cookies for Easter, which were actually meant to be for St. Patrick's Day, but I totally messed something up, the dough would not roll out right even after chilling in the fridge overnight, and Jason had to intervene and save them (why I even attempt to bake I don't know). Anyway, at least Allary was having a great time "helping."

Also this week, we celebrated Paige's birthday with her and Trisha. We took the two girls to this really fun place with all this large inflatable play equipment. Allary jumped right in and was having a great time, but Paige on the other hand, didn't really like it at all.

My brave girl.

Allary really tried to get Paige to come join her.

If you listen at the beginning of the video, Allary is still determined to try to coax Paige to come with her.

Going Green

This was our special St. Patrick's Day dinner tonight. It was hard to think of a yummy main dish that was green or that could be turned green without being completely repelling. So, mostly we had a meal of all side dishes. We had grapes, green beans, green Jello, dill pickles and mashed potatoes and gravy (dyed green of course). Allary actually loved it and didn't even seem to notice anything out of the ordinary.

...on a happier note

Well, Allary can tinkle all over the house tonight for all I care because I am going to be watching my favorite shows which are starting again tonight! Hooray! I can't even tell you how excited I am. It's been marked on my calendar for more than a month.

St. Potty's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

We hope everyone is wearing green.

Notice the nice green bruise on her forehead to match her shirt.

Today may otherwise be called "St. Potty's Day" for us, only there's not much that's happy about it. We are one week and 2 days into potty training and I have decided it is pretty much the worst thing ever! It just makes me want to scream. I have not found anything that motivates her to want to do better or to discourage her from having accidents, and I feel as though I've tried every tactic and every reward I can think of. I know she is capable because she has proved this on multiple occasions for a few months now, so I thought it would be no big deal to move from the pull-ups to the underwear. Oh my goodness, was I wrong. I am so sick of cleaning up accidents and I find myself taking it very personally every time she does. What a horrible horrible experience.
P.S. I always appreciate comments (and I mean this in the nicest way possible) but please don't comment to tell me what worked for your child who was miraculously potty trained in a day or two. Commiserating comments only please.

Beautiful

I was editing these photos tonight to frame and hang on the wall and decided to post them. Isn't she beautiful?





The talented photographer behind these photos is Steve Lundquist, a friend and college classmate of ours. We had him take these back in October right after she turned two. Steve always gives us a deal and hands over all digital copies since I can do my own editing. I will add a link to his studio website on the sidebar.

Wonderful Birthday

Wasn't I adorable? :)
Oh my goodness,I had such a great birthday yesterday. Well, I actually started celebrating the day before and my sweet sister treated me to lunch at one of my favorite places. Then, Jason ended up having to work super late, which was kind of a bummer, but Allary and I just watched American Idol and ate junk food. The morning of my birthday, I heard Allary wake up earlier than normal (ugh) and I let Jason get up with her. I figured I would hear him getting ready for work and I would force myself out of bed before he left. Next thing I knew, I rolled over after a deep deep sleep and looked at the clock to see 8:13am! Panic ran through my whole body and I stumbled out of bed thinking of all the horrible things Allary could have been doing to the house or to herself while I was asleep. I came out of the room to find the most wonderful fantastic surprise ever. Jason was there, in the act of changing her pull-up, with everything under control. He decided to surprise me and take the day off of work. That never happens. It was absolutely fabulous. We went to dinner that night at the Cheesecake Factory. Mmmmm, delicious! It was such a wonderful day! Thank you everyone for your birthday wishes.
Oh man, am I really 27?