"I go potty in the toilet, I go potty in the toilet" - Leo Holma

This weekend we started in on the potty training again. While we were home we would let Leo run around with underpants on. They had to be Cars or Buzz Lightyear, occassionaly spiderman and Wall*e were acceptable. We had success here and there but he wasn't totally into it or committed. To give incentives or not to give incentives: that is the question. We tried incentives (read: bribes) of toys. We told him that if he went potty on the toilet he could have a toy (we keep a stash of toys for such occassions). Over the past two months or so he has earned about three toys. We also told him that if he went poo on the toilet he could have a *BIG* toy-one that required a trip to the toy store. The *BIG* toy really didn't do much for him. He wasn't going potty on the toilet and he especially wasn't going poo.

Early on in the process, he really only went once per day on the toilet. So he got one toy. Over the weekend though he went two or three times on the toilet. Of course, he expected two or three toys! We told him he had to go potty twice in one day to get a toy. He was actually quite upset that he wasn't getting multiple toys and didn't really understand the concept of going potty two times in one day. So we changed the incentive scheme on Monday: one toy, and 5 m & m's for going potty the other times and a poo in the toilet was still worth a *BIG* toy. m & m's could be earned morning or night. On Tuesday morning Jason, Aidan and Leo were downstairs playing and Leo said he had to go potty (did I mention he has his own little potty?) and Jason replied "great. you know where the potty is". Leo ran upstair and went potty and guess what? He poo'd! He came running downstairs to tell Jason and Aidan, "I went poo in the potty, I went poo in the potty!" He said he heard it drop in the toilet! and he asked "I get toy?" He was so, so proud. It is great to see him so proud of himself. He wanted to go to Toys R Us immediately so they did. He got a Star Wars Mugg. So the rest of the week he has pretty much been going in the toilet. He is wearing pull-ups and regular underpants. Last night I forgot to take his underpants off of him before he went to bed and no accident! Today was his first day of going on the potty all day (poo x 3). Not in the diaper, not in the pull-up. When they went to the pool today and they finished and were showering, drying off and trying to get dressed, he told Jason he had to potty. Jason told him to wait just for a minute because they were trying to dry off and get dressed and he held it and then went a lot in the big potty. He is doing GREAT!

He called me and left me a message on my phone at work, "I go poo in potty mom! I get toy?" How can you say no to that sweet voice? You can't!

We are on the up swing of this potty thing. Let's see how the rest of the week and the weekend go. We need to cut off the incentives but to be honest I'm afraid to. Let's see how he reacts.

Happy Birthday Riley!

Wow Riley-pants! We can't believe you are three! What a special age. We can't wait to see you in a couple of weeks (two weeks today). We will bring your birthday present with us!

Love you so much!

Fourth of July Fun

Auntie Thotlady and Bramwell hanging out on the porch

At Uncle Bogey's and Auntie Thotlady's house this weekend. We played a really fun outdoor game called Ladder Ball. Everyone had fun playing. You throw these two balls connected by a rope and hope they land on the "ladder". The middle rung is worth three points, the top rung 2 and the bottom rung 1 point and you play until someone gets 21. Leo and Aidan played too. We had two matches boys against the girls and do you even need to guess who won? THE GIRLS of course!

Uncle Bogey and Aidan playing Ladder Ball

Aidan taking a turn at Ladder Ball

Aidan doing his celebratory dance!

We had a lot of fun on the fourth. In the morning we went down for a yummy breakfast at the hotel. Jason, Aidan and Leo went to the pool and I went to the gym and walked on the treadmill. Uncle Bogey came over and went swimming with the boys. They had a lot of fun. After swimming we showered and went over to Uncle B and Auntie T for a BBQ. We had lots of great snacks and burgers, hot dogs and beer--just like the fourth of July should be.

Arlene and Leo hanging out on the porch

Uncle Bogey teaching Aidan how to BBQ

Leo and Mommy chillin' in the backyard

Around 4:30 pm we drove back up to DC. The traffic was great, essentially non-existent and we buzzed home. Both of the boys took a long nap. We actually stopped at the outlet mall and bought Aidan two pairs of shoes - one for now and one we will get out when he starts school. We find the outlet mall the best place to buys kids shoes, either the Nordstrom rack or the stride rite outlet. Otherwise shoes are $40+ which seems insane to pay for a 6 year old. On the remaining ride home the boys were watching our ipods and were totally entertained.

Leo watching Cars on the ipod

Aidan watching Star Wars: Clone Wars on the ipod

Jason driving the long rode home - he really isn't picking his nose (or is he?)

Today we are going to Jake and Bec's house for another BBQ. Bec's always has yummy snacks and Jake always sets up fun games for us all to play. We are bringing a fruit salad, broccoli salad and beer and oh yeah, our Wii controllers!

Happy Fourth of July

I got off work early yesterday (at about 3:10) and we drove down to visit Uncle Bogey and Auntie Thotlady. We are staying at the Embassy Suites. The boys, especially Leo, love to stay in hotels. I do too to be honest. It is like a mini vacation from all the mundane responsibilities at home. This morning we woke up had breakfast (Embassy Suites has the best hotel breakfasts) and then Jason went to work out with Uncle Bogey and the boys and I went to the swimming pool for an hour. Aidan is a great swimmer. I was throwing him in the deep area to make sure he could float. The first time he went a little crazy trying to swim but the second, third and fourth times he just went straight into floating. It was really great! Leo is also learning to love the water. He jumped off the side of pool, dunked his head and puts his face in the water. When we got back to the room, it was clean! Does life really get better than that?

On a sad, sad note Uncle Bogey and Auntie Thotlady's dog Charlotte passed away on Wednesday. We are all very sad and especially sad for Uncle and Auntie. She was a super wonderful puppy and will be very missed by the whole family.

We will go back home tomorrow. We do not want to battle the traffic on Sunday and I thought it would be nice to have a day of rest over the weekend. Work has, as usual, been a bear. Maybe tomorrow we will check out the Rockville fireworks if they have some. I don't want to go downtown to watch the fireworks because it is just not a good idea with two small children. Jason and I did it a couple of times when we were "young" and we are just not that interested now-maybe in a few years.

On Sunday, we plan to go to Jake and Bec's house for a BBQ. We did this last year too and it was great fun. There was lots of great food, awesome company and relaxing. It was a hot day and there was beer and a sprinkler for the boys to run around in with only there underwear on. I had to ask Bec's if it was okay if she had two boys running around her front yard in only underpants. She said "of course"!

So that is what we are up to. I hope everyone else has a safe, fun and relaxing fourth of July.

Love you.