Kevin, Shannah, Liam, Lorelei & Delaney

Forgot to do potty training update 4 (yesterday): my first day of potty training on my own! Bm in the night time pull up. Liam refused to go potty on the toilet in the morning (we are noticing he is like this in the morning, perhaps holding it or maybe he honestly does not need to go?). Due to wet diapers we've had in the mornings (in the past), I started worrying about causing a bladder infection, so I went ahead & took him to the pool (even though I told him he couldn't go if he didn't go potty!). Of course, he went a little in the swim diaper (expected that & was hoping he would). After swim, I put him in a pull up. We came home, ate lunch & slept most the afternoon away. Pull up wasn't soaked when I removed it (like I expected it to be) but he definitely used it during nap time. At some point in the afternoon/early evening, he went potty on his toilet w/o me even knowing it (had to of been while I was making dinner, that's the only time my eye...

I think he had 2 accidents, 4 potties (pee only) & twice went over to the potty & did it himself without being prompted! We have noticed sometimes he's all about it, other times he's not & cries & screams "no!". So we give him a break and refocus/leave the house for a bit and we try again later, which usually goes well! We did learn pull ups are not super absorbent & he definitely uses them as a "safeguard" (i.e. I can pee tremendous amounts now). This usually discourages Kevin, but I give liam another chance at home & so far, it seems to go well. I think the pull up is just a security blanket. Our potty training book said no going anywhere for a week for this very reason BUT this is not boot camp & I think he deserves a break & new start. and it's working for him for now! Day by day, baby steps. I'm just proud he runs to the potty once in a while & that he is controlling when he goes (a bit!). Doubt he will ...

NO accidents, all pee on the toilet! No poo all day (he took care of that in his pull up this morning before we got him from bed). I'm guessing he will save those for the pull ups during nap/bed time! We did take a break & go swimming (swim diaper is the same as a pull up we figured). No pee in the swim diaper. Overall, really proud of him considering I didn't think he was ready! Now to get a poo in the potty. Baby steps... We're getting there!

So dada is pretty convinced that Liam can potty in the toilet. Since it's a long weekend we are giving it a go (when did a long weekend suddenly turn into a great opportunity for potty training? My how life has changed!). Kev did a lot of the actual running to the potty w/ Liam (I was making a banner & prepping other bday party stuff!). I'd jump in when I heard the celebration that Liam was going on the potty, fill in when Kev needed a break or had something he needed to get done, etc. The morning started off slow. The book we read said pump them w/ salty snacks, juice & sweets to get them going & going & going! Didn't work for Liam. 1 1/2 sippy cups of juice & two pees in three hours (we missed both & cleaned the carpet twice, by the way!). Then, things got moving & one of us (again mostly Kev) was on it! For nap he did wear a pull up & there was a poop & he did pee, but was asleep for 2 hours, so we will take it. After nap, thin...

My sister announced Saturday that she was headed our way (for some beach therapy & clam chowder) with my nephew & her boyfriend Randall. After Kev got off work we met up in pismo. The boys played nicely on the beach & then we went to dinner. After a fun night at our house, we ate chocolate chip muffins (as requested by my nephew) & then headed out to the base beach. It was a fun beachy weekend. We haven't taken Liam to the beach in at least a year (shame, shame). I think he's going to love Hawaii! Thanks to my sister & family for coming out. Just the therapy I needed. So fun! Lots of love to all three of you!

Liam was not having it when dada tried to read to him. Instead he read to us! What a treat! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbZwTrxCebc&sns=em

Mr. Liam is 23 months old today! 23 months ago I joined an exclusive club of Mommies! It's been a real whirlwind, but truthfully the greatest "job" I've ever had. I love this lil booger sooo much! (btw, he was fine in the photo below, just didn't want to take his 23 month photo). Liam can put slip on crocs on by himself (& tries to put his Velcro shoes on too!). He loves to be outdoors & do anything physical (lately that's been assisted head stands from the couch or unassisted somersaults). He loves learning! He can identify every letter, #1-10, he can count #1-10 (sometimes skipping 1, but he knows it's supposed to go there). He can identify a circle, oval, rectangle, square & triangle. He knows all his colors. I don't really structure a learning time, I just go with what he's interested in, when he's interested in it or turn "fun" activities into learning time (he loves telling you the colors of colored goldfish sn...