Suns Out Buns Out...10 Things I've Learned About Potty Training

Hello again! H here and just wanted to share some interesting facts I have learned about potty training while working with L & B. Definitely a 2 steps forward 1 step back process! Huge shout out to the kids' daycare who have been allowing us to send those little walking messes to school in underwear from day 1. They deserve 90% of the credit for our successes (I think that you know where the failures probably lie).

Be forewarned....there will be lots of references to #1 and #2. This will not be a sophisticated, well-vocabed post. The word poop is used 47 times. Not for the faint of stomach. Turn back now if needed! 

Here it is!

1. Boys will be boys.... these days I can't turn my back for 10 seconds without turning back to discover L 'watering the lawn'. Seems great, until you are in a park along side a highway. I just stood in a strategic spot that shielded him from as much traffic as possible. "Oh, hi neighbors!"

2. I estimate 78% of my at home time is now spent in a bathroom. I have taken to multitasking so if you receive a text from me, I just might be sitting on a stool waiting for the 'magic' to happen (who knows...I could be in a bathroom right now.....). This leads me to #3.

3. Apparently going to the bathroom is a group activity. I think my kids must follow the tree-falls-in-the-woods philosophy, if I'm not there to see it, then it doesn't exist. Never been so excited to see a 'log' drop in my life. "Mom, get in here!"

4. Little boy tip: sit them backwards on a grown up sized toilet...this has saved me an estimate of 387 hours of clean up time.


5. My kids lie.... "Did you poop?"  "No." "Then what is that laying on the ground?"  

6. Bathtub peeing is the best. L purposely holds it so he can pee in the bathtub. Gross? Yes. Do I allow it? Hey, I never claimed I was going for a mom of the year award. In my defense I do remind him 'Just don't pee on your brother'. That's got to count for something.


7. Bathtub pooping is NOT the best. Luckily this very rarely happens in my house. But, a couple days ago B was taking a shower and I noticed 'something' clogging the drain. I said, "Oh no, is that poop?" He notices it, screams, and runs to the other end of the tub. Um, why the surprise? You made it. #doody!  (This is the 2nd time I've told a story like this on this blog...I hope you are impressed with the maturity of content I am providing you.)


8. They lie (did I mention that already?). Do not believe them when they say "But I'm potty trained, I can wear undies to bed" and than pee in your brand new bed that you don't even have a liner for yet. Not that I'm bitter.  


9. Buy LOTS of undies!!!! We are constantly on the last pair, it's like they can sense it "there are more clean underwear in this house, I must pee in it!"  Also, I got each boy a clearly different style and that helps a TON when sorting laundry.

10.Which reminds me.... Laundry. Minimum one load per day...minimum. And I'm ignoring the fact that almost all of my clothes have now been washed with pee or poop. Well, I was ignoring it and now I'm thinking about it. I might have to go shopping. For cleanliness purposes only of course. When does my next Stitchfix arrive?


Well people, there you have my 10 totally useless tips on potty training. When you see me next you can thank me, hope I'm wearing new clothes, or notice I am strategically blocking a bare butt.

Fall weekend adventure!

*This post is my shameless plug for our local pumpkin patch in attempts to lure friends and family to come down this fall and join us, so bear with me and my gushing =)

This past weekend we had the opportunity to visit Pinter’s Pumpkin Patch, a local pumpkin patch, corn maze, and so much more!!! We decided to head over for a couple hours to tire the boys out before naptime (which is ALWAYS a challenge for us on weekends—does this happen to anyone else?)

Here is my juicy insider tip! Visit in the morning; we arrived as they were opening and just as we were leaving at noon it was just starting to get busy.

Our highlights? I knew you would ask!

Jumping pillow (H’s pick)—This is where our early arrival really paid off! The boys had SO much fun bouncing and running on this but can’t hang once their dad the older kids get this thing hopping. Another bonus-moms are allowed on it too…and I love a good trampoline.

Corn box (B’s pick)—The boys had a blast crawling around filling up buckets and even found an innocent bystander to bury. 

Mr. M was intrigued with how much less messy the corn box was than our sandbox at home. I could see wheels turning and am a little scared what might come of this. Anyone that knows Mr. M knows about his ‘invention’ ideas.

Big slides (L’s pick)—L told me he wanted to ‘slide and slide and slide’ and could have played here all day. Mr. M and I had to sample the slides (for safety purposes of course) and found them pretty fun ourselves! And I have to say watching little smiling faces going down the tubes were some of my favorite moments of the day.

Pedal Go Karts (Mr M’s pick)—L and B each took a turn with mom and dad and had so much fun getting to steer while we did all the dirty work pedaling! A good workout and a lot of fun.

We also visited the animal farm saying hello to some turkeys, chickens and goats (B does the CUTEST goat impression); rolled ourselves in tubes; tried out the ball zone; explored through the tire maze; and wrapped it up with a grain cart ride.

Needless to say—3 of the 4 of us were in full snooze by the time we got home for naps (don’t worry, the 4^th was the driver!). 

Season passes were obtained and we will definitely be back for more!! Mr. M said if they would install a beer truck and TV he’d be the first to arrive and last to leave every Sunday. I tend to agree, I don’t see a problem with an ‘adult cider’ option =)

On our agenda for next time? I knew you’d ask!

--Snack shack (did I mention Pinter’s makes the world’s best cupcakes?)

--Corn maze

--Wagon ride to the pumpkin patch

--‘Wiggleville’ (doesn’t that just sound fun?)

--Duck races

--Pumpkin cannon (this is obviously #1 on Mr. M’s list for next time)

The Sunday Drive

Last weekend my parents took the boys and I on what was one of my favorite family traditions: the Sunday Drive.

L and my dad (Big Q) started the day with a trip to a Swap Meet and we hit the road. Best part? My mom packed everything! I should elaborate:

My mother is a savant in the art of packing….she has everything you could ever think of. Fingernail clipper? Has it. Sewing kit? Of course. Plug in for any electronic device ever made? Duh. AND the ever present necessity: the wet washcloth. My sister, D, and I joke that when we are packing to go anywhere we follow the mantra "WWDD: What Would D (mom) Do" because she thinks of EVERYTHING! #WWDD #WetWashclothMemories

First Stop: Quick stop at my cousin’s house to drop off a couple things. B took the opportunity during the 5 minute stop to get out and roll around in their sandbox. He would have been fine ending the trip right here as there was a park next door, a dog down the street, a sandbox, AND chickens….a 1 ½ year old's dream! Alas, it was soon time to head to our next location so after we (mostly) cleaned him up, we were back on track.

Second Stop: Starks Liquor Store. I know, an obvious choice for a trip with two little boys =)  But we were able to put together a craft beer sampler and pick up some of their delicious cheese curds so everyone left with a treat.

Third Stop: Walked across the street to the ‘world famous’ Pete’s Hamburger Stand. World Famous = Big Q watched a special on them on the Travel Channel so we had to try it. The boys enjoyed watching them boil the burgers and walking through the boat store next door.

Hanging with grandpa....

`

Fourth Stop: Took a ‘short cut’ to Pikes Peak (I think the quotation marks indicate how short this cut ended up being). Had a picnic, played in the park, and walked down to Veil Falls. L LOVED counting all of the steps on the way up and down. He can currently count to ‘twenty-thirty’ (thirty) and only skips one or two numbers in between. I know every parent thinks their child is a genius, but mine actually is. #saideverymomever

Child genius...

On our way to the falls

Fifth Stop: Phelps Park, Decorah. We had ice cream and than played in the park. L was so happy because they have three parks (play areas). By the end, Grandma, Grandpa, B, and mom were tired with bellyaches and L could have stayed another 3 hours.

Sixth Stop: Home. Clothes went directly into the washing machine, bodies went directly into the bath, and moms went directly into the couch.

L is still talking about the trip and it now ranks up there with Grandma’s house and the Waterpark as his favorite places to go. Those are some high praises my friends.

Sappyness alert! Those with weak stomachs read at your own risk:  Days like this make me so grateful our kids have all four grandparents that are always there to step in and lend a hand or make a memory =)  Family is the best! 

H's race day recap--a very different story....

In honor of D's beautiful pre and post-MedCity recaps I thought I would walk you through a couple weeks ago when the kiddos and I ran the Cresco 10k. First just want to give a big shout out to the CFC for putting together a really well organized and fun race...also thank you for the photo documentation!

7:00am Decide to run the 10k 

7:30am Arrive to register with enough snacks and toys in the stroller to camp for a week. As soon as we pull in L (freshly potty trained) announces 'I Poot', which means we need to get to a bathroom ASAP. Everyone knows how important the pre-race 'Poot' is so I'm pretty impressed that L has mastered that skill so early in his running career.

7:40am The kids are out of the stroller running around like wild animals. Everyone comments on how cute they are while discretely moving away.

7:59am They announce the race will start in one minute. The race hasn't even started and I am sweating profusely from wrangling the kids into the stroller. Everyone is fortified with drinks, snacks, books, and stuffed animals--the stroller is getting a little crowded.

8:00am The race begins! WOW these kids are heavy.

We're off!!!

Mile 1: L plows through his entire supply of cherrios, starts trying to steal B's, first fight ensues.

Mile 2: I THOUGHT IOWA WAS FLAT--I was wrong.

Realize that B's binky was dropped sometime in mile 1--he is inconsoleable, also L won't stop touching him.

Mile 3: Pull out emergency back-up snacks for L, he eats half the container, says yucky and throws the rest at B.

Turnaround! Hurray!!!!!! I am smiling--both children are crying: L is mad we aren't going to grandma's house, B is still mourning the binky. 

'He's touching me!'

Mile 4: A raceday attendent brings us the binky on a Gator--apparently they could hear the crying at the mile 2 waterstop. L and I recite 'Little Blue Truck' from memory.

Mile 5: I start walking up the hills when I realize it has no effect on my pace..... L sings us Mary Has a Little Lamb which puts B to sleep.

Mile 6: L has to pee--we are on a trail on the side of a busy highway.... we go up into someone's yard and pee behind a bush, better him than me! L notices B is asleep so starts poking him until he wakes up and cries. A bout of 'he's touching me' ensues. Just as this happens, the 15k runners are passing us...super morale booster! 

Finish: We finished! I didn't even look at our time because I'm sure it was terrible, but who cares! We did it and it was an adventure. 

Post Race: The boys are ravenous (as if they hadn't just eaten enough snacks to feed a football team during the run). B sticks a half banana in his mouth whole, wipes what doesn't fit on my leg. L keeps trying to raid the snack table for more 'nacks'. B is throwing an apple all over because he thinks it is a ball. I guess we can have applesauce when he is done? I take this as our cue to leave...I'm pretty sure they won't be calling our names at the awards ceremony anyway =)

 

Chowing down bananas

B was super thirsty from his hard work

 

Where are they now? My kids...

 

Do you ever see those cute little monthly updates that other moms do with their children? 

John

10 months, 1 hour, 54 minutes

Fun fact: Crawling everywhere!

Favorite food:  Bananas

Favorite activity: Reading books

I am in awe that people can be that put together! When L was a baby I tried to take a picture on his monthly birthday. Just any old picture not even with a cute sign or shirt—just on that day.  I failed about month 2 and his 5 month and 6 month pictures are about 3 days apart. With B I didn’t even try. #2ndchildproblems Sorry kids! You will not know how you grew in perfect one month increments.  Who am I kidding, your photo books probably won’t even be in the right order.

However, I have been thinking of some pretty creative (and true) statements I could say about these little men that will probably horrify them at their graduation; which, lets be honest, is basically the whole reason you take photos (or is that just me?).

 

B

8(ish) months old

Fun Fact: Loves to be growled at. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found myself saying, “L, go roar at your brother so he stops crying”.

Favorite food: Monkey

Favorite activity: Gnawing

 

Gnawing on his monkey--he's in heaven!

 

 

L

22(ish) months old

Fun Fact: Loves deodorant. We find him hiding all over the house putting it on his hair and once I caught him biting it—don’t worry I'm still using the stick with the bite marks.

Favorite food: Deodorant (see above)

Favorite activity: Stuffing toilet paper down my legs while I’m trying to pee.

 

Yum!

 

There may be another update like this in a month, maybe six, maybe never. So L may never know when Deodorant stops being his favorite food.... I just hope we aren't serving it at his graduation party.

Next week: let's organize something!

H: Weekly Adventures

H

 

As I mentioned in my bio, Mr M and I were just blessed with our second child a few weeks ago. I will be lucky enough to spend the first 8 weeks home with my boys.

We decided it would be best if we sent L to daycare one day a week. I'd like to say this is so he can stay on a routine and see his friends and other appropriate thoughtful parent things...but really it's to preserve my sanity and give me a 'snuggle and nap' day every week with B. This has been my second week and definitely a learning experience for all. What we have learned:

L: how do I wake up from my nap precisely the moment mom starts feeding B

B: who keeps poking me and throwing binky's in my crib

H: when two babies are crying which do you pick up first (similar to the chicken and the egg dilemma- and I still having figured out the answer!)

That said, we have had lots of fun this week! Here are some of the highlights:

Day 1: Pinterest fail

PINTEREST: 'Put your child in a box with crayons and they will be entertained for hours and no mess!'

REALITY: Your child will eat the crayons, smile at you with a purple tooth, than will tip over the box and escape, leaving half-chewed crayon all over the floor

Day 2: Discover cereal cupboard

Stomping and spreading quickly follows

L was put to work cleaning his mess.

 This proved to be even more fun because the broom is very effective at distributing the cereal across the floor.

Day 3: Mom got smart

Loaded cupboard with empty cereal box: HA! I felt so smart until I realized I still had to find somewhere to put the full cereal boxes, rats.

Day 4: Daycare (to visit his friends and keep him on a schedule of course)

L's friends made cards congratulating him and welcoming B, so sweet!

Day 5: Hygiene is going out the window

*not shown--my hair--which is significantly worse off than L's, probably why he is laughing

Next week: What has B been doing???