introducing the iron bladder

DAY 3

She woke up too early.

Stayed dry all night.

Sat her on the potty, did not go.

Finally went about 3 hours after she woke up. I was in the shower because we need to go somewhere (okay, I needed to go somewhere). She became upset, stripped and climb in the shower with me. That is when she peed. (is this to graphic for some of you?) This was about 9:30am. She was still agitated after the shower and she wanted a diaper on. I had intended to take her out in her panties, but she didn't want to. After we came home she was still dry but refused to sit on the potty.

Wanted her panties back on.

Drank her brothers Gatorade, ocean water and a cup of milk.

Took a nap.

Woke up dry.

Refuses to sit in the potty, but still dry.

At this point I am getting worried. Who could drink that much liquid and hold it for that long. My concern drove me to make a quick call to the pediatrician. She said that she was probably fine, just exerting control over the situation. (great, like I need another child that is a control freak!) I felt better, but still hoping, praying that she would pee tonight after she went to sleep. A 2 year old with a UTI? Doesn't sound fun.

Ate dinner.

Went to take a bath (she made herself a mess today).

Got her undress and she looks at me and says "pee pee."

Sits on the potty, pees, and gets into the tub.

Time between pees: 10 hours. No joke.

Katie: fine

Mom: very stressed out.

Needless to say, I am more then thankful that this day is over. Writing about it is helping me relieve the stress that comes from trying to potty train. I will be back tomorrow.

potty mouth

I decided that Katie was ready to be potty trained. We had been practicing weeks with no success of catching her at the right moment, but I was confident that I could do this. Not only was a sure that I could do this, I was going to do this in just a few days. Never mind that she is much younger then the boys where when I started with them. She was showing all the signs of being ready, so why not go for it, right?

DAY 1

I came back from walking in the morning, took off her diaper and put her in panties. That was it. I asked her to tell me if she needed to go potty and I would take her every 30-45 minutes. I gave her some fun drinks (limeade & capri suns -- healthy, I know!) We had a couple of accidents, but not to many. It was very evident that she was holding it. I laid her down for her nap, in her panties, and when she got up I was waiting. I got her to the bathroom and she started to pee! SUCCESS!! But not really because it became clear that she was scared to pee in the potty! That had never occurred to me! She did try a couple more times time that day, but nothing really. It was clear that she was stressed out over this, but wanted to hang in there. We ended the day in a diaper for bed. I don't really believe in pushing night training. I'd rather let her relax. She was happy and I was satisfied with the days results.

DAY 2
She got up right as I was coming home and I could hear her asking to go to the potty. We tried, but nothing. She did wear panties for a couple of hours. I had her sitting on the potty when she started to get upset. I tried to get her back into her panties, but she was too frustrated. She took them and "hid" them from me! I took this for what is was and offered to put her in a diaper. (I will admit that I was disappointed that she was not wanting to potty train, but I'd rather her be happy and do this when she is ready.) She was much happier after that. Since she was happy and in a diaper I took advantage of it and we all got out of the house!!! It was really nice for me get out and I felt much better when we got home. After we had come home she asked to go to the potty. I checked her diaper and she was still dry!! So we went to try again and this time she went!! She was still a little scared, but not as much. After this we had lunch and went down for her nap in her panties. Once again she stayed dry! I was starting to feel like she was going to get this after all! She did have some accidents getting to the potty, but oh well! I will take it. Then finally it happened this afternoon... she peed without crying in fear!!!!! She gets it! She likes it!! Hooray!

Here's to day 3.

Santa Ana golf clinic

This past week Eric participated in a golf clinic at the Santa Ana golf course. Each day they taught the kids one of the golf swings and techniques to teach them the sport or to help them improve their game (in Eric's case). On the last day they had a tournament where the kids competed against those in the age group. They received points based on how well the used the skills they were taught. After everything they tallied up the points and ERIC was the winner for his age group!! He won a very nice Nike golf bag for his clubs. He was excited to have won and we are very proud that he did his best! Way to go Eric!

Our summer fun: the Zoo

Katie had her first ever trip to the Zoo on one of the hottest days that Albuquerque had seen this year. But it was the only day that we could make it and so we braved the heat. Sadly, not to many of the animals were up for the weather and we were only able to see some of them.

Here is Katie... it was fun to watch her face as she saw the animals for the first time.


Of course the boys helped her find them. It is nice to find an activity that all of the kids enjoy.

The giraffes were awesome! They were so close! And they had this beautiful little guy with them! We all got a kick out of the polar bears. This one was laying on the top of the waterfall and he would not let the bear get into it. The other bear was really bugged and kept pacing around him and trying to pressure him off. Very entertaining!

You can see a bit of this in the picture if you click on it and enlarge it.The boys will let you that the best part was the spray park. It felt so good to get wet in the intense heat of the day.

Cute pictures of the kids before they started to melt.

Our summer fun: the Aquarium

Another family day courtesy of our local radio station.

A couple of weeks after the ABQ Jump we had the opportunity to go the Aquarium. The Aquarium here is pretty good, but small and it does not take long to go through. It is attached to some beautiful Botanical Gardens though and together they make a fun day, during nice weather.

This was the first time that Katie went to the Aquarium that she was old enough to notice the beautiful creatures that are there. She really enjoyed it!

Look at these sharks!

All of our cute kiddos + one of Eric's friends.

Our summer fun: ABQ Jump

Each summer a local radio station has a summer road trip program. They choose a location here in town and broadcast from there. During their broadcast you can get into that place for free! We have been to a lot of these this summer. Free fun is the best! Plus they go to all the places that we would be going to anyway.

The first week they were at ABQ Jump.

The boys love this place but Katie is a little unsure about it. The place was packed and I think that it was a little to much for her. She only will go down one of the slides if Brandon or Eric was with her.

Eric was an awesome big brother this day and he took Katie every time she asked. It was such a great moment for me to see them getting along so well!

Josh was bouncing everywhere! This kid has so much energy and this was a great way to get rid of some of it!I love the wedgie face!

the HOUSE: Katelyns' room

Here are the before pictures of Kate's room. Very boring. When we found out that we were having a girl I insisted on white furniture. So feminine, so pretty against a soft pink, lavender, yellow, or green. But not a yucky off-white.

Disney has a color called Cinderella's Glass Slipper. So beautiful, wispy and fresh. The perfect color for her fairy garden room.

We have painted her room, but I am not showing them yet because we are not done. We are adding a strip in Moonlight Waltz. And I still have to do a few other things to it. But soon.

Okay, a quick preview.

The picture does not do the color justice. You will just have to believe me.

So sweet, isn't she?