Backing up a bit, this is how we celebrated Christmas and ended 2009: We had planned to go to Wragge Christmas in Pierce during Christmas weekend, but the snowstorm lead to a change in plans. The roads were not too bad around here, and we were able to make it to Becker Christmas on Thursday instead. Christmas Day we opened gifts at home then went to Grandma and Grandpa Hoefs’ for lunch and to open gifts there. That evening we went to Grandma and Grandpa Becker’s to spend the night. That was Grandpa Becker’s wish to have kids and grandkids spend the night and then open gifts in pajamas first thing in the morning! WISH GRANTED!!! That afternoon we went to Norton for Christmas at Great Grandma Nelson’s. We eventually made to Pierce over New Year’s weekend and had a great time. We also had a family baby shower for Elliot’s cousin Nick’s son, Kolten.
The kids received plenty of useful gifts that should help us get through the rest of winter. It has been way to cold to even consider taking the kids outside to play in the snow. We did finally get to go out when temperatures got up to the 30s! Landen lost his gloves the first time we took him out and came screaming back to the house with his icy cold hands. Adellyn wasn’t too sure to about making snow angels, but both kids liked getting pulled around the yard in their sled. The last time we got to play outside, Adellyn stood in one spot and ate the snow in front of her! It wasn't yellow, so I figured a little dirt never hurt anyone and let her have fun for a while!
This week has also been somewhat eventful. We have stayed home this week (except Monday for MOPS) to focus on potty training Landen! This is the biggest goal I wanted to accomplish before the baby is born. He is doing really good. I decided to go with the method where you have the kid go naked from the waist down for about 3 days. When I first read about this approach, I wasn't sure if I agreed with it, but for the last month or so, Landen would tell us that he had to potty after his bath and before we got him dressed. I decided this would be the method of choice because when he is naked, he can recognize the feeling of having to go before it happens. The first and second days, he had only 2 accidents each! The third day (Thursday) we had to put a diaper on him for much of the afternoon and evening because he hadn't pooped since Sunday and he wasn't willing/able to sit on the toilet because it hurt him so bad. He was in tears every time he got the urge to go and couldn't. I felt so helpless. :( Today (Friday) was day four and Landen wore underwear and pants all day today and was completely accident free!!!! I still put a diaper on him when he sleeps. Once he has daytime down pretty good, then we will work on waking up dry. I'm pretty sure he pees once he is awake because his diaper is warm when I take it off just after he is up. He is pretty excited about going potty in the toilet now. He does get 2 m&ms when he goes, but eventually I am going to replace m&ms with stickers. I'm considering doing a prize (like a Hotwheels car) when he gets so many stickers to keep him interested. I also plan to give him a prize for pooping in the toilet. I'm hoping that will help to keep him from holding it so long. Over all, I feel really good about the progress we have made this week and I hope he keeps it up!
Landen is doing and saying so many things that make my stop and realize that he is growing up! He is finally starting to eat better again. His favorite meal is grilled cheese and tomato soup. If you ask him what he wants to eat, he often says, "tomato soup!" He likes to tell me exactly what he did, like "I go potty. I flush it. I wash hands. I turn on fan." (this is, of course, after he has gone to the bathroom) Thursday night, he went into the kitchen and started climbing on a chair to get to the clock and told Connie and Larry that he needed to change the clock to say that it's ice cream time! He told me the same thing in the morning! He got that off of an episode of Curious George when George learns how to change the time on a clock! Earlier this week, he was trying to get me to go into the play room and I said, "No Landen. Mommy doesn't feel very good right now." Landen asked, "Mommy want a kiss?" He crawled up onto the couch and kissed my head and asked, "Mommy feel better?" What a sweet kid!!! He can also put on his pants...but he get frustrated easily and gives up. I have been really working to encourage him to keep trying rather that jumping in and 'saving' him. He can also completely undress himself. I just taught him how to take a diaper off. I'm kind of glad he never figured that one out on his own...I've heard horror stories of kids taking their diaper off and smearing the contents all over...yuck! I also figured being able to take his diaper off would be good for potty training efforts.
Adellyn is practically running now. She is getting better about playing independently for a short time. She really likes the Little People doll house that she got for Christmas. Landen also likes playing with it, so I sometimes have to break up a fight. She also likes to play with Landen's trains that he got for Christmas. Of course, this really leads to a fight! There is definitely no lack of sibling rivalry in this house! Landen has been getting a lot of time outs for hitting and pushing. I really need to figure out how to discipline Adellyn when she is the instigator. I don't want Landen to think I am picking on him because she doesn't get time outs. She is almost old enough to start doing a time out. She tries to copy what Landen does. Tonight, Elliot watched her crawl up on the couch and jump off into a pile of cushions and pillows like Landen does...oh boy! Adellyn loves shoes! She is always trying to put on her shoes. Sometimes she will bring them to me to put on. She is definitely all girl! Her hair is starting to get long and curly. It's still really thin, but I can see shorter hairs where it is starting to get thicker. I'm really looking forward to it getting to a point where I can braid it and put it in pigtails and ponytails! I have tried, but it is just to thin and fine to do anything more than a headband (that she pulls off). She has also really started showing us that she has an opinion and an mind of her own. She DOES NOT like to be fed. She is very independent and will scream and throw a fit if you try to feed her instead of let her do it herself! She also screams and throws a fit if she doesn't get what she wants. She is very moody some days and I wonder what she will be like as a teenager...watch out! She is also very cuddly and if you are sitting on the floor, she will most likely find her way into your lap. I always laugh to myself when she walks backward or sideways to get to my lap. She has had a little cold this week, but she is still pretty happy.
Sorry this got so long. I hope I didn't bore you too much. I'll try to post more updates on potty training efforts. I really hope the news keeps getting better and we are diaper free by summer and his 3rd birthday! Enjoy the pictures!
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| Christmas and January |
