Pee-Palooza - the Journey is just beginning...

So, the long weekend may be over - but our adventures in potty training are really just beginning.

I am so thankful that we have had this time to focus on getting started and figure out some strategies.

Yesterday was my first day home alone with the boys in undies - I was also diagnosed with Strep, but at least that means I am on meds now and starting to feel better.
Yesterday was awesome - only one pee and one poop accident all day.  We took the kiddos to Chick Fil-A for family night and then to go grocery shopping.... they did so great (this was where we had the one poop accident, but it wasn't too big and we had supplies to deal with it.)  I was seriously feeling 'fist-pump-in-the-air' awesome when we put them down to bed.

Then this morning we have had three puddle accidents in less than an hour - sigh, and deflate the ego.

If you are going to potty train twins - resign yourself tot he fact that you will do at least one load of laundry every day just for them!

The truth is that the boys have been doing so great overall, but they are still learning - and I am still learning!  Going forward we will have great days and not so great days, and they are all part of the process.

The things I feel like the boys have grown in:

• A can do the whole process by himself (taking off his underwear, climbing up on the potty, climbing up, and flushing)
• Both boys are waking up dry from naps
• Both boys have started occasionally waking up dry from night
• When they aren't distracted, or uninterested - both boys will tell me they need to go ;op

Thank you for all the prayers and words of encouragement - and keep them coming - I think we'll be at this for a while!

Pee-Palooza: The saga continues

 

Day two felt like an exercises in one step forward, TWO steps back.  I think the novelty of day one started to wear off on day two.  It isn't helping that I am not feeling well - stupid allergies gone haywire.

yes - I do need 2x as many pairs of underwear for one child ;o)  We are keeping all their underwear stacked on the back of the toilet to make for easy access after an accident.  I also have one who seems to dribble a bit more than the other - is this just a boy thing????

stickers from the $1 section at Target make for a great reward and way to track success!

So, day one ended with a bunch of success and pizza for dinner.  All total there were about 6 puddle accidents between the two boys over the course of the day - not bad at all for day one!

Day two started off strong - in the first two hours of the morning the boys were consistently telling me they needed to go, or going when I asked.  We had a fun breakfast, my mom picked up baby girl for some one on one time, and I thought we were moving into another strong day.  I really wasn't feeling well though - so once hubs got a shower in, I left him in control and went to lie down.  Poor guy.... in the next hour and a half before nap time, B pooped in his underwear TWICE, and A had accidents both outside and inside - on the carpet of course ;op

Now accidents are bound to happen, and they are the learning experiences that help kids grow and solidify their new skill, but sheesh - I never meant to abandon my poor hubs for a string of them in a row!

After nap time, we took the kids to the pool - we figured everyone needed a break and some genuine fun!  They each asked to go to the potty once while we were there, I am sure they left a good amount of pee in the pool, but the fact that they each asked to go counts as a check in the positive column in my book.

So far today there has only been on accident... but hey it is only 9am ;op

Morning of day 2 Sticker Charts (*baby girl stole some off of B's chart)

Morning of Day three sticker charts

My biggest struggles are when I ask if they need to go and then they have an accident less than 2 minutes latter, and the fact that I feel like I am nagging non-stop.  I am trying to ask about every 15 minutes... I am also making them pee before getting a drink and within 15 minutes of drinking said drink.

This afternoon we will take them - in underwear - to an outdoor cook out.  I will be bringing 2 spare outfits for each of them, fingers crossed that it can be an enjoyable experience.

Keep praying for patience, endurance, and healing for me!!!!

Pee-palooza: the Great Adventures of Potty Training

So we officially started Potty Bootcamp today, the boys recently turned 3 and finally started giving the signals that they were ready for the real deal.

Proud boys in their brand new underoos!

Our Bootcamp is fairly relaxed, but still organized enough to teach them this new skill in hopefully a little bit of fun in the mix. *They have been peeing on the potty occasionally for the last 6-9 months while still wearing diapers, so this is not a 0-60 situation*

What it looks like:

• We are keeping the boys on our main floor (hardwood and tile for easy clean up)
• We went straight to underwear only for awake hours (for naps and bedtime we will continue to use diapers)
• We are not giving them anything extra to drink or strange to eat... they drink a lot on a regular basis, so have enough opportunities to go is just not an issue for us.
• We are using a sticker chart to track their success - this doesn't earn them anything other than getting to stick a sticker on a colored piece of paper with their name on it - and a High Five, and lots of verbal praise.
• For accidents we are trying to keep it positive, but acknowledge that this was an accident/mistake.  They are immediately taken to sit on the potty.  We use a rhetoric of 'We don't pee in our underwear, we want to keep them nice and dry, we pee in the potty, next time let mommy and daddy know you need to go so we can make it to the potty on time!'
• We purposely picked a three day weekend so that this could be a joint venture between my husband and I and the kids.  We both need a lot of support from each other, and the ability to say 'your turn'.

So far the boys are doing ok.  Between 7am and 1pm there were a total of 3 puddle accidents - one was on carpet, one on hard wood and one on a chair.  The carpet was an accident on all our parts, we put a plastic tarp down in our office so that the boys could watch a show before lunch.  Becket wandered off and up to the desk for a closer view and had an accident in the 3 minutes I was out of the room.  Our chairs I have transformed into 'special' chairs.  A layer of plastic wrap and a thick towel meant that that accident was an easy clean up.  The accident on the floor, I quickly mopped up with a towel and then had my son clean with a Clorox wipe after he sat on the potty.  I think it is important that they participate in clean up but not in a way that makes them feel shame.

I doubt this is a perfect method, and seeing as we are just half a day in I can't say whether it is really working or not yet.  

For reference, this morning A had 7 successes and B had 6 successes.... like I said, our boys don't really need anything extra in their diet to have enough opportunities to succeed. 

high fives abound

If you are the praying kind, pray for us and the boys!  Pee-Palooza is ONNNNNNNNNNNNNN!

Let's GO to the Movies: Matilda

Today I am guest posting back over at Project Run and Play - YAY, I love getting to be over there any time possible.

We got the opportunity to choose a challenge that was not in our season and sew it up - well I chose 'Let's Go to the Movies' - I think my little Matilda looks pretty dang spot on!  Head over to Project Run and Play to check out all the pictures and details.

Thanks to Hayley of Mouse House Creations for the Perfect Pattern - the Caroline Party Dress!

Bundle UP!

The Bundle UP! bundle from Pattern Revolution is live and a great deal! 7 of the patterns are
brand new just released a few minutes ago & exclusive to BU the first week. You can pick your bundle size (6-11) as well as which of the 11 patterns you want to include. Bundle prices start at $4.50 each and go down in price the more you buy. (50-60% off total)
There is a nice free downloadable surprise with any bundle purchase!

I had the great fun of getting my hands on the California Dress early for review - this is a great knit dress with a ton of variety. There is no front/back, so you can wear it either way. It has a peplum length, knee length, and maxi length (with high low option).

My daughter LOVES it - so so cute!  And since it takes no tie to sew, I'll be making more of these for sure!!!

Catching Up April: Cause I have gotten way behind!

I swear I have not gone into sewing intervention re-hab..... rather, I have been sewing up a storm!  Sewing so much that I didn't have time to share here!

I bit the Self Care Sewing Bug back in February, and that led Becca Duval and I to say - 'hey, what if we teamed up and applied to audition in this new sewing competition called Challenge Create!'  And so we did - and we got in.  And we have been sewing up a storm over at Skirt Fixation's Challenge Create: Adult Edition!

Week One : Nature Inspired

Week Two: Refashion/Upcycle

Week Three: Hint of Vintage

Week Four: Stash Busting

I also participated in Alida Makes' Calling All Kids Series with my 'Butterflies are for Boys' Button up - this was also A's Easter shirt... pretty perfect if you think about it.

I made baby girl some adorable clothes, namely the Peek A Boo Adelaide Romper and Double Ruffle Dress by Millie Rose and the Sydney Pinafore by Mouse House Creations (free pattern - love it!!).  And then she turned 2 on Easter Sunday.

I also worked on a top secret project - but you will just have to wait to see that ;o)

So what have you been up to in April?!?!?!?

If you want the chance to win some awesome patterns, head over to Pattern Revolution and enter to win the 'Bundle Up: Win It Before You can Buy It' Giveaway!

The Wildflower Top from Pattern Anthology

When I received an e-mail from Melissa of Blank Slate Patterns about a month ago asking for women's testers, I had no clue that I was testing for the new collection of patterns from Pattern Anthology: Just Add Jeans.

As you know - I have really gotten into sewing some thing for me recently.  It has been far too long since I have had clothes that I really felt good in.  We each face our own issues when we look at sewing for ourselves; whether body issues, fear of not knowing the right fabric to buy, or thoughts that you can't pull off clothes for yourself without them looking 'homemade'.

Well let me assure you that the patterns in this collection will NOT let you down!

I was able to sew up the Wildflower Top  - I love the contrasting front bodice.  I love the deep V - which is incredibly flattering if you have wide shoulders and a broad rib cage life I do (just keep your contrasting layer darker than your main fabric).  I also love that Melissa has created this top to be customize-able to your shape and size.  I went with the Large size in the shoulder, sleeve, and bust; and then graded out to the XL for the waist and hip.  All of this is clearly explained in the detailed instructions.

There are a variety of sleeve options including bell, long sleeve, and short sleeve.  While this is designed as a mid hip length Top - it would be easy to lengthen this to be a tunic as well.  This pattern comes in size XS-XL. I have plans for many more of these over the summer... it would make a really cute swim suit cover up too without the contrasting layer!

 Grab your 'Just Add Jeans' collection while they are on sale as a bundle: for $29.95
or - you can buy this pattern individually from Blank Slate Patterns after March 24