potty training take 3

I am now on my third girl to potty train, and I am just glad that we are on the up side of it. Potty training has been the worst, and to be honest I don't even think my girls were that difficult. I started potty training at around two years old for all of the girls. We waited a little after Stella turned two simply because there are so many holidays around her birthday plus we were going to see disney on ice and I wasn't about to tackle a brand new potty trainer during the show. I figured I would write down how I did it, in case I have to potty train again and maybe it will help out someone else.

potty training tips:

#1- Get them introduced to their "own" potty we have mr.frog, whenever I would use the restroom I would bring stella and sit her on mr.frog so she could see what we do in the bathroom.

#2- When we started potty training I pumped Stella FULL of juice (which was an extra treat because she normally gets water ;) But as soon as she was done drinking her cup of juice, I would fill it right back up. This way she was getting a ton of opportunities to learn & notice what "the feeling" of having to go to the bathroom is.

#3- On the first day of potty training you have to except accidents, and LOTS of them. Whenever Stella would have an accident I would *kindly*(even though I was totally over the accidents) tell her uh oh we have to go potty on mr.frog & then I would take her over to her potty & sit her down.

#4- TREATS!! As a reward we chose skittles for stella and whenever she went peepee on the potty she got a skittle. We would also do a "potty dance" anything that was super exciting and made her feel proud I did.

#5- At the end of day number 1 I was ready to throw in the towel and just keep her in diapers, she had 8 accidents and maybe went on the potty 2 times, one of which being a total fluke. But that is something I couldn't do, I didn't want to confuse her so I had to keep pushing through.

#6- I never did the timer thing. Stella only likes doing things if it is her idea, so instead of getting her on the potty every 15 min, I would tell her stella stay dry every 15 minutes that way she was connecting it rather than me just setting her on the potty.

#7- the first two days I let stella run around with no knickers on, I have read that sometimes it will confuse them if they feel something they assume its a diaper and will just go. I noticed that on the 2nd day when we had knickers on she had accidents as opposed to not having them on she would tell me she had to go potty. Obviously at some point she had to get used to wearing knickers, so mid day on the 3rd day I put them on her and she did great with them on.

#8- I don't worry about potty training at nap/bed times, I just don't want to clean up all of those messes, however I also don't use diapers. We got pull-ups and they have a picture on the front that if she pees it will disappear. So every time we put them on Stella I remind her that we still have to stay dry. She also wore them to church on sunday, but told her nursery leaders when she had to go potty, and stayed dry.

The first day was rough but it went uphill from there. By day 3 when she started having an accident she stopped until I got her to the potty.  Actually having to potty train is the worst but once its done it is so awesome! Happy potty training ;)

 potty training survival kit

so happy to be a BIG girl

Dear 2014

Dear 2014, 

          I can't say I'm sad to see you go, you brought me some happy moments but you also brought me some of the darkest days of my entire life. We rang in 2014 with a ONE year old! Kyland and I decided we were going to try for another babe. 12 days into January we had a FOUR year old. Life was amazing we were healthy and extremely blessed and happy. Next came February I started feeling the most tired I had ever been in my life and I was nauseous every second  of the day. You know what that meant. Yes, I was pregnant with our 4th sweet precious baby. I was so excited I love being a mommy and there was nothing more I wanted than a sweet baby. Then march 2014 came. March 11th was the day we found out it just wasn't time for our sweet baby to continue its journey to earth. While I still don't understand why it had to happen this way, I know that my Heavenly Father has a plan for me and I have grown so much closer to him through this enormous trial I have had to face. It's crazy how one family can have the worst month of their life, meanwhile another family had the best month. Heavenly Father brought our sweet nephew kason to us the next week and I was able to forget and just be happy while holding that sweet boy. 2014 brought 5 years of marriage to Kyland and I. It really doesn't seem like 5 years somedays it seems like 50 ;) In May I had to get my bottom wisdom teeth out and got dry sockets that was awesome...(insert sarcasm) & Kyland turned 25. June was a month of birthday lily papa blake and Ryan all had a birthday. July we ventured to panguitch utah for the 4th of July & our sweet ruby roobs turned 3!! August was my birthday month I am now a quarter of a century & got to celebrate my dad took me to my 2nd favorite place I'm the world Newport beach California. Sometimes you just need to get out of town and that really lifted my spirits. Allyson was in her 2nd primary program. October was an odd month I LOVE October but this year just wasn't feeling it completely. The rest of 2014 really just flew by with holidays and our baby girl turning TWO. Everyday of 2014 I had to make a conscious effort to make it a good day, which is something I've never had to do before. I'm usually a glass half full gal but this year wasn't my year. You win some and you lose some and although this wasn't a year I would want to relive I'm still so blessed. My husband and I are healthy. My three daughters are the most beautiful sassy stubborn people on this planet and I wouldn't changed them at all. 2014 you taught me that when life pushes you down, sometimes it takes you a little to get back up, but you can always get back up and try again. Im not sad to see you go but I know you taught me many things 

         Xoxo- ericka