The Girl Who Trained Herself

Lounging on her throne last winter

Let's talk about potty training. I wrote a looooong time ago about our earliest encounters with the potty, and then again about the first time Charlotte used her potty. I didn't write about the time in April/May when I holed up in our house for 4 days & took C to the potty every 20-30 minutes (didn't work!).

I'm here today, after nearly an entire year of casual encounters with the potty, to let everyone know that Charlotte is potty trained! And she did it, in true Charlotte form, all by herself. 

Buying big girl undies a few months ago

About 2 weeks before her birthday, we went to visit my Aunt Carol & I told her how Charlotte had lost all interest in the potty, but was telling me to change her diaper. Aunt Carol gave her a pep talk & showed her how to do the Potty Dance, which she'd used with her grand kids. I went back to the store, let C pick out a new potty, since she was refusing the original, and she picked out some new Hello Kitty undies. Within the next couple of days, she went potty on her new ladybug potty! I clapped and congratulated her & was so enthusiastic. I said, "We'll have to call Aunt Carol to tell her!" to which Charlotte replied, "I can do the Potty Dance!" and she started dancing. I sent the video to Aunt Carol and she called right back to tell Charlotte how proud she was!

The next day, she held up her Hello Kitty panties and promised to keep them dry. She literally said, "I will keep you dry. I will not get you wet." She had 2 minor accidents that day, but has only had one accident since then (the evening of her birthday party - just couldn't pry herself away from all of her new toys) - and it's been a month!

For the first couple of weeks, I put her in a diaper anytime we left the house & any time she was sleeping. After the first time I forgot to change her before a nap & she woke up dry, I decided to go with it. She has napped in undies and stayed dry every day since then. Same thing happened the first time I forgot to put her in a diaper before leaving to go shopping. We were in the middle of getting groceries at Meijer when she suddenly asked, "Do they have bathrooms here, Mommy?" and I bee-lined to the bathroom! Had to struggle getting her situated while Natalie was in the carrier on my chest, but we managed! And I kept being brave and Charlotte kept dry - asking to use the bathroom in all sorts of places - Walmart, Target, a local toy store, her grandparents' houses! She doesn't mind the large public potties, but is always sure to tell me "I don't like the hand dryer. Can we use towels?" when washing her hands.

She does still sleep in a diaper overnight, as she has woken up wet a few times this month. Also, we have plenty of diapers for one/day! One of the bummers of her being potty trained is that she no longer plays quietly in her room after nap or first thing in the morning. She's been waking up earlier than usual (6:06 this morning, folks) and immediately turning on her light (using a book or wall hanger to flip on the switch - clever little thing) & knocking at her door to be let out to go to the bathroom. Oh well!

Our next step is to teach her how to use a step stool to get up on her own & how to manage her pants on her own, too. It always seems like she has to go (and needs my help) at inopportune times (while cooking, nursing, or showering...). It will be nice when she can go independently. But for now, I'm just happy she's not in diapers and it wasn't stressful for any of us! :o)

Checkups - 2 Years & 2 Months

Charlotte and Natalie went to see Dr. Boe this morning. Charlotte has been watching all kinds of shows about doctors lately & got a doctor kit for her birthday. We've been going over what they will do - check her ears, eyes, mouth, weigh her and measure her height, and listen to her "heart beep" (her term). We also talked about shots, and how they only hurt a little bit, and only for a moment. She's been giving everyone checkups for a couple of months now - first with everyday objects...

Salad Tong Stethoscope

She took her doctor kit with her to the appointment today, but got a little nervous as we were waiting. She was playing with the water fountain in the waiting room, and every time someone else would get called back, she'd tell me, "I'm not ready, Mommy." But when her name got called, it took little convincing to go back.

She really liked being weighed and measured on the scale for "big kids," while Natalie still had to be weighed and measured on the scale for babies. She was charming and friendly with the nurse, but when she left, Charlotte confided in me that she didn't want Dr. Boe to come in.

Dr. Boe doesn't give shots - but when she's sick, he's the one poking in her ears and using tongue depressors on her. When he did come in, she was shy, but cooperative. He talked to her about her birthday, asked her how old she was "I'm two now," she said, holding up her two fingers. He looked her over & then let Charlotte "help" with Natalie's checkup. He took a look at Charlotte's feet & decided to refer us to an orthotics specialist. Charlotte has Ben's flat feet, and her weight is being pushed into the insides of her feet, making it difficult for her to run, jump, etc. normally. Natalie is also getting an ultrasound on her hips to be sure she doesn't have any problems with them (a common problem with breech babies). Other than that, both girls are perfectly healthy!!

Charlotte 
26 pounds - 50th percentile
34.75 inches - 80th percentile

Natalie
10 pounds, 6 oz - 40th percentile
22 inches - 40th percentile

They both got shots, and pretty much before the bandaid was on Charlotte's leg, she asked "Can we go to McDonald's now???" Hahaha! So I took her to McDonalds for lunch - and ice cream! My big girl was just as proud of herself as I was. She even told me she was proud of Natalie! :o)

"Hey Mom, Where's MY hot fudge sundae?"

I asked Dr. Boe if there was anything he needed to tell Charlotte about pacifiers. He caught right on and said, "Oh. 2-year-olds shouldn't have pacis anymore. They could hurt your beautiful teeth. So no more pacis." Charlotte just stared at him, but made no comment.

After lunch, when we got home, it was time for nap. Charlotte went right up to her room & bee-lined for the pacis in her glider. I came in behind her and said, "Remember what Dr. Boe said about pacis..." and she just looked sad and said, "Oh......" and gathered them up & put them back in the chair!! While she went to the bathroom, she told me she "just loves pacis" and was sad. For at least a year, she's always needed two pacis - one to suck, and one to rub on her nose. If she had her own way, though, she'd play in a whole pile of pacis, rubbing their tips and connecting them through the rings. On one hand, I'll be glad to see the pacis go, as playing with them kept her awake far too many nights. But on the other hand, it's so familiar and comforting to her, and a little part of her "babyhood" that will be gone forever.

She asked to be rocked, so I rocked her. She quietly mourned for her pacis for about 5 minutes before drifting off to sleep. She's been asleep for almost 2.5 hours!!! Night time is usually harder than naps, so wish me luck tonight, as I'm doing bedtime alone! I gathered all the pacis I could find and hid them (I should throw them away, right??). My sweet girl is growing up!!
And now to somehow keep Natalie from becoming a raging pacifier addict...

First nap without pacis

Goodbye, friends!! 

Literally...

In May, I wrote about several moments I wanted to remember & titled it "Unforgettable." In that post, I wrote about a time I asked her to wipe her feet after she had come in from the rain & she bent down & used her hands to wipe the tops of her shoes. 

Something she said as we waited in a super long line at Walmart yesterday made me think  back to that time she took something I said very literally. 

"I'll show you what candy I want, Mommy," she said in her squeaky high voice, causing the customers around us to listen in. 

"You think I'm buying you candy?" I asked with a smile. 

She replied with her cutest grin and matter-of-fact tone, "Yeah." 

Pretending to be shocked, I asked, "For what?" 

"For my mouth!!" She exclaimed as if the word 'duh' were punctuating her reply. 

Then she showed me her mouth, which sent me & several other customers into full-blown laughter. 

This little -literal- girl... She's just the best! 

Rookie Mistakes

Rookie mistake #359:

I got the girls ready to go to Walmart yesterday afternoon & took Natalie out to the car first. I closed the door from the kitchen to the garage behind myself to keep Charlotte from following me out there (she gets distracted by toys & then has a hard time being convinced to get in the car). 

You moms with more experience can probably see where this is going... She locked me out of the house. At first she tried to unlock it, but as my patience level dropped and my mom voice got louder, she clammed up. 

It's crazy how quickly my mind began to race with worst-case-scenarios! I found myself thinking about lighters and cleaners and the oven - things she doesn't even have access to!! My phone was in the house, and I thought about how awful I'd look knocking on the neighbor's door to use their phone, tiny baby in hand with a toddler having free reign in the house. Who would I even call? Ben was in drum line rehearsal & would never hear my call. No one else has keys, except for the rental office, and they were closed for the day. 

I went around to the patio door, where I knew I'd be able to see her. I'd taken Natalie out of the car by then & she was screaming her little baby head off in the garage. I got Charlotte's attention & managed to coach her into unlocking the garage door - maybe I bribed her with candy. 

The whole episode lasted maybe 5 minutes. But it was long enough for me to make a new procedure!

1) strap Natalie in carseat in the house

2) take Charlotte out to car

3) return for Natalie 

4) get a spare key made to keep hidden in the garage or outside!! 

This is just the beginning of mischief these two cuties will cause, I'm sure! 

2 Years Old

Last week, Charlotte turned 2 years old. TWO. YEARS. OLD.  She picked out her cake and frosting, asked to make a birthday hat, and was adorable all day.

She said she wanted to go to the museum for her birthday, so that's where we went! This is the 3rd time she's been there and, although the 'exhibits' don't change, they're all still fascinating to her!

On Sunday, our families came over for her birthday party. Ben grilled burgers, Ben's grandma made deviled eggs, my Aunt Carol brought over veggies, and my mom brought baked beans and potato salad.
Grandma Val made a special cake for Charlotte.

 And I ordered a cake from Sam's Club that we all enjoyed.

Charlotte thought of a good wish...

And blew out her candles!

Next it was time for presents!! Everyone knows Charlotte so well! Every single gift was perfect for her!!

Wedgits stacking blocks from Great-Aunt Jeannie

Stickers, books, and coloring books from Uncle Ken & Aunt Becky

A super hero cape for Super Shashee

Some clothes, a book, and a stuffed elephant from Aunt Bob

Tool set & maracas from Grandpa 

Doctor Kit and special birthday plate from Grandma 

Hello Kitty and Hershey bar :) from Great-Aunt Carol & Uncle Rod
** Not pictured: Lego blocks, dress, & bracelet from Unci & Mr. Ron**

A big THANK YOU to everyone for coming & making our little girl's day special!! 

At two years old, Charlotte is roughly 35" tall & 25 pounds. She has her checkup next week, but those are close estimates. She continues to amaze us every day with her imagination, wit, and loving spirit. She knows all of the basic colors (black, white, brown, green, orange, red, yellow, blue, purple, pink - working on grey, silver, and gold), can count to 14 somewhat consistently, and correctly identifies all of the letters of the alphabet. She's speaking in complete sentences, even "restating the question" when answering questions. A couple of weeks ago, Ben told me that she said to him, "Snakes capture food with their sticky tongues." Not completely accurate, but impressive! 

At her party, she was wearing her cape and we all called her Super Sha-Shee. After she'd opened the doctor kit, and was wearing the stethoscope, Uncle Joey called her Super Sha-Shee and she corrected him, "I'm not Super Sha-Shee, I'm Doctor Sha-Shee!" :o)  

I've been watching her change from 'baby' to 'little girl' all year, but these last 6 months, oh goodness! I find myself trying so hard to hold onto every little thing that makes her my 'baby.' The way she says "heartbeep" instead of "heartbeat." Or the way she grunts & moans as she climbs up onto the couch or into a chair. The way she loves to cuddle when she's tired or not feeling well. 

But the truth is, she's growing and changing every day. And we are so incredibly lucky to be able to watch her. Her two-year molars are coming in - the bottom two are about halfway through, and the top two are right behind them. She doesn't seem too bothered by them - just a few nights taking longer going to sleep and a few mornings waking earlier than usual. 

She's also potty-trained herself seemingly overnight! I tried the 3-day method a few months back & did not have any success at all. A couple of weeks ago I found a pack of Hello Kitty underwear at the store and bought them for Charlotte. The first day I put them on her, she promised Hello Kitty "I will not get you wet." She had two minor accidents the first day, and another on the night of her birthday party (too busy playing with her new toys!). That's 3 accidents in 10 days - including multiple trips shopping or running errands where Charlotte has asked me if the store has a potty, and then she's held it until we got to the restroom! She has also woken up dry from every nap this last week, and twice now has been dry upon waking in the morning. It's got to be some kind of potty training miracle! The first day she did it, she did a little dance to send to my Aunt Carol, who had talked to her about using the potty a few days before that. Aunt Carol was so proud!! 

Watching Charlotte interact with Natalie shows me just how sweet she is. Charlotte sings to Natalie if she's crying, she gives her hugs and kisses, offers to share her toys, grabs her paci for her, and is generally just really *good* to her. I'm so excited to see how their relationship changes and grows as the girls get older.

Words could never express how much we love our 2-year-old Charlotte. She is charming and friendly and helpful and funny. We are so blessed to have such a perfectly healthy, happy, amazing little girl! 

Happy Birthday, Charlotte!