Ready, Set, Potty?!?!

After just over a year and half of changing diapers this Mommy cannot wait to start potty training. I'm not quite sure if Brady and Laura are on the same page though. Brady absolutely loves sitting on the toilet with his training seat. Laura, not so much. She'll ask to get on the toilet but once her diaper is off and you try to sit her on it, she freaks.

She has no problem telling me when she's "pooped" regardless of where we are. Just the other day in Wal-Mart, she announced over and over again "Poop, poop" as she pointed to her bum LOL! The real kicker, there was no poop in that diaper. Brady grabs the front of his diaper when he's gone pee but is yet to actually go on the toilet.

I've done a lot of research on potty training and I know every child is different. So what has worked with one child, just may not work with mine. There are several tips and tricks that I have come across and look forward to sharing them with everyone.

Mommy's first task for this potty training mission is to get Laura comfortable with the toilet training seat. I read somewhere that using a stuffed animal or one of her toy babies may help. Placing them on the training seat and explaining to Laura what they are doing will hopefully make her feel more comfortable.    I am hoping this will work as I'd like to avoid buying a potty if I can.

Perfect Sunday Morning

Pre-marriage, pre-babies I longed for my Saturday nights with my girlfriends. Coming home early Sunday morning, sleeping until late Sunday afternoon. Those were the days....... or so I thought.

Sunday mornings have become my Saturday night. The Daddy in this house has to work crazy hours to keep the house afloat so Sundays are the only full day we have together as a family and we cherish it. We do our best keep our Sundays free so we can spend together as a family.

It's a treat for Daddy to be the one to get Laura and Brady out of their cribs on Sunday's. They get Mommy all week and miss their Daddy. A few weeks ago I was going about my Sunday morning routine, getting Laura and Brady's breakfast ready while Daddy got them from their bedroom. We try to stay 5 steps ahead of the twins, something we've done since they've been born and has proved to work well in this house.

As I finished up in the kitchen, Laura walked in , Brady behind her and lastly Daddy. As I watched three of the most important people in my life walk into the kitchen,  I suddenly felt overwhelmed with emotion. This same Sunday scene has occurred on many occasions in this house. However, there was just something about that Sunday morning, something that made me realize how truly lucky I am.

I would not trade one of these Sunday mornings for all of the Saturday nights I used to have. I now look forward to Sunday mornings. The pitter patter of four little feet and two big feet coming down the hall. For me that sound is the sound of a perfect Sunday morning.

Best Friends From the Start

Do you remember when you met your first best friend?

Imagine what it would have been like to spend each and every day with that person. Not having to worry about your parents letting you have a sleep over or not because you lived together. Watching Brady and Laura today made me think about how truly lucky they are to have each other.

From the very beginning, they have had each other. Growing together in my belly. Experiencing life outside the womb together as they shared their first few hours together in an incubator. Coming home together. Crawling, talking, and walking together.  Most of their firsts have been together.

Best Friends from the Start

There's nothing quite like the connection twins have together. There are several times during the day when they're not playing together. One may be in their bedroom and one in the kitchen, however they still periodically check on one another. I think it's amazing. If Brady does something new for the first time Laura will clap for him and vice versa.

When they were babies if one cried so did the other one. I know this is natural for a lot of babies, but they usually only cried for each other when the cries were genuine. For example, Brady was quite concerned about Laura's cries when she was gassy and in pain. However when she had and still has the days where she cries without reason, he doesn't cry.

I know as they grow older they are going to fight and argue, as all siblings do. I believe though they will continue to have a strong connection. A connection that hopefully no fight or argument will ever be able to break.

Today they were running up and down the hallway chasing each other, over and over again, giggling. Is there a sound better than that? A sound better than a child laughing, especially when it's your child with their best friend.

Mortimer Be Quiet - Robert Munsch

"Bang-bang, rattle-ding-bang goin' make my noise all day"
 

For those of you aren't familiar with the story of Mortimer , it was one of Robert Munsch's many great children's books. Growing up I enjoyed reading Munsch books. So before Laura and Brady were born I made sure to buy a set of his book for them.

We've read Laura and Brady the series of Munsch books on several times during our bedtime routine. Each night we would do our best to read a different book. It gave the twins a variety and Mommy and Daddy a break from reading the same the story over and over again. That is until a few weeks ago when Laura and Brady first began trying to say Mortimer's famous line "Bang-bang, rattle-ding-bang goin' make my noise all day!" This is said at eight time throughout the book. I'm surprised I'm not saying "Bang-bang, rattle-ding-bang goin' make my noise all day" in my sleep.

At first my husband and I thought they looked cute swaying back and forth saying "bang, bang". They haven't quite master the rest of it yet. Needless to say, here we are at least three weeks later, still reading this same book.

There are nights where I thought I was pulling a fast one on them, by reading a different book at bedtime, but no such luck. As soon as I would finish reading the different book they would both go to the dresser (where they know Mortimer is) and starter pointing and asking for it.

Let's face it. Is it really worth turning bedtime into a fight because I've read this book so much that now, I want to tell Mortimer to be quiet. I don't think so. It takes 5 minutes to read the story, Laura and Brady go to bed no problem and Mommy's happy too!

So, for now Mortimer it is.

Mommy's Messy Lunch

Okay parents, I'm sure everyone has had a lunch like this one. If there is one thing Laura and Brady know, it's mealtime. Breakfast, lunch or dinner, they LOVE their food and they know what time they usually eat.

So, today Mommy was a little behind schedule, just one of those days. I'm rushing around the kitchen preparing their lunch, Daddy's lunch for work tomorrow, filling the sink, etc. Multi-tasking, something every parent must learn to survive.

Well sure enough, after Laura and Brady finished their pancakes and apples, I got up to grab their yogurt. As I spun around to give it to them.............

Laura & Brady - "Uh-Oh!"

one yogurt slipped out of my hand and hit the floor. As you can see it may have actually hit the stove first. Either way, a few choice words come to my mind. However, knowing their are little ears listening I say "DRATS!!!".  As I'm wiping the floor clean I hear a little voice from behind me. "Drats, drats, drats" Is there an echo in here? Nope just another word Laura has now learnt. Good thing I didn't say what I was really thinking.

"Yes, Laura, drats is right!" 

On a lighter note, at least that part of the kitchen floor is now extra clean. I had already given it a wash earlier this morning, isn't that how it always is.