Potty Talk

Just so you know, I am TERRIFIED of this and related posts.

I spend all day, every day at work counselling and helping mothers with issues related to their children. Weaning from the bottle, increasing vegetables or water, bedtime routines, increasing activity, or getting your child to eat with a fork or spoon- I can handle!

Potty issues, on the other hand, I avoid like the plaque.

Seriously, when a parent starts in on the potty issues, I usually reply with the  well it is hard, hang in there, or every child is different, standard responses.

This also applies to my own family and child.

I am not one who enjoys potty talk in general and the mere thought of having to teach someone how to potty like a big boy makes me want to run away screaming.

However...

It is a MAJOR part of life and a VERY vital life lesson.

So talk about the potty I will do.

Brady will be 2 in December and has started showing minimal interest in the potty.

I decided it was time for Brady to be formally introduced to the potty a few months ago. No pressure, just an introduction.

Brady this is the potty! This is where we pee pee and poo.

That is about how it went.

Then I hyperventilated.

Just Kidding. I survived and so did Brady.

Since then I have started asking Brady would you to use the potty or do you need to go to the potty.  To which he usually replies, No and runs away.

Maybe he hates potty talk, too!

Anyway! While we were in South Carolina, my sister had taken Brady down to the pool. Approximately, 30 seconds later she returned with Brady mumbling something about being stinky and what-not. I said oh and went on.

Then I hear her say something to the effect of oh, you aren't finished. Would you like to use the potty? This is followed by loud footsteps making their way towards the bathroom.

I decided to stick around to see how this played out. After all, Brady has already met potty and so far they have not been friends.

I stayed in a near by room so not to distract from this potty business. When I hear my sister sing something like Yahoo! You used the potty like a big boy! Brady went poo poo in the potty, Wahoo!

At which point I ran in like I was on fire, screaming and yelling something to the effect of What a big boy and I am so proud of you! Poo Poo in the Potty! Yahoo!

Brady looked terrified! Really like he had seen a ghost! If my sister wouldn't have been there, he probably would have fallen off the potty.

He realized we were celebrating something, flushed the toilet, clapped for his success, and headed back to the pool.

No biggie, just used the potty. (Shrug!)

Since then we have gone back to saying No and running at any potty talk.

Nevertheless, I am one proud Momma. Who would have thought a little potty talk could have me so excited.

I hope to have an official full operation potty training plan started closer to his birthday.

Until then we are just going to take it slow with the potty and see how it goes.

Any suggestions or tips would be appreciated.

Sullivan's Island- Part 2

Wednesday, August 18- We spent the entire day shopping/touring Charleston. It was a great oppurtunity to get out of the sun and get some shopping in. We ate lunch at Magnolia's. I had just drank a large frozen coffee so I wasn't very hungry. I had fried green tomatoes that were excellent. I also tried Caleb's beef medallions that were excellent as well. That night we just stayed in and ordered from a local pizza place.

Outside Magnolias

Brady took this picture of me as we were touring Charleston.

Thursday,  August 19- Caleb, Brady, and I got out early and went to the sandbar. We swam in the ocean and pool all morning. Once Brady woke from his nap, we headed back to Charleston to finish up some shopping. We met my parents, Cam, Lauren, and Drew. We all toured the Nathaniel Russell House, visited at the Bed and Breakfast my parents stayed at in December, and went for dinner. We went to a place called Hank's. It was more upscale. I had shrimp and grits and it was good. After dinner, Caleb, Brady, and I stopped at Haagan Daz for ice cream. It was so yummy!!! I ended up with a bad reaction(we are thinking sun poisoning) this day, so I took some benedryl and went to bed.

                                                          
Friday, August 20- Caleb and some of the others went to Folley Beach for some bigger waves this morning. I opted to stay near the pool and house due to my horrible reaction. Brady and I had a pretty low-key day.

The beach goers also made a trip to a local restaurant in the afternoon. Caleb had seen this competition on Man vs. Food before we left and just had to try it. So, they swung by there for him to try. He made it through roll 5 before he tapped out! They all tried the sauce for the number 10 roll. Cam ate the number 8 roll and then something about downing 2 glasses of water in 1 minute. I think they all decided it was too hot for them!

Caleb, Brady and I went for hamburgers at Poe's Tavern later that night. It is right there on the island and is super cool. I had a hamburger with a crab cake on it. It was very good!

Brady and Poppy looking for real estate in SC

Brady wanted to get in this baby activity center, so we let him. He stayed in there for like 15-20 minutes.

Saturday, August 21-  We just finished packing up, loaded down the car, and made our way home. Brady slept about 2 1/2- 3 hours so that was a little better than the ride there.

That just about wraps up our 2010 family vacation!

Sullivan's Island 2010- Part 1

Warning: Long Post

We stayed on Sullivan's Island, SC. It is about 15 miles from Charleston. We rented a beautiful beach house, literally on the beach! There were 12 people total including my parents Tammy and Gary, my sister, Amy, her husband, Bryan, and baby Noah, my brother, Drew, my brother, Cameron, his wife, Lauren, my cousin, Pepper, and the three of us.  I decided a brief daily synopses is the easiest way to document it. I tried to keep it as brief as possible.

Saturday, August 14:  Caleb, Brady, and I loaded down our car and headed out around 4 a.m.  This was in hopes that Brady would sleep for the first 1/2 of the trip. Our plan was not successful! Brady knew something was up and was wide awake all but 1 hour of the 8 plus hour trip.

This was him as we were leaving. He had all his favorite things; paci, blankey, Marley, Elmo, and ball.

We got to the beach house around 2-ish and met my parents and everyone else there. After getting settled in, we quickly made  our way down to the beach. Brady instantly LOVED the ocean! He ran straight into it without hesitation!!

That night some of us went to eat at a little restaurant called Acme Cantina. I had Mahi Mahi Tacos and they were so yummy!

Sunday, August 15:  We got up and got ready for church. After church it came a monsoon! Literally! Cars were stalling and water was everywhere! So we just hung out at the beach house during the day, playing games and such. It quit raining, so we hung out at the beach before all going out to dinner at a place called Red's something or other. I can not for the life of me remember what I ate! I think it was pretty good! ???

                             This is the best we could do before church

                                                                             

                                   Beach Fun!

                                                                                                                                                                                           

Baby Noah

                               

                                          Matching cousins at dinner!

Monday, August 16: This was Drew's birthday. We spent the entire morning at the beach and pool. Then everyone met in Charleston for dinner at a place called Fleet's Landing. I had seared talapia. It was sooo good! Brady had a monstrous grilled cheese and fries! Ha Ha! We walked all around Charleston after we ate. I love Charleston, but it was so hot! I think it would have been more enjoyable if it hadn't been so hot. At one point, Brady was in the stroller with his head resting on his hand like this is sooo boring! It was so funny! 

Tuesday, August 17:  A group went to patriots point to tour a ship. The rest of us just stayed by the beach and pool. We put Brady's life jacket on him and swam out to the natural sand bar. We saw several stingray, jellyfish, and starfish. That night we had dinner at a place called Hucks.

It is really difficult to get a good pic of a crazy wild 19 month old.

Happy Noah in his sweet, little jacket

     Brady was over the picture thing by this point, actually he was over the restaurant thing at this point. Ha!

                                                   

More to come....

Home Sweet Home

We spent the last 7 days here...

with my entire immediate family!

We just got home a few hours ago and are so exhausted! 

It was a great vacation, one I hope to do again soon!

This big guy had a BLAST!

I plan on doing one or more posts on the entire week in the coming days!

But for now I am going to eat some food, cuddle up with my hubby, and catch up on our DVR!

Party like its 1984!!!!

My friends threw me an 80's skating birthday party last weekend! We went as over the top 80's as possible! We had a blast! Brady stayed with my in-laws for the night! We usually drag him every where we go, so it was nice to have a night to just be silly. And silly we did! Very well!

I am so thankful to have such fun, great friends!

Wild Weekends!

The weekends always leave me so exhausted by Monday and this past one was no different.

My friend invited us over to her super nice apartment to swim Saturday. Brady grabbed our swim trunks and our flippy floppies and headed over. We swam for a few hours before it started storming. I didn't take any pictures, because I trying to keep a certain no-fear 19 month old from drowning. When we made it home, we were both exhausted.

Later that night, we went to my parents for dinner. They had some friends in that they wanted us to meet.

On Sunday, my mother-in-law, Caleb's aunt, and myself attended a baby shower for Caleb's brother's wife, Stacey. Brady stayed with the men and napped. Brady is currently the only grandchild on Caleb's side and they have a LONG history of boys. So, we were all shocked to learn his brother is having a GIRL!!! The shower was at my sister-in-law's sisters house. She is a lawyer and just built a beautiful new house!

All the pink gifts!

Me and the soon to be new mommy!

Caleb's brother went and bought two bags full of pink Nike clothes for the baby and had her sisters wrap them for the shower. So sweet! (He is a coach for a High School girls basketball team, hence the Nike theme!) She was so surprised!

This is the back porch. You can kind of see the outdoor fireplace, t.v., and built in grill! It was very cool! Just saying!

We are so excited about our 1st niece! We can't wait to meet her!