Welcoming Out Of Town Visitors

There are so many ways to welcome out of town visitors, and some of our most memorable moments come from Grandparents and bystanders when they see they easy to make signs. Our toddlers hold them up running eagerly while looking for Grandpa and Grandma in the airport with anticipating smiles and twinkly eyes.

We simply tape kid decorated poster board to yard sticks or whatever kind of sticks we have and send the kids a runnin'. They are especially proud of their signs because they made them "all by themselves". Grandma and Grandpa can find us easily not only by seeing the signs in the air, but by hearing all of the "oooh... that is so darling" and "I hope that kid doesn't hurt himself with that sign" comments.

Grandma scoops up the children at first sight and discusses all of the effort each child has put in to their sign. This is great for pictures and videos... especially when the sign is bigger than the child. :)

The most exciting sign we've made was to announce the birth of our 3rd child. Our eldest child held up a sign that said "All five of us are so happy you are here!" As always, Grandpa got it first and showed it with his proud grin, then had to bring Grandma's attention away from the growing children and all of their artistic efforts to have her read the sign.

We are so Blessed to have such grateful and appreciative Grandparents. Hopefully, you and your out of town guests will enjoy the signs as much as we do!

Potty Training - Step 3

This post has taken a while to compose as I wanted to put in some observations as well as sharing our own personal process.

As we left off in Potty Training - Step 2, we decided it was time to go through the night without diapers. (still being in a crib, with small crib sheets versus bed sheets)

Side Note....My greatest challenges and accomplishments with my children are once I start something, I do what it takes to not go back. This way they are not confused, and the expectation is clear.

After trying to go through the night without diapers, the challenges were many. She started by doing a great job. Every other night for about a week, she would have an accident. Then it seemed to go to every two nights for two weeks. I thought.. yeah, we are on our way. Then she decided to give me a great battle. It seemed she was putting up her last big battle. She would pee in her bed 3 nights in a row with 1 night off and then another 3 nights in a row one night off 3 nights in a row..... and then.... she stopped.

Yep. She just stopped. Just as I was on the verge of breaking. I was considering putting her back in pull ups, I was considering going against my very own convictions... and in holding steadfast... boom. Only through God's grace could I have persevered, but in sticking with it, it worked.

Personal Lesson highlights

Pee Pee last thing before bed each night. (even if we have to talk to her dolls about how great she is at going pee pee for 10 minutes)

We have standard expected times to go to pee pee or try before doing things. (add extra time to get places if "stand off" time is needed just for her to simply sit on the potty for a moment)
Wake up, before we leave, before lunch, after nap, before dinner, before bed.

I allow her to tell me she has to pee if it is outside of these expected pee times, knowing that she may very well have an accident.

Treats are always motivating, but may not always be necessary. Creativity is!

DON'T GO BACK - stay strong

She still has day time accidents but I have noticed it is when I am not on my game and night time accidents when I am not diligent in getting her to go before bed. I would absolutely do it again the same way.

Difference between girls and boys. (from my experience)
Our son was potty trained on his second birthday. It was the right time for him, and due to his temperament, he was done even sooner than she was. We made the expectations clear, and he got it... within a WEEK!
Our daughter being the second and a girl, we thought it would be easier. We started her at 19months. It took about two months for her to really "get it". Perhaps it was her temperament or perhaps the few months were very important and perhaps it was that she was the second born....? Either way, she now has it and she is not yet 2.

2 Year Window Sell
In my experience, and from what I have read, there is a critical 2 year window. Just before or just after 2 years is a great time to work with them as they are interested. Very interested in their own accomplishments. After, they are developing so many other toddler tricks and before they just don't quite understand the concept.