Potty Training Update

Well, I can happily report that after ONE week of potty training, we are 100% officially TRAINED! Yay!
This went MUCH more successful than I had EVER imagined!
He has done AMAZING!
Still no accidents since before naptime on Day 2! Go Sawdawg!!!
You have made this mommy very proud of you for being such a big boy!!!

We even ventured back to the gym today and he went and found a teacher and told her he needed to go...and he pooped...at the gym...in the potty...all by himself!

Thank the Lord that this milestone is over! This was one that I have not looked very forward to and God came through for me and surpassed all of my expectations...as He always does.

Now...on to getting Sawyer in a big boy bed! :)

Sawyer - Potty Time!

If there is ever a day that I have dreaded about being a mom, it's Potty Training! Sorry...don't judge...it is what it is!

But, after I trained Sadie last January, I thought...maybe it won't be so bad. Sadie did great!Honestly though...I knew Sawyer would be different. I knew he wouldn't be as easy as she was. Or, so I thought!

He's done GREAT!

P-O-T-T-Y, Potty Potty, Let's go Try!!! That's what we have chanted every time the timer goes off. The picture below was of Sawyer after he pee-pee'd for the 1st time and got to put his first sticker on his Potty Chart.

Day 1 was good and bad. He started well, had a bit of a lull after naptime, then ended well once Daddy got home. Day 2 started HORRIBLE! I pretty much figured he had forgotten everything we learned on Day 1 and by about 11 o'clock on Day 2, I was ready to give up and just try again later. Luckily, my good friend Rachel Fontenot, who was there to help me during Sadie's training as well, called and gave me a wonderful Pep Talk!! She told me that nobody she had ever talked to had a successful Day 2, so it made me feel better.
I stopped what I was doing, prayed, drank an Oasis and decided I was going to change. I calmed down and just went with it!
By the end of Day 2, we were back on track and hadn't had any accidents since before naptime. Yay!!!
Day 3 was PERFECT! No accidents at all, AND, he even started telling me that he needed to go, so we didn't have to use the timer as often. Praise the Lord!

God has given me an unbelievable amount of patience through this process. I woke up on Day 1 DREADING this and when I woke up this morning (Day 3) I had no anxiety whatsoever and was ready for whatever was coming my way. I can only credit that to God and His incredible peace that has definitely surpassed MY understanding through this process. I mean, I've never had a lot of patience with Sawyer...ever! Again, don't judge...it is what it is...I'm learning.
But, God has taught me a lot through this week of Potty Training and I so appreciate this "down time." I've had lots of time to spend with the kids. I've had lots of time to catch up on my Bible study. I've had lots of time to blog (obviously) which is something I never have time for anymore. And, I've had lots of time to work on my AdvoCare stuff.
Even though we've been stuck in the house for 3 days, God is about to blow us away with LOTS of sunshine and warm weather. I've been looking forward to it all week!

I am hoping that Sawyer continues to be successful on this journey and I can't wait to look back on it and remember how well he did. That's my boy!!!!

Sadie Jane turns 4!

What a milestone for this family. We have a 4 year old. No longer can I say that I have a 2 and 3 year old. Now, it's a 2 and 4 year old!

Sadie had a great birthday. Dennis stayed home a little later than usual that morning so that he could be there to wake her and say Happy Birthday. Also, it was "Goodies with Grandparents" Day at school, so my mom and Deb met us at school on her birthday and they got to stay and have goodies with her!

I sent cupcakes to school with her as well, so they celebrated with her at snacktime. We decided to wait and give her her birthday presents on the day of her actual bday party, which was Saturday.

On her birthday night, we went to Sweet CeCe's and met Rachel, Jeffrey, Chance and Emma for some yummy treats!

Saturday morning, we got up and gave Sadie her new bike! She had picked it out the weekend before when Dennis had taken her and Sawyer to Toys R Us. She passed on all of the cutesy little bikes with Barbie, Princesses, etc. on them and he said she had her heart set on the Tony Hawk bright pink one with no bells or whistles. Totally unlike Sadie! But, if that's what she wants!

She was REAL excited about her new bike! And, my mom and grandparents went in together and bought her a PlayHouse for outside, so Dennis put that together as well and we played outside all day long. It was the prettiest day of the year so far and we had so much fun being outside!

Saturday night was her big party at Peekaboo Playtown! Almost all of her friends were there! It was crazy! There was probably around 50 people or more that came. So much fun!! She is one loved little girl! We know how blessed we are all to have so many people that love our family! She had so much fun! She did not enjoy all of the attention on her when it was time to sing Happy Birthday to her. She's still my shy little girl and does not ever like to be the center of attention!

She got so many great gifts from all of her friends and family. We came home and against our preference, she opened all of her presents right then and there! Sawyer sat and watched patiently while chomping at the bit to jump in there and rip her presents open! He did so good just sitting back and watching.

What a great birthday for her!

Some great facts about Sadie at 4 years old are...she loves to dance! She loves twirling around and trying to do ballet and other moves. She's a great ball player! She loves to kick the soccer ball around and hit the softball off the tee, attempt to play golf, shoot the basketball, etc. She might be our little sports girl! She's still an extremely picky eater! She's still a great sleeper! She is a wonderful big sister to Sawyer. She plays so good with him and when I'm not around, she totally acts like his mommy! She has a precious heart and always is there for a big hug and kiss when she sees I'm stressed, sad, or frustrated. She loves being at school and learning new things. She loves playing dress up. She loves watching Princess movies. She loves doing anything outside, particularly swinging. She has finally learned how to swing by herself and she's already trying to teach Sawyer how to do it. She's teensy weensy, just like I was as a little girl. (boy, has that changed! ha ha) She's only about 31 pounds and around 38 inches tall. She has the smallest waist I have ever seen in my life! And, her legs are like little toothpicks. She has a bed FULL of her "friends" (stuffed animals among MANY other little things) and she has to keep ALL of them in there at all times! If we try to sneak anything out, she knows right away and has to have it back in its place. A little OCD...

I am one blessed mommy to be able to have her as my little girl and I know we will be best friends forever! Her 3rd year was my most favorite so far. I didn't want to see it go, but am just as excited to see how her 4th year is! I hope it's just as wonderful!!!

I love you sweet Tinkers!!!!!

Longing for Spring...

I admit...I have been beyond horrible at updating my blog posts. I've been a busy, busy girl. And, its only just begun.
I am soooooooo ready for warmer weather!!!! We keep getting teased with it and then the cold weather comes back! I'm ready to be outside all the time! I'm ready for swingset time, playtime, bonfires, outside walks, etc.
When the consignment sale rolls around every year in March and August, I always feel overwhelmed! I have to get my stuff ready, work the sale, shop the sale, and many other things. But, for now, this is where I get most of my kids clothes, so I feel like I have to be a part of it. And, it really IS enjoyable. I love "getting away", meeting new friends, hanging out with old friends, finding great deals, AND most importantly, MAKING SOME EXTRA MONEY!!!! But, the sale happens twice a year and it just so happens to fall right at Sadie's birthday AND Sawyer's birthday. So, in the midst of being involved in the sale, I am always planning birthday parties as well!
Which brings me to Sadie...she turns 4 next Wednesday. Seriously? The thought of her turning 4 has definitely been hard. I can't have the thought without my heart dropping and feeling VERY sad. She's grown up so fast. I also think because age 3 has been my most favorite age so far. I loved 3! Ages 1 and 2 were hard/challenging/learning experience. But when 3 rolled around, it was WONDERFUL! I loved every minute of her 3's. In a couple of weeks, I go to enroll her in pre-school. Pre-school. Seriously? I can hardly grasp my mind around that. Because that only means that this time next year, I will be registering her for the "K" word and I won't even SAY that word right now. On to more positive things...she is super excited about her birthday party next weekend at Peekaboo Playtown. She wants everyone she knows to be there...and then some. Sadie got asked to be part of a Dollar General ad a few weeks ago, so on Valentines Day, we took her to have her picture made and she will be featured in the Dollar General circular on April 3! Our little girl is bringin' home the bacon! ha ha What is so funny is that I was in a Dollar General commercial as a little girl! What a coincidence! My pretty baby girl growing up to be such a beautiful young girl.
She has the biggest heart and is always EAGER to please. She's definitely a people pleaser. She's the best big sister to Sawyer and has more patience than I ever will. She is always teaching him new things! Which brings me to...
Sawyer! My little baby boy is growing up WAY TOO FAST also! Where does time go? Seriously, where does it go? We are going to start Potty Training during Spring Break. I know...fun, fun! But, I thought it was the perfect time because we can hang out at home all week instead of having to take Sadie to school, etc. That's going to be a LONG week. I am already trying to mentally and emotionally prepare for that week. Whew! I know he won't be as easy as Sadie was, but I'm still determined! He is my precious baby boy. I love him more than life. He's definitely my challenging one, b/c at 2 and 1/2 years old, he STILL wants me to hold him all the time! He doesn't like to be told "no", but he is learning. He is the cutest thing I have ever seen and I love to just make him smile. His smile and those eyes melt my heart. He is going to be a heart-breaker one day, I can tell. Watch out ladies!! ha ha
AdvoCare is still going wonderful! It continues to provide us with additional income each month and I continue to be thankful that God brought this opportunity into our lives. To be able to feel THIS great WHILE making money is mind-blowing to me. And, the best part is, we are helping to change others' lives as well.
I have the best husband, the best family, and the best friends! God has blessed me beyong my wildest dreams and I love my life!!!!