Victorious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, it played out just like everyone tells you- "It will happen overnight- when she is ready." I'm not sure who was more ready- me or Ava. I was definitely sick of buying diapers and even more sick of changing them on my gargantuanly large 2 1/2 year old.

After much frustration and bribery, I just didn't know what else to do to get my kid to use the potty. But I was determined. I wanted to oust the diaper expense from our budget and parade Ava around in cute little under gutchies. My sister swears she told me to use a timer a long time ago, but somehow I don't recall this directive. Anyway, I started setting the "potty timer" every 30 minutes. When it beeped I told Ava that it was time to sit on the potty and try to go. This was barely any effort at all and she didn't put up a fuss. There were times that she said she didn't have to go, so I just set the timer for an additional 10 minutes or so. It worked like magic. She was a little afraid of her poop but who isn't. Sometimes shit hurts! Nothing that a good book and some candy can't cure.

I can count the number of accidents she has had on one hand. I don't even use the timer anymore (that lasted maybe a week). She comes to me and tells me she has to go. We took a trip to Target last week and as we were approaching Elderton, Ava announces from the back seat, "I have to pee." Sweet!@#$ The only option was the very shady Corner Convenience Store in Elderton. I had to do it. It was a little dark, cramped and dirty, but I just held her over the toilet and she went! When we finally got to Target I promptly purchased some disposable Dora adhesive toilet liners for scary toilet situations.

Ava has even been staying dry throughout the night! A couple nights ago she woke up at 1 a.m. and told me she had to pee and poop. I rubbed my eyes, stumbled through the hall, tripped on some shoes and sat her on the potty. Sure enough, she did what she said she had to do! Diaperless is awesome!!!

My Disney Princess

After much flip-flopping, Ava decided she wanted to be Cinderella for Halloween. She went from wanting to be La-La to Minnie Mouse and finally settled on Cinderella. I thought she pulled off a beautiful interpretation.

P.S. I've been living in fear of being kicked off my sister-in-law's blog roll. I haven't updated my blog in over 30 days. That is her rule.

Potty Blues

Ava is smart. So smart it sometimes scares me. She has reached every developmental milestone way ahead of schedule. She knows her shapes, colors, numbers to fifteen, ABCs and her verbal skills are absolutely astounding. It is like talking to a miniature adult. However, the one area Ava seems to be sluggish with is the potty. She really just would rather do her business in private without some big spectacle. The other day I walked into her room and found her standing beside her bed, gripping the bed spread with a very strained look on her face. The dialogue went as follows:

Me: "Ava are you pooping?"
Ava: turning her head "Don't look at me!"
Me: "Should we go sit on the potty?"
Ava: "Don't look at me!!! Just check your email!" (The computer is in her room)
Me: rolling around laughing on the floor

Really, I am running out of clever ideas for her to want to use the potty. I gave her a quarter every time she tried and when we got 10 quarters we went to the store to buy a barbie-- a barbie with a Vespa scooter! I've taken barbies, babies, and all her stuffed animals with us to use the potty. I've taken books and blankets and I have even composed a potty song. She reallllllllllllllyyyy likes the song but she never seems to go when I sing it. It goes a little somethin' like this, oh and I beat her feet together while I'm singing:

Pee and Poop
Pee and Poop in the potty not in your pants
Keep your pants clean
Keep your pants dry
And pee and poop
Pee and poop in the potty not in your pants
Woooooooooooo!!!- You have to say this at the end with extra emphasis

If anyone is interested in the melody to accompany the lyrics, call me and I will sing it for you. Any suggestions on this potty matter are welcome. We went through three pairs of underwear, pants and socks today after I had just put her on the potty like 5 minutes before each time she peed in her pants! Ugh!

E Butters

Here are a couple of photos of Eliot when he was home in August. He and Ci Ci have the same expression on their face.


























Na is always so hilarious.
















The embrace just before they pounced on one another over a toy.

Rocky

Na got a new pet. Well, a "temporary" pet, right Na? Rocky has become my nephew Riley's newest obsession and best friend. Every time he is over at Na's, he plays, pets, walks, feeds and tends to Rocky's every need. And when he is not at Na's, he is constantly talking about how he needs to go there to play with Rocky. It is the sweetest thing. I think it is really good for Riley. It gives him a sense of responsibility and companionship. I think he might even have a box of dog bones at his house just waiting to feed to Rocky. At least that is what Ava told me, who by the way is petrified of Rocky's sweet face every time he comes within 5 feet. Every boy needs a dog, well, at least this boy. Doesn't it look like they belong together?

Ava's 1st Crash

Ava decided to ride her bike while waiting for her daddy to get home from football practice. I, being the overprotective mother that I am, padded her down as best I could without applying the bubble wrap you use to ship packages. Of course when she tipped her bike over, what did I do? Yeah, I took some pictures. It was only a minor wreck. She didn't even get hurt. Well, really how could she with all her head gear and knee pads?

Hello Na

If Ava has learned one thing from her mother, it is how to multi-task. She recently has become obsessed with painting and would like nothing better to paint or craft all day. She insisted that she call Na to let her know she was making her a picture. A thorough cleaning is needed at the end of each painting session.

La La La La

Elmo and the portable DVD player were our friends on our journey through the desert. Ava is concentrating very hard on Elmo's episode about pets. The earphones were an added blessing. I didn't have to withstand the annoying Elmo's World song which would most definitely be seared into my head the rest of the day. Matt is trying to stay awake.

Green Grass to Red Rocks

On our pilage out west it was interesting to see how much the country side, from my birdseye view, changed. It went from green grass and abundant trees to a very arid, sandy region with abundant red rocks, then back to patches of grass in neighborhoods that could afford to sprinkle their lawns. I spent part of the 4 hour plane ride capturing the changing topography.

Swim Suit Beauty

I am in love, love, love with this picture (and Ava too)!

Accessories

At the spry age of 2, Ava has learned the importance of accessorizing with any outfit.

Fourth of July Part 2

Let the fireworks begin!

Intermission

These grubby kids needed a good hog washin' before the fire works.

Fourth of July Part 1

It was my intent to photograph the kids together while Eliot was here. Of course, nothing goes as planned. Here is what we ended up with.



















Say Fireworks!














This pretty much sums it all up!














And this one too!



















Almost smiling.













"Eliot, daddy is sick of blowing bubbles!"














SAND! YEAH!














Aunt Courtney is smoking a fire cracker.













Justin taking a pic of the missing shrub?

Chuck E. Cheese

We made a trip to see Chucky while my brother was home. Riley nearly lost his marbles he was so excited. Ava was afraid of Chucky and Eliot, well, he liked the pizza.













Contrary to popular belief, this pizza is fabulous.














This lemonade is good too.














Ski Ball is awesome!!!!!














Ava and Matt fought over the water gun game!



















The blue screen was more entertaining for Justin than Eliot. Justin later water skiied on the blue screen!














Eliot and Riley loved the monster truck. Scaredy Pants was afraid.

Sticky Dora

My family was in from St. Louis for 10 days. Hooray! But now they have gone home:( Anyway, while they were here we hung out and the children played, fought, played, argued, hugged, kissed, and fought some more. Ava and Eliot had some sharing issues, but I guess that comes witht he nature of toddlerhood. In these photos, Ava had just received a Dora wall-walker (you know those things with sticky legs and arms) from great-grandma. Daddy decided to through it on Na's ceiling, which in turn stuck like glue. Na still doesn't know about this. We needed a very tall ladder to get it down.









Dora is stuck on the ceiling!









It doesn't appear that Dora is budging!









She has been rescued via an extremely tall ladder.

Airport Festival

The Jimmy Stewart Airport hosted an Airport Festival with planes dating from WWII a couple of weekends ago. Since Ava is obssessed with planes, Matt and I thought it would be a good idea to take her. Our assumptions were confirmed. A good time was had by all, minus the sunburn part. Aunt Cici and Riley came along too.