Summer Fun; Potty Training (take 2)

When summer weather comes, we love to spend time outside as a family having fun.  So far this "summer" (even though it's not technically summer yet), we have been to the zoo many times, taken lots of walks, had picnics in our yard, played with sidewalk chalk and toys and books in the backyard, gone swimming a few times, and played in the Boonville splash park. 

Tenley and Hayden both love to be outside.  Tenley is always saying "go, "shoes," "bye-bye," and "stroller" to try to get me to take her outside.  Hayden is also learning to love the outdoors; his favorite things outside are taking walks and laying under a tree with us on a blanket.

swimming together

fun dunking daddy

Tenley and Navy - splash park with cousins

Hayden joining in the fun at the splash park

picnic under our tree

Wesselman's woods with cousin Annie

backyard fun at home

Tenley like to push Hayden in the stroller

Tenley and friend Satori at the zoo

Another thing we tried this week was potty training Tenley.  We tried around 17.5 months and she just wasn't ready physically, but she thought it was fun.  She is 20.5 months now, and we have learned after the last 2 days that she is now physically ready, but just doesn't want to do it.  Hopefully third time will be a charm (whenever that may be), and she will be BOTH mentally and physically ready!  I'm glad we tried, though, and it just helps me know what to watch out for later.  It's a learning process for all of us.  Here is how the day and a half went:
Day 1
9:15 wake
10:30 pee on floor
1:30 start to pee on stool, carry to potty still peeing, finish on potty
2 nap
5:30 wake, dry!, pee on potty
6:15 poop on floor, carry to potty, finish on potty
7:45 pee on floor
8:30 bed

Day 2
8:30 wake
10:30 pee on floor, slip, smack head hard on the floor
Diaper back on!!

My strategy was no diaper or underwear - she was naked from the waist down.  I treated it as something she needed to learn, not something she was doing wrong on purpose.  So I would say "uh-oh" and explain it to her, rather than say "no" and act disappointed or frustrated.  This was harder for Stephen, so I've also learned that it may be better to start on a day he is working next time.  :)  She got a treat (dried fruit) for getting anything in the potty.  I started out trying to take her every 15 minutes, but quickly learned that wasn't going to happen.  She didn't want to, and really didn't need to - she held it for 2-4 hours each time.  So I just took her once or twice every hour, and asked/reminded her MANY times in between.  My conclusion is that she knows how to hold it and knows what we wanted her to do, and I think she could really do it if she wanted to.  But for some reason right now, she has no desire.  It may have to do with the slight jealousy that has been popping up because Hayden is getting bigger and becoming more interactive.  Whatever it is, she isn't ready right now, and that is okay.  We will keep assessing along the way, and when the time is right and she is ready, it will all click!

Hayden 5 months; Tenley 20 months

 

Hayden is 5 months old!  I couldn't get this picture to rotate, but at 5 months, he is 16.5 lbs and 26".  That is funny to me, because Tenley didn't hit 26" until older than 9 months.  At 9 months old, Tenley was 25 3/4", but 19.5 lbs!  That's my little chunker.  :)  Here are pictures of Tenley at 5 months, and Hayden at 5 months.  Neither had started any solid foods at this point - only the same ole breastmilk for both of them.

BIG difference!  haha!!  They probably weigh about the same in these pics, but Hayden is just a lot longer.  It is a little weird for me to have a baby that is so long, but not very mobile.  But I am enjoying every day with my baby boy.  I keep telling him not to grow up so fast, but he's not listening.

His "skinny" legs are the biggest reason I haven't done cloth diapers with Hayden full time yet.  The other reason is I am just lazy and love the convenience of disposables.  But I do honestly try for a couple full days every month or so, and he just leaks probably 4 out of every 5 diapers.  And I like the convenience of disposables too much to spend a ton of time trying to fix this problem yet.  Maybe next month.  :)  Tenley still does great in them, though!

Recently, we got to take our first swim in Grandma and Grandpa Helm's new pool.  It's so pretty and SO much fun!  Tenley wears water wings or a swim vest in the pool, but is too cautious to let go of Mom completely yet.  I am totally okay with that.  She does love to "kick, kick, kick!" though, and when she is feeling brave, she will let me hold her to back float a little bit.

We are also enjoying the outdoors at home.  We go on at least one walk almost every day in our neighborhood.  We also had a picnic last week under the tree.  Tenley and Hayden both enjoy helping me water our plants, although it takes every ounce of self-control within that little girl not to pull flowers and leaves off the plants.  I don't have any recent pictures, but Tenley also enjoys sitting around the fire pit with us in her little pink chair when we fire it up with friends.

I'm not very good at getting pictures of the kids together yet, but here is one that is not completely terrible.  Sometimes I just forget, but mostly this is because Tenley still loves to "explore" Hayden, and if I look away for 1 second while they are close together, she is either trying to poke out his eye or rip out his tongue.  All in love, of course.  :)