Toilet Training FUN!

This past week I decided to embark on the journey of toilet training with my little man! He is 2 years 4 months now and with our little lady due in only 10 weeks I was determined to get this toilet training done so I didn't have two children in nappies!

In my experience, toilet training is always given such a negative wrap and I can see why... poo's and wee's to clean up every 15-30 minutes is never fun. But I decided that I wanted to make this a fun adventure and positive experience for both of us... after all it is a big milestone for both child and parent!

So, with my addiction to filling up my week with constant outings and activities, I had to look at my calendar and find a week where I hadn't already booked in something each day and then made this my TOILET TRAINING WEEK... well actually I booked out three days! That was the best I can do, but the last two days I was still with him, I was just looking after 7 other children at the same time! (I've moved onto Polkadot child care duties while on maternity leave.) Booking out this week to really focus on toilet training was the best thing I could have done! I HAVE LOVED IT! I'm pretty exhausted, but Its been a joy!

So this has been the key points of my approach to toilet training that I feel has worked really well

• PLAN TO PLAY OUTSIDE - preplan lots of activities that will keep them wanting to play outside so that when the accidents happen, you don't care!
• EXPECT LITTLE on Day 1 - Day 1 is all about them getting used to the sensation of number 1's and 2's coming. Most of the time they don't make it to the potty (in fact Ashton didn't make it even once!) But if you aren't expecting them to make it there and your focus is more about them getting used to the sensation, then if they do make it to the potty in time, its a BONUS! This is not to say you don't try to get them on to the potty in time, but you just don't get upset about it if they don't.
• Go NO UNDIES! - If possible, let them go the day without wearing underwear, its so much less laundry and they get used to the sensation A LOT QUICKER! When they have underwear on they still have a security of knowing there's something there to catch whatever is coming out and they become less urgent to get to the toilet/potty.
• WATCH THEM LIKE A HAWK - The reason you need to block out 3 consecutive days and do nothings else other than focus on toilet training, is so you can follow them around everywhere they go and be ready to get the potty in place the minute they start displaying those signs of going 1's or 2's. Watching them like a hawk right from the work go, gets you accustomed to these cues as well.
• CELEBRATE LIKE YOUR CRAZY - When they do make it to the toilet/potty in time, celebrate and congratulate them like they have never seen you behave before. Do a song and dance about it, give them high fives, give them a special reward (up to you as to what you choose for their reward.) 
• GO OUT FOR SHORT TRIPS - Its hard to be housebound for 3 days! So, plan short trips away from the house... just to the park or down to the shops. Best to keep the outings, literally outings, so that if they do have an accident you're not having to do an embarrassing clean up job in public! These little outings help them get used to having to go pay attention to the signals of toileting even when they are out and can get distracted.
• TAKE A POTTY or SHOW THEM WHERE THE TOILET IS - Whenever you go out, take the potty with you so that at a seconds notice you can avoid the accident. These first three days are about having as much success as possible! If you don't have the potty make sure you show them where the toilet is (wherever you are) so that they know they can go and also where to go.

Our Funny Toilet Training Moments! (Most of these moments happened on day 2, it was a great day in our house!)

• On Day 2 Ashton started the day off with a roar, straight away he went wee's on the potty and I was ECSTATIC to say the least! Ashton was so taken with my performance he couldn't stop laughing... now thats saying something cause I'm quite a dramatic person at the best of times and he's used to it! LOL!
• After this first success on the potty I had to share it with someone and Ashton was keen to tell his Dad, so we decided to call him at work... well, I don't think my husband quite knew how to respond to the excitement or the topic that came through the phone to him when he was surrounded by all his work mates (90% of them men). We got, "oh good, ok... ok... good!" LOL. Poor guy! He later sent a text saying, "Contrats on the wee's in the potty!" ;o)
• Ashton had just finished going wee's on the potty all by himself, and as I started to do my congratulatory song and dance, he stood up off the potty, took one step back and took a bow! I ended up laughing so much I nearly wet my pants! - He continued to take a bow after every potty stop after that, as he knew it made me laugh! It made it a very humorous day!
• Towards the end of the day when he had finished another visit on the potty, he stood up, and with his hands on his hips and a big sigh he said, "Oh man, I so busy!" - Its a hard life when you're toilet training!

I know the toilet training journey is not over yet, but I feel like we have got through the hardest stage. I know there can be set backs. But I have to say, this toilet training journey is one I have enjoyed and valued with my little man. I have got to spend heaps of time playing alongside him, getting to know him that much better. I have laughed so much its hurt! And now I have a big boy in undies! 

What are you're toilet training tips?

An ecstatic Ashton after his first #2's on the potty!
 And him laughing at his crazy mum! 

Ashton taking a bow after one of his successes on the potty at the playground!

The Action Man's First Valentines Delivery

I'm not huge on Valentines day, not that I have anything against it, I've just never got into it. But after this Valentines Day, I might just be converted!

This Valentines Day was filled with LOVE!

I LOVE that Ashton actually painted the hearts... all 8 of them!

I LOVE that Ashton wanted to write his own Valentines messages!

I LOVE that all of the girls (each of his 6 girl cousins and his 2 girl friends) were so excited to receive their little gifts from Ashton, giving his lots of cuddles and kisses and excited dances!

I LOVE that I had no idea that this collection of goodies was awaiting me  on the table when I woke up on Valentines morning... with a text also waiting on my phone with another love message! 

I have the best men!!!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY EVERYONE!

Power Naps, Ice Blocks & Showers!

We are totally struggling with the whether to nap or not to nap issue at the moment! The Action Man just can't seem to get through the day without a nap, but he always wants to take one at 3/4/5pm!!! And this is just not conducive with having a decent bed time hour... or for giving Mummy some down time in the evening! TIPS ANYONE???

Anyways, in my efforts to keep the Action Man awake today, we decided to turn the lounge into an obstacle course. (I was desperate! and it was raining!) Then, during mid run through the course Dionne called and 'nec minute' Ashton is fast asleep on top of the couch!

I have to say... I was taken with the cuteness of the moment... and felt sorry for how tired he must have felt to fall asleep mid-climb. So I let him have a 10 minute power nap and then woke him up with an ice block incentive... in the shower! ;o)

Worked a charm... and he was in bed by 7:30pm! Maybe 10 minute power naps, and ice blocks in showers is my answer to this dilema! We'll see.

"I'm exploring the ocean!"

I had a rather proud Mummy Moment the other day while out at the beach with my little man. Let me set the scene for you a little bit. . .

The weather wasn’t fabulous, but it was Waitangi Day (our NZ national holiday for you non-kiwis reading this) and we were determined to get out and do something as a family. We had organised with a bunch of friends to meet at the beach and despite the windy, overcast weather we all braved the beach front to build sand castles and go for an impromptu exploration of the beaches rock pools.

My little Action Man (which has become his adventure name) was in his element, he set off, not caring where anyone else was to explore the pools and see what he could find. I just followed along behind him letting him go about his busy explorations.

Soon he started to get closer to the ocean, so I said to him, “Hey where are you going buddy?” He turned around to me and quickly said, “I’m exploring the ocean!” and then continued on his way. That is when my proud mummy moment began! I quickly got out my camera and started snapping photos of him “exploring the ocean!” After all, my son had just used the word “exploring” in a sentence, all on his own accord!

As he walked very adventurously through the rock pools he chanted, “going to the waves, going to the waves!” Pointing out sea treasures he found along the way. A few minutes later after we had stopped to check out a little rock pool he called out to me again, “Look Mum. I found a little waterfall. . . I build a bridge.” He was just loving having the time, freedom and space to explore as he wanted to.

Again we continued on through the rock pools, where he spotted some big seagulls playing in the water. As he got closer he called out to them while waving, “Hello seagulls!” He stopped and watched them for a while then turned to me and said, “Mum, I’m soo busy!”This sentence and all the had happened before it epitomized for me the concept that “play is work & learning” for children. In my little man’s mind, as he jumped from rock pool, to rock pool, turned over rocks, inspected seaweed, collected shells and watched the the seagulls at play, he was busy, he was working on doing what children should be doing. . .  figuring out his world and how he fits into it, what he loves about it and what he wants to learn more about.

As you can see from the photos, he wasn’t dressed for exploring the ocean. He fell in quite a few times and got quite wet. The weather was not fabulous, and it could have been easier to just stay at home and watch a DVD or do the usual home routine. But in braving the elements we got to have a great learning moment together. And I got to to hear those precious words that lets me know he is taking in everything I am trying to teach him about the value or learning. . .  “I’m exploring”

A much needed get away!

Each year we try and get away on some sort of holiday, we aim to get overseas as you really do leave normal life behind when you do that, but with me being rather pregnant we decided to stay close to home this year... actually it was a very last minute decision to go, and it probably wouldn't have happened had Dionne not said to us, "Just go up to Aunty Brenda's batch and we'll have Ashton while you're gone!" She obviously knew how much I needed it! (Thats what are sisters for, they read you like no one else, and they make you do something about it!)

So, we made it happen and it was the best thing ever! I can't remember the last time Kris and I just spent time together on our own like that, and with the crazy schedules we have both been on over the past couple of months, it was well overdue!

Mahurangi was our final destination and we struck gold the whole weekend in terms of weather! All we did was read books, chillax on the beach, read, and chillax on the beach! BLISS!

Mahurangi Beach

My belly at 6 months

We had a bit of milk to use up before we headed home
so we had bulk milk and cookies to finish it off! ;o)

Our view from the batch...
(it was actually a lot better than this, but hard to give it justice through a photo)

We stopped at Wenderholm Reserve on our way home and when we went
to have lunch I realised I hadn't bought a knife to make our vegemite and chip
rolls... so I put my Kiwi ingenuity to the test, and rolled up our empty cheese
packaging and used it as my make shift knife! WORKED A CHARM!

It was such a lovely weekend! Thanks Dionne and Josh for taking care of Ashton so we could get away! It was the perfect Anniversary/Birthday weekend away!