Potty Training 101

Potty training the older 2 girls was pretty easy and all I can say is that it literally "just happened".  For both Ella and Emma it was right around their 3rd birthdays and it just happended on their own free will in a matter of days.  I'm not going to lie--with Ella, being our first, I was researching Dr. Phil.  I was buying the potty books.  I bought the doll that peed when you gave it a bottle of water.  Nothing worked, so I just hoped that all would work itself out on its own and it did!

Well, in a little over a month, the twins will be 3 and I've been trying to play the calm, laid-back mom and continue to hope that they, too, will figure it out on their own.  HOWEVER, there is that nagging fear of WHAT IF THEY DON'T!!!!!!

But starting yesterday, I caught a glimpse of hope that soon I may lead a diaper-free life!  And I thought that this time around I should document Potty Training in the Lamppa household...with twins!

STEP 1:  BECOME ONE WITH YOUR UNDERWEAR
Lexi and Maija went diaper-free for about 4 hours yesterday and decided to wear underwear.  But why wear 1 pair when you can wear every pair in the drawer?  That's right folks, they put on about 10-12 pairs EACH.  There's no way we were cleaning up pee on the carpet with that much absorption! 

Then we had to attend a basketball game last night.  So we peeled off the layers, put the diapers back on, and HAD to pack up the the underwear in a gift bag and bring them with.

STEP 2:  GET TO KNOW YOUR POTTY CHAIR
Maija woke up still enthused about underwear.  She put on a good 10 pairs and wore them all day.  She asked to go sit on the potty several times.  While waiting for SOMETHING, she asked me to hold her hand, sing her a song, and we even read some books in the bathroom.  Then she discovered that she was strong enough to move the potty chair, so wherever I went, Maija and the chair were close behind.  When I stopped, Maija put the chair down, pulled down all the layers, and sat down.  When I moved to the next room, she pulled everything up, grabbed the chair and followed. 

STEP 3:  DON'T LOOK BACK
Once a child is enthusiastic about this whole process, GO WITH IT!  Neither Maija nor Lexi has had a successful trip on the pottty.  And yet, Maija wanted to wear her underwear to bed tonight.  I didn't even start to argue.  I put a towel under her butt, gave her a kiss good-night, and am planning on doing some wash tomorrow.  But if history repeats itself, I could have a potty-trained kid in a few days! 

Hopefully, that's the end of Potty Training 101.  Feel free to attempt these crazy 3 steps with your own little people!

It starts out so innocent...

I could be talking about a brand, new little life--so innocent, so amazing, so unbelievably precious. 

Let's Hear It For the Girls, people!!  After 5 nephews, I am a proud aunt to a little bundle of sweetness named Annika Mary.  She was born today, a few days early, and I got to go to the hospital to get my baby fix meet her. 

My brother and his angel!

However, I am not talking about the innocence of a newborn.  I am talking about the beginning stages of hoarding.  Yes, hoarding.  We've all seen one of those reality shows about hoarding.  And we, the organized, clean, clutter-free, people of society all ask, "How do people live like that?" or "How does it get out of control?"  

My name is Stacie and I am a mother to a 2-year old hoarder.

I will leave her identity a secret but her name rhymes with "papaya".

It started out so very innocently.  She had to hold "things"--anything, something.  She just had to have her hands full of stuff.  Then, as the hoarding progressed, she discovered that clothes had pockets and she would only wear shirts and pants that had pockets and they would be stuffed with her prized possessions.

It then continued on to carrying backpacks and purses and these bags had to travel everywhere with her weighing down her little frame.

And as I said earlier, it started out so small and innocent.  Today, her hoarding has escalated to this: 



This is "her" in November.  I guess I forgot to
mention the stroller/shopping cart phase of it.



Her crib in November.  It was manageable at that time. 



Only a few short months later, this is how she sleeps.  She feels safe and
secure surrounded by her things and FREAKS if I dare touch it. 
Sounds just like the show doesn't it?

I will keep you posted on its progression or tell you when her episode is going to air on TLC.