In Toddler News | Part 27

I've long stopped counting weeks and honestly I forget what month we are in by the time the beginning of the month is here. These girls make me do a double take on the daily, just to make sure these are actually MY children standing in front of me.  They are no longer my BABIES.  They are growing at rapid speed, but they still most definitely need their mama.  

And for that I am ultimately thankful.  

I long for those times when I hear the pitiful whimpers over the monitor or the thud against the closed nursery door - almost as if thats my cue to go in and soothe whomever back to sleep. 

When I am running around like a busy bee, and Parker pops her head over the couch and tells me "Mama, sit!" 

When Jolie walks into the bedroom where I am folding laundry and causally asks

"Hey mama, what are you doing in here?"

I can legit have a full on conversation with my toddlers, and while they have understood what I say to them for months upon months, I can actually understand what they are saying to me. 

I love this age.

Emotions of a Two Year Old

While I can't say that I have 2 year old toddlers that take responsibility in living up to the 'terrible two' namesake, I do have a drama filled life on occasion.  

Cat fights, whining, crying, and defying- especially the latter.  These two really know how to punch a button or two of their daddy and me, but thankfully a few minutes in time out will force them into getting their mind right to apologize and make up.

..and the word 'sorry' out of either little girl's mouth is worth the pains and cries of time out enough in my book.

It might be surprising to some of you, but Jolie is the most hard headed child on the planet, and occasionally will refuse to apologize without one or two trips back to time out.  

The look on her face as if to be saying 'mom.  you're crazy!'

Makes this mother want to pull out her phone and snap a picture.

I remind her about 17 million times a day to keep her hands to herself.

At just about 26 pounds, she is a scrappy little bit.  Parker, who out weighs her by at least 2 pounds, so much as gets in her way, looks at her wrong, or takes a toy that she's deemed as hers for eternity, there is no stopping Jo Grace until shes got her hands on her. I can literally be holding her back and threatening spankings, time out, or even so far as taking away Puppy, and it doesn't phase her one single bit.

Parker, on the other hand, just lets out the ugly cries when she's mad.

Actually, Parker cries over almost everything these days.  This last month she has been going through some kind of emotional change where everything is upsetting and I find myself questioning the entire situation when she loses her mind all over my shoes.  It has taken a lot of patience out of me and her daddy to make it through some days.. and some days has us simply waving the white flag.

Thankfully, I think we can see the light at the end of the tunnel of this phase.. and doom and gloom should hopefully be just a short lived thing.

Learn

These two are oh-so smart.  I was once worried about their vocabulary (or lack their of), but not anymore, thats for sure.  When they are with their BB they discuss every nook, cranny, color, animal, number- you name it, she quizzes them on it. 

Parker will sit in my lap with her favorite puzzle (one that is of numbers and animals) and count to 10 as she pulls each number out of its place, only to effortlessly put it back where she found it. 

Jolie will go through the entire set of wooden alphabet blocks (these are our favorite) and name off the colors and animals/objects on each side. 

We do this about 6-7 different times a day, and it is fantastic to listen to her sweet little intelligence beaming through her tiny voice.

When its time to move onto another activity we have been working hard on making sure our toys we played with previously are picked up and in their place before bringing out any thing else.

The works about 80% of the time.  Parker is my awesome cleaner-upper, while Jolie finds herself with renewed interest in the toys and starts to play what we are trying to put away.  

Looking back over the last 6 months or so, things have drastically changed for these two cognitively, emotionally, and physically.  Its amazing how such a short amount of time can make such a huge impact.

The Potty Talk

A big milestone started for us, give or take, about 6 months ago with introducing potty training to these girls at 20 months (HERE & HERE).  while the Three Day Method worked well to get us going, we still had a ways to go before we were fully trained.  Parker took about a month before she would even attempt number 2 on the potty, and then one day it clicked for her.  3 months after that, she decided that number 2 was the scariest thing on the planet, and she refused.  Jolie.. it has taken every bit of 5 months before she  would even attempt.  

After making rounds of insane celebration any time there was a poo-poo success, they both have decided that it is OK to use the potty for number two. 

A huge game changer was the fact that these two could actually TALK to tell us that they needed to go potty.

The words "I need to tee-tee" or "I need to paaattee" work much better than the whole walk-up-to-mama-and-grab-your-crotch thing. I mean, we definitely figured it out and made it work, but I think we as parents can both agree that we prefer verbal communication over anything else.

It is rare that we have accidents these days (aside from the panic tee-tee while playing and we stop ourselves only to immediately demand we got potty RIGHT THEN), and the most common concern we have of the entire morning is what color panties will we wear, and should they have Minnie Mouse or Elsa on them.  Parker always goes for the pink, and prefers Olaf, whilst Jolie is more of a purple & princesses on her panties kinda gal.

It is amazing to me their decision making abilities. 

We do still wear diapers (size 6) at nap time and bedtime.  There is the occasion that they wake with dry diapers and we go potty after the fact, but I'm just not sure how I want to transition to that yet.  We would have to change how much we let them drink at lunch and dinner (seeing as those two events are so close to nap and bed), and we would have to be aware that there will most likely be accidents in the middle of the night. I will say that they no longer use the diaper as an excuse to go potty. If after bath and diaper before bed one of them needs to use the potty, they refuse to go i their diaper and they request to go on the potty.  So, they are not associating that with it being okay to go potty in their 'pants'.

My greatest challenge with these two over the last couple months have been "patience".  These '2's' are just a challenging period for all of us and my never replenished energy does not do me any good nor count in my favor at all. Despite the challenges we have inherited, while I must say they are minimal, these two are so much fun to hang out with, spend my days with, and be a mother to.  

Those things outweigh the rough afternoons or grumpy refusals at meal times, am I right?

Going through my phone after they are asleep at night, I can't help but miss them, worry about them, and have this immense desire to just wake them from slumber just to ask for a sweet shug from the both of them.  Man, I'm a lucky mama.  

27 month iPhone Dump

 errands with BB.. I love getting photos of my sweet loves while I'm away.

 bulk shopping shenanigans 

 never leave unattended.

 daddy's littlest helpers

 three's company

 mama's only responsibility at the grocery store these days it to wave the checkered flag.

 bath time with smilies in all the right places.

 there is always an equal amount in each cart.  everything must be equal.

 the day they called me 'homie'

 gimme some love, sister.

 we spend way too much time at the grocery store..

 5 inches on the ground can only mean one thing: snow ice cream for dinner

 no matter how 'terrible' the day can be, they will always, always find a smile in there somewhere.

 if there was a sass-meter on your computer/phone- it would catch fire in 3-2-1..

Potty Training | One Month In

So.  We've survived a month.  

It has been exactly one month since I blogged about our 3-day training success (HERE).  While the 3-day method is effective in getting the idea of going potty out there, it wasn't a one-and-done type deal.. for us anyway.  At the end of the third day we were definitely trained-ish.    

Week ONE: We rarely left the house (I was terrified, actually) and we spent a lot of time (A LOT) on the potty.  We still were having accidents more than once a day, and I honestly wasn't sure how to fuss with it outside the home just yet.  While this was all new to Parker and Jolie, I'm a first-timer myself, so I was learning how to go about all this as well. To keep up with the underwear we were going through, I was doing a load of laundry every evening after the girls went to bed. 

The girls were very unsure of using the 'big' potty, and there was no way we could convince them of attempting number two in anywhere else but a diaper.

We didn't wear much more than a tank top and panties for most of the day at this point. 

Week TWO: Much improvement from the first week!  We began to sleep through nap without a wet diaper, and felt comfortable with the idea that 'yes, I do have to go potty'.  They began to tell me when they needed to go, instead of me having to prompt them often throughout the day. Parker found success pretty quickly, and week number two is when she stopped having accidents all together.  Jolie, however, continued to have an accident about once or twice a day.  There was a 4 day period when Jordan and I seriously discussed putting Jolie back into a diaper.  She acted like she was stressed out over the potty, and would potty on the tile/carpet/sofa and refused to come and tell me and fussed when I asked her about the potty. She was such a rockstar during the first week, so we were all confused as to what was going on with her and what caused the minor regression, but just about the time we decided, yes, lets put her back onto a diaper for now, the accidents stopped.

We left the house for the first time.. and used the public restroom out of necessity.  The girls did absolutely fabulous!  We finally used the 'big' potty without a peep of complaint, and danced our little hearts out in the bathroom stall in excitement over it.  

Week THREE: We made our first trip to the church nursery since we started potty training.  AND we did it!!  I was so proud of my girls.  Walking to there class to pick them up in the same outfit that I dropped them off in made me a proud momma.  I stressed the entire church service, and even had anxiety walking to pick them up - but I shouldn't have doubted them for one minute!

Leaving the house became much easier.  I brought 2-3 pairs of pants and several pairs of panties along for errands any time we left the house, but rarely if ever had to use them.

Parker finally used the 'big' potty to go number 2.   Up until this point the girls were going 1-2 times a day at their normal time (first thing in the morning and then usually at nap) in their diaper.  This particular morning, Parker woke up with just a wet diaper, and shortly after her morning smoothie came to tell me she needed to go.  I was WAY proud.  Is it weird to be proud of poop?  Because I totally was.

Jolie has yet to go number 2 in the potty.  

We taught them how to 'wipe'.  Surprisingly they picked this action and 'requirement' up in a snap.  Parker requests the toilet paper immediately after finishing, and wipes herself and throws it in the toilet.  Of course mom does a quick inspection to make sure we are good before we pull up our britches.  

We are usually DOUSED in hand sanitizer.  Especially when we are out and have to use to public potty.  One thing I've had to basically 'get-over' is the fact that my kids are going to touch the toilet.  After all - the act of going potty and everything that goes along with it (toilet, toilet water, panties, girly parts, and flushing the potty) has been glorified as GOOD, so why would they think any different?  

At any given time I have at least three bottles of hand sanitizer in my bag for fear I run out while we are away from home and a bucket-o-suds.   

Week FOUR: We are wearing panties about 90% of the time.  We wear diapers at nap time and at bed time, although nap time we are nearly always dry. Going without the diapers at nap is the next step, but I don't think we are quite there, yet. There is very little prompting to go potty at this point, the girls most always tell us when they need to go.  If we leave the lamp on in the bathroom, we can help take their panties off for them, and they'll take off to the bathroom to do their business on their own - which is insanely convenient.  The girls have become very curious.  We have found them without panties on at all, playing all over the house, half nakey, and I've even found Jolie, of all babes, on the toilet.  I've read that this curiosity is basically because of all the attention we have given this entire process, and the ease of taking on and off their own panties.  Just last night Jolie brought me her underwear to have me help her get back into them, and it was later that I realized what she had done.  She had taken off her panties, gone potty, and come back for mom to help.  She'd done it all on her own.

We are in a good place with potty training right now. We still have some boundaries to overcome.  Number 2 is a struggle, getting easier, but still a struggle.  Breaking the diapers at nap and bed time will be the next hurdle.

 Things can only get better (right??) and I couldn't be more proud of my sweet littles. 

Can We Start the Weekend Over? I Wasn't Ready Yet..

It is a weekend like this thats you just want to go back to Friday and do it all over again. It was good. and I want to do it again.. so how about a play-by-play of the weekend's events?

Friday was good. 

I celebrated the weekend and the arrival of cooler weather with my very first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season.  If you know me (and the hubby) well at all, you very well know how much we love us some coffee.  We are coffee people - and while coffee is always enjoyable in the summer, it is WAY better in the fall/winter.  I had some monies on a gift card I randomly found in one of my bags.. actually, PARKER found in one of my handbags (love that, right?) and paid a mere $0.17 for this grande.

Dont mind if I do!

headband / sweet t boutique // earrings / exquisite artistry  // initial necklace / bijoux by meg // cardigan / nordstrom (similar)

The little birds woke in some great little moods, and we opted to dress to impress in our sweats and tank tops.  Only in Texas.

Gloomy days are the perfect day to cuddle up -  played hard for the morning, lots of playing with they baby dolls, puzzles, read a couple books, and then it was time for nap.  Momma got organized for the weekend - meal planned and made a grocery list, folded laundry, and ate lunch myself, and finished just in time for Parker and Jolie to start stirring a bit.

It had been years months since it felt this amazing outside, so I loaded the girls up and went for a walk.  The neighborhood park is just around the block from us, so we decided to stop for a few to let off some steam before spending the rest of the afternoon indoors.

headwraps / sweet t designs // jacket / target // sweats / babyGap (similar) // moccs / freshly picked

I coached them back to the stroller with promises to see baby ducks on our way home from the park.  But as we passed the ponds, the disappointed looks I received when I told them that their were no ducks to see just about broke my heart.  Too chilly?  There are always ducks, so I was disappointed, too!

We spent the rest of the afternoon sipping hot coffee (me), burning Pumpkin Cupcake Candles, and watching The Little Mermaid (twice).

Saturday was great.

I was up early to get a move on so that when Jordan walked in the door from his shift at the fire station, I was able to walk out early enough to beat the crowds at the grocery store.

Opted to take a sultry(?) / non-makeup selfie to document my solo outing of the weekend.

The weather that came in on Friday was still amazing - which meant that it was the official start to the Fall season.  All the more reason to stock up on all our favorites.

After naps we all got dressed to run a few errands before heading to church.

Costco & Sam's trips are routine, and since we had been to Sam's earlier this week, Costco was due for a visit.

leggings / target // boots / old navy

This was the first time we've taken the girls to children's church  since we started potty training - I brought about 18 pairs of extra panties/pants in case we had an accident, but I was SO elated and proud of my girls for making it through the service in the same outfit I dropped them off in.

headwrap / sweet t designs // sweatshirt / kid & kind 

Sunday was amazing.
Going to church on Saturday nights makes for super duper lazy Sunday mornings. We came home on Saturday night to a porch full of happy mail-day items.. including this Twin Mom mug.

A couple weeks ago I chatted back and forth with Alexis of Twinkle Twinkle Lil' Jar to design the most perfect mug for my coffee obsession.  The font, the glitter, the size and shape - she nailed it.

Pumpkin Spice Coffee | Pumpkin Spice Candles ...

..and Pumpkin Walnut Pancakes.  These have zero recipe to share, as they are directly out of a box we picked up from Costco on a whim (and will be going back to purchase several more before it is gone).  It is actually Pumpkin Bread, but pancakes are so much more fun, don't you think?

I did take 547 pictures, tho.  So, I'll probably share at some point soon as a WE EAT post or something.

..more coffee.

Shortly after the littles went down for nap, it was time for football.  Football Sunday is where it's out, folks.  Jordan and I are in a 'pick 'em' league, which makes watching that much more fun.

The girls napped nearly through the entire game, but it still didn't mean we couldn't get them dressed to support our 'Boys.

wraps / ruby blue 

Mid-day I switched to Pumpkin Ale.. as I'm not totally sure coffee would be the best selection of pairing with my chips and queso lunch (Football Sunday, ya'll)

Dinner was ready in a zip, thanks to the easiest recipe on the planet:  Pulled Buffalo Chicken Sliders. My little helpers did plenty of tasting while I attempted to pull the chicken around baby fingers.

Crock Pots do their best work on the Day of Rest.

Bath, and new jams (part of the amazing mail-day we had this weekend) rounded out the evening.  With a little snuggle sesh while watching the end of The Lorax before bed.

jammies / baby Gap

Can we start over?  Just take me back.  I love these kind of weekends.

How was yours?

Hopping the Potty Train | 3 Day Method

Well.  We did it.  We are officially sending our sweet (tiny) little girls to the big girl potty to do their business. Coming off of Day 3 of the "Three Day Method", I am one confident momma.  Seriously.  When Jordan and I talked about potty training Parker and Jolie a few months back {HERE} I was self-admitedly in denial of any success we could or would have.  They just seem(ed) so young and not able to actually comprehend what we would be trying to teach them.

Fast forward several weeks, and my kids are complaining at me about their diapers.  Okay, we should find time to make this work.  Their readiness seems to be on point, and therefore us (the adults) should be ready, too. We chose this weekend for a variety of reasons.. not even recalling that it was Labor Day weekend and we would technically be getting Monday off, a fourth day into the mix.

Do we need a fourth day?  You shall find out:)

Jordan and I strategically planned this weekend so that we would both be home for the 'hardest' of times during this entire potty training process - the first two days.  The third day is supposed to be the 'magic day', and this was the day Jordan would be at the fire station and I would be solo with these two potty training machines.  

The Method  

The 3 Day Method.  What exactly does this mean? I had a ton of questions surrounding my instagram posts (@masseya) about this method and what it actually entails.  I was clueless, too.  Technically it is based on Julie Fellom's Diaper Free Toddler's program.  I have read a plethora of blogs, articles..and even got my hands on a borrowed book, and sort of came up with a hybrid version of my own 3-Day Method.  When raising two littles, as with many things, I had to alter my approach, and it was definitely a learn-as-you-go kinda thing.  Like the program recommends, We DID talk about the potty, and going potty, and where we do it for about a month preceding this weekend, but nothing formal.

I did not practice the 'naked weekend'.  We opted for panties only, and a fitted tank or tee for the entirety of the weekend.  I had a hard time wrapping my brain around the 'naked weekend' for a couple reasons.. 1.) we were having visitors/workers at our house over the weekend.  I preferred their little hiney's covered.  2.) I felt better knowing that there would be some sort of barrier between my floors and the number 2.  Just saying.

The Supplies    

BEFORE Day 1, set yourself up for success.  Grab a few entertainment factors to keep the babes busy while sitting on the potty (we chose books), as well as come up with a reward for after there is a potty success.  Candy, treats, stickers.. its totally up to you.  One thing about the books, I bought these specifically for potty-going.  Meaning, they don't come out of the bathroom and the girls only get to 'read' them while sitting on the potty.

Hold the Potty Po- yes, I rewarded my girls with candy.  This is 100% a treat for them and they responded really, really well to this reward.  I went back to what my mom told me years ago when she talked about training her 18 month old (me).

I peed for a single m&m.  

doc mcstuffins book / baby einstein book

Panties. Several pairs.  We started with just 12 pair (really? really.), and ended up going back to get more after doing two loads of 12 pairs of undies.  24 pairs of underwear is where we are at, and where we stayed.

Hanes Brand Briefs  

A timer.  Some potty's come with a watch or something similar, but ours did not. We used the timer on the iPhone.  Rather than watching and waiting for 'cues' that Parker and Jolie would offer before they go to the bathroom, we decided to take them every 15 minutes to the potty.  

Lets be real for a second- even with two of us home and around, watching two toddlers for these sort of cues would have been virtually impossible to capture them before they went.  

This worked well in that it offered regularity to the idea of going to the potty and I feel like it helped them to understand and recognize the 'feeling' or sensation of needing to go.

Fluids.  Offer lots and lots to drink.  They are more inclined to go potty every time you take them if they are drinking and eating heavy water based foods. The more they potty, the better recognition of the sensation to pee.  We did lots of water (A LOT), diluted juice, and offered plenty of fruit to snack on.  We went through nearly a pound of grapes by the end of Day 2.  Frozen grapes are the way to my children's hearts at the moment.

  

..and of course- a potty.  We stuck with just one single potty rather than getting two.

potty chair

Day 1.

On the morning of Day 1, we started after breakfast (full bellies helped to offset the cranky and unsure experience they would be starting on this day). We dropped the diapers, and pulled on the 'big-girl' panties.  They had about 3 minutes of confusion, and forgot all together about 'being free'.   Aside from not leaving the house at all, we kept as much normalcy to our day as we could.  

Lots of playtime.

 Helping mom prep lunch (and dinner)..

 ..potty breaks every 15 minutes in between

 Feeding the dogs..

 Our FAVorite activity of all time.

They didn't even seem phased about the panties.. until they wet them.  They DID NOT like the wet panties.  Although we were taking them every 15 minutes without delay, they weren't going every time, and often would result in an accident almost immediately after coming out of the bathroom.  The only thing I would tell them is that it is not 'okay' to 'tinkle in your panties'.  I would discuss the necessity of 'letting momma know, and going tinkle in the potty and not your panties.'  Never scolding, but repeating the importance of going to the bathroom in the potty.  We both stayed calm and encouraging, and even if they went just a little we high-five'd and did a little dance, as well as provided a reward.  I never wanted to get to a point of having one or both of them regress because going to the potty became a negative experience.

Around mid-day Jolie started getting uptight about walking into the bathroom.  Parker happily sat down to read her books every time, but Jolie didn't like it so much.  This is when Jordan and I broke off and put our focus on one child per adult.  I sat closely with Jolie- forgoing the timer method, and watched and talked about the potty non-stop.  I think making her stop playing every 15 minutes was frustrating her, and therefore going to the potty wasn't 'fun' anymore.  After about an hour of one on one time with Jolie, we moved forward and past her frustration.  She went to the potty successfully three times in that hour. Once she saw how excited we all were for her, and loving the attention, she welcomed going to sit on the potty chair.  

By the end of Day 1 we were going in the potty more often than in our panties, and Jordan and I were WIPED.  I had a close friend send me words of encouragement throughout the day, and her first text mentioned how exhausting it is (she has a 4 year old toddler and a set of twins a few months younger than Parker and Jolie).  I took the word (exhausting) and sort of shrugged it off- how bad could this be?  Let me express to you all - Jordan asked me at one point during bath time, again at dinner, and lastly while I was brushing my teeth "Are you about to fall asleep?"

Yes.  Yes, I am.  I was indeed exhausted.  Over and over and over.  I was hearing the iPhone timer in my sleep.

Day 2.  A new day. Honestly, it felt like we were starting all over again - from square one.  After such a successful end to Day 1, the start of Day 2 was rough.  Accident after accident.  We did another load of panties in the wash, and I headed out to grab some groceries - and more panties.  After nap we decided to go for longer in between potty breaks, bumping it to 30 minutes rather than 15.

I feel like this is when it all clicked.  

Parker and Jolie started to understand when they needed to go, and although there were still accidents here and there, they would stop themselves, come to me or Jordan and then finish their business in the potty.  

We were all SO proud when we went potty! The grins and claps from these two girls.. and at one point Parker patted Jolie on the back after she stood up from the potty chair.  Talk about parental pride, you guys.  I was so proud of my girls, not only for being rockstars at this potty training shenanigans, but for encouraging each other along.

headband c/o sweet t shoppe

As much as I didn't want to, it was Day 2 that I started making it a point to take the girls to the potty separately.  I loved having them both together for comfort, but once they really understood what we were in the bathroom for, they became distracted by the other being in the room.  Something I didn't realize would be an issue in the beginning, but proved to be much less of a game when one went alone.

Day 3.  The magic Day number 3. Another successful end of the day with Day 2, and with as much confidence as I wanted to have that this would be as miraculous as it's claim to fame, I was still skeptical.  My girls were doing GREAT - I was pleasantly surprised at the success of Day 2, but considering that they can't even say 'potty' (Parker will say 'tee-tee'), for it all to come together in this last day, I wasn't so sure.

We started the morning off with a trip to the potty- Parker did the deed, and Jolie did not. 

A short 20 minutes later, Jolie had an accident all over the kitchen floor.

DANG.

Off to the potty we went.. where she finished up, and we all danced and sang.

For the rest of the day these kids were DRY. Dry as a bone.  I was over the moon, and nearly overwhelmed with pride.  Again, there is that word, but I can't explain it any other way. Jordan was at the fire station for 24 hours, so we sent him 'potty success' selfies with each time we went.

You would think that taking them one by one while I was solo would be tough, but it was nearly as easy as it was she Jordan was around.  After nap, Jolie was dry, we we went straight to the potty - and you guessed it.. another potty success.

The remainder of the afternoon I found creative ways to get them to drink plenty of water, encouraging them to make trips to the bathroom - and without even realizing it, I had forgone using the time all together.  These babies were dragging me to the potty when they had to go.

It clicked.

At one point Parker was sitting in my lap and she hustled down, handed me her sippy cup and trotted off towards the bathroom, only stopping to turn to me with her hand over her crotch as if to say 'lets go, mom.'

Well, alrighty then.

Three Days down and my kids are telling me before they go, sitting right down on the chair, and immediately going to the bathroom.  No playing, no bribery, and minimal accidents.  I went into this weekend with pretty low expectations, and came out overly impressed.  One thing I will say is that using this 'quick-training' method does not mean that Parker and Jolie are 100% potty-trained.  We still (for the time being) do diapers at nap time and bed time, but stick with the panties for the remainder of the day.  To me, success over this weekend means that my kids have figured out what it means to need to go potty, and where to go, and how to do it.  I know there will still be accidents, but I'm okay with that.  We are in this together.  Exhausted, but doing it together. I know that this 'method' has not worked for everyone, but bottom line, follow your child's lead.  Every child is different and especially with two, one may be ready, while the other is not.  They may display their readiness to train differently.  As a mom, dad, parent, you will know when the time is right. Thats the one thing I came to respect of the comments on my social media posts over this weekend.  Mom's encouraging me in every which way, and also expressing knowledge that their kids (kid) aren't ready.  Thats the key.  Be in-tune to your child's readiness.  

As for today?
Well.. Minnie is now going potty, too.

AND, we are still in our panties and tank tops and will be until we gain enough confidence to leave the house diaper-free.  I read in the official Three Day Method that it is recommended to stay 'naked' for 3 months following this weekend.  What that means for us is that when we are at home, we will be running around in our panties.  Thankfully, this first week after, Jordan and I will be home the majority of the time- therefore lots and lots of reinforcement can take place so that when we do leave the house we are prepared

..and will probably take the potty with us.