County Fair Time

It's County Fair time again and we surprised Megan after school by taking her there on Thursday night.  Of course she had to make her always honest sensory observation and announce, "I smell something."  And what a smart kid....we were walking behind the cattle barns.  After seeing the animals and getting to pet a sheep named Lilly, we headed to the carnival.  Josh is a self described adrenaline junkie and apparently that trait has passed on to Megan.  The first thing she wanted to do was the bungee jumping trampoline "do-hickey".  With no fear, she got right up there and enjoyed every minute of it!  30 feet in the air and she was giggling with the tickle of her tummy.

We always forget that we can't turn our camera when doing video....so sorry about the neck strain but it's worth it!

The "baby" rides....

And then the good stuff again.  Megan rode on this roller coaster all by herself last year and my stomach and heart were both in my throat.  My little baby all by herself!  This year it was a little easier and of course she loved it just as much.  She was even brave enough to go 'no hands'!!  She is such a cutie!

In other news.....I'm still pregnant.

My Little Softball Princess

Waiting for the pitch....in heels.

If I Don't Know You......

......and you comment on one of my posts, chances are I will delete that comment.  I think it's great that people read my blog, that is what it is for.  However if you are trying to sell me something, get me to do something, etc.....I will definitely delete your comment.  I'm NOT writing this blog to be spammed and if I continue to get spammed, I will make my blog private.  I want to keep my friends and family up to date on our family, please allow me to do that.

Thanks,
Kristie

Chuck E. Cheese Pay Up Time

So, as I said in the last post, we were also holding out on Chuck E. Cheese until Megan was potty trained.  Finally the day arrived and we had one excited little girl on our hands.  I had a doctor appt. that afternoon and we were planning to go there right afterwards.  She told everyone that would listen from the receptionist, the CMA, to my OB/GYN that she was getting to go to Chuck E. Cheese.  She was even trying to invite them! 

Potty trained girl all ready to go to her party!

Megan even got some presents for her accomplishment!  New panties, art supplies and jewelry!  Thanks guys!

Megan was also thrilled that I suggested that we should make cupcakes for her party.  No one else was as entertained with my "pee and poop" colored cupcakes.  It was as creative as I could get without being able to find any toilet party favors!!

The lighting isn't great on this picture but I love her little face in it!

Thank you to all of Megan's friends (and our friends) who made it to Megan's party.  She is one lucky girl to have such great family and friends to celebrate such a huge accomplishment (to her mom and dad).

MORE About Potty Training!

For as long as we have been TRYING to potty train Megan, we have been bribing her.  She has been wanting and asking for a bike for a long time and we told her that once she was potty trained (and older, frankly) she could have one.  We also told her that we couldn't go back to Chuck E. Cheese until she was potty trained and when she was, we would have a big Potty Party for her....see the next blog entry.  In fact, probably at least part of our success was due to prizes we bribed Megan with during the "heat" of training.  I went to the Dollar Tree and bought about $30 worth of little prizes for her and wrapped them in tissue paper.  We told her that every time she tried to go on the potty she would get a sweet tart and every time she actually went potty she could open a prize.  Well, once she caught on to the idea, the prizes didn't last as long as we had thought they would.  Who care though - it got the job done!  So then we had to pay up on the other promises!  We made a special trip to Toys R Us and let Megan pick out her very first bike and helmet.  She was SO excited.  It was one of the first 90ish degree days but that didn't stop her.    She's such a big girl now!

A Day at the Beach

On July 5th, Megan, Stacy and I met Danielle and her family in Seaside.  We were still in potty training mode and I didn't know how it would go so I took advice (can't believe I'm admitting it) from Kate Gosselin and made sure to pack up her potty chair with us.  I knew our next challenge would be having her go in a public toilet.  She's always been afraid of them - the noise I think.  I completely expected to have to put the chair on the side of the van for her to go in it.  Anyway, when we met up at Danielle's parents' beach house she had no problem going on the regular toilet with help from Jace's Elmo seat.  Phew!  She had no accidents all day and EVEN went potty at the restaurant when we ate lunch.  I practically cried when she did it.  I just was not up for another fight about it. 

Potty training aside, we had a great day.  The kids got to play in the arcade, Jace was a great date and bought her rides on both the carousel and train.  Such a gentleman.  They both got treats after lunch, Megan had ice cream and Jace had a chocolate covered rice krispy treat.  Someone else I might add had a deep fried twinkie, two chocolate covered twinkies and a strawberry covered twinkie.  Sounds like a pregnant girl?  Nope, not me - Jace's Dad!  We all needed a walk down the promendade after that!

It was finally time for what Megan had been waiting for all day......flying her kite.  We got the kids changed and set up "camp" on the beach.  Megan and Jace loved flying their kites for a total of about 3 minutes and then it was up to us to hold the strings.  They had a great time playing in the sand and luckily Megan had Jace's mom and dad to get down in the sand to play with her.

I couldn't resist taking this picture.  The perils of no diaper!

We had a great time playing all day and can't wait to do it again.  Danielle has given her beach day story on her blog as well that you can click on at the right.

TRUE Independence Day!

I'm not sure what sparked it this time but Josh and I decided that we were going to try potty training Megan yet again and resolved to actually be victorious this time.  So on Monday, June 28, during Megan's naptime we decided the challenge was on.  She basically had a very rude awakening.  That evening was rough, she fought us tooth and nail.  Everyone tried to give us advice on how to do it, how they did it, etc. but they just have no idea what a stubborn headed girl we are dealing with.  She knew exactly what she was doing.  She would go potty at school for her teacher with no problem, no fuss but definitely not for us. 

On Tuesday morning, Josh went to work and Megan and I were on our own.  The day started out rough, with a fight and continued all day long.  I'm pretty sure if Megan could tell you, it was the worst day of her life with Mama.  I felt like a big meanie but I decided I wasn't going to put up with it anymore.  Not only is Megan stubborn with the potty chair, she likes to test us and see what she can get away with.  By the end of the day, Megan hadn't watch a bit of t.v., we had packed up all of the toys in her room into boxes and the house was cleaner than it has been in months.  She wasn't allowed to do anything but pee, poop, color and read.  One of the ways we have disciplined Megan is by taking toys away when she talks back or misbehaves.  It is the only thing that seems to get even (or only) an ounce of her attention.  So I just decided to take it to the extreme and tell her that if she wasn't going to behave and do what we were asking (potty train), she couldn't have her toys.  Well, this little girl ran with it and entertained herself by playing basketball with her toys, throwing them in the boxes.  A 3 year old's way of getting the last word I guess.

On Wednesday, Megan was scheduled for a make up day of school.  I decided she wasn't going to get the option of a diaper or pull up or anything.  She was wearing panties and that was it.  I loaded her back pack with extra panties and changes of clothes and took her to school.  I told her teacher, she's in panties and that's that!  She did have one accident at school but was good about going on the potty otherwise.  That night was her Promotion and she remained dry for that - thank goodness.  She even went potty on the potty chair so that we could go out to dinner that night too.

The next day Megan didn't have any accidents at school but was still not telling us when she needed to go.  We were still kind of having to force her to go.  And by Saturday, she was telling us that she was going to go and doing it all by herself.  I don't think she's had an accident since then!  Now she tells us, "I'm going to try and go potty."  She always does and it seems if we try to tell her to go, she doesn't.  She knows when she needs to go and when she doesn't and has been doing really well.

So July 4th was indeed an Independence Day for us!  Now I can't get enough of looking at her little bottom in panties and can't believe we were actually putting diapers on her.  She is such a big girl - it is about time! 

Megan is a Butterfly!

Megan had her preschool "promotion" on June 30.  She started going to school in February only 2 days a week.  It was pretty rough for the first month or two, she still cried when I dropped her off.  Then one day she told me she wasn't going to cry and since then it's been pretty easy.  She looks forward to going now and always talks about her little friends.  After seeing her at the promotion with all of them and how she interacts, she really seems to be a social butterfly as well as graduating from caterpillar to butterfly.  She was so proud of herself and she was so cute up there.  Aunt Stacy, Aunt Kathy and Uncle Glen were also there to watch her.  She seemed very comfortable up there performing for everyone.  They sang songs and did a couple of skits and then received their awards.  Megan even made the Honor Roll!!  :)

Joshua and Megan's Room ALMOST Finished

The room still needs some more organizing but it is at least functional at this point.  I did some major toy downsizing and I'm not sure what will be returning at this point but the room is more clean and uncluttered now.  Much less stressful to walk into!

Dinner with Friends

Pat, Billie, Jaxon and Gabriel came over for dinner a few weeks ago.  It was so nice outside that I got the idea (okay, craving) to roast s'mores in our fire pit for dessert.  I think they liked roasting the marshmallows more than eating them but that's okay.

Marshmallow/dirt face.

And THIS.......

....is how they ended up HERE.

Joshua's Baby Shower

Oh I am so behind.  Joshua's baby shower was on June 12th.  Thank to Tami's creativity, the house looked beautiful of course.  Joshua's bedding is sports themed (shocking, I know) and so therefore so was the shower.  There were baseballs everywhere which I loved of course, lots of yummy brunch foods and candy!  Unfortunately I wasn't very good about taking pictures of all of the guests that took time out of their days to help celebrate our new baby's pending arrival.  It really does mean a lot to me to have had all of those people there.  Thank you to everyone!