Happy sounds

Training day

Some of you know that yesterday was going to be Holly's "potty-training day." Yes, I said was going to be. I'm sorry if that just gave away the ending.

We were totally ready. I read the books, bought the treats (felt a little like training a dog to sit and roll over), and let her pick out her new underwear. We talked the day up all week. Most importantly, I should add, Holly seemed ready. She HATES having a dirty diaper. So much that she won't sit down and insists on being changed immediately. If you walk toward her she puts her hand out and says in a panicked voice "Be careful! I have a poo-poo!" (I realize that might be TMI, but this is my language now). The time had come.

I was in no particular hurry to toilet train. Diapers are easy. You can drive for hours without stopping (remember the NASA astronaut?) and don't require sitting in the bathroom for 20 minutes at a time, keeping an active 2 year old entertained and still. But I had visions of Holly walking into kindergarten with diapers on, and that motivated me to capitalize on Holly's dirty diaper disdain.

The day started out well - success in the potty earned Holly 3 marshmallows! Then 15 minutes later, another success, another treat! And five minutes after that...her first accident. And 15 minutes after that, the second accident. Is anyone else amazed that a 2 year old can have such an active bladder? We went through the rest of the day putting her on the toilet literally every 20 minutes. Let me just say she went through 7 pairs of underwear.

Interestingly, Holly didn't seem to be bothered at all by the sopping wet mess she created every time she had an accident. She just went about her business, playing and walking from room to room (leaving a lovely trail to clean) until Matt or I discovered her. No shame, no disappointment, just kind of a "what of it?" attitude.

Needless to say, I put a diaper on her at 5 pm and called it a day. I contend that it was a good attempt. No tears, no battles of will, and lots of smiles when the treats appeared. I guess she's just not ready. And I'm OK with that. Because truthfully, I'm not quite ready to stop at every gas station restroom on our road trip this weekend.

And if you see Holly getting on the schoolbus in a couple of years with padded "diaper jeans," don't make fun.

Snow Day!

Yesterday was a fun day in Atlanta. We actually had snow! For several hours, big white flakes fell and fell from the sky. Holly got out in it for a few minutes, but it was really wet (we actually had thunder and lightning while it snowed), and it felt more like playing in cold rain than the snow. But we all loved it nonetheless. We sat inside by the fire and didn't do much all day but stare out the window.

It's pretty much all gone by now. So I'll just look forward to our 75 degree weekend coming up...