Going cold turkey!

Today marks day two of super successful potty training for my little guy! Yes we went cold turkey and no he did not ask to wear underwear. Hubby and I put underwear on him early Saturday morning and have not used one since! He does have an accident as he is waking up from a nap and upon waking up in the morning. It's a work in progress. We do ask him every 15 minutes if he needs to go. He is really good about letting us know that he needs to go #1 and #2 (on a side note who came up with saying #1 and #2??? Random but just a thought). We have managed one car ride yesterday and one car ride today with no accidents. Went to pick up meals and came right back. We are so proud of him. I know I wish that he got a hang of this earlier but hey we will take it. Originally I said he would be potty trained over the summer but he fought us every moment. As the months rolled by and we kept changing stinky diapers we said enough is enough and during the holiday break he will be potty trained. He is doing fantastic! 

Here are some things we are doing:

1. Praise him every time!! 

2. Give a little treat- a sticker or jelly bean for each successful "potty time"

3. Gentle reminders every 15 minutes some do it every 10 minutes but he is holding his bladder well recently. 

4. Encourage with cool underwear! Little

Boys love super hero underwear. I snagged a few packs on sale at Target. 

5. Give a little extra treat for going #2 on the toilet. 

6. Practice going on a full size toilet too. This is important because you won't be carrying a toddler toilet everywhere you go. 

7. Purchase a fold up seat to use while you are out and about. I purchased this one. 

  

Sometimes going cold turkey has it's advantages! I'm sure I will have more potty tips!! 

Not your traditional Christmas Eve

As we finished the final touches on our Christmas gifts this afternoon I could not help but cry a little. Today is Christmas Eve and it is our first time without my hubby. With his night schedule he has to work tonight and tomorrow night. Our Christmas is not the same. Oh the joys of working in the medical field. There are no days off! Thinking of the many wives and children that won't have their dad home because of work, deployment, illness, or even death. Yes I was sad and yes it may sound pathetic but I so wanted my hubby home. I wanted to wake up with him next to me, then get up together to see the joy of Christmas from our precious son. I will be setting out cookies for Santa with my little guy and it will be just the two of us. I will read the story of Jesus birth and tuck him in on my own. Yes I am crying even more now! 

I decided to take my son out to dinner. As I said good bye to my hubby so many different feelings were running through me. Thankful for his job, for him, for everything that he does for us but I was still upset. I wanted him home!!!! He left for work and Kaden was set to have dinner with me at Macaroni Grill. Kaden and I ordered our usual salad, chicken and pasta. Nothing huge and I was feeling a little content. The server came by and told me to pick out a dessert because someone was buying our dinner and dessert!!! I was shocked and of course I cried!!! Little did that person or family know what I was going through. No I was not struggling financially but emotionally I was a mess. Then I remembered the Reason for this Season! Jesus Christ who gave everything! A simple act of kindness like this was an eye opener that kindness is still out there and the love of Christ is shared through acts like this. Giving is better than receiving! Have a wonderful Christmas. It may not be exactly be the way you think it should be but reflecting the true reason is more than enough. HE is more than enough!! Merry Christmas to all

There are two weeks till Christmas?

Unfortunately there are only 5 shopping days till Christmas and if you are shopping online you better hurry! Here are a few things that I have been contemplating today!

1. Christmas arrived too soon (you are probably wondering what I mean). Thanksgiving was so late in November that it was Decemeber two days after Thanksgiving. As soon as it's December 1st I feel like I'm scrambling!

2. The Advent calendar was a great idea but my child only wants to eat the candy. Not a good idea. Next year I will think of something better. 

3. My decorations are not completely done. My manger is not up and I cannot find all the pieces to Kaden's fisher price nativity. Boo :( 

4. I still have wrapping to do! Sigh.... Even though I begin my Christmas shopping in the summer I don't have all the gifts wrapped. 

5. I was hoping to write a blog about tips for the Christmas season but I guess I need to buckle down and think through this.

6. Elf on the Shelf was a hit for the first 6 days but then my son figured out that the Elf was not going to tell Santa anything. So there goes that idea! Good behavior meant nothing. Maybe next year it will work. (Insert wishful thinking here!!!)

7. My home is still a mess! Literally! But I have learned to just let it be and enjoy watching Charlie Brown Christmas but most important is reading what Christmas is all about. It's about Jesus and that is what matters the most. 

8. My Christmas cards did not go out on December 1st and not even on December 15th BLAH! So if my Christmas card has not arrived at your home then one of two things happened- it's lost in the mail or it is in a snail mail transit. 

There you have it! My life has not been glamorous the past few weeks but I did manage to go on a getaway with my hubby. Post coming up soon! Please tell me that I am not alone. 

That little ELF!

I am new to Elf on the shelf. Last year after Christmas I scored a box set of Elf at Target. Originally this can cost $29.99 and I think I paid $15?! So I have the elf, now what? I searched on Pinterest for tons of fun ideas and finally today I came across a 25 day Elf on the shelf calendar. All of the hard work is done for me. All I need to do is purchase a few items and I am set. Since my little guy is two and a half I really think he will enjoy it. I can picture it now- Kaden waking up and finding that little elf! Woohoo I'm excited already!!!

Elfie arrived! He brought a little note & snow donuts!

Elfie gets into mischief! 

So many cute ideas for this little Elf. My son already knows that Elfie is watching but also the true meaning of Christmas is Jesus birth. Elfie can teach us that we should not be naughty but each boy and girl needs to have good behavior all year round!

Beautiful Advent Calendars

I searched and searched for our advent calendar online. I found my perfect winter wonderland advent calendar but I was hoping for a cheaper price, then I waited too long and they were sold out. So I was back to drawing board and was still able to find a personalized one.

Found this beauty at Pottery Barn Kids online (Purchased it hours before it sold out)

My hubby's creative grandma made this stunning piece of work

So now I have two advent calendars. One is filled and the other is not. I could not imagine finding 25 little trinkets to fill it with. Maybe next year I will be creative with what I can fill it with. For those of you that wonder when is the best time to purchase an advent calendar I would say the best time is October or early November. If you snooze then you lose! Nobody wants to be on the losing side. I have found cute advent ideas on Pinterest using paper bags and little boxes. What are some of your favorites?

Christmas decor for the little ones

Happy decorating!! Day after Thanksgiving and we are ready to decorate the home. This year I purchased a 4 foot tree for my son's room. Yes he is only two and a half but I thought it would be special to have some holiday cheer in his room.



Cute little tree and picked out the tree skirt from Michael's



Shatter proof ornaments, instead of hooks I used ribbon.

Kaden enjoyed putting up the ornaments! He kept saying "oh mommy it is Christmas!!! It is beautiful!" I love seeing the Christmas joy on his face.

(Jeans- Gap Skinnies, Shirt- Janie & Jack Christmas Collection and Sweater- Ralph Lauren)