Potty Training. Done and Done!

WARNING: LOTS OF PANTY PICTURES BELOW

I am a little slow getting around to posting about potty training, but I'm here now!  Last week, we put ourselves on "house arrest" and Charlotte started (and finished) the dreaded potty training!  

I was SO NOT looking forward to it.  I kept putting it off and then the holidays came.  I wanted do it when we had absolutely no plans.  We got back from Washington D.C. on Sunday, January 11 and went to Target the next day to do our routine weekly grocery shopping AND all of the essentials for this big girl!

We came home, washed her new panties and started her chart.  What I don't have photographed is the candy jar I bought at Goodwill that I filled with M&M's.  At first I was asking her every five minutes if she had to go, then I started setting the timer, but when it would go off she didn't have to go.  I would force her on the toilet and she would just scream.  The next day too, but by late Tuesday, she would tell me and willingly sit.  Each time she went on the toilet, she got a sticker on her chart and got to put a penny in the candy machine.  She loved it.  When she had an accident, she sat in her room for Time Out.  She did not love that!

As much time as I was around the house, you'd think I'd be motivated to do lots of house work.  But it was quite the opposite.  I got back into my workout routine and got lots of good snuggles.

Trying on my dresses my grandmother made me...and showing her panties!

Doing crafts with mom...pantless!

Thursday was her first full day of no accidents!  Every time she needed to go, she would tell me.  There was a preschool fair going on right across the street from our house, so I thought it would be a good first time out in public.  We were gone about 30 minutes and she did great!   Then later I thought, Target? Again, awesome!  That night when Josh came home, we went out for ice cream to celebrate! 

Saturday we were gone all day.  One of our stops was the mall and I was so excited to use the little toilet in the family bathroom.  I know, weird, but it was so fun! 

I was so worried about Sunday and nursery.  But much to my surprise, she walked in all by herself and didn't look back.  I brought a pull-up but another mom confirmed that she didn't need it.  In the beginning of our third meeting, the nursery leader came in to get me and told me Charlotte needed to use the bathroom.  I took her, she went and ran back into nursery yelling, "I'm back!!"  

I've been trying to encourage her to go by herself.  I want her to learn I'm not always going to be there to help.  I mean, right now I will, but in preschool I won't!  Today she had an accident.  When we are at home and she tells me she has to go, I tell her to go to the bathroom and go!  I think she just couldn't get her panties off in time.  I will take some of the blame.  Other than that, it's been perfect!  

I can't believe how much I dreaded this and that she was good within FOUR days!  What?! 

Oh my little girl is growing up.  It's bittersweet.  And I love not having to carry diapers and wipes in my purse!!  

A Celebration of Life

On January 3, Josh's uncle, John Lund, passed away of Glioblastoma (brain cancer). I was only able to meet him a few times but in just those meetings, I could feel what an amazing man he was. He was a great dad, husband, uncle...all of the above. The memory I will carry on with me of John is this: When we were all together in Nauavoo for the Whitmore family reunion this summer, I remember talking to John as we waited in line for the "Trail of Hope." I told him that we pray for him and think about him all the time. Without hesitation, he told me, "I pray for you guys too." I couldn't believe it. What a wonderful person, that in the midst of this awful illness, he was thinking about others. I seriously had to fight back the tears when he said that (as I am now typing this). I didn't want him to see me cry. This weekend, we had the opportunity to go to Washington D.C. For his funeral and celebrate a great life. I so wish I had known this man longer, but I am so privileged to have met him and have great interactions with him. 

The funeral was beautiful. His sister told great stories about the "California boy" she grew up with. His love for the water and having fun. It was neat to hear stories of his upbringing and his interactions with others. One of his friends spoke and talked of his love for their family, his service as a bishop, his patience in business meetings and so forth. His five daughters spoke, explaining the examples their dad set, the legacy he will leave behind and many stories of him. His passion for Animal Planet was a common theme :) These five girls were so strong and composed during their talks.  I enjoyed getting a glimpse into how their relationship was with their dad and all the fun, memorable times they had with him. 

After the funeral, we drove to the cemetery and following that, their ward had put together a luncheon for the family. During the luncheon, all of the cousins presented John's five daughters, Jordan, Melissa, Amanda, Brittany, and Courtney, with a picture of Christ hugging a little girl, which they had all signed the back, and had Georgetown Cupcakes delivered to their house. It was so sweet to see all these cousins join together to do something for these five girls. I appreciate the relationship ship the Whitmore cousins all have with each other. They are all so close. They are best friends. They pick upright where they left off the last time they see each other. And this showed me they have each other's back and support one another. Every single cousin was there (except Samantha, who is serving a mission) and every aunt and uncle was there from the Whitmore side. I was very impressed. 

Later that evening, we congregated at the Lund's home. We hung out, talked, and then the family presented the Lund's with a memory book that had several pictures and memory's throughout the years of John. It will be nice for Cindy and the girls to read through it and see how others remembered their dad. 

Cindy, Jordan, Dane, Adler, Melissa, Amanda, Brittany, and Courtney, we love you and are grateful we could come to commemorate your dad's life. He will always be remembered and missed but with the Gospel brings great hope and promise that we will all be reunited again. What a great family you are and we are so glad to have been part of this weekend.

WDW: Epcot

We went to Epcot on our final day in Florida. This park was just cool. I can't see kids getting too much into it, but I could have spent more than a day here...just eating all the food!! One thing to keep in mind (that we didn't know), plan all your Fast Passes before 11 am. All the different countries, don't open until 11:00. Our FP were for later in the afternoon so we walked around a lot just waiting. 

We finally did all of our Fast Passes and then went to France for lunch. Yum! We tried lots of good food while we were there. 

I loved walking through all the countries. With all the craziness going on over seas, it really doesn't motivate me to get on an airplane and go visit the real countries anytime soon. I know that Epcot probably doesn't do the real countries justice, but it will hold me over for a while ;)

We left this park around 6:30 pm and drove straight home. It really wasn't the most ideal park for little ones. There are only a handful of rides and a lot of "sight seeing." I could have spent much longer, just with Josh, but Charlotte was a bit bored. 

Overall, I'm really happy we got to go and I could finally see what it was all about. I realize it's not as convenient as Disneyland to get in and out of, but it's fun to go and spend all day and have the most magical experience! Thanks again Josh, for making my dreams come true! I look forward to more fun trips in our future! 

WDW: Hollywood Studios

We spent the first day of the year at Hollywood Studios. It was like the Hollywood Studios at California Adventure on steroids!

 We started the day with a Disney Junior character breakfast. Charlotte loves all the characters on Disney Junior, especially Doc McStuffins and Sophia the First. I thought it would be so fun to have her meet them! Boy, was I wrong!! She flipped out when they came to our table. But I was glad Sophia insisted on taking a picture with Josh! It was a breakfast buffet (my favorite)! We were so full, we didn't eat until dinner! 

Everything throughout the park had something to do with Frozen. Charlotte is just now joining the Frozen party so she was a little excited. We went to the Frozen sing-a-long and she loved it! I recommend this...if you have a Fast Pass.

One more attraction that Josh and I could have spent a while in was all about Walt Disney. It went through his life and how he created Mickey Mouse and eventually Disneyland. It's so sad to me that he passed away before WDW was finished. It's something you walk through and it may be a little boring for kids, but we sure liked it! 

We had a lot of fun here. The Magic Kingdom has the most rides. This park had a lot of shows and other entertainment. And strollers aren't allowed in any building so while Charlotte took a super long nap, we couldn't go into anything. Just something to keep in mind. Here are some more pictures from our day.