Potty training adventures

I have to admit I was terrified of potty training. I didn't know how I was going to do triplets. Poor Anna has been wanting to be potty trained for months, but I was too nervous about it! All the other triplet moms I talked to did it differently- one said she just waited until they were old enough and they did themselves (how that happens I don't know). Another said she just did each one at a time as they seemed to be ready. Another one tried to knock it out all at the same time.

I opted for getting it done all at once- who wants to go through all that trouble over and over! And I hoped that one doing it would motivate the others! I had three little potty chairs and I stuck them all in the kitchen/dining room and decided we would take the bare- bottomed approach and hang out in there all morning! We found all kinds of stuff to do- glueing, coloring, chalk, etc.. I set a timer and had them sit and try every 20 minutes or so and gave them tons of juice!

Natalie started the morning telling me "I can't do it potty training" "I don't like it potty training", but the minute the others girls went in their potties she was all about it, too!
They did so awesome and by the end of the first day were doing it on their own initiative!

Anna has been waiting forever for the chance to do it and she has not had a single accident. She just keeps saying she is "just like you mommy". There are two things that will motivate Anna to do anything- asking her for her help (she follows me all day around asking "Anna help you?") and telling her if she does something she will be "just like mommy". It is the sweetest thing.















Anna does not want to wear diapers at all- even for bedtime. Last night I put on her diaper and she snuck away, took it off, put it in the diaper genie and turned it over. Then she pulled her pants back up and tried to pretend she still had it on. I was laughing so hard (on the inside)!

Natalie took to it, too and didn't have any accidents after the first few days. Elisabeth has a few in the late afternoon when she is cranky and tired (she doesn't nap much anymore). Overall they did awesome! We had our first major outings last Friday and didn't have any incidents. We went to Target and they all had to go when we got there, but everyone was afraid of the public restroom (and I am, too). So we all went back out to the car and went in the potty chair I keep in the back. That seems to be working for now!

I have some cute potty training pictures, but I probably shouldn't blog them- here are some cute ones of the girls dressing up and playing instead :) What's a blog post without pictures?!?

E & Anna















Nat and Anna















Nat














Anna















We have a lot of fun! Come play with us anytime!

Sorry it has been too busy to blog lately!! The summer flew by so fast and we stayed very busy. We also were all pretty sick for a few weeks- a bout of fevers, pink eye (yuck!) and sore throats hit everyone except for Alex with the super-immune-system.

Overall we had a great summer. Alex got involved in karate and loved it, we went swimming several times a week at our neighbor's pool, and I just enjoyed having time with all my kids home! One of my close friends is an occupational therapist and volunteered to meet with Alex every week to help him some more with his motor skills and struggles with inattention, etc.. It was very helpful, but since my only time to work with Alex was when the girls went down for naps, I didn't have much time to myself this summer! But like all things it is just for a season, so Alex is back at school- and I have time to blog again :)

The girls are at such a fun age where they are just continuing to learn and say new things every day! They are learning their colors (Natalie knows them all, Elisabeth knows a few, Anna says everything is green). They are talking in 4-5 word sentences, which is just so amazing to me! You can actually just have conversations with them about things and they understand and respond. It is so fun! I am planning on trying the potty training again. Anna and Elisabeth have just been going off to the potty themselves lately. The other night Chris and I were cleaning up in the kitchen and they both went into the bathroom and went in their potties. So I know they are ready- it has just been a matter of me being ready! Wish me luck!

Here are a few clips of our summer:

Atlanta Zoo















The girls had such a great time seeing animals on their first trip to a real zoo (the Chattanooga Zoo just has things like birds and monkeys...)
































Alex showing off his karate moves




















We also got a new deck, which provided days of enterainment
for the girls:
















and for Alex and his friend James















Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Laura came for a visit and got to break in the new deck!































Poor E and her pink eye (and then poor mommy got it- in both eyes!)
















For Alex's birthday he wanted to go bowling with his neighborhood friends James and Zach













































A Nintendo DS was the big gift this year!















Alex's friend James lives across the street and has been such a blessing for us! He has a lot of patience for Alex- and has a major influence on Alex has learning to ride his bike, ride his scooter, etc...















We had visits from our California cousins Sophia and Jimmy















This picture is so funny because Anna is a super slow eater and often left at the table to finish- we ask her if she wants to get down but she just keeps saying she's still eating!















Checking out Rock City with Grammy and Pop

















































































Don't ask me what Alex is doing in this picture!

Well, here we go- off for another school year, and Alex is almost home on the bus.

Beach trip!

We went to St George Island with Chris' parents for a week. We had such a great time! We went to the beach and the pool almost every day and the kids had a blast. They all love to swim so much. We had got the girl some little floaties (Puddle Jumpers) that worked great for them to feel like they could swim by themselves, but at the same time be safe. They wanted to swim all the time- even in the ocean. They were not too interested in the sand- they just wanted to be in the water.





















Rocking with Grandmama and Grandpapa















Alex trying a raw oyster (he ate two!) Grandpapa always cooks fun stuff for us- we had blue crab, oysters, shrimp, fish... it was all delicious! And Alex ate it all!
















Fun at the beach





















































































































Elisabeth being mischievous (everyone else had gone down to the pool, but she was happy in her tent)
















Fun at the pool

Anna














Nat















E





























Anna always wanted to wear Alex and Grandpapa's goggles















Bike riding






























Taking a water break
















Grandmama and her girls































The ride home was not fun, however. We hit so much traffic coming into Atlanta our 8 hour trip took 12 hours- and the girls didn't nap. They finally fell asleep right at the end (9pm)! Don't want to do that again anytime soon.

Summer is here!

Here are a few pictures of what we have been up to lately:

On Memorial Day we decided to take the family up for a train ride! The girls are always so interested in the train by our house, and Alex always loves it. This is one of several things we want to do before the girls turn 3 and are no longer free :)
We had a great time!































We even got to see Thomas being worked on































Because we hold hands before dinner to pray and then say amen, the girls have started a new song where they all hold hands and sing "amen, amen" over and over. They have been doing this in the car... super cute!
















We tried the girls around the table in booster seats for the first time. It went well, but was a little scary realizing our family fills up the whole 6 person table! We were trying them out for our beach trip... we leave for St George Island with Chris' parents in two weeks. Can't wait!
















Went to Alex's awards at school. He had a great year! He has excelled at reading, and has caught up on everything else. We are so proud of him.














































We tried the girls out in pig tails now that their hair is longer... so cute! They don't keep them in for long, though.

















Walking the bridge in Chattanooga with Aubrey















Out for our favorite treat- Sweet Cece's frozen yogurt!
















Staying cool in the backyard















Next time we post will probably be beach pictures! Hope you have a great summer and stay cool!