Ready for palm sunday!

More Animal Friends

We got to see a turtle crossing the street today, which David spotted and saved!  But guess who forgot to get a picture. Argh!
But when she was playing with caterpillars I remembered.

And when she was feeding Jackson.

She is really lobbying for a pet.  She wants a bird, so we are working on Daddy.  We told her maybe when she turns five and now if she meets someone who is five, she asks them if they have a bird.

New Dresses and Alexandra's "Friends"

Austin Rodeo 2012

Potty Success! Don't read unless you like potty training stories

Well, ever since Hannah showed interest in wearing Elmo panties about a week ago, we have been letting her wear them around the house until she has an accident then putting her into a diaper.  Then I got some pull ups because she was really not happy about wearing a diaper.  But she knows pull ups are diapers.
She has been going in the potty maybe once a day and having at least one accident a day. (Mostly diapers).
Challenges
The problem is when I say "If you pee pee in the potty you get candy"  She hears "blah blah candy" and throws a fit until she gets hysterical and eventually just fizzles out.
Also, she can go a long time without peeing and she loves her panties and is very anti-diaper.  This is also an occasion to throw a big loud fit no matter where we are (or how late we are going to be).
She hasn't been big on hanging out on the potty.  I figured we would just read books and sing songs on the potty until she goes.  But she doesn't want to wait.  And many times isn't in the mood to sit on the potty at all.  Also fine, except that she won't wear pull ups.  Did I mention she does NOT want to wear a diaper.
Set back
Saturday we had an incident where I let her wear panties out in public and she said potty.  So I picked her up and RAN to the bathroom.  She sat on the potty for about 5 seconds (nothing) and she said all done.  I tried singing and performing to entertain her but she was DONE being on the potty.  So I said the word... candy... well she was happy and I gave her some.  Then she wanted off the potty.  So I took the candy.  So she threw a FIT.  I told her just sit on the potty and I will give it back.  She did not accept my terms.
So I pulled up her panties and just took her outside the store so she could finish her fit.  (Not to mention I couldn't find my phone to call for backup) Finally she peed in her pants.  I think she really had to go and couldn't quite figure it out.  Poor baby she was much happier after that although I did put a pull up on her.
Success
So today she threw another fit.  She wanted the pull ups off and wanted panties but wouldn't sit on the potty.  It was a dry pull up so I knew she had to go.  Threw a fit when we wouldn't let her wear panties.  Wouldn't sit on the potty.  Wouldn't wear the pull ups.
I guess we finally got through to her cause after 30 minutes of throwing a fit, she grabbed my hand and lead me to the bathroom where she sat on the potty and instructed me to read to her.
She almost immediately PEED IN THE POTTY!
I screamed with excitement and she cried (literally) with relief (in my opinion).
She was much happier after that and got a tootsie pop.

And Hannah was happy and proud. And Mommy was so happy and proud of Hannah!

This Month in Photos

Am I a lucky lady or what?  Check out this fancy meal my foodie husband made us while I was napping!!!

 

2-17-12 My little angelic children coloring happily after breakfast.

I meant to post this on Mardi Gras.  Alexandra and I had fun making them and Hannah enjoyed helping eat them.  I got the recipe and idea from CatholicIcing.com.

 Hannah got a very nice gift card from Uncle Scott for build a bear.  Here she is making it.  She chose a sparkly dress for it, not unlike the one Alexandra chose for her bear... interesting coincidence.  Also some nice shoes. ;)

 

Computer time for Mommy means TV time for children.  Happy girls lounging.

We had a lovely play date with some friends. All 3 little girls were really into this Elmo lift the flaps book!  They were so cute!

Alexandra was great at the dentist.  She had a sticky spot that they are keeping an eye on but other than that, perfect!  The hygienist had a great trick with the air blower and a latex glove that was a big hit.  Hannah wouldn't get near him so her teeth didn't really get checked but she still got a prize!

The girls love it when Daddy uses the iPad for story time.  I think they were watching The Little Red Hen.  

We had a lovely visit with an old high school friend who just had a baby.  Xandra loved holding the baby!  Hannah liked him as long as Mommy didn't hold him.

 

Hannah had a blast this day- she almost had the play area to herself! I love having the SAHM schedule. 

In other news- Hannah is excited about wearing Elmo panties and sitting on the potty seat.  She may "go" in the potty once a day or so, but right now I am just trying to encourage sitting on the potty and the excitement about wearing big girl panties :)  Though when we go out it's mostly pull ups.  Our baby is growing up :)

Tomorrow is March 12.

My sister came into town to remember the 2nd Anniversary of Samantha's passing away.  Yesterday we bought a baby swing (she called the hospital to see what they could use and they suggested a swing) and we put a label that said "In Loving Memory of Samantha Lily Johnson".  It was nice to see the nurses and show them how big Hannah has gotten.  Then today we went to the cemetery.  It was quite a nice day.  It is a huge blessing that David has been able to stay home for a 5 day weekend during this time of remembrance for us.  Tomorrow we plan to have a relatively quiet family day (although we are thinking about going to the rodeo) and hopefully share happy memories of the wonderful 40 days we got to have Samantha here on earth with us.