So It's Been Awhile...

I guess it's been awhile since my last post... Sorry about that, we've been busy around here. You'll see why in a minute.

Allow me to introduce you to Chloe's new favorite show. I'm talking about something that's surpassed Elmo here, people. Big stuff!

Blog Readers, these are the Bubble Guppies. Bubble Guppies, meet the Blog Readers.



They're made up of Molly, Gil, Goby, Deema, Oona, and Nonny. If you don't know who they are, I suggest you find out. Chloe loves them, and if Nick Jr. ever cancels it or stop making episodes, I think I might have to send a threatening email or something.
The only Bad thing is that the show is so new, that there isn't a ton of movies or literally 2000 episodes to choose from and record (only 15...). There aren't toys or stuffed animals or anything. So I may have to send a threatening email anyway. lol.


She went for her two year check up last week. She weighs almost 25 pounds and is just shy of 3 feet tall.
Dr. Beck gave us a prescription and a ton of tips for the severe eczema we've been battling (if you didn't know she had it, now you do). It's worked wonders! Thank the Lord!




As you can tell, she's been into dress up lately...






We went to World's of Fun for the first time (thanks to Dave and Marla, sorry Addie was sick :( ).


Chloe and Daddy waiting in line to go on the first ride!


Bird Nests!





She didn't like this one very much. I say it's because they didn't have a Jimmie Johnson car.


We were lucky to be there with good friends Markus and Veronica, and their cute, little girl, Vanna.

*See posts below for more updates on what we've been up to lately.

Potty Training Problems

I'm guessing if you've seen my facebook recently, you know that Kris and I have attempted potty training. I say attempted because it was a disaster... We tried the Dr. Phil method for 6 days, and it was incredibly painful for both Chloe and myself.

The first 4 days had only 3 successes. We would have to force her to sit on the potty, and she'd end up screaming her head off, until we let her get up. We tried bribery with ipods, cell phones, stickers, playing outside, and none of it worked.

Finally on the 5th day, right as I about to give up, we started to see a turn around. I changed my attitude, deciding to throw the positive, sweet talk out the window and just make her sit there. She could scream and cry all she wanted, but I was done with this having-an-"accident"-30-seconds-after-sitting-on-the-potty-forever business.

She went potty several times in the potty chair that day, and we had praises and potty parties coming out our ears, but she still didn't quite have it down enough for me to feel comfortable in taking her to church the next day, so I stayed home. Staying home brought me one of the worst, most stressful, and trying days as a mother in the two years and nine months I've been able to call myself one.

She screamed and thrashed and I had to practically wrestle her onto the potty. Her successes were over shadowed by her refusing to wash her hands or accept her reward. She was a brat, and half way into the day she just started refusing to go in the potty chair anymore.

We tried Pull Ups toward the end of the day, but unless she didn't have clothes on I couldn't tell if she had wet in them (except the one time she stopped what she was doing, looked down, and waited for the puddle to appear). So after an endless amount of screaming, crying, and puddles to clean up, I decided that now just wasn't her time. We plan to try again in a few months, so I'll update you on how it goes then.

This is Chloe, after her first successful trip to the potty, with her reward. She got to play with my iPod.

Chloe's Second Birthday!!!

For Chloe's second birthday we had an Elmo Party!! She has a love for Elmo, so mommy ran with it... Here's what we did:


She was dressed for the occasion, wearing her I heart Elmo shirt.


Invitations.


Our dining room turned Elmo's world.


Party favors!


Favor tags.


The very red cake...




Dorothy: The longest lasting gold fish. EVER. (3 weeks, people!)




Chloe and Daddy, with her present from us, she made at Build-A-Bear. Her name is Rosie.


Dressed up in one of the present's from Aunt Becca.


Her big present from Grandma and Grandpa. She was a little nervous at first, but she begs to go out there and "ting!" now.

Well, there you have it. That's what we've been up to. I hope you've enjoyed the posts today. Come again soon, though you probably won't see anything new for awhile. I'm worn out...