Just call me frustrated....

We are in the process of potty training Max. It is a frustrating process. It seems to be a never ending process. It's a process I am tired of having.

We actually started potty training last year right before I had Emma in the hopes that we might get him trained before Emma actually arrived. Hah. He was so not ready for it. So we waited. Then about 6 months ago we really dug our heels in and started. We bought him big boy underwear, even let him pick them out. He did really great for two days, not on single accident then he just didn't care anymore. He would sit in wet/dirty undies and not even tell us.

We reverted to pull-ups thinking maybe that was too big of a step. He did OK but would still not ever tell us he had to go. The last month or so I have been setting a timer and telling him when it goes off it's time to use the bathroom.....when the timer goes off he will go pee if I take him in there but won't voluntarily tell us he has to go. He has gone poop twice and has not done it again since then.

He will crawl away into a corner and I can tell he is getting ready to go, I get him all hyped up by laughing and playing and I  get him to go in the bathroom and he will sit on the toilet for about 20 seconds and then say " no poo-poo"....I try and bribe him to sit and that lasts for about 10 more seconds and he starts to scream so I let him down. Not 30 seconds later he will walk by me and I know he went....ugh. I am so frustrated. I feel like I have tried everything.

We have done stickers, fruit snacks (which he loves..), this past weekend we even went out and bought this big dragon and set it on top of the entertainment center and told him when he goes poop in the potty he can have it. The first day he cried because he could not have it, it's been three days and he could care less. What am I doing wrong. I am a complete loss....should I just continue to let him wear diapers and stop trying.

I am in desperate need of some Mom advice. HELP!

On a mission...

I am a pro. A pro at procrastinating. I always have these grand ideas of how I am going to stay organized and be able to find the things I want, finish the projects I am working as well as keeping my house clean. It never really seems to happen. Usually what happens is I start a project then halfway through it I start doing something else and before I know it I have three things I am working on and none of them get finished.  My house has become a bigger mess than what it was.

The room that usually gets hits the hardest is always our bedroom. It's the easiest place to stash things if we have are having people over...I can just close the door. It's usually the last room that I manage to get too when I am cleaning. I almost always can whip together the kitchen & living room, the kids rooms  - well they are kids room, I try not to stress to much about that. What is supposed to be our place of sanctuary somehow ends up being the laundry room, the place for spare mail/junk mail and who knows what else.

This morning I spent almost 2 hours trying to get our room organized and I am sad to say I am not quite done but I did make a serious dent. I DID  manage to throw a bunch of junk away and also got a bag together to donate to the Goodwill. On a side note I decided to count all my shoes - 71 to be exact. I think I may have a problem. Half of them are adorable heels that are not really suitable to chasing a 3-yr old and 1-yr old around....But at least the closest is now organized and I can see my clothes AND all 71 pairs of my shoes.

I am going to try and keep this streak going and get to the kids rooms later this week. Kind of scary as I am not sure what I will find nestled in Max's toy box OR Emma's closet but I am on a mission!

The Great Pumpkin....

It's Fall. It's official. Yesterday we went to our first Fall Festival of the year. Cute little place about a 1/2 hour from us.

Max and Karl went for a hayride and picked a couple of pumpkins while Emma and I took a stroll through a cute little gift shop. Then while Karl strolled around with Emma Max and I went through a fun corn maze....well it was fun until 1/2 way through Max no longer wanted to walk so I had to carry him on my shoulders. :)

I love fall. I am so in the mood it's ridiculous. Yesterday I was on a baking mission. I made Apple Cake AND Cinnamon-Sugar Apple Chips. Man did the house smell AMAZING! I love the smell of apples, pumpkins and cinnamon baking. It just smells warm and cozy. Looking forward to more fall activities AND fall food!