A Tale of Potty Training: Tirzah

So I'm not sure if you remember our story of potty training Gideon but I started out really enthusiastic at 18 months when he seemed ready and was being successful. Then he decided he wasn't very interested any more and we went back to diapers. It went back and forth for a long time and I eventually moved to trainer underwear. I tried everything--m&ms, stickers, prizes, etc. I was so discouraged. Around three, Gideon was just ready (like everyone told me to wait for) and then boom he was just potty trained. I couldn't believe it myself. All that to say when Tirzah came around I was not about to start early, no matter what people told me about girls training early and that she seemed ready I was not about to go through what I did last time. So I had two in diapers.

After Tirzah turned two she started being really interested in Gideon and anyone going potty. She would say she wanted to go potty and would want to sit on the potty and pretty much do nothing except gas. We would praise her for sitting on the potty but I didn't really pursue it.

Then I started hearing rumors that her cousin Judah was potty training and I thought, well I better start getting with the program and at least seeing if she is ready. I already had big girl underwear that I had been collecting so at first I started trying Tirzah in big girl underwear but not really remembering to tell her to go potty (we have a little potty and of course regular one) and putting her there all the time so she pretty much was wetting and frustrating me. I wasn't really ready.

One day I was getting the kids ready for baths and Tirzah said she needed to go potty so she climbed on the big potty and lo and behold she went peepee. I was totally surprised! She was surprised. So we bought some m&ms and I started to remind her to go potty but she was on the ball she would say she needed to go all the time and sometimes went and sometimes didn't. She did have accidents but she was pretty ready. So this was about a month ago. Within the last two weeks we switched to only underwear and guess what--she has figured out the peepee and goes all the time and in fact has even woken up dry the past few nights. She has figured out the poopoo somewhat, if we remind her when we see she is ready she does fine, otherwise she still has some accidents. So far it's going well...we'll see if she relapses like Gideon. She loves her m&ms and Gideon lucks out since I give him one if she goes as well. My little girl is getting to be a big girl!

What do toddlers do at Camp?

Joshua and I both grew up serving the Lord at summer Bible camps and we got to know each other before we were married at Bible camps so it seems quite natural to be helping out as a family at camps in the summer. This summer we are helping out at three different weeks and Joshua is teaching the Word of God at all three. They are each a different age group: 8-10, 11-14, 14+ My job is to be Mommy to our three little ones and to support Joshua with love, prayer and time to be able to study and prepare. So what do our three little ones do at camp for the week? I thought you might enjoy some pictures of what they do, the first week we were at camp they were blessed enough to have two cousins to play with.

 Tirzah and Judah spraying each other

 Helping in the kitchen by doing dishes (notice the common theme of water?)

 Drawing on the board

 Bath time

 Taking babies for a walk

 Going for a walk up the big hill

 Playing at Grandma's Cabin

 "Helping" Grandma in the Kitchen make desserts

 Eating together

 Taking care of baby

 Playing with Water Guns

 Water Fun!

Play Piano

June Swap

In June we had a swap of summer things and I sent a box that had a couple summer cooking magazines and coupons, a tablecloth, plates, straws and ice cream scoop to host a barbecue.

I got some really fun summery items in return with the theme of boats and water throughout. There was tea, note pads, cards (I already used them all), stamp, chocolate sunflower seeds, etc. It was fun!

Tea with Tirzah

A few weeks ago Joshua had some special one on one time with Gideon and I had some time with my girls. Chloe joined us for a little while then went off to take a nap. Meanwhile Tirzah and I had a tea party. Our very first actual tea party.It was quite fun, we set our a tablecloth outside then brought out our tea pots and tea cups. We had delicious chocolate cake that Aunt Amy had made for us.

Tirzah made sure her baby was set up in it's high chair and able to enjoy the tea as well. Our kitty cat "stood" up to the table and got a lick of cake at one point. It was a beautiful, warm and sunny morning and so quiet and nice for girl time.

Tea time is definitely something Joshua and I enjoy and our children already follow in our footsteps. It is nice to have a tea party that is all beautiful every once in a while. Tirzah has already started setting up her table with cups and plates now. I love my girls.

Fun with a Photo Frame

Go check out Kristin and sign up for a photo session, it would make an amazing gift for your spouse or family member. She does couples, babies, family, etc. Her website is here: http://www.windypoplarsphotography.com/ and her facebook is https://www.facebook.com/WindyPoplarsPhotography?ref=hl she is doing a special for the month of July of $50 for a session (she spends 1-2 hours with you) and afterwards the price will be going up...so definitely try to snag a time this month...she is really amazing and so fun to work with!

4.5 Year Anniversary Photo Shoot (Check this photographer out)

Can it really have been 4.5 years since Joshua and I got married? In some ways it seems like that long--take our three children that are growing so quickly and in some ways it seems not so long ago--take the fact that we still are in love and our love is stronger!

A friend of ours has started a photography service and we are here to show off her amazing work!!! Her name is Kristin and she was so much fun to work with. We met on the Blue Ridge Parkway for a photo shoot and we managed to get in quite a few pictures in between the rain showers.

She had great, creative ideas and she picked an amazing spot as there was so many different landscapes to choose from...a field of tall grass, short grass to sit on, a stone bridge, a road to walk on...so fun!!!

I love how she was able to get candid pictures and great poses. She really captured Joshua and I which makes me really happy!!! She was really laid back and fun!

She also brought some great props--the picture frame (which I will show tomorrow, so as not to overwhelm you with pictures), a nice picnic tablecloth to set on the wet ground so we could lay down a blanket and not get it wet...she also made sure we had bug spray (yay, no bug bites).

Joshua being the amazing man he is brought his hat which made for cute and fun pictures!

Kristin also suggested Joshua bring his guitar which was a great choice...she has a great list of props and tips on her site for preparing for the photo shoot, check them out!

Kristin played around a bunch with close ups and angles, love that I have different pictures to choose from!

This made for an amazing date night! We did this without the kids and were able to just have fun and be in love!

Love this picture (thanks to my sister for loaning me the skirt)!

We also brought a favorite book for a prop, this book is special as it was a gift Joshua gave me while we were just starting our relationship and it is a favorite read aloud between us!

Kristin's turn around time on the pictures was super fast, we had the shoot on Sunday and I had the pictures by Tuesday, and I got a great selection. They are all on her website and you can download them or order them. There are too many for me to put on here but I'll do some more tomorrow.

So go check out Kristin and sign up for a photo session, it would make an amazing gift for your spouse or family member. She does couples, babies, family, etc. Her website is here: http://www.windypoplarsphotography.com/ and her facebook is https://www.facebook.com/WindyPoplarsPhotography?ref=hl she is doing a special for the month of July of $50 for a session (she spends 1-2 hours with you) and afterwards the price will be going up...so definitely try to snag a time this month...she is really amazing and so fun to work with!

Afternoon Snapshots

Joshua captured some wonderful shots of the kids the other day. The first is my personal favorite!

My lovely sister Maddie came for a visit, we enjoyed catching up!