Monday Fun...More Swimming!

Today, we decided to take a break from school and work for some family time! Chris kept the boys out of school to join some co-workers at Burdette Park (part of a work initiative for team-building). After working that morning, I was able to join them also and I am so glad I did. We swam all afternoon going between the kiddie pool, splash park, and lap pool. Connor loved to swim the laps and would every once in awhile pop up next to a float of teenage girls – he claimed it was a boat that got in the way, but I know what he was really doing.

After several hours at Burdette, it was time to get the kids out of the sun. Next stop was Coldstone for some delicious ice-cream. Brady was so tired from swimming that I am pretty sure he was falling asleep in mid-spooning. On the way home, I took a back road route and was rewarded two napping boys. That evening, we topped off the family time with pizza and dessert pizza from Papa Murphy’s. Yummy!

Monday afternoon of family time on a beautiful day….what could be better!

Swimming Fun!

We went to a graduation party today for Chris's cousins, Kent and Ellen. It was a pool party at their house. The boys were so excited to swim and show us what big boys they were. Connor has been taking swim lessons all summer with his school at the Y. Brady - well, he just thinks he is a full-fledged big boy now that he is potty-trained.

They swam all afternoon across the entire length of the pool, down the slide multiple times, and floating around on rafts. Connor did really good with keeping himself afloat and making his way around the pool (arm bands help, but you could tell he was working on the swim skills). As a side note, Brady got out of the pool at least 5 times to go potty. He would grab Mimi and have her escort him inside (thanks Mimi).

Oh yeah...they dressed themselves again today!

What happens at Gmas, stays at Gmas

...or should I say all bets are off at Grandma's house.

Friday night, we had plans to attend the Stimulate This concert with another couple, so we arranged for the boys to have a sleepover at Grandma's. Since my brother and his son, Ethan, also live there it becomes a slumber party with their cousin.

The boys always have fun and we always learn about the things they did...

• Watched Spongebob Square Pants and Back at the Barnyard (not available at the Seaton house anymore)
• Stayed up late
• Slept on the floor in sleeping bags
• Got desserts and chocolate milk with real chocolate syrup (as opposed to Ovaltine)

...and I am sure there are a few unnamed happenings that we don't know about. Thanks mom (and Matthew) for watching the boys! Chris and I had a blast at the concert and without the alarm, ended up sleeping until 9:30am (never would that happen with two boys in the house).

Bedtime Wanderer

Brady has a habit that he has been perfecting for a few weeks now...he wanders out of bed several times after we have already tucked him in for the night. He will just SHOW UP wherever you are...in the office, in the shower, etc. He ALWAYS wants something of course -- like more to drink, forgot to grab a bedtime toy, or needs to be re-tucked in. The latest excuse is that he has to go potty (and we can't deny him that right since we are in full-blown potty-training mode).

Last night, as we were tucking him in, we reminded him that he needed to stay in bed and not get up again. He quickly responded "If I need something, I will yell for Mommy but she won't hear me because she is in the shower. Then I will yell for Daddy, but ...(he may not hear me either)." Sure enough, Chris walks into the living room and there stands Brady. "I yelled for Mommy and she didn't come, then I yelled for Daddy, and that didn't work."

Tonight, it became a game. He got about at least 10 times or more...always with a big cheese on his face. He has figured out that if he smiles while committing the crime, he can usually get some forgiveness. One time, he got up to make sure that I had everything I needed for the shower. Then he proceeded to ask daddy if he had picked out his clothes for the next day.

GET IN BED BRADY!

HE DID IT...Potty Training Success

Brady finally has accomplished his goal...I think we are over the hurdle and are seeing light at the end of the tunnel. This last week was a very successful week at school that slowly carried over to home. By mid-week, we were letting him stay in underwear until bedtime and he would go once before bedtime (after coercion to try). Friday night, he jumped up during dinner announcing he needed to go. (We now know why he goes at school but still ends up with dirty clothes - he hasn't quite got the hang of making it on time.)

While I was gone for the weekend, Brady worked very hard on potty-training with Daddy and the grandparents. He announced when he needed to go and made every attempt to make it on time (for both). He was even playing in Papa's garage and managed to make it all the way in the house.

We are so proud of Brady! He earned several stickers on his Chuck E Cheese chart this week and earned one of the Cars toys. If he does good this week at school and home, he will keep earning more rewards (all the way until August 12th when he starts at Montessori). Keep up the good work Brady!

One Time...

Connor starts all his stories with One Time...

I would always add One Time at Band Camp (which totally annoyed him). He asked me one day why I always did that and I told him that it reminded me of a movie.

Now he starts all stories with One Time at Band Camp (he-he)...one day (when he is older) he will watch the movie and have an ah-ha moment.

Potty Training Bootcamp...Progress Journal

Day 0 - Parents are at wits end. Feel like we have tried everything...patience, ignoring, encouraging, reward charts, etc. Brady is very stubborn and strong-willed. The clock is ticking towards D-Day...Brady is supposed to start at Montessori in mid-August and has to be potty-trained to attend. We had to sign a tuition contract to hold his spot...so desperation is starting to set in. What to do....

Day 1 - Picked Brady up from school. Received note from teacher expressing her desperation...she said she has been working with Brady since March and he has proven to be very stubborn about potty-training. She wants to know if we have any tips or ideas to share. Ha - that's what I want to know! I then proceed directly to Target with Brady...it's time to put a visual, TANGIBLE reward in his view to motivate him more. We purchased about 5 CARS themed toys (see separate posting) that he will see everyday on his dresser waiting to be unpackaged once he is potty-trained. That evening, he sat on potty but only because he thought that would earn a reward.

Day 2 - Sent Brady to school loaded with underwear. Picked Brady up from school accompanied by a bag of wet underwear and shorts. He claimed he went potty...when I asked the teacher for confirmation, I received another note. This note said that Brady did great - never went potty, but hated being wet. First steps...baby steps! Again, that evening, he sat on potty but only because he thought that would earn a reward.

Day 3 - Sent Brady to school with a new fresh supply of underwear. When Mimi picked him up, she received a certificate..."Brady was caught being good - going on the potty". Apparently,he went on the potty once. That evening he had an accident in the mudroom...became very emotional and apologetic about it. Perhaps this could work...let's see how tomorrow goes.

Day 4 thru 8 - Don't know what to write other than FRUSTRATION, FRUSTRATION, FRUSTRATION. More stubborn behavior, unwillingness to even try, accidents on the floor, etc. He even rattles off the list of rewards he will receive...they are all on the table at this point!

Day 9 - Received a certificate and a great note home about Brady's progress at school. They can usually get him to go at least once a day...and today he managed to go without making a mess all over himself. Heard from a friend that they made a big celebration out of it at school. They have figured out a schedule now and put him in there at the associated times with the Lego table. Ha ha!

On the way home, all he talked about was all the rewards he is working towards. He also asked me if I was happy and if everyone else would be happy for him. We gave him a sticker for his chart for going at school and are crossing our fingers that he starts going at home soon. Tonight we received a phone call from Ms. Theriac, Ms. Brady's new teacher for the school year. She is very excited to meet Brady and has arranged a "meeting" next week to introduce him to her classroom (and hopefully inspire some motivation). Also, we are counting on Mimi's Potty Training Bootcamp off-site session this weekend....the odds are stacked against her at this point, but we have faith!

Water Fun!

After a yucky Saturday morning followed by a very humid, miserable trip to the Zoo (we were all hot and grouchy), we decided Sunday was a stay-at-home day. The boys were ready to break out the slip-n-slide that Brady got as a belated birthday present from our friends (Thank you Julie). We also got the water table out for them to play in. At one point, the neighbor boy asked for them to come over and play in his sprinkler. They all chickened out and then next thing I know, we have a new guest. He is the quietest boy I have ever met...that or my boys are very loud and vocal. He just motions or walks and he assumes you will get the hint. He did have to talk when he requested to go to the bathroom (he is actually potty-training right now - I think Chris wanted to trade kiddos with our neighbor).

Potty Training - New Motivation Tool

After receiving stubborn and defiant attitude towards all our tips and tricks from the potty-training toolkit, we have moved on to visual, TANGIBLE motivation....Brady gets to look at these toys everyday and will be rewarded (one day soon I hope)! We also picked up some Cars underwear, which Daddy has decided to make part of the reward also so that Lighting McQueen doesn't get dirty in the process. Brady helped pick the toys out and asked lots of questions about when he gets them....we'll see if my too-smart-for-his-own-good child gets it!

At one point, he asked if he will still get to play with his birthday gifts. Uh-Oh...is he trying to say that he doesn't care about the new items??? We'll see if this new tool will be the right motivation for Mr. Brady!

As I am writing this, Brady just ran into the bathroom saying he had to go potty.

Way to go Connor!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, we introduced reward charts to the boys. Brady's was for potty-training and Connor's was for getting dressed. While I have no update yet on the potty-training efforts, I can say that Connor finally achieved his goal.

He wasn't very diligent about earning his star in the beginning...lots of excuses about saving it for Saturday and Sunday, Daddy doesn't give him a chance, etc. In the last week, he changed his tune and whipped through the remaining stars. He earned his reward (and hopefully gained a new habit)...he gets to go to Chuck E Cheese with friends. He went to school on Monday and asked Jesse if he would like to go. He then turned to Jesse's mom (which I work with) and told her that "she would be getting a call".

The hard part was deciding when, because our weekend schedules were pretty full. We didn't want to put it off so long that it lost its effectiveness with Connor and lost the ability to motivate Brady (to work on his reward). Thursday night it is...Connor gets to go to Chuck E Cheese with two friends (the 2nd one invited is a surprise for him) and then he gets to go home and RUB it in to Brady.

Say it 3 times...or more!

Brady has started a new habit of saying a person's name three or more times when he is about to tell them or ask them something. We haven't really pointed it out to Brady, but we have talked amongst ourselves about how it is so annoying. After the first or second time, I usually respond with "Yes Brady", but he keeps going. It's like he is trying to think of what he wants to say so he fills in the gaps with the name. Apparently, Connor has also picked up on this annoying habit and called Brady out in the most amusing way. The conversation went like this at lunch today...

B: Mommy...Mommy...Mommy, I have to tell you something. Mommy...Mommy...did you know that I was playing trains upstairs earlier?

C: Brady...Brady..Brady...Brady

B: Stop it Connor, my name is just Brady. One time.

C: I was just doing what you were doing when you said Mommy...Mommy...Mommy.

I am still waiting for this new awareness of what he is doing to change the new habit.