Potty Time

I've been working with Erika on potty training for the past couple weeks. She is doing surprisingly well....I am so proud of her! If her mom wasn't so inconsistent, she would probably be completely trained by now. Like I said, I am working on the potty training just as much as she is. Whenever she is in big girl panties, she won't pee in them. At all. I was pretty impressed that after only 3 or 4 times of peeing a little in her panties, she now knows that she has to run to the bathroom if she has to go. My inconsistency lies in the fact that we are busy and are out of the house a lot so I will put her in diapers before we leave. I am not brave enough yet to let her wear panties out of the house. And, I need to get over my dislike of public bathrooms!

Erika's potty training involves a treat (gummy bears) if she goes potty on the toilet. This morning, she ran to the bathroom yelling, "potty!" so I followed her in. She went potty, then started asking for her treat. I gave her the gummy bears and she happily ate them. About 90 seconds after she finished eating her treat, she ran back into the bathroom yelling, "potty!" I thought for sure she was joking, but sure enough, when I walked in, she was on the toilet going potty! So, is she smart enough to hold back on going to the bathroom to get extra treats? Probably. I explained to her that when we sit on the potty, we don't get up until we are all done, but I don't think much of what I said sank in...she was too busy telling me that she needed her treats. Silly girl!

Here are the token pictures of Erika on the potty.

*Be prepared for some fun potty related updates. Although I hope not to have experiences like my friend, Katrina, I did get to pick up poop off the floor for the first time this weekend. Good times.

Laurel is not potty training, but she is cute!

Look-a-like

They say that pets start to look like their owners after a while. Is that true in our case?




Laurel was trying to make friends with the bears on her swing.

Giggle

I don't know what it is about bath time that is so funny, but Laurel loves to laugh while bathing!

Erika received another toy to add to her ever expanding toy corner.

Easter Weekend

Happy Easter! The following post has an enormous amount of pictures...so if you don't want to see some cuties, you probably don't want to continue!

We started our weekend by making Easter cookies on Friday. Erika like to help, but she really likes to just eat the cookie dough. I enjoy having a little helper, but now I don't get to eat as much cookie dough as I used to...between Erika and I nibbling, we would never get any baked cookies!

Laurel doesn't help yet, but she does sit in her seat and provide cuteness!

Little cookie dough monster!

On Saturday, we went to an Easter egg hunt at a friend's home. Of course, I forgot my camera, but the pictures would have been of Erika picking up her eggs, putting them in her bucket, Aunt Sarah running after Erika to make sure she didn't go hug the geese that were in the lake (the friend's house is right on the lake), Erika and her friend, Jake, chasing after the dog, etc. etc.

But, I did get a picture of the cutest bunny ever!

Finally, Easter Sunday! This is Erika waking up on Easter morning. Her hair is indeed that wild when she wakes up.

Laurel can't believe the Easter bunny came to her house!

Erika was so happy that there was candy in her eggs! She ate 6 jelly beans and 3 marshmallows before we took the eggs away and insisted she eat breakfast. Which was a Pop-tart. I guess nutrition goes by the wayside on holidays!

The Easter haul.

Maybe I could have just one more jellybean...

After the egg hunt, Erika got even more treats from the Easter bunny.

Please note: Peeps are gross and should not be consumed. Except Erika really like marshmallows so she got some Peeps.

Laurel wishes Daddy would be faster opening her new rattle from the Easter bunny.

I love presents!

How cute is that?

Ok, whenever I ask Erika to smile, this is the result I get.

Versus her not smiling face.

One more picture of Laurel for good measure (and to make up for the fact that we have about 400 pictures of baby Erika and maybe 20 of baby Laurel!)

Hoping I forgot that she doesn't get any candy until after lunch.

I like that we are a variation of the 3 primary colors.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!

Sisters

I love watching Erika and Laurel together and imagining the future they will have as sisters. I am praying that they are as close as my sister and I are. I don't know what I would do without my sister's friendship and love...there is no other relationship like it! As of today, I predict the relationship will be a lot of Erika telling Laurel what to do, and Laurel following suit. Of course, in my mind, there will never be an argument between the two of them....check back with me in about 10 or so years and see how that prediction turned out! Right now, I'm going to enjoy the sweetness of their sisterhood.

Erika reading to Laurel.

Beautiful girls!

I'm pretty sure Laurel is going to be a finger/thumb sucker. She prefers her fingers much more than a pacifier.

A local private school, in cooperation with their church, graciously opens their gym every Tuesday morning for Newberg's Indoor Play Park. It is fantastic to have somewhere for Erika to run and play, even when it is raining outside. Yesterday, the Easter Bunny came to take pictures with the kids and give them a special Easter treat. Erika like waving at the Bunny, but was not interested in going near her. So, she played on the toys instead while all the other kids were swarming the Easter Bunny.

Sleeping Buddies

Erika and Laurel had their first slumber party today. Laurel loved being in Erika's bed, but Erika only liked having a bed partner for a short time.

I love how Laurel is smiling at Erika in this picture....and Erika is ready for Laurel to leave!

If you can't tell, Erika is combining her two favorite songs "ABC's" and "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star". Laurel doesn't care what the song is, just that someone is singing to her!

Birthday Wishes

I had a wonderful birthday yesterday! Sarah and I (and Laurel) spent the day shopping, having lunch, and enjoying not having a toddler shopping with us. My mom watched Erika for me, which was a wonderful birthday treat! We had a delicious cake that Matt made (he makes me one every year!) and Erika showed off her singing voice by singing Happy Birthday to me. Then, after the girls were ready for bed, Matt and I enjoyed some adult time and had dinner with our friends Casey and Allyson at Benihanas. I got dressed up in my new shirt, put on makeup, and didn't feel like a mommy for a night! It was great!