Kayla is potty trained!!!
She made it official (in my opinion) when she finally went poop in the potty today, all by herself. I found out by her calling out to me, "Mommy! I went poop in the potty!" I went to check on her and boy did the three of us have a party in the bathroom! Kourtney, Kayla and I started dancing and jumping and singing and cheering! "Yay Kayla! Yay Kayla! Yay Kayla!" was the chant. And the look on her face was precious. She seemed kind of surprised by our reaction, but soon got into the celebration and looked SO proud.
We started a week ago. on Friday December 24th (Yep Christmas Eve). We just bought some big girl training underwear, put it on her and told her it was time to go poop and pee in the potty. She had been peeing in the potty sometimes already and was waking up dry so I figured it was time (that and I'm sick of changing diapers. 4 years of it is enough for me!). And this week was really perfect because we had no pre school or tumbling class. So we could just stay at home and the bathroom would be close and easy to get to. Even when we went to Grandma Sue's for Christmas, there was plenty of access to a bathroom.
So, day one we had 4 accidents and a few successful potty breaks.
Day two, Christmas, we had 3 accidents, with a few successful potty breaks.
Day three, Sunday, (we had spent the night at Grandma Sue's), we stuck around Grandma's home and only had one accident.
On day four, Monday, there was one accident while at the store, but thankfully I had packed smart and brought a whole change of clothes. Later that day, was when Kayla had a poop blow out and started throwing up (I posted about this already). So I put a diaper on her for the first time in four days so she didn't have to worry about throwing up and going potty.
But the next day, Tuesday, was day five, and she was feeling MUCH better. She hadn't thrown up any more the previous night after she went to bed. She woke up and went right to the toilet, pulled down her diaper and went pee in the potty. I was so proud of her! And she had no accidents that day!
Day six. Wednesday. Doing good! No accidents, but she hadn't pooped since Monday so I was getting worried.
Day seven. Today. Thursday December 30th. She kept up her awesome dedication to going in the toilet. And just an hour ago, is when I heard those sweet words, "Mommy, I went poop in the potty!"
I know they don't really sound 'sweet', but to me they were. This is the point that I know, we don't need to use diapers any more!!! With the exception of Monday night, she has been in big girl training underwear this whole week! The main reason I'm writing about this experience, is because it didn't go this quick or this easy with Kourtney. Kourtney was ready, but took longer. And the reasons I think was because, 1) Kayla had Kourtney to watch. They often go into the bathroom together when Kourtney goes potty. 2) We had Kourtney in pull ups. But we had Kayla in training underwear. With plastic pants (that you use when swimming) over the underwear at night. You feel A LOT more when you have an accident in underwear, rather than a pull up.
I am SO proud of Kayla! And thanks to Kollin and Kourtney. Together we make a good team, and helped encourage Kayla in her potty training experience. I know that there is a possibility of an accident a bit later, but I KNOW that she CAN, so I'll just be prepared for the worst, and hope for the best! I love my family and I'm loving the fact that I can pack those diapers away!!
"YAY KAYLA! YAY KAYLA! YAY KAYLA!"
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
My girls are so sweet
I had an interesting experience tonight that I wanted to write down before I forget.
This past weekend has been a fantastic Christmas weekend and we got Kollin for almost all of it. Today was one of those wonderful days. We even went to the karate studio with Kollin to help set up for his classes tonight. We decided that I should take the car home and come back to pick him up because he had things he needed to go through before class started.
So the girls and I got in the car and headed home. They were both asleep before we got home though. So I moved the girls to the couch and the bean bag. Kourtney woke up right away, but Kayla stayed asleep for a couple hours. During that time, Kourtney and I played a few games, and played with some of her new Christmas toys. I went to check on Kayla, who was on the couch, and saw she was waking up. So I had her go sit on the toilet (we're on day three of potty training) and do her thing. ;) She told me that her tummy hurt and she was acting lethargic, and just wanted me to hold her. After a bit she wandered off and disappeared. I mean, I could not find her! I ended up finding her behind a chair, partially hidden under a blanket. She had pooped in her underwear. So we went into the bathroom and cleaned her off and I ended up hosing her off, and then starting a bath for her. Only a few minutes later, she threw up in the bathtub. I saw her throw up, then the look on her face was "What is that!?" (She's never thrown up before. A little bit, but never actually thrown up like this). I immediately got her out and helped her throw up more into the toilet. So needless to say she was scared because she didn't know what was going on, she was crying and puking and just having a rough time.
All the while, my Kourtney, my amazing, loving Kourtney was watching (and asking a few questions too). When I asked her for some help, she immediately got to it and was so helpful with anything that I asked for. She even surprised me by getting some leftover spaghetti out of the fridge, putting it in a bowl, into the microwave and prepared her own dinner for herself, all by herself (see, she CAN do those things!) !!!
After a few things had settled down and I had read a couple books to the girls, I gave Kourtney a hug (well, a half hug because Kayla was still in my lap) and told her "Thank you, for being so helpful to Mommy." She added "And to Kayla too." I smiled and said, "yes and to Kayla. We are so grateful for your help, and we love you."
A bit later, Kayla was asking for Kourtney, and just wanted to be with Kourtney. It made me SO happy, and my heart so warm (as a Mom, I now know what that means) to see them like this. Anyone who knows my girls, knows they have their good times and their bad times, just like any other sibling. But sometimes it seems like there are more bad times than good. But tonight was proof that they REALLY DO love each other and want to be there for each other.
It was a bit challenging to have to go pick up Kollin with Kayla the way she was (she threw up a couple more times in the car, poor girl), but she was a trooper through it all.
I'm so grateful for my wonderful girls! I'm so lucky to have the family I have!!
(BTW: For those of you who are wondering, I don't think its the flu. We think it is food related. Could be something else, but thats what we think it is. She lost A LOT of her lunch and afternoon snack. Just in case you wanted to know *smile*)
This past weekend has been a fantastic Christmas weekend and we got Kollin for almost all of it. Today was one of those wonderful days. We even went to the karate studio with Kollin to help set up for his classes tonight. We decided that I should take the car home and come back to pick him up because he had things he needed to go through before class started.
So the girls and I got in the car and headed home. They were both asleep before we got home though. So I moved the girls to the couch and the bean bag. Kourtney woke up right away, but Kayla stayed asleep for a couple hours. During that time, Kourtney and I played a few games, and played with some of her new Christmas toys. I went to check on Kayla, who was on the couch, and saw she was waking up. So I had her go sit on the toilet (we're on day three of potty training) and do her thing. ;) She told me that her tummy hurt and she was acting lethargic, and just wanted me to hold her. After a bit she wandered off and disappeared. I mean, I could not find her! I ended up finding her behind a chair, partially hidden under a blanket. She had pooped in her underwear. So we went into the bathroom and cleaned her off and I ended up hosing her off, and then starting a bath for her. Only a few minutes later, she threw up in the bathtub. I saw her throw up, then the look on her face was "What is that!?" (She's never thrown up before. A little bit, but never actually thrown up like this). I immediately got her out and helped her throw up more into the toilet. So needless to say she was scared because she didn't know what was going on, she was crying and puking and just having a rough time.
All the while, my Kourtney, my amazing, loving Kourtney was watching (and asking a few questions too). When I asked her for some help, she immediately got to it and was so helpful with anything that I asked for. She even surprised me by getting some leftover spaghetti out of the fridge, putting it in a bowl, into the microwave and prepared her own dinner for herself, all by herself (see, she CAN do those things!) !!!
After a few things had settled down and I had read a couple books to the girls, I gave Kourtney a hug (well, a half hug because Kayla was still in my lap) and told her "Thank you, for being so helpful to Mommy." She added "And to Kayla too." I smiled and said, "yes and to Kayla. We are so grateful for your help, and we love you."
A bit later, Kayla was asking for Kourtney, and just wanted to be with Kourtney. It made me SO happy, and my heart so warm (as a Mom, I now know what that means) to see them like this. Anyone who knows my girls, knows they have their good times and their bad times, just like any other sibling. But sometimes it seems like there are more bad times than good. But tonight was proof that they REALLY DO love each other and want to be there for each other.
It was a bit challenging to have to go pick up Kollin with Kayla the way she was (she threw up a couple more times in the car, poor girl), but she was a trooper through it all.
I'm so grateful for my wonderful girls! I'm so lucky to have the family I have!!
(BTW: For those of you who are wondering, I don't think its the flu. We think it is food related. Could be something else, but thats what we think it is. She lost A LOT of her lunch and afternoon snack. Just in case you wanted to know *smile*)
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Just some more quotes and stories from my cute little girls! I found some that I had lost, so it goes back to April.
April 28, 2010
Kourtney: "Mommy, I need you. I need you to give me another Popsicle."
June 26, 2010
Kourtney: "Maybe we can have a motorcycle party! And I can have a motorcycle, and you and Daddy and Kayla can have a motorcycle and we can ride them together!" (Sounds good to me...when you're older!)
July 9, 2010
Kollin: "These apples are very crunchy." Kourtney: "Yeah, so is cereal."
Kollin: "You girls want to go to a play place?" Kourtney: "Sure! Oh, Wait! I have a great idea...lets go to the store. Oh, I have a great idea...lets go to Costco!"
July 26, 2010
Tonight, Kourtney grasped the idea that Grandpa Karl is in heaven.
Kourtney: "Grandpa Karl is your Daddy? And he is in heaven?"
BreAn: "Yep"
Kourtney: "*GASP* Your Daddy is dead!?"
BreAn: "Yep. But he is in heaven, so its okay.
Kourtney: "Yeah, he is in heaven...where he belongs."
BreAn: "Ha, I guess so!"
(I really wasn't sure how to end the conversation at that time. It had an awkward ending. But she grasped the idea, and i saw it in her face. I love seeing her face when she grasps a new idea or understanding.)
August 12, 2010
Kourtney is singing "I need to go potty, but I don't need to wash my hands, wash my hands, washhh....myyyy....HANDS!!!"
September 20, 2010
Kayla just woke up from her nap. I have her some grapes and walked her out front where Kourtney met her with a big hug! It was so cute.
September 29, 2010
Kourtney: "Can I have my juice box now?
Mommy: "You mean your Capri Sun?"
Kourtney: "No, my juice box. See? C-A-P-R-I S-U-N, juice box!
LOL I couldn't say anything to contradict her. She was so proud of figuring it out on her own so I let it at that.
Kayla: "We are little people. We are people but we're little. But I'm getting bigger! Yeah, I'm getting bigger."
October 1, 2010
Kourtney: "I don't know where fairies fly to, but I think they fly to New York City."
Daddy asked Kayla where her piece of cheese went. Kayla: "Its lost". Kollin: "Kayla, where is it?" Kayla: "In my mouth!"
October 3, 2010
Kayla fell asleep on my lap. About an hour into her nap she lifted her head, looked around and started shining. I started to try and calm her down when she said, :"Where's the motorcycle? I wanna ride the motorcycle." After which she laid her head back down again and fell back asleep. Musta been an awesome dream.
October 5, 2010
Off to preschool she goes! Kourtney was really excited and got right in there! Next week, Thursday they're going on a field trip to the Dinosaur Museum, and she's REALLY excited about that!
April 28, 2010
Kourtney: "Mommy, I need you. I need you to give me another Popsicle."
June 26, 2010
Kourtney: "Maybe we can have a motorcycle party! And I can have a motorcycle, and you and Daddy and Kayla can have a motorcycle and we can ride them together!" (Sounds good to me...when you're older!)
July 9, 2010
Kollin: "These apples are very crunchy." Kourtney: "Yeah, so is cereal."
Kollin: "You girls want to go to a play place?" Kourtney: "Sure! Oh, Wait! I have a great idea...lets go to the store. Oh, I have a great idea...lets go to Costco!"
July 26, 2010
Tonight, Kourtney grasped the idea that Grandpa Karl is in heaven.
Kourtney: "Grandpa Karl is your Daddy? And he is in heaven?"
BreAn: "Yep"
Kourtney: "*GASP* Your Daddy is dead!?"
BreAn: "Yep. But he is in heaven, so its okay.
Kourtney: "Yeah, he is in heaven...where he belongs."
BreAn: "Ha, I guess so!"
(I really wasn't sure how to end the conversation at that time. It had an awkward ending. But she grasped the idea, and i saw it in her face. I love seeing her face when she grasps a new idea or understanding.)
August 12, 2010
Kourtney is singing "I need to go potty, but I don't need to wash my hands, wash my hands, washhh....myyyy....HANDS!!!"
September 20, 2010
Kayla just woke up from her nap. I have her some grapes and walked her out front where Kourtney met her with a big hug! It was so cute.
September 29, 2010
Kourtney: "Can I have my juice box now?
Mommy: "You mean your Capri Sun?"
Kourtney: "No, my juice box. See? C-A-P-R-I S-U-N, juice box!
LOL I couldn't say anything to contradict her. She was so proud of figuring it out on her own so I let it at that.
Kayla: "We are little people. We are people but we're little. But I'm getting bigger! Yeah, I'm getting bigger."
October 1, 2010
Kourtney: "I don't know where fairies fly to, but I think they fly to New York City."
Daddy asked Kayla where her piece of cheese went. Kayla: "Its lost". Kollin: "Kayla, where is it?" Kayla: "In my mouth!"
October 3, 2010
Kayla fell asleep on my lap. About an hour into her nap she lifted her head, looked around and started shining. I started to try and calm her down when she said, :"Where's the motorcycle? I wanna ride the motorcycle." After which she laid her head back down again and fell back asleep. Musta been an awesome dream.
October 5, 2010
Off to preschool she goes! Kourtney was really excited and got right in there! Next week, Thursday they're going on a field trip to the Dinosaur Museum, and she's REALLY excited about that!
Monday, September 6, 2010
We'll Miss You Grandpa!
We love you Grandpa!!
Thomas Ashby Stephenson
August 9, 1918 - September 4, 2010
August 9, 1918 - September 4, 2010
My Grandpa (my kids Grandpa Great) passed away on Saturday September 4th. He was 92 and lived a FULL life and was loved by MANY (if not all)! We will miss him, but I'm glad he is finally with his son, my Dad, again.
All the more reason to live a Christ filled life, so we can see him in heaven after this life.
Our Crazy Summer, Part Two
Are you ready for more??
We went to Wheeler Farm
Kayla, Kourtney, Kyden, Kiara. That is a lot of K names!
Kourtney got a new big girl bike!
Thanks to the generosity of neighbors, family and friends we were able to score this big girl bike that is purple with princesses on it, the training wheels and a new helmet so Kourtney can ride a like a big girl. She got on and had NO problem with riding it. She loves it!! She's a bit more cautious now, after falling off it, but she still loves her bike! This is the morning we gave it to her. We told her to get dressed because we had a surprise for her outside. While riding it, she kept calling out, "Thank you Mommy and Daddy!" *grin* Glad she loves it!
We went to parties, and birthday parties. These are some pics from the girls cousin, Makinlee's birthday party. Her Mom has skill with the camera.
We were fortunate enough to be able to go to Aspen Grove this year too! It was were the Avarell Family Reunion was held. Unfortunately, Kollin couldn't get work off, but the girls and I had a great time.
We got there and started off by eating dinner and then fishing.
The girls had never fished before, so Papa Kory was their teacher.
They loved it!
Just being silly.
Jesse, Makinlee, Kourtney and Kayla representing the Avarell Family Reunion!
Mommy (aka BreAn) climbed the rope course. This is the group of us that did it.
Papa Kory, Kurt, Ashley, BreAn
I was nervous but it was SO much fun!!
According to Karynn and Kelly, Kayla was cheering me on the whole way. "Thats my Mommy!", "Hi Mommy!", "Yay Mommy!"
Just hanging out *wink*
My first time rappelling too. Took some guts for me to get over, but it ended up being my favorite part. I wanted to go again just so I could rappel faster the next time.
I have a feeling that Kourtney is going to take after Daddy and be the class clown.
One night they had a Frontier night at the Cowboy Village. Lots of games and even a train ride!
It started getting cold, so Papa Kory kept the girls warm while I ran back and got our jackets. Thank you Papa Kory!!!
There was ice cream!
And lots of fun games. Kourtney and Makinlee were in the Trompers group (3-4 year olds). They had a great time. When they weren't with their group we were usually playing somewhere else.
What an awesome view! Thanks to everyone who took pictures and made it possible for us to go!!! We are so lucky!!!
Well, that about covers our summer. But, believe it or not, I've got some more pics I'll be posting in another post. That's what happens when I neglect the blog all summer. *smile*
Friday, September 3, 2010
Our Crazy Summer, Part One
Memorial Day, 2010 in Holden
Having some summer fun...
(Kayla and Kyden wanted to go touch Bridal Veil Falls, but the way they were going, it was a bit of a steep hike *wink*)
(I love this pic. Kourtney is being silly making a funny face, and Kayla is all attitude....'sup?)
(My little dare devil!)
(I love this pic! My 3 favorite people in the world!!)
(My practice attempt to learn how to make pillowcase dresses. I think I did fine, except the ribbon doesn't match. Oh well, it was fun)
The girls learned that they love to do finger paint!
(Look how proud Kourtney is! She did at least 4 different artworks that night, and would have kept going if Mommy hadn't have to stop her. I love it!)
(Kayla did a page then decided she wanted a cookie instead. *smile*)
(I was up late one night reading. Kourtney decided she wanted to be with Mommy. Look how CUTE she is!)
Baseball game in Cedar City!
WEST FEST 2010 BABY!
(Kollin was in Vegas qualifying for his 3rd Degree Black Belt (whoohoo! Go Kollin!), and I decided the girls and I needed to go do something fun too. So I took them to their first fair. We had a BLAST!! They especially loved the rides. Since I couldn't buy many tickets, they were bumbed about not being able to ride more.
(This was their favorite ride. I could never get them to look at the camera though! They were loving it!)
Kourtney and Kayla announced "We are Best Best Friends!"
The Girls made their own pizzas!
We went camping, of course!
Kollin became a 3rd Degree Black Belt!
(I don't have a lot of pics yet. I'll try to post more of his test)
Mr. Speakman and Mr. Avarell
Mr. Avarell and Mr. Ward
4th of July!
(...and I'm proud to be an American!...)
Uncle Ben (Ben is a U. S. Soldier!) entertaining the girls.
One of our neighbors. His family was out of town, but he was on call, so he hung out until he was called in.
Another neighbor. Her family wasn't doing fireworks, so we had her over too.
HUGE Morning Glories! So Fun!
We went to This Is The Place for Homeschooling day. It was super cheap!
(she looks happy, doesn't she *wink*)
The girls played in the water A LOT this summer.
We went and spent the night (camped out on Grandma and Grandpa's front lawn) in Holden on July 23rd...
Talk about posing for the camera!
She played with these rocks for hours!
Hanging out with some of the group.
...so that we could celebrate the 24th of July (a Utah holiday) in Holden.
Kayla would ask everyone for a ride. She went at least once with everyone.
Kourtney finally braved it! Whoohoo!
We celebrated it again on the 25th at home.
Kourtney and her funny faces. She likes to pose the camera, usually!
And thats were I'm going to stop for now. But I've got more! You just wait and see *wink*!
Having some summer fun...
(Kayla and Kyden wanted to go touch Bridal Veil Falls, but the way they were going, it was a bit of a steep hike *wink*)
(I love this pic. Kourtney is being silly making a funny face, and Kayla is all attitude....'sup?)
(My little dare devil!)
(I love this pic! My 3 favorite people in the world!!)
(My practice attempt to learn how to make pillowcase dresses. I think I did fine, except the ribbon doesn't match. Oh well, it was fun)
The girls learned that they love to do finger paint!
(Look how proud Kourtney is! She did at least 4 different artworks that night, and would have kept going if Mommy hadn't have to stop her. I love it!)
(Kayla did a page then decided she wanted a cookie instead. *smile*)
(I was up late one night reading. Kourtney decided she wanted to be with Mommy. Look how CUTE she is!)
Baseball game in Cedar City!
WEST FEST 2010 BABY!
(Kollin was in Vegas qualifying for his 3rd Degree Black Belt (whoohoo! Go Kollin!), and I decided the girls and I needed to go do something fun too. So I took them to their first fair. We had a BLAST!! They especially loved the rides. Since I couldn't buy many tickets, they were bumbed about not being able to ride more.
(This was their favorite ride. I could never get them to look at the camera though! They were loving it!)
Kourtney and Kayla announced "We are Best Best Friends!"
The Girls made their own pizzas!
We went camping, of course!
Kollin became a 3rd Degree Black Belt!
(I don't have a lot of pics yet. I'll try to post more of his test)
Mr. Speakman and Mr. Avarell
Mr. Avarell and Mr. Ward
4th of July!
(...and I'm proud to be an American!...)
Uncle Ben (Ben is a U. S. Soldier!) entertaining the girls.
One of our neighbors. His family was out of town, but he was on call, so he hung out until he was called in.
Another neighbor. Her family wasn't doing fireworks, so we had her over too.
HUGE Morning Glories! So Fun!
We went to This Is The Place for Homeschooling day. It was super cheap!
(she looks happy, doesn't she *wink*)
The girls played in the water A LOT this summer.
We went and spent the night (camped out on Grandma and Grandpa's front lawn) in Holden on July 23rd...
Talk about posing for the camera!
She played with these rocks for hours!
Hanging out with some of the group.
...so that we could celebrate the 24th of July (a Utah holiday) in Holden.
Kayla would ask everyone for a ride. She went at least once with everyone.
Kourtney finally braved it! Whoohoo!
We celebrated it again on the 25th at home.
Kourtney and her funny faces. She likes to pose the camera, usually!
And thats were I'm going to stop for now. But I've got more! You just wait and see *wink*!
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