Well, I have some exciting news to report both along the lines of potty training and kindergarten, but totally unrelated to one another and in reference to two different kids . .
First, Gordon, the potty training superstar!!! Since Gordon wasn't showing too much natural inclination toward using the ol' potty, we decided that we would have to use the same method as worked for Cameron. The cold turkey method. The "this-is-the-way-it-is-going-to-be" method. Obviously, there has to be some receptivity on the child's part, or you have a mess on your hands. We tried this about three months ago with Gordon, but he just proceeded to poop and pee all over the house and kick his potty seat across the room. Um, yuck. But, with Cameron gone for the whole weekend (another story for another blog) and three more months under Gordon's belt, we decided that it was time to go it again. So, on Friday morning I told Gordon that "Today's the day! You're not wearing diapers anymore!" He put all his diapers in a bag, we took the diapers out to the trash, and potty training began! (Of course, I retrieved the diapers when he wasn't looking since he still needs them while sleeping.) Well, hallelujah, praise the Lord, Gordon cooperated, and was basically trained within the day! He has only had a couple small accidents, and for the most part is taking complete responsibility for himself. Wahoo! We even went on an errand to Trader Joe's the very first day. He has been all over town in his big boy undies, and today at MOPS he let his teacher know when he had to use the potty. It's amazing (and probably a little perverse) how getting your child to successfully put his bodily waste in the toilet can make you feel like the most powerful woman in the world!
Here are some photos of Gordon throwing out his diapers, giving thumbs up after his accident-free trip to Trader Joe's, and waiting for his big brother (who, by the way, he still calls "Brother" and not Cameron) to come home from his weekend trip.
And now for Cameron . . . no, no pictures of his bare bottom, but we did register him for kindergarten next year at North Star Elementary School. We had a tour of the beautiful new school last week, and today we turned in all of his registration materials. Of course, he still has six months to wait before school begins, but he is pretty excited to be all signed up. Here are some photos taken today when we went to the school to register him. (On a sad note, however, the principal's son is one of the two snowboarders who went missing at the beginning of January in Colorado. They haven't found the two young men yet, and they are presumed dead . So, we are keeping the principal and her family in our prayers.)
