P Training and bribes

I wanted to post a blog this week since I felt like its been forever and a day that I have updated what's new in the Kalub home. This week felt busy and crazy enough to blog about, yet I didn't step a foot out of the house until today because.....Madison got potty trained!!!! I didn't take any photos, not appropriate, but wanted to share a little bit about the week without too much detail if you know what I mean.

Day 1- Monday- Potty Training- I didn't really know what to expect or even what I was doing for that matter. I was always dreading the potty training days, especially the last few months leading up to this week. A lot of Mom's I know at church seemed to just one day show up with their child potty trained and well, made it look fairly easy. I knew I wanted to do the cold turkey approach, much more efficient though not fun and.... The first day didn't go well and I was scrambling around the house with towels exhausted by nap time but I was determined to keep going because I heard it takes time for the child to realize they can have bladder control and to even get use to the idea of no diapers. I had a really great quiet time, which my heart needed, while Madison was napping, praying for patience, praying for endurance and praying Sean would get home quick to take over a little!

Day 2- Tuesday- Potty Training- Tuesday was a little more challenging. I got her dressed from her pajamas into her clothes to start the process again. I knew my area of weakness and sin and was ready to put into practice patience and gentleness. I truly needed to sacrifice my own best interest (as well as my floors) and encourage my daughter who was adjusting to a brand new way of life without a diaper! Getting a Godly perspective really helped in tackling the process and day. The day still was nuts and there were more accidents and tons of laundry but we got through it and we persevered! I was hopeful that we would turn the corner and start to get it. I decided to use M&M's and a sticker chart as a reward and it worked a few times but Madison has a strong will and I must say that training a strong will child to do something they don't want to do is a HUGE challenge. So, about mid afternoon I realized I had to kick the rewards up a notch. By the end of the day I had promised a new doll if her sticker chart was filled up on Friday as well as Disneyland! These were big motivators and she wanted to then sit on the potty and at least try which was all I was hoping for :)

Day 3-Wednesday- I woke up with mixed emotions as to what our day would hold. I knew I would either give up and try next month or we would get it and I was fine with either one but I'm a planner and I like to know what each day is going to hold which is something I always have to work on in my life. We were home bound since Sunday after church and I think Madison and I needed a change of scenery so we spent time in the backyard playing and making up crafts and making yummy cookies to decorate with icing. We both needed to just relax and enjoy the day. Around 8:30am Madison was successful and we called my Mom and Sean's mom in excitement. An hour later, more success! The success continued the entire day and we were both so happy! I was praising the Lord for a great day and the blessings of the hard work we put in.

Day 4- Things were still going well :) Another day at home practicing with hourly reminders :)

Today- We drove to Target to pick out a new doll and yes, came home dry! I was a little nervous going out in public with no diapers, it was kind of strange actually, I just told myself to take a deep breath, relax and not stress! I can't believe we are phasing out of the diaper stage, my little baby girl is growing up and I have to say, I love the diaper smell and the babyness and I WILL miss it but I'm excited for her and the preschool days coming up and how God will grow her more and more each day and change her more and more! I just had to share a Mommy moment and how wonderful this experience was even in the hard moments.

Grandparents babysitt

My parents visited this past weekend  to watch Madison while Sean and I headed to Santa Barbara for his birthday weekend! We had such a great time relaxing, enjoying the beautiful scenery and eating out at yummy restaurants, the weekend went by too fast! It was fun to surprise Sean and plan out a weekend I knew he would enjoy! Happy 35th Birthday my love!

For whatever reason I left without the camera to Santa Barbara so I only have a few photos on my phone from our little excursion :(

Here are a few photos of Madison snuggling up with Grandma along with photos of her first swim lesson last week! Madison had a great time with Grandma and Papa and was so sad to see them leave. Its so cute to hear her talk about them during her play time at home.

She has become more snuggly the older she gets which we love since she wasn't a huge snuggler when she was little :)

More snuggling with Mommy and Daddy

Dressed in her swim suit and ready to go! She was really excited about her first lesson and excited to be in her swim suit. Love the tummy :)

Yay! Getting into the 92 degree pool when it was cold and rainy out :)

Here she is getting adjusted to the water and her swim teacher Ms. Wendy

 

Loved the mermaids...more than getting her head wet!

All done and saying goodbye to her teachers!

(Madison is chowing down on her pie and ice cream in this photo)

Easter with cousins!

My sister and her family came to visit for Easter this past week.  We spent time at the beach and then headed down to San Diego to spend time at the resort my brother works at :)
On Easter Sunday we attended a wonderful Easter service at Compass Bible church which was held at the Bren center in Irvine. It was a wonderful turnout and I got to serve in the Kindergarten class during the 2nd service. Our family then had a big ham dinner and Brent drove up from San Diego that day to join us.

Easter Egg Hunt in our backyard :)

Marissa, Taylor and Madison..cute girls

Madison did an amazing job finding eggs this year, she found eggs we didn't think any of the girls would find so it was pretty comical and super cute....

like the yellow egg in the plastic light socket pictured below, not super obvious but really funny to watch her find a few minutes after the photo was taken :) Yes, we are proud parents, funny how you want your children to be successful in an egg hunt...I mean...its just an egg hunt! Marissa and Taylor had a chance to collect a little spending cash too inside the plastic eggs so that made it fun for them since they are older and need more incentive!

San Clemente Pier-The weather was beautiful on Easter afternoon. 

The Hutchison family

Cute Daddy daughter photo

Cousins!!

Come back soon cousins! We had a blast :)