Potty Training

Lauren thinks she is potty trained. The only problem is that she is missing one key element of potty training. She doesn't actually put the potty in the toilet. She has everything else perfected though. She tells us she needs to go, she pulls her pants up and down all by herself, she gets on and off the toilet, she sits on the toilet with no potty seat, she washes her hands. You'd think she was potty trained watching and listening to her, but we are still missing the key element... ACTUALLY GOING POTTY.

Toddler Responses

The other day my sister called to ask what size clothes all the kids wear. Of course, I wasn't home so Tim did the best he could to figure it out. He turned to ask Lauren what size she wears and she responded with "orange."

This morning, I picked Lauren up after getting her dressed to take her to the bathroom to do her hair and finish getting ready to go. I said, "When did you get so big?" She replied back, "On Halloween." I asked her if all the candy she ate for Halloween made her big and she said yes.

Then with a chuckle, Lauren says, "My tummy just tooted." (I think she was referring to the fact that her stomach was growling because it was hungry.)

I was also reminded in church yesterday of something Lauren said last Sunday. Her nursery lesson was about how each one of us is a "Child of God". The teacher went around the room and told each child that they were a "Child of God." Then she went around the room again to re-iterate this principle. When she got to Lauren, she ask her who she was. Lauren looked at her with a confused look and said, "Lauren". She didn't quite get that we wanted her to say, "I am a Child of God," but at least she knows her name. ;-)

Parent Teacher Conferences

Last week, I attended parent teacher conferences for the boys. Overall, they are both doing very well.

There is often something I learn in parent teacher conferences that I did not really know about my children. And of course, I hear a lot of what I may already know, but receive new insights.

For example, Colin is very detailed in his writing journal. His teacher encourages the children to use color and details in the picture they draw to go with the sentence they write. Colin uses colors and adds lots of details, everything from the clouds in the sky to the grass on the ground. He has even started putting fingers on his people and his teacher is now encouraging the kids to put clothes on the people. Colin's teacher has used his journal pictures as an example to the class. I knew Colin enjoyed coloring, but I did not realize Colin was so detailed in his pictures. Otherwise, academically Colin is doing great. He knew all his letters and the sounds they make and most of the numbers he was tested on, could count over 100 and knows how to rhyme. He enjoys school and is a good listener in class. However, there is a little girl that has become a good little friend and they have had to be separated from each other. This little girl goes to daycare with Colin and we take her to Karate on Friday's since her mom doesn't get home from work in time. She has come to really like our family and we like her, but she has told one of the daycare teachers that she loves Colin. I think Colin is oblivious to that fact though. We are keeping a close eye on them though. Colin wishes he could go to school everyday. This every other day schedule the school district started this year for kindergarten has not allowed him to be at school as much as he would like.

Can I just say, I really like Jordan's teacher. I believe being in a 2nd/3rd split class is a great opportunity for him. His teacher understand kids like him and really wants each child she teaches to succeed. She stands at the door every morning and greets each and every child as they come into the classroom. She is a very enthusiastic and an organized teacher with a good routine. All of which are qualities that Jordan needs in a teacher. Academically, Jordan is doing wonderful. He is reading at the 3rd grade level and often gets sent out to read in the hallway with his reading partner because they do so well together and they don't need the additional instruction that many other students need in the classroom. He is also one of the top students in his math group. However, we need to work on his writing. He has good spelling, excellent ideas, good punctuation and creativity, but it is all very hard to read what he has written. His teacher is working with him and I have already seen some slight improvements since the beginning of the year, but he has a ways to go. Jordan is somewhat impulsive, so he sometimes needs to be reminded what he should be doing or how he should be acting, but when he is actively engaged he listens well and participates appropriately. However, he still wants to be a class clown and needs to be reminded when it is not appropriate.

Good job Mommy

Over the past few weeks I have noticed Lauren telling me "good job Mommy" when she thinks I am doing something well. Like when I eat all the food on my plate, I hear, "good job mommy." Or when I brush my teeth, I hear, "good job mommy." Or when I put her hair in a pony tail or hold the ice on a boo-boo in just the right place, I hear "good job mommy." I even heard Lauren say, "good job grandma" the other evening when we were at grandma and grandpa's house. I just wish I could remember what grandma was doing because her approvals always take me a little by surprise. I never expected my 2 year old to be telling me "Good Job."

Halloween

Halloween night as Colin was going through some his candy, he held one piece up and asked me what the ball shaped candy was. I told him it was a Jaw Breaker. He looked a little confused. The next morning, while trying to decide what to take in his lunch, I overheard him ask Jordan how soon his jaw would pop back into place and if it would hurt. (He was referring to the jaw breaker again.) Needless to say, I piped in and explained that a jaw breaker would not break his jaw (well at least if he sucked on the candy).

While trick-or-treating a few people asked Lauren what she was. She would look at them and with a smile say, "Lauren." I don't think she totally understood why she was dressed up. However, she did understand that if she said trick-or-treat, she would get candy.