Potty Trained At Last!

Potty Trained in 3... 14 Days!

When I first introduced the potty to Bean, she was about 20 months old. For those of you who don't want to do the math, she was just over 1 1/2 years old.  I had no intention of pushing the potty in her face, so to speak, but I wanted her to be familiar with it! Especially, Bean. She's weary of anything new. It's always "Scary." I thought maybe if I introduced it to her early, it would just be the normal. That part of potty training went extremely well! I always brought her in with me and had an "open door" policy when we didn't have visitors so she could watch me use the restroom. I let her look, flush, the whole shabang! 

A few months past and she was showing signs ( or I thought she was showing signs) of wanting to actually use the potty. So, we purchased her some Gerber Training Undies. Their basically underwear with a little extra padding. We had previously got a princess toilet seat that sat on the "Big girl potty". I really didn't want to go through teaching her to use a plastic toddler toilet only to have to teach her to use the real toilet eventually. 

Now Bean's always been a "dry sleeper". By which I mean she doesn't pee at night. Well not always, she stopped going at night after we stopped nursing around 16 months old. When I got her training undies, I naturally assumed once she peed once in them, she'd be grossed out and want to go use the toilet. 

It didn't work out that way. 

She actually peed every 20 minutes and went through all her undies in only an hour. 

I was sad ( didn't let her know it, of course!) but knew it was a sign of her not being ready. 

I've read a lot on potty training and I was so worried I had introduced it to early, and blah blah blah. 

Finally, a few weeks ago, she came up to me ( now that she's a big 2 year old) and told me she would like to use the potty. I thought " Hey, I'll give it another shot." I had read on this 3 day rule that you let your child run around bare bottom for 3 days straight and by the 4th day they'll be using the potty like a champ! 

So that's what we did. 

I cannot tell you how many times I stepped in human pee those 3 days. 

At one point she had even left an awesome poop skid mark on the carpet. 

BUT, on just the 2nd day, her Auntie Jo got her to pee on the potty. 

FINALLY. 

She hated peeing on herself. She'd pee and freak out and scream " MOOOOOM. POTTY POTTY TOILET!" Only for it to be to late. I admit by the 4th day she was using the potty but was still having accidents. I don't think she had the concept of holding it. 

At 14 days of NO diapers, she finally had a whole day of ZERO accidents ( this is including at night time) and telling me she had to go; and the rest is history! She's only had 2 accidents and both of them have been my fault really. 

I'm so happy to not be changing diapers anymore but honestly a bit sad. 

Bean's in big girl undies now, in a big girl bed, sleeps on her own like a big girl. 

She's a big girl now!  

Where has my baby gone?

2/23/2014

Hey friends,

I realize it's been some time since I've written a blog updating Elizabeth and myself.
I'm not entirely sure why I haven't been blogging much. I suppose I feel like they're better things to do with my time; but honestly I've just ended up sitting in front of the tube watching Bubble Guppies with the Bean.

SO. Instead of watching the television, I'm blogging now. :) Elizabeth is also taking her afternoon nap -- a great time to get my thoughts out to you folks.

ELIZABETH UPDATE:
Bean's now 2. If you want to really get technical, she's 26 month's old and will be 27 months on the 1st!

She is also 25 pounds of terrible, terrible 2's.

I should of been expecting it, right? Every parent says " Oh, just you wait till their 2!" I really thought she had started getting SO sassy at 1 1/2. I think I even blogged about it.
Her sass is nothing compared to the attitude she has now. I sometimes wonder if someone switched children with me when I wasn't looking.
I absolutely love her to death, don't get me wrong...I just don't like this new found sense of "everything is MINE!" attitude.

For example:
I'm not sure if you guys know this, but she was a HUGE milk fan. I called her a "milkoholic" for months! Now all she is insisting on drinking is "MY APPLE JUICE!" and " MY ICE WATER! MY ICE WATER!"
Most every sentence that comes out of her mouth begins with " My" and she also repeats herself at least twice.

"My apple juice! MY APPLE JUICE!"

Such a goof! 

I'm not really sure how to even go about all of this. It seems like it hit me in the face. I was really not expecting any of this from my sweet baby!

Of course, I've done some reading on it and it's completely normal. Nothing to be worried about. With her anyways.

I'm a different story.
I feel like my patience is wearing thin; and it was pretty non-existent to begin with!
I have to keep repeating to myself to take a few breaths and realize she's 2.

So.Hard.

Other than the fact she's turned into an actual 2 year old; she still has her adorable sweet side. She insists on giving kisses if she thinks or has made you upset in anyway. She gives loves/hugs to most anyone she is comfortable with, just because!

She can currently count to 13. Says her "pleases" and "thank-you's" with out me having to tell her. ( Most of the time!)

She is going to bed at her regular time ( 7:30PM) although we still have to be in the room with her until she falls asleep. We had a minor set back for a good month when Frank decided to try and "ferber" her again. I insisted it wouldn't work but ended up trying anyways. It was a disaster.

That's about it here in the Steele household. For now.

New Camera -- No, I'm not a professional.

Hey guys,

You may of noticed, I got a fancy new camera for Christmas!

I was super excited since I thought I wasn't going to be able to purchase one till tax return season.

It's a Canon Rebel T3i.

The one I wanted! 

So, Ive never took any kind of photography class in my life. I may in the future but for now I'm self-teaching. 

I wanted the camera for purely taking photos of my Elizabeth, cats and day to day life. 

It grinds my gears, so, so much when people call themselves photographers and actually charge people money for the pieces of crap they're taking; all because they have a fancy camera. 

Having an expensive camera does NOT make you a good photographer. 

I have a few friends who I can say are great at taking photos. They all have YEARS of experience and are great artists. I respect their work so much; and actually even the photos they take with their phones are amazing. 

It's so irritating to see someone buy a camera, take an emotionless photo, slap a "name" on it and try to sell it. You need to have a "special" eye. T.A.L.E.N.T.

That being said, I do admit having a nice camera does help in certain ways.

I'm a long ways away from being good at taking photos but I'm getting there and it's really fun! I love taking photos of my baby girl, her friends, the furry kids, my home (cause it's freaking beautiful here on Camano!) and my family. 

Here are some photos I've taken since I got it! :) Any tips are greatly appreciated!
Feel free to laugh at them, love, hate them, but please, don't steal them. Thanks. :)

I'ts a new year and I'm 25.

Here is a photo of me from yesterday. I had a blood vessel burst in my eye the weekend of my birthday. I don't know how it happened since I woke up with it like that. I googled it ( of course) and read what could cause them. Sneezing, puking, coughing to hard but I don't remember doing any of that. Apparently they can just happen. Now I get to explain this to everyone I come in contact with. Yaaaay. -_- 

I turned 25 on January 3rd. Half way to 50. Which means I'm getting old, guys. Which also means my body is hating me even more than it did previously. 

So, at risk of this sounding super cliche, on New Years, Frank and I decided we were going to try and eat healthier.  A week ago our diets included jellybeans, energy drinks and soda every single day. 

I'm not exaggerating.

Everyday. 

I'm not going to lie and say I was one of those ladies that love to eat. I've never been a huge eater. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love food, I've just never had the stomach to engorge myself in 5 tacos and a giant coke right before having dinner. 

I am, however, a great 'snacker'. 

I could snack all day on numerous things but it always ends up being something sweet and loaded with sugar.

I could swear having a huge sweet tooth is genetic as my mother snacks on a "few" sweets every day herself to "keep herself going." 

Anyways, the big one for me here is Energy drinks.

Addicted isn't even a strong enough word for how I feel about them. 

I started in high school and only quit while I was pregnant. ( Honestly, I'm not sure how I did it, but I did!) 

I don't even drink them for energy anymore. I drink them because I crave the sweet, cold, carbonated goodness that comes from them.

Today is day 3 of not having 1. As you can tell I'm not quite over them. 

Instead, I've been drinking 

water, juice, Snapples and this delicious smoothie drink my brother insisted I try called a "Bolthouse."  

So far I've been extremely fatigued, had a headache for going on 2 days now and just plain feel crappy. 

I'm hoping this won't last long. 

I'm really excited for the fact I'm actually committing to something to better myself.  Just for me. 

It's really hard though. 

Elizabeth: The Big Two Year Old!

12/28/2013

BEAN'S 2ND BIRTHDAY

Yesterday, my baby turned 2! I really feel like I just had her. It feels so odd to say I have a 2 year old. 

We celebrated at our new home here on Camano. My sister-in-law, Joana and Mother-in-law, Diane picked up some Bubble Guppies party supplies before Christmas so we were able to have a bit of a theme! 

I really wanted to do more for her but after Christmas, Frank and I are pretty broke.
We had some streamers from last year we hung up and had some balloons. After hanging the balloons Elizabeth decided she hated them. She refused to go into any room that had any and was pretty terrified of them! I was surprised as she points them out everywhere we go! I thought she'd enjoy them; apparently not. So we took them all down. 

I was scared of balloons as a child too...

I also made some Bubble Guppies invites on the computer and printed them off to send out. 

I'm a little irritated and may not do invites next year as NO ONE EVER RSVP'S! I ended up having to call/text anyone who I thought may come. Some family members ( who shall remain anonymous) didn't even bother to give me an answer and never showed.  I get it. It's a 2 year old birthday, probably not the most exciting thing in the world but a simple "No, I won't be coming" really helps. HINT HINT. 

Regardless of certain people not showing, Elizabeth really had a great time. Her BFF showed up, most of her family, she had ice cream cake and pizza. She enjoyed herself and that's what it was all about! 

Not to mention she got a ridiculous amount of presents.

Also, 90% of every thing she got this year had Hello Kitty on it. My home now looks like a shrine to the pink bowed kitty.

Bean's BFF, Ollie! 15 Months old. 

What do I do all day?

This is going to be a rant post, blogger friends. If you don't feel like hearing me whine then I suggest you stop reading. 

When did it become okay to criticize someone else's way of life? 

Especially if that person is PERFECTLY content and doing fine! More than fine! Great! 

I admit. I've done it. I've never had it happen to me until Elizabeth came into the picture. 

I feel awful for judging those particular people. 

In my eyes they weren't doing so great. 

Is that how we view stay-at-home mothers? Women who aren't doing so great?

Since I decided to stay home about a year and half ago, I have been constantly attacked ( okay, attacked not be the right word) about staying at home with my baby girl. Sigh, I guess she's more of a toddler now than a baby.  

I'm asked at least once a week,
"What do you do all day?"

Seriously? Are you serious? What DO I DO ALL DAY? 

I find that a lot of these people who ask this ignorant question, aren't parents. ( Although some of them are!)

I never know what do say to these people.
I'm a shy person.

 I usually keep my opinions to myself. 

I avoid confrontation.

I end up replying with,
"Well, I watch Elizabeth all day..." 

I urge anyone who feels differently to read this blog post I'm going to link. This man put it in better words than I could ever. I'm so happy he wrote it.

http://themattwalshblog.com/2013/10/09/youre-a-stay-at-home-mom-what-do-you-do-all-day/

For the record:
I did try going back to work after I had Elizabeth. 

It just didn't work out. She NEEDED me home! 

My husband makes enough money to where I could make a choice on whether to stay working or not.

She needed me home. End of story.

She now will be TWO in a couple weeks. 

She CAN count to 10! Yes! 

Sing the ABC's to 'D'.
She says her 'Pleases' and ' Thank-yous'. 

AND she is one of the most loving little girls I have ever met. 

Quite honestly, this is a lot better than some 3 years old's I've seen and known.

23 Months Old -- New Home Photoz!

Elizabeth on Thanksgiving 2013!

As of today, Elizabeth is 23 months old. In exactly a month she will be 2 whole years old. 

I know I previously stated I'd be blogging about her 22nd month, but I don't think it's going to happen. Fall just always seems to be a busy time of the year for me. I noticed I didn't blog much around this time last year either.
Anyways.
Bean can currently....
- Count to 10! Although a 7 and an 8 come after 10 for some reason, lol.
- Sing the ABC's to D. If I sing it then ask her what letter comes next, she usually know it.
- Draw circles!
- Knows the colors, Red, Blue and Yellow. 

- Her speech seems to grow every day too. It kind of creeps me out how well she can talk sometimes. She's really been into calling things "cute" lately but it comes out " tewt!" which I think is adorable.

Bean on Thanksgiving 2013. 

We still haven't improved much on the potty yet. I did purchase some training undies and let her wear them one day but she was literally peeing every 20 minutes - a sign she isn't ready so I think we will pick it back up once she turns 2. I do put her on the potty if she asks ( normally its so she can have a marshmallow) and so far she's peed twice on it. Both times I think were accidents but she still got TWO marshmallows for going like a big girl, lol. 

We've been in our new home for little over a month now and are still enjoying it SO much. They're some improvements we'd like to make eventually but that's for another day.

HERE ARE SOME PHOTOZ FOR YOU ALL WHO WANT TO SEE IT :)

I know I've already posted this one but it shows the outside well :) Behind the home are a cherry and apple tree.

Our property line isn't very well shown so our "lovely" neighbor ( an older man) has been making it very clear where it's at. He dug a small hole where the line is and is sure to mow every week stopping at the line. It actually made me laugh when I saw him digging the hole... we haven't been in the backyard once since we moved here as the weather just isn't great and there's so reason to go back there. I hope there won't be problems, I really hate confrontation.

THE MUD ROOM.
 This room was turquoise before we painted it. There's a closet on the left. We plan on removing the door to it, adding a bench etc on the inside so people can remove their shoes easy. Also would like to replace the tiling! We're thinking hardwood. Just thinking right now though. Soooooon! 

There's a carpeted spot on top there - I'm not sure what it's actually for, I'm assuming plants but eventually I'd like to put a little pathway leading to it for the kitties! I can put their scratching post up there, a bed, I'm so excited, lol. Our awesome Realtor, Machelle thought of the idea. My kinda lady!

THE LIVING ROOM

View from the living room

At the end of the corner is the beach :) 

THE DINING ROOM
FYI I know spider plants aren't supposed to be in direct light. Give me a break. 

We bought this fridge last year. The home came with a fridge as well so we put the one that came with the home downstairs for my brother to use!

THE KITCHEN
Yes, that's a dishwasher! The cabinets are a little too 80's for us. We're going to repaint them. Haven't decided on what color yet.I want to go white, Frank wants to go dark. Suggestions?

BEAN'S ROOM
Her room was originally blue so of course we had to paint it!

The apple tree is right outside her window which she points out EVERY day, lol. OH and did you notice? The windows? Double pane! No MOLD!!!

OUR BATHROOM
It was originally yellow. We're going to paint the cabinets with a dark wash. 

Framed photos of Bean in the bathtub!

THE MASTER BEDROOM
It came with 2 closets so we converted one into an "office/gaming" station. We plant to paint & add inset shelves to it!

Cherry tree is right outside the window :)

DOWNSTAIRS 

Most of the downstairs I have left to my  brother as he is renting our 3rd bedroom. Most of the stuff shown is his but I did have to put my craft table downstairs as I didn't have room upstairs for it. We also share the laundry room. :)

I didn't take a photo of the 3rd bedroom as it's Tyler's and thought it would be rude. XD 

Laundry room! Yes, NEW washer and dryer! Holla! 

The garage! It's a single car but works for us since we only have 1 car! We plan on redoing the floors, walls, shelving. Everything. :)