Potting Training Attempt #1

Hannah has been asking to use the toilet since she was about a year and a half but every time we put her on it she gets scared and jumps right off. Last she asked to use the toilet but this time when I put her on she stayed and even said she wasn't scared. All morning long she wouldn't put on her diaper and kept sitting on the toilet and even went pee pee. I was so excited and decided that this was the perfect chance to attempt potty training. We went to the store and bought a Sesame Street book about potty training, a pink step stool so she could climb up on the toilet and big girl undies (Hannah picked these out and she got princesses and sesame street ones).



Armed with our new tools, we went home. I read her the book where Elmo tells how to use the toilet and wash your hands afterwards. Hannah climbed on the toilet using her new pink stool about every ten minutes and peed and pooped. Despite this Hannah had several accidents. I soon realized that Hannah was only barely going in the toilet and then would get off and have an accident a few minutes later. I tried keeping her on the toilet longer by sitting with her and reading books but didn't have much success. She also could tell me when she had to go poop but not pee. So after several days and numerous accidents we decided to put potty training on hold. (though Hannah still doesn't want to wear her diaper)




Hannah actually fell in the toilet right as I was snapping this shot (perfect timing)!

I love my boots, my boots and me....

Hannah loves her boots. She has loved them from the first day we brought them home and it is a fight to get her to wear anything else. We finally got her a raincoat to go with her boots and this afternoon we let her go out in the rain and splash in puddles. She loved it!

Hannah 2nd Birthday Party

Valentine's Dinner

The Simmons have a wonderful Valentine's day tradition. Every year Cindy prepares a special dinner. Every one gets to pick their favorite food and Cindy makes or buys it. It is a secret and so no one knows what anyone else chose except Cindy. Then you can choose to share your food or eat it all yourself. Apparently, one year Brian's sister Trisha chose to eat all of her Mister T cereal and got sick so now everyone shares.

It was really a blessing to have Cindy and Doug home so we could carry on the tradition this year. The Youell's even came out to visit for a few days and so we had our dinner all together.


Cindy chose vegetables.

I chose pizza.

Trisha chose cranberry salad.

Brian chose clam chowder.

Scott chose Salisbury steak.

Doug chose lemon chicken.

Sara chose crab.

Chris chose cherry pie.

Shannon chose Yorkshire pudding.

Makhail chose pumpkin pie.

Visit from the Simmons

As most of you know Brian's parents, Doug and Cindy, are currently serving as office Missionaries in the Russia, Novosibirsk Misson and will be serving there until May 2010. (They have a wonderful blog if any of you would like to check it out simmonsinsiberia.blogspot.com) A couple of weeks ago we got a call that Doug had a hernia and needed surgery. They did not want to have the sugery in Russia and so decided to come home. They arrived on the 8th, Doug had sugery on the 12th and they were back on the plane on the 23rd. Doug's surgery went really well and we were glad for the excuse to see them.

Happy Valentine's Day

Check out our little sweetheart!

Happy Happy Birthday Hannah Dear

Hannah turned 2 today. I can't believe how big she has gotten and how quickly the last two years have gone by.

Good morning birthday girl. One of my friend's moms used to wake them up on their birthday by taking a picture of them. I thought that was a great idea and have decided to do the same thing. (it should be really fun when we hit the teenage years)

We didn't do too much because Hannah is having a big party next Saturday but we did have cake and opened some of her presents. It was especially nice because Brian's parents were able to be there and celebrate with us.

Hannah did pretty well blowing out her candles however she could only blow them out one at a time and between blowing them out she got distracted by the frosting.

Hannah especially like the huge Dora balloon that her grandparents got her. It plays Happy Birthday in both English and Spanish.