Caroline

I’ve heard tale of a mythical creature also known as The Child Who Potty Trains Herself.  Up until a couple of months ago, I was sure such a creature was only found in legends and folk stories.

Now it appears I have one living with me.

After the disaster also known as Trying to Potty Train Brooke, I was in no hurry to tackle potty training Caroline.  She was afraid to even sit on the potty, so I helplessly shrugged my shoulders, threw my hands in the air, and gave up without even trying.

Then a friend loaned us a kid potty.

Then Caroline sat on the potty.

Then Caroline went on the potty.

Then Caroline demanded she wear panties.

At all times.

Despite my best efforts to keep the kid in diapers, she wouldn’t relent.  So I put her in panties and gave her zero support.  And things have been going pretty well.  For reasons known only to Caroline, she usually only has accidents when we are at our house and she goes into the bathroom alone.  If someone goes in with her, she’s fine; if she’s alone, well, we may have a puddle to deal with.  I don’t get it.

In any case, it’s been glorious to have such a relatively easy potty training experience.  I can only hope the upcoming ordeal of Potty Training a Boy is similarly uneventful.

I think I’ll start crossing my fingers now.

I better finish documenting Caroline’s birthday.  She turned two!  However, when asked how old she is, she responds, “Be three!”  She’s just excited to grow up, I guess.

Caroline helped me make her cake by licking the beaters:

Here’s her Piggie and Gerald cake:

Have you heard of Piggie and Gerald?  Allow me to introduce you.  They are characters from books written by Mo Willems.  We highly recommend the books.  Brooke and Caroline love them.   In fact, one of the books has already had its fifteen minutes of fame right here on our blog.  Remember this post?

Another book spent some time cuddled up next to Caroline while she slept:

In short, go check these books out from the library, now! (That means you, Sarah…)

Back to our birthday celebration.  We went up to my parents’ house for Caroline’s birthday dinner.  Even though he’s now bald, Spencer was still adored by all:

I love this next picture.  It’s my Dad holding Spencer.  My Dad was getting Spencer to smile and giggle, and it was so cute so I captured the moment.  This picture can also serve as a cautionary tale.  If you skimp on your baby’s tummy time, he/she may develop a head as flat as my Dad’s.  I’m amused by the fact that the back of his head perfectly matches the line of the fridge meeting the cupboards.  Do you think they make head-reshaping helmets in my Dad’s size?  Christmas present idea!

We sat my sister’s baby next to Spencer for a size comparison (four months vs. one year).  Eli was fascinated with Spencer’s ear.

My Dad took a series of photos of Caroline opening her presents.  Someone remind me to introduce my Dad to the zoom feature on our camera:

On second thought, maybe we don’t want close-ups if Caroline’s going to be picking her nose in every shot!

Caroline was thrilled with her new bike!

Good manners get thrown out the window when cake is involved!

Happy birthday, my sweet girl!