Patience is the Key

Anybody who has ever tried to potty-train a toddler knows that patience is the key to success. Sometimes you have to persuade your child to sit on the toilet for 10-15 minutes, even if success is not a guarantee. In order to keep her sitting, we've used books, TV, even Youtube videos on the computer! Katie got a little taste of her own medicine when she tried to get her doll Wendy to "go on the toilet." For some reason, all of her cajoling couldn't persuade Wendy to go!! :)

Toddler, Love Thyself

After an already busy morning (more on that later), Katie and Traci visited their buddies Connor (21 months) and Maureen. As always, the kids loved chasing each other around the house. But the real fun began when we pulled out some of Connor's hats. The kids thought they looked so dapper in their stylish caps that they wouldn't stop looking at themselves in the mirror. Katie, our vain little fashionista, even proceeded to kiss the mirror over and over again. Should we be worried?

In other news, Katie toured her very first preschool this morning! Even though we don't plan on enrolling Katie until September 2010 (when she is 3), we are getting the tours over with this spring before we have another baby to tow around. (Unfortunately, admission applications are all due this winter, when we'll be smack-dab in newborn hell.) Traci didn't know what to expect dragging Katie through an entirely new environment, but the kiddo couldn't get enough of observing the older kids, the teachers, the colorful play areas, and (best of all) the playgrounds. She traded lots of smiles with everybody she saw and even stopped for awhile to watch a class sing a song. Traci was mighty impressed by the facilities, teachers, and the fact that they were incorporating lots of cool science things into the 3-year-old class...YAY! Well, at least we've seen one good potential place for Katie to grow.

Formerly Insurmountable

Yes, we are blessed with a community playground within a few hundred yards of our condo. However, in order to get to the playground, one must climb a set of LITERALLY 50 steep steps. We can't count how many times we have lugged Katie up and down those steps, sometimes several times a day. We never thought that we would get to the day when she would scale "the mountain" on her own. Well, she's a big girl now, and she can go up and down on her own at will. Phew...just in time for the aching backs of a pregnant woman and old man (hee!).

Determination

Potty training started in earnest this weekend. Step one, get Katie comfortable with sitting on her toilet. So far so good. She seems to like reading books for 5 minutes after her bath and doesn't seem to be frightened by her new throne. She definitely takes after her dad in this picture. Note the reading material in hand and the determined look. We'll spare everybody the comparison photos!

Fort McPlayground

This morning, Kate discovered the wonderful world of couch cushions. We don't have too much to work with (i.e., not like the forts that Mike used to make as a kid), but she had a blast setting up tunnels to crawl through and houses (or "playgrounds" according to Kate) for Big Bear to sit in.

Don't worry, it's a gorgeous day and we will get outside, eventually...

Calling all Health Professionals!

We think that Katie is trying to send out a subtle message to all health professionals and emergency personnel....SHE'S SO SICK OF BEING SICK!! It's been a pretty rough week, even for a house with a toddler, as Katie has simultaneous upper respiratory afflictions, pink eye, and diaper rash. The nights of incessant coughing and tissue wiping are getting old for all of us. Seriously, when does cold and flu season ever end? Hopefully, this will all be gone in time for our Easter vacation next week.

Fools and Showers

I came home from work a couple of hours early today and was treated to a 34th birthday celebration. It started with a fresh batch of cupcakes. I understand that Miss Katie was responsible for picking out the fluorescent purple frosting. Yikes. Hard to look at, but still tasted great. Then we headed out to finally take a look at one of D.C.'s newest memorials, the U.S. Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. As it was drizzling most of the afternoon, we pretty much had the place to ourselves. Very underated. We'll definitely go back in nicer conditions. Finally, Mom and Kate treated me to dinner at Lebanese Taverna. What can I say? My girls know how to treat a guy right. Thanks for all the birthday wishes, everyone!