No, no....yes, YES!

Two big developments in our house the past few days: A new word for E-Bear and potty-training successes for G-Bear!

Yesterday morning I greeted E-Bear in his room as I always do and asked him if he would like to get out of his crib. "NAH!" was the surprising reply. Hoping his response was just a coincidence, I repeated my question.

"NAH!" came the unmistakable reply again, this time with a vigorous head shake, back and forth, for emphasis. A big grin spread across E-Bear's face. I have a feeling this is going to be one of his new favorite words.

Not that I can really complain. At least NO was not his first word, nor his second, as it is for many kids. Plus, E-Bear has plenty of pleasant words already that he uses to charm his many admirers---he has been saying "Please" for several weeks already! But, I can already tell that adding NO to his lexicon is going to mean trouble for his mom. Better step up my creative parenting skills!

On a much more positive note, HOORAY for G-Bear, who has gone three days without having a potty accident! Anyone who has talked to me in the last several month knows how much of a struggle potty training has been for G-Bear and me. She has so many strengths, but using the potty chair has not been one of them. After weeks of cajoling, time outs, entire afternoons of sitting on the potty, and promises of treats or gifts from MoMo, G-Bear and I finally began making progress when I took away her pull-ups, put her in training pants and let her pick out a treat at the grocery store that she could have if she went pee pee or poopy in the potty and not on the floor. She chose Dum-Dum lollypops and Fruitloops. Well, after three more weeks and many rounds of lollypops for the whole family (G-Bear generously insists that EVERYONE, including E-bear, choose a lollypop from her lollypop jar every time she is successful on the potty), I really am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. She is now going several days between accidents, and last week she even woke me up several nights asking to go pee pee. Hallelujah.

I do not exaggerate when I say that potty training with G-Bear is the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my entire life--harder than anything in college, getting into medical school, passing my boards, ANYTHING. But, on the flip side, the closer we get to our goal together, the more I can see that helping G-Bear be potty trained will be one of the things I am most proud of accomplishing in my life. This experience has also helped me understand in a more personal way what it means for God to bear my struggles with me and for me when I am struggling with something (as I do frequently!). It has been so hard for me to be patient with G-Bear at times, but God is infinitely patient and loving toward me all the time. What an incredible example of great parenting!

Lord, help me to be more like you as I parent my precious little ones, whether the day brings many NO!'s or more YES!'s...

Happily Ever,

Queen B