what i might hopefully forget . . .

There are a bunch of little things that I don't want to forget and I posted a bunch of them a few weeks ago about our twins. But there are also a bunch of things that I would rather forget . . . at least right now I think that I would love to never remember them. Time has a way of erasing some things . . . like the details of recovering from a C-section or the immense lack of sleep and craziness of two preemies and you just remember the smiles and blessings of two babies instead. But lately these are the things that overwhelm me and I think I will never forget. But just in case God covers them up with so much joy when I look back, I want to document them to remind me that life is tough some days no matter what stage you are in and seemingly small things stack up and completely overwhelm me if I let them.


Such as . . .


Attempting to potty train two children in a few months time


Addyson appears to be ready to potty train. She knows all the rules. She tells me when she is done pottying in her diaper. She then asks me to "wipe her" and gets out the correct amount of wipes depending on exactly which type of business she has finished, gets out a blanket to lay on, picks out the diaper of her choice (Elmo and Cookie Monster are definitely favorites) and tries to help clean up. We have tried to bribe her to use the potty because I really thought that would work, but the girl thinks none of the things offered are worth her putting her potty in a toilet - no M&M's, no sparkly pink stickers, no money, no french fries, not even a special party or pull-ups or panties are enough for her.


We were at Wal-Mart the other day and one of their strategically placed toys caught her full attention . . .

and she said "That mine if I go poopy" and then gave a sly little giggle. I said, "You go in the toilet and we'll see" thinking "whatever - nothing has worked before and I doubt this will have any effect on my stubborn little two year old." That night while in the bathtub she looked at me and said "I go poopy in the toilet" so I quickly pulled her out of the tub and plopped her on the big toilet. And she proceeded to do some "poopy" in the toilet. I praised her and after the rest of her bath ran to share the exciting news with the boys!!! And she asked for her pink "truck". Just for the record I was not excited about purchasing such an extravagant bribe but as much as I have been fighting with this smart, ornery, stubborn daughter of mine I thought this might be worth avoiding much more misery for the both of us. So daddy made a quick trip to retrieve the pink bribe. The next morning she was ecstatic to see it sitting in the garage charging. We told her all she had to do was potty in the toilet for me and she was free to drive the pink jeep. So she told me numerous times throughout the day that she needed to potty - but nothing. And she decided not to go in her diaper either - lovely. That night we had a babysitter scheduled and plans to go out for the evening. She still had not pottied. So we left and she actually pottied for Miss Twila. She is magic apparently! But to this day still nothing for me or daddy. So no pink jeep. It sits poised and ready to greet her along with a smiling black lab Chloe every time the garage door is opened. But it apparently is now not enough either. Nothing is worth using the toilet I guess. My 2 year old is winning . . . and I don't much like it. So frustrating!!!!! And she is thoroughly annoyed at me. How absurd that I would want her to not wear diapers for the rest of her life!!! Oh, the thought of using that wicked toilet. What a horrible mama I am. So we will see which stubborn girl can hold out the longest, her or me. I am still hoping that someday she can wear her fancy big girl panties, but for now I am enduring and hoping to forget all this someday . . . but today it overwhelms me. She is headed to Grammy's tonight . . . she'll probably do it for her. What a determined little girl God gave me. If only I could help her decide that pottying is a good idea.


Oh, and Mr. Braden who has been practically potty trained since July still refuses to tell me that he has to go. I think I am the one that is potty trained. If I remember to take him, he is golden. Most of the time. If he is involved in something important like playing with animals or trucks he will not take time to tell me. So I try to catch the faces and gestures that mean he needs to go but if I miss it I get the joy of washing soiled undies in the toilet. Yuck!!!! Thank God that we had twins and not triplets because they would have all worn diapers forever most definitely. And we would be dirt poor.

Toddler attitudes . . . They have both also decided that it is a very good idea to be totally defiant, ornery, whiney, and just basically two going on three. Yikes!!! I am thouroughly exahausted after a day of correcting, disciplining, and loving. I'd like to forget how they are so tired of me telling them what to do. But I'm afraid that is going to continue for years to come.


Messy, messy, messiness . . . It sure seems pointless to clean but I guess it is necessary. I don't know how two little people can create such enormous messes. The dining room chairs are usually covered in little handprints hinting at the menu at the Vogt household. And the floor leaves a few appetizers for later more than once in a while. Amazing how food just falls right off the spoon and onto the floor. But someday I will miss the fingerprints on the chairs, and on my clothes, and on the mirrors, and windows, and, and, and. 


I think that's all I'd like to forget for right now. I'll think of more later when I have time to remember . . . or time to forget.


P.S. if anyone has ideas to potty train my little Addyson please, please share!!! I am stumped. Maybe I can come up with an awesome prize for the winning suggestion. It won't be a pink jeep power wheels . . . but that didn't seem to work for her so I doubt it will get you to think very hard either! But maybe you'll surprise me . . . or Addyson will.