Tough Love Part 2

I'm A Big Girl! (Finally!!!!)

These poses are all Ashlyn! I told her I wanted to take a photo of her in her big girl panties and these are a couple of the poses she struck for me. I guess she wanted to make sure I got her best side. =D

All in all, Operation Potty Training Ashlyn has gone better than I dared to hope. Early last week we made the switch to big girl panties, as instructed by Dr. Whitacker. I guess he knows a thing or two after all. I have to admit I was a little skeptical about this plan and a lot worried about a pee and poop covered house. The first couple of days we had about 2 accidents a day. She seemed to struggle more with pooping on the potty but I think that is because her doctor had her on a laxative for constipation. Then we had about 3 completely accident free days. On Sunday I was daring to believe that we might actually be out of the woods.

On Monday when I took the picture of her double jointed knees, I was thinking I would also point out her wearing her big girl panties and break the fantabulous news. Shortly after taking this picture I had to take Whitney to the doctor while Ashlyn stayed home with her doting Daddy. About 30 minutes later I get a hysterical call from Chris informing me that she had peed and pooped on the kitchen floor. He was NOT a happy camper. I have to admit I was secretly laughing inside and glad this happened on his watch. I wanted to point out that the kitchen floor was at least an ideal location for such a disaster, but I decided that would be unwise and held my tongue. About an hour later I answer my phone to the greeting of "WHEN WILL YOU BE HOME?!?!" This time she peed on the living room floor. He put her to bed. And took away her newest prized possessions, her stuffed dolphin and Minnie Mouse baby. He was pretty happy to be headed off to work that night where he knew he would not be expected to clean up of poop and pee. =D I'm not sure what got into her that day but I'm thinking she was wanting to push his buttons for some reason because she has been accident free since then. Either that or she has decided not to cross him again. Or most likely a combination of the two. But once again I'm daring to believe she is officially trained. After all hope springs eternal!

AoF Certiftied

If there was a platinum card for having your Articles of Faith down pat, Whitney would definitely be a card carrying member! For the past three years our Primary has challenged the kids to memorize and pass off their Articles of Faith. Every year Whitney passes them off a little quicker than the year before. =) But she is all about getting that "gold star" and has been blessed with a great memory.

Double Jointed

Check out Ashlyn's knees in this photo. Does that not look crazy and painful?!? Lucky girl is not only double jointed in her shoulders but also in her knees! It seems like the more relaxed she is the more pronounced the curve of her knees.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios was all about the shows! Ashlyn's favorites were Disney's Playhouse Live On Stage and Voyage of The Little Mermaid. When I asked Whitney and Gavin what they liked best at Hollywood Studios they said "leaving Playhouse Disney Live" was the best part. But really I think Gavin loved Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show and Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular best. And I think Whitney really enjoyed Fantasmic and High School Musical 3 best. Chris talked Whitney into riding Tower of Terror with him but then right before boarding she got cold feet. Then worked up her courage again and finally went with him on it later on that night. She was pleasantly surprised to fin she liked it! Way to go Whitney!

Meeting Mickey Mouse was also high on Ashlyn's best moments list.

Gavin had to have a picture of this Star Wars thing. Can't remember what its called and he's at school so I can't ask him.

Waiting in line to see Fantasmic.

The Magic Kingdom

We spent three days in the Magic Kingdom and I can honestly say we did and saw everything there was to see or do! I had a hard time narrowing down which photos to post for this one. Chris has more energy than about anyone I know and he likes things fast paced. No leisurely strolling along for us. He had a plan that crammed as much as possible into every hour. We arrived as the gates were opening and they were pushing us out at closing time and I am not exaggerating here. I was completely exhausted by the end of each day and towards the end of the trip I could see Gavin and Ashlyn were also showing signs of exhaustion. Anytime we stopped for more than 30 seconds Gavin would sit down where ever he happened to be. Whitney is a chip off the old Chris block and was the only one wasn't struggling to keep up with him.

Our second day in the Magic Kingdom probably had the highest highs and the lowest lows of the whole trip. Chris had been trying to score tickets to Cinderella's breakfast or lunch inside the castle ever since we decided to go but since it was such short notice they had been sold out for months. He kept calling and finally scored tickets when someone canceled last minute. You would have thought he'd won the lottery. Gavin and I had our own lunch and hung out at Tom Sawyer's Island which he loved. Gavin was picked from the audience to get one on one pirate lessons from Jack Sparrow himself which was quite the thrilling experience for him! Chris was working his magic on the cast members and managed to finagle this honor for him. He was once again quite pleased with himself. But the day ended with a broken camera lens, promptly followed by Ashlyn getting a bad case of the runs and needing a change of clothes. We had to find a camera store and spend $160.00 on a new lens. GRRRR!!!

Trying on all the silly hats is always a must at any theme park. =)

Ashlyn was scared of mean old Hook and Whitney didn't want to waste a page in her autograph book on Hook.

Chris was yet again pretty pleased with himself by keeping the kids from being able to turn this ball with only one hand. Even the cast member was impressed with this show of strengh and told him it wieghed 5,000 pounds. Just what he needed to hear.

AAAWWWW!!! Your the best Daddy ever!

Look a picture with me in it!

Gavin learning some moves from Jack.

The Happiest Place on Earth!

The girls visiting with Sleeping Beauty at their luncheon. Ashlyn looking just a little happy.

Riding the teacups is always a must!

I think meeting Ariel was Ashlyn's absolute favorite moment of the whole trip. She just wanted to stand there and stare at her.

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom was more of what I enjoy. It wasn't as crowded and had a more peaceful feel. We spent most of our time looking at animals and learning about them. Whitney and Gavin were in heaven at the Conservation Station where they got to get something of a behind the scenes look at the care the animals receive through the veterinary and nutrition teams.

Whitney and Gavin jammin' with the street musicians.

The kids were thrilled with their face painting! Whitney had a hard time deciding which kind of cat face she wanted but finally decided to go with the cheetah.

All day they kept asking me if their face paint was still intact. Whitney says Gavin is our resident reptile/amphibian expert while she is the mammal expert.

Our unicorn would've been happy to spend all day gazing at her reflection in the mirror.

We made Gavin drive Ashlyn around in this rickshaw all day. =D

Sea World

Props to Sea World for honoring the "Heroes" (military veterans). We got to go straight to the front of the ticket line and we all got in for free. Technically we should have paid for one child but they would not let us! They kept saying since Ashlyn was 2 she was free. Chris told them she was 3 but they just kept saying she was 2. Both kids also piped up that Ashlyn was indeed 3 but their protests fell on deaf ears. Before Shamu's Believe show began they asked all veterans and their families to stand. Chris was sitting in the splash zone with Wit and Gavin, while I was in the dry zone with Ashlyn. (I'm such a stick in the mud.) They put him and the kids up on the jumbo screen while they did their tribute. Chris had been charming the little old ladies sitting by me and they were so thrilled by this. They wanted me to rush down with Ashlyn and stand with them too. I was a great disappointment to them though, as I stayed where I was. Again, such a stick in the mud. We have been to Sea World a couple of times before and we were both a little disappointed because the shows weren't as educational and focused on the animals, more over the top theatrics but still a good time.

Feeding the Dolphins was probably the highlight of the day for everyone. Though Whitney's fear of birds distracted from the experience for her. Pesky seagulls kept trying to steal the fish. Both our other two kids were scared to feed the dolphins at this age but Ashlyn wasn't scared at all. She kept saying "come here little fella". Of course she has a special affinity for dolphins because they once saved her from sharks. She has developed quite the imagination and tells us a great "story" about how dolphins saved her from sharks.

Gavin picked out this fossilized shark tooth necklace for himself and it is now his prized possession! He was all about size, the bigger the better in his mind!

Chris and Ashlyn waiting for the Dolphin show to begin. Chris had just purchased Ashlyn this stuffed dolphin and she kept gloating over it. I had told her no but then she asked Dad and he said yes. She kept putting in my face saying, "Daddy says yes!" She had fun making her dolphin imitate what the real dolphins were doing.

You'll notice Whitney throwing the peace sign every time we took a photo of her by herself. Check out her manatee necklace she picked out. She is passionate about saving the manatees.

We ate most of our meals as sack lunches and at the condo but we decided to splurge this night and go to Carrabba's. One of my favorites! This was our sixth night of non-stop fun and Ashlyn was beat!!! She was swaying from side to side eating her pizza when Chris leaned her over onto his lap she was out like a light.

I Love to See the Temple!

While we were in the area we took advantage of our proximity to the the Orlando Temple and went for a little visit to the the grounds. These photos really don't do it justice though. The kids don't get to see temples very often in our neck of the woods and they could not get over how beautiful it was.

Back view.

No one could keep their eyes open due the dazzling white light reflecting off the temple in the morning sunlight.
Ashlyn's favorite part was the fountains. I could not get her away from them.

Tough Love

Ashlyn after her ordeal at the doctor's office.

Just when I thought I had this parenting thing kinda sorta figured out life throws you an Ashlyn. For Ashlyn's first two years of life she was an absolute Angel. She never cried, not even to eat. I actually had to set the alarm to wake up and feed her because she would sleep through the night even though she was not gaining weight. Now this came after Whitney (colic) and Gavin (spent the first 6 months of life doing nothing but breast feeding) who were both high need babies. Everyone would always comment on how sweet and peaceful she was.

She still has her sweet moments to be sure but starting around 2 we started to see a personality change and by the time she was three we were left to wonder what had happened to "our angel". To put it in a nutshell she is a Diva. She has become stubborn, demanding and wants what she wants. But she knows how to work it! She doesn't throw a tantrum she does this pitiful, slow face crumple where the crocodile tears slowly start to roll. All the while she somehow manages to convey that she is bravely trying to hold back but it is just too much for her. I can't tell you how many times strangers and salespeople have wanted to buy her candy, toys etc. when I have said no and this performance has begun. People always look at me like what a meanie or even say how can you resist her? Because I have a heart of stone people. Ha, ha.

She also loves, loves, loves her role as the "baby". She does not want to be a big girl she will tell you she is a baby. She even asks Chris to hold her like a baby. She is in no hurry to grow up. Which is a complete switch from my older two kids. This child has refused to potty train despite being completely capable. She shows all the signs of readiness. She even stays dry through the night. She does sporadically use the potty but not consistently and only when she wants to. We have tried everything. Basically she is just obstinate. We even had an incidence at Olive Garden about a month ago where she told me she needed to use the potty. I take her to the bathroom and go into the handicapped stall which also houses the baby changing station. She wants me to change her on the baby changing station, I tell her no she is not a baby and that is for babies. She completely looses it!!! I mean kicking, screaming meltdown looses it. I have to carry her out to the car.

Fast forward to yesterday's three year check up with her pediatrician. (Even though she turned 3 in October this was the earliest appointment they had!) First off she was not happy because she got a flu shot. 6 hours later she was still holding her thigh and saying oooww, my leg. Can we say drama queen? Anyways, the doctor comes in we start talking about the potty training issue and he says its time for some "tough love". He recommends just putting her in panties, no more pull ups for her. He then proceeds to give her a firm talk all about how she is a big girl not a baby, that she needs to pee and poop on the potty, no more diapers for her etc. She was NOT amused with him. She was giving him the crustiest of her crusty looks. I seriously wish I could have it on tape because she was just radiating hate for this man. Besides myself, I think it was the first time anyone had ever not fallen for her pitiful act. After this he tries to examine her. She acted like the boogie man himself was trying to touch her. Again, no screaming but clutching at me and acting terrified. Really she is quite the actress! He then gives me "doctors orders" to put her in some kind of program twice a week where she is away from Mom and is around kids her own age. More evil looks from Ashlyn after this verdict, as she hates kids her own age. Seriously HATES them. Every Sunday in Sunbeams is torture for her. When the other children touch her or try to interact with her she acts like she is being attacked by some horrible diseased animal. She spends most of her time sitting on the male teacher's lap. This was something I had been thinking I needed to do anyways so I was mostly amused and just a little defensive. =) I feel compelled (literally cannot stop myself) to let the doctor know that my other two children were potty trained well before this age and that it is her Dad her spoils her rotten.

When her Daddy comes home from work she immediately tells him all about the "mean, mean doctor" and her owie. Once we get back from our Disney World trip we will be switching to panties cold turkey. At this point I am willing to try anything. It truly makes me appreciate Whitney and Gavin who were so easy to potty train though! Wish us luck or preferably a miracle. =)