Ping Pong Discipline

Clara and Emma enjoyed talking to Grandma Frome this morning and telling her that they go on the potty and wear big girl underwear. And, they talked about being princesses. Clara walked around with "booty" aka Beauty and Emma held Cinderella. They had a whole conversation about how the princesses in the pictures on their gowns all wear strawberry lipstick like them (because they happen to have strawberry chapstick).

Clara and Emma loved being at school! At home, Mommy coiued a new term for an act she has engaged in for the last few months, but too often this past week.

Here's a few examples from today:
Clara was playing with playdoh and Emma grabbed some too. Emma pushed Clara and Clara tried to bite- two no nos in the Gornstein house. Mommy intervened (which Mommy tries not to do all the time because if she did, that would be a full time job in itself) and helf each of their hands and was leading them to the naughty corner, when one pushed the other again and vice a versa. So now, Mommy was dragging both to separate corners, each kid screaming and trying to get up with Mommy in the middle.

Emma ran off naked and after chasing her around, Mommy started to count and got as far as 1 when a little voice belonging to Clara followed with 2. Mommy then has to stop and tell Clara not to help count and that this is for Emma and then re group and get back to dealing with Emma.

Emma was on the potty and asked for her socks to be off so she could have "naked feet."

And, the ladies chatted after Mommy put them down. They both said they had to pee pee, so in Mommy went and got them both. Well, Clara sat on her Dora seat on Mommy and Daddy's potty and Emma sat on her pink bjorn potty, which she placed next to it. Emma looked at Mommy and smiled brightly, knowing she had managed to get Mommy to take her out of her crib. Clara talked about how she wanted to ride her bik tomorrow and wear her helmet. Then she got off topic and commented on Mommy and Emma's eyebrows. Emma actually did pee and then of course, they both had to inspect it and discuss who was flushing it. Mommy couldn't help but laught at this episode. After hugs and kisses through Clara's window (her name for the hole in the crib tent), both ladies are back in bed.

Wiggle, Wiggle, Wiggle

Clara puts on her dress and lifts her arm up as to present herself and says "princess Clara." Favorite moment was watching Clara in her purple gown with a crown on her head play with a truck.

Mommy was happy to hear that they told the sitter when they needed to go to the bathroom and went. Mommy spoke about The Rivertown Play Group to the Larchmont Newcomers' Club this morning. It was really fun!

Clara and Emma both enjoyed doing their naked dance- and they insisted on taking off their shirts (pants were off and Mommy was trying to get their pull up on for their nap). They both sing "wiggle, wiggle, wiggle," and put their hands on their hips and shake their little tushies. It is adorable.

After their nap, it was off to Kidville for a TRPG event. Clara and Emma loved bouncing around and climbing on all the equipment.

On the potty front, Mommy got a kick out of Clara watching Mommy go- Clara says "Mommy, you did it! Yay!" All while jumping up and down. Mommy was in the other room and heard Emma whining and by the time Mommy got there, Emma had pooped in her underwear. Emma's still having a hard time pooping and she doesn't always want to sit on the potty. However, anytime she has to pee, she does so on the potty. Emma's diet needs some more fiber, which she must know because she pulled over a chair, climbed up to the area where the breads are stored and grabbed the muffins, which Emma thinks are cupcakes, and opened them and started eating them.

Lastly, Mommy was a little excited to get a call from Grandma and Grandpa Frome, just as they arrived back from France to the US. Truthfully, Mommy picked the most awful time to potty train the kids since both Grandma and Grandpa Frome were overseas and so were Grandma and Grandpa Gornstein (just returned from Israel on Saturday).  Mommy can't wait to start talking to them again!!

They Got It, They Got It, They Really, Really Do

Like their friend Dora says, Clara and Emma have got it! Clara and Emma told their teachers that they had to go at school and they did!

Today, Clara picked up her potty and brought it from the kitchen to Mommy and Daddy's room, pulled down her pants and sat down and went pee pee.

Of course, they both had their first accidents in a week, but it was that it they just didn't get to the potty in time.

They both enjoyed playing dress up this afternoon. Clara found Daddy's socks and was in heaven pulling them all the way up her legs. They played princess and pranced around the house in their gowns. However, they had too many little arguments to mention and by the end of the day, Mommy probably yelled more than she'd like to admit and they both listened less than they should have...

Ballet Graduation!

Puddle Jumping

It was a rainy and dreary day and Mommy had to postpone an event she's been working on for a month until next weekend. After some dress up, the gang headed to the grocery store. Daddy had mentioned smething about rain boots, which Clara and Emma don't have, and so to improvise, they wore their winter boots. They were very excited about running in the rain, At home, everyone made cookies together.

Clara and Emma enjoyed a visit to Home Depot where Clara and Emma found a nice big puddle in th garden section and went jumping. Then it was off to Creative Playthings to check out swings, as in a few days, the neighbors are giving the Gornstein gang their swingset! Clara and Emma loved checking out all the slides and swings in the showroom. And, they both went to the ladies room. Since the haircut place was in the same shopping complex, Mommy and Daddy decided to take the ladies. Clara and Emma both got haircuts and their hair blown dry for the first time. They got princess ducks as their prize at the end and were very excited!

The afternoon featured more tantrums by Emma and more "mommying" by Clara. Emma would push Clara and Clara would say "bad girl Emma, go to naughty corner." Mommy and Daddy spent lots of time bouncing from telling Emma no to explaining to Clara that only Mommy and Daddy discipline Clara. Like ping pong disciplne.

Before bed, Emma didn't want to try going to the bathroom and then finally sat on the real potty with the Dora seat. Once she went, she announced "it wasn't that bad. I did it. I made a big deal."

Emma hit Mommy by accident with her blankie and then looked at Mommy, said "I'm sorry," and then both Clara and Emma said "we love you" and gave hugs to Mommy. Emma found a card from one of her games and gave it to Mommy and said "this card will make you feel better."

Mommy shouted "go to sleep." Daddy turned to Mommy and said "they can't hear you." No sooner did he finish his sentence did Clara say "okay, Mommy. Good night. We just talking." A good laugh was had by Mommy and Daddy.

On the potty training front, the ladies had another dry day! They went out at two different places and also told Mommy and Daddy that they had to go.

New Bikes!

Zoo With Daddy

Daddy took the day off and took all the Gornstein gals to the Bronx Zoo! It was lots of fun. Clara and Emma were so excited to be at the Zoo and ran around on the way to the Children's Zoo. They got to check out the bird's nest, and they both wanted to feed the animals at the petting zoo- so Mommy volunteered! They also got to go on the bug carousel and in the butterfly garden- they loved watching the butterflies fly around the room. Mommy had never been to these type of gardens before and it was really neat! Clara and Emma enjoyed lunch at the zoo and watching the peacocks and ducks wander around.Mommy was thrilled that they both went on the potty at the zoo and were able to go after lunch!

After their nap, the gang headed to Holbrook Cottage in Briarcliff for the TRPG event featuring Laura Nadler reading her book, Where Is Love, accompanied by a violinist. Clara and Emma both got to hold the violin and play it. The violinist was surprised that Clara and Emma both knew how to put the violin under their chin. They loved it!

For dinner, Daddy made burgers and they were yummy. Clara and Emma loved spreading the ketchup on their bread and putting their burgers in the bun.

And, great news, another dry day- 4th day in a row! Now one week after starting potty training, Clara and Emma seem to have go it. They can go in public places, say when the need to go and can pee and poop on the potty. Mommy and Daddy are learning to incorporate it in their lives and remembering to go to the potty all the time!