All About the Alfords

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Potty Training #2!

Well, we are well underway potty training Colson! Over the Thanksgiving holiday we started the first day potty training. We had a very rigid way to train him that is often used to train Autistic children. He is not Autistic but we knew that the concrete method would work well with him because he is not as verbal as some at this age. He is doing great!!!! By day 3, he was staying dry over night and at nap time on a consistent basis! I was so impressed with that. By the end of the week, he was having one accident a day if that. We were very proud of his progress. We take him to the potty or ask to prompt him and he goes.
UNFORTUNATELY, when we returned to school the next Monday his teachers were very shocked and very skeptical about us bringing him in underwear to school. They were not taking him regularly because he wasn't telling them. I provided a schedule and his incentive. I have been asked by multiple people there when Colson turns three....I don't understand that question. It shouldn't matter....we should be supported in our decision to progress with this basic life skill. I was told by the director so many excuses of why he must come to school in pull ups. I am not a parent that trains with pull ups....I feel they are an expensive diaper! I was floored that I was being told this and very upset. I was told that he is just not ready! For those of you who know me, you know I did not take that well...we are his parents and we will determine when he is ready! I compromised and said for the 3 weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas I would send him in pull ups. When I emailed this week to tell her we will return in underwear after the break, I was met with some more rude statements....maybe their facility is not a match for our son and our expectations....he needs to be able to take off his own soiled clothes, clean himself up, and put on new clothes by himself....there is not enough staff in there....I WAS SO MAD!!!!!!!! I walked down to the assistant principal of the school and she is taking care of things. There is another teacher being added to the class after Christmas! I am hoping this will help him at school! He does SO WELL at home, church, family and friends houses and even the MALL! GO COLSON!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stepping on my soapbox: Why should it matter to you when I choose to potty train??? I could care less when others choose to, so I have a hard time understanding why people are skeptical and so opinionated about this! If I am willing to put in the work to potty train "earlier" than some, it should not affect anyone else...I just don't get it!
WE ARE SO PROUD OF OUR LITTLE MAN! I will defend him and stick up for him all that is necessary!
GO COLSON!

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Birthday Party for Jesus!

This morning at church we had our annual Birthday Party for Jesus! It was filled with storytime, songs, crafts, games, cake, pics with Santa, and talking about the true reason for Christmas. Brooklyn is really understanding that it is not all about Santa this year but that it is special because of Jesus! The kids love this day at church and it is so well done!

Brooklyn dressed and ready for the day!

Story time with Bro. Mike

Thought the Baird girls looked so cute all matching!

Singing Christmas carols!

Brooklyn loves "Jingle Bells"...her fave is "Angels We Have Heard on High"

Her reaction with Santa came in!

Singing Happy Birthday to Jesus!

Waiting for her icing...she doesn't eat the cake part!

Enjoy!

Craft time!

No tears with Santa!

Craft time with Bro. Robert and Will

LoLo and Levi!

Colson ate every last drop!

Toby came to check on Colson

Hiking and GeoCaching at Huntsville State Park

Last weekend we had a blast hiking and geocaching in Huntsville State Park with the whole family and the Kuhns. We had a great time with great weather...we started off with a picnic lunch and playing on the playgrounds and then went to the trails. I got to carry baby Sawyer the first half of the hike to add to the work out and then had to give him up to his Daddy. The kids loved "finding treasures" in our first attempt to geocache....it was so neat to see them so excited to see what "treasures" were left in the boxes. We found two different treasures and the kids have decided that next time we need to bring a treasure to add to the box. We had gorgeous weather! Jill took all of the pictures because our camera is still in the shop!

Little Man Sawyer...such a cutie!

My two boys!

Colson had to wear Brooklyn's glasses...he lost his!

They were looking to see if they could find fish!

This was our second "treasure" to find!

Best buds!

They were so proud of the geo caching efforts!

Everett was tired at the end of the hike!

This was the first treasure found...B was so scared to walk through the thorn bushes!

Brooklyn was sad because she thought we would walk off without one of the kids!

Friday, November 26, 2010

Thanksgiving 2010

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year! It was filled with family, food, and fun!!!! Curt and I have spent the week cleaning out the house...getting rid of old toys, cleaning out drawers, putting up Christmas decor inside and outside, and every present is wrapped and ready! Can ya believe it?! We received a free beautiful piano from one of my mom's sorority sisters who was giving it away. We know we want Brooklyn to eventually take lessons so we were thrilled to receive it! Thank you Lynette!
Thanksgiving day my mom joined us at the Alford house for a wonderful feast. We brought the grandkids who proved to be pure entertainment for the whole family. We missed my dad because he had to work on Thanksgiving and my sister who went to Kentucky to meet her boyfriend's family. It was weird without the both of them but I am so blessed to have great inlaws who love my family and always invite my family to join them! After lunch, Aunt Crystal bought a gingerbread house the Brooklyn built with her! Brooklyn loved it! Colson was busy playing in the sand box outside and going to the potty at Memaw and Pop's! Yep, you heard it....we are potty training...oh wow....it has been a chore with Colson! He is definitely showing his boy colors with the whole potty training thing! We are getting it but still having accidents...I just really hope his school will encourage him to go on the potty and not be quick to put on a pull up. He is very motivated by his Mickey Mouse Pez dispenser and has even started telling us when he needs to go. He has slept during his nap time with regular underwear on Tues - Friday and has woken up dry each day! We have good days and ok days but it will get better! GO COLSON!!!!!!!