MISSION: Potty training twins! Almost complete.

Phew! It literally feels like I began potty training my twin sons a bajillion years ago! I told myself when we started that I wasn't going to stress out because there's nothing more frustrating than trying to potty train little ones who aren't ready. Little by little they showed signs of readiness like taking their diapers off right after they peed, wanting to be changed immediately after pooping, and they showed a lot of interest in peeing outdoors in the grass and such whenever they were diaper-less! (I guess that's a boy thing!)

So we got a small potty. I tried it in the bathroom but that didn't work because I keep the bathroom door closed so they won't go in there all day and mess around. So we put the potty in the kitchen where it was more visible and accessible to them and they began to use it much more.

We finally got to the point where they were in underwear all the time at home. So I took the plunge and started putting them in underwear for short car rides. Well, they weren't ready for that. Every time they would just pee in the car seat, regardless of whether they had just peed or not. So we went back to diapers when we were out.

Eventually we tried underwear in the car again recently and they have really taken to it. I do remind them constantly "don't pee in your underwear" and they have really seemed to get it this time.

Now our last and hardest phase is getting them to not pee during the night. Mason has been waking up dry every morning and even wakes up at night to use the potty if he needs to. Spencer on the other hand pees throughout the night and if I don't wake him before his morning pee then he leaks all over the sheets and wakes up because of it.

So far we've tried everything. The latest is keeping him in an overstuffed Duo Diaper and making sure to wake him before he wakes up on his own. I also think I need to cut back on how much liquids I give him the evening before. They both literally drink ALL day long.

Anyhow, it's been a long road but I think we're almost there. They will be 4yrs old in October and by then I am sure they'll be fully trained. (knock on wood)

How's it going for you all? Any advice? I've always heard it's harder to potty train boys than girls and I think that's proving to be true for us.

Two Identical Babes with Opposite Personalities

I used to worry about whether or not my little guys would be treated as individuals, as separate and unique people, but now I think I may not have to worry about that. Mason and Spencer have personalities on opposite ends of the spectrum. One is crazy, mischievous, always on the run, even eats standing up in his high chair. The other is mellow, content, and cautious about taking risks. They're only 1, but I am sure that the traits I see developing now are a preview of what the future might hold.

Why you should support WAHM's

Not long after starting my business and creating my website, I realized the importance of supporting other WAHM'S (work-at-home-moms) and other Small Businesses. The first few weeks, ok the first month, was really slow. The internet is a big place, they don't call it the World Wide Web for nothing, and it takes a while for your site to start showing up in searches,etc. Many times a day I'd check my email, "refresh" -no emails, "refresh" -no emails, "refresh" -no emails. It was depressing, all those dreams and ideas, all the inspiration, it was hard to keep my chin up and keep on keeping on. And then it happened, "refresh" -"A New Order Has Been Placed." My first order, it was as if the clouds had parted, the angels sang out. The amount of the order didn't matter, it was the fact that someone visited my site, my store, my baby...and made a real purchase! You know what? Many months and many sales later, I still check my email way too often, and I still get that giddy feeling when I see that someone's placed an order.

The difference is that now I know how it feels to struggle, to have a dream, to own a small business, and I want to support others who are in the same boat as I am. I want my order to give some other wahm that excited feeling, I want to imagine them packaging my order with care while holding their babe on their hip. I want my $10-20-30+ dollars going into their bank account and contributing to their success. I want their dreams to come true just as I imagine and hope for my own dreams to become a reality.

So, I hope that you'll remember my little story and imagine the small business owners appreciation of your business next time you're shopping for a gift or looking to make a purchase. You could be making someone's day and not even know it!

Check out http://www.pinpack.blogspot.com and visit the links of some of my WAHM friends. You'll find great products and even discount codes for some of their sites!