Everyone Poops.... Especially at our house!

WARNING: This entry uses the term poop more than is socially acceptable.

"House breaking" our daughter took a lot longer than we originally anticipated. We didn't push toilet training for a couple of reasons. 1. she didn't seem interested. 2. We were probably being lazy. 3. The idea of cleaning out a small childrens potty multiple times a day grossed us both out. 4. Mad had explosive poop all over the bathroom floor the first time she tried to use her potty and refused to even be in the same room as it for months. (She is going to love this entry when she is about 15. I will probablys how it to her first date when he comes to pick her up.) But finally after some high level bribing that local politicians (Kwame Kilpatrick) would envy, and a lot of "encouragement" from my mother we have our daughter house broken! This is a big deal at our house....a VERY big deal, and has also creating an obsession with poop. Everytime someone poops on the potty we have a mini celebration. Everyone gets candy, there is lots of clapping and often times we have to call grandparents, friends, and other relatives to alert them that there is in fact poop in the potty. While eating out at restraunts Madeline will return to the table and announce to everyone that she has in fact pooped in the potty. But as many of you have probably witnessed, Madeline doesn't have an inside voice. So, not only do our dining companions get to celebrate this accomplishment, but the whole restraunt gets to partake as well. The other day she pooped in the potty and told Travis, "that looks like a snake! I pooped a snake!!" Oh yeah.... Trav was super proud....

So just as we get our toddler trained to use the toilet we decide this is a great time to bring a puppy into our house as well. Because house training a dog is easy next to training Madeline! Sailor, our newest addition to the Thomas/Higgins family, has added yet another layer to the poop obsession. At 10 weeks old, Sailor is still learning to go outside before empting out her bowels and we often find "surprises" around the house if we aren't paying close enough attention. Often times it's Mad who finds these suprises and once she makes a discovery she can be heard all the way to downtown Detroit. "MOM! There is poop in here!" Followed by hysterical running from room to room. "MOM! You have to clean up the poop!!" Ok....why can't dad clean up the poop? He is way more qualified than I am. I am pretty sure that is even in his job description. And I can assure you confidently that waste management is NOT in my list of working responsibilites. Mad is also Sailors biggest cheerleader. Whenever she goes to the bathroom outside all of Howell gets to celebrate along with us. "Good Girl Sailor, you Pooped! You pooped outside!! Oh that poop looks like a baby snake...." Can be heard from roof top to roof top.....Again we are really proud. :-)

So let this be a warning to anyone who may visit our home or plans to spend any time with Madeline in the near future; be prepared to discuss poop. The act of pooping, poop in it's various forms, and colors. How it resembles animals and reptiles. How Sailor poops tiny little puppy droplets and Madeline poops giant anacondas. How dad poops and reads a magazine at the same time. (Yesterday Madeline told me she was bringing her Saddle Horse Report to the bathroom with her like Daddy.) How mommy gets mad when Madeline stands in the bathroom and asks her repeadly if she is pooping. Poop, poop, and more poop! Just typing about it makes me pooped. (Ok that was lame)