When Quinn was age 2, he brought me challenges that I never dreamed possible. Ethan, my oldest, was so good. Looking back to when I thought Ethan was being bad, those days don't hold a candle to what Quinn was capable of.

Quinn actually taught Ethan how to make spitballs and throw them at the bathroom mirror. While we were "trying" to potty train, he would go running outside and pee on the driveway. His head of irresistible blonde curls and elfish grin have saved his life on many occasions. But yes, for 2012 we are saying GOODBYE to diapers, GOODBYE to sippy cups, and GOODBYE to the Terrible Twos! 

I have no idea how we accomplished it. We have been trying to potty train for 6 months. Quinn, being the child that has his own agenda, did it his way and no other. He was completely opposite Ethan in potty training. I had Ethan poop trained within weeks; it was the pee we had to get control of. Quinn, oh, he figured out early that the world was his toilet and that he could take aim at his leisure. And yes, he did poop outside once as well. He was called "Bad Dog" for a week after that. But it was the pooping in the potty that he didn't get for what seemed like FOREVER. Apparently, this is a common problem with kids.

I actually had a friend buy fake poop, place it in the potty and tell her daughter that she did it and that it was a good thing. Hilarious! The extremes parents go to.

On Quinn's birthday, I handed him big boy undies and said, "No more diapers!"  Off to the beach we went. He is soooooooooo my kid; candy rewards or a trip to the beach.

We have had a few mishaps, but since we have a plethora of undies (thanks to big brother Ethan) I toss the messier mishaps.

Goodbye to sippy cups...Quinn has been able to drink out of a cup for a quite some time now. The problem was he would use his cup for anything and everything, but drinking. He dipped his food, he washed his hands, he washed his cars and he spilled on every surface in the house. Again, I don't know what happened, but he has used his cup for its intended purpose since his birthday. 

Goodbye Terrible Twos! Oh, this is my favorite of all. I know a lot of you are like "oh, just wait, threes are worse." Nope, I've been there done that. I have walked the hellish path of a 2 year old twice now. Even if more tantrums occur we have still overcome so many battles. On the morning of Quinn's birthday he awoke a new child. The alien beings that abducted my precious baby at 23 months, 30 days, 23 hours and 59 minutes have returned him. He still has fits, but they are few and far between. He is hilarious. He makes me laugh out loud multiple times a day instead of screaming until my hair turns grey.

More fantastic milestones...Quinn has learned to ride his new (used, really) bike with training wheels. This was another adventure that we practiced down at the beach in undies and his monster helmet. Only Quinn...he is quite the character.  He has been sleeping 90 percent through the night, in his own bed. That's almost as good as being potty trained.

Tonight he will pee in his bed. He'll wake us up at 2:30 a.m. I just know it.

He has miraculously figured out that toys are for playing with. Yes, you play with toys. You don't throw, kick and hide toys in the trash. I thought something was wrong because for three years I have had a little boy that refused to play with cars.   

It's a very happy time right now. I say that, knowing as I type that Quinn is probably peeing in his undies as he naps on the couch.

I'm a little sad when I think of getting rid of the stroller and toddler items. I think we are done with the beloved Cozy Coupe. Quinn wants to be just like his big brother and ride bikes and skateboards. 

Happy 3rd Birthday, Honey Boy!