This giveaway is now closed. The winner is Allie – congratulations!
Today’s giveaways are all kid related. First up is an ebook written by one of my favorite bloggers, Writer Dad. He and his wife have written a fabulous guide called Potty Training Power.
Photo by Steve Navarro
Itching to ditch the diapers (off your kids, I mean)? Then this ebook is for you. It is chock full of practical, useful information for getting through the often-challenging milestone of learning to go on the potty. It’s all you need for potty training help.
Sean and Cindy run a highly-specialized preschool, and have managed to potty train a whole myriad of children at a variety of ages. They’ve experienced first-hand all sorts of personalities, temperaments, and ages of kids. They know what they’re talking about.
This book strips down the mystery of potty training into six basic steps, and walks you through each one, so that you keep your sanity and store your energy for the task at hand.
Potty Training Power is a complete manual for the entire potty training process, and you’ll read it feeling encouraged and empowered to master this milestone in your child’s life.
One reader will win a copy of Potty Training Power with – get this – full email support. Yep, Sean and Cindy will actually be there to help you with your specific questions and needs, talking you through this as fellow parents. What encouragement!
Here’s How To Win:
1. Leave a comment on this post, answering this question – What is the quality you enjoy most in your child?
2. To get a second entry – and a second entry on all the giveaways this week – subscribe to the Simple Mom feed and email me the movie quote at the bottom of any post in your feed reader or email inbox (there is only one quote for all the giveaways). Send it to simplemomblog (at) gmail (dot) com, and put the quote directly in the subject line. The body of the email won’t be read. And you only need to email me the quote once in order to get a second entry for all the week’s giveaways.
3. Finally, to get a third entry, post or tweet about this giveaway – if you use the URL of this post, I’ll receive it – no need to email me.
This giveaway will end this Saturday, January 31 at noon EST. I hope you win!
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My favorite thing about my little boy is how he responds to me! He’s just about 4 months old and is so smiley. I love how he now recognizes me and smiles. Melts my heart and makes all the sleeplessness and getting peed on worth it! yay!
Crystal´s last blog post…Grey is introduced to his feet and he smiles.
The quality I am really enjoying is my sons desire to put everything back on his own! He is a great helper and a beautiful blessing!!
Laura´s last blog post…What I Have Researched
i love her laugh. it’s the most delightful sound!
I love the energy that my kids have! If I had that much energy, I might actually be able to keep up with them!
My daughter is Fiesty!
I love my son’s easy-going personality — he will start giggling easily, even if he was mad or sad or crying just moments earlier.
I love our nearly 4 year old son’s imagination. He has such elaborate constructions that I find them absorbing and completely engaging, not to mention hilarious. The latest creations are a pair of brothers who sometimes look like donuts, and who change names with amazing speed. Lots of car crashes seem to be involved as well!
I help watch my Grandson and his mom keeps saying he will be ready soon to be potty trained…I raised 4 daughter….not looking forward to training a boy. Would be a great big help with helpful suggestions from
“Potty Training Power” plus support- that would be more than great.
I love that my grandson always has a smile for you. My daughters I love that they are strong women. Thanks
My twins are almosty three and would LOVE to be done with diaper duty. I love my son’s silliness and my daugther’s creativity.
The quality I adore in my daughter is her friendliness and outgoing personality. She’ll walk up to anyone, especailly other kids, with a big “Hi”, and usually a hug if they’ll stand still long enough. She’s not afraid of new people or new situations (except Santa – that was another story!) We’re working on potty training her now, and can use all the help we can get!! Thanks
Kris´s last blog post…Funnies
The love my children show each other is the quality I most admire. My 17 month old daughter is just so excited when her brother comes downstairs in the morning. She squeals, hugs, and kisses him and he does it right back. It is so sweet to watch the love between them and how deep the bond is growing every day!
Love this giveaway, we are about to start the process with my daughter! I am hoping it will be easier this time around!
What I love the most about my 15 month old is his observational style. He sits and watches everything before diving in. He already has a terrific capacity for cause and effect, and I really think this is due to how much he studies and watches before doing.
I love how sweet my children are. My son always says thank you for everything. Including after I change his diaper. It always cracks me up when my kids say “Good job Mama!” after I clean something or fold laundry.
I love my two-and-a-half-year-old son’s sensitivity. He doesn’t like for anyone to not be happy, even characters in the stories we read.
I love my son’s easy-going nature and my daughter’s determination.
My nine-month old daughter is completely care-free and goofy. She reminds me to not sweat the small stuff.
They are super sweet! Always telling me I am beautiful or that they love me or each other.
My boy is 17 months old. I get such a kick seeing him figure things out. He’s so smart. Sometimes it’s scary.
Definitely the cheerfulness! I love their smiles and happy tone of voice…makes our family’s home so much more pleasant.
Becky´s last blog post…Anybody need a Pedicure?
The quality I love most about Cade is that he doesn’t ever want people to be sad, so if he hurts someone (either by hitting them or saying something mean) and they get sad, he automatically hugs and kisses them and says sorry. It’s awesome, he just turned 2 a week ago and most other kids his age aren’t like that. i love him!
The quality I am enjoying most about my two year old boy right now is a new burst of imagination as we go “hunting for the jungle” and constantly using telescopes (empty tp rolls) all around the house – all at his suggestion.
The quality I am enjoying most about my newly-turned-one daughter is her dancing! Any time music comes on or even if I just make up a little melody of noises, her head starts shaking and her body is boppin’! It is SO cute!
Beka´s last blog post…Daddy Snowman
oh this could not come at a more perfect time! What I love about my kiddos–her sparkling personality (i’m serious–lot’s of sparkles there), and his refusal to drink anything BUT the perfect warm temperature of a 45 seconds exactly in the microwave cup of milk.
I enjoy my daughter’s sensitive, thoughtful nature, and conversely, I enjoy my son’s rough-and-tumbleness. They’re both unique, and I love their individual personalities!
Stacey´s last blog post…If you still haven’t found the right reason to hate HFCS…
My son is a wordsmith. He loves learning new words, playing with them, putting them together in new ways. Love it!
allie´s last blog post…Turning Point
I love my oldest daughter’s imagination. And her sweet way with smaller children. And I love that my toddler is a funny combination of cuddly and wildly adventurous. She’s snuggling on a lap one moment and teetering from high places the next! (She’s showing some signs of potty readiness, so this book would be perfect timing!)
D#1-I love her organizational skills. Even at 13 she has me beat.
S(only)-His ability to make me laugh. And his sweet spirit with all his sisters.
D#2-I love her creativity
D#3-Her helpfulness
D#4-Her playfulness (she’s one)
One might be wondering why a mom of 5 needs a book on potty training. Well…I just wrote in a list I posted on FB that as a mom of 5 I have absolutely no idea how to potty train a child.
#1-potty trained herself, Praise the Lord!
#2-wouldn’t let me in the bathroom, he’s very private. (runs in the family)
#3-We took her to a tearoom on her 3rd b-day. She drank about 3 gallons of tea by herself. When we got ready to leave she looked up at me and said, “Mommy, I need to go potty.” So my mom took her. When we dropped my grandmother off at her house she again asked to potty. That was the day she quit using diapers.
#4- is two and oh so badly needs to be trained. I long for her to be trained.
#5-is one and I would love to know what I’m doing by the time I get to her.
Well, my first child is about two months away from being born, so I guess my favorite quality is dreaming about who he/she will be and talking to him/her when being especially fiesty and active in there!
I am enjoying my four month old twin daughters’ curiosity. They are reaching and grabbing for everything, and trying to get things in their mouths, with this look of intense concentration on their faces.
I love when my 4-year-old takes care of his 2-year-old brother. Nate and Brandon have their moments, but I like watching them interact when they don’t know I’m watching to catch “brotherly” moments. One of the many perks of being a mom!
I love her originality – the original and “new” way in which little kids see things so much of the time, in ways that often strike me. As adults we are sometimes so jaded / subjective about the world around us.
I most enjoy my son’s personality!
I enjoy my son’s enthusiasm, for everything, even the things that I would prefer he not be so enthusiastic about, like not wanting to wear clothes to school.
He is a very happy boy, and very active, and approaches everything with such vim and vigor, that it makes me wonder why I am so blase about things.
His laughter. He thinks the simplest things are so funny! Yesterday we were stopped at a red light and he looked over and saw a dog leaning out the window of the truck next to us and started cracking up!!!
Their willingness to easily forgive.
I have two boys so I have to do two qualities
Will has great musical ability – his favorite instruments are the “bums” (drums) and “tar” (guitar) and just about ANYTHING can be used as either instrument.
Evan has a sweet spirit in him. He can be fussing or crying but if you say his name and smile at him he will smile right back at you.
I have wonderful boys, but I honestly cannot even imagine a time they will not be in diapers :s That seems rather impossible! (my oldest is 2, so I mentally know it’s not far off, but it sure seems that way)
Courtney@BooksNBoys´s last blog post…Old Pictures
My favorite quality in my son is the one that used to drive me crazy about him…his fierce independence. However, after baby-sitting a child that was extremely clingy and needy, I have vowed never to complain about his insistence on doing things all by himself!
Great giveaway! We are ready to start potty training…but have no idea where to begin!!
My daughter is 8 weeks old and I LOVE her smile!! It is the best part of my day!
Stacie@HobbitDoor´s last blog post…Brunch
I’m enjoying my 4 year old’s drive to learn letters & numbers right now. She sees her brother & sister using them daily, especially since they homeschool, and wants to use them too. She writes pages full of letters, not knowing their sounds yet. Waiting for the digital clock to turn seven this morning, she kept trying to read the numbers to us. So sweet!
Virginia´s last blog post…pompom pillow
I love that my 19 month old son is so sensitive to other peoples feelings already! He is teaching us so much already!
Carter’s deep sense of caring for me & his little signs of his love are my favorite qualities. He takes my hand gently in his & touches it to his face without any words. Then he says, “You’re my Princess.”
Jen Borley´s last blog post…Fabric giveaway!!!
I love my son’s manners – my 22-month old son is now saying “Thank you mama” after I give him his juice, a snack, or help him pick up his toys! It is so nice to hear him say it!
I love his fun energy and enthusiasm for all the little things in life!
I love their little sense of humor. That it is so honest and pure! PRECIOUS!
I most enjoy that my big girl (almost two) lives life BIG. Everything she does is with exuberance and joy; even her foul moods are, well, exuberant! I most enjoy that my little girl (three months) is about the happiest thing I’ve ever seen. Ever. We should’ve named her Sunshine!
sarah´s last blog post…A Taste of Springtime
We are just about ready to start potty training so this would be great!!!
The qualities I love in my children are Ethan’s determination, love for snuggling and his sensitivity to others and Hudson’s amazing gift of talking and engaging at such a young age, knowing just what he wants and his strength in both the physical and emotional ways.
Kristen´s last blog post…design: wedding invite
My 2.5 yo’s sense of humor has me in stitches daily.
The quality I admire the most about our baby is her communication skills, she’s only 20 months and always tries to tell us what is going on with her: she wakes up in the morning and mentions colors and shapes around her bed, she tells her daddy why I put her in time-out and even when she’s throwing a tantrum, she tries to explain why she’s frustrated (we of course, understand just some of the words she says, but it’s so interesting how strong is her need to communicate)
Giannina´s last blog post…Granada / Masaya
The quality I enjoy most about my little girl is her need to copycat. If I check her diaper for poopy…then she in turn will pull my pants and underwear back and check me as well while I’m sitting on the floor. If I wipe her nose…she insists on wiping mine. The list goes on and on!
My favorite quality in my son, Luke is his determination to do things. He is visual impaired. He amazes us daily with things that I never thought I would see him do. It take him many times longer to do things but he tries hard to finish things he started. He really struggles with fine motor skills….one day he found a bead making kit, I knew he would not be able to do it so I encouraged him to do something else. He was determined to make a necklace so I let him try. He shocked me…He made 2 of them. Now my daughter who is younger than my son made one in about 20 mins. Luke took about 2 hours. Then he told me that he made them for me. Those necklaces are some of my proudest gifts. It bring tears to my eyes to even think about it.
My favorite quality in my son is his laugh. His uncontrollable shrieking laughter whenever he sees the dog is just cracking me up.
My favorite quality in my 2.5-year-old is his inquisitiveness. He loves discovering new things and learning everything he can about them.
Great giveaway!
Katrina (Callapidder Days)´s last blog post…What’s On Your Nightstand, January edition
I desperately need to win this. We are having a struggle with my 3 year old son!
Luckily my son has many other charms. I love his sence of humor and his sweetness the best!
Stacie´s last blog post…bye, bye plastic
I love my daughter’s overall happiness. She’s very smiley and giggles a lot. So fun!
Lindsey´s last blog post…Craft Night
I love the pure joy she exudes!
Julee´s last blog post…Tune in to WordPress.tv
Simplicity–my daughter is easily content with simple joys. I learn a lot from her!
The quality I enjoy most about my daughter is her joy:) It fills my world with sunshine!
The quality I most love about my son is his joyful personality. He is just a happy guy, and I love being his mom!
Heather´s last blog post…Does Your Husband Dress Like This?
One of the qualities I love in both of my girls is their love for life. They can get so excited about some of the smallest things.
without a doubt the funny things that come out of his mouth. with him being an only child he tends to talk a lot like an adult so to hear adult phrases come out of this tiny boy makes me laugh my butt off
my daughter is very spirited and i love it!
I love the uniqueness of each of my six kids.
As far as my potentially potty-training 2 year old, I love her sweet silliness. On the flip side I struggle with her STRONG-WILLED personality (which is why she is still not potty-trained)
Trish´s last blog post…Updates
I love that my son never gives up. He keeps doing something until he gets it!
Her loving personality- she’s great about saying I love you, mommy! and gives great kisses!
Sarah´s last blog post…How to change a diaper
her strong will and empathy
Right now I love how passionate about life my son is. He always goes big. Why walk when you can run? Why just eat applesauce when you can wax poetic about “delicious treat!”?
Right now, I LOVE Owen’s silliness. He has learned that he can choose to do silly things on purpose (instead of us just laughing at the accidently silly) and just cracks himself up. The silly followed by the laughter. Awesome.
Alissa´s last blog post…Check-up
The quality I am loving about my son right now is his developing sense of humor. Joking around is a big part of the way my husband and I stay playful togetehr, and he is picking up on that and starting to participate. It;s so fun!
Oh, and I really really need to win this! He is 3 1/2 and has NO INTEREST in potty training. at all.
She has a big personality-and is very independent. She is also starting to potty train, so this could not have come at a better time, thanks!!!!!!!!!!!
Jill W.´s last blog post…A giveaway worth $833!!! ends 2/4
My oldest is 2.5 years old. She is a delight to say the least. I would have to say my favorite quality about her is her honesty. She is very vocal and communicates well. She always tells me what he is doing, thinking or observing and I love her innocence and honesty.
My youngest is 10 months today and my favorite quality about her is how much she loves to cuddle. She’ll lay back on me to read books, she loves to play with my hair when she nurses, and she leans her head forward to give “loves”. I can’t get enough!
Amanda Bytheway´s last blog post…Mommy cards
My kids both have had a sense of humor since they could talk. It seems like a good sense of humor takes time to cultivate, but my kids both seem to have it down already – frightening considering they are only 2 and 3!!
Michelle Meyer´s last blog post…Late Barefoot Bloggers post (yet again!)
My oldest son is so enthusiastic. My daughter shows such persistance. My baby boy demonstrates such humor already at 8 months old.
I love her contagious smile! She’s always smiling and is such a happy little thing. Such a joy!
I love my son’s laugh. I could listen to it all day.
In my oldest child I enjoy his love of creating, he makes so many crazy contraptions and I love it. My middle child its her sense of humor, she can be a handful so I treasure those moments when she is just funny and free. In the baby I enjoy everything baby, he is my last so I am treasuring all those little firsts.
The quality I love most in my child is her ability to find such joy in the journey that is life. She is thrilled with the snow, and equally thrilled with the green grass of spring. She loves to feel the textures of the rug as we sit and read, as well as the skin on my cheek. Nothing is beyond her curiosity. I learn from her, every day, the joy that can be found in the journey if we just take the time to experience it, instead of rushing around “getting things done”.
The quality I love most about my son right now is his joyous enthusiasm for… well, just about everything. Whether it’s the “waffle dance” he does in the morning when he wants waffles, or his cracking up when I make up a nonsense rhyme, or his smile of pure happiness when he greets me in the morning with a delighted “Mommy!” — he is an unending source of smiles and inspiration for me.
There’s nothing like my 16 month old son’s affectionate ways. Whenever I come home from work he always greets me with the biggest smile and the biggest hug. I could feel the work day’s stresses melt away when he hugs me.
My 3 yr old is so inquizative and curious about his surroundings. He’s also very whitty and quick with smart-alec come backs!
Well, I will mention my oldest here (I have 4 little boys :0) He is 6 and he is SUPER creative. He creates all day every day and is just bursting with great ideas!
Brandy´s last blog post…Another one just for fun
I love my daughters smile, laugh, and sense of humor. She is always up for a joke. Even in the middle of a little tantrum, if you say something she thinks is funny she just starts laughing:)
Ziva is very inquisitive and exploring, but at the same time a total cuddle bug.
Anya is very sweet and social, and has the most amazing belly laugh you’ve ever heard.
MommyAmy´s last blog post…Super Cookies
I absolutely love how easy-going Claire is now. She is such a pleasant and happy little girl.
My little Lily…she has spirit! She has such intense feelings for so many things. It is my favorite quality, and sometimes, her most challenging. But I am so happy to be raising a strong girl with ideas, opinions and feelings.
Her enthusiasm for life!
I love how my 2 1/2 year old finds the humor in everything. When he laughs he makes me laugh. This book sounds wonderful. I’m so ready to be done with diapers!
The quality I love most about my 2 year old is her sweetness. It makes my heart melt the way she talks, and she is a great hugger. I wish I could bottle this sweetness up. The quality I love most in my 4 year old is her excitement and zest of life. It is so fun to watch her eyes widen and her face light up when she encounters something new. I’d be really excited for the potty training book because my 2 year old is on teh verge, but we can’t quite get her to fully commit. Thanks!
I love my little two year old’s tender heart.
Ruth´s last blog post…"R" Christmas Family Photo 2008
The quality I love most about my child is her stubborn nature and her refusal to do anything I want her to the first time I ask. My first child is obedient, quiet, thoughtful and eager to please, which mistakenly gave me the impression that I am the world’s greatest mother, right out of the gate.
As my 2.5 year old daughter runs past me just now, half-naked, hair-flying, princess diaper crinkling as her chubby legs become a blur, yelling, “I not going onna potty EVER, Mama” I am brought right back, humbly, to reality.
There are so many qualitites I love in my children, but probably one I love most is just their sweet innocence, and they are all pretty lovey to mom which is alway nice.
Everyone comments on how happy my son is – he finds joy everywhere!
Love my baby singing in the backseat of the car, in the crib each morning, when she wakes up each nap. Love her mixed up words to all those big girl songs. Love the raspy voice those rockers couldn’t beat. Love my almost-always, cheerful, singing little lady.
The children in my life bring me incredible joy. My grandson, makes everyone feel like they are so special–he is so loving toward the whole family–parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. My granddaughter delights us with her wonder–she is in awe and excited about everything.
For my oldest (2 1/2) I enjoy how helpful he wants to be, helping to grocery shop, wash dishes and swiffer the floor. My youngest (1) I love to watch dance he beebops arounds swinging his arms and legs with a huge grin on his face, he encourages everyone to get in on it too.
Shawndra´s last blog post…Brothers
5 kids! i’m up to 2.5 so far.
His knack of cracking the sweetest smile at the times I’m most frustrated (at him) and melting my heart.
I love my son’s affection for us and others. He always wants in on a good hug or cuddle session. If mommy and daddy are sharing a hug, the little guy wants in too. Pretty cute.
My favorite thing about dd, age 2, is how her personality becomes more and more well-defined as her language skills develop. She’s smart, funny and interesting and I enjoy learning more about her each day!
My favorite thing about ds, age 4 months, is the way his face lights up when he recognizes me. There’s just nothing sweeter.
DD is about to begin potty training, so I could REALLY use this book!!!
Only 1? Um, for both my girls I think I’m going to go with their love. Love for each other, love for life, love for just being, and just doing. They amaze me.
Michelle´s last blog post…Ummm…Oops….
Just one?!
Ok, I jest. I love my son’s complete intensity when he does something interesting. You can hear him breathe, his brow furrows, and very little distracts him from the task at hand.
Her sense of humor. Who knew 18 month olds could have a sense of humor!?
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