Here We Go....

Okay, the signs are starting to appear, so I guess it is time for "Potty Training 2009"! Sarah is quite interested in doing all the things Mommy does, so I'm using that as leverage. We have a nice supply of Dora panties, so starting Thursday, we will give it a try. I must say, she is quite excited about it...saying she is going to be "a big girl"! Since we still have at least another year of diapers with Ava, it would be FABULOUS if this works! I talked to a pt.'s mom here last week, and I noticed she had a little one (barely 2) out of diapers and asked her how she did it. She said she has lost her job and could not afford diapers, so they had no choice but to go straight to potty training! Wow!

I feel like if I can just stick with it, I feel Sarah can do it.....I just hope I have the patience! I'll start a daily blog on Thursday to track our progress....wish us luck!

Things That Make You Go Hmmmmm????

This past week, I have stumbled upon 2 great mysteries that I am sure have occurred in numerous households over the years.  They involve little ones...see if any of you moms can relate....

#1 - Why is it that at least 30% of what is supposed to go into Ava's mouth at mealtime ends up in her seat?  I'm trying to be tactful, but what I really mean is her butt!  I have the tray pushed up as close to her as possible - I'm surprised she can even breathe!  It is a tight fit - it's not like she is in a recliner!  Yet - whenever I take her out, I find lots of food right under her tiny behind.  She doesn't put it there - I have the tray so close I don't think she can get her arms under it!

#2 - Charles discovered this one Sunday morning.  Ava is fully clothed (in pj's)...after breakfast he goes to get her dressed and finds a Cheerio IN her diaper.... like IN her diaper...you know?  Okay - so not only would she have to get her hands under the tray, but into her diaper?  How the heck??  I think I need to just videotape her at mealtime and go back & watch it in slow-motion.  It just boggles the mind!

Okay - so we have had a crazy week....Zachary & Josh were both sick.  Zachary missed 3 days of school with fever & a massive double ear infection, and Josh missed 2 days due to puking and high fever (103!)  Surprisingly, the girls stayed clean...I still don't know how that happened seeing that we ALL 6 shared a cup of Costco yogurt the night before Josh got sick (thank you Jesus!)  Then - later that night after I had dropped off the girls at church, I was in Kroger in Collierville when Charles called me and I had to go all the way back to First Assembly b/c I had taken Charles' car home and he was left at church with no key to my car and 2 very hyper little girls! (The boys had come home with me.)  It was insane...and freakin' cold that night!

The highlight of my week was my "girl's night out" at Panera on Monday.  Tammy, Jennifer, Lisa & I had soo much fun!  Good food and great gab!  We are doing a Bible study...The "One Year Women's Friendship Devotional".  It is wonderful!  Did we really talk about it...well no...we really weren't prepared, but we are emailing each other and "talking" about it.  Hey - we are all busy mom's...you do what you have to do!

So - today was the holiday so I guess our week starts tomorrow (sigh). Good for the boys!  I work Tues & Wed, and then this weekend...yuck!  I hate this part of my job...I'm praying for a change, so I'd love some other "prayer partners" out there!  I don't necessarily want to change the location...just the whole "late nights" and "one-weekend-a-month" thing!  Thanks so much!  Hope everyone has a great week!

What To Talk About?

Seriously...that is why I haven't blogged in a while.  We've just been plugging along - getting back into a routine after the incredibly busy holiday.  It's kind of bittersweet actually.  I mean, we spend 3 months looking at Christmas stuff in stores, watching Christmas commercials, Christmas movies, listening to Christmas music, going to Christmas parties and then....POOF!  As of December 26th it is OVER - not to be talked about again until next year.  I think we need at least 2 weeks to "detox" our minds instead of cutting it out cold turkey!

We had a great Christmas - Sarah LOVED her Dora backpack!  It didn't leave her body for 2 days except to change clothes!  She was sooooo into the presents!  Ava kind of caught on too.  She really didn't care about the gift itself - just getting to play with the paper!  The boys were thrilled too.  Their piles looked so small, but they really did get most of what they asked for (with the exception of  something alive & furry - we are NOT ready for that yet!)  "Santa" happened to leave a poem for them on the computer - which Josh found when he got up,  What a clever Santa!  Charles surprised me with a digital camera - which he bought the day after Christmas on-line & I got it New Year's Day.  YEA!  finally a "point & shoot" I can stick in my purse.  We have a great digital camera but it isn't handy for catching those moments around the house.  My new one has tons of bells & whistles too, but it is more - shall we say - "user friendly" for me!  Anyway - when Sarah saw mine, she wanted a camera too, so I found one at Target.  Here she is:

She's been taking pictures of EVERYTHING!  She is sooooo a mommy's girl these days.  She does everything I do (or at least tries to!)  I had a salad tonight and she ate most of it -- not to mention RAW BROCCOLI!!!!  Oh yeah!  Finally!  One of my kids will eat raw veggies!  I craved vegetables like crazy when I was pregnant with her - maybe that is why.  Since she wants to do EVERYTHING like mommy,  I'm going to use that as leverage to start potty training in a couple of weeks.  I bought her some Dora panties and she is really excited about them!  I'm not sure how successful it will be, but it is worth a shot!

Well - the boys will be home soon, so I need to finish laundry so I can head to bed when they get home.  They passed their belt test tonight, so they are now "orange belt - black stripe".  Their next test will be for green belt.  I'm so proud of them - they have come so far!  Tomorrow is going to be a LOOOOONG day for all of us.  These weekends go by way too fast!