Full Force

We are in full force of potty training. We just completed week 1.

I have had a lot of people ask why we are potty training Cara so young (20 1/2 months) and I will not take a picture of the reason why, but in a short and very graphic version- here it is:

Immediately after pooping, she digs down deep with her hands and throws her poop all around the room. Doesn't matter if it is 3 seconds after she pooped or 3 minutes. So if she poops during a nap- biggest mess of your life. If she poops in the living room, right in front of you, she is already digging in when I smell it.

Sorry to be so graphic, but at least I warned you.

After a week she has only pooped in her diaper once. Never pooped in panties or on the floor. I think she just HATES poop on her bum? She hates it on her hands too, but I am thinking she just wanted to get rid of it and that was the only way how since she hasn't learned how to take off a diaper yet.

Okay, so she is always pooping on the potty. She has also learned how to "hold it" so she goes potty less frequently but in more amounts. However, she still is only giving me about 3 seconds warning before peeing. So I am still making her sit on the potty every 30 minutes to an hour.

This picture was taken after the park- hence her pull up. We still do pull ups when we go out, because remember that 3 second warning? Not enough to get to a bathroom when we are out of the house. She actually isn't mad about using the potty, she was mad that I was taking a picture of her and not helping her get down.

I am being patient, taking the slow route. Ryann took at least 3-4 weeks before we could leave the house without a diaper- so I am prepping myself for about the same amount of time.

We still haven't put this guy away, but we haven't had to use "little green" for almost 3 days.

Happy Birthday Hubs

Today is a day to celebrate. Not only did Rich turn 33... but we found out some AMAZING news!!

Like, seriously, AMAZING.

My brother Zach will be so proud when he finds out.

Rich shares a birthday with Rainn Wilson.

I know everyone of you is jumping up and down, this truly is amazing news.

And for the 0.01% 99% of the population who isn't as addicted to the office as Rich and I are, this is DWIGHT SCHRUTE.

A couple more things Rich and Rainn have in common- Their names start with the letter R. They both played the clarinet in grade school. Rainn was the lead role in the mo

vie The Rocker, and we own that movie. He also played the voice of Gallaxhar from Monsters Vs Aliens and we own that movie too.

Some things that Rich and Dwight Schrute have in common:

Dwight is Assistant to the regional manger, Rich is a manager

Both are excellent ping pong players

Both love Smallville the TV show

Dwight is a purple belt in Karate, Rich is a white belt in Karate

Dwight wears glasses, Rich has and sometimes wears his glasses

I can't believe all the connections.

So Happy Birthday to Rich and Rainn

I love you Rich! Hope you have had a great day

**** Info courtesy of wikipedia****

Go and Do

You know that primary song, "I will go, I will do..."

You do? Good. You don't? Well, it has some crazy hand motions and basically it is about listening to what needs to be done and then going out and doing it. When there is something that needs to be done- a way will be provided to get it done.

I want to be a "go and do"er. I want to be that person who recognizes when someone needs help, and then help them. I want to be that person who can be an answer to prayers.

I had a couple "go and do"ers in my life yesterday.

Yesterday was a tough day. Potty training, babysitting last minute for 2 different families at 2 different parts of the day (which I was THRILLED to do- they are such sweet kids), added on top of Rich working long hours, money stressors, Ryann on the verge of getting sick, tired girls, and a trip to the duck pond.

Oh yeah, and a messy house.... due to potty training.... you can't leave the baby in panties and wander off... this is when said little one takes a leak on the carpet.

Anyway, it was a full day, and by the end I was spent. I felt bad for my quick meet up at the duck pond. Thankfully I met an amazing friend there who knows me well enough to not take it personal that I had to "duck" out (hehehe) quickly after arriving. I left for fear of tantrums, kids falling in the pond, a kid getting hooked with a fishing hook, or someone running out into the street.

Guess what? She was the "go and do" person that I needed. I know that for some reason she thought of me, not knowing why, but she thought of me and was prompted to see if we could spend some time together. Guess what else? I ignored it. I didn't take advantage of it. I was too stressed and not thinking clearly, and not realizing that my pleads throughout the day for help were about to be answered.

To put it nicely, I didn't have it all together.

I did say quite a few quick prayers through out the day. So I should have taken a deep breath and placed my burdens with the Lord. That is what I am doing now. I have had a lot of prayers answered lately. I have been truly blessed. I am especially blessed to have friends who go and do.

Since I ignored the first answer to my rough day, I was blessed with another. A couple hours later a friend came by and brought dinner to my house. Then I understood. She was there for me. The kids ran around the backyard as I ate and was finally able to relax and recognize the blessings of friends. About an hour after she left we met up again for cupcakes and hot chocolate. Wow. I feel good now. I feel like I can take on the world. I feel blessed.

So please, please be that person. Be a "go and do" person. If you see someone who needs help, help them. If you feel prompted to do anything good, for any reason, do it. You can be an answer to someone's prayer without even knowing it.

This is my plan. I am going to try. I won't be perfect, but I am going to put myself out there more and hope that I can help someone else. I want to pay it forward. And please, don't be afraid to ask, because if you ask me, it will make it a whole lot easier for me to go and do.

Stampin' Up

I am not sure who let this little girl play with the stamps.

Okay, I know. No one actually let her...

But obviously it was daddy who was watching her when this happened.

And when I say obviously, that just means this is one of the first times I caught Ryann doing something she shouldn't have been on Daddy's watch, and not mine.

Cause trust me- I can't count the number of times she has been sneaky on my watch.

An Elephant Never Forgets

My cute little Ryann found this mask at Grandma Mingo's house last night. She thought it was great.

Cara, not so much.

At what age will kids wear masks?

Next question- why do kids remember the strangest things?

Ryann can only remember the day of the week "Wednesday", so how can she remember the exactly place she left her black horse one week ago?

She can't remember her numbers but she can memories the book "pinkalicious" in an afternoon?

She doesn't remember why some shows have commercials and why some don't, but she can remember exactly what toy we accidently brought home with us from Grandma's house last year!?

She can't remember that Santa got her the new bike, but she can remember that I promised her a treat if she slept in her bed without getting out for 7 nights in a row??

Have a great night.

Cousin It comes to town

Remember Cousin It from the Adam's Family?

Here is Ryann playing with toys at Grandma Mingo's house. We have been trying to teach her how to push her hair behind her ears- it isn't going so well, so we mostly clip it back, but when the clip is gone she walks around and plays with it in her face.

I think it has something to do with her "widows peak" hairline.

So here is a picture of Cousin It. I totally forgot what he looks like- but he has wavy hair, so I am wrong- Ryann doesn't look much like Cousin It.

Thank goodness. Cousin It is quite scary looking.

Happy Hiking

To let Daddy have some precious, uninterrupted sleep... the girls and I went out and got donuts.

Then, to work off the donuts, we went hiking.

Cara fell and skinned her knees like 8 times. Good thing she had her PJ's on.

This happened every time she tried to run too fast.

She is the reasons I try to not run fast. I like 10 minute miles. No falling when you run 10 minute miles. Or 12 minute miles for that matter

(I ran 12 minute miles when I was pregnant with Cara).

Run is word that has many meanings. In this case, it means a jog that is really no faster than a walk.

Hiking. I imagined these shadow pictures to be a lot cuter than they actually were. The above one- you can see that Cara is carrying "guy guy" her little bear blanket.

The one below would have been ADORABLE if 1. it was on flat ground so the shadows didn't get distorted and 2. if I had a good camera and 3. if I knew how to take pictures.

The girls stood behind this sign below and jumped out and yelled, "Happy Hiking!" to everyone who passed by. Like 3 people.

Then when we finally headed down the mountain (hill) they said "good morning" and "happy hiking" to everyone we saw.

Quite entertaining.