Our Potty Fairy Princess

We've known for quite some time that Emerson is ready to be potty trained but I've pushed it off because I don't think I was ready - and also how exactly do people get toddlers to do their business in a potty when all they've known is diapers? The 'let go anytime, anywhere' gig seems too good to part with. And yet the majority of the ENTIRE WORLD figures it out. Head scratcher!

Once, a few months before Landon was born I tried this technique that was all the rage. Basically you put them on the potty every fifteen minutes for a few days. A few days??? I was tricking myself thinking that was going to work for us. I lasted 45 minutes (yes, meaning I only put her on the potty three times) before that plan was scrapped for eternity. We've been in limbo ever since. 

I saw that a fellow mom on Instagram introduced her son to Mr. Potty (a potty with eyes drawn on a chalkboard). And besides the Potty Fairy Princess book someone gave us, those are our only references. Hello world! I need a step-by-step manual complete with timelines, photos, and studies to back up the research, pleeassseeee. 

But a week ago I dusted off the ole potty. She played around with it for a few days. Then one morning I put Landon down for his nap and asked if she wanted me to read to her on the potty. She obliged. 45 minutes,100 books, and a huge water bottle later, she did it. 

Cheers all around!

Now whenever she's at home I'll take off her diaper and sometimes she makes it to the potty and sometimes she doesn't. But we are headed in the right direction. 

Also, isn't my husband the best in the whole wide world? 

Two first bumps to the chest for all you mamas out there who have potty trained. Also, I'll take any and all advice/personal success stories you've got. 😋

Psalm 38:8-10

I'm sure you've heard the tragic news of the two year old who was playing in the shallow end of a lagoon only to be pulled in and killed by an alligator. 

All I can think is that I too, have a two year old. Me too. And my heart breaks for that dad and mom, because how do you resume life? 

And many of you know about Emily, the young girl fighting cancer. I don't even know her but her story has struck a chord in me, and in many others (see Updates On Emily on Facebook). I pray for this girl I don't know. I pray so hard for her. 

The last update was that the treatment wasn't working and, in fact, more cancer has appeared. Her dad wrote this, "I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart. Oh Lord all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you. My heart throbs; my strength fails me, and the light of my eyes  - it has also gone from me. But for you, O Lord, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer." Psalm 38:8-10 

What faith. 

I'm laying these families, and so many others who are also hurting, at the feet of Jesus. 

And I'm holding my children closer tonight, letting go of what doesn't matter, embracing my husband with thankfulness, caressing my sons face, and seeing my daughter for all the glorious wonder that she is. 

That Little Cookie

I know I'm tired when I go crazy binge eating at the end of the day. Case in point, tonight I had two chicken tenders, some grilled salmon, a handful of watermelon, and three bite-sized cookies...and it's only 7:30pm, just say'in. 

This relatively recent inability to control myself has contributed to my inability to lose all that baby weight. But come on guys, I'm so dang tired I just NEED that cookie. That cookie is screaming my name, after serving my children and taking care of their needs allll daaaay loooong. That little cookie is chanting my name, "give in, let go, eat me and finally relaaaaaaaaax girl" and so I do. Once. Twice. (and tonight three times.😑). 

We finally made it back to storytime at the library. We took a five month hiatus (coincidence that Landon is also five months???? 😉). Emerson was a bit apprehensive going back even though she loved it. We got to the doors and she was so scared, crying and asking me to hold her. Poor girl. So of course I obliged. The thing is I overestimated my ability to pick her up while holding Landon and the diaper bag. So I tried and then couldn't lift her which led to louder crying (did I mention the library wasn't open yet so everyone was just watching this unfold?) so I took her by the hand and led her to a bench, helped her to get on, and picked her up from there. 

It was so ridiculous I asked a fellow mom to take a picture of me. "You'll cherish this photo later", Aimee told me. I'm sure I will but in the moment I wanted to make like Frodo with The Ring on and disappear. 

And after all that, truth be told, it's been a good few weeks. Last week Emerson declared that she was going to be Pig Will (Richard Scarry, you are a genius) and ever since has been cooperative and obedient. And I am ridin that Pig Will thing into the grave. Aint no shame in my game y'all! 

See ya later, a little cookie is calling my name. ☺️

The Best Kind of Best

Yesterday I was the recipient of kindness three times, three times! 

I took the crew to trader joes because we were in desperate need of that yummy creamy almond butter and some ready made salads. When we went to check out the TJ's checker let Emerson "help" her and then gave her a waddle of stickers as a thank you. Then when I was packing up the car, a kind TJ's employee stopped gathering the carts to come over and help me unload. He told me he had a grandson and he knows it's not easy to do the simple things when you have little ones. He even entertained Emerson in the shopping cart while I strapped in Landon. Then, as I was starting the car, I noticed Emerson's beloved little bunny was sitting on our windshield. My best guess was we had dropped it on our way in and some kind stranger noticed. 

Isn't that the best kind of best you could hope for? 

We prayed together in the car, thanking Jesus for bringing such kind people to us and asked that He would bless them.

I would categorize myself as both the "end of the world" and "this is the best world" kind of person and today, man, what a world.