Potty talk...this may be the last post on this!

So, after random posts about this over the last year and a half - yikes - this may be the last one.  Mostly because the posts are so random, but also because we may be well on our way to no more diapers!

The progression of the last 2-3 weeks has been...

• lots of talk about going on the potty.
• a wonderful book from the people I work for - The Princess and the Potty
• reminders for me that it works best when the kiddo is ready and to have a more laid back approach (not that I'd been intense at all, but I thought intensity at some point  was needed...not the case for us).
• lots of encouragement for Evee to go naked or in undies.  That had been the biggest issue, in fact.  Not that she was having lots of accidents but that she wanted to wear a diaper.
• a special trip to the store to pick out whatever undies she wanted (turned out she wanted Dora).
• sometimes deserts for wearing undies for a long period of time even though she'd rather wear her diaper.
• long amounts of time with regularly going on the potty.

It's been a lot easier than expected actually, although we are still in process.  Today, though, is our 4th day of wearing underwear and no accidents!  And, just with the reality of our life, we are out and about a lot of the days.  It's a wonder to me that she's catching on and I'm not fearful of being out...

One thing that has been awesome, that I didn't expect, was a sticker chart.  When we tried potty training at 18 months, I used treats.  But this time it was just a simple chart we made that has 60 slots for stickers.  She is thrilled about it.  After about 10 stickers were on the chart I told Evee that maybe we could have a potty party when it was all filled up.

It is truly amazing to me how little ones can adjust from one mindset to a completely different one.  Can you imagine just going whenever necessary and not even thinking about it...then one day you have to start thinking about when you need to go and where you make it happen.  You're supposed to hold it in and only go at certain times and in certain places.  I think about what it must be like for little ones - physically, emotionally, and psychologically.  It's pretty amazing...kids are a wonder!

Winter looks like...

 Lots of crafts and indoor play, outdoor gear, baking, book and books on tape (loving the library!), and cozy moments on the couch or snuggled in bed.   

 

  

  

  

  

 

Organizing...

I strive to keep our house tidy and uncluttered, but I've been thinking of the things in closets lately and the need to get organized.  So, over the last couple of days when moments allow I've been going through Evee's closet, my section of our closet, my desk area, and Evee's craft stuff that was getting crazily built up on top of her bookshelf.

This picture is mostly to show that there is now nothing on top of my desk.

A full, but organized closet space and the whole other side is essentially empty (for storage and for thinking of where to put stuff for a new one).

Organization of the crafts.  Now there is one container of stuff on top of the bookshelf (the one from her birthday last year) and then some regularly used stuff in this basket that can go anywhere.  

Lots of stuff to pass on.  The one thing that had been hard was getting rid of clothes we've been given.  After realizing, though, that there are more clothes than any one child could wear (especially my child, who I tend to dress like myself - wearing the same items fairly consistently).  Letting it go now...

Still need to work on the dining area dresser...one drawer desperately needs to be gone through.  I'll save that for next week maybe :).

My home is more peaceful to me, even though it wouldn't look different to anyone else.  Now to actually clean...

Snow Days

We finally found the computer cord! After a full family affair of trying to find it and Clint asking me 3 times if it was in a certain bag and me saying no.  I finally looked and guess what? There it was... Can I blame it on pregnancy hormones?

It has been very snowy week and a half.  It came in large amounts, seems to be staying for awhile, and there is talk of more to come. It is very beautiful.

We have been out in it a bit and I have enjoyed it.  Although we do need to get better winter gear or, I should say, actual winter gear...like boots. 

I will say that for the most part I very much so like viewing it from inside...with the heat on and in warm clothes and getting things done or relaxing or being cozy-ed up. Very nice.

The following is a collection of pictures from last week - from the original snow we got to more snow this past weekend.

 

  

 

The sun out after the storm the day before!  So beautiful...

Gratitude

I have a couple posts in the works, but am waiting to put pictures with them. For the life of me, I cannot find the cord that hooks from the camera to the computer to load the pictures onto the computer... Soon hopefully. It's too bad since I have some great pictures of the crazy amounts of snow we've been getting.

So, I thought I would just post anyway...a gratitude post since I'm feeling the need to be grateful anyway.

I'm thankful for snow days every once in awhile.

I'm thankful for a husband who is currently cleaning off the (at least a) foot of snow on our car so I can get to work.

I'm thankful that I've been able to lay in bed a bit longer the last 2 mornings because Clint didn't get up at 6:30 to get started on his own work (so there was another person to get up with Evee).

I'm thankful that we live close enough to walk to friends houses, have dinner together, and watch Lost - even though we couldn't have driven anywhere last night.

I'm thankful that I am able to do work from home and that I have a girl who is so adaptable - to busy days and ones that are laid back. The other day she worked on puzzles on my bed while I worked at my desk for awhile and who right now I can hear reading a book on the couch while I write this at my desk.

I am thankful for chocolate chip cookies and other good things to eat.

I'm thankful for sunshine and the brightness that is coming through intensely as the light hits the snow.

I'm thankful for the people that are certain in my life. Those who when I feel insecure, I would not dream of feeling insecure with them (or at least can remind myself that I don't need to feel that way). First off Clint, but the others who...I may talk with a lot or a little...who I may see often or very far in between...who may be close and may be far. Those who somehow can always put my mind at ease when I think of them and am in wonder that they are apart of my life. It brings great peace...

Recipes to try out

Along with Monday's post, which came about last week, is a list of food items I want to make sure to have on hand.

Thought I'd share it there. Just in the last week since re-thinking through food/time stuff (which I find I need to do every so often) I've been less tempted to quick grab something since I know we have amazing stuff at home. I created the following list that I'm sure I already have somewhere.

• Smoothie ingredients - 100% juice, milk or yogurt, bananas, berries and/or frozen fruit
• Fruit - we've just been going through it so fast...it's more of a reminder to get more on the weekly trips
• Hummus ingredients - chickpeas, lemon, garlic, sesame seeds or paste, carrots and/or pita for dipping
• Potatoes (making "fries" verses picking them up) - potatoes, seasoning, onion
• pb & j - so simple, so healthy if you go with the right ingredients (100% fruit jam, natural pb, and whole wheat bread)
• Dark chocolate - over 70% has healing benefits
• Almonds
• Popcorn ingredients - popping corn, olive oil, salt
• Oatmeal cookie ingredients... (not necessarily healthy, but a fun snack to have on hand)

Good stuff, right!?

Also, if you are looking to add some new recipes to your repertoire, Whole Foods has a decent recipe section/finder. You can find it here...  It has a lot of options for narrowing it down to any specifics you have too (budget friendly, vegetarian, no dairy, etc.).

Things I want to do

There are so many things I want to do, when I remember them.

They are such simple things, but at times, hard for me to remember...especially in feeling tired in the morning and in the evening an in any down time.  Therefore the tv has been on more than I'd like and I've been stopping to get something quick to eat much more than I like...  I have been tempting time.

I'm not saying that I/Evee and I (since Clint is so much better at both of these than I) have to be doing something all the time or that eating out or watching tv are bad (believe me, I can love both of these things).  And, I certainly don't mean days like I posted about on Monday - that is actually the kind of days I'm talking about having more of! 

And this post really isn't about what I'm not going to do at all.  But, instead a reminder of all the things that I do want to do and that, in the end, are so much healthier and more beneficial to me.

This summer I made a list of things I wanted to get to when there was free time, which often I think we just need to make happen.  I'll start with that list and go from there... (I've actually done one thing on my list, so I'll take that off...smile).  I warn you, this is a very random list. 

• Make a wrap around skirt or elastic one
• Create a list of books to read – I have this partially started, but need to get a list for the year since I was going to read at least one book a month.  
• Make a blanket/quilt
• Find free stuff on craigslist (that would be useful) 
• Go to rummage sales/garage sales/opt shops (I have a short list of things I'd look for)
• Make a hanging note to myself about staying present, loving people, peace/simplicity
• Crafting in general - crocheting, sewing
• Start making bread and hummus regularly again
• Get info to garden in the spring - maybe start early and create if from seeds this year...
• Research local farms and opportunities to eat better, not just healthier...if that makes sense  (thanks for the reminder Josh!)
  

Couches & comfy jammies

After a fuller weekend, Evee napped on Sunday, Clint was watching golf, and I slept on the couch.  I can't always take naps (like I can't actually fall asleep), so it is wonderful when I am so relaxed (and tired) and the opportunity presents itself. 

Comfort is so wonderful.  Since we both got up around 6 pm, Evee put on some new jammies (that we got for free!), we stuck to the couch, and it remained such a great evening at home.  I am so very thankful for afternoon/evenings like this.