Cool Face!

Today, Morgan and I played this super cool game that I used to play with my friends from high school called, "Can You Do This?" (I know the name is so confusing, so in case you don't get it, its just a copy cat game =) Anyhow, we did it with cool faces, and these are her best:

Thats right, I have the coolest kid ever.

Potty Training!

So, I was going to wait a few days to post an update on the whole potty training thing, because I wanted to be able to beam with pride at how my little girl was potty trained, completly, in 3 days. Well, I think when I am being realistic, its best to just accept that is not likely to happen!!!

I decided to use the book, "Potty Train your Child in Just One Day" by Teri Crane. I think it has the idea right, but I just feel like giving parents the idea that it is all going to be done in a day is just a little bit wrong! I did my best to follow the steps to a T, but like I said, we are not completely trained yet!

You start the day with you and your child training a baby doll to use the big girl potty. Morgan LOVED this. It was so great to play with her all morning and to see her expressions when she was being excited for her doll, Oreo, to successfully use the potty!

After her nap, Morgan got to open a present: Her big girl undies! She was so excited and totally willing to put those puppies on!!! Morgan learned quickly that each time she went potty she got a present, a treat, and a sticker for her chart!

We were both so excited everytime she went and she really loved sitting on that potty!

She loved the whole thing and it was GREAT to be able to have my parents over for our potty party at the end of the day celebrating Morgan learning to use the potty. It was even BETTER to be able to say she'd had not a single accident!

Well, at about bedtime, the inevitable happened: accident numero uno. But, we talked about how it was okay when we are learning, and we just put on a new pair of undies (she was so sad to see her favorite pair not be wearable anymore though)

I was nervous for over night, but I didn't need to be! She did great, no accidents all night long! She even agreed to try going potty when she first woke up at 5:00 this morning, although, as you can see, she was not quite ready for the day yet!

As the day went on, she refused to go potty at all until about 10:30 this morning, when she just couldn't hold it any longer and went all over the bathroom floor. Then, we had a successful try at about 11:30. Since then, no more successes. And a few more accidents.

I have to admit, I was getting annoyed. She would sit there, for 5 minutes or more, and adamantly say she didn't have to go. Then, she would stand up, and we would have an accident to clean up within 20 seconds! So, I thought I was being smart when I gathered all the potty books and told her she needed to sit on the potty the whole time I took a shower. This is what happened instead:

It was good for me to peek out the shower curtain to see my little naked girl asleep on the floor. It reminded me that she is so so sweet, and even if she is telling me she is done trying, she is not purposefully trying to tick me off by going on the floor. It reminded me that she is 2, not 20. And it reminded me to just be patient.

So, we are still working on it, but I am doing it with a better outlook then I had when I started the whole thing. I know eventually, one day, it will happen!

So Far....

Right now, Morgan is blissfully sleeping. I am not sure whether she is aware of what the rest of the day holds for her or not...

Its been an exciting day to this point! We've opened a brand new baby doll present, named it Oreo (chosen by Morgan), and successfully taught the baby to pee and poo in the potty. Morgan has decided that chocolate frosting on a baby doll's bum is something NOT to be touched (which, I kind of have to say I agree with her) We have done the COOLEST potty celebration dances, complete with jumps, kicks, and conga lines. Then, we threw a pretty good party for that stinkin doll to let it know how proud we were.

NOW, I get to do it all again with Morgan! When she wakes up, we are tossing out the diapers, pulling up the big girl undies, and drinking juice till we just can't take any more! Then, heaven willing, the potty training extravaganza goes as smoothly as it did with the doll!!!!!!! Lets hope! (and will somebody please find me an energy drink thats safe for pregnant women? Cause I'm exausted already!!!!!)

I'll update you when I know how the rest of the day goes!

SOS- Calling all Moms!

Okay, so I need help here! Morgan has got me ready to put on those crazy nose and eyebrow disguise glasses, change my name and move to another state! (So its not that bad) BUT I CANNOT STAND THIS ANYMORE!!!!!!!!!!

She has hit the two year old stage 110% and I have to say, I love it. Most of the time. However, if I have to hear another, "Why?" after I simply say something like, "Morgan, do not touch the stove, its hot and it will burn you" (which, come on, is that statement NOT self explanatory????) then I am going to freak. Lose it. Go off the deep end. All of the above!

So, if you have any advice (AND I AM PRAYING YOU DO) please, please, PLEASE share with me how to stop the, "Why, Mommy, Why?"

I could not ask for more

I was just looking over a friend's blog when Morgan came over to me at the computer and started trying to forcefully place herself on my lap. She was climbing all over the chair like crazy, and she lost her footing and fell, rather awkwardly, to the floor. I scooped her up as my friend's blog started playing the song, "I could not ask for more" by Sara Evans.

As I sat there trying to calm Morgan after the fall, I cuddled her in my arms with her blanket like I used to when she first came along to change our life forever. She softly stroked my cheek while I sang the words,

"These are the moments, I thank God that I'm alive. These are the moments I'll remember all my life... yeah right here in this moment is right where I'm meant to be... "

And of course the tears came.

There I sat, with my sweet, sweet girl nearly falling asleep in my arms and I realized that while sometimes we have so many seemingly huge problems in our lives, there's no better fix than the small moments with our children. I know the biggest gift the Lord has ever given me is the opportunity to be a mother.

With the new baby coming, I find myself having the same fears I had when I was expecting Morgan, but with a new spin. With Morgan I was so afraid I would not have the inexplicable love that every mother describes. That fear, obviously, was unfounded. Now I find myself wondering, "How is it even possible for me to love another person as much as I love this one? Can I really share this love between two souls?"

I am shocked everyday at the ability my heart has to grow. Honestly, with some of the things Morgan does, I don't know how it doesn't burst inside my chest. With that knowledge, I think I can assume somehow I will be able to love this next baby as much as I love my first.

"I could not ask for more than this time together, I could not ask for more than this time with you, every prayer has been answered...and I could not ask for more."