Potty Training Day 1

Today was the official Day 1. Don't worry I won't update you everyday...as with past experience I'm sure I may have to take a break and start fresh again...I wasn't sure I was going to do it, until I realized that she's probably ready if I put forth the effort. She did really great on Monday afternoon, totally went in the potty all evening. Today, well she held it in a lot. We sat on the potty about a bajillion times.

True Story:

So, today I was home ALL day with LJ and Memm. I was on top of LIFE. I was a good little mum. Talked to the kids, folded laundry all day, took Memm to the potty the bajillion times we spoke of. LJ went on a visit with his Grandpa so I decided to run a few quick errands and left Hubbs with Memm. Hubbs was downstairs with STRICT instructions to ask Memm if she needed to potty and to TAKE her every once in a while.

I get home about 1.5 hours later to Memm walking up the stairs from the basement. She says to me:

"Mom, I poot in my calcinha." (Mom, I pooed in my panties.)

"Memm, why didn't you tell Daddy that you needed to poop on the potty?"

"Daddy watching TV."

Rolling on the floor laughing my butt off. You should have seen the look of guilt on Hubb's face. Needless to say he had to change the Pull Up.

Bringing me to my final thought for the evening. Pull Ups oddly enough did work for Jobby. I'm hoping they will for Memm too. Right before bed she tells me, "These are not diapers, they are panties." We'll see how tomorrow goes.

Potty Training. Gah.

Just Now:

In regard to "Pull Ups Training Pants".

Me: "Okay Memm, let's not get these underwear wet or dirty...we don't want to get the princesses yucky."

Memm: "It's not a underwear, it's a diaper."

She's smarter than I realized.

My heart melts...

...sometimes with this little boy. Tonight he says to me, "Mom, I'm LJ's big brother huh?"

Totally litte man...you are. One of THE best big brothers EVER.

For. Real.

I was going through some photographs tonight and came across this. Ron and Jessica sent it to me FOREVER ago...I guess they found it on one of their many trips 'cross country.

Love...

...shots like these.

T-minus 90 minutes and counting...

To say I'm obsessed, well...that would be putting it lightly.

Heart Sick.

Amy? Did you take this?

Do you guys ever feel heart sick? Like your heart feels like it is going to break into a million tiny pieces? I have three different people/families that my heart is just aching for. So much so that I feel SICK to my stomach when I think about all the trial they are going through, and all the trial that they may potentially be going through.

I long to take that ache away. I pray and hope that they don't have to go through so much heartache and sorrow, and yet, as I have gone through my own trials in life, I have seen how they have shaped me, moulded me, and brought me to the place I am in today. Do you think this is how Father feels?

He doesn't want to see us hurting, wishes and wants to take the pain away, but he just can't because he sees the whole picture?

Will you all pray for my friends? Pray for their families? Even though you don't know them? I'm so thankful for all of my blog friends, for all you are, for all you do. For me, and for those you have never met and will never meet! So very thankful for you.

I FOUND IT!!!

MY RING!!

THANKS YOU GUYS...I know it was because so many of you prayed that I would. And it was, in THE most random place EVER! In a pocket, of the cutest jacket I own, that I would have NEVER put my ring in. I'm so happy to have it back!

Going to miss...

These moments... The moments when I would catch all three of them like this. Playing, laughing, loving one another. These moments have been becoming more and more frequent. We find ourselves getting very teary at the thought of next week. Next week this little man could be gone.
And my heart that was so fearful of his arrival, is weeping at his departure. We love you little LJ. Thank you for touching our lives and our hearts with your presence.

It is amazing to me...the power of LOVE. The power of Adoption. The power of Foster Care. Heavenly Father designed the heart so perfectly. Something that is so easily broken, is so easily repaired by another's love, so easily grown and sewn back together to only burst to overflowing with more LOVE.

Love is a pretty cool thing.

:(

About a week ago I lost my wedding ring. I can't find it. ANYWHERE. I have CLEANED, like DEEP cleaned my ENTIRE house. GONE. NADA. NOTHING. Sick. I am just sick.

Spring is Here...

...I saw proof of it in the blossoms on the trees. FINALLY trees. Thank you!

We've had a busy day. Tomorrow is no exception. It is a good busy. A happy busy.

Tonight we had a really fun ward adult activity. It was themed, "Blast to the Past". We got to dress up from any era. It rawked. We took a few photographs but I am too lazy and tired to go get the card right now.

Off to bed, have a bright, early, and full day ahead of me.

Hope your day is full of sunshine.

Easter. I know you were a month ago.

Is anyone else like, really mad at Blogger? I hate the new photo upload system. Bah.



Anyway. Easter. These were the day before LJ came. (Can I just tell you how FRUSTRATING it is not to post photos of him? I took a few today of his feet. So at least you can see he is a real little guy. Back on track: I loved coloring eggs with my kiddos. I love that they are getting old enough now where everything is magical to them. I love how patiently they waited for the eggs to color. I love how much they devoured the fruits of their labor. I love their expressions, especially J-Man on that last shot. He kills me. Ooo I love him.



So, like, FOUR months ago, I bought Adobe Lightroom. I used it FOR THE FIRST TIME tonight. Guess what? I think I LOVE IT. I saved AND edited 50 RAW files and saved them to JPEGS in 4 minutes. FOUR. 4. QUATRO. Dude, I am sold. Now I just need to figure it out. I may say I edited them, I didn't say they looked good. ;)

Pearl Harbor

It snowed today.

Oh flip flops. How I miss you.

Foster Care

I guess I should have waited to update y'all about little LJ. Got a call today. Change is coming it seems.

Visits have been extended to four times a week, and for longer periods of time. I can handle that. After seeing how happy and excited he was to see mom today, I was happy they would have more time together.

I've really come to love LJ's family. I love his grandfather specifically and especially. I am concerned for them, for his mom. They are SO full of love, it is just sad that some things in life create a barrier to the things that are most important. It is my prayer that LJ's mom can find the strength to push forth, and that little LJ will always know how much he is loved, wanted and needed in this life, especially when he leaves us.

He wasn't feeling the greatest today, he had a fever today and since he had seen his mom, was fighting his nap. I went in and just talked to him, caressed his little face until his eyes closed. My mind kept wandering to his mom. I keep thinking about if I were in her position, I would hope that if my kids were in someone else's care, there would be someone there to give them lots of hugs, lots of kisses, and extra time and care if they were sick. My heart has grown SO much through this experience, and each day is getting easier. It is very much worth it.

Guilty pleasures. Got any?

I love how reflective of my mood these photographs were today. Right down to the colors. Kind of crazy. I've really been indulging myself with some of my guilty pleasures lately. Here are a few of them: Magazines, but GOOD photography magazines particularly. I found this one and I am IN LOVE with it. The images, the layout, the design, it kicks.
Shoes. For some reason I am loving open toe heels. I hated when my mom wore them when I was little. I guess I love them because it gives me a reason to indulge in my other guilty pleasure: Pedicures.
Joico Firm Hairspray. I'm addicted thanks to my cousin Jill. She may remember back in jr. high and high school I detested the almighty hair spray. Now, I bow to it.
Again, something I thought was SO gross when I would see anyone eating it. With a hubby with it as his favorite candy, it was only a matter of time and somehow I tried one, and now we can't stop. (We can, we just don't want to.) There is something about the little package and the triangular shape that is totally awesome too.
And finally the red pear. Pretty much love them to pieces. Love the flavor, love the color, love to hold them in my hand and smell them. A bowl of these to look at, is way better than any bouquet of flowers.

What are your guilty pleasures?

Is anyone...

...as sick about our choice of candidates for the presidency as I am? I'm just not feeling anyone. Am I alone in this?

I'm not sure why, but it has been occupying my mind a lot. It just feels like the more I research and the more I learn, I feel less confident in someone to run our country.

Grandma's house kicks...

These are from a month ago. We go visit my step-mom and my little brother's a few times each month, but for sure, every Fast Sunday. The kids love playing with all of "Grandma Lorraine's Toys".

'specially the Tinker Toys

Here is my adorable nephew Viktor. He is SO smart, and Jothan and Memms love to play with him. Love the look Emms is giving him here...
And this shot is to die for. I just love him so much. He looks so much like my brother here it is intense.
More stuff for me than for you. I need to catch up on my personal stuff, and these just stood out to me tonight! Hope everyone is doing well. ;)