What's Next...

Watch this clip!



We have been potty training Natalie off and on for the last year. It has been a struggle for us. Probably one of the hardest things I have had to do as a parent so far. There have been days that her and I have both been in tears and I thought she would never go. We have tried giving stickers, tootie rolls, prizes, you name it-if she would just go potty. After booking a service in Orlando a few months ago, we decided to go to Disney for a few days. We thought that maybe we could use that as a potty training "reward". So I have been telling her that Cinderella did not allow pullups at her castle and that she needed to go potty like a big girl.

Today-almost one week to the day (we leave next Tuesday) she went potty!! I am sure that in the next few weeks there will be some accidents... but I can say that Natalie Courtney will be going to Disney World in her princess undies, with her head held high, and her pants dry!

kids say the funniest things

we were getting ready to leave tonight; Natalie had not been feeling well today, and so she had stayed in her pj's all day. Stephen was on his way to the hotel to pick us up and get some food with some friends. I said to Natalie "lets throw some clothes on you so you can be ready when daddy gets here." She replies "Momma, thats not being very nice to the clothes, they won't like that..."

and
every time we leave our room she asks "I want to push the button for the ella-gator."

Milking it!

the setup:

Its 10pm. Getting ready to leave from District Council.

Natalie and I were exiting the bathroom, opening the door together when "ouch"!

Natalie stubbed her toe. Actually it was more like tears pouring, loud screaming and blood all over my (new) white shirt...I had picked her up.

I sympathize and say something like "oh, honey... so sorry. Are you okay?"

"NO!" (still crying and screaming)...at this point I didn't see the blood.

We enter the hall and are headed to daddy and friends who are talking, when my friend points out the blood. Looking down I see that half of my daughters toe nail is missing and blood is pouring out (okay, that may be a little dramatic). I scoop her up (tears and screaming still) and return to the bathroom.

My friend gets her a band-aid and we get her cleaned up. We return to the hall and get our stuff gathered up (still crying).

Daddy carries her to the car.

Once in the car we decide to stop at Starbucks, Natalie asks for a kids milk (she still has tears)

We stop at Starbucks, feeling guilty for what happened I return with a CHOCOLATE kids milk!

Need I say that she milked that injury for all it was worth! And she says "mommy this is good!"

getting bigger...

everyday I look at my kids and think "where did the days go?"

both of them are doing new things each day. Natalie is doing many big girl things and Landon is learning to sit up and roll over. Landon is cooing while Natalie is talking about what it means to be a missionary.

Daily I wish that I could stop the clock and keep them from growing. Yet growing is part of the fun... its what makes me laugh everyday. Like when Natalie smears pizza across her face when learning to pick it up rather than eat it cut up or when Landon splashes water everywhere during his bath because he gets so excited. And it makes me smile when I see Natalie being a great big sister reading to Landon on the floor!

So instead of stopping the hands of time, I am just going to savor each moment, everyday...

here is some pictures and videos from the last few days of fun.

i'm following the leader...

as I am writing this i'm thinking "I am not a writer, so why am I doing this?"

one reason...

everybodys blogging! So I thought if everybody's doing it so should I!

So yes, I admit I am follower.

I am following my husband as he leads our family in the journey GOD has for us, and following JESUS as he leads my life... I just pray that my children learn to be followers too!