It's Pouring..

I love the rain.

 

I really love it when it stays warm enough that we can go out and play in the rain.

 

The girls love it too.

 

I also forgot how much I love my camera and taking pictures.

 

I think the cold weather makes it harder to get out the camera.

 

*******

 

This picture makes my heart almost burst out of my chest. These little girls are just two peas.

 

Oh my Sloanie.  

 

Did I mention I'm 32 weeks along??? 8 weeks until my due date. I wonder when he'll come. It rained the day Maddox was born. Maybe this little guy will wait for a rainy day too.

No Pressure Here.

I've tried to potty train Sloane several different times.

SEVERAL.

I think one round we got up to 15ish accidents right in a row, not a single success.

Frustrating.

I kept telling myself that it wasn't the end of the world if she wasn't potty trained by the time the baby came. However, I couldn't quit thinking about it! I was literally having nightmares that she wouldn't be potty trained before school started.

Potty training was especially hard with Sloane because I couldn't figure out how to get her to try! Sloane has her own agenda. She likes things a certain way and NO ONE can tell her differently. For the most part, she's a really good kid. But, if you make her mad, she will show you her crazy side. She does not like to be pressured.

The first day we set the timer and made her take a potty break every 30 minutes. By the end of the day, we had lots of success - but I was also about ready to throw the timer against the wall.

This wasn't going to work.

I finally decided I would potty train her using Pull-Ups exclusively. (GASP!) I know, a lot of people think that this is the worst strategy in the entire world. I did not care. I decided to go for a "Low Pressure" strategy. I put her in a Pull Up, told her where the potty was and gave her a Potty Jar (from Potty Fairy). The rules were simple: Anyone who went potty, got something out of the potty jar - including Holynd. Potty Jar was filled with candy and little toys. If you did REALLY well, you got presents from the Potty Fairy too.

I sat Potty Jar on the counter in the bathroom and waited.

Holynd came upstairs to go potty. Sloane was right behind her. Holynd went and got something out of the jar. Sloane was FURIOUS.

I just looked at her and shrugged my shoulders. "Sorry. The Potty Fairy said that only girls who go potty get a prize from the Potty Jar". Sloane couldn't figure out what to do. She couldn't get mad at me - I wasn't the Potty Fairy. She couldn't get mad at Holynd either.

So, she decided to start using the potty.

We've had 2 accidents in a week. She's been totally fine going when were out too.

We have yet to conquer the #2, but I heard a rumor that Potty Fairy was working on a strategy for that dilemma. I think I've underestimated how independent Sloane is. I've also realized that Sloane really hated when she felt like I was the one making her go potty. Having an outside influence, like the Potty Fairy, really helped. She's completely fine listening to Matt or I when we can give a valid reason for why we need her to do something, but when it came to potty training, Sloane just couldn't see the logic behind the whole thing.

So now we sit and wait.

Will she regress?

I don't know. I hope not. Holynd did SEVERAL times. It was frustrating, but at least now I know that I can survive through an episode of regression. I just hope she doesn't regress until after this baby is born. My pregnant nerves can only handle so much.

The Goal of Motherhood.

I haven't really thought about my education recently.

When I graduated, I was pregnant with Sloane and I knew that I wouldn't be returning for some time.

I struggled with that realization because I really enjoyed school. I loved my major and I loved learning.

I have now realized that there was so much more to learn from Motherhood, but I still don't feel like my education was a "waste". I actually hate when people say things like that.

Getting an education is NEVER a waste. There is value in being educated.

Having two daughters, I know that the conversation about education and motherhood will eventually come up. Honestly, I'm nervous for the topic. While being a mom is the greatest joy I think I will ever know, I still feel extremely blessed that I was able to go to school and graduate.

Today I read an article by Heather Hale that really summed up my feelings on the subject.

I wanted to record my favorite part for the day when this topic comes up.

"Motherhood is the most noble, challenging and intellectually stimulating profession on the planet. Mothers have to be a teacher, counselor, mediator, organizer, financial planner and judge all the time, every day. It takes planning and creativity to manage a household, and it takes patience and perseverance to raise the next generation.

What I learned in school went far beyond what I learned in class. Participating in study groups helped me learn to teach and counsel with others. Juggling classes and my job and a husband taught me how to organize and manage my finances. My classes pushed me intellectually, which expanded my creativity and forced me to plan my time wisely. Beyond everything else, working four years toward a single goal taught me patience and perseverance which, hopefully, prepared me in my quest to raise the next generation.

...I chose to go to college, knowing full well that I wanted to stay home with my children, because I understood that motherhood was going to be hard. Raising children is hard, whether or not you choose to stay home, and it is going to take every ounce of wisdom and perseverance you can muster. If you have the chance to pursue higher education, take it.

If college is not an option for you, read all you can, stay up to date with current events, pick up a newspaper, and seek information that will help you grow intellectually. Your children need you to be the very best you that you can be, because you will be the entire world to them. You have within you the power to inspire them to be the best they can be. And isn't that the goal of motherhood?" http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=24774499&nid=1009&title=a-case-for-educated-stay-at-home-moms&fm=home_page&s_cid=featured-5"

I really do believe that my education plays a part in how I parent. The pressure of motherhood can be so overwhelming at times. There are quite a few times during the week where I draw energy just from the experiences I had while in school. Remembering the stress of finals week, the very week before I had Holynd, has really helped me through some overwhelming days.

But more then that, receiving my degree was something I really really wanted just for myself. I want my girls to know that you don't have to choose one or the other. You just have to figure out how to make it work and then make it happen. It might be a really slow process, stressful at times, but if education is something you are passionate about then go for it. It's never a waste.

Dear Sanity...

Dear Sanity...

I miss you. Very very much. I said goodbye to you about two days ago when we started potty training. I'm being told that one day you will return, but I think you'll stay absent until after this baby comes.

It may be a very long 9.5 weeks.

Sanity, Sloane has tested your endurance since birth. I don't blame you for leaving. She's been really reluctant to potty train. On our last attempt, she basically launched a full-on rebellion against potty training. I'm not going to lie, I was kinda hoping she'd continue to rebel at the beginning of this attempt too. She seems willing, but wants to run the entire show. You know how I hate to give up control, Sanity. Oh I hate it!

So here I am. Sanity-less. Counting down the minutes until Matt gets home. He may find me locked in my bedroom, screaming into a pillow by then.

On a positive note, she hasn't had an accident today, but the day isn't over yet.

Wish me luck Sanity.

Love,
Me.

This is it....

My baby is asleep.

My girls are playing in the pantry.

Yes, the pantry.

Our pantry isn't huge, but that's where they've decided to play.

Sloane says she's giving Holynd a haircut. Holynd says that the "Haircut Store" also has cupcakes for sale.

Sounds like my type of Haircut Store.

They're completely content.

They're using pencils as scissors and cans of soup as cupcakes. They don't care that they don't have the exact materials to make their idea more realistic.

In a world where we're always told that we need MORE - I hope I can teach them that's being content with what you have is just as wonderful.

Soup Can Cupcakes and all.