Potty Talk

Well, my world has changed a bit. We had Spring Break last week, so we decided we needed to take a very serious turn with trying to potty train while we had a chance. We're at a week now, and thankfully I think we're past the worst of it. It was definitely a hell week. In retrospect, I'm glad we did it, and now that I've adjusted my expectations, I think we're doing well. We've heard a lot of tips and methodology. It's amazing to me how few people who had really easy experiences really recognize that they are unusual and fortunate. However, lots of stories of kids who took lots of time and had their own way of doing things have surfaced--making me both grateful that our experience is normal and frustrated that there's no way around this being a difficult experience at some level. I remember being in labor with Lucy and the nurses were talking about how awful potty training was, and I've been dreading it ever since. But now I think we'll just keep taking baby steps forward.

In other news, we went to the dentist, and it went awesome! I was sure I'd brought the wrong child--she was excited to go, she was cheerful and cute, she followed all instructions, and not only did she let them count her teeth (which was really my goal), but she let them floss AND polish her teeth! Dr. Winter (a saint, by the way), asked her to smell the tooth polish (some kind of fruity something), and she goes, "MMM! Fresh tomato!" =) We left with Lucy saying, "Mommy, ishwee (can we) go back and see Dr. Winter again??" Seriously. She owed me one, though.

It could be the potty thing, but I am wondering if I'm entering 3rd trimester sleepiness early. Yesterday I felt like someone had drugged me I was so tired, and today is only a wee bit better. Let's hope the nesting thing kicks back in soon!

By the way, pictures are from Easter. =)

Resurrection Weekend

I love Easter more and more as the years go by, I think. For several years in a row now, I think 6 or 7, we have chosen to celebrate at our own church rather than travel to be with family. This just seems like the right holiday to be "our" holiday. When my sister lived close, their family came up for Easter lunch with us, which I miss. But I've also been highly involved at church in the last several years, too. I used to help with the Easter Brunch, but somehow I got involved doing the flowers for the brunch and sanctuary. This makes my family (and me) laugh, because of all the members of our family (minus my brother), I have the black thumb. But somehow every year it seems to work out. As I discovered today "I'm best at arranging FOR the flowers, not so much in actually arranging them."

This year we are in our new sanctuary, which is decorated in earthy tones, so the options are a little more limited. In addition, it's a huge space, so smaller flowers will get lost. But then the new huge stage is completely jammed this year with an orchestra and choir (which I get to sing with! Yay!). So. With on the advice of the church's wedding coordinator and the ordering help of a wonderful florist in my church, we went with 3 arrangements of lepto, which is a flowering branch. So pretty! We also got 5 big ferns, and I put in a few bits of lepto here and there to give the appearance that they are about to blossom, and to tie them in with the big arrangements. Then a greenery garland for the cross--next year I will either ask them to put some kind of flower in with it or else I will get white fabric to drape underneath the garland. I like it, but have even higher hopes for it next year.

Pictures aren't great, but here they are!

The rosebud next to the ferns is for baby Levi, who just came home on Thursday from China with dear friends, the Clarks!

The lepto arrangements... the copper pots are from Cindy, the florist. Nice choice!


The cross-- on Good Friday, it was draped with black fabric, so it's neat to have it draped with something living!!


You can see the grand scale this is all on now. My little efforts look pretty small. But I'm delighted that they at least contribute to a celebration, the occasion of which delights in even our humble offerings.