What we're up to.

G and I are visiting my parents for the week while J is at home doing A LOT of work with upgrades and an inspection. Besides a little bump along the way with some snow on Saturday, we're having a wonderful time with Sissy, Boo-ah, and Pa-pa.

Also, we put our house on the market last week and we've already accepted an offer. Unfortunately, we're waiting on the appraisal (yikes!) to make sure everything is good-to-go. If we sell, we'll move out for 5 months until we head to Las Vegas. Maybe on base, maybe an apartment, maybe in the spare bedroom of a friend who LOVES our close-knit company :-). I'll keep you updated!

Why I love NOLA!

This time of year in NOLA makes everything else totally worth it!!! G and I went to the park Uptown today and it was awesome! On the flip side, I'm disappointed everytime we go over the bridge that we didn't figure out a way to live over there. I like our house fine, its new and easy to maintain, blah, blah, blah. BUT, there is nothing like St. Charles Ave. and Audobon Park in the springtime!!!

Potty training

I've decided its time. BUM, BUM, BUM!!!! Yes, we will be potty training. This afternoon G and I will be going to Barnes and Noble to get the Babywise potty training book. Yesterday, I bought underwear (Dora of course) and pull-ups (also Dora) and G helped pick them out. We fussed over what a big girl she is getting to be. I might also have to make a stop on the way home to get anything else the Pottywise book suggests. I know that I could probably do this on my own without reading a book but the 1st Babywise book gave me the confidence I was seriously lacking when G was a newborn so I'm hoping that this will be similar. If I'm confident, she'll do better, right?

I have a couple reasons for thinking the time is right. Its not because I don't like changing diapers. I don't mind at all in fact. Changing 4-5 a day right now seems WAY easier than cleaning up accidents, washing extra laundry, and carrying around a change of clothes again. But, I don't want her to be kept out of kindergarten because she can't do her business :-) So, back to my reasons for starting now. First, she likes to be diaper-free so maybe she'll like the feel of undies instead of her bulky diaper. Also, she'll usually "go" 3 out of 4 times when I set her on the toilet. Lately, she's been asking to go potty when she's at the gym day care. She's never done that at home but she's almost always willing when I suggest it. Also, I'm afraid that if it takes a LONG time, she'll slip back into accidents after the new baby comes or not be done training at all by then. Ahhhh! Two different sizes of diapers!!! I still remember the 12-14 diapers a day in those first couple of months...no thank you!

I've read that the Pottywise method can be done in 4 days if that's all you do. Well, I've got 4 days my friends. So lets get to it! If anyone has any suggestions on tips/tricks/treats that worked well let me know!

Update...
So, being the super-smart mommy that I am, I decided to check my local B&N before driving over there to see if they have the book I want. And, no such luck. So, we will not "officially" start our potty training until I get the stupid book. Plus, I do not want to order it because I like thumbing through stuff before I purchase. Plus G likes to play with the train set at the bookstore. Bummer.

Maternity Clothes...

So, I've given in and I'm wearing maternity clothes. Well, the pants at least (not the tops yet). I have a few reasons (justifications) for why this is happening a FULL 3 weeks earlier than when I was pregnant with MMG:
1) I was more fit when I got pregnant last time. Everything held in place a little longer. And, I'm older (almost 30!) and I think I can blame it partially on age!!! (What this is going to mean for the shape of my belly as it expands is yet to be seen but I'm not really looking forward to it!)
2) I remember what a relief it was to put on the stretchy pants from last time. During my first pregnancy, I was convinced that wearing my regular clothes for as long as possible awarded me some kind of pregnancy badge of honor. So, I put rubber bands around my buttons or just suffered through feeling a little smooshed. This time, I just said "forget it!" I can still get into (most of) my regular jeans but any time I eat I feel like a 75 year old man and want to undo my top button. Not worth it. These stretchy waisted jeans are just too comfy.
3) It was summer at this time when I was pregnant before so I was wearing dresses, skirts, and tie-waisted capris. They weren't maternity clothes per se but afforded me more room than the regular jeans required by the 45 degrees its been lately.

Now, with all that being said, I'm sure there are some of you (you're thinking it, don't deny it) that can't believe I'm already big enough for my chubster clothes. But, I want to point out something crucial. Something a "friend" of mine made me realize. She was explaining to me recently that she didn't start wearing maternity clothes until she was 25 weeks. Weeeeeeeelllll, aren't you wonderful?!? But, what she needs to know is that I don't wear super-de-duper low-rise jeans. And, I think the world thanks me for this. I am not 19. SHE is not 19! Yet we are all graced with more plumbers crack from her than anyone has actually ever seen from a plumber.

Which brings me to my final justification for busting out the maternity clothes.
4) I don't wear jeans that ride only an inch above my hoo-ha.

This "friend" probably "should" have been able to wear those low-rise jeans her whole pregnancy but 75 pounds later, her ankle wouldn't even fit in her former size 10s. So ha! Sorry if that sounds mean but I wasn't feeling so nice as she sneakily made me feel cruddy about myself as she heralded her own not-so-awesome bod. Yes, I'm wearing stretchy pants but I feel ok with it (even though I'm wondering what I was thinking with some of this stuff I bought last time and feel that I need a whole new pregancy wardrobe). Come on warmer weather! Shapeless, comfy sundresses here I come!!!