Daddy

(I won't be around a computer for the next week, so my Father's Day post is a little early)

This is my all time favorite picture with my Daddy.Yes, I still call him Daddy because I'm still his little girl and it's a southern thing. I knew on my wedding day that I would dance to Butterfly Kisses with him and when the moment arrived, I was flooded with emotions. It was the sweetest moment and yet the hardest at the same time. I would be leaving my childhood behind and embracing life as a married woman. This was the first I would ever dance with him and it has left a lasting impression since.

Thank you Daddy for setting a daily example of what it's like to follow the Lord with all of your heart. Everyday you made sure that we knew that you loved us and made time for us. I remember our father-daughter dates to this day. Thank you for loving Mama unconditionally and showing us what a marriage should like. Thank you for taking Adam into our family and treating him as a son. I love that ya'll are close and he can call you whenever. Thank you for being an excellent Granddad to all of your grandchildren. You make sure to spend time with each of them, even one on one. I know it means a lot to them as well, when they talk about you and their adventures with you constantly. Most of all, thank you for making me your daughter. I love you!

Crazy hair & popsicles

Last week while potty training Taylor, I captured two pictures of her eating a Popsicle. She had just woken up from her nap and I put her hair up really fast so it wouldn't get sticky. She was a hot mess. Clearly she wasn't keen on having her picture taken at first, but eventually she caved in.

Ten on Tuesday

Thanks Chelsea for another week of ToT questions.

1. How do you pronounce the word aunt? Does your pronunciation rhyme with ‘haunt’ or ‘can’t'?
With can't. I'm from the south and it's rare to hear it rhyme with "haunt."

2. Do most of the people in your life know you blog? Or are you partially or totally anonymous?
Yes, and if they don't it's not because I hide it.

3. When you grocery shop, do you prefer to bag your own groceries or do you like it when the store bags them for you? Paper, plastic, or reusable bags?
I prefer to have them bagged for me. It's much easier, especially when shopping with two little one's and that soon will be three. I missed this luxury in California. The grocery store I went to had you bag your own groceries. I just think it holds up lines.

4. Do you have a green thumb?
We have an area set up for a garden in our backyard and we haven't done a single thing with it. Yes, I like a green yard and for it to look a certain way. Do I know anything about fertilizing or planting...absolutely not. One day I hope to have a vegetable garden, but I'm a little busy right now and it's been over a 100 degrees for a week now.

5. If you watch the Food Network, which chef/show host is your favorite? I love the network, but don't watch it as much as I would like. I like Giada.

6. Do you like to take baths? Do you take them very often?
Yes, they are very relaxing but I like really hot bath's and showers and they aren't very good for you when pregnant. So I only take one maybe once every two to three months.
7. What color are the walls in your kitchen?
White. We are currently renting and I don't want to invest the time or energry if we aren't going to be here long term.

8. Do you prefer to dine outdoors or indoors?
I love eating outdoors as long as I'm not surrounded by flies or really warm temperatures.

9. Describe your ideal weather.
In the mid 80s, sunny with a breeze.

10. If you could learn any foreign language, which would you choose to learn?
I took French in High School and loved it. I would like try to learn Italian.

22 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights

How far along: 22 Weeks

Size of Baby: 11 inches - about the size of a spaghetti squash

Total Weight Loss/Gain: Gained a total of 13lbs.

Maternity Clothes: Everything except Summer dresses and some of my tops

Gender: It's a girl!

Movement: Anytime I'm sitting down or laying down. She is really active and likes to make her presence known.

What I miss: Laying on my stomach at night.

Cravings: Anything spicy.

Symptoms: Heartburn - I made the mistake of using the generic brand of my heartburn medicine since I ran out of my Zantac. I was miserable last week. I'm too the point where I sleep propped up at night. I finally went out and bought Zantac and it made a big difference. Still have frequent bathroom breaks.

Best Moment of the Week: Knowing that Peyton will be the only one in diapers at my house. Taylor is fully potty trained and hasn't had any accidents since her first day of training. She stays dry during nap time and is close to be night time trained.

Potty Training Taylor Day 3

We had another successful day of potty training. I'm pretty sure she has it down pat. There were no accidents again, which makes two days in a row of Taylor being accident free! I'm so proud of her.

This morning, I decided to fully dress her, instead of having her run around in her underwear all day. I was a little nervous, but she did fine. After breakfast, she told me she had to go poopy. When I helped her on the toilet, she kind of battled with me. I explained that everyone she knows poopy's in the potty. Then she did it and I was screaming with joy. Who would have thought my child pooping in the toilet would bring about this kind of exciting.

Friends are Friends Forever

While visiting my girls in Bakersfield, I realized something that I didn't really want to admit to myself for a long time, I'm lonely. There are five of us girls that are pretty close and our families always did things together. All of our kids were around the same age and it was nice to have friends that could relate to you on that level.

The past year has been a bit of a transition for every single one of us. One of the girls returned back to working full-time after their youngest began Kindergarten. Another went back to school to get her Masters and begin full-time subbing. One found out she was expecting her fourth child, which would make four children four and under. Another friend sent her oldest to Kindergarten and I began the process of preparing for a move back to Texas.

The time we spent talking on the phone, having play dates, and hanging out had started to slow down. Part of it was also the fact that we all kind of pulled away knowing how hard this transition would be and not really sure how to handle it all. However, we still made sure to get together atleast once a month for girls night, but it wasn't the same.

A few months after our move, I started to get the winter blues. I missed the California sunshine and most of all I missed my girls. When we found out we were expecting, I missed having my girls here. Sure I can call them on the phone anytime, but with the time change and the busyness of everyone's schedule, I didn't know when to call.

With this pregnancy, I have been extremely emotional. Anything and everything can make my cry. While in Bakersfield, we went to see Bridesmaids and it was HILARIOUS yet I still cried during one scene.

Being back with my girls over Memorial Day weekend fed my soul. I have missed those girls and didn't realize how much until Jayme & I started talking, which ended in hugging and having an ugly cry. She & I were having a hard time with everything and sometimes you don't realize it until it's gone. Sitting around talking with everyone felt normal, like I had never left.

I'm so thankful for these women that God has put in my life. There is no doubt that we will be lifetime friends. There are still days when I'm lonely, but now that things are starting to slow down, hopefully we will be able to get out and meet new friends.

Potty Training Taylor Day 2

I fully expected to wake up this morning and have it be a bit of a struggle. With Mason, the second day was the hardest, so I assumed it would be the same. I guess every child is different because it was the complete opposite.

Yesterday, I spaced out her going every 15 minutes and this morning I decided to try every 30 to 45 minutes. I think I only set the timer twice the entire day. I reminded her to tell me if she needed to go and I took her when she showed signs of needing to go or when she told me. She didn't have one single accident today! I was so proud of her.

She still hasn't pooped and I have been loading her full of things that can help with that. I think she ate her weight in fruit today. I'm not going to worry about it just yet. If she hasn't gone by Thursday, then I'll worry. I did a little research and saw that it was normal for a child to go at least three times a week her age. She isn't really an every day poop girl anyway.

Interested to see what Day 3 holds. Each day is a whole new ball game.