Potty training, camping

well, that was a wash. I had a long, detailed post for you, but then my PC froze up and I lost it all. Here is what I said, in a nutshell

J. is near fully potty trained, after two days of accidents, he has now had two days in the clear! we are going to practice with all his clothing on today (he has just been in undies and a t shirt the last few days) as we are going camping last-minute. we will be in a Cabin (woo hoo) with its own bathroom (even better!) Our church goes up every year this time, and we have missed the last 3 years due to babies/pregnancy. But having access to a cabin is a "game changer" for me! Just have to pack food and clothing and bedding of course! I can't wait!! I will try and take pictures and figure out how to work our new-to-us camera on this PC.

Well, I have a lot to do today, as I fell behind on housework during the potty training. Gotta clean the whole house, catch up on laundry and pack!

Potty training disaster

So, I decided to potty train both my boys at once, using the three day method my cousin Sharon recommended...It worked quite well for her daughter. Well, doing two at once was a total disaster. Garrett was back at work and I had quite a few hilarious/annoying potty spills. I did learn some valuable info, however. My boys are on a very similar schedule. When I would catch one and put him on the potty, the other would immediately have an accident. I quickly learned to herd them both into the bathroom and close the door! S. would retreat to the corner and pee while I was helping J. The funniest/most stressful moment came when we were doing dishes. S. was playing in the water and started to go, I quickly snatched him up and ran to the potty, I sat him down and he stopped. we waited a bit, changed him and went back only for him to repeat the performance FOUR more times. Apparently the child cannot pee unless he is standing up. J. my three year old did not fare much better, I was often quite distracted with little brother and missed opportunities with him as well. He did stay dry during nap, but had an accident while climbing out of his bed (right onto the changing table, I might add) we will soon see if he made it through the night.
For the sake of my sanity, the floor, and the boy's ability to go, I have decided to just focus on J. at the moment. S. is back in diapers and will remain so for at least the next two weeks! Furtehr updates will come.

I do have a busy day, my sister in law and her baby and a friend with her newborn will be coming over for lunch and I NEED to get this place cleaned up, QUICK!

Modest Mom

I was checking up on one of my fave web sites (Ladies against Feminism) , and found they are having a free give-away! Modest Mom is giving away a lovely maternity skirt! I was hoping to post a pic, but I am not sure how to do that right now... These skirts are super-cute and look comfy as well! and we all know that is my top priority-comfort and functionality. But I don't mind a little fashion as well. Check out her stuff at http://themodestmom.com/

Answered prayers

It is funny how impatient I can get at times. For months, I had been praying for my DH's job situation. I knew he had to be working full-time again by mid-May in order for us to get ahead financially and have insurance coverage by the time the baby came. May came, and no work...he finally got a "two week" job and I was happy, but then it turned into 4 days. I got worried, I prayed more, I worried more, I wondered why God wasn't listening. we had a very rough week and I was struggling with depression again.
Well, finally, it happened! In fact, he got the very job I had desired for him...it is two months or more of work, only an hour from home WITH travel pay!! we will only be using about half of it for the gas money, and the rest goes in the bank. I am quite excited about all of this, and am hoping we can continue to live frugally and bank all the extra. In fact, we should be able to have a nice start on our emergency fund and maybe be able to purchase a cheap mini-van before the baby gets here!! I am just so happy I can hardly contain myself. I am going to continue praying that he gets one of the few local jobs after the baby arrives, as this job will be ending around the same time. He might even get a few weeks off in between jobs to help out with the new little one! WOOO HOOOO. God is sooooooo good!

Rising early

There is just something about rising early that gets my day off to a good start. I may be a bit slow and groggy for the first few minutes, but things start to click soon after. Garrett has had work these last two days, and it will continue for the next two weeks. Yipee! a huge answer to prayer. We are still praying he will have at least another month's work before the baby comes.
anyhoo, I like to get up with him and pack his breakfast and lunch....and depending on if he has apprenticeship class his dinner as well. After he is sent off with hot coffee and a kiss I get down to my day.
If I can resist the call of the comforter.
What I try to do is drink coffee or tea right away so I am a bit caffinated and then find a nice easy task until my brain wakes up. Usually I stare at a blank pice of paper until I remember what I want to do in the day, then I write it out. Some days I actually do it. This is what I accomplished yesterday:

Mended 3 pairs of work-pants
cut out rags from 2 old shirts
converted 8 shredded socks into cloth baby wipes
washed 3 sink-fulls of dirty dishes
Washed, dried, folded and PUT AWAY 6 loads of laundry (Small machine)
cleaned and vacuumed the living room
swept the kitchen
prepared, dined and cleaned up on 3 meals
researched coupon deals
took a nap
baked blueberry muffins
baked banana bread
played with my kiddos, and met all of their basic child-care needs
Organized half my bill basket (its been neglected for months)
Helped hubby fix recliner chair
Talked with grandmother in law 3 times, visited with mother over lunch, provided pregnancy info to worried sister in law.

My, I did a lot! Technically it doesn't make much mathematical sense either. I gain maybe 1 1/2 hours in the morning, and then I take a 2-3 hour nap in the afternoons as I stay up later to see hubby and I have to get up earlier now. It would seem to make more sense to just crawl back into bed in the morning and stay awake in the afternoon, but nope! my energy levels seriously plummet after lunch. I guess I should get back to the laundry and the bill basket....I am nearly all caught up!

Nesting...Hardcore

So, I usually "Nest" Throughout my second trimester, but this time it was quite busy with other crises. I am just ending it now, and starting my little projects. Perhaps little is an understatement. Garrett has been bitten by the home improvement bug as well and has been a massive help in my de-clutter/organize/re-arranging schemes. We have both finally resigned ourselves to living here for several more years, our original plan was to sell within 5 years of purchase, we have now been her for 4.5 years, so I guess it is time to settle in and make it truly our home.

In the last two weeks we have:
emptied out and re-distributed everything in the front closet
Built and installed 4 shelves for dvd's (housed in the former closet)
Removed everything from the toddlers closet, sorted it and returned it.
sorted, gave away and re-organized all toys after massive birthday haul.
Sorted and re-packed all baby clothing by gender and size
re-arranged living room furniture
gave away several pieces to the good-will
obtained a new chair
built, installed and painted a bathroom cabinet
painted the bathroom
painted the existing bathroom cabinet
re-organized my closet
re-organized under the bed
removed and re-organized everything in the hall closet.
re-organized and sorted crafting supplies and put them in the hall closet
touched up all the paint in the house
Hung two additional shelves in the toddlers room.

all this, while of course, keeping up with the housework, helping out family and staying up way too late watching star trek. the eventual goal is to have everything stored in the room it will be used in. sheets are now under our bed, towels and extra tp will be stored in my new cabinet, and the kitchen needs a total overhaul. I still have a list of about 25 more little tasks and projects I want done before the baby gets here. It looks like we may just finish. or not.


Next month:Potty training, sewing and crochet projects and learning to use coupons more effectively.

Mostly hard times

Reflecting over the last few months, I have come to realize my little family has experienced mostly hard times. We have been put through an emotional ringer, some of it may have been avoided, but for the most part, when those around us are suffering we tend to be sympathetic and try to help. Someone commented to me today that I had to be "The strong one...again" they said so with an air of regret. But to be honest. It's not me. My strength comes from God alone. When I am going through hard times I ask for the Lord to help me thru. and he does. So I don't mind (mostly) being strong, because I am not doing it alone.