Highlights and Lowlights

Highlights:

Ainslee self potty training at nights starting about 2 months ago. She just all of a sudden decided no more diapers for night time, and she has done absolutely wonderful with it! Im so proud of her!

Brynlee has been sleeping fairly well (not consistent) up to 10.5 hours at night. Sometimes I wish we had more of a routine with her but then I realize that with our schedule a solid routine would be nearly impossible
All the help and support I get when sick

Kaylee conning my parents into spending the night whenever possible. It is so awesome to see how much she loves spending time over there and how much they seem to enjoy having her.

I finally got Brynlee's baptism scheduled (super sad her godmother won't be able to make it)

The weather has been AWESOME 80*+

Having family over for dinner, playing games, and going to the zoo together

The fact that i get to homeschool and be so flexible during the day to go do whatever we want when we want to, as well as the obvious perk of getting to watch your children learn.
All my friends who support me endlessly
Hearing the new things that come out of the girls' mouths, I wish I could recall all of them right now.

Brynlee pooping on potty everyday. You read that right......my 3 month old goes on the potty everyday. She started when she was 2 months old. I will explain, one day I got her bath ready, after I stripped her down I tested the water temp and found it was too hot. Since I already had her naked I thought I would sit her on the potty, which is right next to the tub, and hold her with one hand while i fixed the water temp with the other. She peed and pooped immediately upon sitting on the potty. I screamed and praised her and we clapped. She was so happy! She didnt have a clue why we were so happy together but she knew I was happy so she was happy! Since that day I have randomly put her on the potty throughout the day and 9 times out of 10 she either pees or poos. I will sit there and hold her I will grunt and she grunts with me and pushes out her poo.  I started this form of early potty training called Elimination Communication with the big girls at 12 months with Kaylee and 5 months with Ainslee. Both girls caught on fairly quickly with very little accidents and NO stress over the typical potty training.  I am so happy to be able to start even earlier with Brynlee, and the fact that we save a TON on diapers is an even bigger plus!

Receiving my grandmothers furniture pieces, I am in the process of funding someone who can strip them so they can be repaired and refinished. I was given her vanity complete with a mirror and bench seat as well a chest of drawers.

Lowlights:

I've been sick......super sick! It lasted about 2 weeks, with about 3 good days in between. I started off thinking I had the flu and then it turned bad, really bad! I finally went to the doctor and learned i was severely dehydrated. I was nearly hospitalized for my condition. And in hindsight I probably should have been. Besides the dehydration I had a really bad bacterial infection. Long story short I was finally able to get better after 2 bags of IV fluids, a round of steroids, 2 doses of antibiotics as well as an injection of antibiotics, LOTS of pain meds, and LOTS of sleep! I needed more pain meds in a single day while I was sick than I needed for the entire time after I delivered Brynlee. I would much rather give birth 5 times than go through that pain again!

Getting up to take Ainslee to the potty in the middle of the night is definitely not one of my most favorite things to do

Still not finished with Kaylee's room, we are getting closer to purchasing her a bed and when we get that we are moving her up there immediately

Brynlee is now wearing a lot of 6 month clothes, where has the time gone?

Because I was so sick and dehydrated my milk supply suffered. I had to give lots of bottles, and I am just now beginning to get my supply back. It has been a struggle to make sure that she gets enough without wasting my precious milk.

I have been trying to dig myself out from under all the work that was pushed to the side while sick. Eventually I will get it all done.........hopefully


High/low:

Attending my grandmothers memorial mass. I was in disbelief nearly the entire trip, it being my first time going to St Louis and NOT seeing her. The mass was touching to say the least. Many tears were shed and more memories made. My favorite of all was watching Ainslee give her great grandmother kisses (on the program) and attempt to hug her throughout mass.

A few things that make me happy

in no particular order....

watching the look on Ainslee's face when she is trying to figure something out, it is so darn cute! Im not trying to brag or anything, but EVERYONE stops me to comment on her (and Kaylee), I seriously cant go anywhere without being approached. It is kinda nice but kinda annoying too, I have a teeny tiny taste of what it feels like to know a famous person. heeheehee

Putting Ainslee to sleep; I swear she is the easiest baby when it comes to going to bed. Typically she is DIVING to get into her crib (probably because she feels safe from you know who in there). I could just throw her into the crib, but i like to read books, rock, and snuggle her before bed. It is one of my most favorite times of the day!

But what is just as awesome as those few special moments, is coming out of her room and finding the kitchen completely cleaned up after dinner!

Picking up Kaylee from school, hearing about her day, and listening to the songs she sings.

My new slippers

The fact that I only paid $7.20 for 100 Christmas photo cards from Shutterfly! Now If I could only find some discounts for postage.....the 17 cards that get mailed overseas cost almost $1 each! (thanks Shutterfly for your awesome deals for bloggers, and Nicole for telling me about them!)

Getting things checked off the "to do" list. We got more dry wall hung this weekend, Christmas lights put up inside and out, Christmas boxes down, attic shop vac'd, tub leak fixed, crepe myrtles trimmed (we usually dont do this, but since we are digging them out of the flower bed this winter, and they were totally in the way of hanging Christmas lights.....Marcus trimmed them up), flower bed border fixed, garage floor cleaned out (now if we could only get it organized!), Im sure there are more things we've been able to check off the list, but cant remember them now, I just know we have gotten LOTS done lately.

Having a working hot water heater again. I have been able to take nice long HOT baths for the first time in a couple weeks.

Kaylee's bedtime issues are almost resolved! She stays in her bed almost all night and does it willingly.

Pioneer Woman's recipes! I swear she is a genius! I havent made all my remaining recipes yet, but when I do expect a post about them.

Christmas shopping....not the actual going to 12 different stores and NOT finding what you want part. But the figuring out what I'm getting everyone and then finding deals/sales/coupons! I LOVE LOVE online shopping, it is one of my favorite pasttimes. Cant wait for this Christmas......its going to be a good one!

The fact that Walmart now prints their receipts double sided! I have gone into other stores and bought 1 or 2 things and my receipt is a foot long, what a waste of paper! I was shocked today when I went in to pick up about 14 things and got the tiniest receipt, soooo AWESOME and Eco-friendly! Its the little things that make me happy......now if only more people would recycle!

Seeing Ainslee's cute little hiney in some big girl panties. AND (knock on wood).....she has yet to have an accident in them!


And the the thing that has NOT made me happy...... spending $1500 on car repairs last week!