Santa!!!

Claire liked Santa from far away-
but not up close.
So Mama got to sit with Santa too. :)

Side note: this is the Santa at West Co Mall. He is so great!!!
I asked him about the youngest baby he's taken a picture with and he told me that recently he took a picture with a 3 DAY OLD!!! The parents left the hospital and stopped by the mall on the way home to have their new baby's picture taken with Santa.

Miss Independent

Claire has decided to potty train herself.

Yes, you read that correctly.

And, no, she's not even two years old.

And, yes, I have a one month old to care for still.

We've been talking to Claire about using the potty for about two weeks now because she had started to act interested. Well, Friday night Claire DEMANDED to use it. Like threw a fit when we wouldn't let her at first. So Jeremy sat her on the big potty. She was not happy to get off but we promised to buy her her very own the next day. (I'm pretty sure Jeremy said that when Claire saw it in the store, she started to take off her pants and diaper.)

We bought her a potty and Claire was OVERJOYED to sit on it. AND WENT TWICE before we took her off. What in the WORLD??? So now she asks to use it often and we spend a lot of time hanging out on it. She hasn't used it since but you would think it was the greatest gift she's ever been given. Other than the Cozy Coupe car.

I'll be honest. I was even more overwhelmed and SAD by this development- for ALL SELFISH reasons. I'm trying to juggle a toddler and a one month old- I DON'T NEED AN ADDITION TO THIS ADJUSTMENT! However, after a few minutes, I realized this may really be a blessing: we're already pretty homebound and I need to be thankful that she's so willing and interested. So I'm okay with it now and we're rolling with it.

What I'm thankful for TODAY:

1. My husband. I would have run screaming from this house by now if it weren't for him.
2. Two healthy little girls.
3. That I'm not pregnant anymore. It's amazing how good I feel, physically. I got used to feeling really crappy.
4. That my mom and sister will visit again in a few weeks.
5. That I got two extra, SOLID hours of sleep this morning and a good shower (meaning not running through as fast as possible with Claire saying, "Mama?!" a million times outside the door.)
6. For another friend bringing dinner to us tonight. Delivered meals from so many friends have been such a HUGE and wonderful blessing.
7. Friends who actively love me. AKA: phone calls, emails, texts, visits, presents, meals, and invitations to play. Thank you for reminding me that I'm a functioning member of society.
8. It's FRIDAY!!!!

Happy 4 week Birthday, MJ!

Statements I made today, that I've probably never said, and that are probably only the tip of the iceberg:
1. Claire, please don't spit on your sister.
2. Claire, please don't draw on Mama's phone with your toothbrush.
3. Claire, your sister doesn't have teeth. Let's not try to brush them.
4. Claire, Mary Jane doesn't eat chips.

Things Claire is saying lately that totally melt my heart:
1. Hold you, Mama (pick me up)
2. Hold it!!!! (I want to hold MJ! This is usually said along with her patting her lap.)
3. Yardins! (The Backyardigans- her favorite show)
4. NOSE!!! (snow)
5. Yights! (Christmas lights)
6. Merry Christmas
7. Baby Jesus

Claire has also gotten a bit bossy when it comes to Mary Jane. Throughout the morning she would say, "Baby hungry!" and "Baby night-night". She's transitioning from being horribly jealous of MJ to wanting to take care of her and being concerned. It's very sweet.

Things you will always find in our kitchen

1. Sweet Baby Ray's BQ sauce
2. Peter Pan peanut butter
3. sweet tea in the fridge
4. York peppermint patties in the freezer
5. frozen peas
6. string cheese
7. milk (skim and whole)
8. cereal bars
9. Rold Gold tiny twist pretzels
10. coffee
11. baby carrots