Just him and his girls

We'd had it on the calendar for a couple of weeks. We wanted to get in before Halloween passed to see the big caterpillar eating the giant candy corn.

We love Disneyland during the holidays.

When we go, Ross works a half day and we leave at 1 or so. Both my girls had school and I ended up booking a baby shoot that morning. And we planned on loading up and taking off afterwards. But just like most things that require more than a safe upright walk, all of the bending over and squatting and getting up required during the shoot... after rushing around cleaning up my house before the shoot--- left my back WORKED. I felt the pressure of a thousand pounds in a three inch radius in my lower back. And the distinct sensation of a knife up and down my left leg. It was nice. I walked like an old, overweight penguin.

I was so bummed that I was going to be so uncomfortable walking around Disneyland, and hopeful that the drive there would give it a rest. Possibly considering a wheel chair? Then Ross said... "why don't you just stay home and take the day to yourself and I'll take the girls?"

I didn't take him seriously at first. Felt too guilty. And then he insisted.

I love him. I love him I love him I love him I love him.*

(*Remember that diamond commercial? I always liked that part.)

And here's a tiny video... nothing really happens. I think Ross told them to dance--- Sophia dances and then asks if she can stop because she's obedient like that. Mila doesn't really choose to humor her dad except for one booty-shake that makes the whole video worth saving to me. :)

The Beach house.... in motion...

Did anyone see that camping video that Sheena did over on her blog? Well I probably shouldn't direct you there... because then you'll see how cool a little home video COULD be. But she was my inspiration to finally switch my camera over to video mode and figure out how to document a little bit of our family-fun that way. There's just something about seeing people in motion.

Turn on your volume... just this once.

It's official!

(It looks like her panties are in some sort of bundle… they're just a little big, seeing as she's in Sophia's half the time. Point of picture: not the bundle--- just the panties)

She's still in pull-ups at night and naps--- but otherwise, 100%--- no accidents--- fully committed--- so much that she'd wake me up in the middle of the night to pee at my mom's house--- potty-trained.

I felt like I was going about it all wrong. I certainly wasn't following any books or anything like a good mommy. And -- I'm into the books. My personality is like 98% figure-it-out-as-you-go-and-everything-will-turn-out-just-fine. Except with babies. I really liked the sleep books--- some rules--- some schedule etc… I think someone has done a bunch of research so that perhaps my life as a mommy won't be QUITE as pull-my-hair-out-by-the-roots-and-eat-a-carton-of-icecream every day stressful. So I'd assume that there's something to all of those potty-train-in-three-days theories. But I never took the time to read one.

So for a couple of weeks I encouraged the potty and kept her naked in the mornings. We started with a morning or two in front of the TV on the little potty eating Popsicles. But besides that. I was inconsistent and hit or miss. Sometimes avoiding it all day. I was supposed to have her potty-trained for cousin's camp. It wasn't looking great.

But then we went to my mom's for the 4th and she didn't want to disappoint Nana… she only had a couple of outdoor accidents. Oh yeah, by then, I had started randomly sending her off into the world in panties…. come what may. I'm crazy like that.

I'm forgetting why I thought this story blog-worthy. I guess because I'm just so THRILLED that somehow, all of a sudden it STUCK. And I really didn't think it would unless I went about it more dramatically… "ABORT ABORT---- wait thirty days--- and then start fresh, armored with a freshly learned theory" --- this is what I imagined.

And then she just decided it was cool to NOT poop in her panties or pee on the ground and she's through with that. Done. Moved on. Big girl-- so big that she through the hugest fit the other night about a pull-up, so we gave up and put her down in panties meaning to put one on after she fell asleep. Of course we forgot--- had to clean a bed--- and she STILL refused--- after much coaxing and rock-a-bye-babying, I got it on her WITH her princess panties over it of course. This girl is giving me a run for my money lately.

Here's a video I took at the BEGINNING of my sort-of-potty-training process. Just so you can see how important she thought it, to go pooh pooh "on the potty"… Probably a bit too long--- but she was just so cute--- and so Mila--- if you skip the middle, watch the last few seconds when she changes her tune all of a sudden. She's a high and low one, this girl.

Happy Birthday Papa!

Dear Papa,

With all of your threats of rolling around our house in a wheel chair, drooling, asking everyone you roll into to "pull your finger" and using up the phone line all day long (this was in retaliation of me using the phone a lot as a teen... nice try Kirk, you didn't foresee the cell-phone phenom)..... anyway... for these reasons, we're not thrilled at the idea of you getting older. But wanted to wish you a happy birthday anyway.

Love you--