March 30, 2009: Bring on SPRING!!

Well, I didn't intend to wait this long for my next blog post but I'm beginning to sound like a broken record! In this issue: Daniel's now THREE(!), Adventures in Potty Training Part II (much better results, I'm glad to report!), and finally...our KITCHEN REMODEL is officially ON!!!

So, we had several celebrations for Daniel's 3rd birthday! Ed's parents came into town for Valentine's Day weekend. It was great because they took the kids to Big Canoe Saturday morning and Ed and I were able to enjoy a nice day and overnight to ourselves. We had lunch at Pappadeux and then picked out the cabinets for our new kitchen! (More on that later). Then we had dinner that night at Goldfish using a gift certificate that Zac had given us for Christmas. We met some friends (Ron, Kristi, Lisa Tontala) at Limerick Junction in VA Highlands to take advantage of our "kid free" evening. On Sunday, we had Ed's parents, my parents, Zac, and Granny & Pa over to celebrate Daniel's birthday. He loved his Lightning McQueen cake and theme...for the second year in a row!

The following weekend on Saturday (Feb 21st), we celebrated Daniel's birthday again with a few of his closest friends at Jumpin' Jamboree. I wasn't sure if I would have a "kid party" for him at all but for months, when I asked him where he would have his birthday, he would answer, "At the bouncy place!" so I certainly couldn't disappoint him! I kept it small and only invited his "Tuesday gymnastics" boys (Sam, Eli, Mitchell, Miles) plus Jack Dorminey and Davis Merrill. Ella and Ava also attended as official siblings and friends for Elizabeth. We practically had the place to ourselves and everyone had a great time. Amy Merrill and my parents were even captured on film on some of the slides with the kids! I made cupcakes with Lightning McQueen and Mater toppers and gave out a Mater "Little Golden" book and small packs of M&Ms as favors. It went off without a hitch and really was a fun party for Daniel and all his friends!

Aside from that, we've just been busy with the usual things. We've had some wacky weather lately with some weekends of solid, pouring, depressing rain alternating with weekends of gorgeous, beautiful sunshine...must be spring! Mom and Dad are fully in the throes of their move. They close tomorrow on their "dream" retirement home in Flowery Branch. Their Snellville house is still on the market but they seem to be OK to let it ride a little while longer with renting as a possible option. I was in denial at first about their move but I'm getting used to the idea. The new house is only a difference of about 5-10 minutes door-to-door since it's all interstate but the distance is definitely greater. Hopefully not too much will change but we'll see. The biggest difference is that traveling back and forth between our homes during heavy traffic times (basically weekday evenings) will now be out of the question. I'm sure we'll all adjust and I know they will be happy in their new home, which is what matters!

I was able to go on a girls' weekend to Big Canoe last weekend (March 20-22) with Balinda, Amy McMillen, and Kristi. We all had a great time, except we missed Amy Merrill who couldn't make it because her Dad passed away on March 16th. We didn't do much at all, which was heavenly. The weather was great so we took a long walk/hike on the nature trails on Saturday and other than that, we didn't leave the house. We chatted a ton and ate and drank and slept and relaxed. It was the perfect weekend for some worn-out mommies! Hopefully we can do it again and make sure Amy can join us.

Ed and I didn't do too much for our anniversary since we are renovating our kitchen and since we are going to San Antonio in April. My parents babysat while we had dinner at Alfredo's. It was great and just enough to celebrate 7 years of marriage! I am really looking forward to our kid-free trip to San Antonio next month. It's really a work trip for Ed but he's calling it a "boondoggle" and it sounds like we'll have lots of free time!

So Part II of potty training. I guess it really is true what people are saying - if it's a disaster the first time around, just wait a few weeks and it will be much easier!! I kept waiting for another "perfect" weekend to try but things kept coming up and finally I decided to give it a concerted effort over spring break now that Mom & Dad are moving and therefore we won't be going to Florida to visit Auntie Pat. But I was also eyeing the weekend of March 28-29 since we didn't have much going on and I knew Ed would be around to help (he and Bryan are going on their guys' Red Sox trip the week of spring break....yay for me). So on Thursday, I decided to get the potty out to see what would happen. He took to it right away and had an almost perfect day! I got a Lightning McQueen matchbox car and allowed him to open it the first time he peed on the potty and switched to chocolate (Hershey's miniatures) thereafter. He was great at running to the potty each time and even getting his underwear up and down! He did poop in his underwear the first day but then on Friday we were hanging out with my parents and he not only pooped in the potty chair at their house but he GOT OUT OF THE BATHTUB ON HIS OWN to do it!!! We weren't even really paying attention to him and he did it all by himself!! I was thrilled!! His success continued and he's gotten really good at going poop and pee in the potty chair at home. Now we only need to work on going when we're not at home and transitioning to the big potty. I'm a little disappointed that he hasn't gone at school yet (including today after having a great weekend) but I've upped the ante and offered him a matchbox car if he goes so hopefully that will help. I'm still putting him in a pull up for school and when we leave the house (and for naptime and nighttime) but I expect to get a little daring and have him in underwear before too long. We have some things to work on but I'm THRILLED that we've come this far and I have no doubt that he will be fully trained by camp this summer....YIPPEE!! I have to admit that I'm a little emotional at the thought of not changing diapers anymore after more than FIVE YEARS of diapering someone's tushie but in the very next thought, I'm happy to have little people who are growing and reaching milestones. No more babies in this house, for better and for worse!! :-)

Oh and the kitchen is also exciting!! With the help of Uncle Bruce and his sidekick Scott Emory, we are finally tackling our kitchen renovation!! We will be getting new cabinets, new granite countertop, new double oven, new gas cooktop, and new over-the-cooktop microwave. The refrigerator, dishwasher, and floor will be staying for now. We are also knocking out the wall between the kitchen and family room and repainting the family room - the trim and bookshelves will be white to "match" the spaces. We'll also repaint the kitchen and have a new "overhang" of the countertop at the peninsula so we can have barstools. I am SO EXCITED!! At this point, we have ordered the cabinets and Bruce and Co. will probably be here to start the demolition in about two weeks. I can't WAIT to see the finished product and I have to remember to take a lot of before and after pictures!! It's going to be expensive (around $25K-$30K) but we have some money saved and between that, our tax refund, and Ed's unexpected bonus (Yay, Ed!) we have it covered, plus we recently refinanced (30yr fixed @4.75%), we will have no car payment once the van is paid off next month, and we closed last week on a new HELOC from SunTrust. Plus, it will all be well worth it! I'm sure I'll be updating progress as we go along. We hope to be completely finished by Mother's Day since Ed's parents will be here visiting but something tells me it won't go as smoothly as we'd like but I'm praying for as smooth a job as possible!

We should get a letter in the mail on Saturday from IHM! I am excited that we will finally know one way or the other. I am remaining optimistic that she will be accepted but at this point I am just anxious to find out so we can make plans and move on. We will be helping Mom and Dad move on Saturday so I hope we can hold out our anxiety until we can make it home to our mailbox!

I am trying to make plans for us next week for spring break. This will be the first time that Mom and I have not gone somewhere and especially with Ed gone it will be rough but it's only a week so I'm sure we'll be fine. We already have plans with Tracey and Mitchell on Tuesday and I'd also like to take the kids to Stone Mountain on a good weather day. Between that and spending time with Mom & Dad and the new house, I'm sure the week will go faster than I think...at least I hope so! Besides, we are now planning to visit Auntie Pat right after school is out in June and I think that will work better anyway.

I think that's all the excitement I can relay for now. I'm sure lots will happen between now and my next update. It's almost 70 degrees and sunny today so hopefully there will be more days like that and less of the torrential rainfall...I really do enjoy the spring weather in Atlanta!