Summer's Here

Tomorrow's Memorial Day.  School's out.  Summer's here.  

The last few weeks of school were tough.  One of the teachers at Jordan's school, (not his teacher- but we're a small school, so it felt like it was his teacher) was killed.  Suddenly, tragically, awfully killed.  An intoxicated driver hit him while he was biking. I didn't really know this teacher...Mr Fitzpatrick.  Mr Fitz, as his students called him.  I'd spoken to him a few times.  He was always smiling.  In fact, when we told Jordan what happened, he sat quietly for a minute and then said, "Mr Fitz was always smiling.  Always".  

This man was a pastor and had touched so many lives in the community.  Thinking about this makes me cry.  Of course, we know where he is now, but it's still awfully unfair.  

The next week, the body of a man we know was found one street over from us.  This man, we'd known him for years.  Used to go to church with him.  My son is the same age as his son.  He went missing and was found a few days later.  I don't know what happened, but it was another death that hit close to home.  

These events made for a very sad and strange last few weeks of school.  I was more than ready for the year to be over.  Shaun finished up his work so he's finished until July.  Jordan had his last day last week.  We're done!  Now it's time to rest and regroup.  

Potty Training, Take 2

About a year ago, back in June, I jumped ahead of myself and decided that Violet was ready to be potty trained.  

I wrote about it here.  

And here.

And finally, here.

And no more, because there wasn't anything else to write.  She wasn't ready.  Shame on me for trying to force her.  I learned my lesson decided that I was going to just let her do it on her own.  I mean, eventually she'd catch on.  Right?

Right. 

I relaxed.  Casually brought it up a few times, usually when she walked up to me and said, "I dookied.  Can you change my diaper?".  She was dead set against it.  

Then one morning a few weeks ago she woke up and her diaper was dry.  I told her that we were going to sit on her potty.  And she did.  She sat there for a minute and then her face lit up and she cried, "I'm doing it.  I'm doing it!".

The light bulb came on.  And she got it.  We started that day with the pull ups.  She did really great for awhile and then figured out that when you pee in a pull up... basically nothing happens.  So I took away the pull ups.  I had already taken them away at home, but was scared to go out in public with just panties.  I really, really hope that I'm not rocking the boat here, but she's gone 2 days in her panties and has had 0 pee accidents.  Just 2 dookie accidents.  The first one happened at church.  I was serving at the info desk and she came running up yelling, "Mommy, Mommy.  I dooooookied in my paaaaainties.  And peed, too!".  Can you tell she has two big brothers?  Ha!  She can't quite get the hang of number 2 yet, but I  know it's coming.  And,  have to add, that we've hardly been at home the past two days.  Lot's of errands.  She's used the toilet at Kroger, wrestling practice,  church, the YMCA.  I was afraid that she'd pee all over her carseat, but it hasn't happened.  And now she actually tells me when she needs to go.  

It helped when I realized that she really hated her cute little lady bug potty.  She wanted to use the toilet.  That's what she calls it.  The toilet.  Whatever works, I say.  

I'm proud of my little girl!