Livin' The Good Life: May 2011

5/26/11

Pregnancy Pics

Our friend Paul Wilson is an amazing photographer and he was so sweet to take some pics of our little family of three, before it turns into four. :) I am a huge lover of pictures and capturing memories, so I knew I had to have some special pictures made before little miss Emily makes her debut. Here are some pics from our photo shoot.

Cady's last day of school AND Potty Training!

Cady's last day of Mother's Morning Out (or "school" as we call it) was last Thursday and what a fun day she had! I dropped her off at 8:30 and went back around 11 so I could participate in some of the fun with her. They had everything from a bounce house, bubble blowing, sidewalk chalk and a pizza party. The highlight, however, was when all the kids were on the playground and the icecream truck showed up and they were able to pick anything they wanted from the icecream truck. The kids went NUTS and it was precious! We have been so blessed by Trinity United Methodist MMO and her teachers. Cadence has learned so much and has really enjoyed her time there. She will be going back next year two days a week, and we will definitely miss everyone this summer. Here are some pictures from her last day.

Cady and her bff, Sophie

Cadence and her teacher, Miss Melissa

Cady and her other teacher, Miss Elaine.

Now on to potty training...

I have tried a few different times to potty train Cady and she has had no interest. She has preferred her diapers and just did NOT want to sit on the potty. Well, I've finally gotten to the point where I am desperate for her to be trained so that I won't have two in diapers. :) I thought I'd give it one more shot before waiting awhile again. My good friend, Krista (Sophie's mom) told me about this 3 Day Potty Training Method and really encouraged me to try it. I was hopeful, but to be honest I just didn't see how Cadence would do it. The key to the whole thing is to have the child throw away all of the diapers (yikes!) and let them nap in panties and sleep during the night in panties. Um, my first thought was, "ARE YOU FREAKIN' CRAZY?!" However, I read over the guidelines and how successful this method really is and I began our training on Monday. The lady who invented this method says that for 3 straight days, the parent is to stay right by the child's side and remind them to "Tell mommy when you need to go pee pee or poo poo." She says to NOT ask the child if they need to go. Leave it in the child's hands and let them have the say. So, for three straight days I have been Cady's shadow. She has ROCKED it! Now, I am sure she will have accidents and that is fine. But, the fact that she actually goes on the potty and slept until 9:15 AM THIS MORNING WITHOUT WETTING THE BED is a miracle! I am a believer! :) I truly think the main key is to let the child throw the diapers away so there is no crutch to fall back on. Monday morning I knew she needed to pee and she began to ask me for her diaper. She cried for the diaper (the author says this will probably happen) and I just had to remind her that they were all gone and all we had were panties. That did the trick-she ran to the bathroom and sat on the potty. I can't say enough about this method and how great it is! Again, we are by no means out of the woods because it's only been 3 1/2 days. However, I am SO proud of Cadence and she is truly a big girl! Yay for potty training in 3 days!!

5/9/11

Happy Mother's Day

My Mother's Day was absolutely wonderful! It began with Matt getting up with Cadence (LOVED THAT!!) and making me breakfast. They made me waffles (with whipped cream on top), fresh strawberries, chocolate milk and coffee. Yum! Yum! Yum! After breakfast, Matt cleaned out the dishwasher, loaded the dishes, cleaned the kitchen, gave Cadence a bath, got her ready for church and let me take my time getting myself ready for church. It was heaven!! We had quite the photo shoot before church (Cadence really was in a good, picture-taking mood, so we took advantage). Church was amazing and very encouraging. After church, we headed to The Ivester's to spend the afternoon celebrating Matt's mom. The men (and Matt's sisters) did the work-grilling, cleaning up, etc. and again-that was heaven. :) Me and his mom enjoyed sitting back and relaxing while being catered to. After the Ivester's, we went to my parent's house where, again, the men did the work. We enjoyed a great day of family time and just enjoying each other.

I have to say that I am absolutely blessed. I am blessed in so many ways, but in honor of Mother's Day I need to elaborate on how I am blessed as a Mother (and as a daughter). As a mother, I am blessed with such an amazing little girl that completely blows me away every day. She is the sweetest, most tenderhearted, compassionate little girl. She loves people with every ounce of herself and she gives the best hugs and kisses. She tells me that she loves me multiple times a day, we have so much fun together in everything that we do, we laugh hard and play hard together! Cadence is truly a gift from the Lord-the best gift I've ever received. I hate how she is growing up so quickly and I wish that I could just slow down time. I cherish my moments with her-my cuddle time, our shopping time, every single time with her I cherish. She is a very, very good girl (with the exception of normal 2 1/2 yr old mood swings haha) and she just all around makes me very happy! I look forward to many more years of being her mommy, as well as a mommy to my sweet little girl that is currently residing inside of me. :) I am blessed and I thank God for giving me my two, sweet girls. I am also blessed with an amazing husband who is the best daddy to Cadence. She loves him SO much and he is wrapped around her finger. :) Not only does he play so good with her, but he helps so much with her (with bathtime, taking turns getting up early with her on the weekends to give me a break, getting her dressed sometimes, and even fixing her hair-he has mastered a hairbow). I am blessed with a husband who loves Jesus, loves me and loves his little girl with all of his heart. He provides for us and takes care of us in so many ways. Thank you, Jesus for Matt!

As a daughter, I am truly blessed with the best mommy in the world! Not only is she my mom, but she is truly my best friend-and she always has been! I never went through those preteen/teenage years of hating my mom/being embarrassed of my mom. Of course I had the teen attitude at times with the rolling of the eyes, haha, but never did I dislike my mom. My whole life I have had fun with her, confided in her, loved her, been able to be silly with her, etc. I've never feared telling her something because she has always allowed me to come to her with anything-good or bad. She loves Jesus and has always prayed for me, which I can't thank her enough for. She has cried with me, laughed with me, been mad with me (at stupid boys and stupid friends), and so much more. I literally could write forever about how much I love her and all of her amazing qualities. I do not take her for granted, because I know what a true gift from the Lord she is. She knows me inside and out and I can call on her night or day for anything. She is the most selfless woman that I know and she always gives 100% of herself to her family and friends. She is the best woman that I know, no doubt. She learned from the best, my Mimi, and I pray that I learn from both of them. I pray that Cadence and I (along with Emily and any other future children) have the kind of relationship I have with my mom. Happy Mother's Day to my best friend, my favorite, my mommy! Thank you for being the best mommy (in the past, right now, and for the future) and for being the best grandmother to my daughter(s). I love you!

Here are some pics from Mother's Day (the first four are actually from Saturday-downtown Greenville.) They were too cute not to add. :)