Details

I guess there is no better way to kill time (besides reading the lessons for church tomorrow...which I have already done) than to give you some more details about our lessons learned this last month. Why am I killing time at 2:00am, I should be in bed...right? No. Abigail has thrown up three times in the last hour and a half and I don't dare shut my eyes for fear of not being close by when she needs me. No, the truth is I hate being woken up from my slumber prior to the time I am ready to be awake. So, I choose not to sleep until I know that I will be able to get in at least a solid three hour block of sleep.

I hope that Abi has got it all out of her, so we can both get some rest. She is so beautiful and sweet. After the first time she threw up, she looked up at me and said "I did a good job throwing up mommy!"

Where should I start...ahhh, the Camry. We got this car for a steal of a deal and drove it around for a while when the alignment began to seem a little off. So Todd asked me to take it to Sears to get it aligned, which I did (this was back in October). It was at Sears that the technician informed me of $1800 worth of front end work that needed to be repaired even before they could align the car and that it needed new tires. And, he was surprised that we were even driving the car at all as the steel of the tires could be seen through the rubber as well as something bad with the front end (all I hear when mechanics start talking is "blah blah blah blah blah") and we were lucky to be alive at all.

So I put my three little children in the back seat and slowly drove home praying the whole way that we wouldn't crash and die. We still had to go trick-or-treating! So, the Camry sat in the garage until we got our tax return. This is where the saga gets a little more dramatic.

Oh, the tax return. Doesn't everyone always have lists as to what they could do with the money? We had a dozen different lists (okay, maybe not a dozen, but a few).

1) The Dave Ramsey way would have us throwing every red cent of the money into our student loans so that we could pay down our debts and start having financial freedom.

2) The practical way would have suggested that we get the Camry in working condition, set some aside for the sprinkling system and then use the remainder to go towards those student loans.

3) Have fun! Reward yourself for all that you have been through the last year and splurge.

What do you think we did?

We took the Camry into a few different shops to get bids on the car and even see if it was worth repairing. Two different shops told us that it was a very good car and that after a new transmission and the front end work, it would be like new and we should be able to have another 100,000 miles on it. So, we took it to one of the places. They fixed it. That's what they thought. Todd was so fuming mad when we drove home after putting so much money into it, that I called the repair shop up right away and complained (Todd truly had steam coming from his ears...I did not want him on the phone with anyone). I explained to them that they had assured us that this would fix the problem. I then told them that we could not put any more money into the car, as if we were going to put more money into the car, we may just have well bought something newer. The next morning, they sent over a tow-truck, worried that if we drove the car anymore it would cause damage to the engine. (glad I didn't go to sleep, Abi had to make another trip to the toilet) They called the next morning telling us that it was "blah blah blah blah blah" and that it turns out the transmission may not have been the problem. WHAT!!!!! And since the new items weren't covered in the lifetime warranty because they didn't involve the transmission, we would have to pay for them.

So, it took them three weeks to get the car in order, then we took it to another place to do the front end work. Todd and I were leery about the whole thing and took the Camry to the dealership to have them make sure that everything was in order. They said that the front end work was good, but that there was a leak in the transmission and it should be taken care of. So, back to repair shop #1 we went and another week later they gave us the car back....working worse than it did before.

So, I called them on Monday with three different options. None of which involved us putting anymore money into the car. They chose option number three. They took it to the dealership, had them make the repairs and did not charge us for it. We got the car back today and it is running much better. I hope that it stays that way...the last thing I need is my husband stranded on I-15 after work without a cell phone to let me know he won't be home in time for dinner. So, if you do see a very handsome guy standing on the side of the road kicking the crap out of a little old blue Toyota Camry, stop and give him a ride home.....please.

But...that's not all! We used some more of that tax return money to put in a sprinkling system. One season was enough to let Todd and I know that we can't keep up with as much yard as we've got by hand watering. So Todd did all the figuring (heck, he put in the sprinkling system in our first home without any hitches and it worked great) and ordered the materials and they were sent. My brother R.J. even let us borrow a ditch witch from his place of employment to dig all the trenches!

Night one of digging trenches proved somewhat successful. Upon R.J.'s arrival, he tried to start the ditch witch, only to pull the cord too hard and have it fall off in his hands. So they had to return it and pick up another one, but the guy who has a key to the shed lives in Bountiful, so they had to wait for him to come...which set the schedule back a bit. But it did mean they got to use a newer nicer ditch witch.

It was hilarious watching those guys maneuver that huge machine, they got it stuck a couple of times and on occasion it would get away from them. All humor ended when they cut into a comcast line. You must be asking yourself, "Didn't they call Blue Stakes?" No. We didn't. Here is our lame reason why: There has been construction going on our street and before they began construction they painted lines all over our yard and curb and stuff, so we thought we were covered. But, obviously, we weren't.

The Comcast guy came out grumbling and complaining the next morning (hey...isn't what we did giving him job security? He should be thanking me!). He put a patch on the cord and we got a bill for $440 today.

The following morning, Todd was so very worried about using the ditch witch again, so he decided he was just going to use shovels the rest of the time. I knew that it would be best if the kids and I were out of his hair, so we began packing a lunch so we could spend the day at Thanksgiving Point. As we were heading out the door, Todd got a call to arrange for guys to go and help a sister in the ward move, so this meant that the sprinkler project was going to be put on hold. I went my way and Todd went his.

When I returned home, I was happy that my kids were asleep in the car and rightfully so after a very long and exhausting chase around the Tulip Festival. Note to self: Outings with all three kids requires one adult per child...possibly two just to handle Carly alone. But, upon transferring from car to bed, they all woke up with great zeal....especially when their cousins showed up! Todd's brother Ike had gathered all the guys in their family to rain down upon our yard and help with this massive project. Ike's such a good guy.

Two of them set off right away using the ditch witch. A few more started laying pipe and it was fantastic the amount of work they were able to get done. I picked up the phone to call someone, and the line was dead. We had cut our own phone line (I say "we" because I don't want to place blame on anyone and it really is our fault for not calling blue stakes)!

On Monday, the Qwest guy came out and informed me that we had cut our line in several places. He would send out a contractor to come and dig ditches, and he would be out after that to lay a new cable. I asked how much it was going to cost to have someone come out and dig more holes in my yard. $600-$800. My jaw dropped. I pointed at all of the beautiful trenches in our yard and said, "Since we are obviously so good at digging holes, can't we just dig our own?" This pleasant and helpful guy said that he would just follow the lines we already had dug, if we could dig two more small ones. It's always nice to have someone on the other end who is willing to work with you. So, Todd dug more trenches...using the shovel.

I bet you are wondering if we were able to pay off any loans after all of these expenses? No. We didn't. Maybe we could have. But, before any of the above were paid for, we splurged. We bought a home theater system....for our basement....that's unfinished. It is very loud and the volume is usually kept at a -25 (that's a NEGATIVE 25). The little kids are rather intimidated by it and the little guy I tend doesn't like being in the basement because "It's silly and scary." Yes, it is a little intimidating for someone so small. But on many a boring night, we have been able to pop a bag of popcorn and watch a flick all cuddled together. Family. Isn't it about.....time?

Oh, and we had to pay a few medical bills. As it turns out, Connor's trip to the emergency room (despite my doctor recommending I rush him there for symptoms of sinusitis) wasn't covered by our insurance because he was only diagnosed with the common cold. And the remainder of the bills from Carly's cast.

So, now with our bank account back to it's very sad and lowly state, we agreed to not play the "shoulda-woulda-coulda" game as it gets us nowhere. We will forge ahead. Will we make these same mistakes again? No. You can only put a sprinkling system in a yard once. If the Camry needs another repair, you can bet that we will drive it off a cliff. And what are the odds that we are going to need another big tv with lots of speakers? But, as we have always learned...you learn best from your most painful mistakes.

Stay tuned for more mistakes, as I am sure we will make new ones (hopefully they won't cost as much money). As for me, I think Abi is out for a while and I am going to get some shut eye.

Long Learning Post

Todd and I have had a rough month. You know how they say bad things come in threes....we have had a few more than three. Now, none of these are detrimental to our relationship, or our physical health, but they have all been rather detrimental to our financial well being.

We learn by our mistakes. Isn't that right? I often get frustrated with Connor or Abi or Carly for that matter, when they don't listen to me when I have their best interest at heart. So, there are many-a-day, that I just hope they can hurry and get hurt, learn from their experience and never do it again. Sometimes, I can see them re-thinking a situation if it caused them pain once (touching mom's hot curling iron or turning on the hot faucet instead of the cold) and others they just keep on rolling like nothing had ever happened only to be struck by pain (or a siblings fist) again.

Carly continues to shut her fingers in the kitchen drawers on a regular basis. I have stopped telling her that she will get hurt. It does no use. I should tell the cute little thing to just stop walking all together, that way she will stop falling....but the tripping happens so often now, that she no longer cries and has gotten used to it.

Connor was running down a hill at Thanksgiving Point on Saturday and I told him not to, or he might risk falling. Sure enough he tumbled to the ground and the words he cried out weren't "I want my mommy" they were, "Not again."

Abi, well, she insists on going in the backyard with no shoes on and without fail, gets stuck in the "garden" with little stickers in her feet and asks each time for a "band" and a kiss to make it all better.

The horrible cycle continues. I am creeping up on 30 this year and Todd is well beyond me in years and we should know better by now. But we don't. I stub my toe on a daily basis...like Carly, but I have gotten so used to it, that my toes aren't as sensitive to the pain as they used to be (maybe the nerve endings are all dead). We keep putting our hands to our head like Connor and saying "Not again" after each dumb choice (or lack of choice). And like Abi, we have gotten ourselves stuck in a lose-lose situation with our Camry (that is BACK in the shop).

Where do I start? Do I need to start? Do you feel like you have enough of the story, or do I need to explain more? Do you really want to even know?

Window Treatment for the Bed

The valances in the living room just weren't working for me in there.  So I pulled them down the other day and set them aside until inspiration could hit me in the middle of the night.  And it did!

So this morning, I stripped my new sofa table of it's nice brown "tablecloth," borrowed some PVC from my husband's sprinkler project (a long learning post for another day when the experience isn't quite so painful) and in twenty minutes, I had this:

So easy! So dramatic!

Operation Sophistication

This morning, I began re-arranging the furniture in my living room.   It's the first time in the 9 months that we have lived here that I have moved the furniture in this room.  For those who know me, that is almost an eternity.  For a little background on my re-arranging dependency, please read #2 on this post.

Back to the living room, it all began while piecing together my FREE fabric for a quilt.  I had moved the sofa to the side of the room to make space to lay out my soon-to-be rag quilt fit for a lap.  I kind of liked the change.

So, after all the house was asleep, I sat in the living room and thought of the many different ways I could arrange the living room.  And then, inspiration struck!  I had seen on Thrifty Decor Chick an affordable way to create a sofa table, and I wanted to give it a try.  Of course, I can't even afford the boards or L brackets, so I used the wheat and dry milk from my food storage to prop up the board my husband had leftover from a project.  This is what it looked like:

Those two super cute little heads peeking over the couch were helping me the entire way (Con man even helped me move the piano...he's so tough).  The little guy I tend came sauntering in and said to me "What kind of operation is this anyway?"  He's 3.  I was cracking up laughing and replied, "It's operation sophistication.  Is it working?"  And he told me that it was.  Kids say the funniest little things (especially that kid...his conversational skills are mature beyond MY years).

BEFORE

This is the end result....photo taken while standing inside the entry closet.  I know, those are pink chairs from the 80's, but they were free.  Beggars can't be choosers.

Here's the side view of my make-shift sofa table....or should I call it a "storage table."  This would be a great solution for my friends in Hawaii that live in super tight quarters, no?  That pretty brown table cloth was once the curtain panel in my kitchen.  I  made the hard learned mistake of putting Carly's high chair in front of the beautiful brown silk (imagine yogurt flinging and milk dripping), and during one of her fits of anger, she pulled the whole thing down on herself and broke my rod in half.  Can't afford a rod, and frankly, I want a fabric more like this for the kitchen anyway (remind anyone from Riverview of our old Choir Dresses?).  Next time I will just do a valance and no panels.  I learned my lesson the hard way.  Kids/Carly and panels, don't mix.

And here is a view from the hall.  Yeah, I know...the brass fireplace surround has got to go.  I am thinking of spray painting it a dark brown, same thing with the light fixture.  I am going to try it out on a brass floor lamp I have hanging out in the garage first.  And I am not lovin' the window-treatments....those will go better with the bedding in my bedroom.  So much to do and so much time to do it in.  Good things come to those who wait.  I am so full of old adages today, aren't I?

So, the changes are the sofa parallel with the wall, the piano closer to the fireplace (out of the bay window) and the chairs now occupying the bay window.

So far, my mom has told me she likes it.  My SIL has informed me kindly that she liked the other way better.  Which way do you like the living room arranged (Yes, I know that the before shot was missing a mirror and a few other czhatzkis(sp).  I am most interested in your thoughts on the furniture layout).

Oprah

My friend Ashley was watching Oprah when they were discussing sexual predators.  So I went to Oprah's site and read this.  I feel so badly that we live in a world where we have to worry about this stuff.  But we do, so, with that I am going to be more cautious about putting my beautiful little cherubs pictures on this blog.  I will keep on rambling about motherhood and posting about my adventures in making our house more to our/my liking and more food failures.

However, my kids blogs are going to go private.  They  are meant to be journals for each of the kids telling about their growth and development and just how much I love them.  So, if you are someone who likes reading about my amazing little ones, please email me or leave a comment and I will add you to their blogs.

I Won!!!!

I subscribe to a blog that gives something away every single day.  Each time I see something I really like, I put a comment and wish that I would win something.  But when over 800 people put in their name, I never get my hopes up and feel like Eyeore..."Maybe another day."

Today I was reading about this cute dress they are giving away and I hesitated putting my name in the hat.  In my self-pityness, I scrolled down to see who the winner was of $75 worth of fabric from The Material Girls and it was ME!!!!!!

Hooray!  I am going to get the fabric needed for Abi or Carly's bedroom.  

I don't want any of you to miss out on this chance to win something spectacular, so I added the Giveaway Today button to my page.  Go ahead and win something for yourself!

So...we also got the Camry back, so I have the van...which means I can go and get the fabric so soon!!!!  What a great day this is turning out to be.  Despite that fact that Carly kept me up for 2 hours last night (11:30-1:30am), Connor wet the bed(2:30am), and Abi had a melt down at 5:30 am.

Carly's Room

On Monday, I didn't have any little ones to watch and still no car.  So, I did the next best thing (besides cleaning the house and doing laundry), I started another project.

It all started with good intentions of cleaning Carly's room, I mean, REALLY cleaning.  Sorting through baby clothes, putting away winter stuff, bringing out springy clothes (ha ha ha, it's snowing today) washing baseboards and changing her bedding.  There is a wall in her room that has been bugging me for a while.  It's this one:

So, I pulled out some white paint and got to work painting a tree on that wall, so that the birdhouses don't look like they are floating on thin air.

Then I took the heart shelves that were hanging in Abi's room and hung them in Carly's room. But then I discovered that I needed things to go on those shelves, so I pulled out my stack of scrapbook paper and rummaged through to find some that could spark my creative juices. A collection of blue and green papers stood out, but I had already made the two little birdies (see them framed in the above picture) in blues, pinks and reds. I hemmed and hawed for about two seconds and realized I could perform a minor reconstructive surgery on each of the birds and replace the pinks and reds with greens. Brilliant! Pictures of the tree are to come when I am done cutting out little paper birdies to hang from the new branches.

After that bout of creativity, I started cleaning out the storage from under the stairs when I came across an old touch lamp that didn't work by touch anymore. You know the kind, it used to look like this:

But with a little white spray paint, paper and mod-podge, it now has a new home on Carly's dresser and looks like this:
But why stop with the paper crafting there. I needed to use this one piece of paper that inspired the whole blue and green scheme (the center medallion looking one), and I wanted it to show in it's full glory, so I made a quick and easy valance using some paper, spray adhesive, foam-core and velcro.
The total cost of these little crafts: $0.00

Stay tuned to see this tree and Abi's vines.  Hopefully they will both be done by next week!

Easter Weekend

Last year we didn't give into the major hype of the Holiday, so what should make this year any different?

Saturday I had gone to get Connor and nice new white Sunday Shirt and Abi some white shoes.  It was time to retire the golden slippers (I failed to take a picture of them before I threw them in the trash.  Think Wizard of Oz, but gold with holes scuffed into the toes).  While at the store, they had cute Easter Baskets for $1 each, so I picked some up and let Connor and Abi each pick out a $1 stuffed animal (you'd think I was at the dollar store...I wasn't).  Maybe we will use those Easter Baskets next year.

That was the extent of their Easter Celebration on our turf.  Fun, I know.  Our kids are going to lay into us about this one day...I am sure.  Do you remember your Easter from when you were 4, 2 or 1?  I don't.

Anyway, Sunday was a typical Sunday on our homefront.  With the exception that Todd had no meetings, but that was replaced with choir practice.  Todd and I both were to sing with the choir.  I had a two line solo and needed to be at the practice.  So at 10am, we all headed to the church for the practice.  While walking into the church, Abi was clutching her little purple easter bunny.  Her nursery leader asked her what it was and to my surprise, Abi replied, "It's my Easter Bunny, I got it in the purple basket."  SCORE!!!!  She totally thinks that she had a successful Easter and now the nursery leader won't think we are total schmucks for not throwing a treasure hunt.  I felt relieved.

Two cute girls from primary sat with our wild kids while we practiced, only to have all three kids clinging to me at the end of the practice.  I felt proud (truly) that my kids like me so much.  I have never felt more like a superstar than I did at that moment.   I thought, "they like me....they really like me."

Sacrament meeting started and Carly decided it was her turn to speak, LOUD.  So I got up to take her out, and Abi started wailing for her mother.  She does this a lot lately.  I think it kind of hurts Todd that she doesn't want him.  I hope it is just a phase.  Honestly, I don't know why she even wants me.  This morning she came up to me, rested her little head on my arm and said "mommy, you're stupid."

Back to church; I took both girls out into the foyer where I remained until Todd came and got me to sing with the choir.  I could hear both girls screaming from the stand.  Todd did find a room by the stage to lock themselves in for the remainder of sacrament meeting.

After the choir sang, I sat down next to Connor while the two cute primary girls remained and entertained him.  I then had an interesting conversation with Shelby, a ten year old.  It went a little something like this:

Shelby:  I asked Connor what he got for Easter, and he said 'nothing'.  She chuckled and looked at me hoping that it wasn't true.  You could tell by the look in her eyes.  So I asked him what he got in his easter basket and Connor told me he didn't get an easter basket.

Me:  The Easter Bunny skipped our house this year.  But don't worry, we're going to his Grammy's house tonight and I am sure the Easter Bunny will visit then.

Shelby:  Oh, good.

That Shelby is a smart one.  We couldn't fool her.  Carly didn't make it through nursery that day, so for the remainder of Sunday School I was out in the hall with her.  That's how we do Sunday's 'round here.

Grammy did come to the rescue with an Easter Egg hunt and Connor scored...as did Abi & Carly.  Thank heavens for awesome grandparents or this holiday would have been a bust in little Shelby's book.  I tried to explain to Abi and Connor before church that we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ...they just got the Jesus part.  Hooray!  That's good enough for me.

You'll see that the dress Carly is wearing, is one that Abi wore last year.  The dress Abi is wearing is a pass-along from our favorite brown babe in Hawaii (for a few more months), Sami, and Connor is wearing his new Easter shirt.  So they didn't get the shaft entirely this season.

I was in charge of dessert for the event and I was so impressed with the end results.  For the kids I went with something I saw on Bakerella .  I didn't do the handles, as those sour punch straws didn't bend quite right. 

The treat for the adults was something I had been researching and preparing for ever since my last layered cake fiasco.  I found tons of great tips on-line and nailed this one on the head....in my book.  I know, it isn't a work of art, but it tasted divine and it didn't look as bad as I had anticipated.

Those are supposed to be carrots on the top.  It was a carrot cake.

I Love Them

I love Carly's grin in this one.

I love Connor's face in this one.

I love that Abi can't give a true smile for pictures.

Washing The Dishes.....

...Before You Wash the Dishes

Who does this?

I know there are some of you out there that do.

I give the dishes a good run under the water before I stick them in the dishwasher, but nothing too major.  And yes, occasionally when I pull the dishes out it is obvious that I missed a spot when a corn flake is stuck to the inside of a bowl or a piece of cheese has been melted to the side of a plate (this really drives Todd crazy).

So, there is one of my flaws.  But I have back-up that my method is good (okay, I could be a little more thorough at my rinsing).  The guy that inspected our home told me that I should always leave a little food on the dishes, otherwise our dishwasher might age more quickly.  Yeah...cool, huh!?!

Apparently the types of detergents that we use in our dishwashers have chemicals in them that automatically attach to the softest surface they can find to dissolve them (a little creepy..but I remind myself that if the dishes make it through the whole wash all chemicals are steamed away).  If there is no food to attach to, the next softest thing it attaches to is the rubber seals or plastic racks and it eats away at them.

Let me take you back to last night, so you can get the full picture of where this post is coming from.  After dinner, Todd reminded me that it was might night to go running (we have to take turns).  So I got ready and as I left, Todd was cleaning the kitchen (I know...he's a good guy).  When I returned the kitchen was spotless, floor swept and the kids were watching Playhouse Disney on the computer.  Not too bad!  Although, Todd did forget about the fact that "we" were potty training Abi and she was sad that she had wet herself and was sitting in it.  But, Todd had even vacuumed the whole house while I was out (man...do I run that slow?  Yes, I do).

Anyway, this morning while getting the kids breakfast, I had recalled that my thoughtful husband had washed the dishes.  So, I opened the dishwasher to grab some bowls, but they still felt residuey and there was a small speck of cheese on one item.  It would be very unlike Todd to leave anything on the dishes as he is one of those who washes the dishes before letting the dishwasher do it's job.

A phone call was in order to make sure I was not about to subject our three beautiful children to something contaminated.  Here is how the phone call went down:

Mel:  Good morning!  I have a quick question.

Todd: Okay

Mel:  I know you "washed" the dishes before you washed the dishes, but now they are so clean that I can't tell if you ran the dishwasher.

Todd (laughing):  No, I didn't run the dishwasher

Mel:  Todd...how many times have I told you that it is not necessary to clean the dishes so much before they go in the dishwasher.  I could have given one of the kids a bowl that was still dirty (dirty is relative....they had already been scrubbed...just not with soap and super-duper hot water).

Todd (still laughing):  Sorry.  I won't let it happen again.

Mel:  Good.  Have a great day.  Love you.  Bye

You know, these are the little annoying things in life that endear you to your significant other.  You know the ones...that when they die and you complain about how they washed the dishes too much before putting them in the dishwasher and you accidentally drank water out of a dirty cup and didn't realize until you saw all the floaties in the bottom of the cup. All the while laughing through the tears realizing that it is these little things that set them apart from other people and make them uniquely yours (imagine a Lifetime Original Movie to get that one...KIM/SUZY).

I often joke that if Todd was ever cloned I would know who he is from the clone, because "only Todd would do that."  This is one of those things that would stand out as "only Todd."

Big Project Update (and a little potty training)

No pictures yet (okay....I couldn't hold out...this morning I added a few pictures), as I want to wait until the room is completed to give you the full effect.

The "stencil" took about 4 hours to install, so we decided to do the other tree on another weekend when my trusty installer is available.  I had no idea how much work would be going into these trees.  This is my favorite installer:

My mom really liked the "cartoony" look with these sponged edges. Don't worry, we didn't leave the white templates up forever.  Look, there is a glimpse of the bed.

I picked up the embroidered birds my grandmother made from the dry cleaners today and they look so bright and springy.  Just the tropical/vintage/familial touch Abi's room needed.

Her window treatment turned out better than I had imagined and only took me two hours to sew!

Yes, that is a tree branch we are using as her curtain rod.  My mom stained it the same as the bed and picture frames.

But my favorite change has got to be the bed.  I can't wait to stain Connor's.  What a difference a few coats of stain can do to a dated piece of furniture.

Now I am focusing my efforts on Potty Training Abi.  I have given up on the "potty train in a day" method and realizing that a regular mom's ordinary method will have to work.  So, instead of setting myself (and Abi) up for failure (like I have the last 9 times with Connor) I have chosen to realize the following:

1)  The first day, she will wet through every single pair of undies I put on her.  It's normal.  It's okay.  This is why I was born in a day and age with washing machines, affordable undies and trash cans (face it...there are times when it isn't worth cleaning the undies).

2)  By the end of the first week, she may have managed to make it to the toilet on time once.  If she does better than that...we both deserve some new lip gloss (she has a major fetish with lip gloss right now).

3)  I will need to set a timer to go off every ten minutes to remind myself to remind Abi to go potty.  Being a nag at this stage in her life, for this reason, will only make her a better person (really, who wants to date a girl still in a diaper...thanks mom, I will always owe you for potty training me).

4)  When someone tells of their perfect only child picking up on potty training quickly, offer to pay them to potty train your child (Todd was one of those one-day-wonder kind of kids).  Not only does it free my hands up of a child, but then, maybe, I could focus my attention on potty training the stubborn, perfectionist, independent little boy.

5)  Lots of lemonade needs to be on hand for Abi to stay well-hydrated and lots of Diet Pepsi needs to be on hand to help calm moms nerves.

But truly, the first day wasn't so bad.  Abi managed to make it to the toilet twice.  Yes, she wet through 8 pair of panties.  Thankfully, each time it was  while standing or sitting on a hard solid surface that was easy to clean.  But she also waited to go #2 until I had put her diaper on for bed.  That's my girl...make the clean-up easier for mommy.

She is a very happy and easy going little girl.  Each time I asked her if she needed to go potty, she would willingly come and sit on the toilet.  Each time she wet herself, she came running to me telling me cute things like "oh no, I'm so wet" or "mommy, I'm not doing it right" or "it isn't working."

I feel like a champion.  I didn't get frustrated even once with her today (HUGE accomplishment in the potty training realm for me).  And the bigger deal is that I am ready to face it all over again tomorrow....back to the trenches (stenches?)I go!