Potty Progress

Allie made major progress in potty training today. She pooped in the potty for the first time. This is a HUGE deal! Jarod and I were very surprised. We took her to go potty before she laid down for a nap and she told us to go away. After a few minutes she got up and she had this look on her face. I went in to check and you can imagine how shocked I was. While Jarod and I were singing and dancing, she was looking in the potty going, "oh no, oh no." We assured her that what she just did was a good thing and she soon joined us in song and dance.

My goal over the summer was to have her potty trained before I went back to work. Needless to say that didn't happen. I really thought it would take no time because she started going potty back in January. She did pretty good for a few weeks and then all of sudden she just regressed. We would put her on the potty and she just wouldn't go anymore. I finally stopped pushing the issue until she showed interest again. I apparently did the same thing as a two year old. My mom said I would do great and then just stop. I have a feeling Allie will be the same way because she is stubborn just like me. After talking with Carmen a few days ago, we decided Allie is ready to try again full force. Our only problem is getting her to tell us she needs to go and she doesn't really care if she is wet. I think Carmen is going to try putting her in panties next week and see if that helps. Hopefully she will progress gradually and have no more set backs. Keep your fingers crossed!

Boogers Are Not Food

Lately, Allie has been saying some pretty funny things so I thought I would share a few of them with you. I have to say that I really love the phase that she is in now. Her personality is really starting to come out and it is so much fun to watch.

Conversation with Allie in the car as I'm pulling into the driveway:
Allie- "Mommy, I have boogers". Me- "Do you need mommy to pick your boogers?" Allie- "Noooo". Me- "Are you sure you don't need mommy to pick your boogers?" Allie-"Nooooo" Allie- "We don't eat boogers". Me (laughing)- "That's right, we don't eat boogers". Allie- "Boogers are not food". This had me laughing for a while!

On our way to school today Allie talked about seeing the train tracks that we drove over. Then Allie said the following: "Bye train tracks". "Have a nice day". Then I hear her blowing them kisses.

In July, Allie did not feel like taking naps. For the last couple of weeks she has been doing much better. She gets a "prize" if she takes a nap. One afternoon on our way home from eating lunch she sees a few airplanes in the sky and we tell her that she gets to ride in one when we go on our trip in a month. She then says: "I take a nap, I watch Einsteins and ride in plane". She didn't seem to understand that we couldn't get in a plane anytime she wants to. Then I made the mistake of telling her that we are going to San Diego and on Saturday she said if she took a nap then she got to go to San Diego.

Tonight at dinner Allie used her hot dog that was cut up to build the Leaning Tower of Pisa. She told Jarod: "Look daddy, Leaning Tower of Pisa." Then when it fell over she said, "look daddy Pisa broken". You may be wondering how my child knows what the Leaning Tower of Pisa is. She has a Little Einsteins book and she remembered Jarod talking to her about it. A few weeks ago she kept telling me she saw a tower and pizza (so I thought). I finally realized she was talking about the Tower of Pisa.

Conversation on our way home yesterday: Allie- "I want to ride in school bus". Me-"Kids that go to school get to ride in the school bus". Allie-" I want to go to school". Me- "School is for big kids". Allie- "I a big kid". Today she did come with me up to school and she was so excited and jumping up and down saying how much fun school is.

Here are some of my favorite things that Allie says:
"I want to go to Target. Target is fun." (She also says the same things about Sam's and Wal-Mart)
"That's the master bath." (we watch House Hunters)
"Yes I do"
"That's a bald eagle." (She thinks every bird is a bald eagle)
"Come on guys, follow me."
"Wait for me. I'm coming cars."

I also love hearing her sing and read books. I know there are some other words she says that I love hearing her say and I just can't think of them at the moment. I just thought I would share a few. One thing is for sure, she always has us laughing!

Labor Day Weekend

Well obviously I have been a slacker the last couple of weeks. Work has been pretty crazy and it's taking us a while to get back into the groove of things. We aren't there yet but it's getting better! I have wanted to post all week but our internet has not been working very well. This past weekend was also a little crazy. In the beginning Jarod, Allie and I were going to spend time with my mom and dad and my brothers and their families could not. Then on Friday my mom said that Scott and his family would be with us and so would Chad and Jami. I was very excited b/c it had been a few months since we had all been together. I was really looking forward to spending a day with everyone.
Unfortunately plans changed on Sunday morning. The church that my parents and my brother Scott and his family attend had to get everything ready for the victims from the hurricane. Their church had provided shelter during Katrina and were asked to do it again. Since my mom works for the church and my brother is also involved they ended up being at the church all day long. So needless to say plans changed again. While they were working, we hung out at my parent's house and Jarod took the kiddoes swimming. I'm glad that most of us got to spend some time together but we really missed having my mom and Scott there with us.
Jarod, Allie and I spent the night on Sunday and were able to spend a little more time with my parents. My dad was very kind and watched Allie for us so we could escape and go see a movie. It was great to have a mini date!



Karlie, Uncle Chad and Greer.


Annie and Poppy. She has gotten so big and this is the only picture I got of her. She is just the best baby!



Karlie and Allie waiting their turn. If you look close you can see Allie pouting.






This picture is from Allie's first day back at Carmen's. She was so excited that morning. She looks so much like a big girl in this picture.

Hi-Ho Hi-Ho It's Back to Work I Go

I really can't believe that it is time for me to go back to work. Where did the summer go? I've had a blast this summer with Allie. I am so blessed that I got to spend so much time with her. We had a great time going to the water park, swimming with friends, reading, singing, dancing and going to Sam's and Target (she loves going to both places). I feel like there are more things we could have done together, but time ran out. I tried so hard this summer for us to have as much fun as we could. Last summer wasn't great b/c I had hurt both of my knees and wasn't able to do a whole lot, so I tried my hardest to make it up to her this summer. It's weird that I will not be with her all day. I will miss singing with her, reading with her, playing cars and little people, dancing, coloring and playing ring around the rosie with her and her doll. I am so thankful that I am a teacher and I am able to have the summer and holidays to spend with Allie. Allie is excited about going to Miss Carmen's tomorrow and seeing all of her friends. She LOVES being there and I know she will do just fine going back. It makes it easier that she loves Carmen and that Carmen loves Allie. I'm not sure what I would do without her. She has been such a blessing to our lives.

I'm hoping this school year will be better than last year and I hope my attitude will be too! There was a lot of junk thrown at us last year and most of us didn't cope well and grumbled a lot. At the end of the year I realized how miserable I was and that's not how it should be. I love teaching and I need to focus on that. My goal this year is to take everything in stride and to be as positive as I can. I know there will be days when I am frustrated and mad, but I hope I can remember to be positive! Lately Allie has been a gentle reminder to me about praying during the day. At random times during the day she will say, "Mommy, let's pray." It's amazing to me that my sweet little two year old is reminding me to stop and pray throughout the day. When everything gets crazy at school (or in life) I just need to remember my sweet little girls words and stop and pray.

I decided to include a sweet video of Allie singing. She used the spatula has her microphone. I apologize now for my singing. I tried so hard not to sing, but she will only sing Take Me Out to the Ballgame if I sing with her. I was trying hard to sing as quietly as I could and I think it makes me sound funny! Oh well, most people do not like hearing themselves on video and I am one of them. Enjoy!

J. Crew . . . Who Knew?

I just thought I would share some information that I learned last weekend. Jarod, Allie and I were shopping at Grapevine Mills the other night after dinner and we went to J. Crew. I found a great deal on a skirt. It was already marked down, plus I got an additional 40% off. As I'm checking out the girl asked me if I was a teacher. I told her yes and then she didn't say anything. Finally I asked her if that mattered and she told me that I got an additional 15% off. I was so excited! Her manager had to come over and help her with the discount and I asked the manager if it was a back to school special. She said no, they always give teacher's 15% off but you need to have some sort of identification. I was very excited since both Jarod and I like to shop there.
Happy Shopping!

Leadership APTA Program

Jarod got some great news last Friday. He has been selected to participate in the Leadership APTA Program. APTA is the American Public Transportation Association - the primary training and advocacy group for public transportation. This is a great honor for Jarod and a huge stepping stone for his career. He applied last year and did not get in. He didn't think he would ever get in because usually guys his age don't. His boss came to him again this summer and asked for him to reapply. Once again he doubted that he would get in. Only 25 people across the U.S. are chosen. After he applied, God seemed to be opening another door for him in a different career. But we believe that God closed that door and opened a new door for us to follow. I am so excited for him and I know he will learn so much from his year in this program.
I'm so proud of you Jarod!

My Little Bookworm

Allie really enjoys reading books and having us read books to her. I enrolled her in a book club at our public library this summer. I love our library in Lewisville. The entire library was remodeled and the children's area is huge. They have a wonderful window seat with lots of over stuffed pillows, so we can sit and read comfortably. After Allie read 20 books she got a certificate, prizes, and a ticket to the circus. It didn't take us long to read the books but it took me a while to turn in her paper. I'm so glad that Allie loves to read and I hope her love for reading continues as she gets older.