Embarking on a potty training adventure!

First off....Heidi, I'm blogging for you today! Thanks for your comment...it made me feel really good to be missed and to know that you're checking in! I hadn't planned to blog today, but since you asked...... :)

Tomorrow, Luke and I will start our morning (and spend the next several days) locked in our house, attempting to master the daunting task of POTTY TRAINING! Yikes! Can you sense my trepidation ??!! While we have been casually familiarizing him with the potty, Pull-Ups and a plethora of potty books for quite some time, until now, we (I) have not fully embraced the whole potty training thing. Not that Luke isn't ready....I think he is and could have probably been 'trained' some time ago. It was me who wasn't quite ready. The thought of potty training doesn't seem so bad if we spent all day, every day at home. But the idea of having to use public restrooms (can anyone say EEEEWWWWW!), and risking accidents when we are out and about just seemed a bit too anxiety provoking for me. I just have not been up for the challenge. Until now, that is.

But with baby on the way (in FIVE short weeks, I might add!), the thought of changing two sets of diapers doesn't appeal to me much either. Nor does their cost! (Double yikes!!) And I figure I had better get some kind of formal training completed before I am at the mercy of a tiny babe whose schedule is so unpredictable at first. I'm prepared for regression...I know if will happen when Baby arrives, even if Luke has fully taken to the whole concept. I just need to bite the bullet and get moving with it sooner rather than later. So tonight, or this afternoon, we will do a 'dry run' (hahaha...yes, the pun was intended!) with his special teaching Bear and tomorrow, my soggy-diapered toddler and I will begin this new phase. We've been talking it up all week, have bought all sorts of special snacks, drinks and rewards (things suggested in the book we are following as a guide) and I must say, Luke is quite excited about the whole prospect. Let's just hope the excitement lingers awhile! :) We'll see....I'll keep you posted!

As for other things, today has been a bit of a crazy day for us. We've been gone much of the day, spending time with Sarah, Hudson and Angel, and going with her to Loma Linda for a 'planning meeting' with my co-workers for my friend Laura's baby shower in a few weeks. (geez....that was a long sentence!) We left our house this morning at 9:3o and did not return until 3pm! After the our 'meeting' at the 'spital, there was no way around a Costco run, since we were completely out of laundry detergent and some other necessities. I wasn't about to embark on our little potty training adventure without the ability to do wash! That would not be wise! So Costco is was! At 2:00 pm! (Luke usually naps around 1pm, so I was pushing it a bit!) But he was awesome! He happily sucked on a Tootsie Pop (my little bribe.....errr....I mean treat for him) while we rushed through the isles and he surprised me without one little tantrum! Good boy! As I huffed and puffed my way through the refrigerator isles, I overheard a middle-aged, fairly overweight lady say to her friend as she opened the cooler door to the milk, "Now if only I could keep it at this temperature all the time....." I giggled to myself, 'cause I had just been thinking the very same thing as I reached into the fridge for some coffee creamer. I smiled at her as I passed and said "I agree with you on the whole temperature thing! Wouldn't a cool 50 degrees be nice about now?!" I stood back from the cart to reveal my bulging belly and this sweet lady.....oh....she just made my day by what she said next. "Oh Dear! Aren't you adorable! How far along are you?! Have you even gained an ounce since you've been pregnant?! You look beautiful!" Ahhhh.....music to a pregnant women's ears! Even if it was just fluff and social kindness, her words were like a soothing balm to a pretty self-conscious me. I asked her if she wouldn't mind coming into my house every morning to tell me that! :) We shared a laugh and I waddled on my way....my heart feeling just a bit lifted. Thanks, Lady! :)

Anyway....I must get going for now. I've already clamored upstairs to lay Luke back down for more rest after he woke an hour into his nap, so I know I'm on borrowed time. But before I go, I wanted to share some of my most favorite belly pictures that Sarah took for me. There were so many beautiful ones and she did such an amazing job, that it was hard to choose just a few! Thank you again, Sarah! These pictures are priceless and precious to me! We took them about a month ago when I wasn't feeling quite so plump! :) Thank goodness for that! :)


My handsome hubby and my baby girl! Hope she gets his eyes! :)

My sweet son.....

Cradled in our hands......

And I just love, love, love this one with the gerber daisy and all!

A family portrait....


Okay....I'm off for now! I'll keep ya'll posted about how potty training is going! Say a little prayer for us that it goes smoothly! :)