Potty Advice?

Well, not for me.  I'm pretty sure I know how to use the potty already.

(Although, if I didn't, I wouldn't exactly be putting it out there on the blog, now would I?)

I'm about to start potty-training a certain little 2-year old, despite my pediatrician's advice that I should wait until she's 3. 

(Also, despite my deep fear of having to clean up an "accident," and not one of the pee-variety.) 

So, I come to you once again, asking for advice.  And like before, I am not particularly concerned about whether you ARE a mom, and have actually tried said advice.  If you saw it on an episode of Teen Mom, and it looked like a pretty good idea, I'm game.

But I need help.

And probably prayers.

(And maybe some hardcore cleaning products.)

Pumpkin Patched

Since it's all the rage on Facebook, Twitter, and Blogger, I give you....

Our Day at The Pumpkin Patch

aka "It Really Does NOT Take Much To Entertain a Toddler."

Or her parents.

Some of these pumpkins were literally almost bigger than her! 



My girl loves a tractor.  But really, who doesn't?



My favorite moments of the day included this one, where we saw a big pumpkin and thought, OH how cute!  Let's take a family photo with AG sitting on the pumpkin! 

At which point some man yelled into a megaphone, PLEASE STOP SITTING ON THE PUMPKINS.

Lovely.



Also among my favorite moments? Watching my sweet girl hug all the pumpkins. 
(I'm pretty sure they loved it too, though.)


We had a blast, and if you think I didn't walk away with a big 'ol pumpkin pie,
you would be mistaken.

(And if you think that pumpkin pie survived the week at my house, you would probably be mistaken on that one too.)



Seven Years

I wish I could say that I got all crafty and made this anniversary gift for John.  But I didn't. 

I also wish I could say I had waited until our actual anniversary (today) to give it to him.  But, I ordered it back in August, and managed to wait until, well....August. 

(Clearly, I'm the very picture of patience and restraint.)

(By the way, the gift ISN'T the weird old gasoline/oil/I'm not really sure what they heck they used to put in that can.  Nor is it the drinks bin, or the wooden (sadly leaning to one side, and therefore unusable) table.  I hope that narrows things down for you.)

When I saw this sign on etsy, I was minding my own business, looking for fun pallet creations.  (Clearly after a session of stalking pallet ideas on Pinterest.) 

I didn't actually intend to get my husband an old pallet for our seventh anniversary.  But the words resonated with me immediately, and I just KNEW.  Knew he would love it.  Knew he'd much rather have this than a new watch, or some cuff links, or, oh who am I kidding? 
I would never buy him cuff links. 

When I gave it to him, I had all these plans to write a really meaningful letter about why I chose an old piece of wood as our anniversary present.  But since I basically ripped off the shipping materials and ran into his office with it, that plan didn't really happen.  It was more like, "Hey babe, here's your anniversary gift, yes, I know it's August, yes, I know our anniversary is in October, but look how cool this is, and aren't you glad you have it now?!"

Obviously.

If I had managed to not be myself for a minute, exhibit some restraint, and actually write the letter, I would've told him that it represents exactly how I felt on our wedding day. 

But it also represents a lot more than that.

It represents.....

The day we met.

The day he told me he loved me, and knew that I was going to be his wife.

The day he actually asked me to be his wife.

All the days of our honeymoon.

The day he surprised me with a little puppy we named Jackson.

The day we found out I was pregnant.

The day we watched our daughter come into the world.

And then a whole collection of days in between, spent doing nothing at all, spent acting like total goobers, and spent doing some insanely fun things.  But most importantly, just spent together.

It represents the gift of a life full of "best days I can ever remember." And today I am unbelievably thankful.

Happy seventh anniversary, babe!

Disclaimer: It's no secret that I can really get my mush on, particularly when it comes to my husband.  Sorry for that.  Feel free to go throw up now.

Happy Birthday, Little Presh!

Dear Ally Grace,

You're two years old today!  I am literally in awe at how fast the past two years have flown by.  You have transformed from a sweet little baby, to an adventurous, hilarious, talkative, and always entertaining little girl.  Your dad and I couldn't possibly be more in love with you if we tried. 

I want you to know what you were like at this age, so here goes:  You're quite the talker.  Girl, you can really get your word on.  (You probably wish mommy would stop getting her word on, am I right?).  You started talking super early, and have been communicating in sentences for awhile.  Like, actual sentences.  Some of my favorite:

"I like cupcakes."  (Well, so do I.  What a coincidence.  I'm sure it has nothing at all to do with the many cupcakes that were stuffed in my mouth while pregnant. Nothing at all.)

"I like a boy."  (Say WHAT?!?!  After I finished passing out, I mentioned this to your dad.  He was not exactly a fan.)

"Happy birthday for Chase." (Daddy is not so much a fan of this either, and would like to know exactly who is this "Chase" character?)

"Mommy hold you."  (You say this when you want me to pick you up.  Which is coincidentally a LOT more often, now that I have back problems.)

"Baby Rhodes rolled over."  (Yes, at least a month ago.  And we are still talking about it.)

"Gooooo, Dawgs, Sic' em.  WOOF, WOOF, WOOF."  (Okay, this may not actually be a sentence.  But you'd better believe I taught my girl to call the Dawgs. One of life's many important lessons.)

"Cookie, cookie, cookie."  (Girlfriend does a perfect impression of Cookie Monster.)

"La, La, La, Luuuuuuuke.  I am your Faaaather."  (A la Chris Farley, in Tommy Boy.  CLEARLY this was none of my doing.  But it's pretty hilarious all the same.)

You are a social butterfly.  You have NO qualms about waving and talking to people....friends, family, waiters, complete and total strangers, and possibly even just randomly yelling "Hey girl!" to people at the park.  (Even when they're not girls.)  One of your favorite things to say is:  "Hey. Whatcha doin'?  My name's Ally Grace. Nice to meet you."  I love your outgoing nature.  You're already confident, and that's one of my greatest desires for you--to have confidence in who you are in Christ.  I pray that every day for you.

Did I mention that you like to talk?  One of your favorite things to do is to repeat what we say.  Here's a conversation we had just the other day:

Mommy:  (while dropping her keys)  Darn it!

Ally Grace:  Darn it!

Mommy:  No, no, Ally Grace....don't say "darn it." 

Ally Grace, "Mommy say it."

Mommy:  Um........

Why are you already smarter than me, little one?

You are obsessed with your "baby Bible."  It's the first thing you want in the morning, and the last thing you want at night.  You may or may not love it more than you love me. 

(Since it's about Jesus, I'm okay with that.)

I haven't been doing the world's best job with the camera lately, but I've been taking some mental snapshots of moments that I want to make sure I don't ever forget:

You and Daddy, dancing in the bathroom to a Zac Brown Band song.

Hugging me through the slats of your crib, first thing in the morning.

Praying together before bed.  (A typical Ally Grace prayer? "Thank you God for mommy, for daddy, for Jackson.  For Man.  (Her little toy man, not actual mankind or anything).  Thank you God for fun.  Thank you for Dubs.  Thank you for Jesus.  AMEN!!!" (said with great flair)

Trying to teach Jackson how to use an iPhone.  (I'm not entirely sure he enjoyed the process).

Sweetly touching and naming every single part of my face.

Snuggling onto my shoulder at night before bed.

Yelling "GO DADDY!" at the top of your lungs, for no reason at all. 

Telling me you're headed to "Costco" when you're pushing your grocery cart around the house.  (Incidentally, this may mean we do sample runs at Costco a little too often.)

I know I could go on and on.  And on.  (Now, where do you get that talking thing from? Hmmm.  So weird.)

I just want you to read this one day and know, without a doubt, that you are completely and unreservedly loved. 

I promise we'll never stop.

Winner!

Okay, I LOVED reading about all of your favorite items of clothing!  And I realized that I never shared mine......right now, it's a pair of pink cropped jeans.  And before you're all, "Hey Sherri?  The 80's called, and they want their jeans back," I actually purchased them this fall. 

Although, come to think of it, I did totally rock some turquoise Guess jeans back in the 5th grade. 

(Along with a perm, some rompers, and various other fashion atrocities that should never be named again.) 

Anyway, on a more interesting note.....I've drawn a winner for the giveaway!  My friend, (and pregnancy soulmate) Caroline O, won with the following comment:

My favorite current item in my closet would have to be a new-ish pair of not-so-skinny, skinny jeans. They are cut like skinny jeans, so I feel a little sassy when I'm wearing them, but they are actually more of a relaxed fit...so I can eat as many krispy kremes as I want. I know these pants sound too good to be true, but I'm wearing them now and I assure you they are for real. Or I really AM imagining them and THAT'S why the bag boy offered to help me out to my car at Publix today...


Caroline, girl, your comment almost made me fall out of my chair laughing!  Have fun getting your "edit" on. And thanks to everyone for entering the giveaway!

Happy Thursday!