In Madison

The girls and I just got back from several days in Madison. We made the most of the time that we could...It was hard because both girls eventually ended up looking like this...

Pitiful with a fever virus. That knocked out 2 of our days to go have fun. Clare was down Saturday and a lot of Sunday, and Lila woke up with it this morning. Casey did take Lila to the movies on the day that Clare was sick. Lila enjoyed watching "Turbo," and I'm sure she loved her popcorn and soda.

We did have a couple of days where we got to go and do some fun things.

The first night we were there, Lila got a treat for sleeping in her bed with no fusses for a week straight -- that's a big deal in our house. She picked out a Sno-Cone.

We headed to Bridgestreet for shopping and food. The girls threw coins in the fountains, and the girls and I rode the train around the mall.

The rest of the time was for hanging out around the house, eating snacks, playing in old jewelry, and LOTS of coloring. I should've taken a picture of all the coloring the girls subjected Grammy and Casey to.

I snapped these as we were getting ready to leave today. We had a great visit and miss y'all already.

4 1/2

My beautiful little girl is 4 1/2 today. I wish I had the words to describe the joy this child brings us. She has turned into such a little girl here lately...she looks so big, and she's just not a baby anymore.

She is just.like.me. I see so much of myself in her. My mini me.

She is super sensitive. She is super smart. She is very sweet and empathetic. She's a mama hen. She's academic. She loves to color and draw, and it has to be just right. She's a perfectionist, to say the least. She is literal. She loves to sing and perform and pretend she can play the piano. She can make up a song with the best of them. She is so excited about gymnastics in the fall, and she is really good at tennis. She loves her bunny and hates to sleep in her bed. She really wants a pet. She wants her hair to be as long as Rapunzel's and is not looking forward to her haircut Friday. She loves Clare and is such an encouraging and loving big sister...she's just not tough enough yet for Clare's rough antics. She loves her friends, babies, and her family. Drama, drama, drama. She starts preschool in the fall, and she.can't,wait. She is already talking about Kindergarten. She loves princesses. She says Belle is her favorite. She watches Sofia the First any chance she gets. She says the sweetest prayers. She embarrasses easily.

She is the one that made me a mama, and I love her to the moon and back. Happy 4 1/2 Big Girl!

Potty Training Clare

Well, I would've never thunk it, but I believe Miss Clare Anne is potty-trained. We are a week into it...I wouldn't put a post up before that because I was sure I would jinx myself!!

This is the night we decided...on a whim. I don't do anything on a whim, and I was so not mentally and emotionally prepared for a round of potty training. I mean she's cute as pie in a pair of panties, but she's my baby, and babies wear diapers! She'd gotten to where she'd tell me the second she was using her diapers...we thought it might be time...or Josh did...the one who doesn't ACTUALLY have to do the majority of the potty training.

We didn't hunker down at the house like we did with Lila. We ran errands and kept play dates and such. While we were out, she'd do really well...I put that potty in the back of my car again, and we'd roll. She did have tee-tee accidents at home pretty consistently through Thursday, and by then, I was starting to think she wasn't ready and that I'd made a major mistake. Because once you start, you don't turn back, right??

I won't lie ... I've resorted to Disney Junior on my phone a time or two. It worked ... I have no regrets. :)

I'm happy to report that she's seems to have gotten it. The Lord heard my prayers because since Friday we are accident free as far as tee-teeing. We're still not perfect, but all I can say is Hallelujah!!

She's so giddy she doesn't know what to do with herself. She even says to me "I so proud of you for tee-teeing Mommy!!"

And Lila -- she's been super encouraging and helpful...even though I basically feel like I'm potty training her again. I've sat with her and "listened" as much as I have with Clare!

Happy 4th of July!