Merry Christmas Evelyn Frances Turrell

Welcome to baby sister Evelyn Frances Turrell!

Born: December 25, 2010

Time: 8:17 am

Weight: 7 lbs 1 oz

Length: 19. 29 inches

Beautiful little Evie, born 4 weeks early, is in the NICU since birth with the same skin condition big sister Amelia was born with. We will be posting her progress here. Check back for updates and please, please pray for Evie's complete healing and good health.

It is a bittersweet New Year's Eve as I sit on the couch updating this blog as Amelia sleeps...while Ford rings in the New Year in the NICU with sweet baby Evie. But we are thankful, hopeful, and faithful. Here's to a healthy and happy 2011. God is good!

Country Roots

My Nashville born baby. Though Amelia's memories of living in Nashville are fading, if not sadly erased from her memory, Ford and I still talk to her about our life there. For example, when we see a country music star on television or hear a country song on the radio (I might point out we are not huge country music fans), we usually point out that the person singing lives in Nashville, where we used to live. She nods and listens intently. Tonight we flipped to the GAC station where a few Nashville stars were singing at the Ryman Auditorium...the original Grand Ole Opry. She wanted me to stop flipping so she could watch, well, mostly to check out the sparkly dresses. Rodney Atkins came on and she immediately jumped up and said..."Dad, he sounds like you!" Not sure how to take that, since Ford has never written or sung country music, he just laughed. She was then quick to point out..."and he's singing about beavers!" Well, there you go, Ford Turrell couldn't be any more like Rodney Atkins. :)
Listening to Carrie Underwood next, Ford pointed out that if he had written that song she was singing then we would be "rich." Amelia understanding only one context of this word, looks at him puzzled and said, "we'd be sweet, Dad?"
Yup, we'd be sweet.

My Neighbor

It has been a long week...wait...a long few months of illness around this house. Seems pre-school has introduced us to several new viruses and Miss Amelia has caught them all. The latest...she was home with me this whole week trying to lick a sinus infection. So sad. Especially sad in the mornings when she would wake up, eyes crusted with green gook, hoarse voice, stuffed up nose, cough and a warm forehead. Every morning, she'd crawl into our bed to snuggle, and cough, and cough some more...

Yesterday Ford was up getting ready for work and school while she and I snuggled. Since we were both awake, he came in before he left to say goodbye and give her a kiss. It was still fairly dark, but of course Amelia, regardless of her feverish, stuffed up and so sad state, noticed what he was wearing...khaki pants, a white button-down shirt and a gray cardigan sweater.

She quietly said, "Goodbye, Dad" and then as he walked away, she very seriously whispered to me...

"Mom, do you think Dad's friends and teachers will think he's Mr. Rogers?"

Halloween Treats

Pumpkin Patch

Ford carved a kitty! I am so proud of his artistic skills this year.

Treat for Amelia's first ever school Halloween party!

I know my blog posts have been very few and far between. A lot happening in the Turrell household these days. Hoping to catch up on this blog soon. But for now...a few pictures of pre-Halloween fun!

I'm Eighteen

Amelia and Ford came in from playing outside for dinner tonight.

Ford: "Did you know Amelia is eighteen?"

Me: "No I didn't! You're eighteen, Amelia?"

Amelia: "Yes!"

She begins to list her reasons that she came up with while playing outside...

Amelia: "My feet can touch the ground when I swing...I can skip and hop...and I can watch for cars! I'm eighteen!"

Prayers, the Moon, Donuts and Mammals

Prayers

Ford joined Amelia and I at the table for breakfast after we had already started eating. He folded his hands and closed his eyes to pray. Amelia interrupted him and said, "we already prayed, Dad." I then explained to her that it's okay to pray by yourself, before you eat, before bed, when you want to pray for someone or something, even yourself...any time of the day. She then hopped down and laid down on the floor underneath the table. Thinking she's was goofing around and avoiding breakfast, I didn't hesitate and began to instruct her to get back up in her chair when I heard her whisper..."Dear God, please bless my wholllllle family. Amen." Then she hopped back up in her seat. Guess she wanted to try out praying when she was by herself.

Moon

Amelia" "Mom, maybe tonight, after dinner and my bath and pajamas, we can go out to look at the moon. And if it's a new moon...then no moon. And it's it's not a new moon...then moon."

Donuts

Amelia was munching on and enjoying a yummy cider donut from Uncle John's with us at the table. She was studying the donut when she asked, "Why is there a hole in my donut?" Ford responded, "that is a great question, Amelia, I wonder why too." Amelia says, "I think it's the done hole." Ford, "the what hole?" Amelia, "the done hole. Because when you eat all around it, and get to the hole, then it's done."

Mammals

After watching an episode of "Dinosaur Train," Amelia learned a little about what mammals are. I asked her later about it and she said, "mammals are small mice." I reminded her that mammals can be any animal that has fur. I asked her, "do you have fur?" She said, "No, but Dad does, so he's a mammal."

Our last Friday...

Today is Friday. School starts Monday...and doesn't end until 2025. I just had to do the math...Amelia will graduate high school in 2025. I have many mixed emotions about this very important Monday. So much of me wants to keep her home with me until kindergarten. To sleep in, snuggle, stay in our jammies until lunch time, play...just be little. Really little. The kind of little that I take for granted every day. The kind of little that I already wish I had more photos of, more video footage of...so I will never forget what she was like when she was little.

So she goes off to school, 3 mornings a week, starting Monday...to learn, explore, socialize, create, grow and get to know herself away from home, away from me.

But today is Friday. We slept in, just the two of us. We snuggled together, laughed and talked in my bed until we got hungry for breakfast. We stayed in our jammies until lunch. We packed a picnic. Stopped at the community center to sign up for her very first ballet class. Went to the park, ate our picnic lunch under a shade tree, and then played and played. We walked by the river, just the two of us. We pretended to fish with long sticks, catching sharks and yellow fish. We wrote our names in the sand by the river bank. We explored among the old trees and sat on their low branches and imagined who lived in their hollowed out knots. We played in the cool September air until we were tired. We stopped at the shoe store on the way home to try on ballet shoes. We went home and rested on the couch while we ate a snack, and talked and played until Ford came home. We finished our day together as a family. Doing our family thing. And then we kissed her little 3 year old face goodnight and tucked her in.

Our last Friday, not to be forgotten as we head into this bittersweet Monday with excitement, a few nerves, and really big hopes...

My school girl. My big girl. We're ready.

I love the doctor!

If you've followed this blog, you may remember in previous posts regarding doctor visits, Amelia has never been a big fan...of any type of doctor let alone being examined by one. As a baby, when we would visit Dr. Frank's office in Nashville, all she had to do was spot him in the hallway on the way to the exam room and the tears would flow and the clinging would begin. I remember having to virtually yell over the screaming/crying in order to communicate with the doc. Doctor visits were brutal, and exhausting. Something we all came to dread. This was one of those things about her personality I thought might continue on as she got older...but yesterday, the bugger proved me wrong.

All three of us have had a nasty cough/virus for about a week. I decided it was time to have her checked out. I told her about an hour before we left the doctor that we were going to visit Dr. Chapin so that the she could have a listen to her chest as well as check her ears and throat.

She excitedly got ready to go. Really? She smiled and sang all the way there. For real? She even said..."I looovvve going to the doctor." What? Ford and I just kept looking at each other like, "who is this kid?" And the doctor bliss only continued once we got to the office. She excitedly viewed the fish in the fish tanks while we waited our turn. She willingly walked into the exam room, with purpose I might add, and then followed the nurse to the scale to be weighed. She laughed and read books while we waited for the doctor to come in and when she did...Amelia smiled, engaged in conversation and willingly did everything she asked, even sat up on the table and laid down so she could check her tummy. No crying, no clinging. Just a happy cooperative kid.

Knock me down with a feather. I could have cried I was so relieved and proud of her. But I didn't cry, because I was just too happy that the drama seems to have come to an end...at least in regard to doctor visits. :)

Falling In Love.

This afternoon Amelia and I were eating lunch while listening to music. She apparently was listening to the lyrics and told me the girl was singing about falling in love.

I asked her, "Do you know what that means?" She replied, "No. What does it mean?" Thinking carefully I replied, "well, it's like when I met your dad. We liked each other and he asked me on a date...then we fell in love," Looking very inquisitive she asked me,"was I there? In your tummy?"

I smiled, "no, you weren't there. You were born after Mom and Dad got married." Pausing, she thought for a moment..."and then did you fall in love with me?"

Still smiling, "I sure did."

Woke up a 3 year old...

Amelia turned 3 on August 7, 2010. When she woke up she ran out into the living room. I said "Happy Birthday!" She said with a big grin..."Mama, am I THREE??"

Here she is on her new bike (from Grandma and Grandpa Turrell) looking so big and so three.

Last day as a 2 year old...

Went to bed a 2 year old...

Big Sista!

1-24-2011. Amelia is going to be a big sister!! We are almost 12 weeks already! 28 to go! Here is Amelia proudly sporting her new big sister t-shirt. So proud. And the next photo...well, tonight Ford went in to check on her and found her like this...asleep with her baby (doll) in her tummy. She must have been thinking about baby brother or sister when she fell asleep. So sweet.

If I were...

Below are a few unprompted quotes from Amelia...

"Hey Dad! I can smell the sunshine! If I were a superhero...I would fly up into the sky, lift my head, and smell the sunshine."

"If I were a butterfly...I would stay in a cage so I wouldn't be so tickly."

Just cute.

Pink Medicine

Much has happened since my last post. We moved. We moved from a condo on a golf course where we lived for almost 6 months into a town-home where we will reside for probably a year. We are hoping Ford will land a summer job next year at a firm out of town, and if that's the case we will move again.

A lot of moving for a toddler. For an adult too. :) But Amelia has handled it all really well. The fact that summer is here helps since we have been spending a lot of time outside. We have even taken a few trips to the beach and Up North. She is a true Michigan kid. Looking forward to the rest of the summer.

We have been blessed with good health this past year. I feel especially blessed that Amelia has been such a healthy kid. Just a few days ago however, she began sneezing, the dark circles under the eyes appeared and her little hands felt warm to the touch. I knew something was coming. She awoke the next morning with a fever and a full on runny nose. She's has low grade fevers with a runny nose before, and sure it slowed her down, but she pretty much played right through them. Not this time. She was on the couch or in my arms the entire day. She did her best to play but would collapse with exhaustion and frustration into my arms after a few minutes. Hard for a little one to understand why they feel so bad.

We took her to the doc and to my surprise she tested positive for strep throat. Strange since she never complained of a sore throat, even when asked. So we were prescribed a round of antibiotics. I knew what this meant...

She was quite excited at the though of pink medicine and wanted it right when we got home. Great, pink! Her favorite color! I told her she could take it after she ate dinner. I held her and Ford gave her a taste on the spoon. She smiled, bubblegum flavor. He gave her the rest. Her face shifted and she began to cry and gag at the same time and then...up it came, with all of her dinner and all of her juice. All over her, all over me, all over the floor and counters. Two times a day for ten days? Right.

I called the doc and they said the alternative antibiotic was even less tolerable. I hate this.

When she was one, she was prescribed the same medicine for a bacterial infection...and the same exact thing happened. I tried hiding it in her food. She knew and would not eat it. That time the doc said don't worry about giving it to her. She made a full recovery and all was well.

But step is much more serious. She has to take the medication.

I made the mistake of giving it to her in full form. Should have hid it from the start.

So, that night I made a milk shake and put some pink fizzy in it along with the antibiotic, hoping she wouldn't notice the pink bubblegum flavor she had previously puked up. (She's NEVER had soda in her life by the way...I was desperate). She drank it, hesitantly. She acted suspicious. I told her to drink all of it. She said, "why, Mom, why??"

Yesterday morning it was smoothie. Last night another milkshake. 8 more days of this. Come on.

When I asked what our alternative were...the answer was "injections." Plural?

So, I will do my best to lie and hide and sneak pink medicine into yummy foods and drinks.

It's going to be a long 8 days. :)

More tales from the potty...

It finally happened. I don't think I've blogged about this before but today is the day.

Amelia is pooping on the potty.

Hallelujah!

Today is day 4 and there's no stopping her.

She's been peeing on the potty for a long time now, no problems there. But #2 was another story. She refused. She cried and whined when we encouraged her to try to go on the potty. And while we haven't had diapers in the house for months and months, there were still the trusty Pull-Ups on hand. Always conveniently there when she had to go.

When asked why she didn't want to poop on the potty she said it was just "too scary." Why, I still don't know, other than the first time she did poop while on her potty seat last winter, she freaked out at the sight of it...obviously not ready.

After giving it some time since that incident, we tried everything. Encouragement. A Poop Chart. Talking about her friends who pooped on the potty. Asking her friends to leave her messages on my voice-mail about pooping on the potty and how awesome and totally fun it is. Bribery with jellybeans (her favorite). But no matter what, it was always a no go.

Sometimes I pushed, and other times I just let it go holding onto the notion that it would just happen one day. Now I will admit, I did have some concern always in the back of my mind that I would have a 5 year old in kindergarten who refused to poop in the toilet and would ultimately end up holding it for the entire day until she got home. Thoughts of tummy aches and constipation. A poop saga.

As of late I've been in one of my "let it go" stages, I had even taken the poop chart down off of the bathroom wall...and then it happened. Just like that.

Ultimately, I think she just surprised herself. She got up to pee and it just happened. The look on her face was priceless and she laughed out loud! It was great. We cheered and clapped. She got to put stars on her poop chart and we proudly hung it back up on the wall.

So, like the suckie, the diapers, the sleep issues (well, most of them) these things just resolve, in time, with patience, and encouragement, and love. Even when you think there is no possible way it's ever going to happen...that your child will be married with a suckie in her mouth, snuggling a mommy shirt, and wearing adult diapers...it just happens.

And when those moments do finally happen, they are great, and prideful, and unforgettable. :)

I Was Going to Repaint That Anyway

Well, a first for us today. Amidst a busy morning, Ford told me he needed to tell me something but did not want to say whatever it was he had to say in front of Miss Amelia. After church and lunch and nap...he finally remembered to tell me as we finished our dinner dishes.

"Did you see Amelia's dresser?"

"No, what about it?"

"She wrote all over it. I didn't see it happen and I'm not sure when she did it but I thought we should talk about it first before confronting her."

A bit shocked but thinking 'how bad could it be?' I put down my dishes and walk into the bedroom. Ford and Amelia followed.

No, it's wasn't just a few scribbles. She wrote on every drawer.

With a pen.

Calmly, I said. "Amelia, could you come here for a minute?"

She walked right over. I said, "what's on your dresser?"

She looked on top of it and saw a card from her Great Grandma and said, "a card."

Obviously oblivious.

"No, what's this on the drawers?"

"I wrote on my dresser," she said happily.

I reply calmly, "Yes, I see that. I need to tell you that it's not okay to write on the furniture. We only write on paper. Do you understand what Mommy is telling you?"

"Well, I was just writing my name."

(Ford and I both had to hold back smiles...already making a case for herself).

Again I repeat, "It's never okay to write on any furniture. We only write on paper."

She pipes in, "not couches, not dressers..." (Was she thinking of moving onto the couch next)?

"Right, did you use a pencil or a pen?"

"I used a pen, the white one."

Can you tell me why you did that?

"I was just writing my name." She scrunches up her nose. "But it's okay...but...I'm sorry, Mom."

"I accept your apology, Amelia. Now you are going to help mommy try to wash it off."

Ford got some rags and she willingly ran to the bathroom, to get hers wet and get some soap.

She rubbed and rubbed to no avail. "It's not coming, off," she huffed. "I just have to scrub harder." Oh brother, somehow I'm feeling kind of bad for her at this point.

We all scrubbed but alas, the pen remains.

I had a 'what was she thinking' kind of moment on this one. It clearly was not a malicious act. Just looked like fun...to write your name...in pen...on your dresser drawers...all of them. Because maybe she just couldn't find any paper and felt like being creative, or maybe did she just wanted to see what would happen, how we would react, or maybe that's not it at all...maybe writing your "name" on your dresser in pen is just a good time.

I'm pretty sure I'll never know.

Brett's Battle

I added a new blog to the list of "other blogs you may like" on the left side of the screen. Brett's Battle. Aunt Amy Jo's husband, Brett, or brother as I call him, is undergoing radiation and chemotherapy in preparation for a bone marrow transplant in 3 days. He recently fought his 3rd battle with cancer (first battle he fought as a child with leukemia) and the next step is the transplant.

Pray for healing, strength, courage and hope for he and Amy.

To keep updated on his progress you can read the blog Amy started.

More prayers, more miracles...because they happen.

p.s. to hear the music, you now have to push the play button in the playlist box to the left.

Duck, duck, goose...

Let it slide...

Amelia loves the park, always has. She does not, however, care for the slide. She used to at least try the slides, and even with some enthusiasm. But for the past year or so there has been zero slide activity, flat out refusal. Could have something to do with another toddler giving her some "assistance" early on in her park visiting career, or maybe it was a slide that was a bit too fast and scary. Either way, no slides.

Until now.

Since the weather broke, we've been visiting the local parks quite frequently after a long winter hiatus. I thought maybe now that she's a little bigger, older, and wiser, she perhaps would have forgotten about her fear. Nope. She didn't forget. But at least now she is able to verbalize her fear...turns out it's just "too scary." No problem. I didn't push it.

A few days ago, Amelia and I ventured out after dropping Ford off at school. I gave her a choice...we could either visit the horse barn (at MSU) or we could go to the park. She chose horse barn. As we drove along, she announced that she would rather go to the park. Okay. A few quiet minutes passed and I watched her from the rear-view mirror as she stared out of her window. Out of the blue, with no mention of what we might do at the park from me, she announced calmly and confidently, "I am going to go on the slides today."

I smiled..."You ARE??" She smiled back kicking her feet up and down pridefully, "Yup!"

We got to the park and we headed straight for the little slide. Up the steps and right down, without hesitation, I was at the bottom to catch her of course. I clapped and cheered, told her I was so proud of her. She beamed. "I'm going to do it again! And I'm going to tell Dad when he gets home. But step back, Mom, I don't want you to catch me."

Well, okay. I stepped back, as she requested. She flew down the shiny metal slide, but this time a little quicker and she landed in the wood chips, on her butt and then fell back a little, hitting her head on the edge of the slide. She held it in for a minute but the waterworks started. Bummer. This could be the end of it for another long while...no more slides. But I was wrong. She wiped her tears and with a little encouragement, got back up there and went down again and again.

I was so proud of her. It may seem like a small thing, going down a slide, but to her it was a pretty huge fear. I was mostly proud that she came to the decision all on her own. That she carefully and thoughtfully decided, before even reaching the park, that that sunny warm day would be the day.

It was a first for me..watching her tackle an obstacle like that and it warmed my heart in a new way. I love when that happens. Way to go, Amelia!

Thank goodness.

Yesterday, Amelia, mid-play, alerted me that she had to use the potty. Since we were at Grandma and Grandpa Turrell's house, I knew she couldn't climb up on the big potty by herself so I followed her in there.

She said to me, "No, go out there, Mom. I can do it myself."

Me: "Okay, but I have to help you get up onto that big potty since there's no stool here."

Amelia" "But I need privacy."

Me: "Okay, I'll give you your privacy after I help you up."

Satisfied, she let me help her. When she was done, I helped her finish and tried to lift her off the potty...

Amelia: "No, I can do it myself, Mom."

Me: "I'll just help you get down."

Next I tried to help Amelia pull up her underpants but she stopped me again...

Amelia: "I-I-I can do it!"

Me: "Oh, I know you can, I'm sorry, go ahead. "

Then she stops, drops her shoulders and and says, "I need to get back on the potty."

I lift her up and wait.

About 20 seconds go by and though she still hasn't gone she says she's done, gets down (I help a little), pulls up her own underpants and her pants and reminds me... "See, I can do it by myself."

Realizing she had to have a "re-do" so she could do it all herself from start to finish, I smile and say...

"Oh, I see, you didn't really have to go potty again, you just wanted to do it by yourself."

She smiles and says reassuringly..."Yea. But you're still my mom."

Oh good. :)

Bliss

Memory not to forget:

Tonight, after our bed-time routine of books, prayers and snuggles, I tucked in an especially tuckered two year old (who refused her nap today), cozy in her green flowered footy-pajamas and snuggling her "pink" mommy shirt. I kissed her soft cheek, whispered "goodnight, I love you." Her eyes...half closed and begging for sleep, but Amelia, not wanting me to leave managed to whisper back..."Mama, sing me a song..."

And so I did.

She sleeps.

Barbie

So Amelia loves to play with my Barbies. I still have them. Two of them. They can still rock the awesome 70's Barbie clothes (that yes, I still have) including an orange satin disco one piece complete with gold braided belt and golden collar. Amelia has named them "Barba" and "Barbie." They are still going strong despite kitten chewed hands, "bang trims" and generally being a little worn from all the years of "playing Barbies."

In addition to our two 30 something year old Barbies we have welcomed newcomer "Polly." A dollar store beauty that Amelia won at our family "Camporama" last summer.

One morning last week, Amelia and I "played Barbies" and chit-chatted as we dressed them to the hilt. Once they were all dressed and ready to go Amelia said in her best Barbie voice... "Hey! Where do you guys want to go?"

Me in my "Polly" voice, I responded: "I don't care, where do you want to go?"

Amelia, bounced her Barbie along her bed in small hops: "Let's go to a dance party!"

At this point I am not looking directly at Amelia and her Barbie but next I hear her say...and still in Barbie character...

"Oh! But my leg fell off!"

...then happily and without missing a beat she continues...

"That's okay, I'll just take it with me!"

That's my girl. Party on.

School Girlie.

Today was a big day for the Turrells. We think we may have found a preschool for Amelia to attend this fall...and as far as first impressions go, it's amazing. We heard about it from one of Ford's law professors who could not say enough good things about it. Both of his kids attend.

After meeting with the director, touring the school, and watching Amelia explore with glorious wonder...Ford and I both knew this was the place Amelia would spend her first days away from home, away from us, away from me.

I had my list of questions for the director and I found myself pleasantly surprised and excited as I listened to her share with me the philosophy of the school and the concept from which they base their curriculum. As I listened to her speak, I found myself welling up...imagining Amelia participating, engaging, dancing, singing, creating, exploring, learning and growing in this joyful little place. What an amazing feeling.

Remember, Amelia has been with me since birth. No daycare, no regular babysitters, (only a handful of babysitters at that) just us, everyday for 2 1/2 years. Even just a few months ago, I could not imagine Amelia not being home with me, part of me wants to keep her home as I long as I can. I knew she was ready...she lights up at just the mention of going to school. I knew this was coming but letting go did not feel quite right...not just yet.

Today I feel differently. I feel hopeful. Excited. Ready.

As we pulled out of the school driveway, Ford said, "well, what do you think?" I knew it was the perfect fit...I felt the tears begin to blur my vision and I was unable to answer him, so I just nodded. He turned his head away and I knew he too was fighting back a few.

It's almost time to let go. Just a little.

Some of the best compliments...ever.

A few days ago while eating dinner, the three of us were laughing and giggling while we recapped the fun day we had just had. We did some pretty fun stuff that day, things that Amelia really enjoys, so I asked her...

"Amelia, what was your favorite thing about today?" Expecting her to answer to be one of the many fun events of the day, she smiled and said, "living with you."

Lately, while riding in the car, Amelia has been requesting fast music to bop her head to. Today I put in the new Patty Griffin cd, which we both really like by the way. Amelia asked me, "Mommy, is this you?" Feeling flattered already I said, "No this is Patty Griffin." She replied, "I want to listen to you!" This is actually the first time she's requested to listen to either one of our cds. I complied and put in a lullaby cd Ford and I have been working on. I watched her from the rear-view mirror as she listened intently for a few minutes while looking out the window. She looked at me and said, "Is this you, Mom?" I said, "yes, this is me." She smiled and said, "are you a princess???"

Couldn't be any sweeter.

I smiled, "No, I'm your mama." She pointed at the radio, "But are you a princess on this cd?"

Perhaps the best compliment ever...and from a 2 1/2 year old. I thanked her and then watched her as she looked out the window and tried to sing along to each song. The cutest.

Warm weather baby...

Amelia has had a bit of a runny nose and tummy bug this past weekend, poor bugger. Sooo, we haven't been out of the house much.

Today brought a warm rain melting all of the snow (including our snowman "Frosty" and our snow girl "Lily".) When it finally stopped, I announced we were going for a family walk to get some fresh air. Amelia was excited to go but still managed to exhibit some grouchiness while we put our coats on.

Amelia in her rain boots and winter coat wandered outside and immediately her mood changed. She was smiling ear to ear, there was a pep in her step and a rosiness in her previously pale cheeks.

With a contented grin, she looked Ford and said, "I'm happy now."

Ford said, "What makes you so happy?"

Amelia replied with another smile, "The grass."

Tales from the potty.

Potty training...easy. Sort of. I knew Amelia understood the concept of potty training a long time ago...she just never presented an "emotional readiness" if you will. I knew well enough not to push the little one in this regard...the more pushing the more chances for her to resist, and resist she did. So, one day, I simply told her I spoke to Elsa's mommy (my good friend Elizabeth in TN) who said Elsa only wears underpants...no more diapers! Well, for some reason, on this particular day, this was enough. Not only was she so excited for Elsa, but she too only wanted to wear underpants. She ran to her room, picked a pair out of her bottom drawer, and has been wearing them ever since. Now, she doesn't want to wear anything but underpants which now presents a bit of a struggle when I have to put a diaper on her to sleep in. How confusing, we make a big deal about "no more diapers! Yeah! No more diapers!" but then still make them wear them at nap and bedtime. She actually cries to wear her underpants during these times...the irony. Oh, and get this, she won't poop in the potty yet, so she does request a diaper for this activity. Her resistance to pooping on the potty and the love of the underpants means she's figured out how to hold it. Not good. So now there's that.

We're just going with it, as I've learned, things will be different if you give it a week.

Now let me just say that public bathrooms present a whole new bag of issues. Most of us agree that most public bathrooms are disgusto. They are. Ford took Amelia to the bookstore and brought along her fold-up potty seat (sits on-top of big potties to keep little butts from falling in, plus the don't have to touch the seat...great invention). She felt the urge while reading books, told her Dad, and headed for the bathroom. He set her on the potty seat, she tinkled and they cheered (first time in a public bathroom cheer). Then she said, "I don't want to flush that one". We laughed later about this thinking she too thought the mens' public bathroom was disgusting. Turns out, there was a different reason....

Today, while at the mall, she had to "tinkle." I took her to the rather clean Macy's bathroom and set her on her potty seat. She did the tinkle while I held her up. She said repeatedly with conviction that she did not want to flush that one. I said okay, assured her she didn't have to and said that I would flush it for her. Then she said, "no, don't flush it, mommy, it scares me." Then I realized, how intimidating that big loud potty must be to her little 2 1/2 year old self. I mean, really, when flushed, those public toilets are unnecessarily loud, fast and forceful. At times, even swirling whooshing water out of the bowl, splashing droplets of cold toilet water out and onto our clothing, purses, even foreheads...and without warning. You know it's happened to you. And you know you've flushed with your tip of your shoe, turned your head away from the bowl, and then made a dash for the stall door as to avoid any chance off this happening. Now imagine being 2 1/2 in that scene. You'd be scared too.

So, we left it. No flushing. We washed our hands and met Ford in the hallway. He hugged her, told her he was proud of her. She told him she didn't flush it and asked him if he wanted to see it. He explained he couldn't see that particular tinkle due to the fact that that potty was only for girls. Again, confused. Just then a nice lady walked out of the girls bathroom where we had just been, and Amelia looked up at her and asked...

"Did YOU flush it?"

Bedtime Queries.

Tonight while putting Amelia to bed, I tried to ease her anxieties about going to sleep alone in her big girl bed...

Me: Every night when you go to sleep in your bed, Amelia, I am always here. You are never alone. We would never leave you. Plus God is always with you. You can talk to God whenever you want. You can pray to Him and tell Him how you feel.

Amelia: Is He a Daddy?

Me: Yes! He's Jesus' Dad.

Amelia: I love my Daddy.

Me: And he loves you very much too.

Amelia: And I love God.

Me: And God loves you too.

Amelia: Does He drink beer?