Potty Training Prep

Well, according to the countdown call box to the left of this post, there are two days remaining until we officially start potty training Maddie. Woo-hoo! Can you feel the excitement?

In preparation for the big event, I revealed Potty Patty to Maddie this evening. Potty Patty is a doll that drinks water from a bottle, has big girl underwear, and "voids" in the potty when you squeeze her leg. How fun?!?

Of course, Maddie promptly changed Potty Patty's name to Baby and Maddie absolutely loves her. I showed Maddie how we give Baby her bottle, take her to the potty, remove her big girl underwear, and how she pees in the potty. I clapped, blew a party horn, and said, "Yeah, Baby! You peed in the potty like a big girl!"

Maddie then helped me give Baby another bottle. After we were done, I announced that Baby had to go to the potty. Maddie then took her to the bathroom, remembered she needed to remove her underwear (I had to help), and then she placed her on the potty. After Baby went pee in the potty, Maddie clapped her hands and said, "Yeah, Baby!" We also blew our party horns. She is getting it. Yeah!

Maddie did sit on the potty herself and tried to squeeze her own leg to make herself pee. Too funny. I'm not worried about it because we'll be putting all of it together on Friday. I think we're off to a pretty good start.

Jam Van Conversations

Luke: Why does the President need money?
Me: Because he wants to start some programs and they cost money. He doesn't have any money so he needs our money and permission to take it.
Luke: Is that taxes?
Me: Yep! Mommy and Daddy work and when we get paid money the government takes some of it and it is called taxes.
Luke: Do you see that big bush next to that tall building? It looks like it is trying to grow taller than that building.

I guess I've been listening to too much talk radio during the morning drive :)

Morning at the park

Play ball!

Luke had his first T-ball game on Saturday. I can't believe my little dude is playing an organized sport. Well, I use the term organized loosely :)

Luke at the bench

Luke on first base

Whenever he got to first base, he would take off the batting helmet, take off his baseball cap, and then put the cap back on his head. I don't know why I found that cute but I did :)

He was the second baseman. He didn't see much action.

I love this cutie!

Word or Phrase...

At a work off-site this week, the following question was asked:

What word or phrase best describes you right now?

As I thought about it, I decided this was my answer:

I'm a work in progress.

See, there is a gap between who I want to be and who I am. My response to that gap? Well, I want to read a book, mediate on some scripture, do some praying, and see some results. I want change! RIGHT NOW!!

However, that's not how this life works. This life is about the process...about the journey. There are blessings, bumps in the road, moments that make me giddy and moments that make me angry. Strengths, weaknesses, brokenness... And God in his perfect wisdom and timing is using all of these moments to change me. To close that gap.

I want to be a better wife, mom, daughter, sister, in-law, friend, employee, boss, and leader. Most importantly, I want to be fully surrendered to my Savior. All of this won't happen by my efforts and with immediate results. I'm in process. I'm on a journey. I'm a work in progress...

What word or phrase best describes you right now?

Atlanta Blizzard 2010

My northern friends must think I've lost my mind. The pictures below won't come close to being a blizzard by "Chicago" standards. However, I've been in the ATL for 11 years now and we only see snow once every couple of years. So, a couple inches of snow is now a major event in the Mancini household. Here are pics of the kids in the snow...

Maddie all bundled up!

Luke is ready to go!!

Maddie was not a big fan of the snow...

She refused to walk in it.

Luke loves the snow!!

At times, he was just a blur!

He was a little obsessed with the branches on the ground. I watched him try to put it back up on the tree. He felt bad that it was on the ground and no longer up in the tree with his uncles. What, what? Can anyone say empathy and a creative mind? What an interesting combo!

He was bright red but so BUMMED when I made him come back into the house.

Snow days are rare around here. I guess that is way they are so special and fun!!

I'm back...

Well, the 21 day fast came to an end on Thursday and it has taken me till now to check back into all my social media goings on and TV. Unplugging wasn't as hard as I thought. It only took me a couple of days to stop thinking in 140 characters or less :)

God was faithful and opened my eyes to just how much of a distraction social media had become to me. I have a lot on my plate but the margin and pace of life I experienced the last 21 days has been incredible. I don't want my kids to remember me in the "iPhone pose". I have more fun and I am more fun when I'm engaged in the real world around me. My real world is rich with blessings and I don't want to miss any of it!

So, I'm testing the waters to see what limited Facebooking, Twittering, blogging, etc. looks like. We will see how it goes. Here's to moderation :)

BTW, what did you learn during the 21 days of fasting and prayer?