Potty Paradise

Well, I'm having some picture issues lately, so I'll just give you a quick update and hopefully get some new photos up tomorrow. With Kyle gone until Sunday, I just can't seem to keep my eyes open past 8:30! Gee, you'd think I was pregnant or something.
Anyway, things are good for just us girls. We went to our play group this morning. I broke from the mother's talk group twice to take Natalie to the bathroom, and I think the new bathroom made her nervous because she didn't go. BUT, she didn't go in her panties either until she fell asleep in the car on the way home. She has had hardly any accidents, including church Sunday (which is good because we only have an outhouse, no indoor bathroom. That's not a joke for those of you who have never been to Hyattville and are laughing right now!). We then spent the day at Guy and Jill's and didn't have an accident there either. She is doing really well. The last few days she has actually started to tell me she has to go BEFORE she goes and holds it to the potty. Not every time, but getting better. She hardly ever has an accident and just goes about every hour when I put her on the pot. It works for me.
Kyle is gone until next weekend, and he's already been busy up there. We really miss him, but we say our prayers for a safe trip and talk about him every day. Tonight Bella barked in her sleep and she jumped off the couch and said "Daddy's home!" It broke my heart to tell her he was still at work. She even checked to be sure I wasn't fibbing. Honey, if you get a chance to read this this week, WE LOVE YOU and miss you very much. Thanks for working so hard for our family. That's about all. I better go before I start crying. Hugs to all.

Life is Good

Life is good. What more can a girl ask for than a beautiful horse to ride on a sunny day...
And a warm potty throne on which to relax? Yesterday was another spectacular day outside, and Natalie decided she wanted to take a ride on Momma Stormy. She is going to have more and more fun with the animals the older she gets, and I so admire her adventurous spirit. She is just inspiring. Yesterday was also our best potty day so far. I really think she's getting the idea. I ordered some padded panties to take out in public, and she has sometimes quit wetting during her naps. She is a real trooper and even roots us on when we potty! She stands there and gives us the thumbs up sign, saying "good job. you did it!" It is too cute. This morning is the first morning we did not start off with an accident after we put panties on.
I hope you all are having as much fun with this blog as I am. It is much easier and more fun than I expexted it to be. It is such a great way to keep up with each other. Remind everyone they can leave comments as often as you like! I like hearing from all of you, too. Dad, thanks for your post last night. It was really beautiful and reminded me of that poem you wrote for me my senior year of highschool. I still have it. But I can't stop her from growing up! She wants to be bigger and be able to do so many new things every day. I'm just glad I have to reign her in sometimes rather than push her to experience things. Hope you all have a fabulous rest of the week and a relaxing weekend. Kyle will be home this weekend, then heads to North Dakota for a week on Monday. The days sometimes get lonely (especially with pregnancy hormones running rampant!), so anyone is welcome to come visit! I have a feeling we'll be having a play group or two next week...maybe a road trip to Cody or something. Suz, want to meet there? :)

Hoorah!!! The potty update

OK, I am breathing a little easier tonight. I know we still have a long way to go, but we had a pee and a poop in the potty today! We were so excited. She knows now that she gets a sticker whenever she sits on the potty and tries to go, and whenever she does go she gets to pick out a new toy horse (I bought a set of baby horses at Pamida). Of course they are all named Patches. Anyway, I thought we had a great success today and just had to share it with everyone! Ashli, thanks for your advice. It made me feel like I wasn't doing anything wrong, it just may take her some time. Hope you all had a great weekend and will have a good week. Things are good with "Little Seahorse" too.

It's Potty Time

Well, we have been preoccupied the last two days with potty training. She is definitely ready and sat on the toilet a lot yesterday, although failed to make it there when she had to go. But she tried hard yesterday. Now today she fights me on it every time I suggest we try to sit and go. Is this normal? How hard do I push her? We aren't using pull-ups except for sleeping because she just goes in them too easilly. I think they feel too much like diapers. Natalie is watching her Elmo potty video right now. I haven't left the house in two days and am getting a little stir crazy! Kyle is supposed to be home around noon to help and let me go work out for a bit. Anyway, I would take any advice from you mommies who have had to do this multiple times over the last few years!!! You are all still alive, so I know it can be done :)

Another Beautiful Day Outside

Even though we thought we were supposed to get more snow, the last couple of days have again been beautiful. Natalie got more practice driving her gator, and I got so tired of pulling her out of the ditch when she doesn't steer that I set the wheel to the right and just let her drive around in a big circle. It worked great! She has also been very attentive at helping me feed, and here she is giving our filly JJ a treat.
We are taking a big step tomorrow (OK, I guess it's just big for me) when she goes to Billings with Grandma and Grandpa Tharp and Great Grandpa Chauncey. They are going up for a relative's birthday, and they offered to take her so I can get some beading done for the jewelry show in March. This is the first time I have let someone TAKE her somewhere somewhat far away. Usually she is just camped out at a grantparent's home for the day. Anyway, I'm sure things will be fine and I will have no reason to drive to Billings to save the day like every mother fears. It will be really fun for those distant relatives to meet her for the first time.
As for me, I'll be all by myself! Kyle got sent to Rock Springs for a while, so I plan on working JJ to teach her how to lunge, cleaning the house and beading. I could not ask for better projects, and I'm really looking forward to taking advantage of the good weather with my filly. She's a smart one, so I'm hoping she'll pick things up fast. I need to get some of her ground work done before I send her to a trainer friend of ours later this spring. Since I won't be able to get on her for the first time, I'm sending her to someone who cannot hurt his growing belly! Hope you all have a relaxing weekend and enjoy all your blessings. Hugs to all.

Rawhide!

Today was a great day. I hope you all had the same. Natalie and I went to a mothers/play group this morning and had a lot of fun, then she got to play with Daddy all afternoon. The weather has been so beautiful here the last few days. I dare say the low 40's? Anyway, when it's not windy it is really nice. Yesterday we got to go to the park, and today she got to drive her Gator 4-wheeler outside. Kyle said she would drive around up and down our lane, always pulling off to the side to let cars pass and wave (of course), and occasionally getting out to jump in the mud puddles. I missed out on all this fun while I was at my doctor appointment. The official due date for "the little seahorse" (thanks Mandy) is September 13, which is NOT a Friday! Things look great so far and we'll hear the heart beat in another few weeks.
I posted this photo I took of Natalie tonight giving her rendition of "Rawhide." Kyle turns up the song as loud as it can go on the computer and she rides and rides and rides. Hope you all had a nice day, too.

And the big news is...

Hello everyone!

Although I have been reluctant to set up a "myspace" account, several people have urged me to join the information super-highway with more gusto, so I jumped to "blogging." Just be patient with me and I will get better! I just want everyone to be able to keep up with "our life way out yonder" better and of course follow Miss Natalie through her daily fun.
Yes, Nattie is growing taller by the day and loves to sing and dance more than ever. She is still obsessed with horses and has named each of her 12 horse models Patches. Her new favorite song to sing is "Ba Ba Black Sheep," which she even does in her sleep! I'm afraid to put her into a big girl bed because she talks so much in her sleep that I think she might be a sleep walker.
Well, no other news here...except that Natalie will be a big sister in September! We are very excited and will post more details as things progress. Hope to hear from you all soon!