Milestones and Memories

The pitter patter of little feet snuck up and then zoomed past me this afternoon while I was cleaning dishes in the kitchen.  Today was one of those days I am glad that you (and no one else for that matter) decided to just pop in for a quick hello.  Although that never happens in the country, you catch my drift.  I spun around to see what kind of tornado might be running through to realize she was already gone.  I cheerfully hollered, "Where are you off to my dear?"  Kirby shouted ... "I busy, I in a hurry .... I gotta go poo-poo."  3 weeks ago I decided enough is enough, we are getting this potty thing down.  It has been a year in the process and we just need to bite the bullet and do it.  So I reverted back to the 3 day potty training rules and extended them to 6 days.  Kirby, Patton and I did not leave the house for 6 days straight.  Wow, it was tough.  Very tough.  Not even to take lunch to the field.  Or walk in the stroller.  Or anything.  I wanted to make sure I caught every sign.  And I did.  And it made a world of difference.  I learned a lot about Kirby that week.  We caught up on giggles and snuggles that sometimes get brushed away because I am busy with Patton, cooking, cleaning, editing, etc.  We did lots and lots of puzzles.  Over and over again.  Although it was tough, I felt to refreshed and joyful after spending that time with them in the house.  It made me remember why I set my schedule the way I did this year and why it is so rewarding to be your own boss.  Needless to say, that week was not done in vain and I feel like it is safe to say, "Kirby is potty trained!"  It is not that she was not ready last year when I tried.  It was that it was not the right time for any of us.  I was sick with nausea then put on bed rest because of previa.  Then school started and there was not the consistency between me, school, and church.  Then Christmas break and more bed rest.  Then Patton was born.  It just was not our time.  Now was, and it was so much better of an experience.

Kirby got a new car seat today.  The UPS man came and I did not even open the door because like I said, it was one of those days around here.  I waited till he was long gone to creep outside in my jogging clothes from this morning and hair in a birds nest style.  I guess this new car seat is more of a milestone for Patton than Kirby.  He has almost outgrown the car seat that big sister sat in until she was 14 months old.  The weight limit is 22, and he is approaching 20, so I thought I would go ahead and get a new one for Kirby (thanks to Perk Street we didn't pay a penny) and transition him to her old seat in the next month or so.  I still like the luxury, although very heavy, of taking the car seat in with us to the grocery store since he hasn't quite mastered sitting up 100% yet.  Sister is excited about getting her new one and Patton getting to sit in the cow seat.  Poor second child, do they always get hand me downs?  This one will be Kirby's forever seat - now they have to be so tall and a certain age before out of a booster - so once Patton is ready for the booster then he can get a new one.  He will probably be able to get out of the booster before sister.  If she grows the way she has been, she will be driving with a booster seat.

My parents met us in San Marcos last Thursday.  This was such a nice little break.  Even though it was just for a day, after the week we had previous, and then 2 weeks of CR in the field 14 hours a day, making a day road trip to the hillier parts of Texas was much welcomed.  And hot.  We met at Aquarena Springs on the campus of Texas State University.  Momma and Daddy took us there when we were much younger (I may have been 5 or 6) and it was a completely different place.  This was a very neat experience for Kirby though.  We rode on a glass bottom boat and got to see down below us fish, turtles, and even some divers.  They have an aquarium museum as well, and Kirby got to feel rocks, coral and see a neat round fish tank.  Patton enjoyed the sites as well.

 I love this picture ... have not decided how I am going to print it yet, but it's a keeper.  Thinking on wood ...

 Friday Kirby and I stopped by to see Great Granny at her place but she wasn't there, so we took a "selfie" in her chair to prove we tried.  Ha.  

 This weekend I had a semi last minute bridal shoot that needed to be edited and uploaded quickly this week, so Kirby got to hang out with her friend Maddie on Tuesday.  She loves Maddie.  They do lots of adventurous things!

 Today we worked on part of last month's Kiwi Crate.  I like to split them up since they send you 2-3 crafts each box.  Here she was painting the sails for her sail boat that we will assemble tomorrow.  

 Patton has the tripod sitting position down pat.

 And he would like to shout that from the rooftops.  And yes, we have every blanket we own on the living room floor.  Because Kirby liked it that way today.  :)

These moments go by all too quickly.  This morning I prayed that I would enjoy today for what it is.  That was definitely challenged to the max, but each time I would start to get frustrated I reminded myself of my prayer this morning and then tried to "be still my soul".  At 1:00 our clock chimed to remind me what time it was, and I thought to myself, "Man, it's only 1."  Then I thought, "If I would have had to clock in this morning when I got started, I would already be at 8 hours today."  Life of mom and wife is tough, long, and tiring ... but my cup runneth over with blessings throughout the day and I sleep when my head hits the pillow.  

 "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart." 
1 Samuel 16:7