Trained

While I was in Nevada I started to notice how well Anastasia and Amelia were doing with potty training. Since then they have nearly perfected it. Amelia does not even seem to be having a problem at night--to the point that when she asked to wear panties to sleep last night I let her. No problem.

I usually use the handicapped stall because it it the party stall--suitable for a party (potty, whatever) of three. Do you often get the privilege of being in a bathroom stall next to a toddler and parent? The things they say are fantastic. What if we as adults just started talking really loudly in the public restroom: "It's coming." Or "I let the poop down!" Or "It stinky, huh?"

I am so thankful for my older children. All of them, unfortunately, have been with other parents since I got back, so I have been alone with babies a lot. It makes me appreciate how genuinely helpful they are. They still make work for me in their own right, but the babies miss them so much. They talk about their siblings all the time.

They are also still talking about the relatives we visited. A couple of times now Anastasia has started talking out of the blue about how Uncle LeeJoe drove mommy's car and took them swimming. They love to talk on the phone to the people they now know as well (but most of you already knew that).

It is amazing how much they retain and explain. They are starting to understand family relationships (beyond mom and dad) and speak in those terms. They are learning time concepts and talk about "yesterday" and "Sunday" and "tomorrow" and can tell me what happens or will happen or has happened. Their awareness of humor is developing. They love to be silly for attention. They are coming to terms with their identity. Dad calls them "monkey" a lot and they correct him. "I'm not a monkey, I'm Anastasia." "I'm not a baby, I'm Amelia." At the same time they are starting to play roles. "I'm a monkey!" "I'm a baby!"

They have started trying to trick people by telling them they are the twin they are not, but I am never fooled--especially since they say it with that mischievous smile. Amelia loves texting and screams when I have the audacity to use my own phone. Anastasia has turned everything into a camera since we got back from vacation because of all the family reunion pictures we tried to take. She holds any semi-rectangular thing at arms distance and says " 'Mile!"

I had my 38th birthday and because I really needed one, I got a new car for it. It is a 2006 gold Honda Odyssey with DVD, leather, sunroof, and automatic everything. For the first time ever, I have a van with passenger and driver sliding doors--4 vans and 15 years after they started making them. My husband likes it better than his BMW (in some ways).

Life seems to have an openness and a vitality for me today, which is a nice change from the blocked and lifeless feeling that has been creeping up lately.

Falling asleep at the keyboard. I am by myself again because Mike is driving back from SanAntonio where he dropped Lexi off at Especially for Youth. I hope it is a good experience for her.

Yeah, I'm going to sleep now. Love y'all.