Just because.

I can't resist Costco flowers! They last the longest (I have never had a bunch last less than a week--usually days longer), have the best price ($14 for 2 dozen), and are always beautiful.


These roses caught my eye yesterday and remind me of both spring and late summer with their range of colors. I would love to have fresh flowers in my home everyday--maybe if my thumb ever turns green.

Space.

I have been needing my space, and I finally realized that in order to reclaim "my space" I would need to move Stella to her own room. The nursery was ready for months before she was even born (just a few minor changes were made from when the nursery was Presley's) but until now Stella has been the 4th person sleeping in our room (four if you count Roxy).

Stella was even more ready for the change than I was. Since the move to her own room she has slept a solid 8.5 hours a night! Not a peep and no need for a 4 am feeding! She is growing up too quickly already.


Look how small and dainty she looks in crib. Presley calls her a caterpillar when she is all swaddled up like that. My favorite part of the nursery still has to be the mobile--hand painted butterflies.


I haven't had two better nights of sleep since I can't remember when! Especially since the neighbors across the canyon put in a waterfall (I love the noise it makes). I will miss having a newborn so close but I suppose there is no way to keep them little forever.

Anticipation.

I love the summer, but I also love the FALL (I could do with a short winter, do you think that will ever happen??). Halloween has always been fun for me--maybe it is because my birthday is the week before or perhaps it is the change in weather (cool nights with warm days). Here is a peak at what the girls will be this year! I was a lady bug one year as a kid--I need to find and scan in a picture of that . . .

LADY BUGS! I know I am over-doing it with matching costumes but I am thinking this will be the only year I do this. Would I really be going overboard if I made Roxy a lady bug costume??? Probably, but she does have a cute bee costume. (Lady bug costumes/photos from Babystyle, they make the best ones)

Hike.

We got together with Gregg and Camille (and some of Camille's family) on the 24th for a hike up Bald Mountain in the Wasatch National Forrest. I have been taking 4 1/2 mile walks in the evenings (up the big hill to our house is a killer) but this short hike really turned my legs to jello! It was up 2,000 feet to an altitude of about 12,500 feet with lots of rocks and even a patch of snow.


Getting started--I carried Stella and Chris carried Presley. Gregg got P at the half-way up point and Chris took Stella. We all needed a break.

Making our way through the one snow patch we ran into (me, Camille, and Gregg). Roxy had the best time rolling around in the snow and mud to cool off. She kept running up the snow and then sliding down it!

A view from the top! It was beautiful and chilly. I think Presley liked all the snacks we ate at the top best and Roxy just couldn't resist chasing little chipmunks and saying hi to everyone we ran into.

On the way down Presley fell asleep (so uncomfortable!). All in all we had a great trip! Highs--fun with family, great views, and Presley used the potty at the end of the trail! Lows--sore legs and a sunburned part (I never remember to put sunscreen there).

These pictures show how rocky the trail actually was. I realized that for such a rocky trail I do need boots (but for everything else I can use my comfy trail runners). As soon as the girls get a bit bigger perhaps we will be up for a camping trip!

New things.

It was time for a few new things. First, for Roxy a new device for trimming her nails! She HATES getting her nails cut and with her being an inside dog they can get very long. One late, sleepless night at the end of my pregnancy I saw an infomercial on the Peticure and I had to have to see if it would work. After a 6 week wait to get the product in the mail it turned out to be defective! Instead of sending it back Chris opened it up and soldered together the broken wires--it charged perfectly and better yet, Roxy didn't even flinch when we used it on her nails!!! It is basically a glorified dremel tool but it works like a dream.


Now for me--since I am not fitting into any normal clothes yet (it took me a year to get back to pre-pregnancy weight with Presley) I purchased a pair of new shoes because that part of me is still the same.


I love them . They are very comfy (along with a great selection of colors!) and after buying them 2 weeks ago I noticed they were on sale and promptly got a price adjustment!

Check up.

Stella went in for her 2 month doctors appointment yesterday. By all reports from the doctor she is doing just great!

Up 4 pounds 7 ounces to 10 pounds 9 ounces

An additional 3 1/2 inches to 22 1/2 inches

Stella is a sweetie--she is eating great, just getting up once in the night to feed, and she smiles all the time with added goo's and ahhh's! She is a great napper during the day too (I don't think potty training would have gone as well as it did if Stella hadn't been able to nap so well--so thank you little Bug!).


I think I got another girl that looks just like her dad!

Wings!

More time at the pool to cool off! The first pair of water wings that Presley had were yellow with little fish printed all over them--unfortunately the ink used would smear and rub off all over her arms and make a big mess. The new PINK wings are much better (and keep her afloat better too).

Lounging in the pool with wings and a ring.

Not too sure about jumping in with the ring.

Goofing around with dad.

Stella and I watched by the side of the pool under a big umbrella (trying to get some relief from the heat). I am not ready to put on a bathing suit yet, but I will have to get in before the summer is over. I am going to head to Seven Peaks with the girls on Friday to meet up with a few of our friends and all their girls (and Andrew)--Presley is very excited!

Commercial Stars.

My sister in law is a realtor and she is working on a local property development here in Wasatch county. Chris, Presley, Stella, and I got to appear in the commercial for the property! You can click HERE to see the video.

It is a little over four minutes. Can you count the times we all appear? Chris is golfing. Presley and I are eating ice cream and shopping. Presley, Stella, and I are walking along a trail. Oh, and there is a terrible shot of me playing tennis (I could never play the sport though most of my family are quite talented with a racket).

We had fun Camille--thanks for thinking of us to be in the commercial!

Yippy!

Well, I think Presley is getting the hang of it! We haven't had a pee accident in 3 days and even with the occasional poop accident we have still had many more successes than failures. We even had our first outing with panties--dinner at the local Mexican restaurant. Just as we were leaving the restaurant P told me it was "Potty time!" so we went to the restroom to give it a try. No luck, but Presley did have to sit on every toilet in the bathroom (yuck).



Here are the best quotes from our potty training experience so far.

• "It's melting!" referring to the toilet paper hitting the water.


• "That's chocolate mom!" referring to the poop I was dumping out of her panties into the toilet after an accident this morning.


• "POTTY TIME!" our code for let's go to the bathroom.

We do have potty rules--times when you have to try to use the potty.

1. When you get up.


2. Before you go to bed.


3. Before you get in the car.


4. When you come home from being in the car.

For those of you trying to accomplish the same skill here are a list of the "prizes" Presley liked best: balloons (a new one each time she went), Legos (for pooping on the potty), a plastic slinky or as P calls it a "Slinky Slink", and money (not that she knows what it is, she just liked putting it in her purse and playing with it. Calling grandparents and other family members has helped too. Thanks Mom for all the support/help for me and the special surprises for P! Positive reinforcement is key.

Mostly I am happy that I have pretty much stopped asking P if she needs to go. Our code word, "Potty time", being simple and to the point has been great. I can't believe how BIG Presley is!

My Two Girls.

I thought it would be interesting to compare a couple of pictures of Presley and Stella. Can you guess who is who?

Do they look like sisters to you? Presley is the top photo and Stella is the bottom photo.

Potty update. Monday's score was peed 5 times and pooped 0 times in the potty. Again 1 pee and 1 poop accident. Someone please remind me to stop reminding Presley if she needs to go potty--I don't want to be asking her "Do you need to go potty?" for the rest of her life.