...and my little girl is growing up...

I guess you could say that I've known this day was coming for awhile now. Jenna is becoming more and more independent and certainly thinks she's capable of doing all that she sees her older brothers doing. Including going potty. Last spring, when I was encouraging William to ditch the diapers, I jokingly said I would be potty training both of my babies at the same time. But part of me was serious too. So when Will FINALLY potty trained at the beginning of summer I figured Jenna wasn't far behind. She has always despised having a dirty diaper (wet or otherwise). And over the past week, I've watched a funny behavior. When she peed, she would go get a clean diaper then come to me, walking in a straddle as if she's been riding a horse for a week. She'd say, "diaper" and expect me to change her. Everytime! So I started 'offering' her opportunities to go potty in the toilet. She actually peed in the toilet a couple of times too, but she also peed on the floor and in her panties. And I've been down this road TOO many times with the boys and I know how long it takes for them to make the connection so I wasn't prepared for what happened today. Today, she knocked my socks off. I was at the computer, perusing Pinterest, when she waddled in with her 'straddle' walk and said, "poop". I figured she'd just filled her diaper and wanted it off, but since she didn't have a diaper in her hand, I asked her if she wanted to go potty. Really, I was just trying to buy some more Pinterest time. The bathroom is across the hall from my computer. She said yes so I took off what turned out to be just a wet diaper and helped her sit down on the throne. Seriously! before I had myself adjusted in my seat in front of the computer, she had climbed down off the toilet and was taking me by my hand, saying, "help". I asked if she needed help to wipe and she replied with her adorable "Yeth!" (she lisps when she says yes, or when she has a pacifier in her mouth--which is most of the time) So we went across the hall to wipe and she proudly points to the toilet and says "Poop". Sure enough, treasure in the toilet. (I'm sorry. Perhaps this a little too much information and WAY to much detail, but this is important to me to remember all the fine lines in her growing up. She is SO different than her brothers!) It's as if she knew she needed to use the bathroom and she knew what do to about it. That girl amazes me! So I guess we'll be heading out to the store to buy panties today for my baby girl who doesn't want to be a baby any more. Wow! who knew this day would arrive so quickly?

Scout Advancement

 Joshua's Webelos leader  has been working so hard to help prepare him for Boy Scouts. Thank you, Sister Stubblefield! He's been working hard too, to finish up a few things in Cub Scouts. Well, the hard work has paid off. Joshua earned his Arrow of Light and participated in the crossover ceremony tonight. He's now a Boy Scout! Congratulations, Joshua!

...the rest of the story...The Swing.

After Josh's genius idea, which drew every one to the back yard, and ended in some tears (after Andrew sat in the swing and broke the "oh-so-strong" branch it was hanging from) (oh, the tears were from Josh, not Drew) Ben went to work.
And this is what he concocted...

He used the same tree but a different, much larger, branch to hang this.

Just Jenna...

 

(figured it's about time to share pics of the girl)

My creative one...

Josh disappeared for awhile last night. I was busy getting dinner ready so I didn't hunt him down. Just before I finished, he came in the back door and asked if I would come look at what he did.

 

He showed me the swing that he crafted all by himself.

Bigger and Better...

 

How's this for one of the critters the kids found in the back yard. Imagine the size of the spider when you figure that the leaves are 2-3 inches long. It's called a trap door spider and it's built like a tank. There is NO way I could step on it, even as {SHUDDERS} much as I cringe at the sight of it. It would be like stepping on an acorn. Eeew! So we did the next best thing. Catch and release. Caught it in a jar and released it in an empty lot down the block.
I know you're jealous! I know you want to have critters like this in your back yard. Well, the only thing I can think to suggest is that you move to Tennessee and become our neighbors. I'd be happy to share....

Jenna

 

17 months