Potty, Phonics, and Photos

Lara has hit the milestone where she stays dry at night and naps. It's been a thing for a few weeks now. It just happened naturally. Lara has been waking up pretty early because she has to go to the bathroom-I woke up the other morning at 6:15am, hearing the toilet flush. Lara has learned how to get up and off the toilet seat by herself now-not such an easy thing when your legs don't work right. That 6:15am potty run was the first, and it was strange hearing someone be up and functioning around the house before me. We are going to start working on that with Lara at therapy-so we will be spending some time in the bathroom at Easter Seals. Ew, don't forget the hand sanitizer!

Speaking of which, Gretchen told me I might consider taking Lara down to just every-other-week therapy appointments. I can keep Lara going once a week, however, if I want. I can't decide what to do. I honestly feel that Lara will continue to progress well no matter what. Lara had an OT eval recently upon my request to make sure she was on track, and she is. Dressing herself was sort of the issue for me, but she can do that by herself now too.

The weather has been so great here lately; it feels strange not wearing a coat in almost 60 degree weather (southerners would be shocked), but it does feel so warm. If I don't have time to play outside with Lara, I will let her go and play on the back deck while I am in the kitchen cooking. This way I can basically be looking out my (opened) window all the time and watching her while I cook. And she can get some fresh air.

I've set a good school routine at home. Nothing crazy-structured, of course. But we work on phonics--which it's obvious to me that Lara is too young, but I figure reading and sounding out can never be started too early! Then we do a craft or an activity. If Claire is awake, she will participate. :) She enjoyed finger-painting a shamrock the other day. You know, it just helps if you have something to really DO at home when the other little one is napping. Because we don't watch TV and there's only so much you can do outside. Once the weather really, really warms up, I can't wait to take long walks and bicycle rides...with the girls, of course. I have sadly had to stop doing pilates because it hurts my back to be on the floor. But I want to exercise, and the only way I will have time, consistently, is if I A) wake up at 5:30 am or B) Find something to do with the girls. SO, I have purchased a bicycle trailer/side-by-side jogging stroller combo. Ingenius, the things some people come up with. It weighs a TON, but that will help with the exercise, right?

After staying 100% healthy for the last 2.5 months, we have come down with the common cold. We're all okay, but Claire is suffering the most. As usual. Dustin made us a delicious breakfast of blueberry pancakes, and I'm going to make us all some chicken & noodles. We are staying home from church and relaxing. Tomorrow, I am off to a massage and pedi-I can't wait!

I can't wait for spring to arrive, in part because that means I can start taking pictures again! I feel so inspired by photography, and it is so refreshing to have a hobby that brings you both enjoyment and a little extra money. I have to have something in my life that doesn't involve taking care of people all the time, and photography gives that to me. jennifer.leigh photography is on facebook now! You can also check out my website here.