*The Big P-T*

So, I'm considering starting potty training Emyri and I'm realizing this is another one of those "I have no idea what I'm doing as a parent" types of thing. And although I have had plenty of these dumb founded situations, believe you me, they still always seem to jump out of the bushes of nowhere and leave me stumbling around blind for a good week.

So I've heard, "Wait until their ready", which I totally agree with; there's nothing more humiliating than being forced to control your bodily functions when you're bodily functions have no intention of being controlled.....we'll I'm assuming.

I've also heard "Wait until they show interest" which makes sense.

Then in talking with one of my fellow softball teammates, mother of five successfully potty trained girls, she said that with her girls there seemed to be a window of opportunity when they were really interested and if she waited too long or until she was ready to take the task head on, she found it was almost always too late, and the process was a lot longer and harder.

Great!

So I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm feeling the pressure of this small window of opportunity that may or may not have already passed and wondering how you really know if you're child is truly ready for and truly interested in the big "plunge"; pun intended. Emyri showed interest in pottying a long time ago, but at the time I was thinking she was way too young for the real thing. Now, I'm sitting here asking the girl if she wants to potty as she's telling me "No, I'm fine" and wondering if her toilet attraction has long been gone and if she's going to end up at her Jr. Prom sporting a fashionable dress, jewelry to kill, and.......a pull-up.

Okay, so I know it's not that bad....and honestly, despite my continual dazed and confused parenting states Emyri has survived and even thrived in her two years of life. I know in the end we'll master this phase as well, but I guess I just need some help to know where to even start.

Do I just keep asking her all day if she needs to potty? Do I periodically put her on the john throughout the day to see how it goes? Should I just straight up get her pumped about big girl panties and let her pick her own out and go cold turkey with the diapers? Are pull-ups better? Should I use behavior-mod and give her potty treats? Is she really ready or should I just bag the whole thing and wait another six months?

What have you experts found to work best for you? Any advice would be greatly appreciated: )

The "10 Second Interview"

Man...I've been busy and absent. Sorry, but here's a little "10 second Interview" I enjoyed from my friend Kevin's facebook, so I decided to give it a whirl: ) Here goes....

When was the last time you gave your parents a call?

Actually this morning I called mom....really though, she's much better at calling me.

What snack food can you scarf down a whole bag in one sitting?

Most definitely a Rolo candy bar and possibly some Italian flavored Gardetto's

I'm afraid of...

I recently discovered that one of my sad and pathetic fears is the fear of rejection and the fear of disappointing others. It was an Ah-hah moment while trying to help a girl at the Juvenile Correction Center with her own problems....I thought to myself, "Vandi, this sounds a lot like you too"; followed by some introspection. I'm also scared of being alone at night too. That and plumbers cracks: )

In 20 years, I will be...

hopefully a better version of myself; more experienced, more light, more me.

Would you rather meet your future inlaws naked or in bondage gear?

okay, honestly I don't know what kind of question that is and I almost threw it out; but then I realized how funny and odd it was to contemplate as a reader of the interview, so I'll just leave it as is...enjoy: )

What talk show would you like to be a guest on?

I think Ellen Degeneres is pretty cool, plus she dances at the beginning of each show which is fun for all.

What was the best movie this year?

Man, I seriously loved StarDust

Cake or Pie?

Cake, light on the frosting, heavy on the glass of milk : )

Do you like your peanut butter crunchy or smooth?

ooohh, ever since I sang this childhood "Peanut Butter" song one too many times, which happened to involve eating a spoonful of peanut butter while singing it, I haven't been the biggest fan of the stuff. I'd have to go with crunchy however.

If there's another book, it should be called "Harry Potter and The ..."

"bag-o-sulfuric acid" (It's an SNL joke my brothers and I always thought was funny)

What's the most recent dream you remember having?

just today, during a power nap I had a vivid dream of being by these beautiful trees and a flowing river, looking into the water and thinking how odd it was that the fish I saw had legs and a tale like a dog and barked when it popped it's head out of the water....man that was a wierdy.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Don't be so hard on yourself, everything is going to work out. And by the way...things get infinitely better once you become your own best friend and learn how to trust God more completely. Good things are on the way. Cherish every moment you have, especially with the ones you love, because you will look back and love and long for all of the amazing moments you have experienced in your life.

My super power would be...

the ability to travel through time

If you were a candy bar, which would you be?

Carmello

Pop Tarts or Toaster Strudle?

toaster strudle

Would you rather listen to the same song or eat the same meal for the rest of your life?

wow, that's a rough one....probably listen to the same song; it better be an insanely awesome one though: )

What's the sexiest accent?

it's gotta be either Irish or Australian

I feel naked without my...

clothes on : ) that or without my wedding ring on.

What's your favorite book?

This question rekindles my desire to read more....I keep telling myself I'll read all of these cool books after I graduate. But honestly, thinking back some of my favorites have been "Arianna"; "Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry"; "A Walk to Remember"; "Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon"; "To Kill a Mocking Bird"

What's the dumbest excuse you've used to break up with someone?

Sorry, I can't go out with you anymore, I have to spend all of my free time watching Harry Potter and the bag-o-sulfuric acid. j/k

When was the last time you cried?

"At Trevor's funeral.

What should you really be doing right now?

writing a stinkin' paper....thanks for reminding me: )

Twizzlers or Red Vines?

most definitely Twizzlers though I have been surprised by the number of people who prefer Red Vines....strange.

What's your favorite color of Crayola crayon?

macaroni and cheese (and I didn't just misread the question, I have actually seen that color in a box before....sweet huh)

Women are...

amazing and complicated and beautiful

Luke Skywalker or Han Solo?

who is Hans Solo again?

What famous person, living or dead, would you like to interview?

Thomas S. Monson

The last time I actually cooked something, I made...

crepes...crepes has become one of my staple foods, though I might add I think my taste buds and tummy may be finally tiring of them for a while.

What movie could you watch over and over again?

EverAfter and Almost Heroes

Quick! Make up a first name:

Hans Solo...wait a second, why does that sound so familiar......and why I do I think that's so hilarious that I just put "Hans Solo"? Seriously it must be getting late, because I just had a good laugh over that. whew.

Hello, Hi, or Hey?

hey (with a variation in tone throughout the word included) There you have it: )

I thought this was pretty neat. This song brings back a lot of memories. And who doesn't love David Archuleta's voice?


I was wondering though how whoever filmed this pulled it off. It looks like the camera was probably in a semi-sneaky spot: ) funny.

Life is Beautiful...

I was tagged so long ago with a "Favorite Things" post; sorry it's been a while kel and karrie....so I thought I'd finally get this post out there, but I want to tweak it a little bit if I may.

We've recently discovered a new found love (some may say "obsession"....sadly enough) for the series "Lost". We made the discovery far later than everyone else who's been ranting and raving about the show since it first began four seasons ago. This means that we've spent the last four months cramming three years of the show into our lives. My point is that I wanted to make this post a tribute to Charlie, one of my favorite characters in the show, by posting "My Favorite Moments" instead of my "favorite things". Those of you who've seen the show will know what I'm talking about. For those of you who haven't seen the show, there is an episode where Charlie, a fun loving Irish member of the band "Drive Shaft", is looking back on his life and in attempts to cherish all the good that his life gave him he scribbles down the five greatest moments of his life with a permanent marker on a piece of notebook paper.

So here it goes.....to Charlie:

1. The moment I let myself love being me.
2. The moment I realized I really did love Chad; I loved him more than I ever knew and I never wanted him to not be a part of my life.
3. The day I wet my pants laughing with Anna; or when we rolled down the mountain on her motorbike because we couldn't make it any farther; actually, that whole summer before our sophomore year is one of my favorite moments (if we can call three months a moment)
4. Being in awkward jr. high, yet getting a card from my older brother Mike that said he hoped to someday find a wife just like me.
5. How proud I felt as I sucked on the worm my brother's dared me to eat when I was little. Even though it tasted like dirt and chemicals I knew they thought it was so cool of me.
6. The day Crystal and I stopped on the side of the road to pick flowers for her mom and sister; the way her nose wrinkled and her eyes lit up when she told me about her secret crushes; and singing to the songs on the radio together on our ride home.....I miss her.
7. The adrenaline rush and excited anticipation I would feel jumping in the huddle before warm-ups for basketball games. (many moments compiled into one)
8. How incredible it felt the night I sang and played my song on acoustic night with the drums, piano, and base behind me; They made that song come alive.
9. The moment Kel started crying with me after I lost the Student Body Elections; that meant the world to me that she would cry right along with me. (I appreciate you so much kel)
10. Kissing Chad for the first time with the snow falling all around us; the incredible and warm feeling I had all the next day.
11. Every moment spent talking and laughing with Melissa...man I am so glad I met you: )
12. Standing side by side right after our wedding hugging all of our friends and family that were there; we were both flooded with an overwhelming love for all of these people that meant so much to us. We were so happy we could share that moment with them.
13. The moment I turned all my pain and heartache over to my Heavenly Father; the moment I knew without a doubt He was there willing to take it for me.
14. The moment I saw my emyri and her little precious body for the first time; I was so happy to finally meet you baby girl: )

I have so many more awesome memories, if only I could write them all. I really hope that in heaven we get to sit down and watch all of the amazing moments in our lives over again. Wouldn't that be the best: ) I love life....it really is so incredible to me. I want to live so that every moment will be meaningful. I want to look back and always be able to smile and see that I was able to make a difference for someone somehow.

Life is good: )

Some of our Favorites...

Chad and I have been getting a kick out of this for the last few days. It's super corny, but pretty darn hilarious in parts: ) Maybe it's just funny because I can picture myself doing something similar not too long ago.




This one also had us dying laughing. I swear the Japanese always have the craziest most hilarious pranks. Chad and I decided we need to get some Japanese friends: )



And this ones just kind of cool....we definitely should have done something like that; ) j/k could you imagine Chad and I? It wouldn't have been nearly as cool



okay, it's obvious that Chad and I spend a little too much time on youtube, but since we don't have regular tv, we sometimes find ourselves searching for a little entertainment.

What are some of your favorite youtube clips?

Taking A Moment to Express

One of my recent journal entries.....

April 4, 2008

Wow, I think I have just been reminded of one of the reasons why I've been feeling down lately. I don't know if it's like this for everyone, but it really gets to me if I don't have time, or make time, to sit down and write out my thoughts and my emotions and my experiences. I feel like if I'm not taking that time to write it out that it's all slipping away from me so that I'm not able to learn the intended lesson. I feel like I'm going through the motions, but not learning anything, not internalizing, not becoming more because of my experiences. And that bothers me. I get almost frantic knowing that a certain thought or impression I had was important and realizing in the next moment it has passed me by because it wasn't internalized. I guess for me writing is internalizing the lessons being given. I have to think it, see it, put it into words, and read it; then somehow it truly becomes mine. And once I know it's mine, that it's really become a part of me, then I feel like I'm actually becoming more than I was yesterday through this earthly experience. I don't know if everyone needs that feeling, but I need that feeling. I need to know I'm learning the right lessons, the one's that Heavenly Father is giving me. I need Him to know and I need myself to know that I am listening; that I am getting it. I'm already feeling so much closer to heaven just by writing this out. I'm thankful for this gift. I'm grateful for this opportunity to better understand myself.


*Back to the present.....I'm doing my second internship at a Juvenile Correction Center and let me tell you, it is amazing and difficult and inspiring and eye opening and disturbing all at once: ) I really love it though and I have already learned so much. I get to work with a group of 12 girls that do every thing together. They eat together, sleep together, brush their teeth together, run the mile together (literally they can't leave one peer behind), use the bathroom together(also literally: ), play games together, learn together, and most importantly they express together. It just amazes me time and time again how healing it is to express what you're feeling, experiencing, have experienced, learning, etc., etc. It is often so hard for them to get those feelings out, its especially hard for them to get those feelings out appropriately which is why they are so often throwing punches, swear words, and spit at each other. Despite all of that, however, they are learning to express and it is a little miracle to watch how it heals them and creates a bond between them. They really do care for one another and it's awesome.
So my question today is what are you're thought on expressing yourself. How do you do it? How does it make you feel? How do you feel when people express their thoughts and feelings to you? Have you seen it make a difference in your life?

To Charlie...

I was tagged so long ago with a "Favorite Things" post; sorry it's been a while kel and karrie....so I thought I'd finally get this post out there, but I want to tweak it a little bit if I may.

We've recently discovered a new found love (some may say "obsession"....sadly enough) for the series "Lost". We made the discovery far later than everyone else who's been ranting and raving about the show since it first began four seasons ago. This means that we've spent the last four months cramming three years of the show into our lives. My point is that I wanted to make this post a tribute to Charlie, one of my favorite characters in the show, by posting "My Favorite Moments" instead of my "favorite things". Those of you who've seen the show will know what I'm talking about. For those of you who haven't seen the show, there is an episode where Charlie, a fun loving Irish member of the band "Drive Shaft", is looking back on his life and in attempts to cherish all the good that his life gave him he scribbles down the five greatest moments of his life with a permanent marker on a piece of notebook paper.

So here it goes.....to Charlie:

1. The moment I let myself love being me.
2. The moment I realized I really did love Chad; I loved him more than I ever knew and I never wanted him to not be a part of my life.
3. The day I wet my pants laughing with Anna; or when we rolled down the mountain on her motorbike because we couldn't make it any farther; actually, that whole summer before our sophomore year is one of my favorite moments (if we can call three months a moment)
4. Being in awkward jr. high, yet getting a card from my older brother Mike that said he hoped to someday find a wife just like me.
5. How proud I felt as I sucked on the worm my brother's dared me to eat when I was little. Even though it tasted like dirt and chemicals I knew they thought it was so cool of me.
6. The day Crystal and I stopped on the side of the road to pick flowers for her mom and sister; the way her nose wrinkled and her eyes lit up when she told me about her secret crushes; and singing to the songs on the radio together on our ride home.....I miss her.
7. The adrenaline rush and excited anticipation I would feel jumping in the huddle before warm-ups for basketball games. (many moments compiled into one)
8. How incredible it felt the night I sang and played my song on acoustic night with the drums, piano, and base behind me; They made that song come alive.
9. The moment Kel started crying with me after I lost the Student Body Elections; that meant the world to me that she would cry right along with me. (I appreciate you so much kel)
10. Kissing Chad for the first time with the snow falling all around us; the incredible and warm feeling I had all the next day.
11. Standing side by side right after our wedding hugging all of our friends and family that were there; we were both flooded with an overwhelming love for all of these people that meant so much to us. We were so happy we could share that moment with them.
12. The moment I turned all my pain and heartache over to my Heavenly Father; the moment I knew without a doubt He was there willing to take it for me.
13. The moment I saw my emyri and her little precious body for the first time; I was so happy to finally meet you baby girl: )

I have so many more awesome memories, if only I could write them all. I really hope that in heaven we get to sit down and watch all of the amazing moments in our lives over again. Wouldn't that be the best: ) I love life....it really is so incredible to me. I want to live so that every moment will be meaningful. I want to look back and always be able to smile and see that I was able to make a difference for someone somehow.

Life is good: )