Signed, sealed, delivered

Annie is transitioning well into "big girl" land with the potty training in full swing. I didn't really mean to take this on as my first project in Louisville, it just seemed like the right time for a variety of reasons and two days ago, let's just say, her "number 2" made its first appearance in the potty and boy, was everyone proud. I'm sure she'll kill me later for divulging this, but I have to give her some fodder for when she's a teenager. She even made me save it for Papa to see when he got home. Luckily for me that was only 15 minutes after the blessed event. So we're on day number 3 with no diapers, even at night. Yes, there have been accidents, but she's getting the hang of it and has no trouble using a public restroom (unlike her mother), and, sorry for the plug, but it's all thanks to the Potty Hammock. I got this from a friend of my mother's when Annie was born and originally thought, 'When am I ever going to use this,' but lo and behold, we use it ALL THE TIME, and it works and fits weightlessly in a little pouch in my bag.

We visited a school for Annie for the fall. It will be three mornings a week which I think will be great. It's called Friends School and it was founded in the Quaker tradition although they're nondenominational. Both Annie and I got a great feeling from the people there, so we just have to send our application in. Fingers crossed. I'm hoping those fencing and Japanese lessons pay off (I kid).

We're also about to order her big girl bed in preparation for our number 2 (which will hopefully be a lot cuter and less stinky than Annie's). And as soon as the only working phone jack is out of the nursery we can start on the baby's room. Right now there's our DSL modem and wireless router in there, so it's doubling as a mission control for the time being.

I hope Annie's excited for her new sibling. Tonight she saw my ever-dwindling belly button and said "There's a baby in there?" and I said, "Yes, do you want to give it a kiss." She did, but didn't want to kiss it through my belly so I had to explain to her it wasn't ready to come out yet. So she gave my belly button a kiss and I said "Thank you," and she responded, " No Mama, you can't say 'Thank you,'" and I replied, "Oh, so the baby should say 'Thank you'?" and I said a high-pitched "Thank You" to simulate the baby's intended retort, and Annie smiled and said, "The baby said 'Thank you'." Heart melting. Glad to hear they're starting off on a polite foot. It's all fun and games until that baby comes out, I'm sure.

For now, I'll just enjoy Annie's sweet gestures and pretend the soccer kicks happening inside my abdomen are failed attempts at the baby reaching out to give its big sister a hug.