More Good News than Bad

Good News: It is a beautiful day here in the NW. I know I comment A LOT on the weather, but let's face it, in the NW, the weather is a very important part of our day. And when it's not raining, I can't help but celebrate. Right now the sky is the most amazing shade of clear blue. In my opinion, that is what the NW should be known for - not all the rain - because when the weather is like this, there is no place more beautiful!

Bad News: Natalie (and I) nap right through the best part of the day. By the time she wakes up and I prep dinner, there's hardly any time left to soak up those rays! But it is nice just to see the sun streaming through the windows ... although, that does remind me that I should probably add "clean windows" to my ever-growing To Do List!

Good News: Natalie and I enjoyed an awesome trip to the Aquarium today with our good, good friends Megan and Alison. First of all, I always love the time I spend with Megan; she's a fellow teacher, she's super laid-back, and she's also pregnant and due at the same time. There's something comforting about waddling around with another preggo ... and being able to commiserate ... and chat about what our lives will be like after our second. The girls had a blast running all around! The exhibits are fantastic - fish of all varieties, a giant octopus, sea otters, ...

Bad News: There is one corridor that projects light through a film of moving water, which creates strange shadows and ripples of light on the walls. Natalie did not enjoy this part of our aquarium tour ... to make matters worse, she has talked about it non-stop, including the car ride home and through lunch and as soon as she woke up from her nap ... and even now. She has said, "I no yike yite at quarium," at least 100 times! What is it with this age and fixating on certain events?!

Good News: I have discovered the joys and comfort of the huge-waisted maternity jeans! During my first pregnancy, I avoided these like the plague ... because I thought they looked kind of goofy and not "hip" and (very-much-in-conflict to what I know now) uncomfortable. Instead, I sought out the low-waisted variety with the elastic bunches in the back or side ... because I thought THAT would be more comfortable?! Anyway, my kind and same-size neighbor Jessica brought over two tubs of chubby-wear (as I affectionately refer to maternity clothes), including many, many pairs of huge-waisted pants. I was skeptical at first, but oh-was-I-wrong! These things are the BEST - my tummy is supported and comfy-cozy and my waist doing a job my belly is much better suited for ... holding up my pants!

Bad News: The delightful reason for needing "chubby-wear" has now grown large enough that shaving my nether-regions has become quite comical, which is really only bad news for my OB ... and maybe my husband ;)

Good News: Since starting our little potty training endeavor, Natalie has made all of her poopies - more than a week's worth - in the POTTY! That urge is clearly something she identifies with, and she does not want to make poopies in her diaper anymore ... woo hoo!

Bad News: We are not making that same kind of progress with urinating. She has successfully used the potty for pee-pees, but she has also had many, many accidents over the course of the week.

Good News: Those accidents have been contained to panties (she chose Thomas the Train) and pants - with very little floor clean-up required. My favorite "accident" was the time she peed right into her Crocs while playing outside :)

More Good News: I am so proud of the strides she has made, and I do feel confident in our decision to pursue this right now. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel ... and that tunnel is paved with diapers, lots and lots of diapers!