Emma comes over!

The other day Erica asked if Emma could come over while she ran a couple of errands. I of course gladly agreed; Lula loves playing with her big cousin and I really enjoyed watching her... It was the first time!!  Hopefully now that we live in the same state it won't be the last. 

These two are so silly! It got a little crazy at times... 

We even went to the mall and rode the choo choo train!!

Still loving the ergo...

Oh man, today was one crazy non nap taking day! Lula refused to go to sleep even though she was exhausted. I tried everything, even laying down with her which used to always work and honestly I could have used a nap myself. Finally I went with my last resort... I put on my tennis shoes, strapped on the Ergo and put her in. She resists for a while, but in the end... the Ergo won!

I tell you though, it's not so easy carrying a 32 pound 2 year old, but if you have to, the ergo is the way to do it!

"Veronica wipe?"

As I was unpacking boxes today I heard Lula in the hallway talking to one of her dolls. I wondered what was going on so I walked down to make sure she wasn't sticking her finger in a light socket or something.
SIDEBAR:  she actually DID stick a screwdriver in the light socket the other day, I looked up just in time to see a poof! A little fire ball and smoke, luckily she didn't get hurt. Unfortunately it didn't scare her either! The irony is, I was actually going through the house putting outlet covers and baby proofing the sockets when she did it!
So with that precedent in my mind, I proceeded down the hallway to find this...

It was pretty cute, and thankfully harmless. She was saying, "wipe your butt veronica?" Potty training is sinking in I suppose...

Potty Training Diaries

We have embarked on a new era, not only have we moved across the country -  complete with a new house (new to Lula), new cars, new jobs, new life - but as we are still surrounded by boxes at our new address I have decided that it is time for a new potty seat. It is time for Lula to join the ranks with the rest of us diaperless folks.

As I started researching one of the pointers I’ve read over and over is… It’s not a good idea to do this at the same time as any other big changes. Hmmmmm. Well, I’ve never really been one who follows directions anyway, not because I’m a rouge wild child who hates authority, but mostly because I get bored with the directions after about step 2 so I just start and then figure it out as I go. Of course afterwards, I usually find that the pointers could have proved useful, but by then it’s done. And so I say, why should I treat this any differently? Especially since the one approach I did read was a 3 day boot camp scenario that seems really intense! (involving no underwear in or out of the house for 3 months!) uh, no thanks.

So far Lula seems very interested in the idea. She loves running around half naked (at home) and using her own potty seat. I haven’t started any formal “training” yet. I’m mostly just getting her used to the idea. I supposed I need to get a plan and go for it. One thing I did actually read was… there’s no going back! Once you start, you have to commit. All in. I think Lula is ready. But I’m not sure I’m ready. Changing poopy diapers sucks, but I’m not sure the alternative is much better. I really hate public toilets; the thought of frequenting them with a two year old who would drink the water out of the toilet if I let her really stresses me out!

a little recap

Here is the short of the past two years...
Lula Mae, our little bundle of joy was born on August 6, 2010.
2.5 months later, we sold our cars, bought a minivan, loaded everything into storage in El Segundo, left our house in Manhattan Beach, drove to Seattle, then headed east to Washington, D.C. We lived in Falls Church, VA for 6 months as we renovated my husband's grandmother's house (she passed away June 2010). Drove to Florida for a month, and then back to CA. After a short vacation in Hawaii, it was time to settle down and get back to work. We celebrated Lula's first birthday at our new place in Redondo Beach and settled back into work / baby / life. Many milestones were made... walking, weaning (she did that on her own), eating real foods, hair cuts, etc. Life was disrupted in December when we found out Byron had Thyroid cancer. Two surgeries, and radiation treatment later, he was "cured" (life will never be the same, but he still has a life and for that we are all tremendously grateful). Soon after (May 2012) we embarked on another cross country adventure to North Carolina, then Florida, and then, yes, BACK to California. But something happened on the trip back home. Byron had a job interview with a company in Florida. We were both freelance and hence had to have private insurance, so after having cancer, a staff position was very appealing. He was offered the job. He accepted. And so almost as soon as we arrived back in CA we had to start packing. We moved back to FL where Lula celebrated her 2nd birthday (as we were living at my mom's house). We are now back in our Jacksonville Beach home Byron and I bought years ago. Mostly settled in, but still a bit of a mess.
Lula just turned two and has lived in four houses (we only count the ones where we actually set up her real crib). We are not military. I think we are just crazy.
I wonder where Lula will live when her 3rd birthday rolls around...

back at it

I had a blog while pregnant with Ms. Lula Mae and for a few months after, but life got in the way and something had to give. Food, shelter, and basic survival took priority and the blog faded away. But I loved doing it and even with all the craziness (or perhaps because of it) I still feel the desire to do it! So with the encouragement of several friends (one in particular!) I decided to go for it again.
Here we go!