Random Updates from Moi

Just a few random updates and pictures! (Sorry... cannot figure out how to rotate pictures in blogger... so annoying...)

- Sophie is potty trained! We started in late June with, at-most, half-hearted efforts. In Utah, we spent about 4-7 non-consecutive days seriously training. The last day in Utah she got it and she's been pretty good ever since! Even (with only 1 accident) trained through the night! Hurrah!

- Madeleine starts kindergarten tomorrow. Yes, that's right: KIN.DER.GAR.TEN!!! This is major league, folks. I feel old, excited, and somewhat nervous/strangely calm about it all - so far. I'm sure I'll tear up tomorrow but we've prepared her and although I know she'll be a little shy at first (like, for the first month), I know she'll love it. My prayers for her this year? Be confident. Be kind. The end.

- Sophie's wide mouth smile just kills me. Every. Stinkin'. Time. You wonder why she gets away with so much? Just LOOK at her smile!

- Madeleine has reach this glorious phase where she hears me, listens, and does. It's marvelous! Things like setting the table, being patient and waiting for ___ or ___ to happen before she can ___, following multiple directions, helping out with Sophie, getting dressed and ready in the mornings and into the van by herself. Yes, she's done this for a while now, but the last few weeks I have notice how consistent she is. She's a little person! She's a great helper - very thorough dish washer before loading the actual dishwasher. Independence! I can just barely begin to smell it, taste it. I like it. And I think she enjoys it too!

- Ever since our Utah vacation, the girls have been going to daycare/preschool 3 days a week. We've been more consistently scheduled with 6 hour days so that I can burn through the end of my dissertation. After the first 2 weeks of tearful departures with Sophie she now has her routine of 'kiss, kiss, hug, hug, push me away, wave goodbye' about 90% of the time. Madeleine is also consistent in her routine of shyly hugging me goodbye and silently finding her teacher on the playground to hold her hand and acclimate slowly to her friends. They nap there, Madeleine loves the food (I don't have to pack anything! Love!), Sophie rarely eats there, except snack, and they adore their teachers. It's been so, SO good for all of us.

- This summer I have studied in the following locations: USUHS campus library, my van parked in the shade at a random park, my home, Starbucks, a friend's home. Let me tell ya, finding the perfect study location for me has yet been elusive. I need to be able to: stay warm (that means either temp control or little to no A/C), eat (that means no public libraries), have internet access, and... preferably be in an intellectually stimulating/motivating environment. Despite these hindrances... guess what?

- I will defend my dissertation this semester! The end is TRULY, finally, YES, not lying, in sight. Done in December. It would take an entire other post to describe my feelings on this. Basically, it's gonna be amazing!