Prayer needed

It is with great sadness that I bring you this news. Our dear friends Maria and Gianna Lewis lost their husband/daddy this past weekend. Maria has been a dear and close friend of mine since I was very young and I consider her a sister. She also serves in our life as Isabel's Godmother for those of you that may recognize this name. Iain was a wonderful husband, daddy to 3 year old Gianna, and great friend to many. I offer this family up today as they attempt to move forward with their lives. Please send pray for strength, healing, comfort, and peace.

First Manicure

Isabel's First Manicure: Club Tabby in Lake Charles

I sent Isabel to Lake Charles yesterday to spend some time with CC and Paw Paw. I got these pics from CC this morning via cell phone and could not resist blogging this experience....HILARIOUS!!! I have to admit I am so jealous that I was not there to see this.

Red polish with sparkles!!!

Singing at Club Tabby

Isabel and PawPaw

Paw Paw and CC made a special visit to New Orleans. We spent Friday night eating at La Petite Grocery off Magazine...which is a MUST for all those visiting the New Orleans area. Saturday, Phillips had to work and CC was tied up with a Silpada meeting; so Isabel, Pawpaw and I made a trip to City Park and Storyland. Below are pictures of the fun!!! Saturday late afternoon we met up with CC and ate at Superior off St. Charles. Then to top off our weekend, on Sunday we all had amazing brunch at Ralphs on the Park. What a wonderful weekend of eating and family!!!!

Watermelon Snack

I picked Isabel up from school today and she begged for watermelon. She ate 4 slices!!! And I might add that this marks the first day with NO potty accident. She wore the same pair of princess panties all day....HOORAY for my big girl!

Potty Training

We have been potty training for the last 3 weeks and here is our story:

The Jenkins Family Journey is planning on taking a 13 hour road trip to North Carolina at the end of August (just the three of us)....so in my mind I was counting on waiting until after we returned to really focus on potty training....in hopes of avoiding a 20 hour road trip with potty breaks every hour. Isabel had a different plan perhaps.

We have been reading books and watching "Elmo's Potty World" for about 3 months now. We have been talking about it and encouraging how BIG girls go pee pee and poo poo in the potty for 5 months. SIDE NOTE: Isabel has been extremely focused on taking care of her BABY doll "Sophie" (she is the BIG girl and Sophie's momma) which has added to our ammo of "this is just what BIG GIRLS DO!" About 3 week ago, her teacher reported that she seemed interested in going to the potty at school so she played along. Isabel was starting to go about 2-3 xs a day in the potty at school. So naturally we continued to practice at home. Her teacher recommended bypassing pull-ups, because Isabel was so good at working her diaper.....hint: she has been changing Sophie's diaper apx. 10 x a day for a long time and is quite good at the process. So three weeks ago we began and here we are today.

Today is the FIRST day Isabel has worn BIG girl panties all day with ONE accident at school!!!!! Yay!!! This is still such a working progress. She sometimes wants to go and sometimes fights us on the subject. Everyone says DO NOT push the issue. When she says no....I don't force it.

For all those Moms behind me in potty training. Here is what the incentive is at home. We have a potty chart and every pee pee is one sticker, every poo poo is two stickers. When Isabel reaches the star (7th sticker) she gets ICE CREAM at TCBY!!!! Yay, a plus for Isabel and Mommy!

Here are some frustrations. Isabel has had many accidents....pee peeing on my rug, the sofa pillow, blankets, in the high chair, and all over the hard wood floor. We have only successfully poo pooed in the potty ONE time....by accident. And here are the questions that I have askied myself along the way. Why is she regressing and going less and less now? Why can't she tell by now when she has to go? When is she ever going to poo poo in the potty? Does she really understand this chart?

So now you are up to speed. Wish us luck as we continue this process.

Weekend in St. Francisville

We spent this past weekend in St. Francisville with Mia and Bops, Uncle Bobby and girlfriend Madison, and Uncle Beau and Uncle Matthew. We had a fantastic weekend. To read details of our stay, places we ate, and pictures of scenary: see http://themendednest.blogspot.com/2011/08/weekend-in-st-francisville.html . Here are just a few pics from the weekend. I forgot to pack to camera...so I will slowly add to this collection as they come in from everyone else.