Ayla started seriously potty training on May 26, almost two weeks ago, and she has done a GREAT JOB!!!

Actually, we think that we are done training...

She doesn't even use pull ups... we tried and they didn't work, so we went straight to big girl panties. We did however put her in a diaper at night for the first few days, but she was waking up dry, so we went ahead and let her sleep in her big girl panties all through the night. She has only had one accident at night but that was our fault, she was up WAY past her bed time, which meant she was drinking a lot more than she normally does before bed.

She always tells who ever she is with that she has to go, no matter where: home, Granny's, school, church... she only had 3 accidents in the first two days, but not ANY after that, (except for the one night).

We are so VERY proud of how well she is did....

We no longer have a baby in the house, we now have a little girl.

~Forgive Me~

What can I say - life happened and it happened way to fast. It has been a month and a half already, but I am going to try my best to start blogging weekly again.

A few things have changed around here:

We gave Rizzo away, so we are one family member short this days, but it is working out for the better.

Ayla is now starting her summer session at school, as well as I. I am normally off during the summer, only to work a lot in Lubbock, but this summer is different... I have a lot of work locally, so I don't have to travel nearly as much, whoo-who! Plus, I will actually be off more.

We are starting some summer projects around the house, planting, painting and other thing that we need to get done.

And soon we will all be going to PA for a week. Joe is playing with a worship team for a youth camp, so Ayla and I get to go with him. We are so very excited! More on this later...

I have some videos of Ayla, so I am going to try and see if I can get this thing to work, so that I can share them with you as soon as I can. Until then, here are a few recent snap shots, since Easter.


All clean and ready for bed.

My first night gown.

Stop, no pictures please!

Ok, ok maybe just one... smile!

CHEESE!

Mommy, I'm watching the rain and I want to "get one".

I'm not doing anything... I was just filling up Mardys food bowl.

Hey daddy, mommy, look what I can do...

Are you watching...

See, see!

I love playing outside!

What can I say?

Ayla, how old are you?

~Easter~

Well you guessed it...Easter! I have waited since her first Easter to be able to do an egg hunt. I remember doing it as a kid and getting so excited to get "The Big Egg"; I just couldn't wait to see her little face get just as excited. I knew that Ayla would be doing a hunt at her daycare party, they were going to hunt in the nursery at church and that she would have our egg hunt at Omi's house before lunch. So I had three chances to get at least one good picture of her expression, right... Well the weather didn't permit a real hunt at the daycare and I got off work late, so I missed the "hunt" but got some after pictures. The church nursery wasn't doing a hunt for their age... so one last change... GOT IT!!! (picture above) We went to Omi and Ogo's house for lunch and got some great pictures, priceless. Enjoy!

Ayla's very first egg hunt. To bad it had to be inside!

At daycare, about to eat, after the egg hunt.

What did the Easter Bunny bring you?

Ayla found a new pose!

Easter Sunday!

Ayla and her daddy, all dressed up for Easter.

At church, Mr. Trev gave her a balloon.

" Mommy, mommy, I found one!"

Counting her eggs.

What a great Easter picture, at least we think so.

After the hunt, with all her treasures!

~Congrats!!!~

I wanted to take a moment and say congratulations Josh and Christy (my brother and sister-in-law), they just had a new addition to their family last night... Baby Girl... Lauren Olivia!!! We all can't wait to go and see her little face. I talked with Josh this morning, Christy and Lauren are doing great. Jake (their two year old) was excited in the car, but then when he saw her... sounds like he's not so sure. Cute! I wish them well and tons of blessings!

Lauren Olivia!

Proud daddy, Josh.

Lauren already wrapping her daddy around her little finger.

Amazing mommy, Christy, with baby Lauren and big brother Jake.

~Fredericksburg~

This past weekend Joe and I went to Fredericksburg for my birthday and an early anniversary get away. We had wonderful time. We shopped on Main street, of course, ate at several different places, and went to the Rock Box theater. It was Joes first time going to that part of the hill country, but it was a first for both of us to go to the Rock Box. We highly recommend it, it was good clean fun. They do a music act with a bit of comedy.... A blast!!!

Joe and I at a local old fashion ice cream shoppe.

"Joe, smile!" at lunch, right before we left for home.

www.rockboxtheater.com, check it out!

We can't wait to go back, with several of our friends and family...

However, we are glad to be back home and to see Ayla, and she is glad to be back in her own bed, catching up on some sleep.

And if you were wondering, yes, this was the first time that Ayla spent the night somewhere else with out us. We were told that she did fine. She just didn't go to sleep as well as she normally does, so she got to sleep with granny. But of course she did fine and had fun, she was at granny's house, who doesn't have a great time over there. We missed her like crazy, but we did good... we just talked about her A LOT, there is nothing wrong with that, right?

~St. Patrick's Day~

Did you wear green today? If not, I owe you a pinch!

Just wanted to wish you all a Happy St. Patrick's day!

~Rizzo Turns 1~

Rizzo here, just thought that I would get in on this too. Ya know, even though mom and dad always talk about Ayla, we still live here too. Yeah, we get "special" treats, and rubbed behind the ears every once in a while and we even get to have our own beds, but that's nothing, all we want is a little more love. So I just thought that I would take a moment, since mom didn't, and let everyone know that it was my birthday yesterday and I just graduated from training last Thursday. I know that they are really proud of Ayla and everything that she can do, but we can do some of the exact same stuff, so we really don't get it. Anyway here's to the dogs of the family... And Mardy thanks for hanging out with me on my birthday.


Me at 6 weeks old, meeting my new family.

Me now, at 1 year old.

Me hanging out with my best friend, Mardy. What can I say, a dogs best friend is ... well another dog.

RuttRo, gotta go, moms coming! And by the way, mom and dad did tell me happy birthday. I know that I don't give them much credit but they do a lot for us. Ok, ok, we do LOVE it here, we wouldn't live any where else, except for maybe granny's house! - Rizzo