Potty Everywhere

Joshua is posing for this.  And Genevra is ready for this hug to end.

My babies will despise me one day for this, but it had to be posted.  Too cute not to.

Spring break for us was found in the great city of Omaha.  The geese park was Joshua's favorite, while I preferred the visitor's center for the LDS temple.

Checking out the Easter egg hunt booty.  He was so preoccupied with the goodies in the one egg, we had a hard time finding others;)

There are several books and articles that cite all of the many signs to indicate that your child is ready to potty train.  About a month ago, Joshua was hitting about 7 of 10 of the signs of readiness.  He knows when he needs to go, wakes up with a dry diaper, is interested, etc., etc.  So we bought a fun little hippo potty that sings and reads a story.  For about the first two weeks, I was excited.  We did a "pee-pee dance", cheered, and doled out stickers like they were going out of style.  Joshua was enamored with the idea of a little seat just for his stuff, and I was looking forward to a bright future of just one diapered bum in the Kirkman household.  #1 was smooth sailing- as long as his lower half was naked.  #2-- not so much (I would find brown surprises left in odd places for me).  There is a very deep rooted fear of bowel movements going on in my little boy's head.  I won't go into the gory details, but today, Joshua had diarrhea.  Need I say more?  Let it be written that today was one of the longest days of my career as a mother.  For anyone who has gone through potty training and all of the misery it entails, I ask that you send me great, warm, virtual hugs of sympathy.  I need them.  Thanks.
On a happier note, the weather is warming up to a balmy 90 degrees.  Last week, we were in the mid-40s.  It was a fast, but very welcome transition.
I hosted book club last month and made the Jewish traditional challah bread in honor of reading "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok.  (Amazing book.)  It was a hit...and made me wish we were Jewish, so I could feel obligated to go to that kind of work for that kind of goodness every Sabbat.  More recently, with the help of some women in the ward, I threw a baby shower for a friend of mine.  The idea of a baby shower was daunting, but with the help of friends, it was a success.  And now I am not so fearful of trying to host something so grown up.
Josh is busy.  He is always busy.  For anyone who has done grad school, you know that 18 credit hours (this includes a studio!), is suicidal.  His professors have said as much.  All I can say is that this semester has been rough.  There are times when I wonder why we are doing this to ourselves and how on earth we are going to make it through this week, let alone 2 more years.  The thought that fuels both Josh and I is that we felt SO right about our decision to do this in the first place.  Josh frequently reminds me that President Uchtdorf has said, "Doubt your doubts, before you doubt your faith."  I have faith that the Lord would not ask such hard things of us only to let us fall on our faces.
Genevra is fat.  And beautiful.  She is my bright, happy little ray of sunshine.  When I lay her on the floor, she rolls from one end of the room to another and then back again, and big smile on her face.  I couldn't have asked for a sweeter bit of heaven than what we have been blessed with in her.