April Showers bring a potty training toddler....

 Yes....it's true!!  Today--on Cinco De Mayo--Georgia has seemed to have it figured out (potty training that is).  I seriously had my doubts that she would ever figure it out!  We had a week of H-E double hockey sticks back at the end of February where Georgia was just having more and more accidents the more time went by.  I wanted to pull my hair out.  So I put her back into pull-ups and I was finally relaxed again.  I didn't realize how stressed out I was with her running around in her undies until I noticed how relaxed I was when she was back in pull-ups.  We were having like 10 accidents a day it was out of control!  In hindsight I would have just waited until she was ready, not when I was ready.  I don't think she understood how to hold it if she felt the urge to go potty but now that she can understand the feeling she is a pro now.   It was so much more relaxing when she was ready. We just ran out of pull-ups on Friday so just put on big girl undies and she has it down now!  YAY!  So...the reason I am documenting this is to remember that with Lucy Lou I need to not rush it until she is ready and it will be so much easier!  

 Our neighbors have baby chicks they bring over to our house.  Georgia and Lucy love laughing and petting the baby chicks.  I am starting to feel more adjusted to Utah and liking it more (probably has something to do with the weather too).  But we are meeting some really fun people in our neighborhood that we have been hanging out with.  I was really thinking how awesome it is especially to find a babysitter.  We have over 10 babysitters walking distance from our house.  Makes date night a lot easier! :)

Although I do get really sentimental thinking about where I was and what I was doing last year at this time.  I miss seeing North Carolina friends on Cinco do Mayo, going to pick strawberries at Hall Family Farm, walking on the greenway, the YMCA, etc.  There are so many good things about Utah too but I just wish I could have the best of both worlds--mostly all of my friends and family in one place.  How can I make that happen? 

 After the Easter Egg Hunt, Georgia got into the jeep with her cousins and was having the time of her life.  She couldn't believe we let her do this!  They were cruising! 

We went to Baby Animal Days in Logan and it was so fun and cute!  Georgia really appreciated it and literally ran around the entire time yelling every animal name she could think of that she wanted to see.  She loved the candy cannon.  They shot all this candy out of a cannon and all the kids ran in the field and got all the candy they wanted. 

 This picture of Georgia holding Lucy just makes me laugh--Lucy looks huge!

 Lucy is still into having anything plastic in her mouth--so Georgia thinks she should mouth things too.  She likes to comfort Lucy and read and sing to her.  But...I still can't leave them alone together.  21 months age gap is really close (at least for me!) This isn't because I am overprotective.  Georgia picks Lucy up by the head and drags her around and hugs her so hard with running speed and knocks her over.  She likes to get out "Lucy's yucky boogers" too.  The other day I caught Georgia taking Lucy's entire hand and putting it in her mouth and biting down really hard.  She doesn't do it to be mean, I think just testing her limits.  I'm telling you--my life right now consists of keeping Lucy protected from Georgia.  I see other siblings interacting with each other and not doing this.  So I don't know when things will get easier but I don't see that happening anytime in the near future. 

 Georgia has started getting particular with the stores we go to.  I guess she is her momma's daughter.  We were headed to Target and she freaked out and wanted to go to Smiths.  Whatever.  I like Smiths too so we went there.  Maybe she likes the sample cookies better at Smiths.  I let Lucy ride in the front for a little bit.   I can't tell if she is scared or having fun. :)

Another funny moment I want to remember is when we were at a drive through I ordered a sandwich and a water cup.  Georgia put her head to the window of the car and yelled, "and a milk cup".  The lady heard and so we ended up getting a milk cup.  It might not sound hilarious but at the time it was. 

 I took this picture during a windstorm (hence the chairs knocked over) but wanted to capture our yard starting to get some flowers.  I missed having our yard and gardening.  Although I didn't miss all the weeding!

I might eat Lucy---seriously--she is so sweet and cute!  I can't handle it. Lucy is standing up to everything and the other day I caught her balancing on her feet without holding onto anything!  Crazy girl!  She wants to walk as soon as possible so she can learn to run....away from that crazy blonde girl!

 Pretty sure these girls have the best daddy there is!  He slithered on his back like a snake for like 15 minutes back and forth so they could enjoy a ride.  They were so giggly and it made me smile!  The things he comes up to be silly with them.  Plus---he has to be the best dollhouse player---he comes up with the funniest things when they are playing dollhouse.  The other day, he was playing dollhouse with the girls and I came in the room and he had all the dollhouse people in different places posing for family pictures. 

Pass the Bar--law school is done FOREVER!

So---we are officially done with law school!!  Words can't describe the feeling when we found out he passed the bar!  I think Nick did a backflip.  We weren't expecting the results until next month and so when we got the letter in the mail it was kind of intense!  I walked into the house holding the letter and Nick was shaking as he opened it and the first thing that came out was the "Licensing Ceremony Information" paper.  Right then we realized he probably passed because they wouldn't put that in the letter if he didn't pass.  Well--he passed and he deserved it!  He worked so hard and really was so intense with his studying.  I am so proud of him and so glad he doesn't need to spend the next four months or EVER studying again!!!  WE are happy to have our Nick back! 

Now we are adjusting to life getting used to having him around at night.  I have to watch TV shows he wants to watch too now. :)

In March, we got to go to the Smoot's family vacation house in St. George.  It was so much fun and so crazy with all of the kiddos.  Georgia had fun with her friends though.  And Lucy liked getting lots of attention.

 

We got to have Rickie and Kallen stay with us for my cousin Heidi's wedding festivities. 

Cute Henry and Georgia entertaining themselves on these yoga blocks.

At Lucy's 6 month appointment.  She is a cutie and crawling around and babbling words.  She said her first word..."Dada" but I do have to say that "momma" was said the very next day.  She does this cute little nose wrinkle and laughs whenever you take her binky out.

Oh Potty Training--this has been the hardest parenting milestone of all---which is why we are in pull ups still.  She wasn't ready and all this potty training in a day---it didn't work for her.  We did it all too.  She would go half of the time in the potty and half on our new carpet.  So we moved the training outside to save the carpet.  I'm sure our neighbors think we are super ghetto. 

We got to see Marci and her cute family when we were down in St. George.  It made me wish we lived closer again! 

At the cabin I looked downstairs and all the kids were surrounding Nick as he read a book.  Kids are drawn to him it makes me laugh.

Georgia was the star of the play at the treehouse musuem.  In her squeeky shoes too.

Even though it has been a challenge having them be so close in age, I am so glad they are so close in age because they are such good friends.  Honestly, now when they are both awake--life is so much easier because they feed off of each other and entertain each other.  Lucy thinks Georgia is hilarious and visa versa.  Georgia likes to tell Lucy stories and she asks Lucy questions.  She answers for Lucy in a really high pitched voice that makes me laugh and then we all laugh. :)

Home Sweet Home

We are back.....in so many different ways:

Back into a normal routine
Back into our house
Back to Utah
Back to good sleeping routines
Back to a new normal...I guess.

These past couple of months have been a whirlwind for us.  Nick graduated law school---what the??  Amazing!  He is amazing.  And I guess I should say "WE graduated law school".  Seriously.  I am taking some credit.  That was hard work for me too! We moved across the country again.  It's pretty crazy that when we left Utah we had no kids and 2 and a half years later we came back with 2 kids and I feel like we are totally different people.  And we are here starting this new chapter in our lives.

A huge piece of my heart still feels like it is in North Carolina.  I think part of me still believes we are just out here on vacation in Utah.  I miss my friends...aka family... out there.  They have shaped me into the person I am today and am so grateful for their influence in my life.  I became a mom with these ladies and learned from my mom friends with older kids too.  I wish we could have stayed.  But I am starting to find myself liking it here in Utah each day a little more.  I really am finding the good in it and wanted to shout out a piece of advice.  Don't ever move to Utah in the middle of winter---Summer would be a much easier transition. 

Here is the brief update of everybody in our family:

Nick: Studying for the Bar and working for the Davis County Attorney's office.  That's pretty much all he does.  Seriously.  6-9 a.m. Study,  9-5 Work, 5:00-5:45 Dinner with family, 5:45-10:00 p.m. Study.  He has been able to play raquetball at his parents with his brothers too occasionally and has been getting together with friends.  But for the most part all social life is on hold until this exam is over!  Have I mentioned I can't wait for him to take the Bar?

Erica: I started working from home doing this awesome job reviewing menus for the Elementary School lunch program.  I am happy to be using my Dietitian degree and am happy to be doing it in the comfort of my own home.  It is only about 5-10 hours a week and super flexible but gives us some extra spending cash.  I feel grateful for this and it came at a perfect time.  I am having fun seeing friends from Utah and playing with the Georgia and Lucy.  They are hilarious and provide me with lots of girl time. :)

Georgia: Her Go-To song is "Oh My Darlin, Oh My Darlin Georgiatine"  She knows over 50 songs by heart and can open a book we have only read twice and read it back to me pretty much because she memorized it.  It's probably safe to say she has a photographic memory.  It is funny because when she is awake I don't think she stops talking.  I don't even notice it anymore because I am so used to it but she's always talking about something and making stories up about things that have never even happened.  She says prayers thanking Heavenly Father for Curious George and Wonder Pets.  She loves nursery and jumping around the house and chasing other kids even though she doesn't know them. She loves her Lucy Lou ("Lulu") and kisses her 50 times a day.  When Lucy cries she says, "Don't cry Lulu, be happy, it's okay" and when she wakes up in the morning, "Lulu, we're here for you, you're awake."  The newest thing is that when I don't talk to her for a couple minutes she comes up to me and says, "momma...say something to me...talk to me."

Lucy: She is starting to crawl forward and loves to suck on toys and blow raspberries.  Nobody makes her laugh harder than her sister and nobody scares her more than her sister.  She hears Georgia's voice and her eyes get wide because she is scared for her life.  She has good reason too.  She loves playing in her jumperoo and loves attention and I love giving her attention.  She is very ticklish and has the cutest laugh.  She will be six months in a couple of days and I don't know where the time went.  I love that girl and am so glad she is in our family!  She adds a special dynamic to it that wasn't there before!

She went through a phase where she had to wear this tie to church for a couple of weeks

We went to Kiawah Island for Thanksgiving.  I have to say it was by far my favorite Thanksgiving in all my 29 years!

We had to part ways with our TV that has been with us for not only our 5 years of marriage but since I was 12 years old! I

45 minutes getting ready to go sledding for 5 minutes

This picture doesn't do his car justice--it was packed to the max and that bag weighed SOO much!  I am just glad Nick made it home safely!

This doesn't need a caption

Somebody likes baking sugar cookies for Santa

This picture was taking 2 weeks before Great Grandma Alaire Hart passed away at 98 years old.  We will miss her spunky personality and wisdom.  I hope to be just like her one day! Life is Good Grandma just like you said!

At the most GHETTO circus in the world.  And right before I almost got attacked by a tiger--for REAL!  It was crazy--that could be a blog post in and of itself.

We are and are still SO SO sad to say goodbye to Margaret and Cheryl!  Margaret was her auditory verbal therapist in NC and we were so blessed to have her!  She wouldn't be where she is now without her help!

I hope to be like these ladies someday too! Love them all!

Lucy and Grandma Wirthlin

Grandpa Hatch and Lulu

Georgia's cousin Max--Her brother from a different mother. :)

The family that planks together, stays together!

Cute Logan and Georgia

We can't seem to get rid of this catfish (salamander) pillow!  It always turns up when I least want to see it.