"I think it smells like thunder in here"

I was so looking forward to Mady being potty trained.
And then it happened, which means using public restrooms....

So, I have Mady hovering on the gigantic toilet (unless were at Ikea, because they have kiddie size toilets that are awesome sauce), Cara on my left hip (trying to keep her from reaching out and touching the toilet, the walls, the floor, etc.) and the first time I had the joy of experiencing this, I thought to myself, "why can't she just be in a diaper still?"

Now that was months ago and I'm so happy she is potty trained and she had provided me with many giggles in public restrooms but we had one the other day that I thought I would share.
She has never commented before on the smells in any bathroom so this was a first. We were out at a restaurant and we go in the bathroom and she immediately says "what's that smell mommy?" and I said, "I don't know honey". I didn't, it was just a stale bathroom smell. It wasn't like someone had just dropped a duece and I could give her a definitive answer. So she was satisfied with my answer and dropped it.
Well we had to use the potty one more time before we left and as soon as we entered again, she asked "what's that smell mommy?" Again, "I don't know honey". Apparently, this would not suffice this time and she decided to venture a guess at the smell..."I think it smells like thunder in here"
"maybe honey" :)

I have pictures of Mady on the potty and I considered posting one here because it seems appropriate but I'm going to save her some embarrassment and abstain.

On a potty training note, for those who have kids of potty training age, this is a must!
Kalencom 2-in-1 Potette Plus Red - this is awesome sauce on red bull! you can use it in the car, on the go, and also on big potties (if you want to carry it in with you somewhere, i do not, but you can). Also, I just use regular plastic bags from target, giant, etc. instead of the ones you can buy for it. Just put a paper towel or two in the bottom and it's just as good.

And on that, I think I have to tinkle myself now.

Happy Trails!

"aww, she's my best friend"

I want to start having an attitude towards everyone that I meet like my daughter does. She's such a lover with a kind heart.

She's become much more outgoing recently and just goes up to other kids and asks "what's your name?", waits for the answer, and then says enthusiastically, "my name's Mady". Most of the time, the conversation doesn't go much further then there but she'll look up at me with such excitement and repeat the child's name. She'll then ask a few questions about the kid, where do they live, do they have a dog, etc. A little while later once we have left wherever this other childe was, she'll start telling me about them again and say, "aww, she/he's my best friend".
We were at Chick-fil-A the other day, shocker I know, and there was another little girl named Mady. The other Mady was younger than her and the only reason we knew her name was from her grandma. The other Mady did not say a word to Mady and they barely played together but when we left there, right on cue, she said, "aww, she's my best friend".
To Mady, everyone she is meeting is new and exciting and her friend. She never has a mean or unkind thing to say about any of them. She never says she doesn't like someone. She doesn't look at their shoes and say "look at thoses bobos she has on mommy".
If I could look at all of my future relationships with people and my existing ones with the same love that Mady has for all of hers, I would be thrilled. I know I can do this with the help of Jesus who was the first One to look at all of us with a love that I can't even imagine.
So here's to a new outlook on the people that I meet...no worries, I'll still use my keen weirdo radar and make sure I'm not BFF-ing them ;)

My BFF since AWANA Cubbies at age 4 <3