Our Latest Project: Kitchen

So as I mentioned a few days ago, we’ve been working on the kitchen. And as far as our home improvement projects have gone so far, this one has happened rather quickly. We ordered the new cabinets in October, they arrived in November and we installed part of them within a couple of weeks. Then with the holidays and several of the other things that had to be accomplished first (like rerouting the vent, updating plumbing and ordering countertops) we came to a bit of a standstill until the end of January. Here’s what we’ve completed so far:





There are still some minor finishing details to be done, such as the finished end panels, toe kicks, crown molding and installing the hardware. We also have to install some new flooring – not only do the new cabinets fall in a slightly different spot than the old ones, but the current flooring is damaged – and are hoping to get that in by the end of March. We also have a tile backsplash ready and waiting to go up – all we need is the time to do it!

Princess Tent: House of Livi

I took this picture so you can see the size of Olivia’s tent that she got for Christmas. With her next to it in the middle of her bedroom, you can see that it’s not very large. One might even go so far as to call it rather small. I’d be willing to bet that at least one or two of you reading this would be confident saying that it would be nearly impossible to fit an adult in there, especially adults of the size that live in this house.

Well, the tent is indeed cozy, but you would be wrong about who and what can fit in there. I am here to tell you that when a certain little girl demands it, two grown adults, a toddler and a couple of rather large stuffed animals can all fit in there together. I also have it on good authority that things get rather warm rather quickly. I’m just glad I didn’t serve beans for dinner that particular night.

The Three Days That Almost Killed Me, or Potty-Training

Warning: This post is all about the toilet and the things that happen there.

I am 26 weeks or 6 months pregnant, and the end of May is quickly approaching. It seems like this pregnancy has gone by much faster than my first one, but that might be because I haven’t really had time to stop and think about it much. Olivia never ever stops! Her second birthday is right around the corner, and I recently decided that there is nothing I wanted to do less than potty train her while taking care of a newborn.

So, I read a copy of The 3 Day Potty Training Method, and we got started this past Saturday. Becca and Aden had wonderful success using this approach a few weeks ago, so I felt encouraged that we could make it through as well. We threw away the diapers, put on Big Girl panties and got things underway. I figured that 3 days wouldn’t be much fun, but I could do anything for 3 measley days in order to achieve a fully potty trained toddler.



I am here to tell you that I have just survived three of the hardest days of my life. She had 18 accidents the first day. I’m not sure how that number strikes you, but when she went to bed at 8 pm that night I sat down on our sofa and didn’t think I had the strength to get up and walk to bed. In addition to cleaning up the accidents, I had to stay right by Olivia’s side every second of the day. Have you ever done everything a toddler does for an entire day? While you’re six months pregnant?

At any rate, I was exhausted but optimistic. From the very first time she had an accident, Olivia was completely distraught when her panties got wet. It took the entire day, but she finally used the toilet around dinner time and was almost as proud of herself as C and I were. I felt certain that Day Two would be a good one.

Day Two did not go as well as I had hoped. We had fewer accidents -- maybe a dozen? -- because Olivia quickly developed a good grasp on bladder control, but she did not want to use the potty and kept holding it until she got off. We made a few adjustments to our approach late that evening, and after a pep talk from Becca I felt like I could face Day Three.

Day Three was beautiful. We had only one small accident! Olivia is still reluctant to use the potty, but once she’s up there she’s fine with it. I discovered that she does better without an audience (I think we can all relate) and there is nothing in this world that brings me more joy at this point in my life than to hear her yell, "Momma, I did it!" from the bathroom. I am typing this at nap time on Day Four, which has been completely accident-free. She is even fully dressed and took a walk down the street before lunch. Hopefully you are reading this while she is back at “school” on Wednesday enjoying her new diaper-free existence.



In case you have potty training in your future, I do recommend this method. You have to know your own child and be ready to make adjustments (after at least two full days of the book’s method) in order to accommodate the personality you are dealing with, but I have been really pleased with our results. I can’t imagine having tackled this any other way.

Mini Mike

When I look at our oldest daughter, I see my husband. I always have, although it seems that I am the only one. Most anyone who has ever met my family says that Olivia looks just like my dad the second they see her. Given how much she adores her Pappy, I suppose this is appropriate.

We have spent much of the last few months working on our kitchen with the help of Pops and Pappy. The cabinets were replaced, the walls painted, a new wall built, a new sink installed, plumbing rerouted or updated, appliances hooked up and working (whoo hoo!) and new countertops installed. Whew!

Here is Olivia helping Pappy take out the last of the old cabinets so that Pops and Daddy could install the new ones the next day.

She was RIGHT THERE and ready to assist Pappy with every move he made. Actually, I think this might have been the most space that Pappy had to work the entire evening. She tried to be in his lap if at all possible.... she loves to help.