I'm a Big Boy Now!

Well, sort of...

We've been working with Cooper on his potty training for a while now. He has been much harder to train than Kamdyn was. It only took about two weeks of potty training "boot camp" to train her. I'm off this week so I've tried to work more with Cooper. He's doing great except he hates underwear. Yesterday morning, I got out the Lightning McQueen underwear and this is what he did with them...
I think he went most of the day without any on (which, by the way, is really the best way to potty train!). I finally bribed him with a Fruit Rollup yesterday afternoon and he put them on.

This morning, he was more receptive to the underwear and even put them on himself...
By the way, Kamdyn is Cooper's biggest cheerleader when it comes to the potty. She always follows him to the bathroom and encourages him. I just about died when I heard her say, "let it rip, Coop!" And he did!

While Cooper napped yesterday, Kamdyn tended to her sick Barbie. I think Tina is her name. I kept watching her put this light wand up to her and then it occurred to me that she was probably doing that after watching JJ's ultrasound yesterday. Aaaahhh....
Tina still didn't feel good so Kam had to blow her with a bubble wand...
Yep, she doesn't have a shirt on again. It seems to be the first thing to come off of her when she starts playing. I hope that's not a sign!!! :)

It's a Girl!

Brian and Jamie had their ultrasound yesterday to find out the baby's sex and Jamie invited me to come this time. I'm not sure she bargained for my kids coming too, but Kamdyn overheard us talking about it and begged to come. Surprisingly, they were very good! We were late getting there and they had already found out it was a girl. My very first niece!!!

Kamdyn predicted a girl and keeps telling everyone that Campbell will have to have her own princess crown. I made the mistake of telling her on Sunday night that she'd have to share her crown if it was a girl and this did not sit well with her. So we determined that Campbell gets her own princess crown.

Kam watched the ultrasound the whole time and at one point leaned over to me and whispered, "she's so beautiful!" She keeps telling Mom that she will have 2 boys and 2 girls now.
Braxton was glad to see Cooper arrive. I don't think he was too interested in his new baby sister. Here the boys are climbing onto Mimi's lap. Cooper's pretty taken with Mimi lately.
Brian wore his pink shirt for the occasion. I think he was hoping his intuition was right on. After he found out it was a healthy girl, he wrestled boys the rest of the time. Did I say how good Cooper was the whole time? He was pretty interested in the baby too and watched the u/s for a while.
Kam stayed with Mimi at the dr.'s office and Cooper and I ran a few errands. We met up with everyone for dinner at Olive Garden afterwards and this was how I found Cooper when I went to get him out of his seat. He was pooped!
By the way, baby Campbell is due December 27 (the u/s says 24th though, which is Mom's birthday), so it should be an exciting Christmas for us this year!!

60th anniversary at Timber Lodge Ranch

We just returned from spending the weekend at Timber Lodge Ranch with my entire family to celebrate Mamaw & Papaw's 60th wedding anniversary. It was so much fun and Mamaw and Papaw were totally surprised. This was way more fun than any stuffy anniversary reception we could have planned. I think it's unanimous that this will be an annual event for the Efirds now.
We took this picture outside the chapel on the hill.... this is all 31 of us (and 3 more on the way!). I'll post more pictures later but I'm too tired right now. Mark and the kids just woke up from a 3 hour nap. All the fun has worn us out!

Like Father, Like Son...

A few Saturdays ago, Mark, Cooper, and I went shopping for bedroom furniture. We've only been looking off and on for two years!!! But Mark woke up that Saturday with "furniture fever" and was in the mood to go shopping, so I got him out the door quickly before he changed his mind!!! Kam went to Magic Springs that day with Aunt Donna and Jodie, so Cooper went with us. He was excited to go shopping he said... I think I've trained him right!!!

After numerous visits to different furniture stores, we went to Best Buy to check out the cameras. Somehow we always end up in the TV aisle though....

A guy can dream.... Cooper got as excited as Mark looking at the TV's. When we left the store, Cooper started pouting and said, "I go shopping, Mommy!" He did not want to leave... that's my boy!

So we ended up buying this bedroom suite from Bassett....we decided it could be our anniversary present. I'm so excited!!!

Funny

Last night after Kam got out of the bathtub, she asked me if she could watch "the mountain and the dew" on TV. I asked her to repeat what she was saying at least 3 times because I didn't have a clue what she was talking about........then it dawned on me that earlier Mark was flipping channels and the movie "Horton Hears a Who" was on and I commented on it because we've never seen it before. I guess that's similar to "the mountain and the dew".... I had to laugh.

Happy Seven Years!

Today is our 7th wedding anniversary... hard to believe it's been that long; however, we've actually been together for 12 years. I tried to scan a few pics but can't get them to post correctly. Maybe you can see a little...I always liked this pic of us leaving the church....

Not sure two people could be any different than Mark and I... we are complete opposites but somehow it works for us. Happy Anniversary... I love you!!!

Reality Check

Let me just say that nothing will make you more thankful for healthy children than visiting Arkansas Children's Hospital. Saturday we visited Mallory and family and I got choked up pulling in the parking lot. I always look to see if Angel One is there.... I heard someone once say that if it's not there then you know they have gone to get a sick baby or child..... and it wasn't there which made me sad....but then I remind myself what a great hospital it is and say a prayer for whoever they've gone to get.

I usually look straight ahead and try not to let my eyes wander into any patient rooms as I walk down the halls there. I just can't take that...my mind goes crazy wondering what is wrong and my heart just breaks for these kids and their families. What would I do if it were my kids there? How would I feel?

The PICU where Mal is is right next to the oncology unit. I did see a little boy about Kam's age walking beside a wagon... and then I saw a Mom carrying a baby about 7-8 months old down the hall.... again, my heart just breaks for these people. So much hurt....

And then I just have to thank God for giving me healthy children thus far.... a little perspective is always good for the soul.