I did it!

So, as I typed the title for this post, the song that Dora and Boots sing at the end of every episode popped into my head...and I laughed out loud about it.

This is just a quick post to let everyone know that I now have my diploma...proof that hard work and determination, along with lots of tears and prayer, really does pay off in the end.

The diploma is HUGE! I told Kevin that it is about twice the size as our diplomas from MC...and those are about twice the size as my high school diploma. So, my question is, if I ever decide to get my doctorate, will that diploma be even bigger?

5 years ago...

Today is the 5 year anniversary of my brother, Patrick's, death. It is still surreal. There are still days that I want to pick up the phone and call him to share a funny story. That has been happening a lot lately because Mattie Leigh does so many things like he used to. It still hurts, and grief still sneaks up on me suddenly at times. However, I have joy in knowing that I'll one day see him again.

FINALLY! A BIG GIRL!!! :)

I've written before about our potty-training battle with Mattie Leigh. I knew she knew how to tell when she needed to go and that she was using her pull-ups for the convenience of it. It was easier to just hide or squat and go in a pull-up than it was to get undressed to go to the potty. I had enough of that this weekend! I told her she was going to start wearing her panties (except at night because we still have some nighttime wetting) and going to the potty every time. We were really busy Monday so we decided to wait until Tuesday to start. After I put her first pair on Tuesday, she hid behind the recliner and peed in them. She HATED the feeling of it and wanted them off immediately. (By the way, I learned that Mattie Leigh has a spiteful side and will do things just to prove she can.) She didn't have any accidents the rest of the day. She went all day Wednesday and did great! She had an accident at church Wednesday night but only because she couldn't make it in time after she realized she needed to go. She didn't have any accidents yesterday and is doing great today! So, it appears that I finally have a big girl! She loves telling everyone that she is a big girl and that she wears panties now.