Chick-fil-A, Potty, and Porch Fun

This August has flown by.  It has been a hot month so far.  In the last couple of weeks, we've gone to the beach, playgrounds, library, and more (despite a stint of Emma being sick before)!  Emma and I have a lot of time together, but it's really fun when we get to hang out with dad after work and on the weekends.  Emma is totally in love with dad (and mom) and loves to be in on the action (anything we're doing).  At the beginning of the month, we supported Chick-fil-A for the owner's stance on traditional marriage.  (Not only that, but they serve some tasty chicken, which those who know me know it's one of my favorite foods.)  We've posted a picture of her "driving" while we waited in line.  (Don't worry, the car wasn't even moving.)

Another thing Emma has been working really hard at is using the potty.  This month it kind of just happened.  I noticed each time when Emma needed to go #2, she would come to me and either whine or tug on my pant leg.  At first, I thought she was being toddler-difficult, but then I realized that she was really letting me know she needed to use the potty!  Well, I'm pretty dense as a first-time mom, but we're learning and it has been so fun taking part in this process with Emma.  She has always been such a happy-natured kid, and this has been no exception.  Every time she goes, she claps for herself because we celebrate her using the potty.  Right now, she has been going on the big potty while I help hold her up, but eventually, we may have to get a smaller one or a step stool so she can go on her own.  We'll see how it goes, but 2 weeks of no poopy diapers has been great!

In the summer we love to BBQ and grill on our porch.  We have sort of rediscovered the "lazy days of summer" on the porch, if you will.  When Emma was a baby, I used to take her out on the porch and sing and talk with her.  We are doing that again because it has been so hot outside, we can't go on many walks during the day without sweating buckets.  This has been a great reprieve from the rays of the sun, and Emma enjoys playing with our (camping) gear we store outside (lighter, camping grill, chairs, cooler, and floaties and boxes).

Here's to many more sunny (shaded) summer days!  We love Florida.