Hallelujah!!!!!

GREAT NEWS.................Ashlyn is FINALLY potty trained. Last Friday she woke up and told my mom that she wanted to wear her panties. Mom told her that she could, but that she had to go on the potty if she needed to use the bathroom or her panties would be ruined. Ashlyn went on the potty ALL DAY LONG. The entire weekend she did not have one accident! I'm so proud of my little girl! Of course at night we've been putting pull-ups on her. She's even been waking up in the morning with a dry pull-up! Isn't it funny how I've been trying and trying to get her to start using the potty and she's been her normal stubborn self up until last Friday. She knew Friday that she was finally ready to use the potty. It's like a switch finally went off in her head. She is so stubborn............will not budge until SHE is ready and willing to do something. Sometimes this trait can drive me absolutely INSANE! Take this morning for example..............I get her out of bed and tell her that she needs to go use the potty before she gets dressed. NOPE! She was bound and determined not to go to the potty simply because I wanted her to. Then I went to brush her teeth and she WOULD NOT open her mouth. She kept covering it with her hand and her lips were sealed tight. I was fuming at this point! I admit that I lost my cool. She got a few spankings, which did not help the situation at all. Now she was screaming and crying along with being difficult. Before I knew it Ashlyn and I were both yelling at each other in the bathroom this morning while Britt was still in the bed asleep. How is it that a 3 year old can cause me to totally lose my sanity, because I'm telling you, I lost it this morning! After this huge battle, in which Ashlyn was the victor, I felt terrible for acting the way that I had. I had let myself get all riled up over nothing. I'm sure that she just woke up on the wrong side of the bed, and apparently I did too. I picked her up and hugged her and told her that I was so sorry that Mommy had acted the way she did! She hugged me around the neck so tight. I didn't want to put her down. I just wanted to hold her and comfort her. If she's this stubborn and strongwilled now, I hate to see us in about 10-12 more years when she's a teenager! God help us! ;)

Happy Birthday Ashley!!! Hope you have a good one!

Linville Falls and the 4th of July

Sorry it's been so long since I've blogged. I'll try to fill you in on all of the adventures in the past 2 weeks.
Last Sunday we decided to go to Linville Falls. We debated on taking Ashlyn plus the dogs. I knew that Nate and Layla would really enjoy the water so we decide on taking both of them. I didn't want to take one and not the other. They are together all of the time, so it just wouldn't be fair to leave one behind. You know me.........the dog lover! =) We picked up some lunch on the way and had a picnic. So far we were having a great time. After we ate we started up the mountain. Britt had the dogs and I had Ashlyn. The first part of the trail was great. I thought to myself that this was going to be a piece of cake. Yeah right! Britt goes on up with the dogs because they had so much energy and needed to get some of it out. They were practically pulling Britt up the mountain. The walk up the mountain was now turning into a hike. Climbing across rocks and roots and trees. I had to carry Ashlyn up to the top of the falls.......she's not big at all, and thank goodness she's not because I don't think I could have made it up if she weighed 5 more pounds. We got up to the top and the view was beautiful. Now it was time to venture down the mountain to the bottom of the falls. I had to carry her back down. On the way to the bottom of the falls, the path was even worse. There were roots and rocks everywhere that you had to climb across and just watch your footing so carefully to make sure that you didn't slip and fall. After what felt like an eternity we made it. The dogs were swimming around. Ashlyn was playing on the rocks.......with me right behind her watching her EVERY move. It was wonderful, and best of all, I had finally met up with Britt and now HE could carry her back up the mountain. I didn't know what I was going to do if I got down to the bottom and he wasn't there. It was hard enough walking down the mountain with here. I couldn't even imagine the hike back up! Rebecca was walking across the rocks to get closer to the falls and stepped right across a RATTLESNAKE! Yikes! Thank goodness it didn't go after anyone! That was very frightening! After playing around it was time to head home. I took Nate, Stephen's dad took Layla, and Britt had Ashlyn. Piece of cake...........not really! Nate was literally dragging me up the mountain. Ashlyn was screaming and crying for me to carry her. It was a nightmare. Britt takes Nate and Layla and gives Ashlyn to me for me to lug up the mountain. My legs were shaking, my heart was pounding, I was sweating terribly..........I literally thought that I was going to fall over right then and there. This was not my kind of fun! We eventually came to a solid walking path. Halellujah! I made it! As we were driving home Britt said "That was fun!"?????? It was fun while we were eating lunch and once we got to the bottom of the mountain, but the rest of the day was not FUN at all for me! I felt like I was going to die. That is not FUN! Needless to say..........we will not be going back any time soon with Ashlyn and/or both of the dogs. I don't mind taking her to the mountains on a nice walking trail, but no more hikes up a mountain until she can walk it on her own.
For the 4th we went over to Sherry's cabin on Lake Norman. They always have a big 4th of July cookout. I hadn't been in a few years. It brought back so many old memories. I remember growing up and having the church get togethers at that cabin. Ashley and Kellie, I know that y'all have some good memories to look back on from that cabin. Those were the good ole days! Ashlyn played on the beach, rode in the boat (that was her favorite part of the day), and went fishing. And by the way, she caught more fish than anybody else. She caught 2 fish within the first 10 minutes. Her first catch was a small brim. Then she caught a pretty good size catfish. She was beaming with excitement! Too bad her daddy wasn't there to see her catch her first fish. He worked during the day and then came to meet us that evening for the fireworks. I'll have to post the picture of her and her fish later. I forgot my camera so Sherry and Cami took some pictures for me. I can't wait to see them! After playing on the lake all day we drove over to Kellie's mom's house to watch the fireworks from there. They were spectacular! Ashlyn missed the majority of them. She was out like a light after playing all day long at the lake. We finally go home close to midnight. I think that I slept the best that night than I have slept in a very long time! What a week!