Spring travels and cleaning

The little Swiffer Helper- Tatum decided to help!

Visiting Great-Grandpa Bob Young at his new digs- The Bickford Cottage in Cedar Falls, IA. Taking a ride to the dining room to enjoy some lunch!

Helping to make cream cheese filling for some yummy brownies.

We were preparing to feed the many friends coming to celebrate the Silly Stille 30th birthdays.

Where's Aunt Jilly's Ears?

And her nose? (Beep, Beep is Tatum's response)

Aunt Jille and Me- Feb 26th

Tatum surprises us all the time, knowing things that we have not really praticed or ever discussed with her. She knows other body parts including: Arm, leg, toes, hair, ears, tongue, teeth, tummy, neck and of course- butt!

We're working on the parts from the song Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes along with Elbow!

Tatum is starting to recognize some colors, and her favorites to say and find are blue and yellow. She also can say: 1, 2, 3- and only in that order :)

Such a cute little tot!

20 months old today!

We've been enjoying spring-like weather here in the midwest, so it is no surprise that kiddos are roaming the sidewalks in our neighborhood. Tatum took her doll for a LONG ride in the stroller.

Bouncing tots... and more Chi-town fun

Here are the pictures (sigh) finally from our road trip to Chicago via Iowa City....

1/2 way back, Enjoying a ride at the mall in Coralville, IA

Our friend Ava Grant- Ava lives in Lisle, IL

Sharing the basket

Ear Nerds Lisa & Sararumen and Tatum at UIHC's Otolaryngology Dept.

Jason's 30th Birthday.... The cupcake cake is supposed to look like a brown paper bag.

Remember he may still hold the Nebraska State record for most points scored at the grocery sacking competition!

First time Dropping the kids off...

At the pool.... AKA #2.. Monday right before her bath. She also went potty the next morning like a big girl. Our little gal has just battled a 24 hour stomach bug- with a fever. She is almost good as new aldready! What a trooper. OK I promise no more detailed potty descriptions for awhile. We could probably all do without it. But we are so proud of our little 19m old wonder!

A toileting natural....

This weekend Tatum & I made trek to Iowa City Thursday. We stayed with good friends Sara, Eric & Meara O'Brien and visited lots of mommy's old work friends at UIHC on Friday. That afternoon, Nana Zubrod met up with us and rode along to visit Aunt Jilly & Jesus in Elgin, IL. We also met up with Melissa, John, & Ava Grant on Saturday for some fun at the DuPage Children's Museum and lunch. We continued the Grant/Zubrod family fun that evening with some yummy Chili courtesy of Auntie Jill. Nana Z even managed to really get into the Wii carnival games! Video to come of the girls bouncing off of the walls (literally, bouncing off of the sofa!). They had a great time!

So before this weekend I had thought that surely the potty thing must have been a fluke. Just a lucky happening. But Tatum has since proven me wrong. Friday morning she used Meara's potty seat twice, one time initiating it herself by grabbing the seat and putting it on the potty. Sure enough she made her deposit both times! On Saturday evening at Aunt Jilly's Nana noticed that Tatum was in the bathroom with her pants down, trying to unbutton her onesie. Without toddler toileting assistive devices, Nana held her on the potty- and shortly after tinkling was heard!!! This scenario was repeated 30-40 minutes later- tinkle again- SUCCESS!!! Wow, she actually gets it. Now we just need to show Daddy... he has yet to witness the beautiful yellow evidence.

She did it!

Tatum has officially christened her new potty....

with you guessed it- the picture says it all!

We tried potty time after her nap and to my amazement after a few books there was a little "deposit"! I still beam when I tell everyone about it! She was really proud of herself, and got to flush and say goodbye to the goods (although I'm quite sure she didn't really know what I was so excited about!).