I know I've threatened forever, but this time we've really gone and done it. We have a new private blog and we'd love you to read it (unless you're a pervert). Please send an email to lindseylclark@hotmail.com if you'd like to be invited to read and we'll get you on the v.i.p. list asap!
PS: For those who don't know how private blogs work - You'll need a google account (click here to get one). Then send me an email and I'll send you an email back with an invite and instructions.
PS: Oprah didn't make me do it.

Well, it's official. We have a big girl on our hands who is potty trained, and sleeping in a big girl bed! It's been two nights now, the first was a little rough - everything is different in her room and she was happy to play in there, but scared to be left alone to go to sleep. We made it through the first night with some waking up, but last night was much better. She went to bed early and only woke up once crying "Mom! There's a dragon!" We went in to check on her before we went to bed and I didn't see the big girl in her bed - she was asleep across the room on the floor, with a board book under her head for a pillow. So funny. I transferred her back to the bed, hopefully she'll be able to stay in it tonight!


Sleeping beauty...

We love Easter and everything about it. We love the sticky-sweet candy coma that we're in as we go to our beds tonight. We love the way Easter lends itself to crafty fun. We love spring. We love the thrill of the egg hunt. We love Easter dresses and an occasion to dress up extra special. We love Cadbury Cream Eggs. We love cascarones, the Mexican confetti eggs that my Gram always sent us when we were little - which Josie was the lucky recipient of this year.









What we love most is what Easter is really about. We love that our Savior loved us and died for us and was also resurrected so that someday we will be too. We love that everyone we've loved and lost in this life will live again. Like this guy:



We love Easter!

One of my favorite things ever is this girl's walk. She has swung her little arms like that from her day 1 of her walking life.

The 3rd annual girl's trip was the best ever - lots of sun, shopping, laughing, and food! I couldn't have done without this trip this year - or ever. It was the best thing ever to get out of cold New Jersey and do girl things with my favorite girls in the world. I was sitting laughing with my sisters and realizing how lucky I am to have such amazing sisters who are my role models and best friends. It made me so extra grateful that J will soon have her own sister. I am also so grateful that she has adorable little cousins who she loves so much.

We spent our days laying by the pool....


Being pampered....


Learning new tricks.....


Relaxing with cool drinks.....


and eating sweet treats (Georgia really wants some of that!)


Why is that chubby pregnant girl the only one eating a cupcake?


P taught J a new game called Jackpot - she throws pennies into the fountain or rocks into the pool and says "Jackpop!" It's her new fave. "Mom, can you play jackpop with me?"






Favorite quotes from the trip:
1. "Ouch!" Laurie, after crunching down on some "granola" that turned out to be Chloe's rock collection.
2. "This isn't teeny-bopper music, it's Taylor Swift!" My mom, after being teased for liking a seriously annoying song.
3. "It's really kinda dark outside, we need to go to sleep so we don't get sunburned." Josie, sleeptalking while riding to the airport at 4:30 am.
4. "And the crocodiles will be best friends forever and ever." Not sure what this was about - Josie is always talking and imagining to herself - if you stop and eavesdrop you'll hear some pretty funny things.
5. "Mom, I really miss my cousins." J missing the adorable Chloe and darling Georgia girl.

Ben's hero is Tony Rice. You've probably never heard of him, he's not well known outside of Bluegrass, but he is truly amazing. Ben tells the story of a classical guitar lesson long ago when his teacher loaned him a Tony Rice CD. That was when his life was changed. He's never been the same. Obsessed with Tony Rice and Bluegrass. He was able to see him live last week and it turns out Tony loves the military and invited him backstage. Ben was in heaven.
The picture from Ben's phone is hilarious, but it's priceless.

I know I've said this a million times before, but SERIOUSLY! What happened to my baby? She has had such a growth spurt lately. Her favorite little jeans are now above her ankles. She talks like a little adult and says the funniest grown up things. She is so excited to be a big sister and asks me every few days when the baby is going to come out. She tells me she'll help change the baby's diapers, and practices on Elmo. Speaking of diapers, there are none in our house!!! I have tried in vain to make her potty-training fit into my schedule, but that isn't how it happened. We are going to Phoenix this week, and I wanted to wait until after our trip, but last Thursday she decided she did NOT want to wear diapers or pull-ups ever again. "They itch mom!" So that day she went in the potty all day and we even took a trip to Costco and the grocery store where she used the potty as well. We gave her diapers to her little friend and she has been doing so well. I'm seriously amazed and I just realized that I needed to trust that she could do it, instead of assuming it would be horrible and visualizing all the accidents. She is so proud of herself and always lets everyone know, "Hey guys! I just went wee wee!!"
In other big girl news, I took her to the dentist again last week, and I figured they'd just peek into her mouth like they did the first time. Instead, it was little tiny girl meets big person dental appointment - they cleaned her teeth and she laid there so still and opened her mouth so well. When they were done she said to the hygenist, "I think I get a new toothbrush now." They gave her a purple one, and let her pick a fluorescent pink penguin out of their toy drawer, too. Her dentist is by the beach, so we went there after to celebrate.









I'm so used to the growing up happening gradually and hardly being noticeable. This last week was leaps and bounds of it and I'm still trying to soak it in. Next step, big girl bed!!!

We're back! And here's what we did...

1. Ate lots and lots of yummy food

Duh.


Best ice cream ever that we made sure to eat nightly.


Two cute ice creams on a date.



2. We visited some beautiful and interesting places...


Kaiser Wilhelm Kirche - it was completely bombed out in the war, but it was left standing as a memorial, and the new church is right next door.


Brandenburger Tor






Outside the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe - before I went inside and cried my eyes out.


Eastside Gallery - the section of the wall that is still standing 20 years later.




Pergamon Museum is the best ever - This is the original disassembled and reconstructed Gate of Babylon (Ishtar Gate).


Gate to Miletus - an ancient Greek city.


Pergamon Altar - from 2nd century BC greece. It's crazy they have all this indoors!

3. And to get all of these places, we rode the Subway a lot...





We were a little nervous about not sprechening the Deutsch ourselves, but we learned all that we needed to get by: Eine bratwurst bitter (gimme a brat), Eine trinkshokolade mit sahne bitte (I need some of that awesome German hot chocolate), Vo ist die toiletten (I am 5 months pregnant and really need to pee), vo ist die geldautomat (Where is the atm).

A big thanks to Germany for being the best ever. Auf Wiedersehn!

I had a wonderful birthday celebrating with Grandpa, Omie, and Erry before they sent us off on our wild adventure. Kerstin made me an amazing birthday dinner, and she and J baked me the yummiest cake. Josie helped me blow out the candles. About 50 times.





We are so so so lucky and grateful for our wonderful family who were more than happy to manhandle the J-bird for a week so that we could go to Germany and just enjoy each other and not worry about our baby bird.







We missed her so much. We talked to her on the phone every night - hearing the sweetest "I love you mommy" always helped me to fall asleep even though we were so far away. I was worried that she'd be mad or traumatized by us leaving for so long, but she was perfectly happy. We were dying to see her, and she was very happy to see us, but she had a great week playing with her Omie and Aunt Erry.


Sweet reunion. Tonight she said "Dad, come over on the couch and snuggle and watch a movie." We couldn't have been gone from this little snuggle-bug much longer!

Contrary to my own "maternal instinct" and everyone who I run into predicting this baby is a bambino, it's a girl!! We are both so happy and excited - truly, truly, truly. Ben was running victory laps around the exam room. I am so happy for J to have a sister - sisters are such a special blessing. When we explained to Josie she was going to have a baby sister she said "We need to make her a dress!" We can't wait to meet her.