My girls and their boys

I'd like to borrow a three-and-a-half year-old or four-year-old boy to play with my girls five days a week (okay, maybe three days).  After a couple of really successful play dates where I witnessed my girls having rambunctious fun, I realized that my husband and I coddle them quite a bit, and I love the outrageous play they experience with their boyfriends.

How we coddled them:  We slowed them down on steps and slides.  We followed them to the top of climbers.  We didn't let them run around swinging plastic bats or sticks. 

These are all things they love doing with their boyfriends, and I now let them, and they LOVE it!

Sienna and Aidan goofing around.



Sophie, Sienna, and Joe going for a ride.

 It looks like we're guilty of being a little sexist.  When I told my husband how delightful (meaning they're busy, interested, and not getting into trouble) the play dates are with their slightly older, very physical friends, have been, he admitted to worrying about their safety a bit more since they're little girls.  According to him boys are supposed to get bumped and bruised and his little girls are aren't.  Subconsciously, I guess I had agreed, but not anymore.  Now Sophie and Sienna have the well-deserved scabs on their knees to prove that they can keep up with the big(ger) boys.

Never a bridesmaid

I'm finally going to be a bridesmaid!  I've been invited by my friend Polly to be in her October Virginia wedding.  Polly and I have been friends for many years, and bless her heart (very Southern) she's the epitome of being type-A, and it's serving her well in planning her wedding.  I won't spill the surprise details, but so far everything from the save-the-date to the location (a vineyard in rural Virginia) has been ideal.

Polly and her groom, Theo, both hail from Virginia, and it was love at first sight when they met a little over a year ago in NYC.  Polly had held on to a "Virginia is for lovers" postcard all these years, and they used the design for their save-the-dates.  Polly created a website http://www.pollyandtheo.com/ that tells their story.



Polly's done all her work down to the last detail, but now I have a big decision to make: which dress do I wear? The bride had the good sense to choose bridesmaids dresses from J Crew, and now I get to choose!  She's sent me two dresses that were available in my size.  All the dresses (there are a couple more styles that the other ladies will be wearing) are champagne, so do I go with Bow Monde or Mika?

Bow Monde




Mika



 Feedback would be greatly appreciated.





Potty training

We're doing it!  Dare I say, a bit half-assed, but at least we're trying.  We have potties everywhere, but the only place (other than their diapers) the girls consistently "go" is outside on the lawn, standing straight up, the way all their little boy friends do it!

Our other small successes have come thanks to the Potette Plus (toysrus.com, $14.44) that I bought months ago at the advice of a friend.  It's a portable potty that folds down to fit in my diaper bag, with absorbent baggies that you can toss in the trash.  My girls use it just about everywhere: you can spot them peeing along the side of the trail at Drumlin Farm, in the parking lot at Walgreens, or in the car in the Nordstroms parking garage (below).

It's also come in pretty handy for their mom who always has to "go" and seems to never be near a bathroom.  I should have bought a Potette Plus and a mini van with tinted windows years ago!