Running Around in Undies...Elmo Style!

Potty-training has officially begun at the Kramer's! Emily and I ventured out to Target on Thursday to select new underwear (sorry, I don't say "panties"...I grew up with 3 boys) and of course Ems picked out the Elmo and Zoe pack! She was so excited that it was a struggle to get her to stop taking them out of the package. She held them the whole way home in the car.

So we were in full swing yesterday morning and it was difficult at times...I had to clean up some pee pee a few times, but after her nap she started going to the potty like a champ. She thankfully made it through her nap yesterday and all night last night without any accidents. I really couldn't believe it! This morning she went multiple times and even climbed onto the potty by herself. I think the next hurdle will be the poop issue. I am sure it will be a little freaky to do this action into a big white hole when she has pooping in her pants for the past 2 years! I could totally tell that she was feeling the need to poop this morning. So, I waited and waited and still nothing. We'll see how it goes this afternooon. Either she will take on the big scary white hole and get a sucker or Elmo will be needing a serious bath. Either way, I am so very proud of her for being such a big girl! If this whole potty-training in 3 days thing works, I'll let you guys know.

Onto other Kramer happenings, Baby #2 is getting ready to go into his/her 9th week of development (really 7 weeks). I feel very similar to how I did with Emily. I have lost my appetite a bit and certain foods, while not making me actually toss my cookies, really sound gross to me. Although, I told Derek right before we went to bed the other night that I was craving fried chicken. Not just any old fried chicken, but the chicken from my grandma's restaurant in VA. I don't guess I'll be fulfilling that craving any time soon!:) I am seriously considering calling Cracker Barrell for take-out tonight! The other thing that is really strange, keeping in mind that I am pregnant in the completely opposite season, is that I cannot get warm. I feel like I am constantly freezing. Last weekend when Derek and I got home from church, I put on thick velour pants, a long sleeve t-shirt, sweatshirt, and got under 2 blankets and was still cold. Ridiculous!!

Well...the stinker is due to wake up soon and until she retreats for the night, I'll be following her like a magnet to be sure that we really follow through on the potty thing. I never thought I would be so animated about pee and poop...ahhh, a mom's life...it's a beautiful thing!:):) I am thankful for every second of it!

Lots and Lots To Catch Up On!!!!

Yes!! The Kramer's are still alive and blogging! The last couple of months have been CRAZY with activity. There is so much to share with everyone. We really had a wonderful Christmas! We missed family that couldn't be with us for sure, but we enjoyed our time with our little family and thankfully we did get to spend some time with my mom, brother, and sister-in-law. Christmas morning of 2007 will always be VERY memorable for the Kramer's. We had a cozy fire, watched Emily open a few gifts, read the Christmas Story together, and as most of you know by now, I gave Derek some really surprising and wonderful news! Derek's Christmas present will arrive a bit late, hopefully a week or so before August 31, 2008. I know it is a long time to wait but I think the crying, pooping, bundle of joy will be well worth it!!!

So, yes, we are expecting Baby Kramer #2 in August and we are thrilled!! I promised lots of friends that I would never announce this type of news on the blog for the first time, so most of you already know, but for those of you hearing it for the first time...Surprise!!

We had our first appt. last Mon. and everything went very well. It was just as amazing and emotional to see this little one's heartbeat as it was to see Em's. I never get over how miraculous life beginning truly is! God is so amazing!! We are really looking forward to this wonderful new season of our lives. I have already had my freak-out moments when pondering two kiddos instead of one, but I am already dreaming about the face and hands and toes of this little miracle. It seems like so long from now, but I know August will be here before we know it. Emily keeps telling me where the baby is by patting my lower belly and then puts her fingers together to show us how tiny the baby is...too sweet!!

So, besides the baby news, we have had lots of visits with friends from all over. The Moore's from Cali came for a few days and the Baker's drove from Texas. Both families are in seminary and we miss them like crazy. Within a year, both of these dear friends moved across the country and being able to catch up face to face was a huge blessing. It was so fun to catch up with Rebekah and Ginny!! As usual, saying good-bye was so hard, but the laughs that we had while together made it so worth it!

We also got to hang with our great friend Nick, also from Cali, and his girlfriend "That One" according to Emily. For some reason, Em kept calling Nick "Nit" and Steph was "That One." Good thing that Steph has thick skin! It was fun getting to meet Steph and always a blast catching up with Nick.

Another big event, I celebrated my 32nd birthday!...Man I'm getting up there! My friend Nicole organized a birthday lunch with just girlfriends and it was so special to me. I have never had just girlfriends get together for my birthday. It will be a memory that I always cherish. Derek was creative and sweet as usual and gave me a booklet, that he made:), full of a day of the things I love like a massage, a lunch date with a girlfriend, and coffee. Now I just have to find the time to do it! Later that night, we went to dinner with another couple and then Derek surprised me with a very rich chocolate, chocolate cake with strawberries. Overall, my day was such fun and I felt so special!

One last visitor to the Kramer pad was my sweet friend Judy and her hubby Brett. They came in just last weekend and got to be here on Em's 2nd Birthday. They brought her the cutest ROOTS shirt from Canada...of course it was pink with gitter...that was more for me from Judy:) I think Emily actually prefers blue:) We had some time to catch up and unfortunately no time for spades...ahhh, one day...I can only hope!

And...as for little Em's turning the big #2, it was lots of fun. Her buddies came and they all decorated their own cupcakes. All of the kids did such a great job. I was so surprised that there were no major catastrophes or spills! Most of all, it was a fun day with family and friends celebrating the life and miracle of our sweet little Emily Paige!

One last thing to celebrate is the birth of my new nephew, Noah Christopher! I can't wait to get my hands on him. This is what makes being far away from family so difficult...the big moments that you inevitably miss out on! Hopefully I will see him very soon.

That about sums up the last month or so. I am sure that I have left out some stuff, but this post will have to do for now. I need to get some rest because we start potty-training tomorrow!!! Woot! Woot! We'll see how that goes!:) I'll leave you with a couple of pics at the bottom. As usual, when I go forever without a post, I did some major updating to the photo album. Just click on the link to the left of this post for the Kramer Photo Album....oh yeah and there is a video of the munchkin blowing out her candles...pretty funny! You'll see that she had a little help...thanks Gabe!;)


Christmas Night

Derek opening up his "GIFT" from me! hehe!!! I believe he said, "Are you serious?" Emily was absolutely clueless...Derek may injure me for posting this, but I love that I was able to capture the moment he found out!