So long, diapers

Here the kids are waiting for the Fourth of July parade with my sister Mikel.

Grace has amazed me by being completely potty-learned in about four weeks. At this age, the boys couldn't have cared less if they had wet or dirty diapers. I had a tremendous amount of stress with Garrett, who has always done things as he wants and on his own terms and was not using the potty until age four. Drew was a little easier, but he was three before he decided to give up the diapers. And now, here's Grace, not three until October, and wearing Dora underwear. Even to bed. She is very proud of herself, and we are proud of her.

The downside is I ALWAYS have to go to the bathroom with her, and she has several false alarms throughout the day. She refuses to use any other potty in the world except her little one at home and screams "Don't flush me!" if I put her on a big one somewhere. We are working on that...Also, I will actually miss the cloth diapers. I may never again wash a load of diapers, fold them or sew them or marvel at their cuteness. It's a little bittersweet.

This is a huge milestone in Grace's life. She is a little person now, not a baby. And although I will miss the baby stage of her life, I am looking forward to the person that she is becoming, and enjoying every minute of her growing up.

Speaking of growing up, the other day Garrett was exercising like crazy, jumping rope and running and riding his bike. I told him he was going to be really buff if he kept up like that. He sat in a chair across from me, out of breath. "Yeah," he said nonchalantly. "The girls will like that."

I laughed my ass off. He's only eight! Already he's asking questions about when he will get to use deodorant, or shave his face like daddy does. Funny, but scary. I just want them to stay kids a little longer...Even Drew is growing up so fast. He can read pretty much anything you put in front of him. He played his last game of T-ball for the summer the other night and it was so cute. He is much better than he was last year, even hitting the ball with no tee.

Well, it's warm and sunny and I should get outside and enjoy them while summer is here. Soon we will be back to school.