Q and I have been a little lazy with the whole potty-training thing, but we recently decided to make a last-minute push (no pun intended) before the new baby arrives. After a couple of promising attempts, Zoe went the entire day without diapers or accidents yesterday. And when she woke up this morning, the first thing she said to me was, “I’m wet. Will you change me, Mommy?” (The first thing she normally asks for is milk.) It feels like this is the beginning of the end of the diaper era, and I’m pretty excited about it – but not for the reasons you might think. My happiness has less to do with the hassle of changing her (which, after 2.5 years, I’m used to) and more to do with the pride I see on Zoe’s face every time she does her “big girl” thing. She gets so excited when we praise her, and you can tell she feels good about pleasing us. (She also, in turn, likes to cheer us on: over the weekend, she started clapping when she saw me going to the bathroom. “Good job, Mommy!”)

I know we’ve got some more work to do, and there’s a (good) chance Zoe will regress when the baby arrives. But for now: I’m a pretty proud mama.

-M

Yesterday morning the three of us took a Wonderbug Adventures class at Stern Grove, just down the street. The theme was caterpillars and butterflies, and Zoe learned all about cocoons and metamorphosis, danced around like a butterfly and went on a little nature hike. (Illustrating just what an urban kid she is, Zoe wondered aloud whether we would see any “choo-choos” – i.e. street-cars – in the woods.) Though we didn’t spot any real butterflies (too chilly for them to be out, I guess), Zoe did get nice and close to a banana slug. Her assessment of him? “He’s wet. He needs a bath.”

-M