Low Volume

I've lost my voice. This is the second or third time it has happened since I've had kids, and it is really inconvenient! We rely so heavily on verbal communication around here, and our base volume level is usually so high (they didn't call me "Volume" for nothin', folks!) that nobody can even hear me. After I repeat myself for the fifth time, I'll "yell" and the only thing that comes out is a wimpy croak. Hoping to get my voice back soon!! How do those quiet moms do it?

In other news, I'm planning to potty train Chiquitita next week (BTW, I finally took the plunge and potty trained Pip in December--it was SO EASY and done in a few hours, I wondered why I'd waited so long). She wants to do it, and I'd like a few diaper-free months before the next one comes. She even peed in the toilet the other night, and I couldn't adequately show my excitement because I didn't have a voice. Clapping and jumping up and down just isn't the same as whooping with delight in our house.

This was last winter--we never had a big snowfall this year. Squeak asked me to make a Dada and a pregnant Mama snowmen.

This winter has been so good to me. Delightfully mild, and now we're having spring weather! Oh, Detroit, you've surprised us again!

This was one of the less-mild winter days and we went to play at the mall playground. Hard to get them to hold still on the slide!