This parenting gig, it's hard work. I haven't even gotten to the "difficult years" yet, which are supposed be teenage years, and I am already sweating. I am currently stuck in the potty training years, and if I don't wise up and figure this thing out, I could be here FOREVER.
We were gung-ho on the whole potty training thing for a while because The Little Man seemed so interested and was doing so well. Then he got over it. The novelty of it all wore off quickly. Pretty soon he was just using the potty to amuse us, or if he was a little hungry and we weren't doling out the snacks. He's a quick one that little guy. He knew if he used the potty we were pretty much contractually bound to feed him a treat of some sort. Let's just say he's much quicker than his ol' mom, here.
It just dawned on me early this morning, at around 3:00 am, that I should just make The Little Man run around buck naked from the waist down. Oh, sure I have heard of this method before. I'm not that far behind the eight ball. I just could never understand it. Why, oh why, would people allow their children to run around with out their clothing on (from the waist down) and do their business all over the floors? It made no sense to me what-so-ever. Plus, I am not exactly the most gracious and loving mother when I am hunched over on my hands and knees cleaning up some sort of stinky mess out of my carpet.
Which I will look at forever and remember what happened there.
Yea, I know it probably will only happen a few times before they catch on, but what if it happens more than just a few times? Plus, isn't a few times enough? My carpets are OFF WHITE PEOPLE!
Also, I am too busy cleaning my bathrooms 8 and 9 times a day, to add the carpet to the list is just insulting.
However, this morning, very early, I woke up with an epiphany. We are getting our hardwood floors re-done in just a few weeks. At the same time, we are tearing out the carpet in the living area that connects to the kitchen so it will be all lovely and flow-y, like one big room. I was thinking this morning (at a time that I don't normally think, so I think that this must be a sweet little blessing from God) "Why do I care if he makes a big ol' potty mess all over the carpet? That carpet will only be around for 2 more weeks anyways." And well, as unimpressive as that looks now that I have written it out, that my friends is my big epiphany.
From now until the flooring in our home is redone, my sweet boy will be in the buff, from the waist down. If he doesn't get the hang of using the potty on his own, with out Scott or I having to remind him, in the next two weeks, then he isn't ready yet, and we will go back to the pull-up thing, and we will try again at a later date.
If anything, I will get some good laughs seeing that sweet little booty traipsing all over the house.
As well as photographs...which I will use as blackmail...during those really difficult parenting years.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Maybe This Blog Needs to Get Dressed?
This blawg O' mine is pretty bland. I know, I know, it's all about the writing, right? Well, just in case it's not, I have a solution!
Just. In. Case.
Jenny, at Pink Armchair Designs, designs blogs, and well, she totally ROCKS at it. I was turned on to her after a friend had her blog made over. I have been thinking about getting mine re-vamped over and over, and then it was like a sign...
She's giving one away for FREE for you and a friend!!! That sounds just about perfect!
So go check her out and try to win one! Just know that I think I may be the winner, so it might be pointless for you to even try.
Yup, on second thought, you just keep your entry to yourself.
But definitely head over there and take a look-see you'll be hooked and have to have one.
Just. In. Case.
Jenny, at Pink Armchair Designs, designs blogs, and well, she totally ROCKS at it. I was turned on to her after a friend had her blog made over. I have been thinking about getting mine re-vamped over and over, and then it was like a sign...
She's giving one away for FREE for you and a friend!!! That sounds just about perfect!
So go check her out and try to win one! Just know that I think I may be the winner, so it might be pointless for you to even try.
Yup, on second thought, you just keep your entry to yourself.
But definitely head over there and take a look-see you'll be hooked and have to have one.
Monday, June 9, 2008
The Ceiling Fans Aren't the Only Things Spinning
Even though it is June, we still haven't had many days that have been hot enough (and for several days in a row) that would necessitate running a ceiling fan. Generally, as a rule of thumb, our ceiling fans turn on around the end of May and stay on until mid-September.
(Don't even get me started on the weather right now. Although today was nice, it was the first day in about 4 days that you could be out with out a jacket on.)
(As you all know, I have strong feelings about what makes summer a happy place, and the coolish weather isn't one of those things)
(This could be a whole other blog in itself).
So it's June, and this June will be our fourth June in our house. Four summers. Four times to really get to know what rooms feel like at different times of the day, how hot they get, and how long they retain the heat. Thankfully, the majority of the living space in our home is in the North facing rooms. There are two rooms though, Scott's office and Paxton's bedroom, that have windows facing South. You don't have to be a genius to realize that what I am trying to say is that those rooms COOK. Add that to the fact that Scott also has 2 computers running as well as a printer, and his office is like a pressure cooker.
There have been times I have come to ask him something, opened the door and was practically knocked over by the heat, the smell of sweat, a little steam (think steam room), and a hubby that looks like he is on the verge of death because he is on a conference call and needs the door and window shut in order to keep the call quiet.
The only thing I have to say about that is; the call is going to get really quiet when hubby passes out and dies.
Still, no ceiling fan. In either rooms.
Today, Scott said to me, "This year, I am going to get a ceiling fan installed in both my office and Pax's bedroom." Since I have heard this line for 3 summers in a row, I am not too overly confident that this plan will come to fruition.
So off to the home improvement stores we go to look at ceiling fans. We've done this every year for THREE YEARS. This year was no different, we left empty handed with a promise to come back later in the week to pick up the one we want and get all the supplies needed to install.
Then it will be too hot to be in the attic.
Then it will be fall and we won't need one.
And we will come full circle once again.
For Pax's sake, I hope we go back and get the fan latter in the week. That poor little dude doesn't deserve this type of torture. He's even said he thinks he's getting a fan for his room as a reward for being a big boy and using the potty.
Plus, the kids can hardly wait to go back to the stores so they can go to "time out".
I sent The Girl to Time Out at one of the stores tonight just shortly before she and the Little Man nearly tore apart the entire ceiling fan display. I placed her on the only thing I could find where she would be somewhat secluded and wouldn't complain about being uncomfortable while she sat there until we left. She was on the bottom shelf in the ceiling fan aisle between two lovely 52 inch models.
Apparently, that is great fun because when we went to the next store they both asked if they could get sent to Time Out there too. When I said if they weren't behaving, I would make sure they had a Time Out they both looked at each other and said, "YES!"
My parenting skills are supreme.
So you see, we actually might have to go back and get a ceiling fan. Little Man is expecting his reward for turning into a big boy, and both kids can hardly wait to go back to Time Out.
This could be our year!
(Don't even get me started on the weather right now. Although today was nice, it was the first day in about 4 days that you could be out with out a jacket on.)
(As you all know, I have strong feelings about what makes summer a happy place, and the coolish weather isn't one of those things)
(This could be a whole other blog in itself).
So it's June, and this June will be our fourth June in our house. Four summers. Four times to really get to know what rooms feel like at different times of the day, how hot they get, and how long they retain the heat. Thankfully, the majority of the living space in our home is in the North facing rooms. There are two rooms though, Scott's office and Paxton's bedroom, that have windows facing South. You don't have to be a genius to realize that what I am trying to say is that those rooms COOK. Add that to the fact that Scott also has 2 computers running as well as a printer, and his office is like a pressure cooker.
There have been times I have come to ask him something, opened the door and was practically knocked over by the heat, the smell of sweat, a little steam (think steam room), and a hubby that looks like he is on the verge of death because he is on a conference call and needs the door and window shut in order to keep the call quiet.
The only thing I have to say about that is; the call is going to get really quiet when hubby passes out and dies.
Still, no ceiling fan. In either rooms.
Today, Scott said to me, "This year, I am going to get a ceiling fan installed in both my office and Pax's bedroom." Since I have heard this line for 3 summers in a row, I am not too overly confident that this plan will come to fruition.
So off to the home improvement stores we go to look at ceiling fans. We've done this every year for THREE YEARS. This year was no different, we left empty handed with a promise to come back later in the week to pick up the one we want and get all the supplies needed to install.
Then it will be too hot to be in the attic.
Then it will be fall and we won't need one.
And we will come full circle once again.
For Pax's sake, I hope we go back and get the fan latter in the week. That poor little dude doesn't deserve this type of torture. He's even said he thinks he's getting a fan for his room as a reward for being a big boy and using the potty.
Plus, the kids can hardly wait to go back to the stores so they can go to "time out".
I sent The Girl to Time Out at one of the stores tonight just shortly before she and the Little Man nearly tore apart the entire ceiling fan display. I placed her on the only thing I could find where she would be somewhat secluded and wouldn't complain about being uncomfortable while she sat there until we left. She was on the bottom shelf in the ceiling fan aisle between two lovely 52 inch models.
Apparently, that is great fun because when we went to the next store they both asked if they could get sent to Time Out there too. When I said if they weren't behaving, I would make sure they had a Time Out they both looked at each other and said, "YES!"
My parenting skills are supreme.
So you see, we actually might have to go back and get a ceiling fan. Little Man is expecting his reward for turning into a big boy, and both kids can hardly wait to go back to Time Out.
This could be our year!
Saturday, June 7, 2008
The Mall. It's Not Just for Shopping
The Little Man has been surprising us lately with his fascination with music. Constantly he is in song. He sings the ABC's, The Itsy Bitsy Spider, Rain, Rain Go Away (I don't know the name of that song), some Bumble Bee song, another song I don't know the name of that has "Down Down Baby, Down by the Roller Coaster..." in it, and then sometimes he sings just about what he is looking at, doing, or feeling at that particular moment. It's all fun and happy.
In addition to singing, he also has a few new dance moves he breaks out when the rhythm catches him just right. Sometimes, the song is on the radio we have playing in the house, or in the car. Other times, a song comes on TV that catches his fancy and he'll start jammin' out in the living room. Even in the playroom at times he'll turn on a toy that makes music and practice his latest moves. He reserved the best moves for tonight, though, as we walked the mall after dinner.
He and The Girl were running out ahead of us in the mall. Since we had eaten too much at dinner and were tired from a day filled with nothing, Scott and I just let them go. Lanie loves to play the game "Step on a Crack and Break your Momma's Back" just about everywhere we go. If there are lines in the carpet/tiles or cracks in the cement she's got just what she needs to keep herself busy. Tonight, there was a line of different colored tiles about every 10-15 feet or so. Just to up the ante, she wanted to be running THEN jump over what she was calling the "Hot Lava".
Pax was in on that action. Of course, he always took a few steps in the lava before making in over, or he jumped and landed in the lava with just a few steps left. Either way, had it been real lava, our boy never made it past the first test. He didn't care. In his mind's eye, he made it across every time with room to spare.
As our children raced further and further in front of us, bounding across deep rivers of molten rock, they giggled and cheered as they continued their success down the mall. Up until now, many of the stores we had passed were very quiet boutique types or furniture/decor stores. Then we got to the Abercrombie & Fitch store.
Pax stopped dead in his tracks, right in the middle of a river of lava. I thought it was the overpowering scent of cologne that made him lose his breath, but I was wrong. It was the music. The beat was too enticing and The Little Man was weak to it's power. He turned from Indiana Jones to a junior Michael Jackson (think Thriller days, not anything recent) right in front of our eyes. Lanie wasn't too far behind with the dance moves.
All the lava in the world couldn't stop my two from getting their groove on at the mall. After about 20 seconds they were off again jumping the mighty rivers of Mall Lava. From that point on, there were about 3 more stores that offered very loud music pouring from their doors.
We got a performance each time.
I've never been to the mall, not bought anything, yet felt so happy when I left.
In addition to singing, he also has a few new dance moves he breaks out when the rhythm catches him just right. Sometimes, the song is on the radio we have playing in the house, or in the car. Other times, a song comes on TV that catches his fancy and he'll start jammin' out in the living room. Even in the playroom at times he'll turn on a toy that makes music and practice his latest moves. He reserved the best moves for tonight, though, as we walked the mall after dinner.
He and The Girl were running out ahead of us in the mall. Since we had eaten too much at dinner and were tired from a day filled with nothing, Scott and I just let them go. Lanie loves to play the game "Step on a Crack and Break your Momma's Back" just about everywhere we go. If there are lines in the carpet/tiles or cracks in the cement she's got just what she needs to keep herself busy. Tonight, there was a line of different colored tiles about every 10-15 feet or so. Just to up the ante, she wanted to be running THEN jump over what she was calling the "Hot Lava".
Pax was in on that action. Of course, he always took a few steps in the lava before making in over, or he jumped and landed in the lava with just a few steps left. Either way, had it been real lava, our boy never made it past the first test. He didn't care. In his mind's eye, he made it across every time with room to spare.
As our children raced further and further in front of us, bounding across deep rivers of molten rock, they giggled and cheered as they continued their success down the mall. Up until now, many of the stores we had passed were very quiet boutique types or furniture/decor stores. Then we got to the Abercrombie & Fitch store.
Pax stopped dead in his tracks, right in the middle of a river of lava. I thought it was the overpowering scent of cologne that made him lose his breath, but I was wrong. It was the music. The beat was too enticing and The Little Man was weak to it's power. He turned from Indiana Jones to a junior Michael Jackson (think Thriller days, not anything recent) right in front of our eyes. Lanie wasn't too far behind with the dance moves.
All the lava in the world couldn't stop my two from getting their groove on at the mall. After about 20 seconds they were off again jumping the mighty rivers of Mall Lava. From that point on, there were about 3 more stores that offered very loud music pouring from their doors.
We got a performance each time.
I've never been to the mall, not bought anything, yet felt so happy when I left.
Friday, June 6, 2008
And I Feel Justified Because the Carrots make it Healthy
I fell in love last night. It was a wild and passionate, but short lived affair. Much too short. I think it may have changed my life.
I had a Carrot Cake Sundae from Maggie Moo's Ice Cream and Treatery last night. I tried to find a picture of it for you, but even though it said at the store it was a new flavor, it is just listed under regular old flavors on the online menu. This only means that they have been holding me back from my true love for who knows how long.
It's like a scene from Romeo and Juliet...the food version...
Initially, we had gone to Maggie Moo's to order Little Man's birthday cake. Although Maggie Moo's is a bit inconvenient as far as location is concerned, the owner there (as well as some teenage workers) goes above and beyond the call of duty in servicing people with food allergies. And, well, that is right up my alley and gets a gold star in my book. Anything that helps The Girl love and enjoy desserts as much as the rest of the family, without making her feel different from everyone else, makes me happy. So that's why I chose to drive out of my way to get a cake from this particular ice cream and treatery.
When I saw the poster/sticker thingy on the ice cream case that said "Carrot Cake Ice Cream Sundae", well to say I was captivated is an understatement. I LOVE me some carrot cake. The cream cheese frosting alone can be a dessert.
The sundae is made from carrot cake flavored ice cream. The ice cream by itself is to die for as it tastes like the cake and the frosting all mixed together with a slightly batter-like flavor. You know, like if you were eating it before it was cooked. Then just to take it up a notch, you add in walnuts and caramel sauce. The sundae board also suggested graham cracker crumbs, but I am not a fan of graham crackers so I skipped that, although, I am sure it would make a wonderful addition for most.
I got a kid size scoop, because I am all about restraint. Also, I was only going to eat a few large spoonfuls then save the rest for a rainy day surprise.
Then I looked down at the bowl and it was gone.
Apparently, when you get a kid sized scoop, a few large spoonfuls are all you get.
There may have been a few smaller size bites in between.
It was hard to keep track because all the blood had left my brain and was working very hard in my taste bud and stomach areas.
Thank goodness that place is far away from me....Although, I do have to go back to pick up the birthday cake.
I had a Carrot Cake Sundae from Maggie Moo's Ice Cream and Treatery last night. I tried to find a picture of it for you, but even though it said at the store it was a new flavor, it is just listed under regular old flavors on the online menu. This only means that they have been holding me back from my true love for who knows how long.
It's like a scene from Romeo and Juliet...the food version...
Initially, we had gone to Maggie Moo's to order Little Man's birthday cake. Although Maggie Moo's is a bit inconvenient as far as location is concerned, the owner there (as well as some teenage workers) goes above and beyond the call of duty in servicing people with food allergies. And, well, that is right up my alley and gets a gold star in my book. Anything that helps The Girl love and enjoy desserts as much as the rest of the family, without making her feel different from everyone else, makes me happy. So that's why I chose to drive out of my way to get a cake from this particular ice cream and treatery.
When I saw the poster/sticker thingy on the ice cream case that said "Carrot Cake Ice Cream Sundae", well to say I was captivated is an understatement. I LOVE me some carrot cake. The cream cheese frosting alone can be a dessert.
The sundae is made from carrot cake flavored ice cream. The ice cream by itself is to die for as it tastes like the cake and the frosting all mixed together with a slightly batter-like flavor. You know, like if you were eating it before it was cooked. Then just to take it up a notch, you add in walnuts and caramel sauce. The sundae board also suggested graham cracker crumbs, but I am not a fan of graham crackers so I skipped that, although, I am sure it would make a wonderful addition for most.
I got a kid size scoop, because I am all about restraint. Also, I was only going to eat a few large spoonfuls then save the rest for a rainy day surprise.
Then I looked down at the bowl and it was gone.
Apparently, when you get a kid sized scoop, a few large spoonfuls are all you get.
There may have been a few smaller size bites in between.
It was hard to keep track because all the blood had left my brain and was working very hard in my taste bud and stomach areas.
Thank goodness that place is far away from me....Although, I do have to go back to pick up the birthday cake.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Jack Hanna's Wild World of Animals...or Something Close
It's no secret that Delanie and I are Science nerds. We just love to take in the world around us and then try to figure it out. We like to observe, come up with crazy ideas, make things work, and be apart of processes. Imagine our excitement when we went to the mail box yesterday and our next project had arrived via the USPS.
Meet Chasey, Lacey, Blossom, George, and Happy:
Don't you just love their names? Delanie waited a whole 12 hours before she couldn't resist giving each one a name. Because my girl, although she is very scientific, she is also super nurturing, and she pretty much adopts all living things as her children. What kind of mother would she be if each creature she came across didn't have a name, a family, and a whole little story to go along with them? Except for spiders...she quickly squishes those, and asks questions later. I have to say, it's a process I totally appreciate.
Oh yea....The caterpillars...
These little caterpillars will keep us captivated for the next 3 weeks. We get to watch them live as caterpillars, transform into chrysalids, wait until they hatch from their pupas, watch them emerge, see them spread their new wings, and then release them out into the world.
It is one of the coolest things I have witnessed. We've done it another time before, and I was in just as much awe as Delanie was at the time. Even though she was a tender 3 years old, she remembers it just like it was yesterday.
I knew right away that I wanted to do it again with the kids, but I wanted to wait until Pax could watch and appreciate it just as much as Delanie and I. After we opened the box and showed him what was inside, I realized that it very well could be an entire lifetime before he would enjoy this process as much as Delanie and I.
That's OK. We're good at forcing our excitement onto others. Before he knows it, he too will be in love with these little critters.
I just hope I can keep him from forcefully shaking the container before they complete their transformation. I keep getting visions of Darla from Finding Nemo flashing into my head.
We'll be keeping these guys strategically out of reach from the Little Man.
Meet Chasey, Lacey, Blossom, George, and Happy:
Don't you just love their names? Delanie waited a whole 12 hours before she couldn't resist giving each one a name. Because my girl, although she is very scientific, she is also super nurturing, and she pretty much adopts all living things as her children. What kind of mother would she be if each creature she came across didn't have a name, a family, and a whole little story to go along with them? Except for spiders...she quickly squishes those, and asks questions later. I have to say, it's a process I totally appreciate.
Oh yea....The caterpillars...
These little caterpillars will keep us captivated for the next 3 weeks. We get to watch them live as caterpillars, transform into chrysalids, wait until they hatch from their pupas, watch them emerge, see them spread their new wings, and then release them out into the world.
It is one of the coolest things I have witnessed. We've done it another time before, and I was in just as much awe as Delanie was at the time. Even though she was a tender 3 years old, she remembers it just like it was yesterday.
I knew right away that I wanted to do it again with the kids, but I wanted to wait until Pax could watch and appreciate it just as much as Delanie and I. After we opened the box and showed him what was inside, I realized that it very well could be an entire lifetime before he would enjoy this process as much as Delanie and I.
That's OK. We're good at forcing our excitement onto others. Before he knows it, he too will be in love with these little critters.
I just hope I can keep him from forcefully shaking the container before they complete their transformation. I keep getting visions of Darla from Finding Nemo flashing into my head.
We'll be keeping these guys strategically out of reach from the Little Man.
Monday, June 2, 2008
We've Been Busy with a Whole Lot of Nothing
When I was thinking tonight, about what I wanted to blog about, nothing came to mind. We've just been living life. Nothing exciting, scary, sad, or funny. We've been happily doing nothing.
Don't get me wrong, we've done many things over the last few days, but somehow it feels like we've done nothing. We've loved being at the pool a few times (not so much love for the painful sunburn I received out of pure pride), playing with our cousins, eating out, eating outside, swinging on the swings, riding our bikes, shopping, planning a birthday party, and trying to decorate a new big boy room. How can all of that be nothing?
It's felt like nothing because we've been able to do it without a time line. I am in no rush to get anything done. There are no activities to rush to. I am not trying to fit a grocery jaunt in between drop off and pick up at school. There is nothing on the calendar except for what we decide to be on the calendar that morning. This is the beauty of summer for me. No rules, no schedules, no time. Day by day living. It's a break from the rest of the year.
I wish we could live like this forever, which is probably why I yearn for this time of year every year. I suppose if it was like this all the time we would get bored and be looking for something to fill our days with, but for now, for a few short weeks before swim lessons start and sports camps begin, I am going to enjoy staying busy with nothing to do.
Don't get me wrong, we've done many things over the last few days, but somehow it feels like we've done nothing. We've loved being at the pool a few times (not so much love for the painful sunburn I received out of pure pride), playing with our cousins, eating out, eating outside, swinging on the swings, riding our bikes, shopping, planning a birthday party, and trying to decorate a new big boy room. How can all of that be nothing?
It's felt like nothing because we've been able to do it without a time line. I am in no rush to get anything done. There are no activities to rush to. I am not trying to fit a grocery jaunt in between drop off and pick up at school. There is nothing on the calendar except for what we decide to be on the calendar that morning. This is the beauty of summer for me. No rules, no schedules, no time. Day by day living. It's a break from the rest of the year.
I wish we could live like this forever, which is probably why I yearn for this time of year every year. I suppose if it was like this all the time we would get bored and be looking for something to fill our days with, but for now, for a few short weeks before swim lessons start and sports camps begin, I am going to enjoy staying busy with nothing to do.
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