I've been saving this one for a while

I found this a while ago, and have been saving it for Easter. Its close enough!



That's just funny, people!

The Toileting Habits of Cows: A Documentary

I'm serious when I say that this went on for 30 minutes or more!

Apparently, cows have to go a lot!

That's no Baby Ruth!

Last night, I had just taken Charlotte out of the bathtub and was dressing her while Garrett was still playing. He was "swimming" on his belly when I saw it! The boy who has not been able to poo poo in the potty yet, seems to have a knack for doing it in the bathtub. It felt a lot like this (minus the "its no big deal" part!):

Yes, we scrambled just like they did. I even took pictures, but I'll spare you!

Diary of a potty-training white boy

Monday

6:00am: My mom says that today I'm a big boy and will start pee peeing in the potty. Apparently, I should keep my Lightening McQueen underwear "dry", whatever that means. So, here I sit on the potty--for 20 minutes. Nothing happens.

6:10: I'm watching my favorite movie, Dinosaur, when it happens! Suddenly, my Lightening McQueen underwear are wet and there is pee running down my legs and onto the carpet. I yell, "Wet, Wet," (OK, so I get that part now). Its really sort of funny the way my mom runs when I yell that! She starts taking my clothes off and scrubbing the floor. Its great! I'll try this again later! I even get a different pair of cool underwear!

6:45: On the potty again, nothing happens but a lot of "make the pee pee come out" comments.

7:00: (Watch this...) "Wet, wet!" Here she comes running again--more cool underwear! Mom seems very frustrated right now; maybe I should cool it on this peeing in my pants thing.

Thirty minute increments all day involve sitting on the potty!

9:00: Success! I peed in the potty, and I got Skittles! This is a pretty good deal!

9:30: Didn't quite make it--got a little on my underwear; got a new pair though!

10:00: More sitting

11:00: More sitting, but this time, I peed again! I'm getting the hang of this!

No more accidents for the rest of the day! It was a lot of hard work, but I got a lot of Skittles for it! In all, I pee peed in the potty 7 times. No poo poo yet! Once, I even went in the bathroom all by myself and pulled my underwear down and peed! I didn't even need help!

Tuesday:
Similar to yesterday, only a few accidents. I pooped in my big boy underwear and that involved many comments of "gross," "stinky," and something about not doing that anymore...I'm not sure. I just liked to watch it go down the toilet when I flushed it! I had a dry pull-up at naptime, too! Since I really like Skittles, I though I could pull a fast one on my mom. I sat on the potty and tooted and said, "I pooped! Skittles?" Mom wasn't convinced--got no Skittles for that one.

Wednesday:
Dry pull-up this morning, and only 1 accident in my big boy underwear! As of yet, there is no poo poo, but mom makes me sit on the potty a long time after I eat. I mainly just like the attention I get during the whole charade! My sister has to play by herself or sit in the pack 'n' play while I get Skittles, read books, and get hugs when I pee! Good deal, huh? I think my mom is getting stir-crazy, though. We haven't left the house in days! Maybe if I keep remembering to pee in the potty we can go buy some groceries--I'm so sick of frozen vegetables!

Remodeling in the Making 2

Last week I told you about our kitchen remodeling project--the saga continues...

You know how I insulted the plumbing supply store guy in Nashville when I went to pick up our range hood? Well, this weekend when we were about to install it, we remembered the over-the-stove microwave that Randy's company removed from their model 2 years ago was still in our basement. We had the great idea that it would work in place of the range hood (which also means that we must return the range hood to the Pipe Fitters Association of America's proudest member!) So another project began. This one involved removing the cabinet above our range, and moving it UP 6 inches!

Folks, I'm not sure, but I think he wants to beat me with this board right now!

But, here you go! The semi-finished project that will require a few more touch-ups before its completed, but nonetheless beautiful!

Stay tuned. Word has it that my tile backsplash will be going in this Thursday (but that's what they have said for the last 2 Thursdays, so don't hold your breath!)

I resolve to be thankful today

I am thankful for:

• a washing machine
• 10+ pairs of big boy underwear
• a second child that is content to play alone
• Resolve
• baby wipes
• bath tubs
• tile flooring in the bathroom
• hand soap
• a God who specializes in patience

Remodel in the Making

Most of you know that I live in this great old house off the town square (circa 1900). I use the word "great" loosely! There are certain things that I absolutely love about this house---the original hardwood floors, huge ceilings, pocket doors, huge dining room; and there are things that make me want to lash out irrationally on a daily basis: tiny out-of-date bathrooms, out-of-date kitchen, TINY master bedroom, bedroom #3 has no closet.....I could go on.

Well, thanks to Uncle Sam, we recently got our tax return back and devoted a big chunk to the kitchen remodel. That includes new countertops, new stovetop, new stove vent, a backsplash, new knobs, new sink and new faucet fixtures! I am in heaven!!! Since moving in, Randy has painted the cabinets white and we've added a black fridge (thanks to my folks who upgraded to stainless steel!) On top of that, Randy has some good connections to lower our costs on the rest.

So, here is some of the construction underway:

Here are the new countertops and SMOOTH cook-top!

And the new sink and faucet! We are still waiting for the tile backsplash to go in (you know those constructions guys--they are never there when they say they will be!), and Randy will be installing my hood-vent thingy this weekend (hint, hint!). We were also blessed to have been given a counter/cabinet/sink/faucet combo dealy for our guest bathroom that we will install later (as soon as we can get rid of our 1970s tile wall and floor) and a pedestal sink for the TINY master bath (which will make it feel much larger).


I am so excited about these projects that have been mulling around in my mind for some time. You can come check it out soon...I'll let you know when its all done! My goal is for Charlotte's birthday party, May 30, so save the date!!!

1.) Open mouth. 2.) Insert Foot.

I went to north Nashville yesterday to pick up a hood vent to go over our new stove for our kitchen remodeling project (again, more on that later). Randy is blessed to be in an industry that has certain perks when it comes to getting discounts on things like appliances, countertops and such. That is why I had to drive so far to pick it up.

When someone is doing you a favor, you want to be really nice to them and let them know how much you appreciate what they have done by saying nice things, dressing your kids nicely, and reminding said kids to use their good manners before you go in the door. No one remembered to remind ME to say nice things and use my good manners this day!

The man I talked to was being nice to Garrett and making conversation while we waited on our parts. He said, "Are you a future member of the Pipe Fitters Association of America?" (We were at a plumbing supply store of sorts) Of course, Garrett had no idea what this man was talking about so I chimed in with this zinger: "No, sir. He is going to go to college when he gets bigger!" in my most proud mommy voice. To which the kind man replied, "Well, I went to college and got a degree too; guess what I am?"

You guessed it.....

A member of the Pipe Fitters Association of America!

Photography School Addendum

My good neighbors saw me taking pictures of my kiddos in my scanty daffodil patch yesterday and offered their own 'field 'o daffodils' to take pictures in. I know....you've already seen all you care to see, but these are really cute too, and I just have to post them!

And you know me, I've gotta get crafty!

For you photo folks out there, these were shot on the aperature priority at an ISO of 200. My f-stop was very low (about 3.5). I also used a fill flash.

Photography School

I know you think I have dropped off the planet, but I assure you I am still here. I've just been wading through my own stomach bug, Garrett's stomach bug (which continues) and a visit from my Mama. Not to mention, a kitchen remodel in the works (more on that later).

So, my friend E.A. and I have been taking some photography classes together recently. My head was spinning last week with ISO, aperature, shutter speed, depth of field, f-stops...I've decided that photography is art for scientists! Anyway, with the nice weather we've had, I decided to try out some of my new-found knowledge. Here we go:

These photos were taken using my aperature priority mode with a very low ISO. Notice the blurry background which nicely focuses on the subject.

This photo was taken using my macro setting with an ISO of 200. Who doesn't love little baby toes in the grass?

This photo, again, was taken using my aperature priority at an ISO of 200.

I liked this one so much that it quickly became this: