tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43587264790735351502024-03-05T19:34:11.881-07:00Flei PaperAmi • Adam • CalebAmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00880759209065460946noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4358726479073535150.post-50727781628820425482013-02-08T23:18:00.002-07:002013-02-08T23:19:27.321-07:00We are pregnant!In case you missed the news on FB: Caleb is going to be a big brother!! I'm due Aug 21. We had the 12 week screening ultrasound today and things looked GREAT! Super duper cute! Here's some pics and ALL the videos!<br />
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I love this one b/c you can see the long line of the spine and the long legs bent at the knee!<br />
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Waving the little arm over the head!<br />
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Cute little foot and toes! Caught mid kick!</div>
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And a whole bunch of short videos from the ultrasound! I love the video b/c I think its easier to see whats what when its in motion instead of a random image freeze. </div>
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<span id="goog_1782642513"></span><span id="goog_1782642514"></span><br />Amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00880759209065460946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4358726479073535150.post-50119058437018037902012-11-05T18:09:00.002-07:002012-11-05T18:09:45.706-07:00Potty Training - FinaleJust for the record: Shameless bribery works.<br />
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2 M&Ms for trying to potty. 4 M&M's for Number 1. 6 M&Ms for Number 2.<br />
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Keep underwear on him at all times (except for nap time and bed time) no matter where you're going and he has to try before you leave the house and take M&Ms with you so you can reward him for trying when ever you're out and about. He has to try every hour on the hour. If he doesn't go on the hour wait 30 mins, try again. After 30, if nothing happens, try every 20 until it happens to avoid accidents.<br />
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It was intensive at first and we did a lot of extra laundry but ya know what its worked beautifully (*knock on wood!!!*) and he is doing GREAT.<br />
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Our next road trip we're gonna keep him in underwear and maybe just line his carseat w/ a puppy pad type something JUST IN CASE so we don't back track him when we travel.<br />
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<br />Amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00880759209065460946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4358726479073535150.post-80042880208043922032012-10-13T15:48:00.000-07:002012-10-13T18:31:12.889-07:00Potty Training: The Saga ContinuesSo things were not.... going so well.<br />
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The 3 day, naked bottom thing initially worked very well and he definitely got the concept but trying to transition to underwear wearing was just.... failing. If I put something on his bottom he went it in it. This wasn't helped by the fact I put him in a pull up any time we left the house (which he treated like a diaper) and he also refused to use the big potty at all (even with a seat adapter).<br />
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So basically he was perfectly potty trained as long as we were at home and he was naked from the waist down (not including naps and bedtime). *sigh*<br />
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And this was the status for months b/c I'd try underwear and he'd go through 5 pairs in a day and while he doesn't object to wearing a wet diaper, Caleb STRENUOUSLY objects to wearing wet underwear (not that I can blame him) and he associated the underwear w/ being uncomfortable so he'd scream and cry if I tried to put it on him.<br />
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Then in August I went to visit my family in Texas for 2 weeks and between the 2 day road trip and then I forgot the potty chair at home and he refused to use the big potty at my Mom's house and at my sisters house I was afraid to let him run around naked on her nice carpet in case he had an accident and so he spent the two weeks in diapers.<br />
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Then we got back home and Caleb just plain didn't want to use the potty. He'd yell if we tried to make him go and while I can work with that what I couldn't work with was the fact he started holding it ALL DAY until either nap time or bed time (when he'd get a diaper put on him), unless he had an accident which was just oh so fun to clean up and I was scared to death that he would get a bladder infection or something. *head desk*<br />
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So we decided to just back off for a while. So for the last almost 2 months we just went back to diapers full time.<br />
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And then last Tues Caleb got up from his nap, we were out of pull ups anyways and the one he wore for nap time had overflowed w/ poopie that got on the rug in his bedroom and he'd tried to clean it up himself w/ wipes (so I had poopie wipes all over the floor and the poop was now ground into the carpet *vomit in my mouth a bit remembering that*). And I decided it was high time he started using the potty again.<br />
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And this time he's ONLY using THE BIG POTTY (with the adaptor seat) and he's wearing underwear full time. I don't want any more crappy transitions I have to deal with. And I'm shamelessly bribing him.<br />
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He did NOT want to wear the underwear at first or use the potty but I was able to sweet talk him into the underwear after bribing him to pee in the potty by telling him he'd get M&Ms if he did it. Yes I'm going to bad Mommy hell for bribery but if you wanna come change poopie diapers until he's 18 you can be my guest.<br />
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So we started w/ 3 M&Ms for a pee pee and 5 M&Ms for a poopie. And I've been hauling him in there every hour. If he doesn't go then we do 30 mins, then every 15 until he does. He got a little frustrated with his play time being interrupted (and had a couple accidents b/c when he's busy he doesn't want to move). So we've changed his reward schedule. He now gets 2 M&Ms just for trying to go potty (he will now happily jump up and run in there every time, no complaints), 4 for pee and 6 for poop.<br />
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He's doing much better. He pulls down his pants all by himself and likes to wash his hands.<br />
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We tried doing underwear for nap time and explaining that he could come out of his room if he needed to go. I don't know if he didn't understand or just doesn't have control when he sleeps yet (his diaper is NEVER dry in the morning), but yeah that was a BIG mess a couple days in row so now we just do diapers for nap and bed time.<br />
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He still hasn't got poop in the big potty. He saves that for the diaper, but at least he's going pee in the potty several times a day and wearing underwear and those are big steps for him. So we will see how that goes. I'm not sure how church is going to go tomorrow. Its 3 hours long and in the middle of nap time (so I usually have to change a stinky in the middle of church) so I don't think I'm brave enough to put him in pants but we'll see. I think we'll keep bribing and then this week start taking him on short outings from the house wearing underwear and see how it goes.<br />
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Wish us luck. I'm praying hard we can get this to work this time. He's 3.5 now. He can hold it for HOURS so I know he has the control. He just needs to learn to recognize and respond to the signs.... Or be willing to do so. I really want to be able to keep him in underwear when we leave the house. I think that was the downfall of our last try.<br />
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<br />Amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00880759209065460946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4358726479073535150.post-30305007443693140952012-06-14T13:03:00.001-07:002012-06-14T13:03:59.979-07:00Potty TrainingWarning: If the title of this post wasn't enough - I'm discussing potty training. If you're not a parent and don't wanna be scarred w/ this I understand if you skip this post.<br />
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So we've been working on potty training for a couple months now and as long as we are at home with Caleb naked from the waist down, he is perfectly potty trained. Its been a month or so since I last tried to put underwear on him but it was just an unabashed failure (FIVE pairs of underwear in ONE day) that I've been scared to try it since. But eventually its gonna have to happen and I'm gonna have to bite the bullet and be prepared for the mess.<br />
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BUT my favorite part for right now is when Caleb randomly bolts up from whatever he's doing, grabs his little butt cheeks with both hands and RUNS to the bathroom while shouting, "Go Potty! Go Potty!" over and over all the way in there. And then once he sits down on his little toilet he starts hollering for me to come turn the light on and close the door for him.<br />
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Normally I'm not allowed to turn lights on and off ("No! Me do it!") but if he's on the can its my job. Then I'm supposed to close the door and go away until he's finished at which point he'll start calling for me down the hall. "Mooooooooom! Mommmmm! All done!"<br />
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Then I come back, he opens the toilet, I dump, he flushes. Then its time for the washing of the hands and while he's not quite tall enough to turn the water on while standing on the step stool, I am most definitely NOT allowed to do it for him. I am to help him reach that last inch to the handle by lifting him up, then squeeze the soap on his hand and wait until he's done rinsing at which point his majesty allows me to assist him to turn the water off again and hand him the towel.<br />
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It can be kinda annoying if I'm in the middle of something, BUT the great news is that I'm not changing a diaper and that grab-the-butt-and-run-while-screaming-"Go Potty!!" bit is PRICELESS.Amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00880759209065460946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4358726479073535150.post-59008932773708498412012-06-07T13:09:00.001-07:002012-06-07T13:09:27.946-07:00Caleb MomentsSo in an effort to blog more frequently - and b/c I want to document some of this in an easier to look back on format than FB I'm going to start posting little mini post of whatever thing Caleb is doing thats making me giggle, stress or snigger about now.<br />
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For example:<br />
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This kid cracks me up. Whenever he has a full blown melt down (once or twice a week usually) I've found the best way to deal with it is to just put him in his room and close the door and let him just calm down for 5-10 mins and then he's fine. (If you try to talk to him or anything when he's that bent he just gets MORE angry). Well now whenever he gets mad at me - he runs to his room and shuts the door to throw his fit. LOL Some how I'm completely cool with this behavior. Kid sends himself to his room. lol<br />
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Also Caleb's phrase of the moment (ever since we got back from our trip) is "Oh no! What happened? Oh! I broke it!" He says this ALL the time and sometimes I just have no clue why.<br />
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He's so adorable. He's catching on to manners so now he tells me "Bless you" when I sneeze and "Thank you" and "You're welcome" at the appropriate times. Its really darling.Amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00880759209065460946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4358726479073535150.post-89809424556157257902012-04-12T15:55:00.000-07:002012-04-12T15:55:28.882-07:00Easter Egg Hunt 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This year Caleb was big enough to really enjoy an Easter Egg Hunt so I mentioned it to my Aunt Lorri who sweetly organized a really awesome one for Caleb and his cousins. I only got pics of Caleb b/c Mom was following him around with the plastic bag for the eggs in one hand (I forgot a basket) and the camera in the other. Oops. lol But they're still super cute. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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He was so excited! He kept chanting "Egg! Egg! Egg!" the whole time.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">"See Mom!! Egg!!"</div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"> In the bag it goes...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">And we're off to find another one. Kid was focused and mission oriented lemme tell you!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Two at a time!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Running back to the bag w/ the egg!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFwiG-G_bIUFQObd-ETleZSos0oeKZ-I0hjbo1qfR4yveKd7gB21YJPVZwlycOEou8qCPJYLrRX6AcVj_l3lLm5d3afvj6-i1RKARnZMmpM184K6DvmRdmMoDPL7dg_ctKmMEIka6qz0/s1600/IMG_1963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFwiG-G_bIUFQObd-ETleZSos0oeKZ-I0hjbo1qfR4yveKd7gB21YJPVZwlycOEou8qCPJYLrRX6AcVj_l3lLm5d3afvj6-i1RKARnZMmpM184K6DvmRdmMoDPL7dg_ctKmMEIka6qz0/s400/IMG_1963.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yEANmRChG1BL8oqYCNc5mDLvpX624C3uaKk-Gg2k-ri5JAWZ65lfA8hsdsVj3SMG3woSsx5hfpUS4AkJJ5czqaZoJ4RZ9TynYaAcvF403L54FtoEA4cpiHI4lq2mU3shoEtm5ftm_UE/s1600/IMG_1964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yEANmRChG1BL8oqYCNc5mDLvpX624C3uaKk-Gg2k-ri5JAWZ65lfA8hsdsVj3SMG3woSsx5hfpUS4AkJJ5czqaZoJ4RZ9TynYaAcvF403L54FtoEA4cpiHI4lq2mU3shoEtm5ftm_UE/s400/IMG_1964.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And counting out the loot w/ the cousins to make sure we found them all! It was a great time and Caleb really, really enjoyed it!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtwhetWrHwRKYD2S_V64DIr8ejrm5T50qJTyFFxCaLAzgHdwQyDeclUCFDGvAiaSMgT5C9gEDB7zD41jH1aUkOYETlr5VRdgxP-LvuAiQiNYLgoC2opzgyCV4yMfMYwSaxDR2aAiYK6Ig/s1600/IMG_1965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtwhetWrHwRKYD2S_V64DIr8ejrm5T50qJTyFFxCaLAzgHdwQyDeclUCFDGvAiaSMgT5C9gEDB7zD41jH1aUkOYETlr5VRdgxP-LvuAiQiNYLgoC2opzgyCV4yMfMYwSaxDR2aAiYK6Ig/s320/IMG_1965.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00880759209065460946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4358726479073535150.post-15882261976756740662012-04-12T14:52:00.000-07:002012-04-12T14:52:44.128-07:00Progress on the Yard 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So its been a while and things are looking better in the back yard. I'll up date you on the front yard after I get finished w/ the post-spring clean up. But hey compared to the thigh high weeds and dirt when we first bought the place this thing has come a LONG ways!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovsWkCkZEq3CYJ1weLVr52Ibf4Psm6hQc7ZkwGOLa_tnShGp-532EVX2hteFn2B5LGEvvB0mHI-NtcmzzFa6FPH5qUoQFphAfdtJFa6nNhvQIC5-AtExIIZXKw_QlwAukAYP_KSN-1pQ/s1600/IMG_1967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovsWkCkZEq3CYJ1weLVr52Ibf4Psm6hQc7ZkwGOLa_tnShGp-532EVX2hteFn2B5LGEvvB0mHI-NtcmzzFa6FPH5qUoQFphAfdtJFa6nNhvQIC5-AtExIIZXKw_QlwAukAYP_KSN-1pQ/s640/IMG_1967.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Don't mind the strip of dead grass in the middle. I learned that my electric lawn mower is not macho enough to handle stripping things short enough to over seed winter rye so we're gonna officially file that task under: best left to a professional. The stripe should go away soon enough. The bermuda is coming out of dormancy and I just fertilized everything yesterday.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's the little gardenia I planted along the shady back fence. She's kept blooming like mad (smells amazing) so I'm hopful she'll do well there. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEher9KEimyxCCtk6IH7g4o-BIHvWDa5W52or1x08mFdj2v1lxlIooiIFT7aCeq4TZ2WZyn3KqcT1g93V8nj73YeQ1CQAHqCQzxKp5yg-4slgwrrVzyP6lbxbTRveG6UeCd6EYBqAL63zzU/s1600/IMG_1970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEher9KEimyxCCtk6IH7g4o-BIHvWDa5W52or1x08mFdj2v1lxlIooiIFT7aCeq4TZ2WZyn3KqcT1g93V8nj73YeQ1CQAHqCQzxKp5yg-4slgwrrVzyP6lbxbTRveG6UeCd6EYBqAL63zzU/s400/IMG_1970.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Yeah I still haven't moved the cactus in the play ground area. I need to get to that too... Also the tree on the right there needs some serious clean up. Lots of dead branches. <br />
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I used some of that "Ground Clear for 1 Year" stuff on the path on the left side there to test it b/c I was afraid the run off would kill my grass but its only killed a couple little 6" or so patches of grass there so I vote thats a go in my book. Its done a great job of keeping the weeds out of the bricks.<br />
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Ahhh my little side alley. 2 of the 3 vines I planted turned out to not be able to handle the heat here in Phoenix. I was very sad. I really wish plant info tags has a maximum temp rating and not just a minimum. It would be really helpful here. AND the 3rd vine has been a learning experience. Did you know that jasmine comes in 2 varieties? Mounding and Vining. I wanted a vine to climb up the wall so guess which type I bought? Thats right mounding. Ahhhh sweet learning experiences. Also jasmine really likes her sun so while she lived, she did not thrive. So I dug up all 3 plants, disposed of the dead ones and transplanted the mounding jasmine over by my rose bushes for some ground cover. I've replaced all 3 vines with bouganvilla that I scored for a song at Costco a few weeks back.<br />
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Yup theres the cactus that still needs moving. But it has crazy beautiful flowers in spring so I really want to try to keep it alive if at all possible. Wish me luck.<br />
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Isn't it crazy how much that rose bush in the back right has grown?! That thing was 3 sticks and 2 leaves and mostly dead in the shade by my front door when we bought this house. I transplanted it, pruned it and said if it survives the shock it should do fine. I think its doin pretty okay personally. Also the mini rose there in the front is crazy! That thing like exploded back from its pruning and is COVERED in buds. I love it. The green thing in the front left is the mounding jasmine which will hopefully be much happier soon, and you can't see it hardly at all because of the shade but in the rear left there is my newest tiny little rose bush that I got for 3 bucks and has the most amazing ruffled, fragrant lavender blossoms. I'll get you pictures as she grows up and gets gorgeous.<br />
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Also can just say that I really miss mulch?! Everything looks so much better w/ a nice thick, dark layer of mulch but no you can't use that here b/c it turns to sawdust in a single season (or so I'm told) so what you do is rock. And well lets just say that while rock might last forever the start up cost is prohibitive. *sigh* So I'll just keep battling the weeds for my dirt patches I guess. *sigh*Amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00880759209065460946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4358726479073535150.post-80064690150523107342012-04-05T16:38:00.000-07:002012-04-05T16:38:57.286-07:00Potty TrainingWe're now in to Potty Training Day 2 and holy crap am I tired. lol BUT the great news is that this morning I'd vote that well over half of all the pee made it into the potty. He gets at least some in the potty every time its just a matter of getting there fast enough and aiming correctly once he's there. We're starting out sitting and I'll teach him to stand later.<br />
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I'm really grateful that we decided to roll up the big rug so I only have to wipe up tile floors (which are probably the cleanest now they've ever been since they're getting scrubbed 20+ times a day).<br />
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Here's the method we've been using - as recommended by our pediatrician - we've got him naked from the waist down and the potty chair here in the room with us. He's getting to snack on chips and pretzels and drink all the juice he wants (salt to make him drink and sugar to make him want it). He never gets this stuff so clearly Easter came early this year. And if he get ANYTHING in the potty at all we do the happy dance and clap and cheer and carry on and he gets an M&M. Should he miss the potty entirely there is no yelling or punishment just a sad, "Awwww pee pee goes in the potty".<br />
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But he's doing really great this morning. He even went poopie in the potty!!!! Which Mom was SUPER DUPER excited about! That one can be REALLY difficult to get a kid to do so I was *thrilled* when he managed it and got it <i>entirely </i>in the potty and I didn't have to clean anything up off the floor!! Also some kids will hold it b/c they're weirded out by the potty and then they get constipated and then it hurts to go in the potty and yeah its bad so I'm really, really grateful that things went according to plan. Wiping his butt with toilet paper while he was standing there didn't work so well. I wound up just grabbing a baby wipe to take care of business.<br />
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I've apologized to Facebook for my numerous potty related posts over the last 48 hours but this is apparently my life now so I'm celebrating poopie in the potty. We even called Daddy at work to tell him the good news. lol<br />
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Mercifully at nap time today he didn't fight me when I tried to put a Pull Up on him. Yesterday at nap time the world ended so we let him go to bed wearing shorts and thats it and he woke up freezing, soaked and miserable. So last night we pinned him down and put a Pull Up on him before bed. You would have thought we were trying to chop off both legs and his weenie one little bit at a time the way he was screaming. But he was fine this morning when I got him out of bed and let me put another Pull Up on for nap time with out so much as a frown so I'm hopeful this will work out.<br />
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I'm thinking tomorrow we're gonna try adding underwear to the equation so he can learn to pull something down assuming we start getting closer to a 75% success rate with getting to the potty on time with out them...<br />
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I'm just praying we get this mostly figured out before Passover at Grandmas house on Saturday or Easter at Great Grandmas house on Sunday... That or we'll stick to a pull up when we leave the house...Amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00880759209065460946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4358726479073535150.post-73346800433493202512012-03-16T18:51:00.000-07:002012-03-16T18:51:12.206-07:00Weight and KidsSo I'm attempting to more or less reinvent the wheel on my family's relationship w/ food/eating/diet/body image so that I can hopefully avoid giving Caleb all the issues in these areas that I have. To this end I have joined Weight Watchers and am attempting to learn how to eat so that I can lose weight and set a positive example b/c "Do as I say and not as I do" has never yet been proven to be an effective parenting technique.<br />
<br />
And my family has issues with food. The gross majority of my family members (at least my immediate family) are over weight according to the Body Mass Index (BMI) which is a generally accepted government sponsored guideline for what is a "healthy weight". So I'm voting our relationship and methods of teaching food, diet and body image etc are not good and we need NEW methods.<br />
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And the message I WANT to teach my kids is that you're beautiful regardless of how big or small you are. You still have worth no matter how you look. I don't want their self esteem to be based on their clothing size.<br />
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That said I want them to be healthy and being obese is not healthy. There are no fat old people. There are fat people that look old but they're not actually any where near as old as they look. The fat makes them look older and they die younger and I don't want that for me or my family.<br />
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So given societies issues with food, body image, weight etc that my kids will undoubtedly pick up on - <i>how </i>do I talk to and teach my kids about weight and eating and what is and is not healthy and how to encourage good diet and exercise with out backhanding their self esteem? Because I don't know how. I know all the wrong ways to do it (or at least all the methods I'm aware of are examples of the <i>wrong way to say things</i>).<br />
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I'm learning w/ my poor husband that I don't know how to say this right (God bless him for being a forgiving soul when I put my foot in my mouth and prove I'm related to certain family members) and I really want to learn this skill <i>before</i> Caleb gets older and I mess with his head.<br />
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Ideas? Recommendations?<br />
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Is there a good way or has that research not been done yet?Amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00880759209065460946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4358726479073535150.post-32223699359355334202012-01-19T15:32:00.001-07:002012-01-19T15:32:37.854-07:00Speech And HearingFor those of you unaware I have a genetic sensorineural hearing loss. What that means for me is that I cannot hear sounds in the lower ranges (such as mens voices) like I should. I can hear perfectly normally in the upper ranges, in fact I can hear some higher sounds I shouldn't be able to hear. And I read lips like a champ. In fact my audiologist has never seen a person before who can read lips like I can that hasn't had lessons teaching them how to do it.<br />
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Thing is my mother can do it to. Because she also has my exact same hearing loss (or she did. Because of cancer treatments she has now lost all hearing in her left ear and some in her right). In fact when I was a teenager our doctor remarked how he'd never seen anybody with matching audiograms before.<br />
<br />
I think thats also why we both read lips like professionals. I have the same hearing loss my mother does. She has the same loss her mother did. I think somebody figured lip reading out back in the day and just taught their kids like it was second nature. My little sister got tired of not being able to understand what we were saying and she picked it up too even though she has perfect hearing (my Mom's brothers are fine). Now all 3 of us can talk across a crowded room with no problems and our husbands have no idea what we're saying *snigger*.<br />
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When I was an infant there was no technology to help my kind of loss. When I was 8 they came out w/ a really obnoxious contraption that had a speaker talk into a mic wired to a box and me wearing giant hearing aids connected by wires to another box. That didn't last long. So I just gave up. Sat front in center in all my classes and explained to my teachers I needed to read their lips.<br />
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That is until I was 18 and the school nurse explained to me I should look into this hearing loss thing as a source of scholarship money. THAT got my attention.<br />
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Thats when I realized how profoundly deaf I am. Because I don't sound deaf (my voice is well within my hearing range). But it wasn't until I started handing my audiogram to counselors and social workers and saw their jaws drop and they started stuttering about how they can't believe how functional I am and how good I sound do I realize just how much of a loss I have.<br />
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In the lower ranges I am profoundly deaf. The bane of my existence are deep southern men's voices that are already so low they're in the basement and then they compound the problem by not moving their lips when they talk. Lord save me.<br />
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That and every roommate I ever had, after a few days living with me, every last one of them would say something to the effect of, "Wow you really are deaf huh? You sure don't sound like it". (Probably b/c I don't shut up).<br />
<br />
The upside is that technology had improved over the last 10 years and I was finally fitted w/ hearing aids that really do help things (I wasn't sure how big of a difference they made until I was on my mission and my companions would go, "You're not wearing your hearing aids right now are you?"). (FYI Cochlear implants won't help w/ my kind of loss b/c theres nothing wrong w/ my ears. The problem is apparently in the nerve/brain area.<br />
<br />
Fast forward to having my first (and so far only) child. When I was pregnant with Caleb I used to stay up nights worrying about how my hearing (or lack thereof) might affect things. I was scared that I wouldn't hear him cry. I was terrified I wouldn't be able to give him the proper feed back to help him develop as he should.<br />
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The first fear went away by the first week after I gave birth. I don't know how but I would wake up if that child's breathing changed. He didn't even have to cry. And if I'm out of the room I make sure I have my baby monitor and that it has lights that go off and flash at me when he cries and I makes sure I have it directly in my line of sight. So the crying has mercifully never been a problem.<br />
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And I have mostly been okay about his speech ever since I talked it over with my family who pointed out that my sister and I's speech turned out just fine and my mother (at the time) had had the exact same loss that I did. So I started breathing again.<br />
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That and I knew that if Caleb had my hearing loss that it would show up from the very beginning (like everybody else's did) but Caleb passed his new born screening with flying colors and responds very well to my fathers ultra deep voice (he apparently uses a higher tone when he talks to me).<br />
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My pediatrician has been super paranoid though. For Caleb's first birthday we had his hearing checked again with Cardon Children's Hospital. He passed with flying colors. For his second birthday we did the hearing test AGAIN (the doc said if he passed this one he'd wait until he was 4 to do another one) and once again he passed. He's passed not only the screening tests but all of the milestone markers they want him to pass.<br />
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I know this is really long and I've got some more to say so I apologize I just need to get this out.<br />
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Now I'm starting to have a bit of a problem. And the pediatrician warned me about this - Caleb is big. He's huge for his size. He's literally off the growth chart for his height. Well over the 97th percentile. He's only 90-95th percentile for weight so he's a string bean but he is TALL. And the problem with that is that people expect more from him because he looks older. The doctor warned me that people are going to ask whats wrong with him b/c they think he's a lot older than he is.<br />
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Its easy to forget he's only 2.5. Heck I find myself getting frustrated and then I try to remember - he's only 2.5, keep your expectations realistic for his age. And I take a deep breath and I refocus.<br />
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And ya know I laughed at that doctor, because I figured the people who matter would never forget it. But I myself start to do it sometimes. And it hurts when people who should know better ask me if he's okay. They think that he's slow or not developing right b/c I can't parent him properly with my loss.<br />
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And in some ways their questions are fair. Caleb is way ahead of the game in the fine motor skills department. He knows all his letters, and half their sounds. He knows half his numbers and tries to count (though it usually goes more like 1, 2, 8, 9, 10!). He's super bright.<br />
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And he knows LOTS of words. When we read books (and he is in the mood to do so) he can point out every thing in them and at least take a pretty decent stab at pronouncing the name (elephant is hard and "ear" comes out more like "eeeawh"). He'll even sing a long with me <i>sometimes.</i><br />
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And he has certain words and phrases he uses ALL the time. But he's not talking too much yet. He'll have a babble conversation at you but if you ask him how he's doing he'll just smile at you. When we're at home he'll talk a fair bit but he doesn't like to do it out side the house usually. He prefers to just grab you by the hand and drag you to whatever it is or point and get excited.<br />
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And so I can see how if you don't see him outside his space when he's in a cooperative mood you might think he doesn't talk at all (I say mood b/c I think he'll stop talking just to vex me).<br />
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But Cardon Children's gave me (from our first meeting when Caleb was just a year old and again at his 2 year screening) a packet of pages outlining the developmental milestones for speech and hearing by age and said that as long as he kept meeting those mile stones we're doing great. They also gave us a list of suggestions to help.<br />
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I do every last one of the things on that list. Well, I don't always use bath time as "sound time" but I get down on the floor of the living room with him to play and do the exact same things. Other things it says is to talk about things as we're doing things and going places. Narrate your life basically. Cuz I didn't talk to myself already. Now I sound like my mother (love you Mom).<br />
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I do phonetics with him (Clock says tick tock! T-T-T-T- Tick Tock!). I do all of the sound play - I let him feel my throat as I make "rrr-rrr-rrr" noises and hold his hand to feel the air of "p-p-p-p".<br />
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I expand on the things he says: "Car!", "Thats right! Thats a red car! It goes VROOM!"<br />
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I read at least 1 book with that kid EVERY SINGLE DAY. And we point out the pictures (I do it first and then he takes over) and we point out the letters and say their names and their sounds.<br />
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And as far as the mile stones go here are the lists for ages 2-3 (aka what he should be able to do by the time he's 3).<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>Hearing and Understanding</b><br />
- Understands differences in meaning ("go-stop", "in-on", "big-little", "up-down") CHECK<br />
- Follows two requests ("Get the book and put it on the table") NO PROBLEM (unless we're not at home)<br />
- Listens to and enjoys hearing stores for longer periods of time. (Some days I wonder if I will ever get my finger back as we read stories - b/c clearly stories are best read while maintaining a death grip on Mom's pointer finger for use pointing at things on the page).<br />
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<b>Talking</b><br />
- Has a word for almost everything (Admittedly we're still getting there on this one. Getting him consistently to USE the names is still hard. But he LOVES to name things and enjoys asking for food by name - and we have time. He's not 3 yet).<br />
- Uses two- or three- words to talk about and ask for things (He does this multiple times a day but not EVERY time "There it is" while pointing to what he wants, "Mom! Dad! Come on! Lets go!", "Oh kitty! Oops! There he goes! Bye Kitty!")<br />
- Uses k, g, f, t, d, and n sounds. - kitty, go-go-go (his words for Cat in the Hat), phone (same sound), fishie, tick tock, and nana - CHECK.<br />
- Speech is understood by familiar listeners most of the time. - Adam and I have no problems understanding MOST of what he says. And his most common baby sitters (my friends Kathleen, and Felly or my SIL Natalie or MIL Donni) all understand him no problems.<br />
- Often asks for or directs attention to objects by naming them. - He's doing this more and more - he now points to the bananas on top of the fridge and asks for them by name, he'll ask for my phone by name, he points out every single clock we see with an excited "T-t-t-t!" sound. He's trying to say "Tick tock" but that one is a work in progress.<br />
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SO thats what he's supposed to do by the time he's 3. He's only 32-ish months old so I vote we have some time.<br />
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So please before you question my sons development and send me scurrying to my list again to MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING (b/c thats what I do so I don't curl up and cry in fear that I'm a horrible mother) please make sure that your expectations are the same for him as they would be for a much MUCH smaller normal sized 2 year old.<br />
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He's only 2 after all.Amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00880759209065460946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4358726479073535150.post-28030138814709780872011-12-21T00:57:00.000-07:002011-12-21T00:57:16.472-07:00Vote For ME!! (again!)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Hey Guys!!<br />
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Its time to vote for the Vintaj Designer of the Year!! Since I won with my Caribbean Sun Set design earlier this year I'm in the running!! So please vote for me! My piece is #7.<br />
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<a href="http://vintaj.com/wpblog/?p=14010">http://vintaj.com/wpblog/?p=14010</a><br />
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Thank you SO very much for your love and support! And if you haven't seen our new website yet you need to go check it out!!<br />
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<a href="http://www.beadsjustforyou.com/">www.beadsjustforyou.com</a><br />
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Cheers!!<br />
Ami </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span>Amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00880759209065460946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4358726479073535150.post-52218058994820327002011-11-30T01:12:00.000-07:002011-11-30T01:12:47.088-07:00One of the Best Pieces of Parenting Advice I've GottenI posted this as a comment on a friends blog but I think it deserves its own post here:<br />
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Ya know the single best piece of parenting advice I think I've ever got I actually overheard at a friends baby shower. There was an elderly grandmother there and her advice to the mom-to-be was this: Take every chance you can to hold that baby and to cherish that moment, just <i>really</i> enjoy it. She said that they grow so fast and one day your arms will ache to hold <b>that</b> baby again. You will hold other babies but you never get to hold *that* baby again so enjoy it and cherish it. She also said that her daughter used to cling to her skirts and drive her crazy and she found that the solution was simply to take some time every day when she got clingy and sit down and cuddle with her for a few minutes in the rocking chair. She just needed to be held for a bit and then everything was okay.<br />
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And I've found that really helped me to cope with all the craziness and the occasional (or regular) suckiness of my day - when I do get a minute to just grab Caleb and give him a cuddle and I try to push all my worries out of my head and just sit there and smell his hair and really enjoy the snuggle. Its almost a form of meditation for me now. I'm gonna have to find something new when he gets bigger and is too cool to cuddle with me...Amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00880759209065460946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4358726479073535150.post-57491777771304297482011-09-09T17:29:00.000-07:002011-09-09T17:29:26.751-07:00Caleb 2 Year Check UpSo just realized that the Fail Master here totally forgot to give you guys a stats update when Caleb had his 2 year check up a few months ago. I'm sorry. Since I'm sure you can hardly wait (ha!) heres the nitty gritty.<br />
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Doc says Mr Caleb looks GREAT. He is 39 inches tall. He's so far off the chart now he didn't even get a dot on his height chart this time.... YEAH. I really do need to post a photo of that... Neways, so he's literally off the charts tall (on and here's whats scary, he's gotten taller since then, such that I had to retire almost all his pants for being high water...).<br />
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He weighs in at 33 lbs which put him in the 95th percentile for weight (last time we were in a docs office he was playing on the scale and it said he was more like 35.6 lbs now, but that does include shoes). And he's got a 20 inch head so he's also in the 95th for head.<br />
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He only had to get 1 shot this time which was nice (comparatively).<br />
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Otherwise they made me get a CBC to check him for his iron levels and make sure he didn't have lead poisoning or anything ( we live in an older home). That all came back fine but the getting the blood drawn bit was pure hell.<br />
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They also made me redo his hearing test (ooh that was fun. Especially after getting shots and a blood draw) and once again he's fine there. They're paranoid b/c theres a family history of hearing loss.<br />
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SO we survived. Caleb now has a raging phobia of women wearing scrubs. And he's growing like CRAZY.<br />
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Tah dah.Amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00880759209065460946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4358726479073535150.post-84012553287347614782011-09-06T00:52:00.000-07:002011-09-06T00:52:01.848-07:00Master Bathroom Light Fixture<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Hail the conquering Heeeroooo!! Nahhh nah nahhhh na na nahhhhhhhhh!!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">*takes a bow*</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Yes, its true. The dastardly electrical box may have won the first battle but by golly I won the WAR!! BWAHAHAHAH! *ahem*</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Neways so I forgot to take a true "Before" pic b/c thats just the way we like to fail at life around here. So here's the I-already-took-the-funky-glass-and-copper-shade-circa-1970-off and unscrewed all the little mini round clear bulbs shot I took when I realized my mistake:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWe-EQqIBRwcD-BlxzKSwev9K4D8J7Qi-XfdKiyJ49ardI_E6HSs1JjoMMZZcRyj6mKPIfQQgHFU8BzkAyPhEHNeKrvpsitIwcy2kpUBdoEvRcA6Nj2Mw-Q5nVYFCKTOkmg4h2BkNYOMgx/s1600/IMG_1361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWe-EQqIBRwcD-BlxzKSwev9K4D8J7Qi-XfdKiyJ49ardI_E6HSs1JjoMMZZcRyj6mKPIfQQgHFU8BzkAyPhEHNeKrvpsitIwcy2kpUBdoEvRcA6Nj2Mw-Q5nVYFCKTOkmg4h2BkNYOMgx/s400/IMG_1361.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">So the adventure really began when I got the cover off this baby and got a look at my wall. Yeah my junction box cover (little round circle sticking out of the sheet rock that was oh so expertly cut RIGHT UP to the edge of the circle (hahahah NOT ANYMORE!!). Leaving visible ONLY the 2 HORIZONTAL screw spots (yes thats a technical term. Shut up).</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Wellllll, this was a problem, b/c my new fixture has VERTICAL screw spots (you can't see what I'm talking about in pictures b/c I didn't take any during b/c it was night, I was tired, and I *thought* it was gonna be a generic boring install job and theres LOTS of those on the web *dies laughing*. Which is why it was a special growth experience. ) SOOOO I had to figure out how to get the circle to change orientation to the vertical.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">So we took a time out. Failed at google (takes talent I tell you). Called Daddy (mercifully he was still awake). Figured out what we were doing after staring at a bunch of pictures of junction boxes and covers on home depot (okay so odds are my screws are going to be.... there annnnnnd THERE).</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Then we shoved our fingers in the hole in the wall (always kinda nerve wracking if you ask me) and felt around until I discovered I had one screw in the lower left corner and one in the upper right. So then I used my hammer and flat head screw driver to chisel through the sheet rock (definitely the intended purpose of the tool) to find said screws. And I tried very hard not to take any more sheet rock than I absolutely had to b/c I was greatly afeared that my new, much smaller base plate wouldn't cover the holes I was making. But I told myself some minor sheet rock repair (which I totally know how to do) was nothing to be able to install my gorgeous $4 (no thats not a typo I really paid 4 bucks for this fixture at a local thrift store) light fixture.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">AND it worked. I found my screws, undid them, chiseled out some more wall to buy myself room to turn the plate to the vertical, screwed it down in its new position and 5 whole minutes later my wiring was all done and my new fixture was attached to the wall!!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">So after we stopped w/ the victory dance and the yells of "Whose Da WOMAN??! I'm DA WOMAN!!" I took a few more pictures. Please excuse the horribly yellow cast of the walls. My sister was demanding pics and didn't want to wait for day light. And I swear that the fixture is level even tho it doesn't look like it in this pic. Thats just my mad camera skills winning at life for ya. And I know my middle bulb is different than the outer 2. That will be fixed when I hit up Wallymart tomorrow.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And with out further disclaimers: Here we go!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHn04mOOr5wH1sIm0ooJGOmE6TLYjpga2L021AEx3h2qiBeheYquK_4NheqNhL46DKaEmnZGm9VWTBG9cydM7W06kYrObsuAz4LdIeno8OzUxfpn8UhOeLrkpSyNt5gL0pdY-o1deskg3/s1600/IMG_1363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHn04mOOr5wH1sIm0ooJGOmE6TLYjpga2L021AEx3h2qiBeheYquK_4NheqNhL46DKaEmnZGm9VWTBG9cydM7W06kYrObsuAz4LdIeno8OzUxfpn8UhOeLrkpSyNt5gL0pdY-o1deskg3/s400/IMG_1363.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Yes I look EXTREMELY attractive in these pictures. Please remember this was late at night, w/ an experimental (and FAILED) hair do thrown back in a pony tail. Also the fixture will look even better once the wall gets painted. The master bath is on the renovation list but the wrecking crew hasn't made it there yet. This was the first of many baby steps.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_zYt0zhJDfAdyQilAzaQZcbk-97JJpTfpC2ezNmJ602DEMbFu9ZZ8I6cBZJIRC_aTrgSEAC3gdDVlaohjeZCNzEQyIm7mvnU1E6WM24zYKFFeUnEfuWcZtYu_FMCiAxR3oDGR_xVY9bd/s1600/IMG_1365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_zYt0zhJDfAdyQilAzaQZcbk-97JJpTfpC2ezNmJ602DEMbFu9ZZ8I6cBZJIRC_aTrgSEAC3gdDVlaohjeZCNzEQyIm7mvnU1E6WM24zYKFFeUnEfuWcZtYu_FMCiAxR3oDGR_xVY9bd/s320/IMG_1365.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>Amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00880759209065460946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4358726479073535150.post-66887149072474562542011-08-12T15:43:00.000-07:002011-08-12T15:43:33.808-07:00Caleb Steals a HatMore specifically he stole his Grandpa's hat last Sunday when we were over at my inlaws house to celebrate my father in laws birthday. Bill (my father in law) snagged these super cute pictures and was kind enough to send them my way. :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBwHQtaNRozQEzDHuj3FzdywEfEZZCm8EDqv5cEyOIpVV376aKm83eQThnkx2FFKkvZcXuErulnWvjRO4KZGB8x5NSoQdgDEvT_mWf-05ID4ueiDZEMApxuRi-HnIGmxIdmcGtT1LQ1Y/s1600/D700KB0068_7-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBwHQtaNRozQEzDHuj3FzdywEfEZZCm8EDqv5cEyOIpVV376aKm83eQThnkx2FFKkvZcXuErulnWvjRO4KZGB8x5NSoQdgDEvT_mWf-05ID4ueiDZEMApxuRi-HnIGmxIdmcGtT1LQ1Y/s640/D700KB0068_7-2.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbm2PsR3jh0r-63Ds5VwmoDxhIgHaOFmFmfpOEw9nzzKDIE5G9px9-DDchGNMSbY62Ymi6XivYkC5ymx04PMmW2ZGcyIF-L3VB8vk3omc5bRXPDm3RZyj9qYkplsUQMkJnktftaJF0YM/s1600/D700KB0068_7-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbm2PsR3jh0r-63Ds5VwmoDxhIgHaOFmFmfpOEw9nzzKDIE5G9px9-DDchGNMSbY62Ymi6XivYkC5ymx04PMmW2ZGcyIF-L3VB8vk3omc5bRXPDm3RZyj9qYkplsUQMkJnktftaJF0YM/s640/D700KB0068_7-4.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br />
Amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00880759209065460946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4358726479073535150.post-58784277686052792762011-07-27T17:17:00.001-07:002011-07-27T17:18:48.660-07:00The Living Room BEFORE and AFTERBefore I show you the "Before" pictures I must add this disclaimer: This is my idea of survival and function with a toddler, NOT my idea of Decor.<br />
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Ahem:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJI9TAtS0MPlMFFsyie7T6mXovN9FneNMa8O6oKZZ-7RaRgM3SFe0svwk654VL5v6PX5gZ3oWJKDjwOoaKzZPdvfwBC4km2p_tz8PUrGiwhtXT5hjkBB3g5M1k3np_YLO0erIY8ZR3sA/s1600/IMG_1133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJI9TAtS0MPlMFFsyie7T6mXovN9FneNMa8O6oKZZ-7RaRgM3SFe0svwk654VL5v6PX5gZ3oWJKDjwOoaKzZPdvfwBC4km2p_tz8PUrGiwhtXT5hjkBB3g5M1k3np_YLO0erIY8ZR3sA/s400/IMG_1133.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Here's what we did: Painted the ceiling a soft flat white, the walls are Martha Stewart Living "Artesian Well" color matched to Behr Premium Plus Ultra paint which is the paint/primer combo stuff you can scrub. I figured since I was going w/ a flat color in a room with a toddler scrubbable was a good thing. All the trim got at least 2 coats of semi gloss white paint.<br />
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I love this little shelf/ledge under the picture on the right. I'm still hunting the pretty things that are going to go on it. I think I'm gonna DIY me some art... Also we decided to see if Caleb would leave the computer alone if we took down the fence and so far so good! :D<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspjkoF9pTdilQ10Hfu3AmS-XnyjQSi6Sf0TWboBZUrguITVp9C-dtilGb8PDIEr7n459wz5F-AusvQrKNkvLc6WbaomAWlMMIVleGna_6L6uQnD9Y6pijBWRajI72axvArWh-DzuqgQA/s1600/IMG_1148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspjkoF9pTdilQ10Hfu3AmS-XnyjQSi6Sf0TWboBZUrguITVp9C-dtilGb8PDIEr7n459wz5F-AusvQrKNkvLc6WbaomAWlMMIVleGna_6L6uQnD9Y6pijBWRajI72axvArWh-DzuqgQA/s400/IMG_1148.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNR95q6rczc7Hptx57eDdKJu535b4ZVjF-vlW32ri6fUmd_tQAu7KmfvFkSn1R4sUthQr1_5ICSjSJlEisd0VjN8_XNxOQbb9nJXc9kcvg3YrdtpJ03UlKXNqtdrK7A8JbTCUAManu-ys/s1600/IMG_1151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNR95q6rczc7Hptx57eDdKJu535b4ZVjF-vlW32ri6fUmd_tQAu7KmfvFkSn1R4sUthQr1_5ICSjSJlEisd0VjN8_XNxOQbb9nJXc9kcvg3YrdtpJ03UlKXNqtdrK7A8JbTCUAManu-ys/s400/IMG_1151.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Isn't that just SO much more open? I need to get stuff hung on the walls on this half of the room but I want to redo what I had there so it will take some time and doing. But no big I'm just going to do it one little bit at a time. :) We also ditched our huge coffee table in favor of this cute little chocolate brown faux suede storage ottoman. It holds all the throws and blankets and is the perfect height for Caleb to color at when he's sitting in his little chair. Also works good as an ottoman too. :) <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnCppQvjKF2P_pXiCq8JCW-fsCjCpWhUJMsbB5RjRJ3HNLU92zYcSpRZ25oGz3F8yDARXNUAjIngLVxzBZejLP5Mbnllaow-idBwFdwsQ1_5FqlHULnImdJPc5wrHAshfDmvmsuS3P34/s1600/IMG_1152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnCppQvjKF2P_pXiCq8JCW-fsCjCpWhUJMsbB5RjRJ3HNLU92zYcSpRZ25oGz3F8yDARXNUAjIngLVxzBZejLP5Mbnllaow-idBwFdwsQ1_5FqlHULnImdJPc5wrHAshfDmvmsuS3P34/s400/IMG_1152.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> My next project is this hall way. I've even got the paint for it already. Just need a couple days to whip the rest of the house back in shape (it got scary while my back was turned). And this is Vi, its probably the only time most of you will ever see that cat.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DU_ZFx6EZtfs0TJnhYK0wjEe7Nkxh9oYcYXh4eDGsgT3rDInWKSkGzVSXdija2FlKBQqVd-HEt-Jw_MuhnFd_CoBYNOGAxi3qVSVHuElAMXMoQDSCuwNGfWo-risL-QPKmTlmWj_BAk/s1600/IMG_1154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DU_ZFx6EZtfs0TJnhYK0wjEe7Nkxh9oYcYXh4eDGsgT3rDInWKSkGzVSXdija2FlKBQqVd-HEt-Jw_MuhnFd_CoBYNOGAxi3qVSVHuElAMXMoQDSCuwNGfWo-risL-QPKmTlmWj_BAk/s400/IMG_1154.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00880759209065460946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4358726479073535150.post-20857255610857495682011-07-18T14:01:00.001-07:002011-07-18T14:01:18.853-07:00I WON!!!<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I just wanted to say, "Thank you SO very much" to everybody who voted for my piece on the Vintaj Monthly Design Challenge. Its SUCH an honor to win, particularly given how amazing some of the competition was. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I am SO frickin' excited I've been doin' a happy dance ALL morning!! </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Thank you again!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">http://vintaj.com/wpblog/?p=12700</div><div><br />
</div>Amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00880759209065460946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4358726479073535150.post-48502745136075507252011-07-11T17:05:00.000-07:002011-07-11T17:05:20.933-07:00Vote for ME!!<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hi Folks!!</span></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So for the first time ever I've entered one of my pieces in a jewelry contest! Vintaj Natural Brass is one of my FAVORITE suppliers and they have a monthly Design Challenge! Voting is open until Friday so if you would pretty, pretty please go vote for me I would REALLY appreciate it!! And feel free to tell all your friends to go vote too! My piece is #1. </span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div></div><div><div style="color: #2000ee; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://vintaj.com/wpblog/?p=12564"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://vintaj.com/wpblog/?p=12564</span></span></a></div></div></div><div style="color: #2000ee; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thank you so much!</span></span></div></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Also if you haven't seen our Etsy shop its rockin' if I do say so myself: </span></span></div></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">www.beadsjustforyou.etsy.com</span></span></div></div>Amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00880759209065460946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4358726479073535150.post-17006100163636906192011-07-06T12:37:00.000-07:002011-07-06T12:37:28.357-07:00Annnnnd we're back!So we just took an awesome and otherwise fantastic trip home to Sugar Land to see my folks (and my sissy and her fam). It was SO much fun. That was the longest trip I think I've taken yet (12 full days!). And just to make it even more full of the awesome - my sweet hubby Adam was able to join us for the 2nd half of the trip (rock on!).<br />
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And just to add a LITTLE more awesome - it was the first 4th of July I've had with my fam in several years, which was flat out rockin' awesome because for once instead of drooling over pictures of BBQ on facebook (and shedding the occasional jealous tears) that my Daddy made I was THERE to actually enjoy the feast with everybody else! SO awesome!<br />
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But because I am full of the FAIL I neglected to take like ANY pictures so I'll see what I can steal from my Dad and sister and get them to you sooner rather than later.<br />
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Also to update you on the yard - the grass now looks like over grown jungle since we got back (rock on the grass is HEALTHY!!) so I'm thinking we might have to buy a real lawn mower instead of trying to make this little old rotary mower handle that beast. I just don't wanna shell out for it. But I also really don't enjoy trying to mow with the weed eater either (definitely NOT intended for whole yard usage). So we might have to break down.<br />
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AND if you wanna see what I'm plotting for my redecoration of the dining room/kitchen hop on over to http://ilikesparklyobjects.blogspot.com/ to see pictures and hear all the gushie details.Amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00880759209065460946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4358726479073535150.post-36762493721037430012011-05-20T03:15:00.002-07:002011-05-20T03:15:16.494-07:00Brace Yourselves Folks<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Because I'm gonna get political. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I read an article today that ticked me the heck off. And I've just got it running through my head and I can't sleep so you guys get to hear about it. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Did you know that the US government received a letter from the people who regulate such things (I don't look up, I just remember content) threatening to slash our credit rating if we don't get the deficit under control? </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Did you know that to try to balance the budget they're talking about slashing student loans? </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Did you also know that we give away billions (possibly trillions but that would require me to look it up and I'm lazy) in foreign aid? </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">One of the very first things I learned in my water safety class at the Red Cross when I was a Girl Scout is that if you're trying to save a drowning man <b>do not jump in the water with him.</b> If you do, he will pull you under trying to save himself and you will <b>both drown</b>. You have to be on solid ground and reach out to lift them up. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We as a country are drowning. We have children starving in our own streets. If our credit rating is slashed the effects will be devastating both nationally and internationally. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I<i>f we as a country do not get ourselves on solid ground then we are all going to drown.</i> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I am not saying we shouldn't send help and aid to countries who have suffered a major disaster or to assist in establishing democracy and protect human rights through out the world. <b>But</b> we cannot and should not do it to the extent that we jeopardize ourselves. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Additionally we need to carefully evaluate <b>how</b> we help other countries. A dole does nothing good long term. Its the whole "give a man a fish" vs "teach a man to fish" thing. The money should not be permanent. The aid should be given when needed, for a specific cause that will aid in future self sufficiency, with transparency and accountability and a schedule in place from the start as to how and when the aid will end. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And it royally ticks me off that slashing student loans even got on the table. As far as I'm concerned <b>our children are our national security</b>. Education is an <i>investment</i>, not an expense. If we fail to provide for the future of our country the effects will be devastating. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I know that the American public is currently up in the air about the true value of a college degree, particularly in this economy. But if you look at the employment stats the value becomes truly obvious. Those who only have a high school education are significantly (I *think* the article said 4 times) more likely to be out of work than those with a degree. And a middle class life style is becoming almost impossible to obtain with out some level of upper level education.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I know the collapse of manufacturing jobs in the US has been devastating for many people. I know there are many who long for the return of manufacturing jobs to the US. However, the reality is that I do not see that happening. Our economy is based on capitalism. If you can get the job done cheaper over seas, then thats what companies (who are in business to make money) are going to do. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Yes it sucks, but its reality. In order for us to compete on a global scale we have to be willing to grow, change and adapt. In another article I saw recently, one of the countries in Europe (I *think* it was Holland) is having the same problem. All of their manufacturing jobs went over seas and they had tons of people out of work. Instead of giving them unemployment benefits forever, they accepted that the jobs ain't coming back and instead instituted a program to reeducate the workers in another field with a benefit program that will help support them through their reeducation and then taper off to encourage them to get new jobs and support themselves. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Wow! What a great idea. Its empowering. Its supporting people through a rough patch, which I think we as fellow human beings should do, but it gives them the tools they need to be self sufficient long term. It shows confidence and the expectation that they can and will do better and we will not enable their wallowing in self pity. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I have never had a desire to go into politics. But I'm starting to get angry. I'm talking march in the streets angry. I know the system is huge and complex and bigger than I can comprehend and I'm running off of information I can glean from the media. I know there isn't an easy fix. But I'm starting to think I need to get involved. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">My biggest problem is: I don't know who to get involved WITH. I do NOT like either party at the moment. Both parties are so incredibly polarized I can't say I agree by a long shot with either platform. There are things I like about both, and things that make me wanna smack them both. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I think we need a new party. I have no idea what to call it. Maybe the "Common Sense" party. Or the "Rational and Empirical Thinkers Party". Maybe just "The Moderate Party". </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I'll have to think for a bit on what all I'd want on the platform. I know we need to reform the education system. Big time. I know we need to massively reform the tax structure. We need to get the debt under control. I think the Constitution is an inspired guide to the spirit of how we should run our country, but I also believe that our forefathers allowed amendments to the Constitution for a reason. They recognized that as the country grew and changed that we would need for Constitution to grow and change with it. But I also think with modern technology there may need to carefully evaluate balance of power and responsibilities between the fed and the states. I'm all for the use of technology to enable transparency and accountability. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And thats all I've got for now. But I think I may be on to something here. Anybody else feel a grass roots movement coming on? </div>Amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00880759209065460946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4358726479073535150.post-41495857907162332622011-03-30T23:16:00.000-07:002011-03-30T23:16:07.603-07:00Progress on the YardI should have taken BEFORE pictures but I had a stupid so you'll just have to imagine the back yard FULL of thigh high weeds and the front yard completely barren except for the occasional weed... I've been busy lately.<br />
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This is the start of my bed of roses. That bush in the rear was practically dead by the front door when we bought the house. I transplanted it last year and got it to bloom for the first time. This year its looking even better. And the miniature rose in front is new this month.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioyVmqjmBoK9uWIanTdvaseKEm4HZ6JrfRQBZpAPOMdq5W0FdQnUhHWAkiogf3hkWd5OFk3lIOJA563Ug4kTFvcw_rWFU1ZnkOOrvdVIJ7v2-jR0HRFgBkgvqBYOea0hqQV-RAfirU1ZU/s1600/IMG_0232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioyVmqjmBoK9uWIanTdvaseKEm4HZ6JrfRQBZpAPOMdq5W0FdQnUhHWAkiogf3hkWd5OFk3lIOJA563Ug4kTFvcw_rWFU1ZnkOOrvdVIJ7v2-jR0HRFgBkgvqBYOea0hqQV-RAfirU1ZU/s400/IMG_0232.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I want to have rose bushes going all the way down that brick wall. The row of stones marks the lines of the lawn I'm hoping to seed by the end of the week.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshiBIaVDlg41-Z1N9j4NUGoL2l3jV6hgg09uHi0QTaXnrP2gU9i6RQS0LJCdnEkof0ZUVqjFmPLuq1vLzBuH79gfMHRISuylEMl8HaCKFhyJXXmp4ohCBlDaAVX4MRO-eq0hEpr9LaYo/s1600/IMG_0233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshiBIaVDlg41-Z1N9j4NUGoL2l3jV6hgg09uHi0QTaXnrP2gU9i6RQS0LJCdnEkof0ZUVqjFmPLuq1vLzBuH79gfMHRISuylEMl8HaCKFhyJXXmp4ohCBlDaAVX4MRO-eq0hEpr9LaYo/s400/IMG_0233.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love that tree. Its a Texas Mountain Laurel and has the most wonderful smelling big clumps of purple flowers!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiyET4ZSSsofTcTaSrRE_X9TxvAIXGo5kBEdDVasja9_jg6345unzjBjAg_iKotrpcOyADgJsY6mVMYpAp1wkmB__Fp84thIP9npawf2bdYOc17-HjRpxPE5eHi_advGHNOZLZ35FVYXI/s1600/IMG_0234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiyET4ZSSsofTcTaSrRE_X9TxvAIXGo5kBEdDVasja9_jg6345unzjBjAg_iKotrpcOyADgJsY6mVMYpAp1wkmB__Fp84thIP9npawf2bdYOc17-HjRpxPE5eHi_advGHNOZLZ35FVYXI/s400/IMG_0234.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
We have on going fantasies that the side of the yard there might one day be the home of a swing set or something equally exciting.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-9Bzim79qwocm6vTP3pIg0biO9Sn2IEWK0nlC24fC6yVKNuXrppCxJAhob7Xn2xIp3zi1AcHLedDhgG3tAk8fosr9K62xetkjfC4fPz9iANUnNmrFRtN_cQdBdUyVVBfMjIaIrmSL50/s1600/IMG_0235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-9Bzim79qwocm6vTP3pIg0biO9Sn2IEWK0nlC24fC6yVKNuXrppCxJAhob7Xn2xIp3zi1AcHLedDhgG3tAk8fosr9K62xetkjfC4fPz9iANUnNmrFRtN_cQdBdUyVVBfMjIaIrmSL50/s400/IMG_0235.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
And over here I'd love to put in some raised veggie garden beds.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSCzxy-9pwRoBFZzbZRmIb763ZKlYnxcgmwgCVVEoNnZEDmzDj8GTzvM3laZwyKSFS_XnhLaa_GNp39tOuckz0EwMKdfNETYuSY5bM0BnmIe0-UjJ2c96jlqNBHvPKsdkX99Cm2R4rNo/s1600/IMG_0236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSCzxy-9pwRoBFZzbZRmIb763ZKlYnxcgmwgCVVEoNnZEDmzDj8GTzvM3laZwyKSFS_XnhLaa_GNp39tOuckz0EwMKdfNETYuSY5bM0BnmIe0-UjJ2c96jlqNBHvPKsdkX99Cm2R4rNo/s400/IMG_0236.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Managed to get this all cleaned out. I hate looking out the window at bare fence tho. Someday I hope to grow some sort of pretty flowering vines up the fence opposite the windows. :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExEOtnhO3RaQelPDzwrzVYJ_8G4dRgbY66t9VpJbooyRV31AOVspkvGelhaKi55R7rJp8Z4MRFak9xKd-iAofxRkebIZof8j7JK5bKThXdVcA1Ioro1R-F0_xyMv8zamMfdWJfmqYIhg/s1600/IMG_0237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExEOtnhO3RaQelPDzwrzVYJ_8G4dRgbY66t9VpJbooyRV31AOVspkvGelhaKi55R7rJp8Z4MRFak9xKd-iAofxRkebIZof8j7JK5bKThXdVcA1Ioro1R-F0_xyMv8zamMfdWJfmqYIhg/s400/IMG_0237.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
You get a second shot here b/c the 1st one didn't show the bricks well. Those edge bricks used to be like falling off w/ and inch or two of weeds between them and the rest of the patio. I fixed it!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFQxezJMAi3ZhUre25MjmkvBvrhLizYwvqms3jcNvsX0EkPZgrRD6Nk4qqCCZXuYIc61vdxc9YfD6KmxPR9Pu5Q-gj0vYpra_ZK36wt3YNzf-gfinrc9K61SNRxinEbTZXS3rqS1_q-4/s1600/IMG_0238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFQxezJMAi3ZhUre25MjmkvBvrhLizYwvqms3jcNvsX0EkPZgrRD6Nk4qqCCZXuYIc61vdxc9YfD6KmxPR9Pu5Q-gj0vYpra_ZK36wt3YNzf-gfinrc9K61SNRxinEbTZXS3rqS1_q-4/s400/IMG_0238.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The Front yard. I just planted all the cacti/succulents yesterday!<br />
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I love my little Palo Verde trees! They're a thornless hybrid which is a big plus. I hate HATE hate the grey rock tho. Someday I have fantasies of replacing it w/ something prettier. I think a nice sandy colored gravel would look good. I'd also love to run a sand stone path from the side walk to the porch...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVhieJyai8vnKTYYRcLOvJ0A9XpIlzduZ4s8z-9tfMP4yLH5eo1ANEGJiV7X0aT74UIOs4T4b37LKJ2iOi7qO-b5d2IP1KWDW-PLbnLd3nbkESvsn-IprH2ROeh_ktfz5LxvWnv1C0sFQ/s1600/IMG_0423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVhieJyai8vnKTYYRcLOvJ0A9XpIlzduZ4s8z-9tfMP4yLH5eo1ANEGJiV7X0aT74UIOs4T4b37LKJ2iOi7qO-b5d2IP1KWDW-PLbnLd3nbkESvsn-IprH2ROeh_ktfz5LxvWnv1C0sFQ/s400/IMG_0423.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00880759209065460946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4358726479073535150.post-14973064997807150202011-03-16T08:55:00.001-07:002011-03-16T08:56:03.477-07:00To Fly With A BabyI had a Facebook friend ask the world for advice on flying w/ her 13 month old. And I discovered I had quite a lot of advice to give, so I thought I'd expand it a bit and make a blog post out of it for posterity.<br />
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I've flown with Caleb a dozen times now. I take a backpack (my laptop, meds, jewelry, and a book for me, lipgloss, a change of clothes for me AND him and my wallet) and a diaper bag and my full size stroller. I check the car seat in w/ my bags and take the stroller with me to the gate and then gate check it when I board. You'll need to get a gate check tag from the gate people when you get down there.<br />
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If you wanna bring any milk/water/formula/baby food through security the phrase you need to get past TSA is "Nursery Water" for water or "its for the baby". Fair warning they are liable to want to open ALL of it and check it so make sure you have ziplock bags b/c one time they made me open sealed baby food jars and then they came open in my diaper bag and I was NOT a happy person.<br />
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Also they will want you to take off the kids shoes when they make you take yours off to go through the scanners. And it will save time if you put all the food stuff you can in one or two gallon sized ziplocks so when you put the diaper bag in a bin to go through the scanners, pull that bag out and put it in the side of the same bin and they're less liable to FREAK on you than if they find it on the scanners. <br />
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I recommend like one or two FAVORITE toys and then get some new stuff. Books he hasn't seen before or coloring books, I swear by my mini magnadoodle thing I got for 5 bucks at walmart. You NEED to keep him sucking on the way up and the way down. I've done pacifiers, my fingers, sippy cups, crackers, ANYTHING. Otherwise the kid will SCREAM. A sweet treat he doesn't usually get can save you.<br />
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I also like to do a diaper change just before we board. Time it for about 40 mins before take off and you should be good. Diaper changes ON the plane are NO fun.<br />
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Also I tend to let the kid run around as much as he wants while we're sitting waiting at the gate because once we're on the plane I'm going to NEED him to sit still so I like him to get the wiggles out while he can. Otherwise just try your hardest to be calm and happy and super affectionate and that will help him to keep it cool. They need to wiggle so bouncing, rocking, letting him stand up on your lap and sing songs in public even will help keep him happy.<br />
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I know this is LONG but I always have people compliment me on how good he was during the flight and its taken me a bit to figure ALL of this out so I thought I'd share. <br />
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One final anecdote - there is ALWAYS one kid in the back of the plane who screams their little lungs out the whole damn flight. One time I had this person RIGHT behind me so I was able to hear what was going on. By the end of it I desperately wanted to smack her mother. The little girl was 2 and her Mom was completely unreasonable in her expectations for the child. Her expectations were appropriate for say a 5 year old, but telling a 2 year old not to fidget and to sit perfectly still in her car seat is not a reasonable expectation.<br />
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Yes she does have to stay in her car seat during take off and landing, but otherwise if she can sit in Mom's lap or climb over to Dad's lap and stand up and take a look around the plane she's gonna be happy, and most importantly QUIET than if you try to keep her strapped in that seat, with NOTHING to do for 3 hours and tell her she's not even allowed to kick her feet. The Mom kept complaining to the Dad, "OMG Shes just being SO unreasonable!" And I was thinking "Of COURSE she's unreasonable, she's TWO. Its your job to help her get the wiggles out in a safe, appropriate way.<br />
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The plane is something new and different and exciting. They're going to want to cling to you and get a look around and heck they're gonna want to explore this new place, and while that last one isn't so much doable you can at least let them stand up and take a peek.Amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00880759209065460946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4358726479073535150.post-20725801037488591562011-03-01T23:32:00.000-07:002011-03-01T23:32:36.177-07:00Caleb at 21 MonthsHe's growing so fast and he's so smart it takes my breath away.<br />
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Caleb is developing socially. He loves other little kids and is developing absolutely adorable little friendships with the other little kids in nursery at church. They are all excited to see each other and give each other hugs to say hello. I'm told he plays well with others and is a delight to have in class.<br />
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He's also inventing his own words for things. In spite of all my attempts to teach him the words "More", "food", "drink", "bite", "milk" etc, he has decided that the correct word for any and all of the above is "Guhk". If he wants a bite, if he wants a drink, if he likes it and wants more the correct way to ask is "Guhk!". Good to know.<br />
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And while Caleb LOVES to play with other people (grown ups, kids or animals) he will happily play by himself for extended periods of time. He sings little songs and laughs and talks. He likes to crawl up in the rocking chair and rock himself while he reads books to himself.<br />
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He loves to watch his cartoons in the morning while he drinks his morning sippy. We watch PBS Kids and his favorites are "Super Why!", "Dinosaur Train", "Sid the Science Kid" and "Word World". He's fascinated and loves to sing along and try to help out and participate in the shows. Its friggin adorable to watch.<br />
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Mr. Caleb is also learning his letters. He can point out and clearly say A, I, O, T, G, N, D. He LOVES kitties and puppies and will happily point to pictures or videos or the actual animals and he'll shout "Meow!" or "Woof!" or "Kitty!" or "Goggie!" as is appropriate.<br />
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Caleb is an adventuresome eater with a wide palate. He hasn't met a fruit he doesn't like and he'll eat most veggies. It can be a challenge sometimes to get him to eat meat but he's a serious cheese eater. And he's definitely got his fathers sweet tooth. So its a good thing he doesn't get them often because once he does identify something as sweet there is no rest until he either gets it or it mysteriously disappears. Scarcity is our friend is this case.<br />
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Mr. KB is so super affectionate. He'll come running to throw his arms around me. He gives kisses and cuddles and hugs. He'll blow kisses from across the room and he loves to cuddle and read books or sing songs. He is truly a delightful child and I am so honored and grateful to be his Mom. He is my sunshine boy and he couldn't get more wonderful.Amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00880759209065460946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4358726479073535150.post-43137044520496191932011-02-15T02:17:00.000-07:002011-02-15T02:17:39.087-07:00Ami Turns 29.... for the first timeIts kinda cool. I just had a birthday and now I will never age again. No.... I'll just have anniversaries of my 29th birthday. I think I can handle this. ;)<br />
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So I was fortunate to receive a replacement to my aged camera for my birthday from my very generous parents with the condition that they get lots and lots of pictures of the grandbaby on a regular basis. I will have you know that with in 24 hours of my receiving my gift they received this bunch of pics taken at a little shindig Bill and Jo threw for me at their house!<br />
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Be amazed - Caleb photos TWICE in less than a month. I know. I know. Try to contain your excitement. ;)<br />
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This here is Mr. Caleb investigating the side yard by the tennis court.<br />
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And I was checking out the Macro mode on my new camera by taking pictures of these TINY but GORGEOUS flowers growing up the wall in the side yard.<br />
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Mr. Caleb running around the tennis court! Camera also handles action shots nicely.<br />
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Caleb got interested in what Mom was doing and tried to scale the fence (with some help from Uncle Mark).<br />
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Tell me thats not one of the cutest faces you've ever seen! You can see whats left of his black eye. Got his first big shiner this week. He was playing on the love seat and totally face planted on the hard back edge of the sofa. Poor Caleb was seriously unhappy until I gave him an ice pack to play with. It was supposed to go on his face but he decided playing with it was a much better option.<br />
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And me with my birthday cake:<br />
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The cake was super tasty and very pretty.<br />
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Mr. Caleb was playin w/ Aunt Natalie's sun glasses. I think he looks like a cool dude myself...<br />
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Uncle Mark provided a lot of entertainment by thoughtfully unplugging this phone so that Caleb could play with it all he wanted. He had a blast.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5s-ZUpxxWLlp2f6X8bnAYrW-GV2XS4iSEuJzHyJdsLLKAMImKzvmZP1vYVrBVpSliFpHviu_WmH41rkbeLDXfHnULlhqSHUUZdDu9jx5EhHl-SjwlfcszYgTDkTsZIwG-4tpNkpHpy4/s1600/IMG_0018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5s-ZUpxxWLlp2f6X8bnAYrW-GV2XS4iSEuJzHyJdsLLKAMImKzvmZP1vYVrBVpSliFpHviu_WmH41rkbeLDXfHnULlhqSHUUZdDu9jx5EhHl-SjwlfcszYgTDkTsZIwG-4tpNkpHpy4/s400/IMG_0018.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00880759209065460946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4358726479073535150.post-78445212592410728602011-02-03T02:43:00.000-07:002011-02-03T02:43:31.382-07:00Caleb 19 MonthsWell Mr. Caleb has done growed again! And a friend of mine was sweet enough to catch these pics of Caleb with her camera and even sweeter to let me copy them to my computer! So since it has been FAR, far too long since you guys got a glimpse of his cuteness here are some pics of Caleb from last month!<br />
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This first shot was taken the day after Christmas actually. He was walking around talking on the phone. He just loves that little Elmo phone. I felt like I was listening in on a conversation in a foreign language. I could only understand about every 5th word.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfshyEnyQhgb2WO4cs84-VwqovHwMl15Aq1TMcvvUq7ADzb1QbggneigzMvJU7dVE1-MTRqGHgBg2E7ecmfM6ufqVQwfx0Bi4r7cLLeeWrThazMGQBw3jC1DbhAovpIUlV4Jsbb10Oslc/s1600/SAM_0088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfshyEnyQhgb2WO4cs84-VwqovHwMl15Aq1TMcvvUq7ADzb1QbggneigzMvJU7dVE1-MTRqGHgBg2E7ecmfM6ufqVQwfx0Bi4r7cLLeeWrThazMGQBw3jC1DbhAovpIUlV4Jsbb10Oslc/s400/SAM_0088.jpg" width="243" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And here we are being silly at a restaurant up the road. We grabbed dessert with 2 friends of mine and Mr. Caleb was being cute while we were waiting for the food to arrive. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDu8p_jHMpVT8_f4aZTC-Usv4Mg2PAteAtF0ru1GcOrGaKtZsDLb6YnMyAqjeVIAKhNPkEP-4IzJc3li7RR2YTu1gx6zMSI-lDunN3tcdZPe5d2c-ZSkFyhcDMFth4feu1DF6uik9wjQ/s1600/SAM_0132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDu8p_jHMpVT8_f4aZTC-Usv4Mg2PAteAtF0ru1GcOrGaKtZsDLb6YnMyAqjeVIAKhNPkEP-4IzJc3li7RR2YTu1gx6zMSI-lDunN3tcdZPe5d2c-ZSkFyhcDMFth4feu1DF6uik9wjQ/s400/SAM_0132.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Caleb was no content to flirt from the far side of the table. So since the table was still food free he got away with crawling across the thing to be cute. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEhUmGEy_NjOwryOoc1D54_2zZSMWFAwJTWgFDGTRT7NK0goUMj-Q2JFZuEBdCH5M8pQV_feh64GMSM1O92u-pXG9l6sux9srL_vF979Z5iYaFsaZZ1hpDTDNUbgMTGbky2BGjZPoWVs/s1600/SAM_0137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEhUmGEy_NjOwryOoc1D54_2zZSMWFAwJTWgFDGTRT7NK0goUMj-Q2JFZuEBdCH5M8pQV_feh64GMSM1O92u-pXG9l6sux9srL_vF979Z5iYaFsaZZ1hpDTDNUbgMTGbky2BGjZPoWVs/s400/SAM_0137.jpg" width="361" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">He's only slightly pleased with himself. lol</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hwtTLVs1PtZX0rXlLb_qhqRwag9MvitYXUOJxsrTJVpQsMG0S3ubFimtVzCx6c9BuEsaJ5TlIUiqhHNYHcaxvM7vlcEN9UGtWELoKeLnIvCUubxOk6Zn4uEoY00equrFV-cEEKsmrc4/s1600/SAM_0139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hwtTLVs1PtZX0rXlLb_qhqRwag9MvitYXUOJxsrTJVpQsMG0S3ubFimtVzCx6c9BuEsaJ5TlIUiqhHNYHcaxvM7vlcEN9UGtWELoKeLnIvCUubxOk6Zn4uEoY00equrFV-cEEKsmrc4/s400/SAM_0139.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWvDuXxx7jFCdDfd_jAjGmLHMJa6K66b9aAe2amiN2JbDDkDZvfduTaWfCmcp6fOJdwgMaVkUXbxT2aYwDJ9jrblrbB5YJ40yV7n_f-ZOcegwg8R_HefWLfjDkF2UL4FOP4Jf6FkawJI/s1600/SAM_0142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWvDuXxx7jFCdDfd_jAjGmLHMJa6K66b9aAe2amiN2JbDDkDZvfduTaWfCmcp6fOJdwgMaVkUXbxT2aYwDJ9jrblrbB5YJ40yV7n_f-ZOcegwg8R_HefWLfjDkF2UL4FOP4Jf6FkawJI/s400/SAM_0142.jpg" width="255" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Caleb prefers the milk goatee to the milk mustache. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimm1eRlbtvNfh6p3d1EVmMMN2GCjoXCm0wk66btCuRgl6fKngfX5h2yQPltTO5BzkGcvOR-lfLJMhxsu2m2XfEOjwnB8Jo8MlcmC728CLazBzbuvro6msC0hZgWvIb4PnLeN8O88qaz9M/s1600/SAM_0151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimm1eRlbtvNfh6p3d1EVmMMN2GCjoXCm0wk66btCuRgl6fKngfX5h2yQPltTO5BzkGcvOR-lfLJMhxsu2m2XfEOjwnB8Jo8MlcmC728CLazBzbuvro6msC0hZgWvIb4PnLeN8O88qaz9M/s400/SAM_0151.jpg" width="327" /></a></div>Amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00880759209065460946noreply@blogger.com0