I've Been Watching Too Much TV

Kids TV, that is.

We've been doing a pretty good job of limiting LBB's tv watching to 2 hours or so a day lately. But when he was sick, that is all he did. All. Day. Long.

So that's what I did. All. Day. Long. :)

Some thoughts that passed through my head during our tv-athon:

• Elmo can be sooooooo condescending. Case in point: "Why don"t we ask a baaaaab-y? Baby, how do you get dressed? {Tosses hat on baby's lap. Baby stares at him.} Hahahahahahahaha!" Geez, Elmo. Does it make you feel better to pick on a baby? Bully. 
• Have you seen Color Crew? It's a show about crayons. That color. Pretty simple concept. But the crayons, especially the blue one, are little....creepy. Then there's the eraser...he looks and sounds evil. And don't even get me started on the fact that they don't talk (besides to say the color name.) My LBB has enough issues with not talking...I don't need the little bit of tv he watches to encourage that.
• I have MAJOR issues with Chuck and Friends. I get that it's a show about friendship...and bulldozers. What boy wouldn't love that? But here's the deal. I'm NOT ok with how they portray friendship. Am I the only Mom that has a problem with the fact that Chuck is the worshipped friend while the other trucks fade into the background and praise everything he  does, including the (let's be honest) stupid and misbehaving stuff? To make matters worse, Chuck's mom Haulie totally encourages his behavior. In the most irritating episode I've seen, Chuck gets a new horn. Chuck's other friend gets a new siren and a new voice changer. Pretty cool. Now Chuck arrives to the junk yard as his friend is sharing his new siren and voice changer, and gets royally upset that HE wasn't the center of attention. He goes back to his mom's shop (pouting of course) and she asks him: "What's wrong? Didn't you show your friends your new horn?"  I have a major issue with this. It drives me crazy when Moms thinks it's a-ok to just bring their kids around to other kids and show off their new things. And I have an even bigger problem when they encourage their kids to feel that they are more important than their friends. At the end of that episode, Chuck apologizes to his friend for getting upset that he wasn't the center of attention (and stealing his big brothers wheels to try to show off even more). THEN...for some reason, his friend apologizes to him for showing his friends his siren and voice changer and sharing with their friends. WHAT? It's ok to share new toys, which is what his friend was doing, but it's where it's coming from. If you are showing to share, ok. (That's what his friend did.) If you are showing to show off and make yourself look cool, not ok. (Which is what Chuck was doing.) Ugh. Sorry about that...it's a touchy subject. Haha.
• We love Curious George. I love his curiosity.  I love that he uses great problem solving skills. And I think LBB really relates to him. But. What does The Man in the Yellow Hat do for a living? I am sure it has something to do with the museum, but he never goes to work there for long periods of time. He must have money, because his apartment is pretty awesome, and he's got that country place. The country place is apparently his family's. He makes a reference to his childhood there when George finds his old bike. But, his mom is still alive because he emails her. So...how does that all work? At first I thought he his family was dead or something, but I'm realizing that's probably not the case. Any thoughts?
• And my favorite show to let LBB watch? The Backyardigans. Hands down the best, in my humble opinion. Imagination, friendship (the good kind), and outside play? You can't beat that. I love that not all of them play together in every episode...it teaches little ones that it's ok to make other friends. I love that they use their imagniations to have fun adventures. I love that each character is absolutely unique. And I love that at the end of the show, they go to a different friend's house each time for snack. Such a good good show. There is singing and dancing, and my LBB just adores that. :) 

So, that's that. My random thoughts that have been building up in my brain. :) Thanks for reading, and thanks for going through the whole Chuck & Friends rant. Wowzers. :)

What I Love About Having a 2 Year Old

I read THIS blog post today, and loved it. It really made me stop for a minute and think about all the wonderful things I love about this stage.

• Watching his imagination unfold. He loves to pretend that he is grabbing the moon or lifting the trees off the side of the road while we drive, then he hands them to us like he is handing something really heavy over.
• Seeing him learn something new everyday. I love when he does a new trick. Learns a new color. Or says a phrase.
• The super big hugs and sloppy kisses.
• Hearing "I got it." For EVERYTHING. His independence can be a bit overwhelming at times, but I love seeing it blossom.
• Hours and hours of trains and cars. Our life revolves around the train table and his car playrug.
• His sense of humor...he has a sense of humor that is amazingly hilarious. He is a master of irony. He went with Dear Sweet Hubby to a store that Dear Sweet Hubby used to work at, and while in there, LBB said, "Oh my. Mesth. (Mess)" And then when we left he was quietly giggling in the back seat saying, "Oh my, Dada work. Mesth." So funny.
• I love the attention he shows to the things he loves. 
• His quirks may be numerous, and he definitely is on the extreme side of things a lot (even compared to most other toddlers), but those quirks make him the unique little guy that he is. They make him see the world in a different light, and as a result, makes us see things in a different light.

I could go on and on. The tough days are tough. (Today was one of them.) But, the wonderful days are over the moon wonderful. There are some unanswered questions about his behavior that we need to talk to his doctor about, but mostly to find ways to help him through the bad days. This stage is so much fun, and even with it's daily challenges I couldn't be happier. I'm trying very hard to remember that each stage of childhood passes so quickly, and making a list like this is definitely a good way to remember that.

What do you love about the age your child is at right now?

The Super-Mom Myth

I've been thinking a lot this morning. Nothing new, I suppose, but I was thinking of the whole super-mom concept. Then I hopped online for a little bit, and came across this lovely post called "Your Children Want YOU!" over at The Power of Moms.

Everything she wrote went along with what I'd been pondering over earlier today.

Super-Mom.

Society would have us believe that we need to "do it all" as Moms. Clean house. Perfectly dressed kids. Always on the go. Involved in 18 gazillion activities. Homecooked meals with fancy desserts from fresh, organic, and local foods. Yadda, yadda, yadda.

And that post I read today is so right...we live in a era of social media, and it's even easier now to get sucked into what we aren't doing and what we need to do better.

Now, don't get me wrong. I love making delicious meals from organic and local foods. I love having a clean and lovely house. I love doing new things with my LBB and introducing him to the world around us. I love when LBB wears dapper little clothes and his face is spotless and his hair is staying in place (even if it's just for a moment.)

But.

I also love lazy days when we watch too much tv. I love hearing his giggles as he see Blue doing something funny with Steve. I love the super-duper, extra cuddles we share during those lazy days.

I love hanging out in his room playing for endless hours. I love pretending we are chefs. I love playing with his imaginext ninjas. I love building boats out of his blocks.

I love when we spend a whole day with Dear Sweet Hubby doing absolutely nothing. I love when we all take a nap on a sunny afternoon.

And you know what? Sometimes, among all that stuff, things get messy in the house. Dishes don't get done right away. Here's the thing though...at the end of the day, that stuff can get cleaned up. I don't need to be following him around picking up every single mess I see. Sometimes I get trapped into cleaning when I'm supposed to be playing.

Why?

Because I worry. I worry that if someone came over, they'd think less of me if my house was messy. I worry that when Dear Sweet Hubby gets home from work he'd be slightly irritated if things were less than perfect. I worry that if my mom stops by and sees my house slightly messy, she'll think I am a terrible mom.

WHY?

Why do I think these things? First of all, none of them are true. My true friends don't care what my house looks like. Dear Sweet Hubby probably wouldn't even notice...he's just glad to see us and be home from work. And my Mom raised me. She dealt with my messy room when I was a kid. :)

God wants me to keep an orderly home, and I do. We don't live in a pig-sty, but we definitely don't live in a palace. Things aren't alphabetized like they used to be before I had LBB, but they don't need to be.

Society has one idea of "Super Mom". But my little guy's idea of me, now that's what matters. I want to be his "Super Mom."

Now, I'm not saying my house is a disaster and that it's ok to not do anything. I love to have a clean house. I love to decorate. I love to do crafts. But I don't want all that to consume me.


I looked up "Super Mom" on Urban Dictionary, and this is what the entry said:

"Fun, energetic Moms who love parenting. Not the stereotype of the women who wear pearls and greet their mate at the door with a casserole in hand, these moms have thrown off the pearls and donned jeans and t-shirts instead. The habitat they are most likely to be found in is the playground, the grocery store in the organic produce section, the closest library or participating with their kids in any fun activity you can think of.

Not to be confused with Moms who think they are wearing proverbial capes and can "do it all". Super Moms are just having super fun!"

Now, I like that.

That's a good definition for Super Mom, and one that I think my LBB would agree with. :)

Letting Him Help

One thing I'm discovering about this whole "terrific two's" stage:

Helping is fun.

LBB adores helping. He adores being part of what Mommy and Daddy are doing. And, he adores feeling like a big boy.

The other day, he jumped at the chance to help make orange juice. :) I showed him how to push the orange slice down, and he had so much fun "squeezing" his orange juice. (I definitely had to help though to make sure we got all the juice out.)

Now, each morning when he wants his orange juice, he quickly drags a chair into the kitchen to help.

The same day he helped make his orange juice, he enthusiastically joined me in the kitchen to prepare dinner. While the 30 minutes or so of dinner prep usually involve him being very rambunctious and all over the house, this time, he spent the whole time in the kitchen with me. Completely focused. And very content. He helped put the chopped potatoes in the bowl, and loved helping with the other prep. LBB is very good about knowing what is "HOT" and what is "OWIE", and we're very vigilant about making sure all possible dangers are out of reach.

And of course, anything that involves helping with dirt is a BIG hit among the two year old crowd in our home.

We started our tomato, carrot, cilantro, and basil seeds yesterday, and LBB got a big kick out of pouring the dirt in the trays and pinching the seeds and putting them in the pods. I have a feeling this summer I will have a LOT of help in tending our garden. :)

Sometimes it's easy as parents to discredit how much it means to toddlers to let them help. They are budding little spirits, so full of life and energy, and so very curious about the world around them. Letting them get dirty, have fun, and dig their tiny hands into projects is important to them (and is part of what makes being a parent so wonderful.)

Letting your toddler know that you enjoy having them help is one of the greatest things we can do for them. Letting them know that you believe in their growing capabilities begins now, but doesn't stop even when they are older. And letting them have that quality time where they are learning from you? Well, it doesn't get any better than that.

Sometimes, it's easy to describe this stage as "terrible two's", but it's not that at all. Sure, there are those tantrums and the stubbornness, but all in all, this is such a wonderful time of tremendous growth. It's a chance for us as parents to really get to know our little ones and see what makes them tick.

Often times, when we're having a cranky day, it's because we spent way too much time sitting and far too little time exploring. Exploring the world around us. Exploring nature. Exploring art. And even exploring new ways of playing with the same "old" trains and tractors. :)

Let's learn a lesson from our toddlers...never stop being curious. Explore, explore, explore.

Trying to Find a Little Sanity Amidst the Chaos

Dear Sweet Hubby has been working 65 hours a week. LBB has been full of energy and exploring non-stop. And I've been trying to keep up with them, keeping the house clean and orderly, making healthy meals (most of the time), and trying to be the best Mommy and Wife that I can be.

Anyone who is a Mommy and Wife can agree with me here:

Sometimes, that feels impossible.

Lately I've felt that I'm just not doing enough. That I'm not playing enough. Being patient enough. Listening enough. Relaxing enough. Enjoying enough. Praying enough.

You name it. I don't feel like I'm up to par.

And then it dawned on me. I'm trying to do it all on my own. Sure, Dear Sweet Hubby is here for me. Family is here for me. But amidst all the chaos, all the busyness...I've been forgetting to give it to God.

So here I sit tonight. Pondering. Thinking. Praying. Reading.

And I came across this verse:

"Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me." Psalm 54:4


I sure could use some "sustaining" right now. When all that sounds good is a lazy day curled up in bed with nowhere to go, but when reality is busy days filled with lots of love and adventure (because I'm not complaining about the days, just the feeling of chaos), I could use some sustaining. When I feel like I've been cleaning up messes from sunup to sundown, only to turn around and find a new one, I could use some sustaining. When Dear Sweet Hubby lets me know he has to work late again and LBB is already set on wanting Daddy home right now, I could use some sustaining.

It's in those moments that I HAVE to remember to give it to God. I have to remember to pray to Him in the midst of the chaos. I have to remember that He is the One who sustains me. He is the One that can take those extra worries away. He is the One that can give me the patience I so desperately need. He is the One that can make me see these chaotic days as the gift that they truly are.

And then?

That's when I can play more. Enjoy more. Relax more. Laugh more. Marvel more. And just plain be in the moment and not constantly trying to take care of 10,000 things at once.

LBB is NOT Happy With Me

I made him go to bed. On time.

And, despite his repeated efforts, with a minimal amount of bedtime tv.

Sigh.

He's been playing this game the past few nights where we give him his bedtime snack, he doesn't touch it, and then as we say "It's time for bed" (with multiple "warnings" in between), he immediately starts fussing that he's hungry and wants his snack. So...we give in. What parent wants to send their kid to bed hungry?

Tonight, I let him have his favorite snack. He ate one bite and then ignored it, but as soon as I said bedtime, guess who was starving. And for toast. Because, you know, you have to cook toast.

So, I brought him in his room. Gave him a piece of toast, and said we could read a story while he ate his toast. LBB was not a fan of that. But, after 5 minutes of yelling in his room, he is now quiet.

He's either asleep (which is very possible...his eyes were closed as he was yelling), or he's eating the piece of toast I left in there for him. Sigh. I hate rough nightimes. :-(

But, I know he's just testing us to see what we'll let him get away with...but I can say, I do hope he sleeps through the night tonight. For some reason he's reverting back to waking up multiple times a night. Yawn. This momma is beat.

What bedtime stall tactics do your kiddos have? I thought I was good at stalling for bedtime when I was little, but LBB has me beat. :)

Phew!

This has been a busy morning...

We took 5 rubbermaids, a backpack carrier, pack n' play, exersaucer, and a few other big toys, sorted through them, and Dear Sweet Hubby is bringing them to the kids consignment shop (but not really one because they pay up front).

That's 2 years worth of sweet baby boy stuff. :) But...it's really doing no good taking up storage space in the garage and play space in his room, especially with his Birthday and Christmas coming.

I always have a hard time going through his things, so I tend to save more than I sell, but this time we finally are at a point where we know that despite our attempts to get pregnant with a second blessing, there is no telling when or if that will actually happen...so what is the point of holding onto all that stuff?

I ended up keeping one rubbermaid's worth of stuff of LBB's...the cute little sleepers he was so cuddly in as a newborn. The adorable little blue suede boots that looked so dapper on his tiny feet. And the sweet little rattle he always had to hold onto. :) It was a hard morning in some aspects, but freeing at the same time. Now, our little guy is surrounded with toys that are evidence of his "big boy" status.

And while I know 2 is still very young, it's so much different from when he was first born. He plays with trains. He builds with duplos. He uses construction equipment like it's meant to be used. He races Hot Wheels.

He's a big boy.

Definitely not my little 8 pound bundle that I was holding in my arms 2 years ago. As his birthday nears, I've been filled with nostalgia and trying to steal as many hugs as I can.

They really do grow up too fast...here's to slowing down and enjoying each and every moment. :)

I Think Too Much

And when I think too much, my brain starts to argue with itself, and I end up being up at 1:15 am listening to the two sides of my brain argue back and forth.

Sheesh. Quiet down, thoughts. ;)

Well, really, I'm up right now because LBB was fussing just a bit and I'm making sure he gets back to sleep ok. Before that, I was just getting ready to stop spending way too much time on pinterest and head to bed. Really. I was. (OK...I may be fibbing. If you hear of a "Pinterest Anonymous" group let me know...I might know someone who could use a little help.)

But, then LBB fussed because he fell asleep in front of his bedroom door, which I am sure is not comfortable after a while. The worst thing? He CHOOSES to fall asleep there. We put him back in bed, and he immediately tried going back to the door (while he was still mostly asleep, mind you). He even managed to argue that he wanted to sleep by the door.

Sorry, Buster. Not gonna happen.

And trying to get him back in bed is not easy when he falls asleep by the door. Mostly because he literally falls asleep-RIGHT BY THE DOOR! As in, most of the time his sweet little face is 1 inch from it. So, thankfully I am still pretty skinny and can squeeze my way through a 5 inch opening (I think I may try out for Cirque de Soleil...I'm sure that is one of their acts), because if not he'd be sleeping by the door everynight. I always have to stick my arm in, turn and scootch him over a bit without waking him, make sure his face isn't pushed against the door, and then shimmy through the doorway. I don't know why he likes to sleep there...I'm sure it partly has to do with the fact that all his Cars are in their door organizer and he loves to drive them around while he falls asleep. I think it may also be due to the fact that he can then hear Mommy and Daddy while he nods off. And...he's LBB and LBB does things a little differently sometimes.

Do your kiddles have any strange sleeping habits? Please make me feel better here and leave a comment! :)

But for now, I think LBB is asleep, so I'm going to go hit the sack too. Hopefully my brain decides to cooperate...I'm tired of listening to it argue back and forth. ;) Goodnight!

(And I suppose since it is technically Sunday, I should do my thankful thought....but I'm tired. And if I blog it right now, it will be "I'm thankful for my pillow, my blanket, and my fat white cat that likes to cuddle up at bedtime." I think that's a pretty good thankful thought, but I'll get back on here later today when I'm not half asleep.)

A big thankful thought...and then a small thankful musing

Thankful thought no. 4:

I'm thankful that God blessed me with a husband who holds my hand when I am sad, pulls me close, and says it will all be ok. I'm thankful that I've been blessed with a husband that reminds me how blessed I am, just when I need to hear it, and not in a "You shouldn't be whining" kind of way. And I'm thankful that the husband I've been blessed with can focus on me when I know he is a sad about the same thing.

And to add to today's thankful thought...I'm thankful for my amazing Mom that lets me call her at 11:45 at night when I am in tears just to tell me that it will be ok. (And friends, please don't worry much...everything is fine. Just a little sad, is all.) Thank you, Mom. :)

And not on my list of thankful thoughts, I suppose, but I had to write about it tonight because it was one of those moments that made my heart melt into one giant puddle of Mommy goop.

Sunshine spilling on my sweet little boy's blonde noggin. Pine needles tickling his face. And a smile that can make any sad thought go away.

My sweet baby is not such a baby anymore...he is growing and becoming a sweet boy. He played underneath the big pine tree outside his window today...joyously running around the trunk. Pushing his Cars through the pine needles. And watching in awe as the first bird came to the birdfeeder he and Daddy made.

I'm blessed, and I know that. I struggle sometimes, wishing for something that is seemingly not meant to be right now. My human ways search for understanding, and when it can't be found, my frail heart begins to doubt.

But then, my sweet son hugs me and gives me sweet eskimo kisses. And I can hear God telling me that it will all be ok.

I apologize for the forlorn post tonight...thank you for reading it...and I promise soon I'll be back to normal.

Good night, dear reader.

I literally unplugged the television...

...and hid it in my room.

LBB has a slight addiction with TV. Ok. I correct myself. EXTREME obsession with TV. So, on Saturday, I called our cable provider and cut us down to basic cable. (I realized we spent too much time in the evening watching shows when we could be doing other things after LBB went to bed.) On the plus side, hello more time together, less annoying background noise, and about $100 extra a month. Sounds good to me.

And then, this morning, LBB woke up raring to go. At the lovely hour of 4 am. See, LBB doesn't care that we practically eliminated cable, because LBB has a plethora of DVDs to watch...and watch them he does. Now, I can defend myself (slightly) and say that all but one that he regularly watches(Cars, of course) is educational. And of course, I will also state that the majority of the time it was on as background noise.

HOWEVER...

I'm not a big fan of being woken up at 4 am to watch "MiMi's" (firetrucks). I always said when I worked at a big orange retail store that once I quit there I would not wake up before 6 am unless it was for a very good reason.

Firetrucks are not a very good reason, unless they are in my parking lot putting out a fire.

And it was then, as LBB sat yelling because I wouldn't turn that black rectangle that sits prevalently in the living room, that I was convinced LBB had an addiction. And as Mommy, it's my job to reign it in. I tried distracting him. Calming him down. And then, after loads of him yelling, I stood up, disconnected the cables, unplugged it, and put it in my room. And here it sits, unplugged and feeling slightly neglected. :)

For a whole entire day. That's right. LBB went a full day without one single moment of television. And oh, goodness, it was wonderful.

He was less cranky (although he is cranky due to a lovely 2 year molar trying to pop through). He played ALL day. He laughed. He danced. He painted. He played by himself off and on, giving me time to organize my entire craft closet. He learned how to jump. He read TONS of books. He took a very decent 2 1/2 hour nap that Mommy used to catch up on some sleep herself. He had loads of fun in preschool. And he even snuggled with me on multiple occasions. :)

Now...this is only for a few days that the TV hides out in our room. Once we know he's gotten it under wraps a bit, we'll put it back out there, and really stick to our guns on TV time. Some rules we decided on:

1. I am going to make a TV cover. Just something that covers the screen (and doesn't look hideous.) When the TV is covered up, no TV. Period.



2. 30 minutes before dinner. Most days, LBB's choice of what he watches, but if we checked out a DVD that has to do with school that day, then Mommy chooses. And after the 30 minutes, TV is turned off, cover put back on, and that is that.



3. On certain occasions, TV can be a reward...like "LBB, please do such and such." And if he does, 15 minutes of whatever he wants to watch.
   


4. One episode of Veggie Tales on Sunday. That can be his "Saturday morning" cartoons. :)



5. And last, but certainly not least...family movie night once a week. Mommy, Daddy, and LBB have yummy snacks, put our PJ's on, and watch a fun movie. Even if it is Cars each week, that is fine.

I'm not kidding when I tell you that he would easily watch Cars 2 times a day, his Mighty Machines movies for the first 2 hours he was awake, and then random things in between. He would play sometimes while he watched, but not like he should have been. I love watching him learn from these shows (like I Wanna Be a Fireman and whatnot), but it has to be in moderation!!!!

Today was wonderful. It was nice not having it on. And when I told Dear Sweet Hubby that I had told LBB that he could watch TV a little before bedtime, even he said "You know, why don't we try to pass on it tonight." :) (My Dear Sweet Hubby also has a weakness for television.) I'm so glad we did. LBB was read two books by Daddy, snuggled on the couch, and had his yogurt. A wonderful ending to a wonderful day. :)

Fingers crossed tomorrow goes just as well. :)

I finally did it...

...I bought my first pair of "Mom jeans." Sigh.

I fought it for a while. I kept squeezing my post-pregnancy body into pre-pregnancy jeans, pretending that they fit just the same. But...as jeans got worn out and my closet dwindles down to nothing, I realized that it was high time to invest in a new pair of jeans.

And by invest, I mean spend as little as possible on a pair of jeans that suitably fits me. And that's tough...before LBB, when I was working full time and Dear Sweet Hubby was working full time, and when we didn't flinch at using those stupid credit cards, I didn't bat an eye spending $80 on a pair of jeans. Now though? Totally different story.

So, off I went to Target (to get eggs...which I forgot and had to make a second trip to the grocery store for.) While LBB and Dear Sweet Hubby looked at toys, I hunted through the clothes department.

And literally tried almost every jean on. Ugh. Not one of them fit right. I tried two dresses on. (They were cute, but still kind of "eh") I tried on a cute leggings and shirt outfit that I may go back and get. But I walked in and out of that dressing room at least 6 times. And then finally...I walked past them for the last time and picked them up.

Tummy slimming. Lifting. And one size larger that my worn out jeans. I sighed. Shuffled to the dressing room. And tried them on.

And they fit. :)

Of course they did. They are made for Moms, right? But I do have to say...aside from knowing that the waist is a bit higher than my low rise pre-child jeans, they are just as cute. Make me feel just as comfortable.

And cost me WAY less. So, here I am, Mom-Jeans world. :)

Although I do have a goal to find a cute pair of skinny jeans that I can wear with my boots...that's my next quest. Wish me luck.

I'm at a Crossroads

LBB has a few toys left in the house that he has had since he was little...we're talking first Christmas little. So, almost two years now. And he's getting to a point where he doesn't play with them often, and just as I'm thinking about bringing them to the consignment shop, he starts playing with them again.

And truth be told, I don't complain when he does...see, one of them is the first big toy we bought him for Christmas. I can still see him when he was just learning to sit up all by himself, and that toy was such a motivator for him. He would sit there, playing with it. Late at night and in the sticky summer heat, he'd be in his sweet little onesie, making it sing over and over and over again. And just when I start thinking of clearing the space for his ever growing collection of tractors, trains, cars, and blocks, I get hit with a pang of nostalgia.

Granted, it does sit unused a good 98% of the time. But those toys from when he was a baby just bring back so many happy memories...and getting rid of them kind of forces me to admit that he is growing up and doesn't need those toys anymore.

I don't know...what would you do? We don't really have the space to keep tons of extra stuff just because they were his when he was a baby...and it will probably be a while before we have another child, so there isn't much of a reason to hang onto it for that reason. (Besides, when we are blessed with another little one, I know I'll want to buy new toys for that little one...but like I said, that's a while away.) Anyways. That's a tangent and a half. :) And if I start keeping everything now...what will I do when he is 13? Goodness...I'd need a whole storage unit just for memorabilia.

Comment and let me know what your opinion is...I love hearing from the people who stop by my little blog!

The No-TV Challenge

LBB has been having some issues with too much tv, but the needle that broke the camel's back was when he woke up at midnight the other night demanding to watch tv and not going to sleep until 3 am. That's when Mommy said "Enough!"

So...we're having a momentary tv turnoff for the next few days while LBB is awake. I did let him watch 10 minutes last night before bed as a treat and reward for helping clean up all his Hot Wheels (which is a big job), but tonight I'm going to see how he does without his usual bedtime tv. He hasn't had a problem with naps and skipping it...so we'll see. Send us good wishes that it goes well! :)

But...not having the tv on during the day is so nice. It was getting to the point that it was on just for the background noise sometimes, and to be quite honest, that drives me crazy! I don't like having television be that big in our lives, even if it is wholesome programming that he is watching. Not to say that we aren't ever going to let him watch tv, but we are making him go Cold Turkey for a bit until he can handle himself better with it.

Yesterday and today have had their share of "BOAT! BOAT! TV! TV!" (He loves watching his boat dvd), but I've stood strong and haven't given in, and we're seeing some definite improvement. There's been less fits. Lots more playing. And best of all...lots more reading! Just today (And minus naps, he's been up 5 hours), we've read 8 books! Curious George, Thomas the Train, and of course his Sesame Street Pop Up Book (twice). It's so nice reading with him...it makes this Mommy very happy. He's also painted a picture for his great-grandma. Played with play-doh. Helped me make flashcards for the first 2 weeks of preschool. And even played "basketball" outside at the basketball court (but that's another post.)

All in all, it's been a wonderful day, and it's not even late afternoon yet. I should've tried this "No TV" thing sooner. :)

What Kind of Knowlege Do You Have?

We were watching Good Eats today, and as I sat there listening to the nutritional anthropologist rattle things off about blueberries, I thought...

"Golly, she's smart."

OK. So maybe she had cue cards in front of her. Or memorized some lines. But I really don't think so...she seems like this is her life. And it got me thinking: How does a person retain ALL that information? I know bits and pieces of different subjects. (Like, for instance, that the B&O Railroad property on the Monopoly board game is actually named after the Baltimore & Ohio Railroads...which was one of the first railroads in the nation.)

Sure, I know that stuff...but I'm not an expert in anything, right?

And then, before I started discounting what I knew, I realized that my area of expertise is different than hers. In fact, my area of expertise is different than it was 3 years ago when I worked full-time. Now, I can tell you:

• When LBB says "sti-ti" he wants a sticker.


• That when LBB wakes up in the morning, he will be cranky until you've gotten him a sippy of milk and turned on Mighty Machines.


• If his temperature is over 102 degrees, it's time to be worried.


• That if I'm out of buttermilk, which I usually never have on hand, I just need to stir in 1 TBSP of lemon juice into a cup of regular milk and wait a few minutes to get a good substitute.


• That Thomas the Tank Engine is blue and number 1. Percy is green and number 6. Gordon is number 4 and pulls the express. Hiro was one of the first Steam Engines on the island of Sodor and is based on a Japanese version of the steam engine made by Kawasaki. That "diesels can be evil." And that Toby is a very sad sort of tram.


• That a 24 ounce bottle of Pepsi has 76 mg of caffeine.


• All 27 names of the Cars cars that LBB has...which comes in handy when we're missing one. We know just who to look for. (Case in point...I knew we were missing 3...Lightening McQueen with Racing Wheels, Francesco Bernouli, and Rod Torque Redline. We found them deep in the couch cushion tonight.)

Now, I'm sure there's more (I know most of it is just everyday stuff). Life isn't about just facts and figures. And deep down, I know as we go along our homeschooling journey, that I will learn as LBB learns. That, in itself, is exciting! I don't need to know everything, I just have to want to learn. :)

Waking Up On the Right Side of the Bed

I'm still under the weather. Dear Sweet Hubby is on his 4th day straight of working the closing shift (and 3 days were from 7-8...add his hour drive, and I feel like I'm living with a roommate instead of a husband). And LBB, is well, LBB. :-) Full spririted, energetic, demanding, and lovable. And awake this morning at 3:00 am.

Yep. 3 am. He had also woken up at 1:28 am and 2:15 am or so, and had a nice late bedtime of 9:30.

This mommy's exhausted.

But, somehow, as I sat here getting ready to go take a nap (which I really need to type faster and get to), I came across 2 or 3 different posts all on the same subject...

Starting your day off right.

Yes, God. I'm listening now.

See, I'm guilty of putting off taking care of myself. I'm guilty of grumbling as I roll out of bed at the crack of dawn as LBB pulls on my arm. I'm so guilty of skipping breakfast. Skipping lunch. And sneaking in a pepsi and a bag of Uncle Ray's Sour Cream and Onion chips sometime before I make dinner. And exercise...yeah...that doesn't happen often.

And as I read these different blog posts, it dawned on me that God was trying to tell me something.

What's that? If I don't take care of myself, God, my whole day will follow suit? If I wake up crabby and worn out, the rest of my day will feel crabby and worn out?

I need to start waking up before LBB. I need to eat better. I need to go to be before the nice late hour of midnight.

And then...on the days that I'm not feeling 100%, and family stops by to check on LBB and I, I won't feel ashamed...because let's face it, when you put off taking care of yourself, the house can look clean but gets messy way to fast. The things you are normally on top of fall to the wayside, and as you welcome people into your home, you notice the little things that sleep deprivation and grumpiness were hiding. :)

Now...I don't know if this is making a whole lot of sense (I am super tired after all), but I do know that God knew what was troubling me...and sent me right to the places I needed to go to bring those troubles to light. He is so very good that way, isn't He?

Murphy's Law

It's Murphy's Law that on one of the first super nice days in the past few months, I have to feel under the weather. I went to bed last night thinking about how excited I was to be able to have the windows open, candle burning, and just plain enjoying the day with LBB, and then I woke up. And I think a Smart Car must have run into me while I was sleeping. What was allergies turned into something worse. Boo.

And of course, while I was feeling under the weather, LBB is having an extreme toddler day. That's Murphy's Law too. :)

It must also be Murphy's Law that the Sunday I feel like crud is the one Sunday of the month that Dear Sweet Hubby is working.

I'm really hoping that Ol' Murphy doesn't feel the need to demonstrate his law anymore today...

*Side note: I'm still on the fence about yesterday's post...but I'm leaning towards making my blog public. Any more comments? I would greatly appreciate them. :)

Listening to My Mommy Instincts

I've posted several times before about how I could never get LBB to eat a bite of food.

And then...the other day...I had an epiphany.

{Insert bright lights and angelic singing here}
The epiphany occured as I watched LBB gulp down his whole milk (he loves to drink sippys...I have to bring a sippy of water EVERYWHERE we go, even if it's a quick trip to the store.) And I've read that if your toddler is filling up on liquds to take their sippy and give it to them after they've eaten, but that didn't work either. And then it dawned on me.

He's getting so full from whole milk...why don't I switch to our milk? I mean, sure, he's supposed to be on whole milk until he turns 2, but he's only a few months short. And in my opinion, while I know the argument that whole milk is higher in fat which is good for brain development is a strong one, I'd rather have him getting healthy fat and calories from actual foods.

In fact, he eats so little that he has been the same weight since he was 12 months old or so...and he's grown at least 3 inches. That's not good math.

So. I switched him to drinking the same milk as us on Saturday.

And since then, he's eaten like a champ. He ate french toast. He ate eggs. He ate hashbrowns. He ate fishsticks. He ate chicken nuggets. He ate stir fry chicken. He ate hot dogs.

In fact, one morning, he ate a whole bowl of oatmeal, a waffle, and a sippy of milk.

Insane, huh? And that's all on top of his normal love for fruit and snacks! I'm so impressed. He's happier. More energetic (which I did not think was a possibility, but it is.) And he is so willing to try new things now!

Before bed tonight, when he would usually be begging for water or the such, he pointed to the fridge and pulled out his plate from dinner that had the last of the hashbrown, corn, and fish stick, and sat on the couch and ate it.

I'm so glad he's eating...I was starting to majorly stress over it. But now I breathe a little sigh of relief each time I hand him his plate...and I actually look forward to cooking. :) Before it was a little depressing knowing that he would just turn his sweet little nose up at anything I made. :)

But even more so, I'm just glad I listened to my gut. It's hard to do in this day and age when every doctor insists that their way is the right way, but I have to remember, that deep down, I'm his Mommy and I know what is going on with him. That's pretty empowering.

And We're Back to Fighting Sleep

Sigh.

LBB has been very headstrong about going to sleep lately. It's funny because he does so well for so long, and then it's like someone flips a switch. He's currently in his room yelling at me because I put him down for a nap...apparently Mommy doesn't know what she's doing. :)

And at first I thought, "Well, maybe he's ready to go down to one nap a day." So I tried it.

Trust me, he's not.

In fact, he was grumpier, stayed up later, and woke up earlier the days we attempted the change.

So, I think he still needs that short morning nap. And then bedtime is another fun, never boring experience.

He's very set in his routine...until he decides that by adding something else to the routine he can prolong bedtime. Here's his routine:

Get ready for bed at 7:50. Get a small sippy of milk (sometimes warmed). Cuddle up with Mommy and Daddy. Watch 10 minutes of a cooking show or something that isn't too stimulating. Give kisses to his Zhu Zhu pets. Brush his teeth (which in itself is a routine...toothbrush wet, toothpaste on, turn on light up toothbrush, turn the bathroom light off, say "ah", brush teeth, and turn light back on.) Have a little Mylicon. Turn on lullabies. Turn on air conditioner/fan. Turn on Spoka night light (from IKEA). Turn on moon light. Turn on cars night light. Get 2 bedtime stories. Lay him down in bed. He sits up. Read stories. Lay down. Get tucks. Cuddle Bearemy. Tuck Bearemy. Have Mommy and Daddy give him his Tickle Me Elmo (turned off for the night, of course). Have Mommy and Daddy give him his other Elmo. Turn Scout's lullabies on. Say goodnight to the letter by his bed (currently it's letter A). Say goodnight to the Sesame Street decals by his bed. Say prayer. Give hugs (two each for Mommy and Daddy, but in this pattern---Mommy, Daddy, Mommy, Daddy.) And last but not least, spin the twirly that hangs above his bed.

Sigh.

It didn't start out so detailed. And it doesn't take long. BUT. If we so much as change one thing in the routine, LBB has to do it all over again. Yes, you could say we are catering to our toddler...I can totally see your point. :) But...

...he's only little once. And if he likes routine, who are we to fight him? Both Dear Sweet Hubby and I tend to be a bit OCD, so it's really no surprise to us that LBB is already showing signs. And while I know it runs in the family, I also know that we are responsible for making sure he's not a nervous wreck...so I don't plan on letting him add any more steps to the already rigid routine. :)

And deep down, we aren't really bothered by this momentary sleep issue. We are pretty used to LBB being stubborn when it comes to sleep, and he has months where he does great, so we just enjoy those and get through the stubborn moments. :)

Come to think about it, I think that's what a majority of parenthood is about...savoring and enjoying the wonderful moments, and just smiling when the not so wonderful moments pop up. Parenthood is a fun ride, full of ups and downs, twists and turns, and by no means is it ever boring. :)

Now I've got to go get LBB...he was supposed to nap before a playdate, but he chose not to, and now it's time to get ready for his friend to come over. :)

One of Those Not-So-Great Mommy Days

I hate having days like this.

For the most part, it was a great day. I have to say that to start off with. :)

But, the past few nights have been tough for LBB...he's fought sleep, been having issues with getting scared, woke up in the middle of the night, and only would go to sleep if we balanced on one toe while singing Old MacDonald backwards and spinning a plate on a bowling pin. OK...so that last part is a bit of an exaggeration, but that's what it felt like. Haha.

So, mix lack of sleep, a cranky toddler, and a fight whenever the word "nap" or "bedtime" is mentioned, and it led to today's Not-So-Great Mommy day.

See...when LBB gets tired, he doesn't just get a little cranky.

When LBB gets tired, he turns into a little warrior. On the warpath and angry at everyone he sees. :) So, if you say, let's change your stinky diaper, and he's overtired and exhausted, you can bet you'll be the target of an onslaught of arm-flailing smacks. If you tell him "No" he yells it right back. And, if you happen to be a sweet, innocent, Cat #2, you are just the perfect candidate for being smacked with a Hot Wheels track or having a ball thrown at your head. :(

Now...before you think I've got some maniac living in my house (well, it sure sounds like it from what I described, but I promise I don't), you have to know that this mostly only happens when he's tired. :) He has his moments, sure, but all in all he is a great kid who does pretty well with controlling himself. All in all. :)

Anyways...all this led to a Mommy who lost her patience, snapped a bit, and just in general, got a little flustered.

And as I sat there telling LBB that his attitude was downright stinky (ok, I wasn't telling, I was snapping), a little voice popped in my head.

"Your attitude isn't much better right now."

What? But, LBB's temper is just...

"Your attitude isn't much better right now."

Ah. Got it, God. :) Not really a little voice, but I suppose when it's coming all the way down from the Heaven's, it's not going to be loud and booming. :)

So. I dropped the attitude. Sat on the floor in front of LBB. And apologized.

Yes, I know. I apologized to a toddler who was acting just as (if not more) deplorable as me. But, here's the thing.

I'm the adult. I can control my temper. And I should be able to have keep my calm even when the 18 month old in the house is not. I am responsible for every action I make, and while he is in the process of learning that he needs to behave and have pleasant manners, I have learned those lessons already.

And it is only through my actions that he learns.

By the grace of God, I've been blessed with that wonderful 25 pound blessing. It's not something I ever take lightly, and sometimes it's easy to let the exhaustion and worry take over. But, thankfully tomorrow is another day.

Another day to wake up.

Smile.

Hug my LBB.

And start the whole adventure all over again.

But...this time watching how I react to those volatile toddler moments.

*Interesting footnote...I read an article or something a while back, and they were talking about the cause of temper tantrums and hitting and all that. The one thing that really stuck with me was the fact that toddlers are at a point in their lives where they are developing feelings of anger and frustration, but since they don't know how to vocalize it, they throw tantrums and hit and such. I just thought that was interesting...it explains LBB's temper and such. He hits when he's tired, but since he doesn't know how to vocalize it, and really doesn't want to admit that he is, he hits out of frustration. There's so much energy packed into that little frame that it has nowhere to go but out.

Observations from the Mommy of a Nick Jr. Addict

image courtesy of lbb

Despite my best efforts, LBB has an addiction to Nick Jr. So, on a daily basis, he wakes up at the crack of dawn (literally) and with Bearemy in tow, toddles out to the living room pointing at the tv.

And I'm the mom who said I wasn't going to let him watch tv till he turned 3. :) Funny what happens when you need a few minutes to unload the dishwasher without having to constantly tell a toddler no. (I justify myself by reminding myself that I do control the tv time, so there we go.)

But...as the Mommy who gets to hear countless shows on Nick Jr., here are some observations I've made.

• 
  
  
  
  Yo Gabba Gabba's creators must be on some pretty hardcore drugs, because their show rivals the music videos of classic rock bands in the 70's.





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  I never needed to see Jack Black in a bright orange jumpsuit similar to DJ Lance's from Yo Gabba Gabba. But I did, and the image is burned into my eyes. I dvr'ed the episode just so I could share the joy with Dear Sweet Hubby. I shouldn't be the only one stuck with that in my head.





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  I'm not sure why Ming the Duck on Wonderpets has a speech impediment. He sounds like an aviary version of Elmer Fudd. And now that I'm a mom, it drives me crazy when the characters my LBB watches don't speak correctly. Won't he grow up thinking it's okay to turn his "R"s into "W"s?





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  And I also think it's ironic that Ming the Duck, after eating a big meal, said he's as stuffed as a Thanksgiving turkey. Morbid.





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  At the beginning of each episode, Kai-Lan (from Ni-Hao Kai Lan) says that to wake up the sun, they need to tickle it. WHAT?!?!? That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard...even for a kid's show!





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  There's this show called Bubble Guppies...apparently they are merchildren that live in the ocean. And yet they can have things like a barn and a regular cow. I don't get it.





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  And, although it is Colt's second favorite show (and a pretty good show I must admit), I can't understand why Dino Dan can pick up a baby Brachiosaurus when there isn't trouble, but as soon as a meat eater comes around he won't pick the baby up.

I really could go on. And on. :) And I'm not complaining...I love those snuggle times when LBB and I watch a little TV. But these are just some of the random little things that fly through my brain while I watch the same episode of Yo Gabba Gabba for the 11th time. :)

But...as a Mommy, you just suck it up, enjoy it, and savor the fact that 15 years from now, he may not want much to do with watching TV with his Mom and Dad.

But oh, how I hope he does.

*And please excuse the goofy spacing on this post...blogger doesn't like me tonight. :)