houpley

We are currently in the throes of potty training. We seem to be nearing the other side as Jackson has total understanding of the process and now every now and then the only issue is remembering to get to a potty in time - not just 5 seconds before, making mama and daddy nearly break their necks as everyone flings themselves down the hallway and into the potty. As I do for most parental undertakings, I read a lot of different resources about it and asked for advice from anyone who would give it. So I thought I would put together a timeline of tips and advice that worked for us in case any of my four readers were interested. (I see you taking notes, Cookie!) Timeline/tips: 18 months: Jackson displayed an interest and so we got him a potty chair of his own (from Target) and put it in the bathroom. Just so he would get used to seeing it. He loved it. Found it hilarious. Would sit on it. Giggled and pointed at it. BUT- he never "used" it if you get my drift. Not once. So that was ...

After fighting down a fever for two days and seemingly feeling back to normal, Jack headed to school Monday with what appeared to be good health… …only to be "carded" by 9 a.m. The giant, orange card screams from the front of our fridge that he can't return until later in the week. It seemed he'd had a few episodes of a … shall we say ... unattractive "symptom." With no family nearby, we are the parents that have to battle the PTO nightmare with our jobs. Who takes this shift? Who has the least hectic day? Who has PTO to spare? Eric was ready for an afternoon shift but the kid had to head home, asap. Monday and Tuesday are my busiest days so our schedules wreak havoc. Much like the havoc that was happening in Jack's tummy. I race to collect the boy, who’s happy demeanor belied his turbulent belly. Winning personality or not, fact was - he'd been kicked out. Once home, I start to whip up elements of the classic B.R.A.T. diet and Eric has called to say...

Every night, when putting Jackson to bed we say a little good-night prayer. And every night I end it with a quiet, "Amen." And every night he always asks, "Where Amen go?" And every night I say "Amen is the word I use to close a prayer." And every night he softly replies, "oh." Every night.

... my 15-year-old-self got her work published? She would freak if she knew her musical genius would one day be out there for all the world to see. But I'm in charge now, so she can deal. Here is an article about the book: http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article6844781.ece

Just finished The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Thick with emotion, each page is littered with some of the most delicate descriptions. Once you've digested some of his unusual phrases, poetry and graphs, you realize that is exactly what that particular emotion looks like. I highly recommend it. What are you reading?

During the two-hour drive to visit family ... Amanda: It's hard to explain, but when my boyfriend and I broke up, at the time it was one of the worst things that had ever happen to me. Every time I woke up, for a few seconds each morning I had forgotten it had happened. And then after a few minutes, I would remember everything that had happened and I would be so sad all over again. You know what I mean? Eric: Yes. Like how I feel about Patrick Swayze right now.

Eric: Come here, Jack. Let me wipe your nose buddy. Jackson: Kay. Eric: Whoa. I don't think that's ... I'm not sure what that is. Wait a minute. Is that? ... I don't ... Amanda: What? What is it? What's wrong? Eric: Yeah, that's not snot. That's got some cinnamon and icing in it.

We attended a PTA meeting last night and I overheard Eric and another mother, Roxanne, discussing the differences between Dora and Diego. Since Jack doesn't want TV much at all we are not caught up on the details of the characters. However, I had noticed Diego is skateboarding on the front of Jackson's pull-ups. So, naturally we had some questions. Eric: Dora has her own show right? Roxanne: Yes. Eric: So, Diego is like a spin off of Dora? Roxanne: Right. Eric: (pauses to digest this news) So ... he's like the Frasier of Cheers? Roxanne: (doesn't miss a beat) Exactly.

One of the great things about attending a fairly small, private daycare is that everyone knows you. The children, the other parents, the teachers, the directors, even the cook. So everyone is cheering you on as you learn to use the potty. That means teachers stop you in the hallway to congratulate you and your new Elmo underwear. Everyone has heard the news. You are a potty training rock star. (it helps to feed the Leo)

Before heading to school we take a bathroom break. Before heading anywhere we take a bathroom break. In fact, we take potty breaks every 30 seconds these days. We've been potty training for nearly a full week, and apparently Jackson is slowly learning to love the potty. This morning he strolled into the bathroom and greeted it. "Good morning, potty," he said. He held out his arms and leaned in. "Hug, potty?" I couldn't help but think to myself ... oh, honey ... you'll be hugging that thing a lot during your freshmen year.

In the car on the way home... Me: Did you have a good day today, Jackson? Jackson: Yes. Me: What did you do today? Jackson: I played in the alligator room. Me: What did you play? Jackson: Kitchen. I cooked. Me: Oh, what did you make? Jackson: Soup. Me: Really? What kind of soup? Jackson: Uh ... sauce soup. Me: Oh, sauce soup. I love sauce soup. It's delicious. Jackson. No. It was yucky. I don't like it. ... a good chef recognizes his mistakes. He knows when the batch of sauce soup just isn't up to par.

Our vegetable/herb garden not only produces lovely green peppers, basil, parsley and several varieties of tomatoes but it has taught Jackson how to care and nurture something. He helps weed and water on a weekly basis. It has taught him his colors as he waits for the tomatoes on the vine to ripen. He tries to be patient while he stares at the in between tomatoes resting on the window sill. He checks every day, if not several times a day, to see if they have turned a bit more red. It teaches him how to be gentle as he places each tomato into his basket to carry back into the kitchen. Even tiny leaves of basil are sometimes carried directly to the kitchen counter with great reverence. But to learn that the results of his hard work are so tasty in his spaghetti dinner may be the biggest pay off. Caring for a growing garden - a classic learning tool. I highly recommend it. What did you grow this year?

Eric retrieved Jackson from his crib this morning and plopped him in between us at about 8 a.m. Within a few minutes, Jackson's arms were tightly woven around my neck and his face was smushed against my forehead. He kept squirming for a comfortable spot while mumbling "Here we go, mama ... here we go ... here we go ... " repeatedly until he found it. Eventually after the twirling tornado of toddler had settled, his face was in my face, a pacifier was lodged in my eye and I could barely breathe. He dislodged one arm from my neck, patted my back and asked, "How was your day, mama?" Before suffocating, I managed, "Well, it's only been about 15 minutes long, but so far it's been great."

Jackson: I tickle daddy? Eric: Oh no! (he laughs as Jack's fingers scrunch around his neck) Jackson: I tickle mama? Amanda: Oh no! (she also laughs appropriately) Jackson: I tickle me?

Sometimes I feel really low thinking how he won't get a chance to know her. But then I see his grin. His dimple. And I think ... oh, there she is! She's right there. In nearly every smile. (kind of catches the dimple. a little.) photo courtesy of sylvia (free to go) ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/50981739@N00/1546630417/in/set-72157600108070755/ )

I am an only child. My mother is an only child. My father has one sister. She only has one child. I only have one first cousin. All this math to point out I have a small, tight-knit family tree. Maybe even just a shrub. Eric however comes from a forest of family. Every year, the limbs from his family gather at Petit Jean state park for a Labor Day family reunion. The park and its lodgings are taken over by the family. They come from all across the globe. It is like nothing else I have ever experienced. And this is just his mother's side of the tree. (He has an entire Yellowstone Park full of family trees on his father's side as well.) The first time I attended this particular reunion as a mere girlfriend, I was overwhelmed. Not only were there tons of family members but the majority of them all look alike. Meaning Eric's dark hair and set of teeth were staring at me from every cabin. I am still not totally used to the event but have found my reunion-comfort-zone. And of cou...

Now that we have a outdoor sound system, it's fun to lounge on the deck and listen to my fave summer songs. The following are a few tunes/albums I crank up when throwing open the sun roof and soaking in a summer daze. What are your favorite summer tunes to crank up in the heat? blister in the sun by Violent Femmes I think the title really explains my reasoning Live by Ani Difranco Well, the heat is so great. Turns water to sky. Outkast by Andre 3000 Just plain fun.